Junction In The Flesh | Battle of Yinchorr [ NIO+Yinchorr , GA+Wakeelmui ]

[Allyson Locke]

//: G L I T T E R & G O L D //:
//: Galactic Alliance //: Zaavik Perl //:
//: New Imperial Order //: Rurik Fel //: Dorian Sicarrio //:

​

The attack came as he spoke; Allyson moved quickly, avoiding the slice to her abdomen. His second attack came, trying to finish what he had already started with the motion. A blur of azure light crashed against his blade, pushing it aside and away from her. She didn't counter but took a step back, keeping the blade ready. She was no swordsman, but she wasn't a pushover. ​

​

From the corner of her eyes, she watched Zaavik struggle. She couldn't let him get hurt here, not again. Was this what it was to be a Master? To watch over your student even when every ounce of your being wants to run. Another step back, Allyson let the typical cocky attitude Corellians were known for show as she shook her head. "I didn't run Rurik. I was knee-deep in Sith territory recovering information for our respective governments. Every fight, I risked my life, I gave up everything, to ensure the fall of the Sith." Rurik reminded her of almost everyone in the NJO; they all assumed she had run off doing what she pleased in the Empire. No one understood the risk; no one would ever understand that risk. ​

​

"At every battle, I sabotaged the Sith behind their lines. I lost everything to this damn war the Jedi and the Imperials are fighting with the Sith." It felt good to say all of this; she didn't know Rurik beyond his mission dossier. He spoke as if she knew her if he knew more about her than she really thought anyone did. Part of it made her nervous; she knew some she was close with that rubbed close elbows with the Imperials. Did Loske betray her? A sickening feeling twisted in her stomach; she knew the woman wasn't' good at keeping secrets - her bachelorette party showed that. ​

​

It didn't matter now. Allyson shook her head. "Can't discipline a Corellian Rurik." A small smile curled at her lips as she shrugged. "You call it a cult, but who's the one wearing a weird mask and a hood? My issue is how you turn your back so easily on once allies. First, the Sith that fought under you and now the Alliance. You offer redemption, but at what cost? Will you turn your back on me once my purpose in your plans have been fulfilled?"​

 

[Spencer Varanin]

//: Undisclosed Planet //:
//: Outer Rim //:
//: BYOO //:
//: Kiskla Grayson-Matteo //:

---

---

​

For some reason, Spencer found her spectral form bound to the Jedi Master. They were passing ships in their glory days, fighting either on opposite sides or on the same. Neither thoroughly having a moment to truly get to know each other. They were known in stories, their heroism taught to the youth. While Kiskla’s tale was one of greatness and guidance, Spencer’s was a tale of warning, a way to keep the young from following temptation. Both women followed their hearts and led very different but similar lives.​

The storms, something that the former Queen of Eshan had become known for. Despite her being gone from the living world, they continued to brew much like her legacy. As Kiskla spoke, Spencer materialized and stood near the tall and proud Kiffar woman.​

“They were fun, you know, difficult, but the more you did them, the easier they became.” There was a playful tone in the spectral voice as she mused over the adventures she had. “There was a time, after Atrisia, that I had thrown a tantrum nearly swallowed a moon whole with one of these.”​

So graceful was the former Grand Master, Spencer glanced towards her and shrugged. “You should try it sometime.”​

Though the spirit didn’t need to say it, she already felt the swirling emotions, the ones that summoned the Force, the ones that controlled the storm cry out. A small smile curled at the ends of the Echani’s lips as she watched the storm respond to the woman, shifting and guiding between what was the light and what was the dark. Swirling chaos with a serene center. Spencer waited as everything happened.​

“This is the power of the Force.” She finally spoke. “For so long, we focus ourselves on one side or the other claiming the opposite of what we are is evil or corrupt.” She looked away from the woman, “When in reality the Force has no bias to which side it prefers. The Force, in its purest state, is both light and dark, good and evil - we’re the ones that make the Force choose sides, but in the end - when we die we become and understand the entirety of the Force.”​

Spencer knew why she had been called; she knew why she was attached to the woman. She wondered why the one most precious to the Jedi wasn’t the one to come retrieve her. She asked if, like her wife, her purpose in the afterlife was something more. Yet to guide souls to the afterlife, to become one with the Force wasn’t one she felt she was fit for. Either way, Kiskla needed to come to that conclusion hopefully soon - Spencer hated being the bearer of bad news.​

“Do you understand it? Do you feel why the Force is most powerful when both Light and Dark exist?” Spencer paused and sighed. She was here for a reason, and she needed Kiskla to know that. Silence fell between them as she thought, wondering how to phrase it.​

“Kiskla, you know why I’m here, right?” The storm continued, “Why you feel drawn to places like this? Providing the balance the storm needs?”​

 

[Dracken Pryce]

Location: ANS Ouroboros
Objective: Reinforce GA position and let Chancellor do her talky talk
GA: Adhira Chandra Teica Giraan
NIO: Irveric Tavlar Tyrell Paxxus Robogeber

Spoiler

He brought a fleet

Somehow the Galactic Alliance had provoked the New Imperial Order into mobilizing against Yinchorr and now his words were coming back to haunt him. It wasn't that he minded being sent to battle, that was his job, he was a High Admiral and flag officer of one of the most powerful ships in the GA's fleet. What bothered him was that he was also now apparently a taxi service for diplomats. He checked the countdown on his command chair's console. About a minute until they reverted to realspace. He stood up and sighed. Better get the Chancellor ready.

