(Jedi Scout Mission - Ossus)

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Iella E`ron"] @[member="Lews Therin"].

OSSUS
SITH EMPIRE

Every cloaked stealth ship in existence needed to drop out of hyperspace, then activate its cloaking device.

Not this one.

It was a one-hundred-percent stock YJX-1200 freighter, two bikes and a speeder in the cargo hold, all unmarked and scrubbed. No cloaking device, gravitic modulator, photonic dissipator, thrust trace damper, black paint or any of the other accoutrements of a stealth craft. It was, instead, shielded by a masterwork White Current illusion which protected it from detection from any source -- eyes, the Force, sensor operators, droids. Said illusion began before Je'gan touched the hyperdrive controls.

"Ossus was a wasteland for thousands of years," he said. "About seven centuries back, the Vong helped turn it into a jungle, bring the world back to life. It had a Jedi temple for a while. Then came the Darkness, and who knows."

The mindcloaked ship descended toward the jungle planet. "When the Empire came calling, they united some of the Ysanna tribes and butchered others. They raided the Jedi Temple and built a laboratory and command centre for the Dark Lord Sirella Valkner, who used to lead the Dark Council.

"We're not here to interfere with the Empire, steal anything from the Empire, get in the Empire's way or anything remotely involving the Empire. The Star Map leads to an uninhabited region, a crevasse that dates back to the initial apocalypse. At the bottom of the canyon, we'll land and start exploring."

 

[Not Ordo]

@Iella E`ron @Je'gan Olra'en @Je'daii

[SIZE=medium]The steady thrum of the engines rumbled through the ship as Lews sat in silent amazement at the feat of power and subtlety achieved by the Jedi master known as [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]Je'gan Olra'en[/SIZE][SIZE=medium]. The ship was much like the one he was placed on when he left his people to travel to the Jedi for training. Though he was basically banished, exiled for what he was, he didn’t regret his current life. Few could claim such a privilege as Life in the light, and though Lews had experienced many hard lessons he was still alive. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Lews turned his head from the viewport as the master spoke and the jungle, not that different from his home world came into view. The thick vegetation and avian creatures were a breathtaking sight from the perspective of the cockpit, but many things were beautiful from the right perspective. Lew turned around the rest of the way to face the master his tall lean frame garbed in non-descript brown workers utilities. He was glad for the need for discretion. He hated to fight unless left with no alternative and hated killing even more. Even the Sith could change their stripes, and enter the light, but not if they came down with a case of death. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]“This illusion is amazing Master Oler’en.” Lews said finally breaking his long silent observation, “Will it hold even as we explore or will we need to conceal the ship in more conventional ways?” [/SIZE]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

@[member="Lews Therin"] @Michael Sardun @Je'gan Olra'en

Iella had been sitting quietly with her datapad on her lap scrolling through all the information she could find on Ossus. Everything from it's geography past and present, it torrid history and it's importance to the Jedi. Again, both past and ... future? There is literally hours and hours of read on this planet all interesting and sad. A Jedi world lost.

She looked up as Master Olra'en spoke, a man she knew only by reputation. That reputation just as interesting as the history she was reading. She considered while he spoke, powerful, commanding, resourceful, intelligent and if she was honest, a little scary. However, Iella just does not give her respect on reputation or rank and title alone, no, he would have to earn it, like anyone else, just as she will need to earn his respect too.

Her ears pricked up as he mentioned the canyon, the other Padawan, who she also has not meet, questioned him.

"Master Olra'en, this canyon? are you referring to Imhar Canyon?", she inquired. This canyon the once home to a Jedi Master, Gar Anstak an aquatic who kept many artifacts within this watery canyon. "But I forget my manners, I am Iella E`ron, Padawan", she offered with a slight smile to them both.

 

[Arage Bao]

It should be a standard stealth mission, nothing more than simple reconnaissance and extraction. Under his father Michael learned the basics of stealth missions, it all amounted to: "Keep your head down and shut the frak up"
But even with a simple stealth missions, things can go wrong. They always do.


Michael listened to the debriefing and silently considered the possibilities. "We are infiltrating a Sith planet trying to find something, risking the fragile peace treaty. I am not sure what the Masters are hoping to find here, but it cannot be something small." he thought to himself.


Beside Michael there were two other Padawans in the ship, neither of them known to him. Listening to the girl's introduction he decided to pay common courtesy himself.
With a slight respectable bow he counter offered "Well met, Lady E`ron, my name is Michael Sardun. A Padawan as well."


After that Michael fell back into his comfortable silence, awaiting further developments.


