In the Whipping Winds (Hoth)

[RC 212]

Hoth​

Northern Pole​

Crashed Star Destroyer​

[member="Kei Raxis"] [member="Draconis Caesar"]

Hoth was a blistering cold place. After a long fight at Mirial and few training missions Karren was on leave again. The past year of her life had been wrought with more lessons than she could remember. But the biggest of all of them was that knowledge is power, and not everything can be accomplished with a Lightsaber and the force.

Sometimes, even the force could fail you.

But a good blaster at your side, or Shock Glove; that only failed mechanically, and that was if you didn't take care of it.

She'd invited a few Jedi associates along, but for the most part she was alone, way ahead of the pack, ripping across the snowy surface of Hoth, taking it all in. Locked in on her scopes was an ancient wreck of a Star Destroyer she'd traced a one of the hiding places of Laranth Tarak and the Whiplash organization.

A Gray Paladin, descended from Teepo Paladins.

Who believed the force was just another tool, and their order should train on all weapons. That was what Karren believed a well, and that was why she was here.

The Custom StealthX burned on, the hulking mass coming into view now. She felt a slight smile come to the corner of her lips, reaching out with the force to probe the depths of the SD. There was bound to be something in there, perhaps a remnant of the whiplash Insurgents or the old order.

But she could feel danger as well.....

 

[Sky'ito Yumi]

Relics of the past, how could she not say yes to something like this. Finally being able to get away from the Hospital Voss after the events of Miral some training session here and there it was back to 'dust hunting' referring mainly to the dust ancient artifacts tended to accumulate over time. Well in this cases it was more snow hunting, but names where not important, what was of interest to the young historian was an almost complete intact Star Destroyer from the Galactic Civil war, most likely preserved due to the extreme cold of the icy planet.

Sukai stood a few meters away from Trask, combat suit and accompanying mask as well as a dark insulated cape for when they disembarked. It was an exciting concept, to step foot in an Imperial Star destroyer, but is history ever served as a reference, things would not go well... they never did, which was not helped by a certain sense of danger, "you feel it too don't you, a looming aura of danger, its bad enough where in First Order space, but I sence something else is amiss".

[member="Karren Trask"]

 

[Robogeber]

Location: The Adler's Lair, FONY; Hoth
Objective: Investigate the anomaly.
Allies; [member="Morro"]

The droid starred blankly at the lieutenants datapad, as the younger officer attempted to gauge some response from the automaton. While the cold face, projected onto the obsidian screen was one of puzzlement, internally the droid attempted to do something it had rarely done since its activation. Be happy. However, what it had trouble with, was the calculation of an appropriate response. Because, if the droid were to be frank with itself. The need for Carlyle to show off his self control, and the inner expression of happiness would be difficult to harness appropriately.

So, as it starred at the cold blank screen, showing the silhouette of the time ravaged star destroyer, the droid allowed a smile to be expressed onto the ghostly facade it wore. "Tell me lieutenant." The droid coolly began, "How did you find the vessel?"

"Well, uh," The lieutenant began anxiously, her cheeks reddening, "It's all in the report sir, I wrote-"

"If I wanted a simple report, I would have dismissed you." Rausgeber coldly retorted, "Now, explain to me again, how did you uncover this.... vessel." The Fleet Admiral lowered the datapad, and glared inquisitively at the lieutenant.

She was young. Probably in her early twenties, and a distinguished officer in the naval yard. A TIE jockey. She however, despite her skills was less than impressive when it came to situations like these. She however remained stoic, and tried to match the stare of the projection. "At 1800, Gamma Time, Fourth Battalion of the Three Hundred Seventy Sixth were conducting drills in sector Hector-Zulu." The officer replied, standing to attention. "We were ordered to provide air support for a S and D mission, and decided to hit a large glacier. It was designated as an enemy artillery position."

"Our proton bombs shattered the glacier, with no casualties," The lieutenant continued, "And that's when we found that," She pointed at the destroyer, "Major FN-4578 took this picture and has marked its location, they're scouring for survivors as we speak sir."

"Survivors?" Carlyle mused, smirking a little, and allowing himself some derision at the lieutenants expense. That was a feeling which never was old. "Lieutenant, given the state of this vessel, and how you found it, I'd dare say we've found ourselves a relic long past." Carlyle continued smoothly, "We may be dealing with a wreck of a vessel, bountiful with information, one which may yet yield unknown secrets from the past!" Carlyle became particularly emotive. Out of a sense of shame, he paused, and a silence came over the duo. "You are dismissed." He gestured her to leave the command centre, hidden deep within the mountainous cavern of the Hoth Naval Yard.