"General, you have the bridge." The man saluted and took his seat in Pryce's command chair. Pryce made his way across the expansive bridge to his office nestled in the starboard section of the bridge. He scanned incoming battle reports as he did so, grimacing at the casualties and the projected NIO military force. Multiple legions, chief among them the 501st and 307th, the elite of the elite. Battlecruisers and reports of the Tregessar. The GA had a small force on the planet, but nowhere near large enough to repel an attack of that magnitude. Had they brought enough to take back control of the system? He didn't know.

He cursed as the doors slid open to his office. It was about as large as his offices on Coruscant and Corellia and gave a nice view of the starlines of hyperspace as they stretched out again and reverted to pinpricks of light on the dark canvas of open space. He checked the timer on his chrono again, fixed his uniform cuff, and stood at parade rest with his hands clasped behind his back before the internal com screen, the symbol of a starbird spinning as it attempted to make the connection to the Chancellor's suite somewhere deeper in the bowels of the Ouroboros. Connection established he offered a crisp salute and began to speak.

​

"Chancellor, we've arrived at the Yinchorr system. You are free to use the bridge for your message. An escort will be waiting for you outside of your suite." He doubted a few fancy words would stop this, it had snowballed into an avalanche and all-out war with the NIO was all but inevitable now outside of a miracle. May the Force be with us all if it came to that, the young Admiral thought.

Side Story Objective: Extract GA VIPs from the surface
​

The ANS Kakarot dropped out of hyperspace alongside the relief fleet, Captain Morgan Disayakes at the helm as usual. He reached up and clicked a few switches and eased the control yoke back a tad as they reverted to realspace. His co-pilot, the ever-alluring Jasna, was also furiously at work re-activating combat systems that were shut down for hyperspace travel, essentially waking it up.

"Shields active," she said and as if to corroborate her claim, the console on his dashboard lit up with a silhouette of the Kakarot, a Nimbus-class gunship, and indicated the shields with a blue circle around it. He heard clanking behind them and the door to the small bridge, more of a four-person coockpit, opened up. A tall man clad in GA Commando Armor. Adorned with red-orange markings on his helmet, a black pauldron on his left shoulder, and a rather large beskad on his back the man was kitted out to the nines. Curiously, while his armor was that of a Commando, he used a modified version of the standard Marine helmet. 'More comfortable,' he'd said when Disayakes had asked him about it earlier. Disayakes let out a low whistle as he pulled the gunship into a dive towards the planet's surface.

"Never expected I'd be flying special forces," he said, rolling out of the way of a laser cannon bolt. The ship shuddered from the maneuver and the Commando had to steady himself with one of the back of his co-pilot's chair. She cursed in annoyance at that.

"That's the point of special forces kid. How long till we touch down?" The Captain shrugged.

"2 minutes give or take."

"Good, I'll make sure the contact is ready for extraction." The commando turned from the cockpit and put two fingers to his helmet's left side. Whatever he was saying had been smothered by internal dampening though so Disayakes couldn't hear anything.

"How do we always get put on errand runs in the middle of battles Captain?" the Devaronian co-pilot asked. Disayakes just shrugged and flipped another switch as they rocketed towards the atmosphere of the planet.

 

[Irveric Tavlar]

I M P E R A T O R
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
NIV DISSIDENT AGGRESSOR | SOVEREIGN-CLASS STAR DREADNOUGHT
I M P E R I A L S
FOCUS | Adhira Chandra
Dracken Pryce | Robogeber

The Lord Executor was his will where he could not be and he would be lying if he did not outright approve the use of military force on Yinchorr. However, the winds of change flew far faster than any could anticipate. These winds blew the news of a new alignment, a new Galactic order formed in the shadows around the New Imperial Order and Galactic Alliance, two governments once able to stand shoulder to shoulder in favor of a common nemesis.

"And you are certain Yinchorr requires your direct presence, Sir?" Admiral Var Koon inquired outright to his superior, though a known confidant of Irveric, he was not stepping out of line to do so.

"It does. Bring your battlegroup from hyperspace, signal to Robogeber to stand down. Open a line of communication from the Alliance commander present." Irveric says, still sporting the characteristic coldness in his tone.

All but an outright war had erupted with the Galactic Alliance now, not that it wasn't anything Tavlar anticipated, he wanted them to blink, realize Tavlar's precedence to act instead of speak.

Taking the comms, the Kel Dor took to diplomacy once more in a naval stand off, much as he did in the New Imperial Order's first encounter with the First Order.

"Grand Admiral Rausgeber. It is my duty to enforce the Imperator's request that your forces stand down, I shall contact the Alliance to do the same. Stand by, the Sovereign Imperator is here to...handle this crisis." The Kel Dor says, moments later he hails the ANS Ouroboros, to establish contact with High Admiral Dracken Pryce of the Galactic Alliance.

"High Admiral Pryce. It is a shame that we meet on these circumstances. I have been told to instruct you and your fleet...to stand down and the New Imperial Armada shall oblige, the Sovereign Imperator is present and aims to solve this crisis, as am I sure the presence of the Ouroboros means the arrival of the Chancellor, coordinates will be relayed to you of a meeting point on the surface for our heads of state." The holofeed concluded with a nod from the Kel Dor before it fizzled to a close.

With his contingent of Nova Commandos, the Sovereign Imperator disembarked toward the arid surface of Yinchorr.

