Operation: Reclamation Swarm [Iron Empire Dominion of Ornfra Hex]

[Kaili Talith]

The fact that neither of them seemed any wiser than the other as to what they were supposed to do didn’t bode very well. Kaili looked at the dancing lights as well as the glowing Jedi next to her and couldn’t help but wonder what she had gotten herself into. She felt his strength drain by the seconds and knew that she had to do something, but what that was escaped her. Kaili turned to look at Theodor and he whispered something back to her. He could only keep it open for so long, she would have to be the one to lead them there. She blinked before letting her focus shift back to the light and those that danced around her. An idea crossed her mind but she didn’t like it. Not at all. Because the thing she shared with these kids was something she wasn’t sure Theo could feel, but Kaili knew exactly how the kids felt. The hopelessness and fear, the tears they’d have wept had they been alive and the nightmares they would have had to endure. It was a part of Kaili’s life she had kept under lock and bar for a good many years at this point. She didn’t like them, she hated them, but right now she needed them.

“Okay.” A sigh of defeat parted Kaili’s lips and she stretched her arms out wide to try her best at beckoning the souls of dead children to their death. It was an idea as morbid as she felt. “Okay.” Kaili repeated mainly for herself in order to try and steady herself mentally. “I can do this.”

Expanding her presence in the force she kept her arms by her side and closed her eyes to keep the light that burst out of the door from blinding her. Allyson had taught the blonde girl that the easiest way to connect someone was through a shared experience. For Allyson it had been her dead family on Corellia, and to Kaili it was to return to one of the bigger psychological wounds that still gushed whenever she stepped inside of ships. Kaili felt as her heart began to beat against her chest as emotions she had wanted to keep suppressed and buried was allowed to resurface. She felt the way they drew to her and danced around her like an angelic vision, yet Kaili was just at the precipice of a nightmare she had never wished to induce..

A deafening sound of metal shrieking in phantom pain filled the room accompanied by the crashest and bangs against a hull getting itself torn apart for each second that they spent in freefall through the atmosphere. The spirits and Kaili both had experienced this, she felt the way more and more drew to her as the sounds continued. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as the continued sounds of people in pain and terror echoed from wall to wall all across the chamber. The imagery grew apparent before her, she saw the way they all died, felt their lives fade from life to death, existence to permanent nonexistence. Some old, many more young. Some because they were torn out, others because they were torn apart when Kaili was not. She had remained seated in the pilot’s seat trying to steer a ship out of her league to a merciful death. Years later, when Kaili was still in a deep depression her brother had told her that she had succeeded with it, but she still couldn’t quite tell herself that.

It was hard to believe something like that when you had felt every single thing as person after person died around you. Yet she, just like a few unlucky souls in this very cave lived to tell the tale about it. There were few things that haunted her as much as the images of Maila did. From the moment the insectoids tore into her midriff to the way her blood ran between the cracks of Kaili’s fingers to the way she cradled her best friend to death when her last words had parted her lips in a whisper asking the one question that Kaili had asked herself for so long now. “Why Kay?”

Why was it that she had survived?

She should have died that day but didn’t. The tears on her cheeks began to burn the closer to the crack she got. It didn’t want her to approach, she felt the way the void pushed her back. Eyes opened to stare into the bright lit void Kaili had been denied for so long, the void that had taken so many people out of her life already. It was terrifying, it was beautiful. It was the light at the end of the tunnel. This door was the end, quite simply put and she was not allowed to step inside.

One little ball of energy detached itself from her and the closer she got the more of them detached. First in chains of two, five, eight, before eventually they all erupted into an explosion of souls that seeped through the door seeking peace. Kaili felt her own energy start to fade. The last soul swept through the cracks and then they closed. Something threw Kali off her feet and back towards Theodor. Heart still pounding against her chest she felt herself heave for air.

“We did it.” One breath passed before another until eventually she sat up next to Theo. “At least I think we did it.”

Eyes set on the man’s body as it laid prone next to her.

Panic.

“Theodor?” She slapped him across the cheek, mercilessly. “Hey. Wake up. Theodor!”

No, she didn’t like this. With the memories fresh on her mind it quite simply brought back too much. Hands latched onto his arms to shake him awake. “Theodor, wake up!”

“Wake up!”

​

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

[13]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Ilum - Ilum Caves Chamber
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4

[member="Kaili Talith"]

Objective 3 & 4.

