In A World Where the Kings Are Employers (First Order Dominion of Thakwaa Hex)

[OK-3103]

“Then let's get going," Meneer said. “The sooner we find them, the sooner we can deal with them.”

The troopers fanned out and began sifting through the rubble, reaching for any clues. They moved carefully and cautiously, always staying within sight of each other as they searched.

After nearly an hour of this tedious work, one of the troopers picked up a mostly pulverised piece of metal. He turned it over in his hands, examined it closer, then held it high over his head as he said, "Result!"

Meneer and the other troopers trotted over to see what he had found.

He held out the piece of scrap so all could set the engraved insignia on its surface. It identified the piece of metal as from a missile, confirming what to date was officially just a theory.

“We have some rebels to find,” said Meneer and scoured the horizon for where he considered the best vantage point was to fire a missile from. All of them had the same thought and their eyes converged on a single point simultaneously.

 

[Darth Libertas]

(12)

Thakwaa
In a very sterile room


"Have you ever read a novel called 'The Atrisian Candidate'?" Sumiko asked rhetorically in a deceptively conversational tone of voice. "I suppose not. It's better than the holovid and I believe it has some relevance to our situation here. The son of a prominent politician is brainwashed to become a sleeper agent. A guiltless assassin who is subconsciously activated by seeing the Queen of Diamonds."


It was doubtful that the Thakwaash would appreciate the former Inquisitor prattling about a beloved novel of hers. You see, the poor alien was shackled and heavily sedated. It had not been easy to capture her though. Sumiko's ribs still hurt her a lot. An HK droid stood guard with a blaster rifle.


"Your kind has a unique mind. Divergent, independent personalities, all performing a specialised function. With enough experience, you can switch between them at your own volition. I wonder what would happen if someone...merged them, modified preexistent ones or even programmed new ones?"


Sumiko, you're an evil queen. "Well, let's have a look inside your mind and see who's all living inside it, shall we?" She attached her gloved hands to his temples. The alien grunted, but the sedative was very strong and her mentalism made his struggles futile.


"Resistance will create the risk of permanent brain damage." How nice of her to inform the unfortunate captive. Presumably this sort of experimentation on prisoners violated several sentient rights' conventions. Slowly, she entered the alien's mind and took a trip down the rabbit hole.

 

[Dunames Lopez]

Location: Lipsec
Allies: First Order
Enemies: N/A
Post: 19/38

"Captain GT-4264, reporting for duty"

"Captain, the time for takeoff is near. I hope you're ready for doing recon on a volcano planet and to assess whether the Lyunesi are posing a threat or not. The High Command will not dispatch a larger force to Ryoone if the threats do not justify it"

"Eh, Sable 12, what uses are the Lyunesi to us?"

"Per Admiral Thurman's orders, I am no longer part of Sable Squadron. Your orders were relayed to you before I was transferred out of it. To answer your question, GT-4264, the Lyunesi would be useful to the First Order's diplomatic corps or for the courts, where interpreter services are important"

The AT-AT barge, which was just the size of a picket corvette, had two turbolasers and had its gunners boarded (it operated without gunners for the entire time, solely focused on its transportation functions) and refueled in due course. Because it was a volcanic world, it was not productive, or prudent even, to send in swoop bike scouts; AT-STs had better resistance to heat than probots or bike scouts but that would mean the lives of the AT-ST crews would depend on the ability of the glasteel windows to withstand the heat of lava coulees. But a plateau? Where would they find a plateau that was close enough to Lyunesi settlements, yet far enough from the volcanoes to mostly avoid the lava coulees? That was a primordial concern, especially given the crude data the First Order assembled for this mission. They couldn't get better data because the planet was seemingly covered with a thick ash layer. But they have to get maintenance upon return from Ryoone - provided there would be a return from that place in the first place.

"All the equipment is in position, we can leave Lipsec whenever we are ready"

"Everyone is ready? Lightspeed to Ryoone!"