Carlyle reached for his communicator, "Commander Morro," He began, calling his close confidant. "Organise a battalion of stormtroopers and armoured equipment. I want them ready within minutes." The droid then proceeded to move out of command centre. It was time to see if he could get his inner historian on.

 

[Wilhelmine Dahma]

Location: The Adler's Lair, FONY; Hoth
Objective: Investigate the anomaly.
Allies: [member="Robogeber"]

Morro’s breath escaped her lips in tiny steam puffs as she stood beside the Admiral and the female officer. Hoth temperatures did not bother her as the Csilla native enjoyed the cold, as well as underground locations and the emptiness of space. She was also overjoyed to be back at the side of Rausgeber, and the pair had fallen into an easy, if unusual kinship, despite the fact that the Admiral was now a droid who struggled with humanity and adjusting to his new body and mind.

Still, for a loyal, oft-emotionless Chiss, this arrangement worked out well. Time would tell if either would find the relationship restrictive and not symbiotic.

One thing was still certain. The Admiral could scare the bejesus out of a younger officer like the Lieutenant.

As Carlyle toyed with her, Morro could barely suppress a smile. She’d been like that once, although her Csilla upbringing ensured that her sense of frosty duty had remained, making her, if not an officer that blended in, someone who became invaluable due to intelligence and their lack of sensitivity.

The information of on this space antiquity was of great interest. “Lieutenant-Colonel Bathens, deploy the 582th to the Hector-Zulu sector.” A pause. “Of course it’s a precautionary measure, but the Admiral would like access to the entire battalion and not half. Since the First Order’s re-population program there are plenty of wampas now that could interfere. Have them bring stun weaponry in addition to the normal arms."

 

[RC 212]

[member="Sky'ito Yumi"]

[member="Robogeber"]- [member=Morro]

Karren nodded, peeling off her flight helmet and feeling the frosty bite of Hoth's temperatures. She might have frozen to death right there if not for the Sasori bracelet given to her by Kiriko that enabled her to better control her body temp via the force. Still there was something the young woman could not shake. an overwhelming feeling of foreboding, as if they were being hunted, or soon to be.

She did have Yumi's kid with her though. Which made it better and one worse. One she had a solid companion, two Yumi would probably break her fingers if she let him come to harm.

"Yes, which mean we'll have to move quickly. I'm after something very special to me and very sensitive. Stay close, or your Mom will have my arse."

She eyed the crashed destroyer, icicles crusting all it's exposed edges. It was a miracle she'd even been able to find this thing in the first place.

"We seem to be near the back. Let's cut in through the drive tubes in the back, and make our way forwards."

She un-holstered her Revolver, holding it at the high ready and shivered.

"Lead the way. And quickly."

 

[Sky'ito Yumi]

Sukai rubbed her hand together and the sudden cold of the frozen planet, though more use to such extreme temperatures it still send shiver up her spin, though not more so then the shrouding presence that seemed to radiate around the crashed Star Destroyer.

"Something special? Odd that would be on a crashed star destroyer, but I will not pry.... though to be fair I think my mother would be equally concerned about me letting something happen to you, I've had a sword stabbed through my chest and survived, she know I can handle myself... most of the time".

She was aware that her mother had shared the family secret about their heritage and subsequent powers, one mainly being regeneration, at the expense of others life energy. Sukai continued to follow Karren slowly behind through the snowing waste, like always taking extra precaution and keeping a hand on one of her sabers at all time, past experience teaching her be be ready for anything.

"You want me to lead they way, why because I'm a vampire or because of my historical knowledge", it was more of a smart quip, but Sukai did not know what Karren sough out, she was here for data logs, relics and other information, obtainable from the main bridge, armory and hanger bay. "Personally I want to start my search at the bridge, best place to find what I'm looking for, and better to get it now then have some stupid scavenger pick it up before us".
[member="Karren Trask"] l [member="Robogeber"] l [member="Morro"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Sky'ito Yumi"] [member="Morro"] [member="Robogeber"]

"Because you're the junior and I have to keep an eye on you. Also maybe for historical knowledge? Satisfied? Bridge it is," Karren quipped back. It was half joke half serious and as the young woman lead the way Karren followed, right up the engine tube.

She tapped a few strokes on her datapad, pulling up a standard Victory I schematic.

"There's a few shortcut access shafts that can take us right to the hangar. Hold on."

Normally she'd cut through the door with her saber, but this time she wanted to keep it low key. This was First Order space. Who knew who or what was watching. She outlined a thermite charge on the door and set it off with a clacker, white hot substance searing a hole in the weakened and brittle metal. Cold did that to steel, even durasteel.