[12]

He would have no idea of how long he had been out to it, in fact Théo knew nothing. It was not until he felt his body shuddering did he feel anything and he could not fathom why it was so. His mind began to come back to him slowly and the press of the hard ground pushed up against him cold and unforgiving. A piercing yell assaulted him ears, stabbing through to his conscious and he recognised the voice as Kaili's .. he must have taken a nap or something. Gods of Midvinter I am turning into my father, he mused with a sense of mirth, which made Théo begin to chuckle.

Then in a rush it all came back to him and he sat bolt upright turning to face Kaili next to him with wide eyes. "We.. we did it?", he asked as his eyes, the only thing to move, looked around the chamber for the little dancing lights .. they had gone. His headache had as well and even more strange was the fact the chamber looked to be fixed as if nothing had happened at all. No crack in the rock face, the ice that had fallen was back in place everything was it once was before they entered.

They had done it! this was a feat very few could do and although it had depleted him of every ounce of energy in his body he had enough to throw his arms around Kaili and bring her in for a big hug and laughed with the joy of it. But when the initial moment passed, he leaned back and raised a hand to his jaw. "Why is my jaw paining?", he asked her curiously, as he waggled his lower jaw from side to side, it felt like he had been punched.

 

[Caelag Vass]

Location: Sharb
Objective 2: Investigate mysterious disappearances
Objective 4: Prove worth to the Iron Empire Army
Post: 4


Normally, perhaps, it was her place to remain quiet, observant. And normally, Caelag would have done just that. However, as she watched [member="Talos Rygat"] remain silent, and Grandmaster [member="Arisa Yune"] step up to play word games, she felt.. frustrated. Her main job was to make action, to do what was needed. And the longer they played word games... the more people could get hurt.

Taking a breath, the blind woman stepped up and leveled her 'gaze' with the head of the more conservative group. "Sir Horri'onoru'purou, I lived among Chiss not unlike you for quite some time. I ask you not to change your ways, I couldn't care less if you did. But I came here to help. Think, this strange event, how many has it taken? How many will it continue to take? How long until your people's children become the target? Your people may not need our help, but how long until you start to lose those too little to defend themselves?"

"And even if they never become targets, how long until your children starve, unable to he cared for by those left? Your people are in need of a resolution. The wisest course, for the sake of the children, is to take what resources are freely offered before the damage has been done. If still you will not let us help then very well, but it will be your head upon which the blame for what comes lies. A wise man like you surely understands how that works."

Had she been harsh? Perhaps, but playing with the lives of children... that was something she couldn't let go by so easily. Her piece said, ahe stepped back next to Talks to await the reaponse.

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Location:Sharb
Objective:2
Secondary Objectiveon't screw up
3

He had seen those looks before, a long time ago it seemed like. The village was approached and the eyes of many drew upon the foreigners, the Iron Empire as they moved throughout and towards their target destination to speak with the Elders. Kiran tried to remain as poised as he possibly could, however he could feel them through the force. They were scared, even the looks on their faces conveyed such an emotion, one didn't need the force to see that. However the emotion that was felt was all to familiar.

It seemed almost the same amount as those few weeks on Corellia following the terrible tragic murders of his family. Kiran slowed down to a stop while the others moved forward and he glanced around a bit with somber expression on his face. They were here to help,he just wished that his words could even provide that sort of comfort. However it seemed even if he spoke them it would be to no avail. Kiran took a step forward as he started to walk again, but then he bumped right into a little girl, probably around 9-10 years old, knocking her to the ground.

"I'm sorry." Kiran said as he knelt down and held out his hand for her take. After a slight nervous exchange her hand touched his and he raised her to her feet, still kneeling before her. "Don't worry, we are here to help." Kiran whispered showing a small smile,as he noted a small fall from her eye and roll down her cheek. Little did the Auxiliary member know that this girl had lost her mother and her father, they were among those that had disappeared. "It's okay!" Kiran said as showed an encouraging smile and he stood up.

"Are you going to make things better." The little girl asked as she looked into the eyes of the young man.

Kiran cleared his throat as she turned and walked away without getting an answer from him.

"We're gonna do our best." Kiran finally whispered as drew upon a deep breath and made his way to catch up with his retinue. While the thought was always at the back of his mind. Did something like this always bring a sense of peace to those who have lost, Kiran was seemingly still trying to find the answer to that question. While his answer back then was vengeance, some called it murder.

He was still searching though...

