Faction Law of the Jungle

[Adelle Bastiel]

"That won't help," Adelle muttered. She hissed as Na'an helped her fully stand, feeling her fingers acutely on a newly-formed bruise. The smell and hiss of rushing water briefly teased her senses when Na'an touched her. Adelle figured she must have experienced or was experiencing something incredibly similar to her Force vision earlier.

Adelle rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the pain in her back. Silara stood in the doorway. Adelle suppressed the kneejerk frown. "I'm alright, just got thrown around. What happened? Where are we?"



Vidalu Na'an | Vyra Silara

 

[Aaran Tafo]

With a boneless flop, Aaran tumbled out of the hammock in the Freebird's cargo hold. The young padawan impacting the cold, unforgiving floor of his ship as his hands pawed around, grasping for something solid for him to hold onto and pull himself back to his feet. His eyes darting around, his body buzzing with energy. He could feel something, something just on the edge of his senses had awoken him. Something out there was calling to him. But what was it?

Grumble

"Oh." He said, blinking once as he looked down at his stomach. It seemed that hunger had finally set in. Looking at the shipboard computer, he did notice that he got a reasonable amount of sleep in. No wonder he was peckish. With the exertion he had done earlier, his body was crying out for nutrients. And Aaran was only too happy to comply. Donning his jacket, saber and satchel full of basic medical supplies. The Padawan exited his ship. Not wishing to dip into his rations just yet. Those were for an emergency, when he was lost in space and not trapped on a jungle world that was teeming with life.

Emerging out into the wild, Aaran doubled checked that the medical scanner he had in his bag was working correctly. It would not do if he ended up grabbing some strange fruit that was toxic to humans. Letting out a pleased hum when the machine beeped an afirmative. Packing it back in his bag and striding off towards the jungle proper.

---

It took some time of wandering about the jungle. But Aaran could feel he was making some progress when it came to satisfying his hunger. Various colourful fruits had been collected. And only half of them would cause kidney failure. Those were kept for him to preserve and bring back to the Order for someone to study later. A good portion of the edible fruits were quickly devoured by the Padawan. The rest could be kept for later when hunger struck again.

But naturally, it was only a matter of time before the Padawan's meandering brought him to someone else. Lord Malleus would feel it on the edge of his senses. A presence, one strong in the Force approaching him from up ahead. The foliage in front of the Military commander began to rustle, before a dark haired muscular young man poked his head out from it. Dark eyes focusing on the dark clad figure. Before Aaran broke out into a wide smile.

"Oh hey. Thought I felt someone else wandering around out here. You like me and got caught by the planet as well?"

 

[Edward Ashcard]

Ashcard had survived the impact but that had been the only thing that had gone well as when the escape pod crashed it tumbled through a thick and dense forest before digging into the dirt inside a small clearing. All long range communication was damaged beyond repair and with no food between Ashcard, the six soldiers and the one fuel line engineer the situation was disparate. Initial sightings suggested that the ship was not destroyed so as the engineer hopelessly worked on a makeshift communication array Ashcard ventured into the jungle.

As Ashcard made his way through the dense undergrowth he passed much colourful yet unknown fruit he unknowably walked into the hearing range of Aaran Tafo as he mumbled report information back to himself.

 

[Arturo Braga]

The ridge didn't result in the salvation they sought. On the contrary, it quashed hopes, and a few of the men couldn't help but curse as they looked out over the green expanse. As far as the eye could see was jungle, and Arturo suspected that it stretched beyond the horizon, past all the wrecks that dotted the land, their dead husks blackening the ground, casting off an aura of despair and lingering death. ​

They were walking through a graveyard. ​

The thought struck him, hard. It was difficult not to think about it as they scanned the treetops, seven sets of eyes looking for signs of life, any life. Distant plumes of smoke marked crash sites far and wide, no doubt other unfortunate souls who'd been caught in the gravity well with them, dragged down through the atmosphere to crash and burn amidst the corpses of their predecessors. It was a haunting view. Arturo committed it to memory. "Hey there, bosmang!" The mercenary cast his gaze sideways. The group had arrayed themselves along the ridge with him, most caught up with what they were seeing, save one. "What's the plan now, hmm? Techie say we still not got no signal, an' dem fires be burnin' far'way from here. Too far to walk like." Arturo looked at the man, wondering when he'd been nominated de facto leader of their little band, finding he didn't mind. It made things easier.​

He returned his gaze to the view, and the wrecks, and the idea that there were others in the same boat as them right now. "We find a place to hunker down, and figure out what to do next," the mercenary replied, certain it was the right thing to do, certain he'd found the right place to do it. A freighter of a make and design he wasn't familiar with lay not too far from where they stood. It's hull was battered and bruised in most places, though, he noted it still looked structurally sound, and the swathe it's landing had cut through the jungle allowed for good sight lines. Inside however... ​

