Diplomacy High commanders office

[Laphisto]

"I've been going over your file," Laphisto began, his tone still unreadable. "You rank in the top ten percent of all Elaghaseki operatives. Your squad, personally, sits within the top five. An impressive service record by any measure." He paused only long enough to turn a page on the datapad. "You've served with the Order for years, participated in multiple operations against the Dusate Pirates. I read your report on the encounter at Ord Cantrell where you came face to face with the man himself. Ubbal Dusat." Laphisto's eyes flicked up from the datapad, locking onto Trace's.

"Your actions directly led to uncovering the connection between the Dusate Pirates and the individual known only as the Collector. Thanks to your intel, Team Four was able to disrupt several of his supply routes. We owe much of that success to your fieldwork." He set the datapad down, turning it so the text now faced Trace. His clawed fingertips tapped it once softly. "And for all this," he continued, his voice lowering slightly, "we thank you. For your service. And for the tolls you've endured in it." Then came the shift.

"With your recent success on Mimban, I've chosen you to lead a new department. You'll be given authority to handpick four soldiers from any branch, any battalion, to form your core squad. Beyond that, you'll select additional squad leaders—each commanding their own team. Eight squadrons total, all of them reporting directly to you." Laphisto leaned back slightly, his expression still calm but with the faintest edge of finality. "You'll be the Commander of this new strike unit. Elite, autonomous, and the first of its kind."

Trace Xyston

 

[Trace Xyston]

Trace's mind was still digging back to his past missions, looking for any single thing he might have done wrong. But why would he be told this now and not as soon as he got back from those strikes? It didn't make sense. If he was getting fired for something he did months ago...well why did it take this long?

Suddenly the one-sided conversation took a turn, and Trace found himself leaning forward in the seat. So he wasn't getting fired. He reprimanded himself for letting a quick call to the High Commander's office make him doubt himself and his team. He was confident in what he and his team had done over the years, and apparently Laphisto was too.

"A new department sir?"

His surprise quickly changed to concern as he asked, "Is...there a problem with the current Elghaseki? What is the reason for this change?"

Had the management of the Elghaseki been below standard? Or the Elghaseki themselves? Something told him this was a bigger change. The number of people in a squad, he realized with a grimace, was shrunk down to five. Meaning he'd have to let go of three of his Team 6 brothers. They'd still see each other, he told himself, but their synergy would be missed on the battlefield.

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto observed the subtle cues in the man's posture, a quiet chuckle rumbling from his throat as he gave a small nod. "The Elghaseki perform their roles with exceptional precision. In fact, they’re so versatile and effective that we’ve never needed a separate special operations team."

He cleared his throat, lacing his fingers together as he continued in a lower, more confidential tone still loud enough for Trace Xyston to hear.
"Officially, the Commandos will serve in the same role and function as the Elghaseki, though with an emphasis on missions where subtlety is key. Off the record, however their true purpose is more focused. They’re to be trained specifically for hunting Force-sensitive targets."

Laphisto paused, sensing the hint of disappointment flickering across the mans expression at the idea of five-man squads rather than his preferred eight. He reiterated firmly, "We’re launching this department with eight squads total, including your own. That means you’ll be choosing the squad leaders for the remaining teams."

There was a deliberate weight behind his words, a subtle suggestion left hanging in the air an unspoken invitation for Trace to elevate the rest of Team Six into leadership positions alongside him, should he choose to.

 

[Trace Xyston]

His shoulders let some tension go at Laphisto 's reassurance that the Elghaseki had done their jobs well. Trace supposed that, with the Order's long-term teamwork with the Diarchy, the Elgahseki would need some reforms. Where before they'd been focused on sabotaging and hunting down Dusate pirate cells, now they'd need to be 'modernized' and given equipment and new training to adapt to the rapidly changing political field in the galaxy. Specifically, the threat of the Sith. He had yet to encounter one, but he'd heard things about their Force powers. The corner of his mouth turned down slightly at the thought of a dark-cloaked being throwing his hand around in the air, and his Elghaseki comrades being flung into walls with sickening cries. As of now, the Elghaseki were not equipped to handle Force-users.