@[member="Iella E`ron"] @[member="Lews Therin"] @Je'gan Olra'en

 

[Ashin Varanin]

The ship settled into the bottom of the canyon.

"Yes, Padawan Therin, the ship will stay undetectable," said Je'gan. "For a few days, anyway -- more than long enough to handle our task. You know, an illusion just like this one kept Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy hidden for years during the Yuuzhan Vong war, without Jedi needing to constantly focus on maintaining it. The White Current is an interesting thing.

"And yes, Padawan E'ron, this is Imhar Canyon. Its cache was thoroughly stripped by the Empire, of course, but the Star Map is a living thing, in a sense, and it still leads here.

"Padawan Sardun, glad to have you aboard. The three of you," he said, standing from the pilot's seat, "will need to stay close to me, so I can extend the same protection to you as I do to myself and the ship. We're taking nothing from the Empire, doing nothing to hurt the Empire, avoiding the Empire at all costs. Take nothing with you that might indicate you're a Jedi, apart from your lightsabres -- I can hide them if necessary, or turn them red with illusion."

The hatch cracked open, revealing an ancient trail down into the water. Je'gan handed out rebreathers.

"Shall we?"

 

[Arage Bao]

Michael listened to Master Olra'en while he was answering the questions of his fellow Padawans and then bowed when the Master addressed him. "I am honored to be part of this mission, Master." He felt how dread was slowly building up inside of him, even with all the theoretical information to his disposal this was only his first time going on an actual mission with actual dangers. Then he remembered the time he spent with Master Cavataio in the garden and how she thought him to center his emotions.

With that memory in his mind Michael embraced the Force and felt the web of lives spreading out in front of him, easing his restlessness and clearing away his worries. He suddenly realized Master Olra'en was offering him a rebreather with a light scowl on his face. Remembering his manners Michael bowed low and apologized for the small delay. "Excuse me, Master. I was just.. enjoying the tranquility of the moment." with that he took the rebreather and put it on.

He then took a step back and waited for the other Padawans to take their kit.

 

[Lief]

It had been several weeks since Fiera had woken up to find two men standing over her, asking her if she were okay. Apparently she'd taken quite a blow to the head, but she didn't recall as much. No, she knew only what they had told her. Her training had begun mere hours later, and when they handed what they called a lightsaber to her she immediately recalled how to use it... Not mentally, there was no knowledge-based recollection, but her hands, and her body, they knew what to do with it. She'd ignited the crimson blade and performed an array of feats she didn't even know were possible, let alone with a deadly weapon such as a lightsaber. Jacen and Kaine, that was their names... And what's more, they were Sith. Lords, none the less. But she couldn't remain with them. Somewhere deep inside she knew that wasn't her place, there was a tugging at her chest which urged her elsewhere. And thus she had ended up on Ossus. Still a Sith planet, but it was not like the others. There was a certain peacefulness, a pleasantry to it, which called to her soul. Yes, Fiera liked it here.

Treading through the jungle she was seeking a sign, something, anything, which would tell her where her true fate, her true path lay. But the Galaxy did not work like that, so instead she turned to introspection. Without meaning to her body slipped into a waking, movement meditation, which aided her thought process. It brought a smile to her scarred face. The markings would fade with time, but her memory would not return. That much she knew, if nothing else. All that remains is instinctive, not recollective. But now that she knew and understood that, she accepted it. After all, it meant everything that she saw was new, a marvel, a wonder, it made each day special in one way or another, even if the Sith were not quite for her. When I have my purpose I can leave their clutches. But that would take time, she knew...

@[member="Michael Sardun"] @Je'gan Olra'en @[member="Iella E`ron"] @[member="Lews Therin"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

@Lews Therin @Michael Sardun @Je'gan Olra'en @[member="Fiera Eldeska"]

She could not help the smile on her face, the Imhar Canyou. We are going for a swim?, she thought. She remembered the research indicting systems of submarine caverns, oh she liked caves, but had not experienced a water one.

Iella could sense the others, their unease and disjointedness? The unease she understood entirely, although she had been through a campaign, she too was feeling the trepidations of this mission, she would be worried about herself and them if they had not. But this disjointedness? now that was odd. She smiled at the man called Michael and bow her head in return to his greeting. Then the thud of the ramp to ground caused her to walk toward Master Olar'en. Shall we indeed! As much as this is dangerous, it is equally as exciting, well at least to her.

"Thankyou Master", she said as she took one of the rebreathers, with that smile still and a slight twinkle in her eyes, and waited for the others to ready themselves.