"We'll head on down to the ship there, take us a look. Might be there's something we can make use of in there." ​

"Like a comms array?" ​

"Or the armory?" ​

"Like a comms array or armory, right." Arturo nodded in agreement, not failing to realize that they would need power to get the comms working again. Hopefully, Lady Luck would favor them, make sure the drive core wasn't completely karked. If it was, there was always the chance of an auxiliary power unit. Something to turn to in times of need. ​

And they needed it now more than ever. ​

 

[Lord Malleus]

Passing through the intricated jungle while keeping his concentration in the force as high as possible was truly a challenge. It was like thinking intensely and walking at the time, Malleus senses clouded as the energy that surrounded the planet permeated the lord. The powerful affinity in the force overwhelmed him as his legs started moving on its own, his eyes completely closed. Mind and body being only connected by the force he never fully tamed.

Time passed, the black figure walked mindlessly for hours upon hours, and after getting through the last bush, a small clearing traced by a stream ended his path. There his eyes opened, and suddenly fatigue weighed on his body. He sit on the grass and meditated, over his crossed leg a black and sharp object laid, his hands over it. The gentle sound of the flowing water calmed his temper, and once in a long time his spirit too rested. Such was the power of meditation.

His relaxed thoughts now analyzed intensely his journey in the force, the darkside was prominent in him and felt that by fully embracing it, part of Malleus powers could be finally unleashed. For a long time those strong tendencies had always been kept restrained by the lord pure disgust towards hypocrisy. The most powerful wielders of the darkside always died by their bestial hunger of more, the creed of being freed by the chains through the force made them complete slaves of it. How couldn't they see their hypocrisy? But in truth, disgust was to much of a weak excuse, there was something more that kept him from not being dragged in such dark ends, a dream who secretly harbored, and the greyside was strong in it.

The meditation was brusquely interrupted, a presence was approaching infront of him. The lighside was strong in it. The lord raised his head from pensively looking his family relic over his legs. He grabbed the ancient weapon as he got up and glanced at a tall and muscular man in civilian clothes, who emerged from the jungle.

The words the young man expressed were sincere, though the lightsaber he owned and the force surrounding him were enough for Malleus to conclude that he was a complete force user. The lord ignored the questions " Who trained you? ". The synthetically twisted voice of the Malleus echoed on the surroundings, the imposing sound of those words made clear that his intentions were not of the most friendly.

 

[Roman Calipso]

It didn't take much to off set the balance of a world such as this. When he first arrived, all those years ago, he felt an odd repression, like the spirit of the core itself strained against his presence. He found the flora that was edible always tasted off, though not outright poisonous. The fauna never outright hostile, though they never welcome him. It was a... trying time. At first, he thought to assert himself, to not his spirit be worn at and pushed away. But soon he found that aggression wasn't the key... it was understanding. He had to live in harmony with the world, if he was to stay on it. It would only be after he found the texts that he truly came to understand what that meant.

As he made his way through the brush of the jungle, foliage seemed to adjust out of the way. The most massive of the ships hadn't crashed, as he found when he exited his domicile, which may have been for the better. It was where the darkest of the presences ebbed from, the Force cloaking it in a miasma of a sickly reddish-brown tint. But there were other sights as well. It was as if a mixed bag of candies had dropped into a bowl, every shade and color mixing at once. Some were bright, beacons of light in the darkness. Others dimmer, spirits that perhaps sought guidance. And others mimicked that of the ship, stained in the red tint. He had to admit, none of it made sense to him. It never did. Roman had been blessed with great intelligence and cunning, but he often fell short on the wisdom aspect. Still, the Force sent him these visions, every so often, knowing what would come next.

By now, he could feel partially see the auras of the beings on the world, distant, yet so close. He paused, and took in his surroundings. Hmm, yes, it'd all work quite well. Reaching out into the Force, he gathered a collection of small boulders, and arranged them around the dead stump of a collapsed tree. Walking over to one, he set down the thermos he'd been carrying, the edges warm with its liquid contents, as well as several metal cups. Once they were settled, he began clearing his throat. It'd been a while since he'd spoken in anything beyond a whisper. Not much reason for war cries when your only friends are trees and the occasional rabbit. Focusing his voice into the Force, he bellowed out a question, one that wouldn't be so much as heard by the recipients, as they would be felt, along with a general feeling of where he was. "Would anyone like tea?"

ATTN: Adelle Bastiel , Lord Malleus , Aaran Tafo , Vidalu Na'an

 

[Vyra Silara]

"Hey, uh, Doc, are you okay?"