 

[Arage Bao]

Keskin,
[3]

The others scattered in the jungles.

They knew the drill when it came to approaching enemy positions. The goal was to hit the target from several angles at once, shock & awe assaults until morale broke and then mop up the remnants… at least, that was the usual modus operandi.

But with the Thakwaanians it would be more difficult than that.

Those beasts were formidable warriors and in close-quarters there were few if any who could go toe to toe with them, and get away unscathed.

"It’s my understanding you were on Thakwaa." Relens addressed over his shoulder at [member="Isla Ashen"] without moving his eyes away from the ruins that were starting to loom in front of them.

"This means you know how much of a threat these beasts can be… yet Command-" He briefly looked at their armored VIP, before continuing as if there had been no interruption. "-wants us to assist our guest with capturing as many as possible, alive and relatively well."

That’s when he looked over his shoulder.

"With all that in mind: don’t take any unnecessary risks."

He promptly ignored the snort coming from the ‘Mandalorian’ and continued his path forward. But Relens was damned if he would let another Ren die on his watch, just to satisfy the morbid curiosity of these scientists.

 

[Saffron]

Sump
Arceneau Trade Company - PharmaTech

---

First things first.

With the relative closeness to Varonat and the PharmaTech BioDome Facility there, it would make it easier to build upon Sump. There, they had a large bio-agricultural force with the Morodin, Ithorians, and the Ho'Dins of Moltok. It would be the Morodin, however, that would provide the key research and experimentation at once again bringing fertility to the impoverished toxic marshes of Sump.

Once the plants for the construction of the bio-dome were underway, the next part of the plan was to detail how the Morodins will commence their research. The data on the toxic marshes would prove invaluable, and would allow them to figure out how to neutralize those toxins or remove them. Most would at first consider the Morodins to be rather curious creatures, but they were vital to this program.

Morodins were a species of large, sentient herbivores. Often mistaken for massive herd animals, the Morodins had long, slender bodies that could grow up to twenty meters in length. They possessed six legs and two forearms, as well as a wide spoon-shaped snout. The most distinctive feature of the Morodins was their ability to secrete a nutrient slime trail that promoted growth and mutation in plant life that it covered. The composition of the secretion varied with the Morodin's diet, and they were always experimenting with new combinations by eating plants, exuding the secretion to create a new, more nutritious, strain of flora which then entered their food chain.

 

[Choli Vyn]

OUTER RIM
Tunka Sector
Thakwaa System

@ Any first order people if they want. All I am doing is just gathering information on naval or ground movement. Not looking to escalate things xD

---

---

For once, it was too quiet.

Quiet enough to hear the steadily increasing beat of her own heart at her ears. The small Alliance scouting party flew at a slow rate to keep off sensors, the sensor mask and the black paint allowing them to keep a slim profile. High tech sensor readers would ping back a little big more information at a time. What was out there? And who were they?

There have been reports about pirate bands in the Wild and Unknown Regions. That wasn't hard to believe. If left out in the black on your own, there were bound to be raiders. Could be what these little blobs on her sensor were.

But Choli was wrong.

 

[OK-3103]

“Let's move out," Meneer said, motioning to the others to return to the shuttle.

The staff sergeant started to say something but whatever it was, it was interrupted by a rapid burst of blaster fire. A volley of energy bolts traveled from the nearest debris pile and slammed into the NCO, sending him falling backward.

Before he had hit the ground, a battle droid lifted its damaged frame away from the debris, angling its blaster rifle at the other troopers.

The troopers did not pause to wonder why the droid was had survived the battleship's crash. Such thoughts were not part of their training and conditioning. They responded automatically and without fear, moving quickly to swing their rifles into position and return fire on the droid.

The droid fired one burst that came close to Meneer’s head. The officer dived to one side but kept firing his own weapon. His aim was less than perfect but in unison with the remaining troopers, enough shots hit home for the droid's body to jerk and spin until it collapsed and its head bounced across the ground.