 

[Not Ordo]

@[member="Iella E`ron"] @[member="Fiera Eldaska"] @[member="Michael Sardun"] @Je'gan Olra'en

[SIZE=medium] Lews listened carefully as the group spoke among themselves. It was a delicate mission. One wrong move and the Empire would be on them and the last thing they needed was to create a galactic incident. No, they had to rely completely on stealth and subterfuge. The Empire, their belongings and holdings on Ossus were to be left unspoiled, or at least no more spoiled then the Empire had already made them. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Lews Therin took his lightsaber off his belt and slid it into his right thigh pocket, then got the rebreather in place. The boarding ramp hit the ground with a light thud and as it did the humid jungle air wafted in. Lews Therin carefully made his way down the boarding ramp and pulled a small pack onto his back. Most of the gear was to complete his disguise as a researcher but some things like rope and a holorecorder could turn out to be useful. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The lush vegetation was mostly unknown to him and it was clear that due to the Yuuzhan Vong terraforming had left some less than friendly flora in places. The humid air made his skin feel like he couldn’t have sweated if he wanted to and there seemed to be a slight mist in the air either from the plants or a water source nearby. Lews turned to look at the rest of the group and rested his hands on the straps of his pack. He had always been a man of few words and he didn’t see the sense of changing that now. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]“Ready.” He said simply not using any titles or names just in case. Something was definitely different about the planet he could feel it, but it was hard to distinguish exactly what it was. He didn’t bother to voice his sentiments. Although this was his first real mission there was something in the air of this place. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Something that was familiar.[/SIZE]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

He slipped in his rebreather and dropped his hat on a hook just inside the invisible freighter's door. A long step took him to the end of the ramp and the edge of the trail, and he dove into clear water. A submerged tunnel yawned open. He descended until his ears felt the pressure, and slipped through the tunnel, inverting to pull himself along with a grip on the ceiling. The tunnel bore the scars of forceful passage. The Empire, it seemed, really had raided the ancient Jedi cache here. But had they missed something -- or were the Jedi here for another reason?

He emerged from the tunnel and broke the surface of the water. A lightsabre above the waterline illuminated the cavern, and he climbed up onto slick rock.

"The Empire got everything," he said. "Sirella Valkner's nothing if not thorough, and I'm told she had Warren Valik, Sanctuary and Velok here, among others. They're all supposed to be thorough people...hold on a moment."

He knelt before a featureless wall. "But none of them," he said slowly, "could touch the White Current." He waved his hand, and the wall rippled, becoming a blast door as the powerful illusion dissipated. The door opened, revealing a long tunnel that sloped downward. "Shall we?"

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

@Lews Therin @Michael Sardun @Je'gan Olra'en @Fiera Eldeska

Iella's foot falls followed Master Olra'en to the edge of the path to the water. She had taken off her cloak and placed in over a bag she had brought on the trip. Before diving in after him, she put on the rebreather and adjusted it. Then quickly she dived and swam downward. She could just see his feet kick out and she followed, the drag the water produce pulling on her clothes and making the swim tough. She called on the force to strengthen her arms and legs, which soon made the swim effortless.

Coming up to the water's surface she could make out the figure of the Master standing there. She pulled herself out of the water and looked around the cavern, she was not sure what they where looking for exactly, but anything out of place might be some sort of sign. Her head snapped around to Master Olra'en as he interrupted his own sentence. The next thing a door appeared before them. "White Current", she whispered as if seeing something extraordinary for the first time, and she realised she had so much to learn, so much more training, enough to last her a life time and beyond.

"Shall we?", he asked again. At this Iella could not help but smile. We shall indeed!, she thought again as she walked toward the door way. Black as night the tunnel is, so she unclipped her lightsaber from her belt and ignited it. The white blade, with the faint touch of blue, bursting into light before her, the sound of it's ignition louder in the cavern. It hummed beckoning to her as it always does, the pulse of her connection to it pumping up her arm and she could feel the Dragon within. The Darkside is here, the place tainted with, and the blade knew.

Ok lets be brave, Iella. And she started down the gentle slope in the tunnel, her lightsaber filling the area for her to see. I hope there are no big bugs.