She lurched forward, catching the Healer by the arm to steady her. At the touch, the sound in her ears--the sound of roaring water--almost seemed to deepen, a bass rumble loud enough to thrum in the bones of her skull.

"Oh my gods," she found herself almost yelling--not at the Healer in her arms, but back at the still-open door, where the green planet was still so clearly framed. "I'm on it, do you have to be so drukking loud--"

Adelle rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the pain in her back. Silara stood in the doorway. Adelle suppressed the kneejerk frown. "I'm alright, just got thrown around. What happened? Where are we?"

“Some sort of… hyperspace disturbance,” Vyra answered the healer slowly, eyeing Na’an with a degree of confusion at the small woman’s odd outburst. On it? On what? What was so loud? A small part of her tickled with amusement at the violent curse. Not that she’d never heard Na’an curse before, but never so…sharply.

Of course, this only heightened her curiosity.

She hovered outside the door, passing a smooth glance over Na’an’s caring grip on Adelle. Vyra straightened and clasped her hands in front of her, suddenly all business though her tone remained pleasant. “There was damage to the vessel, a handful of our people evacuated to the surface of the planet below. It seems we’re going nowhere until repairs are made.” She gestured to Na’an. “She went head first into a nav computer on the bridge during the event. There was blood, I thought you might check her over, and she insisted on finding you, so we came straight here.” Her eyebrows drew together in concern as Adelle hissed in pain, though she remained where she was. The queen could feel the animosity from the doorway strong enough. “I hope you’re alright as well… They’re sending down an expedition to gather supplies for the repairs, but neither of you are required to go on the first shuttle if you need time to recover. Take your time.”

Vyra lingered briefly, as if hesitating over something as she watched the two of them. In the end, she seemed to abandon the idea, offering a tight smile. “I should gather my things, I’ll..leave you two to rest and prepare.” And she turned on her heel, making her way back into the ship with a heart full of strange emotions.

​

It didn’t take her long to assemble the few things she needed in the depths of the quarters she shared with Kainan. The dark sleeveless bodysuit, made from temperature regulating, slash proof material, would keep her cool in the jungle environment, and the flexible, thin belt-like item wrapped loosely around her hips could double as a handful of things. Able to hold immense amounts of weight as well as change its solidity with the push of a button, stiffening into a makeshift blunt-force weapon or rippling around and gripping whatever it was whipped at, it would prove useful in a pinch should she need it. A light pistol and a hunting knife strapped to each thigh, and a small hard pouch of different oils and tiny bottled substances, and she was ready to go.

Vyra secured her boots over her calves and scraped her long tresses into a neatly braided bun at the back of her head, staring at the pillow and blanket on the couch in the humble sitting room off the bedroom. The sheet was folded sharply, precisely, sitting exactly in the middle of the cushion with the pillow resting ever so plump on top. Annoyance brewed in her gaze, even as the tiniest of knowing smiles played with her mouth. Every day, always the same, routinely perfect and tidy, and Whills forbid a single corner was out of place.

She could feel the memories trying to break through her barriers, her mind stretching out eagerly to reconnect with them, but Vyra refused them. Again. As she refused them every hour of every day.

Keeping him at bay in her thoughts..was a constant battle.

One she made herself win.

Crossing the room, Vyra flicked a disapproving hand at her fiancé’s perfectly smooth pillow, crimping the middle and making one or two very intentional finger depressions in the white swell before rumpling the edges of the sheet, leaving it just slightly askew. A moment to admire the subtle chaos of her work, something he’d be quite familiar with, and then she was headed for the door.

Na’an wasn’t the only one with ‘green fever’. Despite their circumstances, the idea of setting foot on the viridian planet outside the windows excited her, the promise of adventure singing in her soul.

It was time to embark.

|| Vidalu Na'an || Adelle Bastiel || Kainan Wolfe ||

​

 

[Edward Ashcard]

Operative Ashcard kept moving through the thick jungle undergrowth using his sidearm as a club to force apart the foliage. He was unsure what he was looking for but at that point he was just hoping to see something of interest and not more endless jungle.

After more mindless walking he heard something different from the jungle ambience which was enough for him to investigate. As Ashcard pushed past a vine he came face to face with Lord Malleus and Aaran Tafo .

 

[Aaran Tafo]

Location: Hell if I know.
New Friends: Lord Malleus Roman Calipso Edward Ashcard

If Malleus' disturbing appearance or distorted voice unnerved or disturbed the young man. They did not show. HIs face was utterly blithe and serene. Emerging from the cover of the foliage without a hint of aprehension. The only real reaction was a raising of a brow in response to Malleus' own line of questioning. Giving a slight shrug, he decided to indulge the masked lord. "Oh I've had a bunch, never really had the one on one experience you know? But I've picked up a thing or two." He'd admit nothing. If Malleus was going to ignore Aaran's own question, then he would simply hint at his own answers.