 

[Darth Veles]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

“You should not rush your rest,” insisted the Sith who had yet to suffer any injury thanks to his sneaky idea of combat, “There is no need to hurry right now.”

At least he did not see any valid reason for the woman to get up. The droid in charge appeared to have everything under control, the battle was over. Veles shamelessly preferred it that way. Large conflicts with huge battlefields tended to be a massive waste of time and men. Few surgical strikes at the brain, eyes and ears of the enemy tended to fare much better.

“No,” Veles answers, blinking. Just the thought of joining any other cult than his beloved order is completely alien to him.

“I am here to meet these Knights of Ren. A good friend of mine had told me about them and as a curious gentlebeing, I naturally have to investigate their order a little. Learn from them what I can and offer a bit of knowledge in return.”

Then there was the matter about getting a solid student and train them into a perfect Sith, but Veles rarely shared the whole truth despite his honesty.

“Do you intend to join them?”

 

[Isla Ashen]

Location: Keskin
Allies: [member="Itaska Relens"]
Post: 12

Isla’s eyes lingered on the back of Relens’ head as they walked along, and occasionally flickered to the back of the helmet of the woman at his side. As she let her thoughts wander, she could feel the presence of those around her, especially the presence of the dark side residing within her fellow Ren. For a moment, she was like a sleepwalker, her feet were moving steadily forward, but her mind was elsewhere. Green eyes blinked a couple of times when she heard Itaska Relens address her; she could see his head turn very slightly in her direction. He was right; indeed she had been on Thakwaa.

“Yes.” She answered simply to his first and second statements.

But her gaze narrowed slightly when he said that they were to assist with capturing these beasts. Why would they want these equine creatures alive? Despite having been on their home world, she had not come across any of the beings herself. And though she had been near the battle at the forward base, she had not even set eyes on their dead. However, she understood the type of force they had been, but in the end... they had not been a match for the First Order’s might.

Isla’s eyes met his when he turned to look at her; his words of caution did not fall on deaf ears.

“Understood.”

While she did understand, it was difficult for her to control her impulses at times; Isla was a creature that delighted in risk.

 

[OK-3103]

Meneer was a trooper, but he was also an officer. Trained to follow orders without exception — he was also expected to entertain original thought. Such as how lucky would a hand-held missile launcher have to be to take down a battleship. Or how a battleship happened to find the missile launcher. Or what a battle droid was doing, waiting in the wreckage. Meneer didn’t have answers, but he kept the questions in the forefront of his mind.

And then he ran over to his staff-sergeant’s fallen body. He wasn't moving. At least one of the droid's shots had pierced the staff sergeant’s helmet. Meneer felt for a pulse but when none was evident, he nodded towards the shuttle. “Let’s put him on the ship and then continue.”

“PF-2754, you’re acting NCO until the end of the mission.”

“Yes sir,” the trooper replied. There was no joy in his voice at the temporary promotion. At least not now.

 

[Dunames Lopez]

Location: Ryoone
Allies: First Order
Enemies: N/A
Post: 20/38

After three hours of hyperspace cruising, the AT-AT barge got ready to drop out of hyperspace. Dunames didn't quite rest as much as she would have loved to. And, given the thick ash layer, Dunames found it difficult to spot a good landing spot on the surface, so Dunames had the ship penetrate the layer of ash. Upon arriving below the layer of ash, Dunames realizes that she is stumbling upon a highway, where she is about to land. Unfortunately for them, it's the Lyunesi's rush hour. The commanding officer of the ground force Dunames' AT-AT barge issues a warning to Dunames, from the copilot's seat, when he sees the traffic incoming opposite to them. Dunames thinks she is headed in the right direction but the AT-AT commander is losing patience. He orders the AT-AT barge to land in a safe area, away from any main thoroughfares around the nearby Lyunesi city. It turns out that rush hour around that city means that this particular road is one-way during certain hours of the day.