 

[Not Ordo]

[SIZE=medium]@[member="Iella E`ron"] @Michael Sardunhttp://starwarsrp.net/user/2246-michael-sardun/ @Je'gan Olra'en @Fiera Eldeska [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Lews rechecked his re-breather and walked off the end of the boarding ramp and dipped into the warm jungle water of the canyon. The water was surprisingly clear for an area that would collect runoff from the surrounding canyon walls. He followed behind the wizened master and the female apprentice to the entrance of an underwater tunnel. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The signs of forced entry screamed “Empire” and Lews Therin could tell master Olra'en was right. The Cache whatever it had contained was clearly going to be empty, and Lews wondered if the Sith removed what they were here for as well. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]He swam hard as his now soaked clothes pulled at his long limbs, but he fought the urge to call on the force to aid him. He didn’t need to draw attention and he felt it wasn’t a plaything to make his life easier, no; he would wait until it was required. Soon he saw the surface of the water and slowly allowed his head to breach near the inside wall of what seemed to be an entrance chamber of some kind. He reached up with dripping arms and gripped the rocky side wall and pulled himself up and crouched to check his bag. The water proofing seemed to have held and the contents were dry, but he was not so sure about his Lightsaber. He had built it to be sealed against water, but it had not been tested yet, and it would not be pleasant if it didn’t activate at a moment when it meant someone’s life. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]He pulled the silver heron marked hilt out of his pocket, held it in front of him and depressed the activation switch...nothing. With a sigh he pulled the extra power pack from his pack and changed it out and pressed the switch again. This time the green blade sprung to life and added light to the dark cavern like chamber and Lews moved to join the Master and other Apprentice. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The illusion that had been in front of them had been dissipated like a morning fog is burned away by the sun, and the Lews marveled as he witnessed yet another example of the white current being used. The blast door opened easily and they stood in front of a long dark tunnel that led deeper into the bowels of the planet. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]“Shall we?” The Master said. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Lews Therin didn’t need another invitation and followed at a fair distance to allow for movement if a problem occurred and kept his feelings extended and his mind focused on the mission. His green blade bathed him in its soft light as he walked carefully along. The place seemed almost sickly somehow, again he could not explain it but there was something amiss, and they were getting closer to it with every step. [/SIZE]

 

[Lief]

As she ventures further she finds a trail, which has fresh footprints embedded into it. The way the low-branches and grass had been snapped and trodden left a very impressionable trail for her to follow, and thus she wanders to the edge of the water. There was nowhere else they could have gone, except down... And so she took out her aquabreather, slipped it into place and slipped down into the water, diving deeper and deeper, her old fear of water having left her following the accident. When she came upon the tunnel she guessed that it was where they had headed, and thus she followed, gritting her teeth to the pressure build up she felt in the glands beneath her ears and at the back of her nose. It was not pleasant.

When she finally broke up through the surface she spat out the aquabreather and stored it away for later, after all she had to return the same way. More footprints awaited her, leading to an open blast door... And thus she ventured on, following the trail...

@[member="Lews Therin"] @[member="Iella E`ron"] @Je'gan Olra'en @[member="Michael Sardun"]

 

[Arage Bao]

Michael had always loved swimming, it brought him back to better days. When both his parents were still alive and when the days were filled with laughter and joy. Sadly those days were over and only his duty existed now. He sighed and then followed the others into the water.

It took him a while to adjust himself to the motions. But after a while it seemed like second-nature, he was severely tempted to enhance his movements with the Force. Yet he chose against it, Michael did not know how much White Current could hide from the Sith so it would be better not to risk needless exposure.

After a while they arrived in a cave which once served as a storage room, he listened calmly to the Master's explanation while feeling the room all around him with the Force. His fellow Padawan were unnerved by something, but he did not sense anything beyond their feelings of unease. Michael slowly shook his head and followed Master Je'gan while again being hit by amazement at the capabilities of the White Current.

@[member="Levia Sol"] @Lews Therin @Iella E`ron @[member="[/COLOR]Je'gan Olra'en"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Iella E`ron"] @[member="Lews Therin"] @[member="Michael Sardun"]

The tunnel sloped down and gained a consistent curve. "We're following a spiral course," he said. "Force alone knows how this tunnel got made, but it's very old -- maybe old enough to be Je'daii. In which case, it predates the apocalypse that wrecked this planet, and we might well run into..."

He paused, and cast his light about, revealing scattered stone and a chasm.

"...well, it was a cave-in. Someone's excavated it, but the excavation is ancient too. Hundreds of years, maybe thousands. Careful -- don't fall." He jumped over the gap and turned, beckoning.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

@Lews Therin @Michael Sardun @Je'gan Olra'en

The sabers lighting the way filled the cave with an unusual light, with their combine combination of colour. However, it only served to reveal to her the beauty and tragedy of the place, not just this cave and the importance of it, but to the entire planet. She looked about .. take a small time in the indulgence, and could see more colour within the very rock. Flecks of colour of all ranges danced on the light from the sabers.

