Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos

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Field Trip 2 (Sardun)

TETH

These were odd times. Suffice it to say, this journey was not public knowledge among the Order, or even among the Council. Odd times indeed. [member="Kiskla Grayson"] had been informed, the Grandmaster -- and [member="Michael Sardun"], who'd helped him evacuate Tython, was joining him on this. And that was that.

The Gypsymoth settled into the underground facility as it had more than once before. "I contracted to help build this place a couple years back," he said as the YV-929 touched down under his guidance. "Called ahead, but the original occupant has moved on. It's empty, it's only known to people who have the same enemies as us, it's in the middle of nowhere. This right here is an evac point for Ruusan and for Ossus - it's kinda equidistant. We set up shop in here, we'll have somewhere legit defensible."

A droid yammered on behind them.

"This subterranean base is located in a tectonically stable area of the planet Teth. Effectively a single facility the size of a small village, it has been built in utmost secrecy and to exacting standards. It is housed within an artificially enlarged cavern system whose inner roof has been lined with a layer of durasteel armor and a layer of anti-sensor camouflage netting. A quartet of large docking bays and disguised blast doors allow subterranean landing for craft up to bulk cruiser class.

"Inside, the majority of the sanctum is utilitarian, even industrial. Exceptions include the main leadership chamber and various suites and facilities for respected company. The facility includes a substantial workshop. The facility has a HoloNet connection which can be routed from several points. The facility's connection routes through a private encrypted network of reprogrammed deep-space Envoy-class communications satellites.

"Security systems are composed largely of motion sensors and droid patrols, though pop-up autoblasters and sonic projectors provide deterrence against trooper contingents and Force users, respectively. The most critical blast doors are made of turadium, a common material for high-priority blast doors. Security checkpoints including powerful scanners and enclision grids are located at several key intersections and apertures. The facility's outer defenses include an emergency shield generator, recessed quad laser turrets, and heavy tree cover. Powerful sensor arrays include a Crystal Gravfield Trap, the kind used by the Sith Empire's reconnaissance vessel.

"All ventilation shafts are thoroughly trapped with enclision grids and blocked with a lattice of crosshatched, intersecting planes made of turadium, a grid extended along its axis to minimize obstruction of airflow and maximize obstruction of lightsabre. Additionally, nets snare objects, animals, and explosives. Ventilation shafts are not an option for infiltrators.

"In the event of a major security breach, hidden chutes can deploy escape pods; specifically, modernized versions of the E3 Standard Starship Lifeboat, produced by Silk Holdings."
 
The Admiralty
[member="Jorus Merrill"]

Merrill had asked me out on a trip of sorts, scout out a possible retreat slash evacuation point in case Ossus and Ruusan both get compromised. I didn’t like that idea, didn’t like it at all, and yet I knew that sometimes you gotta be prepared for the worst. The Army of Light had taught me that principle, so I understood the need, understood it all too well.

Didn’t take us long to get there and every step I took… well… took my damn breath away, especially with Jorus telling me the details of the underground base as we were walking. Now this was truly something, if only the Army of Light had had access to such things back in the day…

That would have truly been a sight to behold, that was for sure.

I gulped and looked at Merrill.

“Pretty impressive, but does it have a chocolate fountain?”
 
[member="Michael Sardun"]

"Think the previous occupant took that with her." He had left Kyros' name and status out of this, and she had stripped out things like a CGT, an alchemical lab, and a throne, leaving empty spaces that Jorus made no attempt to explain. He kept others' secrets. "We'll have to replace the crystal gravfield trap," he said, taking over from the loquacious droid. "Expensive, but we can make it work. You should know, Sardun, with the Grandmaster's permission I've been locating or building secret fallback points all over the galaxy. Need-to-know."
 
The Admiralty
[member="Jorus Merrill"]

Course I noticed that some things were a bit strange, but I didn’t ask any questions. Didn’t have to, Merrill would tell me everything I needed to know and not an inch more, which was just as well. Less I knew, the less I could spill if someone managed to capture me one day. ‘Twas sad that the CGT had left the building, but we weren’t the AoL in that regard, we could figure something out.

‘You have the Grandmaster’s trust, that’s enough for me. If you need any more help, it would be my pleasure.’

