Private Invaders from Beyond

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Are the coordinates set for our jump?" Valery asked the helmsman, who looked over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow, "You...uh, already asked that, Ma'am. Several times." He looked a little nervous pointing it out, and Valery did glare at him for a moment, before she crossed her arms in front of her chest and sighed.

"I just want to make sure we're ready to jump to their aid when they need us. Every second counts," she said but the helmsman knew that, and had already double-checked that the fleet was ready to move several times. Still, Valery pouted just a little and stared at the stars ahead of them. Out there, at their home, a small section of the fleet was luring the invaders into a trap.

Her husband was with them, and even though she accepted that, she still couldn't wait until she was back with him again to spring the trap. There was always a risk for the bait, after all.

<Hey love? Are you all set over there and ready? No problems or anything, right?> She asked just to make sure.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

<We're ready on my end.>

Kahlil sat calmly within the center of the runes he'd created, his eyes closed. Relaxed. Prepared. Above the city there was a couple of the vessels waiting, but they were just the bait. They'd fall back into the city lines when the enemy arrived so they wouldn't be taken out. Fall under the shield. They had a plan at least, and that meant they'd be able to handle whatever this enemy was.

They just needed to make sure they didn't escape again.

<I can feel them. They'll be here in a moment.>

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

<Alright, stay safe and I'll be with you soon, love.>

He was ready, she could tell, and so were their people on the colony down below. The young kids, the elderly and sick had all been moved off-planet entirely, and were waiting in a nearby system on one of their new transport ships. Smaller corvettes and gunships were above the city itself, waiting to bait the enemy forces into the gravitational field of the planet. That way, they couldn't make a jump back out.

The rest of the fleet, larger vessels included, were all waiting at Valery's command to ambush the enemy. It was quite the risky tactic, but the Epicanthix people would make it work.

<We're in position.> With that said, the calm before the storm began. They knew the enemy fleet was imminent any moment now, but the wait felt so much longer. Those up in the ships playing as bait were going to be in the line of fire, after all, and so were the warriors down on the ground.

Hopefully, the enemy wouldn't even make it down.

<Once we jump in, we should try to locate the ship they use for the Galaxy jump, and board it. I can make it onto the ship, and you teleport up to me?>

 

[Kahlil Noble]

<We'll see if that's a good idea or not. I don't want to leave the city defenseless if they enemy chooses to try and attack it even with all our numbers.> That's what it meant to be a shield. Sometimes he couldn't be the one to attack. But he trusted Valery more than anyone else to attack the enemy ship if that's what they had to do. He chuckled, opening his eyes to look around the room towards the Epicanthix he was sitting with.

"They won't get away this time, will they?"

There was a resounding chuckle from the others. No, no these invaders weren't.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

<A true shield, hm?> She chuckled but she really hoped that he'd be able to join her. Not just because she liked having him by her side in combat, but if he was able to go up, it meant there was no trouble down below. Sure, the Epicanthix would repel another attack targeting their home, but it would likely cause damage and more victims in a war against a mostly unknown enemy from another Galaxy.

It just felt so... pointless to her.

"Ma'am, we're picking up on enemy signals. The fleet is here," her helmsman finally said to pull Valery out of her thoughts, and on sensors, she saw dozens of little signals pop up. Down below on Niv Hani, the view would be even more awe-inspiring — a large fleet of enemy vessels had taken the bait, and were closing in on the planet to bring down the Epicanthix ships and capture the colony.

But why this place of all places?

"Master Jedi, they are sending down shuttles but not all of their fleet is in the gravitational field yet. Do we welcome them or do we summon your wife and take the risk that some will get out?" one of Kahlil's commanding officers asked. Valery's fleet could jump in and shoot down just about anything trying to make its way down. But it'd mean that some might escape them again.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Master Jedi, they are sending down shuttles but not all of their fleet is in the gravitational field yet. Do we welcome them or do we summon your wife and take the risk that some will get out?"

"Let them come. Start shooting the shuttles that have broken through atmosphere, bring them down. Our target is the largest vessel, not these others. Let them think they can strike at us, and we'll use their hubris against them."

Kahlil glanced to the Epicanthix that had spoken. An older gentleman, once a general on Panatha, if memory served right. Retired after the fall of the One Sith, but still showed up at the family estate to help train the Zambrano scions. Kahlil included. He was proud, loyal to the Epicanthix and their king. Until Carnifex left so many behind in the destruction of the world. Now he was here, to help not his king, but his people.

He nodded once to Kahlil, giving the order. Anti air began to open fire, shooting off towards the ships that made their way down to the surface.

<Once the largest makes it's way in atmosphere, jump. Not a moment before.>

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

<Yes, sir,> Valery teased just a tiny bit, but Kahlil would also be able to tell that she was feeling a little proud. He was a good leader and the Epicanthix respected him a lot for it, and for all the energy he put into protecting their new home. That faith in leadership and each other made them fight so much better, and with so much determination.