"They're not going the wrong way, we are, you nitwit! Sometimes I wonder why Admiral Thurman signed a contract with you in the first place"

"I know exactly what I'm doing... will turn around"

"Now, just get the AT-AT barge in the baseball diamond"

"Roger"

The Lyunesi are not going to take it kindly that an AT-AT barge has landed on a baseball diamond in a residential area, during rush hour no less. How are they going to explain to the native Lyunesi their presence? Dunames has but one idea in mind: pretend that they have run out of hypermatter and that they need hypermatter to go back to Thakwaa or something to that effect. But the CO of the ground complement restrains her:

"Wait until rush hour ends before we get out of here"

"Roger"

 

[Arage Bao]

Keskin,
[4]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

Relens nodded and then looked away towards the ruins again.

There was no need for any more commands or reaffirmations of what he had already ordered, they were Ren and knew their duty. If she failed him and the Order at large in her duties, she would be punished, but until such a day came there was no reason to not expect perfection.

"As for why…" The feminine voice spoke in after that short exchange between the two Ren. Just when Ashen started to ponder on that same question, was it just curiousity that the ‘Mandalorian’ brought it up right at the same moment or was she dealing with more than just a warrior in beskar’gam?

All Itaska did was roll his eyes at the theatrics, but that was all for now.

"The Order is quite interested in finding out what makes their minds tick. One individual can be an accomplished general, a brilliant scientist and an award-winning writer in the span of a few seconds, just by switching from one… mentality to another." There seemed to be amusement coloring her voice now. "Furthermore, these ‘beasts’, as you say, are three times as strong as an average human male and as such can rip a man in half without breaking much of a sweat, you may see the potential in that."

Itaska stayed quiet on the matter. His thoughts mattered little when the orders had already been given, so why bother voicing them?

 

[Enyo Typhos]

(13)
[member="Darth Veles"]


Enyo cocked her head a bit, as if considering his answer. She translated it as the Sith Master saying he wanted to make use of the Ren for his own purposes, without being beholden to them. Probably also acquire minions. The clone was obviously unaware that Veles was a Rule of Two Sith.


"No. At least not in the sense of blindly following their Supreme Leader without question and being subsumed by them," she replied at last. "But theirs and Archangel's goals presently align and I would benefit from learning from them. There are many things about the Force I don't know."


She didn't like making that admission, but it was plainly obvious. It would be silly if she tried to claim she was powerful and knowledgeable as her older sister. That would be an actual admission of weakness since it would show delusions and insecurity. "If the First Order are proper Imperials, they're a group I could support."

 

[Saffron]

Sump
Arceneau Trade Company - PharmaTech

---

It wouldn’t be easy.

The level of toxicity within the marshes was not just in the sediment, but in the water itself. The reports that would come in would suggest that there was a high acidity levels.

It all had to do with centuries of mining.

Acid-loving bacteria thrive in sour, acidic places and can help to dissolve metal. Therefore they are often used for industrial metal extraction. Acidithibacilli are very powerful, for example, copper is extracted with these microorganisms. But they can also cause environmental problems, for example with abandoned mine sites.


The special property of acid-loving bacteria was that they can live in extremely acidic places, highly polluted with metals, where no other organisms can survive. They also have a natural capacity to solubilize metal ores and are often used for industrial metal extraction.

This meant that PharmaTech in conjunction with Browncoat Industries were going to have to use research on these microorganisms’ metabolism worked in order to hopefully, be able at the very least, neutralize the acidity.

 

[Choli Vyn]

OUTER RIM
Tunka Sector
Thakwaa System

@Any first order people if they want. All i’m doing is just gathering informaton on naval or ground movement. Not looking to escalate things xD

---

The handful of boops quickly multipled. From a handful to a dozen, to well over several. This… was not just your typical trade convoy. This was different.

Biting her lower lip, the young Alliance pilot flipped another toggle. Reviewing her screen through the yellow tint of her visor, Choli found herself feeling her stomach sink. IFF transponder scan brought up a hit.