[member="Arisa Yune"] [member="Talos Rygat"] [member="Caelag Vass"] [member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Jerit Kolomor"] [member="Vitha Sat-thuron"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

Theo eventually sat up and Kaili returned the hug that she was given with a tight squeeze of relief. The memories she had brought up weren’t ones that she much enjoyed for reasons that felt rather obvious, but it were memories she knew would appeal to those who had experienced something similar. In the end it had worked and Kaili knew she could go back to taking her time with managing the emotions. It would happen eventually, probably.

For now she would just take the hug for what it was, a good celebration for a good deed.

“Yeah, we did.” She whispered in an attempt to find relief. “They followed my direction into the light and remained there as you collapsed.”

A brief moment passed as they separated. Kaili got up from the ground and brushed the dirt off of her clothes, yet the question Theodor asked got her to stop dead in her tracks with wide open eyes. She stifled the surprise and turned back to look at the man with a look of feigned ignorance as to what might have happened.

Eyes set on the red handprint shaping on his cheek. Eyes widened again to give her away.

“Uh, you must have… Uhh… Fallen on your cheek or something.”

“Don’t worry about it, looks… Just fine, absolutely fine.”

“... How are you feeling? You collapsed there.”

​

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

[14]​

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

Objective: 4 – BYOO
Location: Ilum – Iron Pantheon, Medical Quarters
Post: 7

Valae was pleased to see her patient up and walking, his energy level was steadily returning to normal. Once she was satisfied with his condition, she released him from the medical ward with an escourt -- just to ensure that he made it back to his quarters. If all went well, he would be fit to resume his duties the following day. Standing in the doorway, Valae cast her gaze outside. The snowy landscape of Ilum was lovely, even if bitter cold.

Turning slowly, she closed the heavy door behind her to keep the chill outside.

A slight sigh escaped her as she found her way back towards the fire and had a seat on the floor. She sat cross-legged and gazed softly at the dancing flames in the hearth. It wasn't long before she began to feel drowsy, and knew that she needed to take steps to replenish her own energy. Her eyes slid closed, and her hands came to rest gently against her stomach. Drawing in a deep breath, she began to let her thoughts fade away.

Alone in the quiet, she was able to find her connection to the force. Valae let it wrap her in a warm embrace, and she focused on creating a gentle flow of healing energy.

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

Location - Village
Objective - Sharb
Secondary Objective - Give relief to villagers
Post - 2

(OOC: Sorry, been gone for a week out of state for competition.)

When Jerit landed, he reached out with the force. He felt pain and frustration. But the big feeling was fear... so much fear. He was at the entrance of the village now, and the negative feelings amplified. It was the villagers. He walked in and everywhere he felt was misery. He felt like sobbing. He was here to help these villagers, not cry with them. He had to keep going and aid in any way he possibly could. A chiss male who was a bit shorter that the padawan came to him and spoke in a thick accent.

" Are you a Jedi? Are you going to help us? My wife and daughter went missing! Will you find them? Please! "

Jerit felt this man's fear. That is what all the man possessed. The fear of abduction. Jerit placed his hands on his shoulders and spoke.

" Everything will be alright. We are Jedi. We help those in need. Your wife and daughter will be safe. I promise. We are all trying to find out what happened here. "

The man put his head down and sobbed. He walked back into his home. Jerit felt bad. He wanted to find this man's family. The padawan knew what it was like to lose his and even now he still cannot process it in his head. He made a mental vow to try and save this man's family. He will do anything to accomplish that. Now he was wondering around the village, seeking out other people who may need his assistance in this tragic time for their people...

[member="Arisa Yune"]
[member="Valae Kitra"]
[member="Valkren Calderon"]
[member="Talos Rygat"]
[member="Caelag Vass"]
[member="Vitha Sat-thuron"]
[member="Kiran Arlos"]

 

[Talos Rygat]

Location: Sharb
Objective: Aid the Chiss Village
Allies: [member="Arisa Yune"] [member="Caelag Vass"] [member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Kiran Arlos"] [member="Jerit Kolomor"] [member="Valae Kitra"]

The Elder looked over the "invaders" with disdain until the young Officer spoke up. She had a wrap over her eyes but spoke directly to him, Horri caughed on a breath when she gave him a tone that only his wife ever had.

The villagers all gasped in unison with surprise at her candid attitude towards addressing their Elder. All the while, those in the aid party would not be able to see any other obvious members of the Council. There seemed to be only Horri. If one were to reach out through the Force, they'd feel a lot of pride from hearing someone stand up to Horri. As if he'd taken control of the village without their consent. Like he'd pulled the same move Emperor Palpatine did to usurp control over the Republic way back when. Declaring a state of emergency and wrenched the power from the council for his own purpose when the disappearances started.