They weren't going to lose their home a second time. Not with the Nobles helping them, and their own fighting spirit being as strong as it is now.

"Master Jedi, this might interest you to hear. The drop pods have an unusual pattern for entry. They aren't moving down to ideally spread their troops for an assault on the city." He paused and looked off into the forest next to it - in the direction of the lake and its underwater temple.

"They are surrounding the lake, and some have managed to make it down to the surface now."

Meanwhile, Valery was feeling tense as the enemy ships inched closer to the planet. Every passing second felt like it took longer because of it, but eventually, the trap was ready to be sprung. Down below, Kahlil and the Epicanthix would see dozens of ships appearing out of nowhere, already in position with Valery leading the most forward ship of them all, rather than some command ship in the back.

Hardly surprising to him, she figured.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"That's ideal."

That's what he'd assumed. All this time, why this planet, why the Epicanthix. It wasn't because of the Epicanthix. The Temple was who told them of the invasion to begin with. He let out a heavy sigh as he glanced to the display. It was a problem, but it was ultimately a way to preserve life. If the enemy wanted the temple, they could have it.

Not that they'd be leaving after their last assault on the Epicanthix.

"Their target is a sunken temple in that lake. Take advantage of that greed. Support Valery's forces, and we'll wipe them out."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"If they want the Temple, we should assume it can cause trouble if they reach it," the officer said. He had no clue why they wanted the Temple, but for their enemy to rush towards it whilst being fired upon made no sense, unless it offered them some kind of advantage the defenders had overlooked. "We'll take them down, Master Jedi." He grinned at the Shield, and relayed some orders to get the troops moving.

"Their strike team is led by more of those warriors you killed. Perhaps you'd like to lead our troops to secure the Temple?" he asked Kahlil, but he knew it'd mean leaving behind the city. Right now, though, the city itself was facing only minimal aggression, so he wasn't really needed.

A tough decision to make.

<Babe, we're boarding the vessel they use to jump Galaxies now,> Valery told him, while she sat on the shuttle heading for one of its many hangars. This was a tense moment, and she would have preferred for Kahlil to be there with her, but she could do it. She was going to show that she was the most badass wife on this entire world.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Oh it'll likely mean trouble, but our priority is defending our people. Don't take any chances." He trusted they wouldn't, at least. They knew what they were doing. Still, Kahlil stayed where he was, chuckling as he nodded to the soldier. He wasn't leaving the city undefended, not until he was certain the enemy fleet wouldn't be in position to bombard it. Which meant trusting in Valery and her skills to take the ship.

"Accept surrender, but give them no quarter if they try to abuse that."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Of course," the officer said. He didn't think this enemy would surrender, not after their first brutal attack, but he was going to leave it open as an option. The Epicanthix people of Niv Hani were honorable warriors, and especially after everything they had gone through already, it was important that they showed the Alliance and Galaxy as a whole what they were truly like.

For now, it meant a defensive position around the city, and dedicated forces to bait the enemy around the Temple. At the same time, it looked like Valery and the fleet above were making a lot of progress. The enemy fleet was scattered and left in chaos, with several larger ships even trying to get away on their own at all cost.

"It seems your wife has gained the upperhand," the officer said with quite a grin, but the moment of pride would not last for long. The large ring-shaped vessel that had allowed the jump was powering up, enough for even those down below to see the intense glow of its roaring engines.

Then, it jumped.

A huge, destructive shockwave came down towards the planet and its city. The atmosphere would absorb some of it, but without anything else to stop it, the shockwave was undoubtedly going to wreak havoc on the city down below. The only thing in its way - the Shield of the Jedi.

A Shield, whose Sword had been taken away to a Galaxy far, far away.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil brought his hands up, let the runes around him flair to life. All throughout the city, all to protect the people that were still here. But even as he did, his eyes were narrowed. Frustration. Annoyance. Almost anger, but he kept himself calm. The ship they wanted to keep here had left. Across the galaxy, no less. He could already feel that much. And had abandoned the rest of their ships. Once the backlash from the jump dimmed, he glanced to the man he was speaking to earlier.

".. No more. Capture or kill all remaining hostiles. I'll be joining the front once the city is secure, then heading to that temple. I've got a feeling the person in charge there knows how to cross the stars."

They'd better hope they did, at least.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

Even though Kahlil focused his efforts on shielding the city with his runes, the officer could tell that something was very different about him. Not too strange, considering his wife and only a small boarding party of Epicanthix warriors had made a jump back out to where these attackers came from. She could hold her own, but if they made it to enemy territory, who knows how much trouble will be waiting for her.

He wasn't going to be the one to remind Kahlil of that, and simply followed his orders.

"Master Jedi, you have my word that we will handle the city. Go to the Lake and stop them there." The officer hoped Kahlil would trust the Epicanthix to handle things here and head to the Lake. They vould use his help, and he knew that Kahlil wanted to go after those who had been taken away.