It was the First Order.

Why were they here? Alliance intel knew that they had recently expanded down to Bespin, but not at Thakwaa. Were they expanding??

This didn’t bode well. Not at all.

 

[Valessia Brentioch]

Post: 1 / 10

Somewhere on Ryoone...

​

"Forgive me for being late," Valessia remarks as she greets the Lyunesi leader. Their reputation for being some of the best if not the best communicators of the galaxy precedes them. "I am grateful that you've chosen to speak with me about the First Order." She's sure to keep everything about her stance and posture in line with her words. "How can I assist you? To put your mind at ease?"

She'd been on her way back to Bespin after resolving a few issues on her own homeworld of Brentaal IV. Having decidedly moved into her parent's seat on the Committee and for the moment, working to unseat the Curovao's from their chair within the Chamber, but that process would take time. Affording the Scion a chance to leave the commerce-driven world for First Order space once again. The First Order was looking to completely dominate the sector and Ryoone just happened to be, well, it would be on her way to wherever it was she was going. She took her time on her way there to read on what was known about the Lyunesi, and her goal here would be to secure their submission and faithfulness to the First Order.

A small delegation of three met with Valessia as she had arrived with her own droid, Paddy at her side. The leader of the delegation gave their concerns, and moreover how it is that this Brentaalan would even be able to have the Order there on the planet. "I assure you that I have very powerful associates within the Order." She gives them a reassuring tone, grateful that they were meeting well beneath Ryoone's surface lest she deals with the ashy atmosphere, thick from the volcanic nature of the planet. Guided down a long and narrow hallway she and Paddy reach a chamber where their meeting will take place, once seated, she begins to go over what the First Order can provide to them.

 

[Darth Veles]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

A soft, polite giggle left Veles’ throat upon Enyo expressing her disinterest in following the Supreme Leader with blind obedience. He could get behind that, being his own master after abandoning the Black Rose. Now he followed his own interests, answering only to his own consciousness, code of honour and Sith traditions. The brunette also wanted to learn, uncover the mysteries this newly discovered cult guarded, gain power. It was quite refreshing to meet someone with a similar plan actually, but not necessarily the same, mainly due to Enyo’s loyalty to Archangel.

“Who are proper Imperials?” he questioned, shrugging, “There has been so many empires it is not entirely accurate to brand all of their followers by the same name. For me, true Imperials are those embracing the heritage of Darth Sidious’ First Galactic Empire.”

Veles was one of them himself, and proud. That also served as the greatest argument for him being so different from the majority of Sith.

“Why would Archangel support Imperials?” The Mon Calamari questions again, speaking out his mind.

“What goals do they have in common? Why not the Galactic Alliance, for example?”

He certainly did not mind his favourite droid makers to be working alongside the First Order, quite the opposite. The nature of their relationship continued to relentlessly nag at the back of his mind though, almost to the point of irritation.

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Darth Veles"]


Enyo and Siobhan were alike in a number of ways, yet also so different. For one, the clone was a lot more introspective and thoughtful than her sister. This was probably no surprise since their upbringing had been very different. One was raised in a sterile lab, the other came from the gutter. Moreover, Enyo was unused to someone asking her opinion on things.


"I concede that's a valid question. Everyone tin pot empire that's arisen claims it's the 'one true one', only to collapse in ignominy. But I'd agree it would be those that embraces the First Empire's heritage, without slavishly shackling themselves to it." After all, Palpatine's own arrogance had been his undoing. She also disgreed with the xenophobia that held so much sway in the Old Empire.


"The Galactic Alliance is probably good for business, especially since their crusades gives arms manufacturers a profit. But it's run by fanatical, dogmatic, self-righteous jihadists. Their freedom is just a sham. Archangel wants true order, stability and progress. That's more achievable in a strong nation run by a lawful authority and by merit. It's got technologies that would help society, but I imagine the GA would reject them out of narrow-mindedness."