The former Elder that spoke out before, with a strong sense about him, took a breath to speak...

*Aaaaaahhhhh* a blood curdling scream came from deeper within the village before the man could speak.

___________

Across the village, a woman was gathering supplies for dinner and went into her sons room to ask for him to wash before supper. When she entered the room, her son was nowhere to be found. All that she could see was a broken window, blood spray going down the windowsill. Beyond the window, into the trees, the underbrush was alive with motion. Guttural growls and primal groans could be hard. Before she could react, the sounds faded and she ran outside screaming for help.

"My baby! Something took my baby!......"

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Ilum - Ilum Caves Chamber
The Freedom of Choice

[member="Kaili Talith"]

Objective 3 & 4.

[13]

He sat on the cold hard ground looking around for the offending rock or whatever had caused him the pain on his cheek, saw nothing of course but he grew curious about Kaili's widened eyes that seemed to rest on his cheek. In reality it held no consequence, meaning little in the broader scheme of things, just a drop in the ocean by comparison, neither here nor there really, a trifling .. considering what they had just been through. And there was no point in making a mountain out of a mole hill, so he pulled himself up off the ground and stretched his back as if he had been sleeping for days. Yet .. his cheek stung.

"I'am fine Kaili, just this stinging ..", he rubbed his cheek to sooth it some, and the mole hill was growing larger.

He looked around as noted the way in which they entered the chamber was still barred, "You think these caves are finished with us yet?", they were starting to give him the creeps, considering what they had been through, they should have long before this. No sooner had the words echoed around the chamber when he spotted a new opening in the rock face, and it just so happened to be right where the souls of the lost Jedi had passed through, this time however, there was no glowing light but the idea of walking through it gave him the creeps. "You can't be serious", he spoke to no one but the caves.

There was nothing else for it, they had to continue on through the place in order to get out, he hoped. He did not relish the idea of calling for help as it would not look good for the Iron Praetor to be trapped in his own charge. "Looks like we don't have a choice", with a bit of luck cause the force was not helping them at this point, they would find a way and Kaili's saber crystal in the process.

 

[Graf's Archive Account]

Post - I
Objective - IV - Prevent a terrorist attack

Ornfra​

850 ABY​

​

​

The dark room lightened up, revealing two chairs opposite from each other in an otherwise bland, grey room. The first seat was occupied by a black-haired, red-eyed chiss, his hands cuffed to the chair from behind and his mouth gagged, muffled protest was loudly vocalized by the restrained man until a door to the side slid open. Another man wearing a black tunic and cloak, which hung down to his ankles, moved into the room and ungagged the man before sitting down in the empty chair.

"Agent Elysar, Iron Imperial Security Bureau; Do you know why I'm here?" He queried, his eyes boring holes into those of his captive. "No! I was dragged out of my home in the middle of the day against my will and I have a right to-" The chiss started before his tirade was drowned out by raucous laughter, emanating from the bearded agent. He slowed down his laughter "Rights?! You have no rights when I'm here!" Elysar chuckled.

The chiss man remained silent while the agent spoke "I'm here because very credible sources have uncovered a plot to carry out a terrorist attack in one of Ornfra's cities, and they've found you out as a member of the cell responsible. Who do you work for, and what do you know." "Preposterous! I have done no-" The bound man began again until a swift backhand took the wind out of him. "We can do this the easy way, where you'll be released, or the hard way, where I execute you, either way I will get that information so I'll ask again: WHAT. DO. YOU. KNOW." The agent barked, grabbing his onyx leather gloves and taking them off of his hands.

"Nothing! I know nothing! Rele- AHHH!" The captive uttered prior to being stopped again, but this time he was not laughed at nor slapped. Crackling sounded through the air while white lightning surged from the now-bare hands of the imperial agent, causing pain to the chiss without damaging his skin on the outside. "Okay! I'll talk! Please don't do it again! I beg of you!" He cried, eyes welling up with tears of excruciating pain.

"Black Sun! The Black Sun is paying those who played a part in the old insurrection to carry out a series of attack over the next month, so that they can raise demand and prices for their black market medical supplies. They moved up the first one to today in an attempt to destabilize the new government!" The chiss broke down, whimpering. Elysar stood up, putting a hand on the man's shoulders, generating a soothing feeling to alleviate the torture the agent employed minutes earlier. "Thank you for your cooperation." He proclaimed matter-of-factly, before turning to leave through the open door.

"Wait! Aren't you going to release me!" The conspirator squeaked, still bound to his chair.

