Private In the Shadows of War

[Kreslin Westwind]

The Pillar of Vengeance exited hyperspace, faint trails of dust coming from the Liberation Class Star Destroyer as it came to a full stop in deep space. Shields were raised, weapon batteries were primed, and hangar bay doors sliding open to reveal starfighters at the ready for emergency launch. The few crewman aboard the Pillar of Vengeance were all on edge, while the majority droid crew carried out their duties without flaw. Everyone there knew why a single Mandalorian Union warship had travelled so far into the empty void of space, far away from the borders of any nation. They all knew their mission, and they stood fast in their determination.

Kreslin stood aboard the bridge of the Star Destroyer, his arms folded across his chest as he watched the information feeds run across the massive screens surrounding the bridge. Unlike most other vessels, Liberation Class vessels did not have exterior bridges. Instead, they were located deep inside the heart of the vessel, surrounded on all sides by meters of armored plating. Their only visual of space around them were through camera feeds spread out across the vessel. They currently showed the Mand'alor nothing but empty space, broken up by the distant stars that filled the galaxy, and a single nebula just visible in the distance.

A small warning siren echoed across the bridge for a moment before it was cut off, and all eyes turned to the screen directly in front of them, as the vessel they were waiting for exited hyperspace.

Ingrid L'lerim

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud
The Red Witch; The Night Queen, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium​

Location: Neutral Space
Equipment: Brynja coat | Hersir Imperial Uniform | G1 OmniLink || Shield talisman | Taozin amulet | Empyrean gland || Adrian’s yacht
Tag:: Kreslin Westwind

Ingrid was on her way home from Dromund Kaas when she received the message. She should have done a lot after Adrian's death, she didn't have the strength to do most things. She could have left it to the lawyers because they were paid for it, but she wanted to know everything. Diplomatic meeting with the MU. It was as if the war against them had been in another life. Actually, it really was, first Mandalore and then Myrkr.

She was happy and human. And now she wasn't happy and human anymore. Vanessa condemned her to nearly a thousand years of suffering. When she had the chance to spend centuries with Adrian, it was hopeful because she would have managed Tubrok to live long, too. But now? She was devoured by guilt and did not want to live. Perhaps the easiest would have been to shoot down the yacht with the Mandalorians.

Her ship stepped out of hyperspace at the place where they had agreed. It was just a smaller ship, not a star destroyer, and not a warship because she didn’t go to war. And if so, at least as few as possible will die. Her ship was the luxury yacht she inherited from Adrian. She used this rather than her own. As soon as she checked that she really saw the ship that should be here, she sent them a message.

The message was simple and short, in which she sends her ID and the code she received earlier, and last but not least, permission to dock.

 

[Kreslin Westwind]

A single transport departed from the Star Destroyer, arching towards the newly arrived Eternal Empire craft. After receiving the needed information, Kreslin had made his way quickly to the ships hangar, boarding a transport ready to lift off at a moments notice. He was not fond of this meeting, and he wished to see it completed as quickly as possible. Granted, it had been his idea to schedule it, but he did not always like his own ideas.

The transport docked with the yacht, a hatch sliding open to reveal two waiting Mandalorian Supercommandos, their armor of the same design but of widely different colors. The two warriors stepped onto the yacht first, scanning the area immediately beyond before Kreslin himself stepped off the transport. He wore his new armor for this meeting, the dark grey and red Beskar shinning briefly as a stray light caught it. The red armorweave cloak over his right should fluttered around his as he began to walk towards the designated meeting place.

He knew little about the woman he was going to meet, other than she had recently been...promoted, he suppose would be the best word. The loss of the old Emperor for the Eternal Empire had created an opening, one that had been filled swiftly. Beyond this, he knew next to nothing. The Eternal Empire was far beyond the limited sphere of influence the Mandalorian Union held in the galaxy, and besides one ill fated engagement between the two after the liberation of Mandalore, there had been no contact.

Time would tell if that had been for the best.

Ingrid L'lerim

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud
The Red Witch; The Night Queen, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium​

Location: Neutral Space
Equipment: Brynja coat | Hersir Imperial Uniform | G1 OmniLink || Shield talisman | Taozin amulet | Empyrean gland || Adrian’s yacht
Tag:: Kreslin Westwind

In fact, the information what the Mandalore knew was very far from reality. Ingrid had held the position of Overlord for many years, just out of the shadows. Few knew about this role, though it was already revealing that she held the title of Emperor’s Hand. Even after the Emperor's disappearance, she waited a very long time for the announcement, which was tantamount to becoming a regent. She hoped the emperor would be found, she didn’t want the position, but the STRATCOM wouldn’t let go of it. In fact, it was also the law that she had to take up this position and take her place after the emperor's death. She didn't want to. The Empress who doesn't want power.

Ingrid wore her usual military coat and a uniform underneath. All of these are without rank markings, with only one coat of arms on her armband; Ingrid was quite tall, and this was paired with an airy physique like a real princess. However, this was refuted by her stand and radiance. Her movement and posture suggested a determined, tough-handed military leader, her movement culture was military and something completely unique, thanks to the military training she received.

As they arrived at the common point, she saw the two figures with the Mandalore. The woman apparently didn’t bring anyone, but using the best camouflage technology, two Shadow Company members took care of their Empress. They didn’t show up if they didn’t have to, they always worked in the shadows, that was no different today. She nodded to the other man as they got close.

”Welcome, Mandalore! I am Ingid L’lerim, Empress of the Eternal Empire. Pleased to meet you!” she said in her cold and military voice.