The rustling and cracking of branches that signalled the arrival of one Edward Ashcard drew another smile to Aaran's face. Without fear, without hesitation, he sauntered over to the special forces officer, giving a mock salute. "How you doing? Same as the rest of us? Crash landing?" He asked, cocking his head to the side to await the answer.

At least he would have. If not for the echoing words of the stranded Jedi Master to catch on his metaphysical ears. His head whipping around, possibly at the same time as Malleus' in the direction the call came from. Before slowly turning back to the Imperial Knight and raising a brow. FIguring that such an open broadcast would be felt by any Force Sensitives in the area.

"What say we get to know each other over tea?" He said, already turning to move in the direction the call came out from. "You must be swealtering in that getup. Gotta stay hydrated in this climate." He said, already waving his hand behind him. Urging the other two to follow him.

 

[Vidalu Na'an]

Vyra lingered briefly, as if hesitating over something as she watched the two of them. In the end, she seemed to abandon the idea, offering a tight smile. “I should gather my things, I’ll..leave you two to rest and prepare.” And she turned on her heel, making her way back into the ship with a heart full of strange emotions.

​

Even with her body almost vibrating with unheard sounds, Na'an couldn't help but wince a little as she watched Vyra go, the medbay door slipping shut between them. It...wasn't like she wanted to make her look like that. Gods knew she hadn't wanted any of this. If they'd been able to stay on Elenthaeus forever, relatively safe and relatively happy and with the first fragile hope that the Family could finally stop being the one great curse on her life...

But Vyra had chosen her loyalties, hadn't she? She'd been talking to Tacitus the entire time, even then. Maybe even before Na'an had ever appeared on her doorstep like some kind of stray puppy. She wasn't....she wasn't safe anymore. If she ever had been. And whatever this was that the green planet was sending through her bones, Na'an knew giving the Eternal Emperor too much knowledge about it would be a terrible mistake.

...and there it was again. Even with the door closed, unseen, thinking about the green planet even in passing brought it back to the forefront of her mind with full force. She whipped back around to Adelle, gripping at her shoulder tightly.
"You said it wouldn't help," she said, her words tumbling out of her as fast and hot as fever. "That means it's not just me, right? You can hear it. The falls, the jungle, the teakettle? It's not just me. Can you smell it too? Can you see where--"

Focusing his voice into the Force, he bellowed out a question, one that wouldn't be so much as heard by the recipients, as they would be felt, along with a general feeling of where he was. "Would anyone like tea?"

The smell of tea, warm and woody and bitter, hit her brain like a wave, and suddenly all Na'an wanted was to know if that's how it tasted too. Adelle had to hear that voice, had to feel what she was feeling, right? There was no way this was a concussion. This was real.

"We have to go, Doc. Please tell me you know we have to go, whatever's down there, it's important. You're from Felucia, you know jungle worlds. You can get us on an expedition, then we can slip away and--"

Vyra Silara | Adelle Bastiel | LE-03 (Leigh) | Kainan Wolfe​

 

[Sakri]

The jungle, though unfamiliar and unknown, was a paradoxically familiar sort of unknown. Sakri was aware that she did not know the dangers it held; she knew to maintain vigilance, to keep her senses open, to take note of the flora and fauna for both safety and future sustenance. Her circumstances here were less than ideal, yes, but for the moment the gold-skinned woman was appreciating the solitude and simplicity of her trek.

A rise in the current, though, gave her only a moment's notice before a wave washed over her...

By now, he could feel partially see the auras of the beings on the world, distant, yet so close. He paused, and took in his surroundings. Hmm, yes, it'd all work quite well. Reaching out into the Force, he gathered a collection of small boulders, and arranged them around the dead stump of a collapsed tree. Walking over to one, he set down the thermos he'd been carrying, the edges warm with its liquid contents, as well as several metal cups. Once they were settled, he began clearing his throat. It'd been a while since he'd spoken in anything beyond a whisper. Not much reason for war cries when your only friends are trees and the occasional rabbit. Focusing his voice into the Force, he bellowed out a question, one that wouldn't be so much as heard by the recipients, as they would be felt, along with a general feeling of where he was. "Would anyone like tea?"

..and a voice echoed around her presence. Reflexively, she turned toward the "source" of the voice, baring her canines as a surprised growl began in her throat.. but she quickly silenced herself, regaining her composure while narrowing her eyes in the direction of the source. The wave, though startling, had carried with it no ill will. And the voice.. Sakri took a breath to center herself and reach out to sense the message it carried: a question, an invitation.

Well.

