Dominion Piracy on the frontier | AC + Pirates | Tiss'Sharl

[Geiseric]

Eina L'lerim-Vandiir

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Geiseric reached for his lightsaber instinctively, only to find he didn't have it. Of course he didn't have it, he thought to himself. But by nature he was a warrior, and he had never faced a Sith in combat without a Jedi's most important possession. Before he could speak again to the Sith he felt the hold of the Force around his neck. He'd experienced this end of a Force Choke before, and exerted as much energy as he could to keep the Sith from crushing his windpipe. He watched the Sith approach Eina after knocking her to the floor. It pained him to see the brutality of the Sith against her, but he was still unsure what to make as he looked at her.

After using the Force to relieve her of her weapons, the Sith dropped the Crusader, who fell to one knee and grasped his throat. They shared a long look of understanding. They both knew what he had to do. He knew who her father was, and he knew her father was dead. But her mother... he was a fool for not seeing the resemblance to the galaxy's most powerful woman sooner.

With his gaze upon the fire-haired angle unbroken, he called one of her swords from the Sith and into his hand. He knew the Sith was watching intently. Bogan's lure was strong, and the words repeated in his head like a chant,

"Give justice to Ashla, kill her."

Was that really justice? To kill the woman who saved him, what about killing every Sith before him?

"No," he looked up at the Sith lord, then rose to stand equal to him, "I won't kill her."

 

[Isidor Justeene]

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Location: Tiss'Sharl

As they fired on the escorts, Nikita had begun to attempt a hack into the supply roster for intel on what exactly is being escorted and how valuable it was. The task proved tricky as there were a lot of protocols to bypass and the rocking made it difficult to press the right combinations. Still, Nikita persisted and finally, he gained access to all the supply manifests for this year/quarter.

Soon the manifest scrolled on the Holo-Plate for all to see onboard. Both cargo and food supplies. Isidor focused on the food and drink section to get a “loot shopping list” together and picking out various items along the way too. They also have precious metals and fabrics too.

It wasn’t exactly Rum or any strong spirits they had been hoping for but it was still what they needed regardless of what kind of drink they had. Isidor will be sure to give Nikita a generous raise in loot. But first, there is the business of getting the Ashlan’s ships offline and boardable.

The Turbolasers roared as they fired directly at the nearest Ashlan ship, the missiles are a last resort if all else fails. Repair crews erupted into action as a small breach formed when the ship they were attacking returned fire at a concentrated location. He had hoped that the sustained fire on their end caused significant damage to the Ashlans too.

<“Feth, keep that breach in check! Nikita sees if you can at least disrupt their systems.”> Isidor orders as more repairs were needed. Nikita set to work trying to get into the Ashlan systems, it was not an easy task, and it will take more time than the supply manifest.

“Aye sir, but it’s goin’ ta take me a bit o’ time.” The Duros shouted over the volume of gunfire. The process was like walking through goopy swamp mud. “They have walls within walls and it's taking an age to even clear the first one." The Duros sounded stressed.

<"Keep at it, you are the best one for this job after all."> Isidor reassures his crewmember with a pat on the back. Nikita continued his slicing, digging in at a steady pace. Hopefully, at least turn either the battle systems off or the lights. preferably both.

 

[Eina L'lerim-Vandiir]

Eina L’lerim-Vandiir, the First
Princess of the Eternal Empire and Terraris; Angelic mascot of the Ashlan Crusade
Matriarch of the Valkyrja; Leader of Sanctuary; Liaison of the Fjölkyngi Smiðr Guild​

Location: Geiseric's cell
Objective: Save Geiseric.
Equipment: Sverð Fyrstr (weapons) | Skrúð Engill Fyrstr (armour) || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Writing With:: Geiseric

[ Dawn ]
<"High Nelvaanian"> | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

As the curse of Bogan found its way more and more into Geiseric's soul; like the serpent dripping its venom into the weak-hearted, a cruel smile crept over the Sith Lord's lips. He felt the struggle, as did Eina. In the man, it all brought satisfaction, but it broke the woman's heart that she might have arrived too late not to find the knight in time. However, if he survives, she will already be happy about it. However, Geiseric refused to kill Eina, and the man's grin disappeared.