The place was a bit strange though, its location suggested… well… honestly it could have been a variety of things. Eccentric billionaire, Military Organization, Sith Lords… though that last one didn’t seem as likely, I extended my senses towards the place and found… well nothing.

No lingering darkness suggesting death and dread, just a clean and sterile environment. Seemed to be a very good place for an evac point, and yet I wondered…

‘What’s the plan ‘ere, Merrill? Wait ‘till the proverbial poodoo hits the fan and then get the artifacts locked and loaded here? Seems reactive.’
 
[member="Michael Sardun"]

"You ever been in a fight, Sardun? I don't mean swingin' a glowstick in the middle of a battle, I mean an honest-to-gods extended one-on-one, hand-to-hand. Every block is a strike if you do it right. There's a Jedi principle of action through inaction; action through reaction is just as valid.

"But no, that ain't the plan. The things we've got that're important but that we can live without -- wartime security measures -- are bein' split up across everything. This one here? I haven't decided what'll go here, if anything. Some of our locations won't have anything; some are already empty."
 
The Admiralty
Truth to be I hadn’t been in a fist fight since… I think I was about eight, when little Jenkins went too far and I punched him straight on the nose. First and last time I did that though, dad was quick enough to tell me that a real man solved his issues through talking instead of fighting. Which was ironic considering him being the High General back in the day, anyway.

‘Can’t say that I have, but you got a point. Perhaps when we ain’t busy running around securing everything, we will go a round. Jenkins can attest to the fact that I got a nasty lefty.’

Seemed smart, keep a few facilities empty, make the enemy keep guessing at the real locations and all that. Merrill knew what he was about, that was for sure.

‘Like what I am hearing, Merrill. What’s our next step?’

[member="Jorus Merrill"]
 
[member="Michael Sardun"]

"Provisions. Gypsymoth's crates are full of food, water recyclers -- this place has a well, but you can't be too careful -- blankets, Jedi training tapes, everything you need to get a good solid long-term off-the-grid encampment going. This place is huge, more than big enough for our needs." The cargo hold keypad beeped, and the broad hatch opened, revealing crate after crate. Binary load lifters got to work according to a basic plan that Jorus had uploaded to them en route. A steady line of crates took up residency in the compound.

Jorus turned back to Sardun. "And here's the other thing, now that we're in private. There's a location I'm told of, place with some old history, but total backwater. Republic would hate it, plenty of reasons against it. I want to know your take on very, very quietly approachin' a Mando or two -- I've got a connection, a former Mand'alor -- for them to let me set up a very, very quiet shop in the ancient Jedi enclave on Dantooine."
 
The Admiralty
For a while I just regarded the droids going back and forth transporting the goods, making sure this place was habitable for an extended siege and then some. Wasn’t ignoring him, was just.. churning on his question, looking it from all the positions possible.

Didn’t take me too long though, always good to think something over good before speaking your mind.

‘You know what you are doing, Merrill. If you think it’s a wise decision? I ain’t gonna question it, though keep in mind that not all of the Mandalorians are our best friend. If the current Mand’alore finds out… it might land us in even deeper poodoo. Hear he ain’t the biggest fan of the Republic & Associates.’

[member="Jorus Merrill"]
 
[member="Michael Sardun"]

"If Gil Skirata was to find out, it'd only be later on, once the Sith have finished chewing their way through our heartland -- and let's face it, doesn't take Erinyes' ramblings to know that the Sith have us whupped for the moment. At that point, the Sith threat would start lookin' real immediate to the Mandos, and they hate the Sith more than they distrust the Jedi. I know it's eighteen kinds of risk, I haven't made up my mind on it, but don't shrug and say 'I'll trust your judgment' unless I'm more certain of this than I am, and I ain't.

"Alternate locations. Hit me."
 
The Admiralty
‘Kashyyyk comes to mind… perhaps Cato Neimoidia…” I pondered it for a bit and came up with a couple more locations, which could be good. ‘Manaan, depending on our budget of course. Umbara? I know it’s not a Jedi or even a world of… well… light. But it’s strongly fortified and would be secure, thoughts?’

I studied the droids for a while and then came up with something else. 'Hmm... we could always ask the Levantines for help, see if that produces something?'

[member="Jorus Merrill"]
 

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