Sakri felt the wave continue outward and away, and in the peripherals of her senses she could discern others whose curiosity had been piqued. Under normal circumstances, the Firrerreo would have ignored such an invitation; joining with others always meant frivolous banter, wasted breath, and powerful words tossed about like casual playthings. The thought of it nettled her, but.. still.. as the current settled, she felt it slowly and inevitably flowing forward, pulling her onward, pulling her toward the Speaker ahead.

So onward she continued, adjusting her path and pulling the hood of her cloak up. It seemed her solitude was soon coming to an end..

 

[Mythos]

Seafood delicacy.

By the time his team were done with the creature it was blasted and chopped up to all hell. They pulled the colossal thing to the shore of the swamp and laid it out point to point. It was by far the largest aquatic creature Mythos had ever hunted, his harpoon was still stuck to to its body as it was the thing that reeled it in.

It took some time and some equipment from the top fleets but they got fires burning and soon enough the meat from the massive thing was being cooked on an open fire or a grill. It was nearly a mile long, the troops parked their sweps along and Mythos began overseeing their catch and rationing out duties to the men. So far so good, they got some illumination down there, got a catch and soon were eating meals.

"Tell topside to bring down some water purifiers and cold storage units. Bring some of this upstairs and feed the men. We don't know how long we are going to be out here so we might as well supply ourselves with food and water."

The smell was good and with all this meat grilling Lord Malleus and Aaran Tafo would no doubt catch a whiff of the smell or see the trail of smoke. Little by little Mythos' encampment would form.​

 

[Adelle Bastiel]

“Some sort of… hyperspace disturbance,” Vyra answered the healer slowly, eyeing Na’an with a degree of confusion at the small woman’s odd outburst. On it? On what? What was so loud? A small part of her tickled with amusement at the violent curse. Not that she’d never heard Na’an curse before, but never so…sharply.

Of course, this only heightened her curiosity.

She hovered outside the door, passing a smooth glance over Na’an’s caring grip on Adelle. Vyra straightened and clasped her hands in front of her, suddenly all business though her tone remained pleasant. “There was damage to the vessel, a handful of our people evacuated to the surface of the planet below. It seems we’re going nowhere until repairs are made.” She gestured to Na’an. “She went head first into a nav computer on the bridge during the event. There was blood, I thought you might check her over, and she insisted on finding you, so we came straight here.” Her eyebrows drew together in concern as Adelle hissed in pain, though she remained where she was. The queen could feel the animosity from the doorway strong enough. “I hope you’re alright as well… They’re sending down an expedition to gather supplies for the repairs, but neither of you are required to go on the first shuttle if you need time to recover. Take your time.”

Vyra lingered briefly, as if hesitating over something as she watched the two of them. In the end, she seemed to abandon the idea, offering a tight smile. “I should gather my things, I’ll..leave you two to rest and prepare.” And she turned on her heel, making her way back into the ship with a heart full of strange emotions.

Even with her body almost vibrating with unheard sounds, Na'an couldn't help but wince a little as she watched Vyra go, the medbay door slipping shut between them. It...wasn't like she wanted to make her look like that. Gods knew she hadn't wanted any of this. If they'd been able to stay on Elenthaeus forever, relatively safe and relatively happy and with the first fragile hope that the Family could finally stop being the one great curse on her life...

But Vyra had chosen her loyalties, hadn't she? She'd been talking to Tacitus the entire time, even then. Maybe even before Na'an had ever appeared on her doorstep like some kind of stray puppy. She wasn't....she wasn't safe anymore. If she ever had been. And whatever this was that the green planet was sending through her bones, Na'an knew giving the Eternal Emperor too much knowledge about it would be a terrible mistake.

...and there it was again. Even with the door closed, unseen, thinking about the green planet even in passing brought it back to the forefront of her mind with full force. She whipped back around to Adelle, gripping at her shoulder tightly.
"You said it wouldn't help," she said, her words tumbling out of her as fast and hot as fever. "That means it's not just me, right? You can hear it. The falls, the jungle, the teakettle? It's not just me. Can you smell it too? Can you see where--"



The smell of tea, warm and woody and bitter, hit her brain like a wave, and suddenly all Na'an wanted was to know if that's how it tasted too. Adelle had to hear that voice, had to feel what she was feeling, right? There was no way this was a concussion. This was real.

