From Little Things, Big Things Grow [Coalition Dominion of Saleucami]

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Natoline Kerrigan"],[member="Eyrecae Alzari"], [member="Tempest"]
(10)

Elpsis would've been very amused if someone had called her a moral compass. Well, she might've wondered whether they were trolling her! Admittedly it had been a while since she'd smuggled narcotics or used precog to cheat in gambling dens! The glances she shot Nato were totally innocent. Same applied to the smile plastered on her face. It was not cheeky at all. "I mentioned lots of fun! Oasis, lake, lots of sun. Far away from Sithies and explosions. You should get your tan up. I've got sun cream and stuff," she declared.


She was temporarily distracred from trying to persuade Nato get out of her unnecessary armour when the white haired elf, who was built like a bodybuilder, stepped out of the waters. Those muscles were...very nice. Elpsis did not really know anything about her beyond the fact that Kerri had sent her. Normally she did not like having a babysitter, but maybe she could make an exception. "See, the elf's got the right idea," she said cheerfully, stretching slightly and making little attempt to cover herself as she dried herself off. "Either of you wanna cream me in?" Sun screen was important.

 

[Chevu Visz]

Objective : #3, plant collection
Location : Saleucami
Allies: [member="The Revenant"]
Post 4/20

Of course, Gabriel saw through her stoic facade. Chevu was definitely feeling the aches and pains of her pregnancy, and she hated that they made her weaker. Especially if Coren caught wind of it. He'd never take her in the field again. She wasn't going to get her Marshal rank back by complaining about her aching back. It was easier for her to push through the pain.

She nodded when Gabriel asked about the kicking in her belly. "Yes, they're kicking like crazy." she said, widening her eyes. "I think they're doing Soresu in there."

Chevu plucked a wild daisy from the ground, twirling it in her fingertips. Standing on tiptoe, she reached up to put the flower behind his ear, and laughed.

"Oh, I saw your brother on Onderon," she said, her smile tightening into a more concerned expression. "He saw me, too. But I seemed to be just another nameless body that he would have enjoyed flaying."

It was one of the most terrifying experiences she'd ever had. She didn't say that though. Gabe was already concerned enough about her.

 

[Gabriel Sionoma]

Objective : #3, plant collection
Location : Saleucami
Allies : [member="Chevu Visz"]
Post 5/20

He smiled as she reached down and picked up the daisy. He spotted a large nut resting nearby, seemed to fit the general size of the cavity of the formerly rotting fruit. The children were kicking, though he would never be caught dead teaching them Soresu. Makashi or nothing at all, the latter his preference. Maybe they would grow up to be doctors or chefs or the like, more humble paths in life then those of their mother and father. As she stood up on her tiptoes, his hands casually rested on her hips. Tilting his head, eyes drawing to the corner as if to see what she was doing, he felt the stem brush against his ear.

But what was a smile darkened in a cold stare as he clenched his jaw. Immediately, he was upset with her. How could she put herself in that predicament, how could she put herself or their children in danger like that? They had spoken about Reverance, they had spoken about how he should never know. But his anger for her, he slowly realized, was born from fear of something that was inherently part of him. He wasn't mad at her, he was mad at himself and what he allowed to persist. She was only being the Jedi Marshall that she should have always been, trying to do good and make a difference. He couldn't fault her for that. But now, with the change in her path through the Alliance, he suddenly understood why she would withdraw from the front lines in a pursuit of a less violent means of assistance. It wasn't what she wanted, but it was what was needed. And his darkened expression turned at the recognition of that, the changes that were occurring were truly meaningful.

His hand drifted up to her face, grazing the Mirialan tattoo against her green cheeks. "Reverance doesn't see people. You saw him...but he didn't see you." He only saw mediums for pain, method to aggrandize himself in that pursuit. He wasn't a person so in turn, he didn't understand them. Gabriel pressed his fingers against the back of her neck and kissed her forehead softly. "I'm sorry you had to experience him. No one should." He said sternly as he turned, kneeling down and picking up a couple wayward bubse tree nuts. Stuffing them into his robe pocket, he turned and held his hand out for Chevu. "Come on, I'd like to find a whole fruit to cook for you. We can harvest some roots too, should help with the heartburn."