Secluded, a cliff side with the battle raging in Tol Kachorn at the edge of the horizon, the Sovereign Imperator stepped out from his shuttle, a cigar between his lips and freshly donned in his uniform fit for a military dictator, awaiting his elected counterpart from the Core.

 

[Adhira Chandra]

DEEP BREATH​

​

The idea that the Chancellor of the Galactic Alliance had intended to travel to the site of what might become the most pivotal battle in recent galactic history was unheard of on Coruscant. Or it would have been, had Adhira Chandra not occupied that office. As it was, when the Chancellor boarded the ANS Ouroboros with a detachment of Senate Commandos at her feet, the weak protests of the bureaucrats on the capital world were an afterthought. The dusky Balmorran had resolved to be in attendance when they finally claimed victory over the Yinchorri resistance if only to run it in Irveric Tavlar's smug face during their next unfortunate meeting.​

​

What the elder stateswoman had not expected as the Alliance flagship lurched out of hyperspace, was to be hailed almost immediately by an opposing dreadnaught. Yet, shortly following the communique by High Admiral Dracken Pryce , that was precisely what happened. Adhira was nestled deep in the bowels of the Alliance ship, in a pure white room that constituted the traveling office of the Chancellor. Her dark eyes watched skeptically as the NIO soldier declared that the coordinates of a supposed meeting place would be relayed.​

​

"He aims to solve this crisis?" Adhira spat incredulously at the feed relaying to her office from the holodeck. Several military officers and political advisors had joined the Chancellor's entourage and looked equally as perplexed by the sudden announcement of potential peace talks. "What is Tavlar playing at?" She hissed, collapsing back into the high backed durasteel chair. The woman was wearing a skin-tight, pitch-black pantsuit with golden accents, fitting of a queen riding into battle and she could feel the weight of the solid gold choker laced around her neck relieved when she pressed against the back of the seat.​

​

Her advisors seemed just as caught off guard and surprised as she was by the sudden invitation. She initially thought a grand idea might be to accept the coordinates for the meeting and launch an orbital bombardment, but something told her this was not a ploy by the Imperator to win one over on her.​

Ultimately, though, Adhira decided that the best course of action would be to relent and join her rival on the planet surface. Granted, the Chancellor was transported in a heavily armored gunship and escorted by a squadron of fighters that screamed overhead as her transport landed and the diminutive woman disembarked through the gaping maw that opened up onto Yinchorr's surface. She was not accompanied by the same detachment of Senate Commandos who joined her on the Startide, but rather walked alone, carefully placing her pitch-black heels so as not to lose her step.​

Irveric Tavlar ​

 

[Irveric Tavlar]

I M P E R A T O R
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
YINCHORR
T H E _ T H I N _ I C E
FOCUS | Adhira Chandra
Dracken Pryce | Robogeber

The Nova Commandos spoke in esoteric exchange, their voices concealed, scrambled and re ordered by their modified vocoders. Irveric knew well the vulnerability of his position, easily open and ready to be fired upon by the Alliance fleet, their starfighter corps. Though the last he fell victim to direct orbital strike, it was Mandalore. What came after, the Sith knew well of the retribution that followed the punished. He doubted the Alliance would be so foolish.

After all, they were once tentative allies.

The Alliance landing party arrived to no lesser fanfare than Tavlar and soon enough, his Coreward counter part made due, appearing before him ready to bring war to his New Imperial Order at the head of a host herself. A posturing all its own, even if subliminal. Though he doubted she would truly be up to the task, not as Irveric had proven time and time again to be, pressing his boots on the ground time and time again against the Sith Empire.

But he was by no means a politician, this new profession tempered purely through the fires of action foremost though an officer's education certainly helped him sell the facade of the glad hands over the pragmatist military man he was.

"Chancellor. Good to finally meet in the flesh." He steps forward, ripping a draw of his cigar before offering a cybernetic hand to her. Though not his natural dominant hand, it was always a subliminal gesture to that adjacent from him. That he was not afraid of strife or consequence as if the missing eye, embedded Beskar horn and several weary scars and old burns didn't do the trick alone.

The crack and clammor of warfare in the distance didn't seem to phase him, even if it was men and women willed at his command to bring fire down unto those of her ilk.

Such was politics, even if the nuance here was far greater than what he was about to explain.

"It is most beneficial that I was able to meet with you directly instead of a proxy for...well...new information come to light has made the tension between Empire and Alliance so much of a...pointless game." He takes in a draw of his cigar, staring out toward Tol Kachorn before he begins to explain.

"It's no secret, the operations our two regimes have been conducting on the other. Underhanded they may be...one looks out for their interests in the grandest scheme, as muddy as the waters might turn. And that is why I seek to meet with you here." He iterates.

"By any projection, my forces will break through the defenses of Tol Kachorn and meet their objectives. Superior numbers, an uneven defense and superior experience...the writing is on the wall. And here, today...is where this frivolous conflict need end. Our operations toward the Core are...needless to say, fruitless...compared to what I am about to embark upon...have you heard the news as of late?" Irveric inquires, arching a brow as the cigar meets his lips again.