"Okay we're in. Stay sharp."

She kicked the door she'd made, enhanced by the force and let it fly. It slammed down, rattling as wave of warm air whooshed past her face, heating her rosy cheeks with a tingle.

"Life Support is still up. Odd."

 

[Robogeber]

Carlyle brushed through the hangar, as squads of stormtroopers scrambled to their landers. The droid stopped on his shuttles docking ramp, and stood like a sentinel there. From his position, he admired the dedication and work of the military men, who were basically being deployed on a whim. One of the perks of being apart of the

A pair of pilots walked up the docking ramp, and Carlyle stopped them, "Captain," He addressed the older of the two. A woman in her thirties, who briskly stood to attention at the appearance of the Fleet Admiral.

"Yes sir?" The pilot asked.

"I want us at the crash site in ten minutes, or else there will be hell to pay." The Fleet Admiral warned the captain, "Pray you do not fail me, Captain." The officer darkly continued.

The captain nodded, and swallowed. "Yes sir. Understood."

Carlyle's attention turned to the arrival of Commander Morro, and a smile was projected unto the droids face. "Commander, please," He gestured inside the shuttle, as the stormtrooper compliment began to take off. "After you."

[member="Morro"] | [member="Karren Trask"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Sky'ito Yumi"] [member="Robogeber"]

Karren kept moving. They cleared the rear tube, coming into a large chamber. She glanced down, checking her schematics. There was an access hatch a few meters away, which she made for and opened. Not much was out of place here, and the ship was warm. So warm she had to unwrap some of her garments.

"Let's see. This takes us along the length, and then two decks up. We can catch a turbolift from there. If the power is still going to life support, should be no issue."

She moved into the small shaft, crawling and began to make her way along it....

 

[Zerrak Windwalker]

HE walks the halls keeping guard and fidgeting with his blaster as he watches the hallways silently looking for intruders or possible allies.

 

[Sky'ito Yumi]

"Junior? okay you may be 7 or so years older then me, but I am almost 19, a full grown adult, not some teenage padawan, though if you insist". She knew Karren was just joking, but in all fairness Sukai had dealt with much worst in the past, and had traveled to some very dangerous places, an old star destroyer wouldn't be that much of a danger, even with this dark veil that enveloped it.

"Yes, these older star destroyers had many maintenance areas and shafts all around, used mostly by droids, but large enough for a human to walk though, though caution is still advised, some sections way have collapsed". Sukai kept close to Karren as they entered though the newly made door, the warm blast of the interior air making her cloak flap widely, "Odd, but not impossible, most ships run on nuclear reactors, most fuel rods and material used have half that last hundreds of years, so to have the ship still powered up is not that uncommon".
[member="Robogeber"]
The two, 'Jedi' continued their trek further and further into the abandon star destroyer, "If the turbo lifts are still operational, then perhaps some of the other systems still are, perhaps the weapons system, and maybe the engines, if there are not to damaged, but why did this craft crash". "I know from the studies of the Galactic Civil war the rebel alliance used a high powered Ion cannon to disable some ISD's to allow their transports to escape.... is it possible this one could be from that battle? Or from a later engagement during the war... if I can access the data logs we may be able to find out".

[member="Karren Trask"] l

 

[Zerrak Windwalker]

As he walks he sees two figures in a hallway and walks towards them.

 

[Wilhelmine Dahma]

Morro had always loved these types of adventures, and even as a little girl roamed far off the beaten path, more than her Csillian parents ever wanted her to. They’d expected her to join her brothers and sisters CEDF and remain there for a long military career. Since she joined the First Order she’d not spoken much to her mother, but she hoped that her father would have supported her current endeavors even if they’d taken her so far from home.

They were an unusual pair, the droid and the Chiss. Her royal-blue skin stood out brightly against the white snow, yet neither did the droid blend in his white uniform and strange plasticine helmet.

“Do you feel any cold, Admiral?” Morro wondered aloud as they climbed into the shuttle. She could often be a bit clinical in her curiosity, not too concerned with slighting anyone or hurting feelings. Besides he was a machine now. Part of her could relate to his non-organic, non-existent emotions, though she was not convinced his programming didn’t allow for a few distinctly human interactions.

Morro felt the cold quite distinctly in the metal ship, but as usual temperature and nuance were easy to ignore. She did hope this adventure yielded more knowledge, not about the artifact which they sought but of her companion who’d returned from the dead.