 

[Cambria Zadira]

Objective: 2 - Operation Acid Drops
Location: Space
Allies: [member="Kaia Starchaser"] [member="Coci Heavenshield"]
Post: 1/20

While waiting with the SCC fleet on one of the many ships in orbit above Saleucami for the order to proceed with Operation Acid Drops, Cambria took the down time to mediate and find her center in the Force before jumping head on into the mission ahead.

The Twi'lek Guardian had been busy as of late aiding with the Freedom River; a network dedicated to helping freed slaves get resettled. Jedi Master [member="Valiens Nantaris"] and his Freespace Rangers were a part of the network too. It was very rewarding and a way for Cambria to help her own kind; more than not Twi'leks, especially females were forced into slavery to do despicable things. The Rutian Twi'lek had escaped that horrible fate by being found to be Force-senstive and sent off to the Jedi to be trained at the age of three.

Twin brain tails swished slowly back and forth against her black flight suit as if being thoughtful while the Jedi Ace stood at the large transparisteel viewport. Golden eyes opened when a bridge officer announced to her that the order had come through from the Master of the Order to proceed with the mission and the fleet was moving out.

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Bri nodded, then she turned on her booted heels and made for the hangar bay where her Jedi starfighter was prepped and waiting. She would be one of the starfigher pilots escorting the ships as they lay the communication relays along the space lane from Saleucami to Iego.

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

3/20
Objective: Communications

Kaia smiled. It was always good to help out. She could provide the support so the heavy hitters could take the fight to wherever it was. The Sith, the dark side, pirates. She was the background, the one who made sure it all flowed properly. And for that, she just needed clear skies and permission to get to work.

The Star was making its way through the path, she knew she had a few connections to make, and the probes were ready to be deployed.

She looked to the comlink when it started to make some noise. Fool? Oh, they were talking among themselves.

“Its my pleasure, Saleucami. Anything I can do to help out!” That was seriously what Kaia was good at, being there, to help make things work.

Her ship was plotting the best location for the comm relays, and she'd move to deploy in a few moments.

 

[Judah Lesan Jr.]

Objective: 2 - Operation Acid Drops
Location: Space
Allies: [member="Kaia Starchaser"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Cambria Zadira"]
Post: 1/20

JJ stood in the hangar bay next to his father's old jedi fighter, the astromech his father had sworn by was with him also. Sparky has a green domed R9 unit and had an attitude to match his name. It was where the name came from, and he was a flirt. Leave it to a Lesan to have a flirtatious droid. The young Corellian Jedi was called on to help with the coalition. Like his former master, if he could call [member="Cambria Zadira"] that, he traveled on his own these days looking for where he was useful, well where he and his ranger partner were usefull. Today he was called in on a favor.

He stared at the fighter for a while, anxious about getting in. He was used piloting freighters, not fighters. He'd do well, but if didn't mean he wasn't nervous about it. As a guardian he was always quick to jump into action, so his his reservedness here was a bit out of character for him. At least he wasn't in a pesky jumpsuit, though his usual attire didn't fit either. For the first time in his life, he looked more like his father than he ever had. His dad had an old set of modified robes which would keep Corellian warm. In fact, the set came with a pair of blue trousers which had the Corellian blood stripe running down the out seam of the pants. His hands had a pair of pilot gauntlets on, and with his helmet under his arm on the right side, Judah was finally ready.

They would be underway soon, JJ knew when he felt an all too familiar presence in the force. He smiled as he tunred to see his good friend walking into the hangar bay.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes. Glad I could make it for this. It's been too long, Aunt Bri."

 

[Matsu Ike]

Objective: Setup
Location: Saleucami farmland
Posts: 8/20
Allies: [member="Fyor Nayus"]

The droids were working and Matsu stood with the ones there as she offered a bow of her head speaking with them. The researchers working on the converters as they were working on the upgrades to convert and create the materials they needed. THen another group was working on assembling before the conversation was over. She worked to get them to allow the farms and other equipment they could bring to help them out. With areas to grow some medical herbs and supplies or disposal to gather junk they can recycle an repair. It served the purpose she needed for expanding but also helping and with their knowledge of the local area plus farming and irrigation they could make something to get them what they needed in exchange for the help.