 

[Adhira Chandra]

Of the two, it was undeniable that Adhira was the senior, yet when the woman who led the Alliance stood in the presence of the Imperator, she realized how difficult it was to tell which of them was older. Irveric Tavlar has obviously been through or perhaps seen a great many things that made him appear almost as old as the Chancellor. Given that the two galactic leaders had only ever met before through holoprojections, it was no surprise how unfamiliar they were with their counterpart's true appearance.​

Cautiously, she accepted the handshake, though she was careful not to allow her hand to linger too long in his grasp. She was seemingly alone on Yinchorr's surface, but in the distance behind her, the gunship's canons were locked on Tavlar's location. 'Trust, but verify' was a good motto to live by in her opinion. "I would hardly call repelling your increasing encroachment on our sovereignty a pointless game, Imperator," she retorted haughtily at his opening statement, realizing too late how inhospitable it made her sound. Her dark eyes watched the man's face as he continued, studying his expression while he detailed a supposed greater threat to the galaxy.​

If Adhira had considered herself a touch more naive, she would have considered this all a ploy by the New Imperial Order to lower her guard or better yet, execute her. And though she snorted at the implication that Yinchorr was all but assuredly going to become NIO property in the next several hours, she knew secretly that her forces had not prepared to wage full-scale war to secure the planet. Instead, the Alliance forces were rendezvousing on nearby Wakeelumi to secure the sector against NIO dominance. This unfortunate reality meant one thing: Irveric Tavlar was being genuine.​

"That the political authorities within Silver territory have chosen to align themselves with the Sith Empire?" she said knowingly in response. "Yes, I am aware."​

"I have also heard that Imperial forces have started to amass near the Dantooine sector's outer territorial sphere," she continued, beginning to realize what the point of this little meeting might be after all. "Your forces are going to war... again..." she measured her tone so as not to seem quite like she was piecing things together in the moment.​

Irveric Tavlar

 

[Irveric Tavlar]

I M P E R A T O R
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
YINCHORR
FOCUS | Adhira Chandra

The most peculiar thing about the Sovereign Imperator was that in fullness, he never truly lied outright too often. If his words never exposed his intent, his actions certainly managed it. But as Emmen Tagge described to his face, he was only truly seen in the Galactic Alliance's Core as a 'truly despicable man', not that he could mouth anything in defiance to the claim, given his service record to the Sith.

Even his supposed road to redemption had been winding and rocky.

To her initial, abrasive comment, Irveric all but glanced in her direction, the cigar meeting his lips once more. It was irrelevant, this belligerency. He wasn't going to stoke the flames nor was he going to reveal his hand so soon.

"Confederacy, Silver Jedi and Sith Empire all in one place...I had no mole in the room, I have no true insight to what they might have talked about there. I could only guess it might have been the Confederates acting to mediate peace between the Silver Jedi and Sith...or perhaps it is indeed a pact in full. Regardless, none of it bodes well for me, my Order...nor does it for you and the Alliance." Irveric says, his lungs taking in another puff of that sweetened smoke.

"If these Silver Jedi are able to broker peace with Sith Empire...our differences seem...trivial. And this spells a great subversion of the powers around us. But in truth, Miss Adhira...the war never ended. And I'm not prepared to end it until the Iron Sun rises over Dromund Kaas and the Empire is returned to the Imperial, the very people who'd built it and not the death cult which currently rules over it." Irveric explains.

"Whatever eyes you have, see the truth. Dantooine is my home. My upbringing was far below the mean but...its home. And its sending a message to the Sith...that isn't over until its over. Until its over on my terms." Irveric states candidly.

"My people had their rest...but until the darkness dies, until the Sith Empire is vanquished along with all these delusional sycophants who protect it, there will be no peace. Not for you, not for me. Their code decrees it. That peace is a lie. And so...whatever differences our states have. Bury them. For the foreseeable future...there is far too much injustice and subversion within our nearest neighbors to ever justify our conflict. Say what you will of the New Imperial Order...you can at the very least trust in our penchant to rid the Sith from this realm...something you can not say the same for of the Silver Jedi...by some bewildering measure." The Imperator states, bewildered by the shift in the winds of fate. The Silver Jedi might have been quick to forgive and compromise.

He would not.

 

[Kiskla Grayson-Matteo]

HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS

GHOST MOTHER
UNDISCLOSED PLANET // OUTER RIM // BYOO
INTERACTION: Spencer Varanin // CLOSED
S U S P I R I U M

---

---

​

“They were fun, you know, difficult, but the more you did them, the easier they became.”
“There was a time, after Atrisia, that I had thrown a tantrum nearly swallowed a moon whole with one of these.”
“You should try it sometime.”

“You were more emotional than me.”

That was an understatement. The woman who looked to be a flower was made of sheer iron. Impenetrable on every level.

Kiskla was surprised she was able to hear Spencer’s voice so penetratingly above the storm. It wasn’t until she listened to what Spencer was saying that she understood why. A sombre, knowing smile flickered across her lips amidst the chaos that threatened to tear her flesh asunder.

“This is the power of the Force.”
“For so long, we focus ourselves on one side or the other claiming the opposite of what we are is evil or corrupt.”

“Ah.” Was all she murmured in comprehension, raising her hands. Lightning encircled her fingertips, tendrils roaming freely about her extended arms. It danced and sparked, burning at the Matron Master with incredible fury. She did little to abate it, only clenched her teeth in response to the agonizing sensation. It was physical, attacking a temporary vessel that held her power for decades. An imperfect construct that lived out the Force’s requirements.

Somehow, over the din of the tempest, Kiskla was able to take a deep breath. The air she inhaled was sharp, full of grime and small stones. And dust. The dust that she’d been created from, once upon a time. From dust she was born, to dust, she would return.

“When in reality the Force has no bias to which side it prefers. The Force, in its purest state, is both light and dark, good and evil - we’re the ones that make the Force choose sides, but in the end - when we die we become and understand the entirety of the Force.”

