Skirmish Let There Be Light: IMP and Allies Assault on Brendok | Open for All

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Brendok
Attire: Dathomiri Outfit
Equipment: Lightsaber, Nightsister Energy Bow
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Argella Gladiolus | Michael Barran | Albrecht F. Herlock | Cannaugh Galloway | Kaila Irons | Asanté Tsilor | Faylene Thal | Adeline Noctua

Dreidi watched the video then looked towards the clear leader of this group. "Smuggler stealing from people means nothing bar the fact that apprehending and returning the artefacts here should have been your priority. Nothing you have shown links these witches to that smuggler. In fact, the mention of the smuggler being male clearly shows he is unconnected." Dreidi gestured to the all female coven of witches that were around them, "as you might be able to tell, this is a coven of purely female witches."

The second part of the clip was something she found deeply concerning, it was religious zealous that was dangerous in the mindset. Even people with supposedly good intentions could be corrupted by their religious zeal. Dreidi was not going to have people stomping around imposing their beliefs onto others because they feared independent thought and contradictory ideologies to their own. "As for the second part, that simply demonstrates the overstep of your soldier and the dangerous religious zeal that you are indoctrinating people with."

"Artefacts are simply just artefacts, they are not the danger posed. It is the people that hold them that are the danger, and thus far, these witches have refused to fight and ensured the safety of their own. They are simply wishing to be left alone and are content living their lives without Jedi, Sith, Ashla and Bogan followers stomping around forcing their beliefs and wars onto them." Her grip on her Lightsaber tightened, she did not think this was going to go peacefully since she had given so many opportunities at the point for peaceful resolution and it had not been resolved yet.

Dreidi hoped that she would not be fighting alone, she knew her odds here were not ideal and there were plenty of these imperials itching for a fight, she could feel it. "Also, you see these artefacts as dangerous Bogan related items, the witches see them as historic artefacts. If you can't comprehend how a smuggler could have stolen them, then you clearly need to meet more smugglers." Dreidi stated dryly, she was sure that a smuggler worth a damn could have easily snuck in and stolen something. They had done it to Jedi, Sith and many others without getting caught. The witches were not immune to such thievery.

"So, return the artefacts stolen, deal with the smuggler as you so please and leave this world. This is the last chance, these women are not going to bow down to anyone, especially people accusing them of crimes without any concrete evidence." Dreidi might have been speaking on their behalf and could have been overstepping but her indignation that the thing that caused this was a smuggler with stolen artefacts was too much. She refused to allow this farce to continue. "Your people stormed in here, armed and ready to fight without a word, you proclaim a smuggler stole artefacts likely of historic value to the people here and accuse them of exploiting the instability of the galaxy because they follow a path different to your own. You are the aggressors here, you are the ones causing harm and sowing the seeds for further instability."

 

[Cannaugh Galloway]

Cannaugh listened with pride as his Commander his Imperator his Emperor demonstrated perfectly both that if he gave the order Cannaugh would cut down the woman in front of them without hesitation and why. Because he believed heart and soul that his Emperor was a good man. The good man won today. Above that of the Warrior and Commander whom any military tactical mind would tell him to eliminate the threat and continue with their objective. That was the safe thing to do. That was the smart thing to do. But it wasn't the right thing to do. Not here, not now, not today.

Cannaugh felt his chest swell with pride of the honour of serving this man. Not just the position as his honour guard or it's command, but this man. Cannaugh realised in that moment that if Michael Barran had been a town councilmen he would still be a man to follow and listen to. It was more than just a position of fear or authority. It was trust in what he represented. Not just for the Highland Brotherhood, The Goidel People or even the Empire but the Galaxy.

As the Emperor explained why they were here. It was explained to Cannaugh as well. They were here because these Dark Cultistts needed to be stopped. They were here because it was the right thing to do. Sometimes it was just that simple. No politics, no strategic holdings, or valuable resources. Simply because they were in a position to do good.

Cannaugh would still kill without hesitation if given the order, but now he knew why. Cannaugh had heard a quote once from a warrior general who had rebelled and lost a war before he surrendered he gathered his troops together and raised a toast. "Here's to those who fight and ask why".

Cannaugh had always tried to learn the military practicalities and thought the sentiment one to give cold comfort to soldiers who had lost everything. Now he understood. From now on even if he didn't get an answer he'd ask why.

For the first time he hoped the woman would listen to reason and put down her arms, but she stubbornly refused. Insisting and digging her heals in. A part of him respected her for it a part of him was frustrated with her obstinate. She could die. She could kill. Simply because she refused to give in.