 

[Cambria Zadira]

Objective: 2 - Operation Acid Drops
Location: Space
Allies: [member="Kaia Starchaser"] [member="Coci Heavenshield"] [member="Judah Lesan Jr."]
Post: 2/20

Cambria had sensed her god son waiting in the hangar bay. His Force Aura was similar to his father's, who he was named after, though much more, well restless. Judah Lesan Jr. had a hard time sitting still. There was more of his mother in the young Jedi than he realized. The redheaded Corellisi was always going mach ten with her hair on fire, and so was he, usually without out thinking it through first.

The Twi'lek Guardian entered the hangar bay dressed ready to fly in a slick black flight suit, lightsaber and shoto swinging off her shapely hips attached to a low slung utility belt. A smile graced her naturally berry-hued lips as the blue-sklnned Twi'lek's golden eyes looked upon her very grown up padawan.

"JJ… It is very good to see you," Bri offered in greeting with a quick auntie type hug, then she motioned to their starfighters. "We have much to catch up on, but for now, the mission is at hand. Wingmates we shall be," she nodded, then moved to her ship, jumping up onto the wing and sliding down into the open cockpit with a graceful ease. With a flick of the Jedi Knight's wrist the canopy began closing, then her modified helmet was slipped on over her lekku.

 

[Judah Lesan Jr.]

Objective: 2 - Operation Acid Drops
Location: Space
Allies: [member="Kaia Starchaser"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Cambria Zadira"]
Post: 2/20

JJ smiled as the Twi'lek gave him a hug. It was odd now that he was older in a way. She was his god mother, but extremely attractive. While he would never dare think about crossing that line, JJ did notice her in a way he had not before. Lesans!? If she had sensed his apprehension, she didn't say anything. Cambria climbed into the cockpit of her fighter, and JJ did the same. He strapped in, and let Sparky get them settled.

He flipped the comm.

< "We definitely need to catch up afterward. I owe you an explanation after ditching you on Dac, unless dad has told you what I've been up to?" >

Judah may have, but JJ didn't know. The time her spent with Kaitlyn had been doing a lot of humanitarian work, the kind Bri would be proud to hear of her grown padawan. He hadn't meant to ditch his master, but after saving Kaitlyn's life, the two had decided they really did work well as a team. There were feelings, but they did their best to keep it professional. The last time JJ crossed the line it only led to heart break. He still felt the effects of that drastic break on occasion. JJ wasn't going to tell Bri about that.

< "Ready when you are, Master." >

As ready as I'll ever be."

 

[Chevu Visz]

Objective: #3, plant collection
Location: Saleucami
Allies: [member="The Revenant"]
Post 5/20

Her brow furrowed when Gabriel's expression darkened at the mention of Reverance. The dark look faded, but its imprint still haunted Chevu nonetheless. It must have cut him open that she put unborn children in jeopardy like that. Even though the Wrath had no idea who she was, it was too close for comfort for Gabriel. He must think I'm such a foolish girl.

"I-I had no idea the Sith were on Onderon, Gabriel," she stammered, anxious to explain herself. "We knew those worlds were vulnerable after we heard they took Contruum, but I had no idea that they would move on to Onderon so fast."

Gabriel's words rang true with her experience. It chilled her to the bone thinking about the way the Wrath looked at her, as if she were an alien creature, pinned open for dissection. She was outnumbered and forced to run, and even though most would understand why she fled, her retreat still made her feel ashamed. Instead of taking his hand, she took his face in both hands and kissed him fiercely.

"Once the babies are born, I will face him again, Gabriel, and this time I will not back down."

 

[Nina Heavenshield]

Objective: Escape the Caves
Location: With her brother
Allies: [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] | [member="Taiden Keth"]
Post: 2

A massive explosion within the cave succeeded at separating her and Théo, with both of them being tossed in opposite directions. Nina managed to keep herself from falling into a nearby pit by using telekinesis to halt her moving through the air, softly landing back on her feet. At this point she felt something - something she had not felt in a long time, if ever: Excitement. For the first time she had to rely on her own powers and skills without her parents there to protect her. There was still the matter of Théo being somewhere in there with her, so she made sure to use this new sensation of hers to keep her mind focused on the task at hand. "Théo," she called out through the Force, knowing he couldn't have gone far. "Théo, I'm alright! Where are you?"