The understanding that came was like a sedative. Serenity eclipsed the tired warrior as she grew number and number to the external stimuli that bruised and beat her apart. The first layer of her flesh was well and raw now, exposing the redness underneath. Her clothing shredded and whirling about like an emerging lotus or Venus.

The dreams she’d been having complemented the direction the Echani royal was taking her. And now she was contaminated with the truth, unable to deny the requirements of fission and The Force.

Eventually, the clouds pulsed in synchronicity with Spencer’s words. Consolidating the spectre with the overcast.

This space was dark, wicked, and evil. The shadows were repulsed by the energy exemplified by the woman’s graceful focus. In a typhoon so opaque, she’d have to outshine it. Total light to neutralize the darkness so they might find balance in nothingness. In response and to evidence her understanding, the brilliance of her radiant luminescence grew, swelling and devouring the lightning that charred her body.

“Do you understand it? Do you feel why the Force is most powerful when both Light and Dark exist?”
“Kiskla, you know why I’m here, right?”
“Why you feel drawn to places like this? Providing the balance the storm needs?”

Speaking was difficult. Her first attempts were torn from her throat and consumed by the battle of brilliance and blackness around her. Then she focused inward to that neutral space. The core of self that would prevail on, should this transition be successful.

Gently, the woman’s fingers started to move as if she were rolling and contorting the storm. Gradations of success started to manifest, parts of the thunderous squall folding and fading away drawing closer and closer inward. Back to that neutral centre.

“Support.” Was her laconic response. The Dark and the Lightside coexisted in a world of everlasting support. They were codependent.

As dependent as the woman who’d always prided herself on self-sustaining solitude and independence was on Spencer Varanin. Spencer Varanin was now here for support for the final transition. The Storm’s entirety was waning. Growing tighter and more controlled within the shredded, exhausted Jedi Master. It still managed to steal tears from her, an emotion that never stained her cheeks and was quickly ensnared by the rapid winds.

From a distance, one would see the clouds condensing and that little dot of unflickering light starting to outshine the darkness.

In the end, that light would implode. The clouds would neutralize and nothing would exist in that space other than scorched earth and remnants of shredded robes.

 

[Teica Giraan]

[This message is to be ignored at all costs. I have replaced the original content due to the transfer of information to me, stating that there as an order for a cease-fire. I apologize for not paying attention to that detail when the message was put out, and also for the amount of space this filler paragraph is taking up. Wait...I said that this message was to be ignored at all costs, why are you still reading?]​

 

[Shaka Sunstar]

From every direction it felt as if there was hostile intent in the streets.

"Set weapons to stun. No one needs to die today."

The Jedi Knight took lead, only a few metres ahead of the marines he was leading behind him. As soon as onlookers caught sight of the torn up group, intents vanished, the malicious and cowardly hopes of those that hid in the shadows to prey on the few disappearing when their perceived advantage was abruptly lost.

From time to time they were set upon by those of the warrior caste, units bolstered by their Imperial trainers.

Quickly dispatched, they were left unconscious or limbless, the young Thyrsian hasty in dispensing brutal, but efficient mutilation of hostile limbs that existed in close proximity to him. With little more than a blink and a glance over his shoulder at the devastation they left behind.

"We continue our sweep until we get the call to pull out.

Here."

He stopped at the side of a doorway, its door hanging off of its hinges beside the entrance into the building. Behind him, the marines stacked up, and he depressed the ignition button on his hilt, sapphire beam sprouting to life as he stepped through into the darkness.

 

[Gala Geert]

OPERATION: SCREAMING VENGEANCE

ENGAGING: Jaeger Harrsk // Djorn Bline // Kolson Vrask // Meko Sorrin // Simon Meinrad // Gedeon Rath
R E L A X

​

Didn’t matter who was on the other end of the barrel so long as they stayed there and the credits stayed in her account. Little lives didn’t count in the grander scheme of things, but little credits collected and grew into more and more impressive amounts. Amounts enough to purchase a much-needed beach vacation.

Wearily, Gala rubbed at her eyes.

The Jedi were charged with encouraging the salvation of The Council. The Twilight Company was charged with giving them enough time to reach that conclusion.

The Yinchorri were lizards. Of course they were aware of the sewers. Fighting within them was dangerous for typical armaments, however, so the Twilight squadron had been advised to crouch in rooftops and wait.

Poking her tongue against the edge of the cigarra, she maneuvered it from one corner of her mouth to the other. Restless, she shifted her weight and kept her gaze trained through the scope.

After what felt like hours, the faux sniper was rewarded. The intersection of the + framed a silhouette emerging from the location the Yinchorri had promised. “Ah huh. Hello.” She chuckled, replacing sound with a knowing smirk and involuntarily tightening her position to hunch tighter toward the rifle. Shooting from afar felt like a copout, when she was so used to getting in close and personal, but there was certain preciseness to it she could appreciate.

"Hey, hey, hey –– Gladio. Hold that thought. That shot. Hold that shot. Don’t take the shot."

"Huh?" Forsaking the perfect alignment, the Mirialin whipped around –– shock plainly evidenced on her green face. "You kidding me right now, Lieutenant?"

"Absolutely not. I’m getting ––" The lieutenant held up her hand, raising one finger as the universal indicator for one-moment-please. "Yeah, I’m getting orders from command to stand down.

Apparently, the big dogs are just barking, not biting."

Unimpressed, the woman rolled her shoulders in a shrug to communicate her disgust with the wishy-washiness of this approach.

