Expedition to Felucia....and the Future....

[Naimes Ahn-Dross]

Krayt-Class Light Cruiser
Orbit over Felucia

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...recently a small schism had occurred amongst the United Mandalorian Clans that reached all the way to the furthest borders of their sphere of influence. It was due to this schism that Rally Master Naimes ahn-Dross had made the decision to abdicate away from the United Clans and make his own way among the stars of the galaxy. Announcing this to his crew the Rally Master was straightforward with those under his command telling them that he intended to leave with a single Light Freighter from the cargo bay so that they would suffer no dishonor however the Mandalorians under his command surprised him. The Aliit joined with Rally Master ahn-Dross and decided to remain as his crew to which he likewise pledged his undying loyalty to them. Thus Naimes ahn-Dross had broken away from the Mandalorians as a government but not as a culture and retained control of the Krayt Light Cruiser -Sword of Valor- as well as the command of his crew. It was done.

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...the Light Cruiser came out of hyperspace in the abyss of space surrounded only by the far away starlight of suns burning a lifetime away. Naimes stood on the bridge of the starship overlooking the course trajectory over the shoulder of a navigator while other officers delivered progress reports to him. Nodding his head he retained the quiet and calm composure he was known for as he moved around the bridge carefully avoiding the captains chair. Naimes didn't like to think of himself as the commanding officer of these men and women, he was their equal, nothing more, it was his privilege to serve with them in whatever capacity he continued to. As he moved through the bridge Naimes would come to stand in front of a glasteel viewport as a world loomed ahead having come into view shortly after they'd dropped out of hyperspace. A wild and dangerous world according to some...

...turning his head to look over his shoulder Naimes thoughtful gaze would come to rest on a comms officer at which point he'd have said..."Ask her to make her way to the bridge."...then his head swung back around and he watched from the viewport quietly while the comms officer did as he'd been bade. Comms across the Light Cruiser would come to life...

[Cennika Hawk report to the bridge. Cennika Hawk report to the bridge.]

...Naimes ahn-Dross had come away from the United Mandalorian Clans with more than a Capital Ship and a crew of loyal Mandalorians he'd also left with a steadfast companion, someone he felt a metaphysical and spiritual connection with, [member="Cennika Hawk"]. She'd been his closest companion out here amongst the stars. Now Naimes was making due on a promise he'd made to her when they'd first become bound to one another; he would take her to the furthest reaches of the stars and beyond. On the bridge of the Light Cruise Naimes observed the first of the worlds he'd promised to let her experience from a distance, the sight was breathtaking even though he'd seen it already but the mystique of alien worlds would never be lost on him...

...ahead of Naimes ahn-Dross was Felucia and the future...​

 

[Cennika Hawk]

She no longer felt trepidation for the unknown, not when the unknown released her, freed her of the concerns of her upbringing and opened the way to what was beyond her previous considerations. in this, no thoughts were spared for speculation, the what-if of having never met [member="Naimes Ahn-Dross"] not once crossing her mind. It was as it should be, and anyone or anything that sought to alter that connection would find her bereft of civility. The decision to remain with the Icarii soldier was a simple one - such had been her life for long enough, that if she were to be asked if she would consider returning to Dathomir, the answer would be yet another question.

When the summons came, she had been repairing a seam on a jacket of hers. Not once had she bought clothing for herself - what she wore was of her own making and cared for, ever since her mother had deemed her skills in maintaining her belongs acceptable enough to do so. She had been eight when she completed her first vest of leather without her mother's assistance, and had repurposed the materials when the piece became too small. Even the clothing in which she had ended her mother's life was reused, though most of the materials went into the boots she now wore, a measure of symbolism that she, being thirteen at the time, was keen on. Finishing one last stitch when the call went silent, she set her work aside and rose to respond with her presence, exiting into the corridor and making her way to the bridge.

As she traveled, she passed men and women at work: some greeted her, but most were focused on their tasks. Once their gazes were littered with skepticism as to her presence, but she had long since proven her worth; there had come a day when they began to accept her as one of them, and in turn she had accepted them. It was the way of things, it was their normal, now, and she stepped out onto the bridge with many of their faces playing across her consciousness, her violet gaze settling on he who had brought her into this, he who made good on his word. She moved to his side, eyes finally looking through the glasteel viewport, 'The colour is... not so unlike Myrkr,' she said of the world he brought her to. A different shade of green, perhaps, and her thoughts went to what life might be down on the surface. Were there beasts, as the rancor?

 

[Naimes Ahn-Dross]

...the bridge of the capital ship was quiet, almost relaxed as the Mandalorians under the command of Rally Master Ahn-Dross continued to oversee the various duties assigned to them. Once Cennika had moved to join Naimes by his side where she could admire the world of Felucia from the viewport he would cant his head in momentary thought then..."Perhaps the worlds are not so dissimilar."...was said before he glanced over at her. While his appearance remained stoic, composed of a certain calm, Naimes was not without some emotion however he chose to invest it wisely rather than with the reckless abandon he'd observed so many others having done in the past. A silence existed between himself and Cennika. It seemed that the two of them didn't often have to explain themselves or elaborate to have a meaningful conversation being that a look, a gesture or body language might suffice where words alone would not have done...