For instance, they could turn a criminal individual into a productive citizen by processing him. In other words, Enyo supported fascism with a 'humane' face. The hovertrains would run on time!

 

[Valessia Brentioch]

Post: 2 / 10

Somewhere on Ryoone...


The delegation proceeded, drinks were served as they spoke. The Lyunesi discussed their concerns about the First Order and how they operated. Moreover, they had concerns on how they would be treated, after all, the inhabitants of Ryoone had spent a long time trying to survive. Competing with five other species a total of six separate species native to the volcanic planet. They emerged on the top due to their ability to communicate, and their mastery of inter-species communication. "You will be treated with the respect due to your planet and your species of course." She was not an official member of the First Order and therefore could not speak for them, but she could speak from her own experiences.

"I have experienced open arms and a welcome of business and communication," Valessia tells the delegation, "and class of course." As she understood it the Lyunesi were fragile and as she looked upon these humanoids, she could certainly agree. "Nevertheless, I understand your hesitation, it's a large step for your planet and perhaps an even larger one for your kind."

Servants came into the meeting and refilled drinks, and offered an array of 'treats' from around the sector. The delegation spoke plainly on what it exactly they would be looking for from the First Order. Pushing for something along their own autonomy, of which she could not guarantee. All Valessia could tell promise is that once they were part of the order that they would have a friend for life and that they would not have a need nor worry to have to defend themselves. Not when they had friends on the other side, friends with guns and ships. "You could be part of that you know, part of this legacy that we're striving to create."

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Objective: Thakwaa - Hunt Down Rogue Alien Partisans
Allies: [member="Amin Garith"]
Posts: 7

At the appointed hour, General Vaas re-emerged from the freshly erected command center. His black uniform was now complimented by an armored chest-piece and helmet to provide protection for field work, along with a fresh new utility belt containing multiple energy cels for his BlasTech rifle as well as a set of concussion grenades, a personal energy shield, and a vibroknife strapped to his right boot. Altogether it was a relatively light ensemble that made up the core of his gear for field operations. The General was accustomed to leading from the front, though normally it was from the cockpit of his now infamous walker. Unfortunately, in the thick jungle of Thakwaa, that would no longer be possible. He could have potentially used a smaller walker, but Vaas generally did not favor those, considering them too clumsy while at the same time not big enough to provide real protection. If he was going to be in thick jungle, Ludolf preferred to be on foot.

Vaas approached the team that Garith had assembled, and surveyed the men. The troopers were equipped with camouflaged gear that would allow them to blend in better with their surroundings than their normal white-clad Stormtrooper brethren.

"Men," Vaas addressed the squadron as the men stood at attention, "You may be at ease. I thank you for responding to this hastily assembled operation quickly. Now, this will be a covert operation. Our initial intel reported zero hostile activity in these jungles surrounding the base, however the action on the ground quickly proved those reports wrong. The enemy are unknown in number, but we believe them to be conducting their operations from a clandestine base area somewhere in the close vicinity. It will be our job to find this enemy base, and if possible, destroy it ourselves. If not possible, we will radio the coordinates back to the Forward Command Center and assemble an air strike."

The General's boots came to a stop on the steel landing pad below his feet as carryalls containing supplies were unloaded behind him.

"I will be assuming personal command of this operation, with Lieutenant Garith second-in-command," He continued. "There will be no need for heroics on this mission. Stealth is our highest priority, and if we can keep our parameters to strictly surveillance, I will be most satisfied with that. Do not engage the enemy without direct orders, unless stealth has been compromised. Trackers and bushcraft specialists will lead the way. Is that clear, men?"

A booming refrain of Yes Sir answered his question.

"Very well then. Move out."

As the men loaded up to move out, Vaas moved alongside Amin. "Liutenant, I want you to make sure none of our team strays too far away. Ragtag and pathetic as these aliens are, I believe our recon teams have not given them their due credit. They know this terrain, we don't. I don't want any ambushes."