"We have to go, Doc. Please tell me you know we have to go, whatever's down there, it's important. You're from Felucia, you know jungle worlds. You can get us on an expedition, then we can slip away and--"

Vyra Silara | Adelle Bastiel | LE-03 (Leigh) | Kainan Wolfe​

​

Adelle clamped a gentle hand over Na'an's mouth and herded her into a small examination room off to the side. The privacy door slid shut and only then did Adelle relax. She lightly massaged where the bruises formed, her brain trying to think through everything all at once. Her skin felt chilled where Na'an had her arms on her and she subconsciously rubbed the areas. So much happened in so little time, Adelle struggled to find her emotional center again. In her fervor, Na'an had broken the careful distance Adelle had kept since they found themselves in the Empire. She wished this was still Dantooine, or Elenthaeus even. Adelle satisfied herself with pulling out an antiseptic wipe, antibiotic ointment, and a small bandage for the cut that had already started clotting.

"Yes," she said, her voice husky in the quiet room. "I could see. I was . . . there."

She reached up to Na'an's hairline with gentle and deft fingers, the rather minor wound cleaned and bandaged in less than a minute.

"The medical droids." She gestured outside the room with a nod. "They listen and store audio. You have to keep things low-key."

Adelle rolled her neck and leaned against the examination table. She stared at the floor, talking as much to herself as to Na'an. "Could probably convince Ash to take us planetside, no questions. Show up separately, so no one would think it odd. ID is A479, so she'd probably have already shuttled one wave down. Atmo, landing, disembarking, powering up, atmo, docking. Should be about . . . fifteen, twenty minutes?"

She suddenly snapped her focus to Na'an. "If there's anything you need or want to grab, now's the time. I'll meet you at the midships hangar."

***

Angel-Four-Seven-Niner did not question their arrival and request to go planet-side, once they mentioned the Empress Apparent. For once, Adelle could appreciate Silara without the tinge of distrust: an Empress was a very convenient person to know. Adelle got into the transport with the next wave of soldiers, Na'an behind her and near glassy-eyed. The white medical coat she wore would not blend in with the jungle very well but she hadn't spent the past twenty minutes idle either. She closed her eyes and waited for the pull of the planet to lessen. She hoped it would once they landed.



Vidalu Na'an | Vyra Silara

 

[Lord Malleus]

​

The answer was rather vague and that annoyed the lord, but before he could even reply a voice reached his mind.

"Would anyone like tea?"

It sounded like an old man, carrying the light side with it. It was to much obvious to assume that the young man was related to this voice, the master that maybe preferred to show off rather than letting speak his apprentice. Even the hasteful offer made by the man infront of him sounded like a goofy way to hide a trap. He knew that the darkside he brought with him could be easely felt by force users.

But despite all of this his instinct hammered in his mind it is not how it looks, though maybe the old man knew the planet's secret and damn if he needed to take off that goddamn armor, it may had some isolation membranes but the humidity of a jungle together with the sweat of fatigue were way more than it could afford. Nevertheless his rigid discipline kicked in even in such stressful conditions.

As his glance still laid on the imperial operative or what Malleus presumed was by looking the armor and the other imperial soldiers following such, he answered " Yes ". He then turned to see the force user " But I guess you don't know how to behave infront of a captain. " He said with sarcasm.
" Now... I must clarify a thing or two with the operative before we depart ". The lord said in an inquisitive manner as he hastely walked away aiming again to the imperial agent and his group.

" Captain Malleus Valkonnen of the eternal fleet, id code 01988. Identify yourself operative " The distortion made by the helmet filters only strengthened the Lord and captain authoritarian tone, as he now was few feet from the approaching survivors.

ATTN : Edward Ashcard / Aaran Tafo


​

 

[Edward Ashcard]

As the Captain identified himself Ashcard wondered if his helmet was for breathing or intimidation which he determined that it not matter at the time and turned his thoughts to the situation. It was clear that the Captain was someone of importance from how directly he spoke and because of the fine equipment he carried with him. After the joy of finding another survivor, or rescue team member if he wanted to be helpful, faded he realised they were in a difficult position in regards to authority but he hoped that he regrouped survivors which had caught up with him would bolster his appearance.

Ashcard nodded as the Captain spoke before stating with as much authority as he unaided voice could produce "Operative Edward Ashcard of the Blackwatch Special Security Corps and to my own surprise senior strategic adviser to the Tygeria Dragon Armaments Conclave." before speaking again with freer hand movements "Please carry on Captain as I am unaware of the situation beyond my own happenings".

Lord Malleus and Aaran Tafo

 

[Vidalu Na'an]

Na'an rocked gently with the movement of the shuttle, vaguely aware of Adelle's shape crammed in next to her among all the other bodies. The warmth of her presence there was...comforting. Na'an had never been terribly prone to visions before now, but the textures and scents and sounds that were still ringing through her brain were visceral, vivid to the point of hallucination. The fact that Doc had had the same experience--solid, reliable, good Doc--it made this whole thing something she didn't need to make herself be afraid of. Whatever was down there waiting for them was powerful, but...if Adelle Bastiel was for it, it couldn't be dangerous, right?