Cannaugh sighed for the first time his heart heavy with the thought of killing her. He would not shirk from his duties. However much it may pain him his faith in his Emperor remained strong. Cannaugh thought he'd try if he didn't and they were forced to kill her he'd regret it.

"We're not murderers. We're soldiers. We've no wish to kill innocents. You're making threats forcing a confrontation forcing combat. You may not care if you die but you might care that you kill. Think about that. You're pushing advocating for killing. We don't enjoy it. We will do our duty."

Cannaugh grimaced as he realised the last was a threat and made him a hypocrite. He hesitated and sighed and deactivated his lightsaber trusting in his instincts he could turn it on to defend himself if necessary. A trust he didn't find easy.

"I'm not trying to make threats just pointing out that this is a tense situation the wrong move of which could ignite and cause tragedy. If there are Dark Side cultists here with or without your knowledge they need to be stopped. To protect others is our goal as it would seem to be yours. Would you kill out of hand so easily?"

Cannaugh waited his weapons down arms by his side his every muscle twitching to defend himself from the armed threat. To defend his Emperor, but he didn't waited and hoped. If this didn't work and he survived the next hostile threat he met would be dealt with decisively. If it did… if there was even a small chance it did. It was worth it.

Argella Gladiolus | Michael Barran | Albrecht F. Herlock | Kaila Irons | Asanté Tsilor | Faylene Thal | Adeline Noctua | Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Michael Barran]

6th Post

-A "RISE/REPENT" STORY-

MASK_ONE
HIGH-MARSHAL OF THE 313TH "SABRETOOTH" LEGION
GRANDMASTER OF THE ORDER OF THE CHANTING MASK
LORD IMPERATOR OF THE IMPERIAL MILITARY PROTECTORATE

TAGS
Argella Gladiolus Cannaugh Galloway Asanté Tsilor Albrecht F. Herlock

Kaila Irons Faylene Thal Adeline Noctua Dreidi Xeraic

HEAVY ART THE HEADS IV: ISSUES OF YESTERYEAR - PART 6

TRIANGULATED SEARCH ZONE, RED VALLEY BASIN,
BRENDOK, OUTER RIM (902 ABY)

'My guard speaks true... I hear you, especially on the Historical Artefacts part. Believe me, I do. But-'
​

Something seemed off, especially with the revelation of a smuggler's hands reaching and willingly besmirching the value of the artefact in question, as any self-respecting keeper of histories and links to bygone centuries (and even millennia-) would never once have allowed such items to leave their rightful settings so easily. The Lord-Imperator had hoped that the Jedi would see it for herself, assuming Dreidi would not have allowed anyone to leave with something so priceless, but in sensing something was going awry in real-time, there would be no convincing the Jedi that all of this tension would have been avoided if the offending item had just remained in the coven's keeping.

​

'-Therein lies an issue I wished not to see whilst attempting to give your people the benefit of the doubt.'

​

Continuing,'I had assumed you would not wish to part with relics of great, historical signifance, as anyone else in your predicament would have expressed an interest in the smuggler, at the very least.', only to pause for effect before hammering home his point. Slowly drawing to a colder, altogether-more apathetic gaze, though all in the room would see the old Woad in his attempts to stifle it, but Lord Michael was not impressed with the showing of one who moved and spoke like a Jedi, hoping that something at least mildly Ashlan resided within his would-be opponent. Even shaking his head by the time he considered how he would see such a misplacement from a coven-adherent perspective, but the Lord Imperator was nothing - if not a slave to lawful procedure.

'For instance, if I had been handling matters from your perspective, I'd be demanding artefact an' smuggler alike, for the latter to be handed over for questioning.... Naturally, this would assure that no bad actors in the coven could bring their sanctuary within reach of opposition, for no cause's truest loyalists would even dare gamble with the souls of their archetypal compatriots.'

It was in that exact moment when Barran realised that he was beginning to want this meeting to descend into conflict after all, trailing off in realisation of the fundamental differences between the Protectorate and the Bogan Coven, and in that inward revelation admitted to himself that these were always the ways of the people within the walls of the Bogan temple. No more hiding the coldness within the blue of Barran's irises, no more benefit of the doubt for Xeraic's strongest allies, and especially not as Lord Michael concluded,'But one thing we can both guarantee is this.... Someone gambled with the souls of your compatriots here today, someone assumed it would get bloody - an' long before any Imperial, any Ashlan arrived here today.', letting it flare into a scowl as he called his Serennoan Hilt.

Bathing the room in the deepest of known Kyber blues.

'On those grounds, I hereby announce I can no longer consider entrusting future findings with anyone, an' certainly not with the unreliable coven from whence they wandered.... I think I'll jus' impose doctrines of Iconoclasm from here - safest way t'go, hm?'