"We still getting paid for the job?"

The lieutenant looked at her blankly. "I..suppose so. Salary and all that."

Grinning, Gala re-nestled back into her position and peered back down her scope. "Feth ‘em then. Who’s gonna tattle on a little timing?"

"N-no! No you can’t! Orders!" The lieutenant sprang forward, protesting right as Gala pulled the trigger.

The discreetly positioned Imperial men would find a streak of black etched into the ground an inch or two from their boots. The fortunate target of her sniper rifle, instead of their chests.

"Ah calm down Lieutenant, s’just a warning shot. Remind them not to take their lives for granted for the Imperial cause and all that. Shoulda seen your face."

Exasperated, the Lieutenant slid down the wall beside Gala and removed her hat, crumpling it up into a tight knot and wringing it out again as a way to manage the interaction’s stress.

In a cool contrast, Gala took a final triumphant drag and flicked the cindering cigarra through the window to the streets below.

​

​

 

[Aerarii Tithe]

LOCATION: Tol-Kachorn, Yinchorr
OBJECTIVE: Operation Screaming Vengeance
ALLIES: Auteme | Gala Geert | GA
ENEMIES: Kolson Vrask | Djorn Bline | Daros Karmann | Jaeger Harrsk | NIO
KIT: Lesser Ring of the Protected Mind | Taxman's Embrace | Visions of Gold | REC-LA/02 Combat Armour
POST: IV

His final piece of evidence came from the enemy themselves.

Tithe’s up-armoured transport drew to the stop out the front of the Council of Elders headquarters. His Yinchorri escorts dismounted first, scanning up and down the street with their blaster rifles. Once the coast was clear, the Senator joined them outside the vehicle and hurried up the stairs toward the main entrance.

Near the threshold they found three Galactic Alliance marines sprawled out on the ground. One of the Yinchorri reached down and held a scaled hand to the neck of a downed soldier to check her pulse. “Stunned,” the Yinchorri grunted.

The armed group took a moment to arrange themselves before moving slowly into the headquarters with their blasters at the ready. Tithe held back - there was clearly a threat inside. But as he looked up and down the street, explosions rumbled in the distance and starfighters swooped low overhead. Thick smoke from the riots around the city hung in the air as the ionised smell of blaster discharge clung to the air around him. He was no safer out here on his own. Muttering an Aarguun curse, he followed his escorts through into the building.

They immediately encountered the enemy combatants.

The group, armed to the teeth and dress for covert actions, reacted instantly to the presence of Tithe and the Yinchorri. Half of the group pivoted effortlessly to bring their weapons to bear on the new arrivals, while the remainder kept their blasters levelled at the Galactic Alliance marines, who likewise had their blasters in the firing position.

“Hold, hold!” The officer in charge of the marines waved to the Yinchorri to hold their fire. He slowly lowered his blaster to a low-ready position, signalling a de-escalation in the standoff. “Orders are to stand down,” he explained. “Both sides.”

The Senator took a moment to examine the enemy forces assembled before him. They certainly weren’t Sith-Imperial - none of their equipment matched what the Sith Legion deployed with, and no fanatically brainwashed Legionnaire would ever hold their fire, even when it was in their best interests. Mercenaries he suspected, or special forces. Could it be that he’d finally caught the New Imperial Order in the act?

Whoever they were, Tithe - unarmed beyond his largely-ornamental electrohammer - liked the sound of standing down. “If I may be so bold - on whose orders?”

“The Chancellor's,” explained the officer, before looking to the intruders. “And the Imperator's.”

 

[Adhira Chandra]

Adhira's full, dark painted lips were slowly disappearing into a thin line of consternation as the Imperial leader seemed to be gearing up for a tangent. She was beginning to suspect that perhaps he had lured her to the planet's surface to talk her to death. Maybe he was hoping she would surrender in return for his silence. Yet, she had to admit that as much as she despised standing there and listening as he pontificated, everything he said was true. Her expression softened.​

"A lifetime of sparkling conversation, gone in a flash," she chided him dryly, but her eyes were much kinder than her tone and she sighed audibly. "Though, I suppose you have a point. If the Silver Jedi... or, I suppose, just their new government, have decided to set aside millennia of bad blood with the Sith... no matter their justification, then our current conflict does seem small." Even as she said the words they left a bad taste in her mouth. It would not have been long before the Imperials were knocking on her front door... they were relenting, but for how long. As Irveric began to speak about trusting the New Imperial Order, the Chancellor had clearly heard enough of that. She snorted loudly.​

"Trust? You? No farther then I can throw you, I'm afraid, even now -- especially now," her hands clasped together at her hips and she began to twist one of her rings, the gears turning in her mind. "So, you are going to invade the Sith? At Dantooine?" She decided to shift the conversation in a different direction. "And... in light of that, our minuscule differences no longer justify this conflict, in your mind?" Adhira was no fool, but it was undeniable that the Sith were truly the greater threat to the galaxy. She knew the consequences that the Order would face, militarily, if they were forced to fight a war on two fronts and when they wrote her name in the history books, she would be damned if an annotation attributed her with assuring the victory of the Sith.​

"If you dragged me to this karking planet to propose an alliance, save your breath, Tavlar," she said harshly, "the Alliance will not risk the security of our nation again. We will not be joining you on Dantooine... and there will be no cooperative treaty." Adhira took a breath to make clear that she was not yet finished speaking, instead of driving straight on into the next sentence.​