"We'll let the courts decide that, I'm just a security agent." Agent Elysar divulged before leaving the room out into the crisp air of Ornfra, two Iron Imperial Army soldiers moving in to arrest the man while he walked to his swoop speeder.

 

[Aster Rose Baelor]

Post: 03
Objective: 4
Location: Noris

Escorted by the Chiss nobility, Aster and Everly entered the once grand building that had since fallen into a state of disrepair. What a shame, the young Baelor thought to herself when she found herself in what was left of its entryway.

"When the ruling family of Noris were still in power, a painting of the head of the house hung opposite the entrance," one of the Chiss nobles explained. "Beyond the entryway is a hallway that leads into the dining room where guests were recieved and on either side of the hallway are a drawing room and a lounge room."

"I see," Aster replied and contined to follow the Chiss.

"While the design of this building and the ones you are accustomed to on Csilla share similarities, I am sure you will notice the differences," the Chiss continued.

"Yes, I do," Aster nodded and continued, following the Chiss on the impromptu tour of the building.

 

[Kaili Talith]

Kaili rubbed at her neck as Theo looked away. With luck there wouldn’t be any mirrors around, she wasn’t sure she really wanted to explain that one. Not so much for his sake as much as her own. It’d mean sharing her memories and it’d be fair to assume Kaili had no desire to go there unless she absolutely had to. She watched Theodor regain his strength to keep going, and the second she knew where they had to go she couldn’t help but feel just a little bit of a shiver run down her spine.

“Of course we don’t.” She deadpanned at the man’s comment on where they had to go. “Nothing says ‘thank goodness we are alive’ like stepping through a big arch you just helped a load of kid souls accept death in.”

Kaili shook from yet another shiver. “Well, time’s a-wasting. We should go before the tunnel changes its mind.”

Humor was another way of coping. She just wanted to get away, and get away they did. Kaili squeezed herself into the crack in the wall and instructed Theo to wait until she had passed through. It was safer that way, in case the wall decided to turn into tectonic plate or something similar and turn her into a bloody pancake. She really didn’t hold it against it to try at this point. But the weirdest of sensations fell over her as she stepped through the crack. For each step that passed the crack seemed to grow darker yet the walls grew more and more distant from one another. Looking back towards Theo she called out for him to follow. It was… Oddly spacey in here.

“So, this is weird.” Kaili said, looking back through the crack they had stepped in from. The room grew colder yet she didn’t freeze. Frost crystals bit at her hands, but the actual sensation of cold wasn’t there and neither was the warmth. They pricked at her skin but nothing more. “You’re a man of… Cold… Right?”

“What’s this?” She asked, looking at the way the weird frost seemed to cover them both. “Frost?”

​

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

[15]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Ilum - Ilum Caves Chamber
Jokil Frosti


[member="Kaili Talith"]

Objective 3 & 4.

[14]

"We are at the whim of a tunnel now?", what do you mean 'before it changes it's mind?'. Anything was possible he had come to believe in these the Ilum caves. Rhen Var was a walk in the park by comparison. And there was nowhere else but the tunnel. He let the long sigh move his shoulders in defeat and followed Kaili through after she decided the coast was clear. He had had trouble getting through it, his thick set chest pushed hard against the rock bruised his skin, the face now the chest. But both was nothing to him considering he had had far worse injuries to the person before today, the memory of the boar tusk piercing his lower torso sent a chill down his spine .. or was it the non-cold.

He could see what she was alluding to, but whether it was frost was questionable. He had to laugh though, "A man of cold? doesn't mean I am cold", he grinned at her after all there was red blood pumping through his veins, in fact the colder it was the hotter his blood. "It would appear to be frost, but I have not seen the likes of it before now".

Saber time again to light the way and so the white blade of Belawir shone bright again and filled the chamber. "At least that creepy unnatural wind is gone".

This was her story now and Théo would follow her lead, "What now?", after all she had come here to Ilum for a purpose, there was still that to face for her and he needed to rest and gain some strength back from the events previous. And so Théo sat down holding up his saber like a candle. Delegation - the mark of a true leader, or was it passing the buck?

"I don't suppose you would mind if I had a nap?".

 

[Zeradias Mant]

As if on cue, a hologram appeared on the table of General Dratos' likeness. With a brief expression of greeting exchanged, he had gotten into the details sooner than expected. It didn't bother the admiral in the slightest. In fact, he saw merit in the act, showcasing the everything the Iron Empire has to offer to the bulk of Ornfra's cabinet. Let all eyes look upon the greatness the empire offered.