"I see. I assume the Kovdra the Order has come in possession of will be key to these efforts? I've seen the soldiers testing the new slug rounds in the range. I've heard they should be good against Sith," he said. "As for the squads, I suppose I'll take four of my squad members, and have the three others as leaders. Yes, that's what I'll do."

He paused and his expression turned inquisitive. "Sir, if the point of the five man squads is more subtlety, but we are also going to be hunting Force-sensitives...wouldn't they just sense us coming? I don't know how the Force works, and I'm sure I'll need to learn more about it to be going on these missions, but can't Force-sensitives detect people? Couldn't they just sense us coming? In that case, wouldn't it be better to have more men and more firepower? Just pondering, of course sir."

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto had quietly expected Trace Xyston to elevate all of Team Six into leadership roles. It would've been the most straightforward move keep a unit of veterans together, elevate them as one. But he found himself respecting the alternative. Perhaps it was wiser, after all, to maintain the squad he trusted most at his side. Efficiency through familiarity. Precision through loyalty. He let the thought pass with a flicker of amusement behind his eyes.

As Trace raised his concern, Laphisto turned slightly, the metal of his armor creaking faintly with the motion. His gaze sharpened not in reprimand, but in focus. These were the questions he wanted his commanders to ask. Not blind obedience. Curiosity. Caution. Foresight. He nodded slowly. "A fair point. It's true Force sensitives can detect lifeforms, emotions, even intent. But that's where the next layer of this program comes into play." Reaching to the datapad resting on the edge of the holotable, he tapped a few commands into its surface, bringing up a schematic. A slim, angular suit of armor shimmered into view in projected blue light, rotating gently in place.

"Alongside the new LO-58A armor that will soon begin deployment to frontline units, I've commissioned something far more specialized this," he gestured to the projection. "Designed specifically for this division. If you refer to page seventeen in your briefing file, you'll find the full specifications. we had to invent several new materials just for this armor alone. It's as silent to scanners as it is to the Force." His tone dropped, serious now like a blade slipping free of its sheath. "And as an off-the-record procedure those accepted into this unit will undergo Force severance." He let the words hang for a moment, watching Trace's expression.

"It's a process not taken lightly. Painful. Permanent. But effective. It cuts the thread tying a person to the Force renders them invisible to Force-sensitives, blind to precognition, immune to mental probing. They'll see you as nothing more than a shadow. You won't register. You'll be a ghost unseen, unfelt, and unheard."He folded his hands again, claws lightly tapping against each other. "I understand that's not an easy decision to make, for you or your men. Which is why no one will be forced. But for this task—to hunt those who would otherwise see you coming in a dream you'll need every edge we can give. If you're going to hunt Force-wielders… you must first become something they cannot see."

 

[Trace Xyston]

Trace would no longer contain his anticipation. He stared, mouth nearly agape, at the blue holo image Laphisto had pulled up. It seemed the Order was getting new armor every week. He recoiled just a millimeter at the mention of Force severance. He didn't know what it was; heck, he barely knew how the Force worked. But it sounded...painful somehow. How could he be severed from the Force? He wasn't a Force user or even Force sensitive. How could something be severed if it wasn't connected in the first place?

His mind went back to something his brother Kostodu Xyston had told him. 'The Force is in all living things' he had said. Did that mean even people that couldn't use it were still connected to it in some way?

He mulled over the thought for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the dragon and said, "The armor looks promising, sir. I'm sure it will surpass expectations; everything R&D comes out with does. And I'm sure our forces will be happy to undergo whatever Force severance is. For the good of the Order." His mind obsessed over the word 'severance'. "It does sound painful, but this will complete us. We will be truly invisible. To technology as well as the Force."