"But we will not hinder your efforts, either... an armistice. The Galactic Alliance and the New Imperial Order will cease hostilities - and I will not prevent any of my people from choosing to come to your people's aid... but our fleet will be busy elsewhere." She did not know where or when, but she had already quietly decided that it was high time the Alliance rejoins the effort against the Sith, but this time on their own terms. "Are we agreed, Imperator?"​

Irveric Tavlar

 

[Irveric Tavlar]

I M P E R A T O R
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
YINCHORR
N O _ Q U A R T E R
FOCUS | Adhira Chandra

He understood the reluctance and bitterness that existed in Adhira's tone and attitude, after all he'd been forced to swallow the same demeanor when he'd worked side by side with the Sith. If anything was going to show the lengths that bitter alliance could stretch, Kyber Dark was the point at which it broke. But if the Alliance was to hold any moral ground over him and his Order, things would never approach that point.

"I'm not out to convince you or anyone else to trust me, my people, my government. I truly don't give a damn if you do or not. Just about everyone would be in their right mind not to. What you can trust, are actions." Tavlar states outright.

"I'll be leading the offensive into the Dantooine Sector personally. On the ground. As I did at Muunilinst, Dubrillion, Bastion. I will be there." Tavlar says, rattling off the names of some of the more significant engagements in the Third Imperial Civil War, the Braxant Campaign being all but the machination of his strategic mind. Whatever his merit as a politician was, his ability as a military commander was seemingly unmatched.

Even if he anticipated a showing from the entire Galaxy in defiance to his march, he would muster every fiber to make certain that Dantooine would be no exception.

"I'd not be so foolish to expect an Alliance. What might be a necessary measure is a coalition to contain, fight and destroy the Sith Eternal and the Bryn'adul Horde. Whatever you think of me, I don't care. What you must not mistake is my intention to see it to that horrid state need not curse our Galaxy for any longer than it takes for my fighting men and women to march on Dromund Kaas." Tavlar states in reply, offering his cybernetic hand for Chandra to shake once more.

"Armistice it is then. Yinchorr will be the last either of us see of the New Imperial Order and Galactic Alliance draw the blood of one another. Not if we are to uphold ourselves as states true to our consciousness." Tavlar states, turning to begin to walk away, flicking his cigar into the direct beneath.

"The Galactic Alliance readies itself for war again, in full disclosure. On far greater scale than any deployment to the Braxant Run. I can only assume it will be those mutant freaks or the depraved Sith that see the retribution. Never the less, do remember what was told unto me once by an old friend of mine, a Jedi." He says, beginning to walk away.

"I know my destiny Chancellor Chandra. The Force has one for you as well. You can't hide from it, perhaps it's time you embrace it." He said, evoking Lanik Dawnstar . Eventually offering a smirk in her direction before he motions his index finger in a loop of the air, rallying his escort toward the shuttle as the ramp lowered and he stepped aboard.

 

[Spencer Varanin]

//: Undisclosed Planet //:
//: Outer Rim //:
//: BYOO //:
//: In My Daughter's Eyes //:
//: Kiskla Grayson-Matteo //:

---

---

​

The storm continued, and Spencer watched it, the energy it had, fueled by the Jedi Master as it found the balance it had been starved of. Kiskla was as bright as she always was. Spencer smiled, seeing that the tales of the Kiffar woman were true. There was no one better during their time to have led the Jedi such as she had. A soft chuckle escaped the specter, "I was." Emotions were something she was allowed to feel, encouraged to feel by her Master. The young empath grew up combating and denying feelings for so long that when she learned to harness them, it was addicting. ​

Kiskla knew what her visitation meant, which was good. It meant, on a level, the Jedi had already accepted the fate that had been presented before her. Some desired to continue to live the mortal life and fought the inevitable end of their stories. There was a beauty in the woman beside her that many never would get to see or experience. The moment one accepts their own mortality when they realize that they've done enough and their time in this life is over. ​

The serenity and the calm that washed over one's face was beautiful. ​

"Yes, I'm here to support you, Kiskla - it's funny how the galaxy works. I like to think we're two sides of the same coin. I remember stories about you; I had always wanted to fight by your side." Spencer paused as she nodded. "Beyond that, we're both mothers." ​

Remembering her own last moments, her mind trailed to her children, knowing that she would be leaving them behind. She wondered if they would mourn her, be upset with her, or realize they didn't need her. They weren't done growing up in her eyes; she wanted to be with them for every heartbreak, every victory, and every quiet moment where they needed someone just to tell them everything was going to be okay. Sighing softly, her translucent hands hovered over the Jedi's.​

"My last moments, as I bound my being with Alekto, my thoughts were not on the galaxy as a whole or the pissing match between Jedi and Sith - I wondered if I had made a mistake. I wondered if I had done everything in my power to provide a good life, good morals, and the love that my children needed." ​

Light began to break through the clouds, speckling and radiating through, "I wondered if my most important job in this life had been done right and if they really knew how much I loved them." ​

Spencer knew she had done everything she could, she wasn't perfect, but she wished there was someone that had told her she had done a good job. Going into the next life wondering and begging the Force to protect her children, knowing that she would no longer be able to, it ate at her. ​

Maybe that's why she was here - to give that support that she so desperately needed to someone else, someone who was just like her but different in so many ways. ​

"She'll be okay. She's got so much of you in her. I only met her in passing, but she's a good kid - the future is safe in her hands and in the generation coming after us. Right now, it seems so scary for them, but they'll figure it out, just like we did." ​

Looking up, Spencer saw the storm starting to glow brightly with the Light of the Force.​

"Kiskla, it's time." A hand reached out towards the Jedi, drawing her into the bright light of a new beginning. "Loske will always have you by her side - she'll never be alone, I promise, as a Mother to a Mother." ​

 

[Teica Giraan]

[Location: Bridge of the Peacemaker]

The bridge was quiet, and filled with the aroma of anticipation from the crew. Teica ran a pair of dancing fingers along the arm of her chair. Starring at the viewscreen, her eyes scanned through the image of stationary star destroyers, seeming to glare at the Galactic Alliance and Zero Command ships around the battlefield.