As the meeting was to conclude, the table was open for discussion, though Zeradias had hoped it would be minimal or nonexistent. As he was about to back his seat, a voice spoke up among hushed whispers, met with disgruntled stares form the elder ministers.

"Actually...", the timid Chiss voice spoke. Zeradias looked at the man with an angry expression, or it at least appeared that way to those who didn't know him. It was simply his gaze that many found intimidating, regardless as to if there was any malice behind the eyes at all.

"Cast'obes'dleno, deputy state minister.", he introduced himself. "While I'm immensely appreciative, we all are, of what the Iron Empire has to offer, what does the Crown hope to gain from this? Spending a fortune on our almost insignificant system? It almost seems as if you're preparing for rebellion."

The disgruntled stares continued, but not from Zeradias. The questions peaked his interest, as well as the person who had asked them. Asking difficult, potentially controversial questions, even when it's against one's character to speak up.

"All systems within the realm are of great interest to the Crown. Together we're stronger, and through strengthening Ornfra, the Empire strengthens itself as well. When Ornfra is strong, the Empire is strong. When Ornfra is failing, the Empire is failing. When one cog breaks, the whole machine ceases to function. Though the piece may seem small and insignificant, it plays a crucial role in the larger function."

Taking a brief sip of the refreshment on the table, he continued.

"To address your latter concern, the Crown is spending much less than you think. We're encouraging our partners in the private sector to invest in the system, to which would benefit not only themselves, but the system. Immensely. Economic stability, employment, investment, happiness of the denizens even. And I'm quite sure everyone would be quite unwilling to shell out billions of credits on your system if they were only to be destroyed as collateral damage.", he said with a smirk, thinking little of the latter question. Any Chiss rebellion would be foolish, as Chiss Ascendancy would be swift to quell it with the full backing of the resources of the Iron Empire.

Rising from his seat, he looked around the table before locking eyes with the chief of the cabinet who also rose and began walking to the exit with the iron imperial admiral. "Gentlemen, prime minister.", he said as he turned about and made way to the hangar.

"Admiral Mant, we're very impressed.", Hren'emiz'lusa said.

Looking back with a friendlier smile, Zeradias commented on how he was pleased with how expedient the meeting was, as well as how much Drakos Systems was willing to pledge to their common goal.

"I apologize for Cast'obes'dleno, he is one of our junior members who has not yet learned when to remain quiet."

"It is no trouble at all. He's a promising one, he is."

Hren'emiz'lusa almost seemed relieved to hear so. As the group approached the admiral's shuttle, two figures shook hands.

"Farewell, Admiral Mant, I should hope to see you again soon. I would be quite interested in meeting this General Dratos as well.", he said with a charming smile.

With a nod, Zeradias turned and boarded the shuttle, returning to his flagship above.

"Lieutenant, contact the Absolution, have them reach out to the Dominion. I'm ready for them."

[member="Krayzen Dratos"] | [member="Adron Malvern"]​

​

[ 5 ]​

 

[Kaili Talith]

Brows had merely perked in mock surprise at his question as if she wished to incite doubt in what he had asked. She meant exactly what she made it seem like. At this point even Kaili was lost to what the cave wished of them, but she had come to accept that it wasn’t something it wanted them to concern themselves with. Her gut had told her to enter the crack, and enter it she had. Theo had followed, albeit with a bit more resistance, but he too had come out of it — or rather, in to it — in the end.

“I wasn’t saying that.” Kaili chuckled and continued to look at the crystals on her fingers. One soft blow of air and they seemed to spread with the wind. An illusion perhaps? Kaili looked over at Theo. “If you want to rest you can. I’ll keep an eye on out for wildlife, or… Well, I don’t know. I think the worst of it is over, and this looks at least relatively safe. Go ahead, I’ll try something I haven’t tried since I was a child.”

Eyes closed. “Meditation. Keep the saber.”

Really, she hadn’t meditated in a very long time. As a child growing into a teenager she had more often than not found herself without the patience to do so. Sit around and do nothing for an hour? There were better times to pass time, most of which involved finicking with droids or other machines. And when the droid bug bit it usually bit hard. The first flashlight that Kaili had ever owned was one of her own design, and the first pet she ever had as well. Henry was of course still monitoring her ship. The very same ship that Kaili had built herself. Not by hand, mind you, but she had drawn it for herself. That was how she liked it, that was how she wanted it.