At the lake itself, the enemy had dug in around the water line, while a small team with one its leaders had gone into the depths to find the Temple. The Epicanthix were already engaging those up above, but breaking through wasn't so easy.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil tightened a fist before exhaling softly. "Good." It was all he could think to say as he stood up. Then, in a flash of light, he was gone. Another rune, one he'd just scrawled through the Force, to take him right into the temple as he had before. There, in the main chamber, he stared right up at the statue. Glared, more like. He could feel the intruders on their way, and he'd stop them. But not before he got answers.

"You know how to cross the stars, don't you? Tell me how."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"You have defeated your foe," the statue said, knowing that the intruders on their way would stand no chance. He hadn't selected Kahlil and his wife as warriors to confront the beasts throughout the Galaxy if a few armed soldiers could take them down. Now, they had withstood their greatest challenge thus far, so the job was done.

"Yet you wish to go after them."

He paused for a moment, but a doorway behind Kahlil opened up, leading to a large open chamber with a large Star Map. The map it displayed showed several planets that acted like gateways to satellite Galaxies, and the one he stood on now was among them.

"We are at a gateway to travel the stars. The invaders have learned to build their ships to sail these seas, but there is another way. Step through the golden door within that room, and you'll arrive at another Temple, but one on the other side. It has already been activated, but this one was not," he said, revealing the reason for the invaders targeting this Temple. "But you must hurry. Time flows differently for those who travel with ships."

On the other side, within the Satellite Galaxy, the ship had dropped from Hyperspace after what felt like at least a day of traveling, and with many of its systems damaged, it began to drift around the planet with the Temple on it. Valery was still on it, stuck, and with no idea when she could expect help.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"This would be the second time they've tried to attack, so yes."

Kahlil crossed his arms over his chest. He didn't have to directly involve himself with the intruders. Serenity had already found them, and through his Familiar he'd already taken care of them. Alive, of course. They had much information he wanted. "I'm getting my wife and my people back, and I'm making sure these people don't attack again. When I return, I expect all information on these interstellar people to be with the Epicanthix. All information."

Even this door could've changed how this fight went. He wasn't too pleased that there was so much information being withheld. But still, he walked through the door without any more delay.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Unknown

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

As soon as Kahlil stepped through the door, the rather moderate temperature inside the Temple was replaced by the razor-sharp, cold winds of a planet nobody from his own Galaxy would have ever felt before. The landscape around him was mostly frozen wastelands and mountains, but the faint outlines of ancient structures waited for him in the distance.

But likely more importantly, his sensed adjusted and he'd feel Valery far more vividly than before. Her presence in the Force was weaker, though not to an alarming extent, and he could tell that she was exhausted.

She also wasn't alone.

Up above, the ringed vessel moved in orbit around the planet. The lack of lighting meant it likely no longer had any power left, and Valery was down on the surface, suggesting she had found a way off with the Epicanthix warriors who had joined her for the boarding mission.

Not too far away, next to a parked shuttle, the Epicanthix had set up a small camp. Bodies of dead invaders were still scattered around the outer perimeter, but the Epicanthix hadn't touched them at all. They stayed within the camp with their rations and supplies, and tended to the wounded. Valery herself was within one such makeshift medical tent.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Time was weird, wasn't it?

Kahlil stepped out, frowning as he looked across the frigid landscape. The Force alone felt different here. Distant, almost. He raised a hand, forming a rune to keep himself warm, though there was a delay with it. He'd long learned how to handle the Force, but this far from the Wellspring it seemed to have an effect. It still worked thankfully, so he started to trudge his way through the snow towards where he could feel Valery.

There he only gave a brief nod to the Epicanthix that were surely shocked to see him there. Said nothing as he opened the tent where he knew Valery was. The only thing he wanted right now was to see Valery.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Unknown

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

The Epicanthix were definitely very surprised to see him, and for multiple reasons. For one, he had just appeared out of nowhere, without a ship. Secondly, it had been several days now without a word, so they had started to wonder if anybody would come for them at all. Of course, they had no idea why it had taken days from their perspective.

He also didn't say a word and just walked into the medical tent.

But Valery knew why it had taken so long, and that he was coming. Even from one Galaxy to another, she could feel her husband. It had been faint, but he was always there to reassure her things would be okay. Not that it stopped her from getting just a little emotional.

As soon as he entered the tent, Valery practically jumped him and hugged him tight, although only with a single arm. Her left arm was completely wrapped up, and so was her left shoulder. Something felt off about her, but none of it stopped her from smiling with little happy tears in her eyes.

"Hey..." she said with a trembling voice. "I'm glad you made it. You doing okay? It has been three days for us, but I know it felt different to you?"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil returned the hug, squeezed her close before setting her down to look her over. She was injured. He frowned just a little, but knew she was at least fine. He'd of felt if something changed. "Time is weird, is what I was told. I'm glad it hasn't been too long for you, but what happened?"

Valery Noble