Rather than stumble around in vain looking for him, Nina opted to trust in the Force to guide her to him. She'd always been able to sense him when close by - nothing like her father and mother being able to sense one another from opposite ends of the galaxy, but well enough in these tight areas. There! She'd recognise that head of black hair anywhere. "There you are," she told him as she grabbed his hand from behind. "We need to get out of here! Which way, do you think?" The tunnel was quickly filling up with hot gas and smoke, making it difficult to both see or breathe.

 

[Gabriel Sionoma]

Objective : #3, plant collection
Location : Saleucami
Allies : [member="Chevu Visz"]
Post 6/20

He took her kiss and all the wrapped up emotions that came with it. He lived on the teetering edge when it came to her, so many taboos that provided a debilitating pressure for the feelings he bottled up inside. First and foremost was the betrayal that had started their interactions, a free man clinging to the freedom of her embrace. The first expression of warmth in such a long time that he had forgotten what it was, the cold clench of pain and misery the only thing he had known prior. In his own way, it was an expression of his feelings, but in the back of his mind, a world filled with nothing but pain will search for anything and call it pleasure. He had taken his time in his cell, his cold alchemic bars and the view of the Sullust molten world, to understand how he felt and how he thought. Who he was, it was something that would need further developing, absent the chaotic presence of his brother. But who she was and what she meant to him, that wouldn't change. No matter how they had met, the age disparity, or the different worlds they came from.

"Chevu..." He said quietly, his fingers tracing the skin of her neck. "You are my favorite Jedi Marshall. Even stripped of your title, you will always be a Jedi Marshall. And I love you." He whispered the last part. Maybe if he said it low enough, volume reduced, he couldn't be rejected. But he was beyond that, her reaction wouldn't change the way he felt. "And whether you are Onderon or Coruscant or Selvaris or Anaxes or Khomm or wherever it is your duties take you, I will never be mad at you for taking that task. Not when you are merely being who you are. And what you are is Jedi Marshall of the Galactic Alliance." He cupped her chin in his hands. "And if you find Reverance, I hope you are ready. But if you aren't, know that I will be there to fix the mistakes I've made. Once and for all." Her fierceness was met with a passionate and tender kiss, the sort that wondered whether she felt the same way. Or maybe she would have missed the gesture all along. It didn't matter, he felt better after the confession.

"Now. Are you going to help me find this fruit or are you going to make me do all the work?" He teased. Maybe that would help.

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

5/20

The young clone of Jango Fett made his way toward the Corellian freighter.

With General Xantha away, it was Three's responsibility to maintain the security of the Alderaan Queen. Of course, many of a clone trooper's responsibilities didn't exist in any written form. Not all the dictates or protocols demanded of military discipline or Mandalorian honor could be found in a manual, or order, or regulation.

Such as checking that the autochef was stocked with gorba melts. That was another of Three's responsibilities. And the best way to check was to order one, so he could test that it was piping hot and that the gooey-ness of the cheese was up to regulation messy.

Now, if the autochef was out of gorba melts then it was just his job to complain about it. And General Xantha's job to buy more.

In this respect, Three definitely felt he got the better end of the bargain.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Kaida Taldir"] [member="Nima Tann"] [member="Natoline Kerrigan"]
8/20

“Come on, let’s go!” Tempest ordered. “Master Tann, if you want to join us, you will be very welcome,” she said into her commlink.

With tanks and some of the walkers backing her and Kaida up, they began to make the ascent up the rubble towards the Sith defenders.

It was a tricky climb, over rubble, and into the teeth of heavy fire. However, Tempest had an advantage. Firing up her jetpack she flew high, landing on a jutting spire of wall which had survived the bombardment. From there she fired down on the Sith from above with her bolter.