So when Theo would nap, if he decided to do as such, Kaili went to work thinking about where they were and what they were doing. The room was about as dark as it had been if her eyes had been open, but that had been part of meditation, wasn’t it? A lack of senses to bring forth what your mind alone could not perceive. It took a while, but eventually an image of a big lump of crystals would begin to take shape by the forefront of Kaili’s mind. One crystal in particular, smoothed from the wear of time yet not without its imperfections.

Was this it? Eyes opened yet the image lingered. It took a few moments until Kaili would finally realize that the room she and Theo had been in was no longer as dark as it had once been. The crack that they had stepped through was still there, but a faint blue-green light began to shroud the caves with a light that seemed unlike anything Kaili had seen before. Crystals decorated the ceiling and walls, leaving a path towards an even greater chamber.

“Theo?” Kaili called back at the man from the other end of the corridor that had been exposed. “You should come see this.”

It was just like the images. The crystal-lined pillars, pathways to reach a great many different levels of each and at its center a ceremonial circle for a purpose Kaili had yet to discover.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

[16]​

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Location:Sharb
Objective:2
Secondary Objectiveon't screw up and don't die.
4

KIran was nearing closer to where his allies where that was until he heard a terrible scream coming from his right, far right it seemed like. The northeast part of the village. Kiran cleared his throat as without even thinking about anything he ran as fast as he could towards that location. The closer he got it seemed towards that area there was more bustling activity, with either people running around unsure of what to do. Or maybe they were just fleeing from that location. Kiran heard the weeping as there were others trying to console her but to no avail.

"What happened?!" Kiran asked quickly and slightly out of breath when he got to the woman. "Something took my baby boy!" She cried out, as the pointed past the house and towards the trees. Kiran raised his hand towards his comlink and spoke quickly.

"This is Kiran, I'm requesting back up near the the northeast section of the village. A boy has been taken, there is blood trail that leads into the trees. Get here as soon as you can." Kiran cleared his throat as he glanced around and while he felt he should wait, there was a life at stake, he just hoped that he wasn't dead already. Kiran moved towards the trees and pushed his way through as the brush cleared up and there seemed to be a further blood trail that he followed. However he stopped suddenly whenever he heard the low guttural growls coming close by. Kiran reached for the saber at his side and it was at this time he wished it wasn't a training one. However he simply thumbed the power gauge and turned it up as the blue blade came to life.

**************
"Murderer!"

"You murdered over six people!"

"They weren't innocent, they committed atrocities, raped and murdered and I brought justice by killing them! They are guilty by my call and the Justice itself, justice you won't bring forth!"

"You don't even deny it! You should be condemned."

"I killed them to prevent further bloodshed by their hands!"

**************

Kiran shook his head roughly and then glanced around, the images from his past came to him like a great and evil flood that overwhelmed his sense and his emotions where at an all time high now it seemed. "What is this..." Kiran cleared his throat as his eyes became bloodshot from the re visit of his past. While Kiran still needed to deal with what had happened and what he had done, when these feelings were pushed further along by the darkside of the force. It was something that he had never deal with before, and now it was seemingly overrunning him.

The young man twirled his blade around as the growls seemingly surrounded him now.



[member="Talos Rygat"] [member="Arisa Yune"] [member="Caelag Vass"] [member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Jerit Kolomor"] [member="Vitha Sat-thuron"]

 

[Talos Rygat]

[member="Kiran Arlos"]

The sounds Koran heard weren't from animals. That much would become apparent immediately. The trees, bushes, the air would smell of blood, while the scene before Koran would be made clear when the boy's shoe would be found near an empty syringe. Upon close inspection, a saline solution mixed with a dendrotoxin. A paralytic and anesthetic that was usually used in abductions.

____________

If anyone else were to react, or to investigate the immediate surroundings, they'd notice a few key figures high tail it out of the line of sight. The Chief Elder, the retired Elder, the guards that escorted the entourage. All gone.

[member="Arisa Yune"] [member="Caelag Vass"] [member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Kiran Arlos"] [member="Jerit Kolomor"] [member="Valae Kitra"]

 

[Zeradias Mant]

The shuttle had landed, and awaiting him was none other than his trusted confidant and executive officer, Odion Black. Zeradias began walking off the hangar with Odion joining him at his side and a handful of staff officers at their tail. The two had always been on the same page, operating on the same frequency in perfect sync. Words were often not needed for their interactions, as they knew what needed to be done. Zeradias needed to promote Black - he was too valuable to remain in his current position as Captain.

"Have we established contact with the Dominion?"