Which was good--because if anything, it felt more like home than anything had since Dantooine.

The shuttle cut through the atmosphere easily, winding its way towards the first clearing within view of the battlecruiser above. Na'an found herself leaning into the viewport, straining to catch a better look. She had used Felucia as a comparison before, but on closer inspection this unnamed planetoid was very little like the old Jedi world. It was much less fungal, for one; instead of the pink and purple and glowing blue mushroom forests, the flora here consisted of huge, broad canopied trees, draped with vines and covered in thick furry mosses. The plants all seemed to tangle together, creating the impression of a single continuous organism made of a hundred shades of green. The spots of other colors--a dark brown log, a flash of teal feathers, flowers in scarlet and purple and white--only seemed to make the green deeper by the contrast. Na'an could picture herself, barefoot and loose-haired and silent, easily vanishing into all that overgrowth, letting it close behind her--

The bump of their landing brought Na'an back again, blinking against the green light now streaming against her face. She forced herself to follow Adelle and the rest of the soldiers out of the shuttle at a normal pace, only holding her breath for a moment as her boots hit ground and her face hit the muggy jungle air. As the other soldiers organized, their commander laying out a plan of attack for their expedition, she leaned over to Doc and reached for her hand.
"Next step," she whispered, "is to get good and lost. Right? And I don't know about you..."

She could feel her toes wiggling under the heavy leather of those boots--Imperial standard for any soldier's armor, especially for a guard of the Empress herself.

"But I can't wait to get out of this awful stuff and get going."

Adelle Bastiel | Vyra Silara | Roman Calipso | Kainan Wolfe​

 

[Lord Malleus]

​

The figure of the lord and captain stood firmly, for a couple of seconds only the sounds of exotic birds, the soft swish of the stream and a barely hearable deep and cadenced synthetically twisted heavy breathing were the only things that animated the scene.

" The man who was over there before, was a "civilian" force user ... " The cold and dark visor of the lord gave a long stare at the fatigued glance of the operative as now a more natural voice resounded in Edward's mind. "And another one in this planet have left a message to all the sensitives of the force... an invite. I may have reasons to believe the one who invited us have a deeper knowledge of this world. There is something hidden in this planet, such its power that may be the cause of the gravity well. It must be taken or destroyed."

The unmovable figure of the lord offered one hand for an handshake while the other moved to detach the helmet. With a depressurization sound the face of a young and quite tired man emerged from the dark mask, but his determined look was more than enough to give value his words.
"Will you help me?".

ATTN : Edward Ashcard / Aaran Tafo

​

 

[Aaran Tafo]

New Friends: Lord Malleus Edward Ashcard Roman Calipso
Location: Hell if I know.

In the moment that Malleus had turned away from Aaran to address the new arrival. The Padawan had already vanished into the undergrowth. The rustling of branches and leaves enough to indicate what direction he had gone. But finding his exact location would certainly be a tricky endevour without either feeling out the young man's presence through the force. Or through specialised equipment meant to detect life signatures.

It wasnt out of a desire to abandon the rather intense Lord that Aaran wandered off. It was simply him figuring that if Malleus and Edward really wanted some tea, they'd all end up at the same place regardless. That much had been decided on, considering that they had all crash landed on this planet, its not like they had anywhere else to go. All rivers lead to the ocean after all.

So instead he just wandered into the undergrowth. Fingers trailing across trees, pausing at some points to admire interesting looking flora. Eyes occasionally glancing upwards to watch playful simian creatures whoop and hollar at each other in the canopy. Simply reaching out and listening to the world around him. Half the time he wasnt even watching where he was going. Just closing his eyes and drinking in the Living Force of the jungle.

Only to pause. As just on the edge of his senses. A familiar presence tickled the edge of his mind. A pair of presences actually. A small smile spreading on his face. He reached out with his consciousness. His mind brushed against both Vyra Silara and Vidalu Na'an . A familiar voice echoing in their minds. Not as loud or as forceful as Roman's call. More the tone of polite conversation.

"Huh. Small galaxy. Everyone seems to have crashed here."