The wait drove her mad, but she hid it well. Taptaptaptap. The speed of her fingers increased, just earlier they had been walking along the chair arm, but now they started jogging, then running. Then, nothing. She put both hands together and buried her face inside. The universe is taunting us...at least someone's having fun.

Her head dashed up to face the screen. The Imperials had to be firing. Nothing, nothing but ships standing still in a black ocean. This is good...nobody's dying, why am I disappointed?

"Are you sure we received a genuine order to stand down?" she made eye contact with the communications officer.

The lieutenant nodded. Could've been a trick...maybe everyone received a fake.

"Forever we've fought...forever we've dreamed," she gently sang.

Where do I remember that from? Was it mom? Dad?

"Ma'am, we have received the order to leave the system," the communications officer interrupted her train of thought.

Teica looked around the viewscreen as other ships jumped.

"Helm, plot a course, and take us out of here."

She leaned back, and the words came out.

"...Yes we went on...We did succeed…" she let out a sigh.

The Peacemaker was stretched forward, then, with a converging of light, followed by a brief spark, the frigate entered hyperspace.

 

[Dorian Sicarrio]

Zaavik Perl Allyson Locke Rurik Fel​

He should've known he was going to regret taking off the helmet.

Without enough time to draw a breath -- and thus his strength -- there was little he could do to react to the sudden appearance of a woman in front of him. It must've been the other Jedi. From a sniping position all the way to him in the time it'd taken for him to subdue the kid. She was fast, and he couldn't sense her. Was that the power of a Jedi Master?

Dorian crumpled, coughing and rasping, clawing at his throat as it rebounded from being crushed. No, it wasn't the lack of a helmet that'd gotten him there. It was the mercy. It was that sentiment that the Jedi might be a touch better than what Rurik believed them to be, that there was still a little good even when Light cast a shadow. But there was no hesitation from the kid or his master. She even went ahead and insulted him. It was a surprise she didn't outright kill him.

"Fuck. queen," he tried to say, only to cough and clutch his throat again. A soothing presence started to help him breathe but frustration and anger choked him further. He saw the Zeltron, not too far away, not doing much better. He couldn't think straight, so all he did was watch, lying on the ground for a good minute. He wished Mavia were here. He wished he wasn't there.

"Kark." He snorted and coughed, then laid still, hoping his throat would stop swelling and he'd be able to draw breath.

Part of him regretted taking the kid's hand. Part of him regretted not taking his head.

Luck was on his side, it seemed -- a good throat punch could kill a human. He knew. He'd done it. But the swelling calmed and he drew a full breath. Then another. Then another.

He grabbed his helmet and donned it, not wanting to make the same mistake twice.

He glanced to the woman. Rurik could handle her, and Dorian would only be away for a moment.

He stood. He drew another breath. Then he rocketed to the Zeltron, aiming a metal boot for the kid's head.

 

[Adhira Chandra]

The Balmorran's dark almond-shaped eyes flickered over Tavlar's face as he began to speak again, studying every wrinkle and twinge of his features as he spoke the carefully spun words. To her general surprise, he seemed to be speaking, no only with certainty, but also complete honesty. However, she had to admit that this recent development in relations between the NIO and GA was a great boon for her people. And Irveric was right, the Sith were a far bigger threat to galactic stability.​

When the much larger man extended his hand to her again, she accepted it more readily and shook, knowing that their brief ceasefire was assured. As the Imperator finally seemed to bring his remarks to a close once more, the Chancellor offered him a curt nod, and stood, watching as he and his entourage retreated into the dropship that had transported him to her. She felt the wind put off by the Imperial ship's thrusters whip around her, kicking up dust in a cloud at her feet.​

"Ma'am?" the voice caused her to flinch before she realized it was coming from her own earpiece and cursed loudly to no one. "WHAT?" Adhira barked over the communicator, likely bursting a few eardrums on the other end. "Uh... we are ready for extraction..." somewhere behind her, the engines of her own escort ship whirred to life and she turned to glare in its direction. "Yes... I'm coming..." she sword again as she started off in the direction of the Alliance gunship.​

As she approached the ramp lowered and a young pale-faced human in an officer's uniform met her as she ascended. "Have you come to carry me?" she demanded as he obstructed her path. The officer looked stunned and speechless.​

"Um... no? ma'am?"​

"Then get the feth out of my way, soldier," she nearly yelled, causing him to jump aside and snap to salute as she pressed past into the interior of the ship. "Admiral Pryce," she said commandingly into the communicator when she was safely inside the ship, "order your forces to withdraw to Wakeelmui... and get me a secure transmission to Alliance High Command. Irveric Tavlar has just agreed to an armistice."​

Adhira jammed the button on her communicator terminal, causing the transmission with the start tide to be cut off abruptly. She could feel the ship shift as it lifted into the air and departed Yinchorr for the last time.​

Irveric Tavlar Dracken Pryce