...Naimes would shift slowly..."You might stare at it for an hour or more."...he said..."Drinking it all in, wondering what its surface looks like and yearning to experience that but you've waited long enough, [member="Cennika Hawk"]."...his movement had turned him so that he was offset to the side of Cennika. Eyes focused on her, reading the movements of her body and the subtle gestures that she made then he would reach out with his right hand in a motion that was both surprisingly swift as well as deft so that he could take a length of her dark tresses and tuck it back behind her ear. Tilting his head he placed thumb and forefinger together as he withdrew his hand, rubbing them together as though he were experiencing the touch all over again but then he was interrupted...

...a Mandalorian approached the two of them, nodding to Cennika before turning to look at Naimes whom he leaned closer to and whispered something before departing back onto the bridge...

...the news that Naimes received seemed to please him and he refocused on Cennika before stating..."A Shuttle is waiting to take us to the surface. Felucia and all it has to offer are yours."...he no longer had a mission since declaring his independence and that of his ship. If Cennika should want it they could stay on Felucia for an entire year or more while she explored, expanded her senses and her mind to the particular environment and let herself become one with the world. Naimes would remain in support of her. Turning he would prepare to escort her off of the bridge, the doors would hiss wide and a turbolift would await which would take them to the hangar bay. On the way Naimes would look ahead most of the time though occasionally he might seek out the violet of her eyes quietly...

...and yes there were Rancors...​

 

[Cennika Hawk]

He glanced, she glanced and regarded him, violets running over the curves, crevasses, and cavities that made up his face, "Perhaps," was the response in kind. While his expression was stoic, hers had improved over the span of time that put distance between her and what was, blank and lost replaced by a stoicism softened by the enduring proximity to this man and the clam and contentment she felt as benefit of his companionship. The silence between them was her way of being, so many years in solitude, and a lack of discomfort in the absence of social interaction made the use of words to convey information a matter of acquiescing to the urge to be a part of the small community for the sake of remaining close to him.

He spoke of yearning for the experience, and she looked on the world again, filling with a doubtless conviction that it would be as beautiful within as without. At his touch, her head turned to him in the slightest, and she considered putting her hand to his arm that she could reciprocate in a way, but interruptions were an expectation in shipboard life. The Mandalorian nodded to her and she tipped her head in turn, looking up through a partial sheet of dark strands as the man spilled words into Naimes' ear. Then the man left them, and the Icarii looked on her once more.

At the mention of the shuttle and the world out the viewport being so close to touch, she showed him a small smile, a secret smile that was like treasure, for its rarity to others, "Then no longer will I wait, [member="Naimes Ahn-Dross"]," her face tilted up to him, violet eyes searching him, "lest I were without your company," and she hadn't been, since that first day. She would never be, so long as life left control of it in their hands. She turned, ready to leave, glancing back at him after that first step, to pull him along.

 

[Naimes Ahn-Dross]

...once it was decided they were leaving now Naimes required very little prompting. As [member="Cennika Hawk"] turned to leave, glancing back at him and ready to pull him along the man fell into line beside her as they prepared to depart the bridge of the starship. A Senior Officer would nod in their direction as they moved across the bridge and Naimes would respond by telling him directly, clearly so that there was no mistake..."You have the bridge until my return."...then his focus shifted entirely to Cennika as they went on their way. The Turbolift awaited them, hissing wide and allowing both to step into its confines before activating retroactively to shuttle them to their destination deeper in the Light Cruiser. Silence dominated when they were alone, Naimes had squared himself while standing beside Cennika however he could not help but look at her in his peripheral and be pleased with everything he saw and how she too seemed to be pleased to be here...

...the turbolift would descend quickly, rocketing down a shaft until gradually slowing in such a fashion that senses would need to be perfectly attuned to notice. Naimes might have been so attuned but it wouldn't show on his features. The turbolift opened, a corridor stretched beyond illuminated by the hall lighting in ceiling and floor and it would lead them to the hangar bay. As he moved from the turbolift Naimes would reach for her arm so that he could draw her to his side while they walked together, he was always composed but being alone with her seemed to relax him..."If Felucia agrees with you perhaps we can stay a time."...he really wasn't that good at making small talk as she already knew but there was a bit of penchant in what he was saying..."My duty is only to you now. There is nowhere I need to be."...that was it for all intents and purposes. Naimes was still a Mandalorian, a Rally Master by distinction however he seemed to believe there was something more worth being now...

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Descending towards Felucia

...the Hangar Bay was busy. Flight Crews were busy preparing for a small patrol. A Shuttle had been prepared for the both of them as promised. Once they were inside the hangar bay Naimes would take her to it, navigate the both of them around everything else until they were ascending the boarding ramp. A Pilot and Copilot were already prepped for departure. As he took her into the Shuttle Naimes would have directed Cennika to one seat in particular, one near a glasteel viewport that would allow her to witness their descent. "Sit there."...he bade her, gesturing towards that seat before he took one across from her where he could watch as well though whether he'd watch the descent or her reactions was debatable. The Shuttle came to life shortly after they boarded, the docking ramp ascending and securing itself and the engines breathing loudly as they activated. Within no time they had left the hangar bay and were enroute...

...the black was lit by a countless amount of stars, a sun would burn somewhere in the background its rays reflecting off the atmosphere of Felucia. As the Shuttle drew closer the glittering magnificence of the world became more apparent, more spectacular. Felucia was a beautiful world. When the Shuttle hit the atmosphere a brief spot of turbulence rocked it before everything steadied once again. Clouds that were thick started to thin during the descent and dipping beneath them the first sights of the terrestrial fungal forest lay beyond covering the landscape almost entirely as though it were painted across the horizon. Naimes would tilt his head, he could feel the difference of this world compared to others and though he did not understand the living force he nonetheless appreciated the connection to life that the world possessed...​