 

[Arturo Braga]

Inside proved to be just what he'd expected. Dark and dreary, the inside of the freighter was a drab place when compared with the vibrant jungle the ship now called home. The bleak light of day at their backs illuminated the space laid out before them, a breach in the hull opening up a path that led straight into what seemed to be a cargo bay. At least, that was what Arturo assumed upon first seeing the place. It was a large area, wide and all-encompassing, the roof and far walls swallowed by darkness. Between the group and those far corners, containers lay scattered or upturned, most dented or destroyed. What they had contained was a mystery, though, from the smell making its way through his mask, Arturo once again assumed that they'd contained organic foodstuffs or perhaps chemicals. ​

Regardless, whatever it was stank like a bantha's back-end. ​

Activating his short-range comm unit, Arturo signaled the go-ahead. Four sets of feet drummed the advance, three more bringing up the rear. The guildsmen led the way, blasters raised and heads on a swivel. Even with the light of a few torches and the assistance of optics, the place was dark, and Arturo knew from experience that dark things had a habit of dwelling in them. They couldn't afford to let their guard down. Not here, not after all that had happened. ​

Time seemed to stretch as they made their way across the cargo bay, navigating an endless maze of warped durasteel and kark knew what else. The light of the breach had long since faded from existence by then, and a door on the far side of the bay admitted them into a corridor that turned and twisted, leading on into the husk they'd chosen to search. Well, that wasn't entirely true. He'd chosen to search it, and the others -with no better idea of what to do- had gone along with it. There was nothing else to do now but soldier on, and so they did, winding their way through, a familiarity with starships allowing some semblance of an idea as to where they were headed. ​

"Wait a moment." Stenson called, his voice carrying from the back of the group, going beyond to lose itself in the encroaching darkness. "I think the bridge is this way. That's where we were heading, right? To find a way to clear up comms, get a message out." The group halted as one, and Arturo walked back, following a pointed finger down a turn they'd passed. He looked at Stenson. "You think or you know?" The mercenary asked, his fixed gaze burrowing into the tech specialist, making him squirm. "I-... I know." The man managed after a few seconds. Arturo nodded. "Then lead on." ​

------​

The bridge turned out to be a wreck. From the way the consoles, controls and work stations were arrayed all over the place, it was safe to say that the place had perhaps taken the brunt of a bad landing. Loose wires dangled from the ceiling, the power that had once coursed through them long gone. The metalwork was rusted, and all Arturo could see through the broken viewport was dirt and roots and what appeared to be a human skull. That bodes well, he thought to himself as he turned to Stenson, a question upon his lips. "Well?" The answer was clear in the techies expression; the sweat beading on his forehead, the frown, the distant gaze. Arturo shook his head. "Thought so." He sighed. "That's a downer." ​

At his shoulder, one of the guildsmen stirred. "What now, bosmang? Th' armory?" Indeed, that was the next port of call. Arturo nodded. "Yeah." Was all the reply he could muster, racking his brain for options. "Search the rest of the ship, see what we can dig up before we bug out. Might be there was something in all those containers we passed." ​

"Not likely." One of the other Empire lackey's muttered, speaking up as he caught the looks he was getting. "This is a science vessel, not a freighter. Doubt there's much any of us could make use of. Not in it's current state, anyway." Beneath the anonymity his mask provided, Arturo blinked. "How do you know this is a science vessel?" Stenson asked for all of them. "I don't" He said after a pause, having the decency to blush. "But... I've worked on a few before, and those containers back in the cargo bay? A few of the broken ones had science equipment inside, and that smell, reminded me of disinfectant. Not to mention the cages and labs we walked by on the way here. Was like I was venturing through my past or whatever."​

Arturo held up a hand. ​

"Cages?" ​

"Yeah, like for prisoners or dangerous animals. Hell, kinda sounds like the setup for one of them old HoloVid Horrors, y'know? Evil scientists running experiments in Wild Space." The man grinned, all nerves and no charm. After a while, he realized he'd said too much. "Not that it matters. That stuff ain't real. Couldn't be..." Looks passed between the group, a sudden lingering silence making it's presence known. It drew on for a time, long enough for the paranoia to fester. ​

Long enough for Arturo to do a quick headcount, noting as he did that, for a group of seven, they looked a lot like a group of six. ​

"Where's the other tech?" ​

 

[Edward Ashcard]

Edward gladly shook Malleus' hand in a powerful gesture that would only be seen by birds and bugs. He was happy that at least at first glance he had run into someone of a similar nature and focused his mind on working together.

"I am happy for us to work together so I suppose we should have some sort of plan or at least an understanding. While you being a force-sensitive is interesting it is one of the few areas where my authority may be rightly challenged to keep to yourself what you must however from what you have said it seems that it will play a key part of what is come" Edwards says sternly as he brushes off leaf and bug alike. "I agree that this power source must be taken and this invite be heard for us to learn more however in this state I am limited how I can help but I can improve my situation slightly"

Edward turns to two of his soldiers "Bayonets to me." He says and the troopers quickly respond and it is not long before Edward wielding the bayonets one crossed over the other.

"As I was saying force users seem to be the largest threat if only we had the full range of Eternal Empire equipment," Edward says with a slight say "I suppose you have the invite so it would be wise to let you lead".

Lord Malleus