Unfortunately things didn’t go entirely to plan this time. One heavy battery turned and aimed. Seeing them, Tempest unloaded three rounds into them, but unfortunately a shield and guard protected the crew. Hurriedly she activated her jetpack, but streams of red plasma were already flying and slamming into the wall. With a flash she was knocked off course and fell to the cobbles with a grunt.

The wall, having been given the straw which broke the bantha’s back, started to come down, and Tempest had to leap desperately aside to avoid the fallen masonry. Fortunately she was back at the bottom of the breach and some of her troops helped her up.
This was proving more difficult than she’d imagined!

XXX

Meanwhile Eyrecae gave Elpsis a grin. “Oh, I’ll cream you up any time you want, sweetie,” she said with a wink. Eyrecae was not much of one for PG-13.

She looked over at Natoline. “So, ‘Liney, you’re one of Sio’s daughters, huh? Adopted of course, unless she and Teggy are budding. How’s it working out for you?”

 

[Kaida Taldir]

(11)


Boldly they rode and well...into the jaws of death! Well, it did not seem to be going for them as badly as the Light Brigade when it made its doomed charge, but ascending over rubble was still quite arduous. Heavy blaster fire and rocket-propelled grenades came their way as they advanced.


Tempest had leapt into the fray with her jetpack to engage the enemy from on high. Kaida's phrik armour was equipped with jet wings that allowed her to take to the sky, but she decided to stay further behind to direct troops and laid down a volley of covering fire with bolter and icicles to help Tempest. Explosions shook the earth as the Firemane tanks opened fire, though one of them took severe damage from RPGs. Seeing the difficulty Tempest was having, she decided it was time for Team Natural Disaster to strike again.


Handing her bolter to one of her battle sisters so that she could cover her, the cryomancer drew upon her Sciia. "Tempest, stay in cover, I'll create a fog and get a tank," she spoke into her comm as she focused her power. Though cryomancy was very handy, it was in many ways more of a support power, but this would be useful here.

As she focused her power, the air temperature began to drop quickly. Humidity in the air would increase until it could no longer hold it. Water vapour condensed into tiny liquid waters suspended into the air, as strong winds converged. Visibility would be reduced to the form of a haze, then reached almost zero. The gunners of the heavy battery would find it difficult to target anything, especially at a long range when the thick cloud of fog descended upon the battlefield. Then a loud rumble was heard. Through the thick fog, a tank emerged, with Kaida riding alongside and guiding it. Boom. The mechanical behemoth's cannon thundered as it fired upon the heavy battery, blasting it to smithereens.


[member="Tempest"], [member="Nima Tann"]

 

[Elara Amadis]

Objective: make friends. Collect information
1/20

She had hopped onto the last ship headed to Saleucami a high level of curiosity in one hand and an idea for helping in the other. Her gold flecked eyes watched the black waiting for something to happen.

Her skin shimmered from gold to silver as her mind thought through scenarios of pirates, explosions and other could be disasters.

The cold of space seemed to sleep into her bones she was not a fan of space travel but it was the only way to go from a to b.

Arrival on the arid world made her feel better, she blinked several times the nictating members protecting her eyes worked to keep sand from blowing into her eyes. She was making her way to one of the larger calderas it hosted a large city one she wished to explore.

She had not let [member="Kei Amadis"] know she would be here. Not that it was a secret but she was seeking something she would tell him soon enough but first the task at hand.

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

6/20

Day 2 of posting from a cell phone, and the young clone trooper was still providing security while the surgical droid went through the plants of the field beside where the Alderaan Queen was parked, collecting plants of various medicinal use.

Head down, the boy hung upside down from the edge of the loading ramp. A sticky pastry of cheese and some other, questionable filling of processed food was clutched in his hands. He'd checked that the autochef was properly stocked with snacks, and it had passed this test. He'd have to test it again though. Maybe for giant marshmallows they could roast when the General got back.

As the boy took a bite out of his hot pocket, he wondered how the small Jedi was doing on his vampire hunt but that plot was more complicated than this author cared to attempt from a touch screen keyboard.