She paused for a moment, before taking the leap of faith across the chasm, only just making it as her stride is not wide due to her being on the smaller side. She foot skidding slightly on the landing but she soon regained footing. Iella moved along side Master Olra'en and looked up into the high ceiling of the cave.

"... we might well run into what?, Master", she asked, in a soft whispered voice, as he did not finish his sentence. "and please don't say .. arachnids", she said even soft still, as she now looked for them.

 

[Not Ordo]

The tunel they walked was far from natural. The smoothness of the stone walls gave the impression of being hollowed out by water but the perfect curvature of the declining tunnel spoke of clear and decisive intelligent creation. It was impressive to say the least. The soft glow of his lightsaber at times reflected of mineral deposits in the walls and ceiling. Some of the deposits were precious metals that would sell extremely well on any market and yet here they sat untouched. It was clear whom ever had made the tunnel was had not done it for material gain, but had a gteater purpose in mind.

After a time in silence the esteemed and seemingly ancient master began to speak and only paused to leap a fissure in the tunnel. @[member="Iella E`ron"] leapt across in front of Lews and made it without incident although her brief loss of footing made Lews heart jump. He howevet was taller than she and most others and made the jump without incident. He looked back to check on @[member="Michael Sardun"] then moved along behind the others.

"Arachnids would not worry me as much as other things down here." Lews said quietly, "but I wonder if sentry droids were used when this was made?"

@Je'gan Olra'en

 

[Arage Bao]

The tunnel was nothing special; it was obviously made by men for an unknown reason. Maybe when they reached the end they would find out its purpose. Michael silently regarded how his companions one by one reached the other side of the crevice which separated the tunnel in two. He quickly moved further, but stopped dead in his tracks when Iella found her footing again. Michael slowly exhaled and said: “I almost died inside, Iella, be careful next time.” Lews Therin did not have any problem with the jump, probably because his legs were so unnaturally long. The crevice was not very long, after judging its length for a minute Michael leapt over it.

The length of the hole was not so impressive, so it was even more remarkable how deep the hole was. The lightsaber illuminated a small portion of its depth, but with the Force Michael could suddenly feel things moving in the deep. He had to suppress a shudder and was about to say something about his findings. But then he remembered Iella’s concern about spiders and decided against it. It would not do to increase the girl’s unease.

Instead he returned to his usual brooding silence and inflated his awareness of his surroundings. There would be no spider creeping up to him.

@[member="Lews Therin"] @[member="Iella E`ron"] @Je'gan Olra'en

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"If there's one thing I've learned," said Je'gan, angling his lightsabre so as not to carve into the ceiling as he walked, "it's that it's not always monsters. Pockets of dead air would kill us fairly reliably, or a cave-in...

"...or a puzzle."

The tunnel straightened and leveled out, revealing three doors. Above them were carved words, in old but readable Basic.

Adhere to truth, beware of lies
See clearly, child, with reason's eyes
Three doors, but only one true way
And one of these could make you stray
Or guide you straight and true, for he
Is true or false, as last may be.

On his left, a yellow statue stood above a yellow door. Ahead of him, a green statue stood above a green door. To his right, a blue statue stood above a blue door. Three voices emanated from the statues, through the Force.

"Ask, and we will answer."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

@Je'gan Olra'en, @[member="Michael Sardun"], @[member="Lews Therin"]

Iella stretched her back as she came in the leveled area behind Master Olra'en, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up as she looked around at the doors and the statues, only to be amplified as she heard the voices through the force.

"Ask, and we will answer".

Oh this is just peachy, she thought. An understatement to say that the atmosphere is starting to get eerie, what with Master Olra'en putting in his bit to added to it all. Monsters, air of death, potential cave ins and now these talking statues. However, she walked around near them and looked at the carved words. No doubt the colour of the statues formed a significance too, but they could be here for days just trying to work that part out. No, she would dismiss that for the moment.

Adhere to truth, beware of lies
See clearly, child, with reason's eyes
Three doors, but only one true way
And one of these could make you stray
Or guide you straight and true, for he
Is true or false, as last may be.

She repeated them, in a hope for clarity. Hmmmm, lots of couplets .. truth and lies, true and false, one to lead astray one straight and true, but what of the third door? Nothing mentioned there.

"Master Olra'en, the puzzle does not mention the third door, where that would lead, maybe that is the one we need to seek?", she had no idea really, let alone what question to ask it.