"Not yet, sir. We're still trying."

With a quiet grunt, Zeradias nodded and told him to keep trying. While he was unsure as to what the Dominion would bring to the table, he was aware of the recent crusades against them. Their control of the Mandalore system had been shattered by a Mandalorian insurgency backed by the Galactic Empire, and they had recently faced conflict from the Resurgent Empire. It would be unwise of the Iron Empire to directly involve themselves with a faction with so many enemies, however there was still something to be gained for both parties. It was up to the Chief of Naval Operations and the members of the delegation from the Dominion to determine what exactly what was to be gained.

[member="Adron Malvern"]​

​

[ 6 ]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Ilum - Ilum Caves Chamber
To sleep, perchance to .. sleep?


[member="Kaili Talith"]

Objective 3 & 4.

[15]

Strange this place was, this frost chamber that was not cold, at least not as it should be. Theo did not really wait for her reply, in fact his fatigue from the previous events had demanded he close his eyes and sleep, if only for a little while. So he quickly succumbed to it, and for the first time in a long time, his sleep was not plagued with soft whispering voices or flashing visions of those poor Jedi souls. There was nothing but pure rest, his mind black to images and his body laid heavy against the ground in his found comfortable position. He entered a deep sleep from the get go.

He did not know her, this girl standing before him, at least he could not recall her face but that did not seem to matter much. Somehow he had found himself in a party, in a room filled with strangers, in a room strange to him. The faces of the people in the room he could not see, blank they were as if they did not have any features and he was confused but then she reached out to him with her hand so he could take it, he did and she led him away to a .. park. Night time cold air and refreshing. Now they are alone and she presses her body against his, her lips warm and delicious .. her long blonde hair caressed his skin as they kissed ... and .. hands began to .... "Theo?", she called his name in a soft whisper he could feel her breath ...and he smiled.

"Theo? .. " she sounded so distant. "You should come see this". Surely it had only be a few seconds of sleep, he opened his eyes with great difficulty and his body would not leave the ground to move. Kaili damn you! "This had better be good!". He yelled with a groan to top if off as he pulled himself off the ground. It took him a moment to gain his bearings but soon discovered the way she had went as the force helped to locate her. "What is it?", he asked coming into the next chamber. And he stopped.

"Great! crystals more bloody crystals", he was about to turn to try and find a place to sleep once more and recapture his dream. That was when he saw the pathways, pillars reaching up beyond the line of sight and many many levels climbing ever upward. He slowly walked over to her and stood by her side, "I think we are getting somewhere", he smiled "Up and out?". But the majesty the beauty of the place was not lost on him and his blue eyes would betray him with their wonderment.

"Or maybe we should stay a while". Not everyday one gets to see such sights anywhere.

 

[Caelag Vass]

Location: Sharb
Objective 2: Investigate mysterious disappearances
Objective 4: Prove worth to the Iron Empire Army
Post: 5

[member="Talos Rygat"] was too slow, and [member="Arisa Yune"] was taking her sweet time. In the instant the cry was heard, Caelag's sight picked up the retreat of several individuals, and the part of her that was suspicious of these elders went on high alert. In moments, Caelag turned to face the privates that came with her, and pointed at one of them. "Private Miran, locate the elders and contact the others on the landing vessel. I want everyone on alert, skeleton crew for the vessel's protection. The rest begin a perimeter sweep of the village for the boy and the elders. Private Darren, congratulations, you're my eyes. On me.." She no longer cared if the elders disapproved, or Rygat, or Yune. A child was in danger, that took top priority. She adjusted her sniper rifle on her back, and took her standard issue rifle into hand as she broke into a sprint towards the house.

It would take some time for them to get there, of course, and in that time another fireteam had already made their way there. They snapped a salute for their lieutenant before resuming investigation, one speaking to the mother to ask everything that happened and the other observing the room. Every clue could help, after all. Caelag on the other hand chose to follow the trail left behind, her weapon at the ready as she moved into the bushes and trees. As soon as she saw [member="Kiran Arlos"] and his blade, she moved in behind him. "Auxillary Arlos. The others are conducting searches around the perimeter of the village, we're missing more than the boy. Look sharp." A pair of rifles and a man with a lightsaber. If Rygat hurried he'd no doubt be able to join, or Yune and her troops at that.

These growls, not of beasts, they put her on edge. She took a breath, and for once allowed her mind to open up ever so slightly to the force. She needed to pick out what was surrounding them. Without even this small allowance of the force, it'd be hard to pick out their signatures against the life of the trees.