 

[Chevu Visz]

Objective: #3, plant collection
Location: Saleucami
Allies: [member="The Revenant"]
Post 6/20

Gabriel's fingers tracing the edges of her skin reminded her of the same searching of his hands over her body on on Taris. Technically those were Reverance's hands crawling over her that night on Taris, and the thought gave her a hitch in her breath. How things had changed since that night. First, she'd found out that she'd unknowingly shared a bed with a Sith Lord, one with immense galactic power, the same being who'd trapped this gentle man before her. Second, she was pregnant with that Sith's children. Third, she'd complicated things by kissing Coren on Alaris Prime, a kiss her master unexpectedly returned. Fast forward to now.

When Gabriel whispered that he loved her, there was no missing that. The phrase made heart race and her lungs hyperventilate. Chevu was both ecstatic to hear him say it, but angry, too, though she didn't fully know why. Her mind was a chaotic tangle of emotions and conflicting wants. She realized it wasn't he that she was angry with. It was herself for her indecision. Her midnight-black eyes searched his, brow deeply furrowed, and she reached up with her green-skinned hands to place them over his.

"Thank you, Gabriel," she said, paving kisses along his jaw. "If I ever want to attain mastery over the Force, I need to be able to stand on my own, and I need to be able to face him on my own. But if Reverance is your fight. I will stand down so that you can be the one who brings him down."

She didn't return his profession of love. It was easier to deflect. To pull the shade over the messy feelings and focus on the simple aim: to take down the Sith.

It's how the young green alien dealt with complicated things. She was, after all, a complicated girl.

 

[Gabriel Sionoma]

Objective : #3, plant collection
Location : Saleucami
Allies : [member="Chevu Visz"]
Post 7/20

He recalled that day, taking the first steps from the surgery table with a plunge to the floor. First truly free breaths escaping cloned lungs, the mangled body of the Sith Lord sitting before him. His chair was metal but for everything Gabriel could do, he recalled it as a throne of bone and blood. And he recalled not killing him, not being able to. Because no matter what Reverance had done, to him and to the world around them, they were brothers. And he couldn't let that go, as much as he wanted to. Reverance would strike Gabriel down in a heartbeat but Gabriel couldn't fall to that action, couldn't reciprocate such malice and hatred and willful abandonment of life. It was what separated him from his brother, a foil to act against. To drive his moral compass by what Reverance wouldn't do, he felt distinguished. And he couldn't let that go. He couldn't walk that path.

He didn't grimace, though he wanted to. Instead, though all his expressive desire to otherwise show her how he truly felt, he smiled. He smiled at the thought of Reverance finding out about the children. He smiled at the thought of Reverance making good on his promise. And he smiled at her silent rejection. And even if she didn't feel the same way about him, it wouldn't change how he felt. He just hurt at the idea of that warm spot being vacated, the void left by her absence. But he had never really known promise or fortune, even in doing the right thing. He was a pariah. And he, for the few fleeting moments of freedom, gave that all away for the chance to do the right thing. And for all the dreams he dealt with, the ache of what he had done and the souls that followed him, he endured it. With a smile. "I missed my chance with Reverance. His time is up but I don't know if I can be the one to punch that card." He exhaled and knelt down, picking up a bubse fruit.

Knocking on it with his thumb, he turned it over and inspected the rind, tapping it again. "It's supposed to sound hollow with a slight thwack when you thump it. Rind should give in when you press on it..." He placed his thumbs against the fruit and pushed. "Yeah, I think this one should be good. We can freeze dry it for transport back to Sullust...Maybe I can find a few more. We should collect some upper roots as well." Maybe with this humble purpose, he could find his direction. And properly change the subject.

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

7/20

The 2-1B surgical droid lumbered up the loading ramp, spindly arms encumbered with a basket of stalks and petals from gathering in the field.

As the droid cleared the inside of the hatch, the small clone dropped the interior airlock door to secure the inside of the ship from the world outside as dusk approached the landing pad. While the droid went off to its lab in order to sort and prepare the specimens it had discovered, the boy made his way to the armory in order to download.

Removing the gun belt and holster, the child laid out the DC-17 hand blaster before field stripping and cleaning it. As he re-assembled the clean weapon, the boy returned it to the rack it shared with the HSB -- a now vacant spot normally occupied by the small pistol General Xantha carried on him.