[member="Robogeber"] [member="Karren Trask"] [member="Silence"] [member="Sky'ito Yumi"]

 

[Robogeber]

The droid pondered the question as the shuttle began to lift off. Despite the protection offered by the shuttle, the howl of TIE fighters engines could be heard as Rausgeber's escort took off from the Naval Yard. "Yes." The droid finally replied, as he strapped himself into the shuttle, and looked right at Morro. "Of course it is not as much of an impediment, for you, as it is for me. But, I still, somewhat feel it." The droid finally said, "Even if it just temperature gauges, and threat analysis."

Carlyle Rausgeber had programmed the ancient sentinel droid, and added innumerable components, which meant that it constantly analysed each piece of data collected from the environment around it. Ran it through threat analysis, and then through the encoded personality matrix's and memory banks that Carlyle Rausgeber had dutifully programmed into it. He could read temperature, receive it, and then calculate the best course of action.

"Admiral," It was the shuttle pilot, "Sir, we have visual on the target sir." The captain reported. Rausgeber's holoprojected face lit up, and a smile came upon it.

"Come now," Carlyle gestured, moving into the cockpit. From behind the seats of the pilots, Rausgeber spied the star destroyer, buried into the icy tundra of Hoth. Already, atmospheric assault landers were deploying, their stormtroopers now rushing out, and preparing defences, as well as broadcast beacons. "Take us in." Carlyle commanded, before pausing, "You should be commended on your efforts, Captain." He replied, as the shuttle began to make its way to the base of the ancient monolith.

[member="Karren Trask"] | [member="Morro"] | [member="Sky'ito Yumi"]

 

[Zerrak Windwalker]

as he walks he looks at the figures before walking by them to continue his patrol thinking they were just a trick of the eyes

 

[Wilhelmine Dahma]

The roar of the TIE engines was a reassuring sound to most naval officers, Morro included. She felt uncharacteristically giddy inside at being back by the Admiral’s side. These operations were exactly what she'd pictured they could do someday when they began their tours of duty together. But so often they'd been on separate vessels. Not anymore. After the Vigilance explosion, Morro did not often let the Admiral out of her sight, if only due to the fear of losing him again.

“That’s surprising, ch'acah.” The rigid Chiss did not often use sentimental monikers for Rausgeber, but when they were alone or out of earshot sometimes they slipped out. “I would think you would not feel anything at all, not pain or temperature.”

"Sir, we have visual on the target sir."

“But a conversation for another time.” There was so much she still wished to know about the Admiral and his new inner workings, but she was a patient alien if not anything else.

Even decommissioned, the Star Destroyer was majestic. It reminded her of some metal beast which lay dormant under the snow and ice, waiting for the signal to rise up and demolish those that dared to awaken it.


[member="Karren Trask"] [member="Robogeber"] [member="Sky'ito Yumi"] [member="Silence"]

 

[Zerrak Windwalker]

as he searches the halls he shots a rat he sees in the corner getting anxious

 

[RC 212]

[member="Sky'ito Yumi"] [member="Morro"] [member="Robogeber"]

"That is entirely possible. I traced this vessel through the archives and a few scouting runs to confirm it. Not sure how it got here, but I know this was hiding place for the Jedi after Order 66. An Organization names Whiplash helped Jedi that survived the purge escape, and best guesses say this is a site they escaped to."

She paused and then kept crawling. Eventually they eneded up near a turbolift, that a quick glance at her data p[ad said led to the bridge.

"I'll level with you Junior. Yes you are still a junior, despite your objections."

God your mother must have had a handful raising you.​

"I'm looking for something special. Something I believe is here. The Holocron of Laranth Tarak, a prominent Gray Paladin."

 

[Sky'ito Yumi]

Using a crashed ship to hid after Order 66, seemed very Ironic, but over time even the best kept records suffered from bias and decay, there was not real telling how this ship came to be, either cause, time frame, but that did not matter, once they had what they came for all would be revealed. "We will just have to search and see, but that is half the fun, theorizing why something is the way it is, and then finding out... I never said I was not a junior, just that I can handle myself and out of both of us, you are more likely to suffer a lethal wound and die then me".

"But what you just said, did you say, Laranth Tarak, quite the very unconventional Jedi, from what I read up on, using blaster pistols... not saying they don't have their use, but I always wondered how she stood up against light sabre wielding opponents... or maybe she just didn't... hmmm, anyways losing focus, let’s see if these turbo lifts are working". Again, taking the lead Sukai approached one of the cramped turbo lifts that dotted the old class star destroyers, activating its control panel and awaiting its arrival, that's if the system was still functional.

[member="Karren Trask"] l [member="Morro"] l [member="Robogeber"]