"Pity!" he said, then the man's Dark Side aura filled the cell suffocatingly to find the best possible grip on the crusader and Bogan's venom could infect him even more in the fractures and rifts that already formed caused by the doubts and captivity to find their way to his heart, and will able to corrupt his heart, soul and mind even more.

"No! I said leave him alone!" said Eina firmly. She began to concentrate, in the Force the woman's aura began to pulsate in golden light, the power of darkness weakened. Although it was not Force light, as the woman was not a Lightsider, but she was very close to it. She clasped her hands together in front of her chest, lowering her head to concentration, as if praying and Ashla herself answered. The aura emanating from Eina was warm, protective, caring, strengthened the soul and faith, and perhaps was able to drive out Bogan's venom out of the crusader.

~ Yes, I was created from their souls, but those forces and thoughts formed me that they wanted to be together, to take care of each other, to protect each other. These feelings were true and pure, free from the Dark Side. That is why I raised and taught the Valkyrja to protect the weak, to take care of them, and to anyone else who asks for it. That is why it is the task of my people and I saw these in you that day in front of the dragon's cave. Purity, chivalry, bravery, gallant virtues. Because of you, I joined the Ashlan Crusade, and they know, I told them who I am; I told it to Lord Grayson, too. They accepted, but if you want, after I take you home, I’ll go and not come back anymore. ~ the man could hear Eina's voice in his mind.

"Enough!" said the Sith Lord angrily. He looked at Eina in disgust, another telekinetic attack ensued, Eina slammed against the wall again, but now the man held her there, the woman's legs no longer touching the ground, the next moment the other sword rose from the ground and pierced the wall through the woman's belly, to nail her there. Eina didn't have the strength to scream, a golden ichors dripped from the woman's wound to the ground, a pure Force, the Valkyrja's head falling weakly. The Sith activated his lightsaber, the near Light Side aura that mainly protected Geiseric, broken, shattered.

Only darkness remained…

 

[Isla Draellix-Kobitana]

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The captain of the Shard winced as his ship continued to take damage from the pirate vessels, the smaller of the two was raking its engine systems and they were n the verge of losing primary sublight thrust. He would need to make a decision, there was a larger Ashlan fleet not far from here, with his comms blocked he couldn't call for help, but he could jump there and return. The lighting on his vessel flickered and whirred as the ships power levels fluctuated. "Sir, someone is trying to take fire control offline, level data breach, trying to compensate"

"Do we still have hyperdrive he shouted!" As the ship shuddered and one of the main engine pods separated from the hull. He ordered his ship and any other ships in system, including the Prontus IV to immediately jump away and rendezvous in the safe system. One my one all of the ships flashed away into hyperspace, the blade was reluctant to leave as, whilst damaged, it likely had the upper hand against the Witch's Boudoir but it couldn't stay without the support of the larger Shard

In moments the only Ashlan ship left in system was the Prontus IV, its captain unable to carry out the jump. The crude merchant quality systems had been fooled by Cass's pseudointerdictor and would not activate, it was now a sitting duck and its allies would not realise until they dropped out of hyperspace in the safe system.
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Isidor Justeene Dispara M Mark Air Gami Cass Gemini

 

[Cass Gemini]

Spoiler: Gear and other links

Equipped: Calypso's Thunder, Harlequin sabers, Gravpack, Viper mk2 skinsuit
Ship: Midnight Kyber
NPCs: Crew of the Midnight Kyber

Location: Tiss'Sharl
Tags: Isidor Justeene E Eric Vales Isla Draellix-Kobitana Dispara

"Haha! Suckers!" Called out Cass as every Ashlan ship bugged about, leaving the heavy cargo ship a sitting duck. " Isidor Justeene , Dispara we wont have long before they are back with friends, and I want to be ready to leave with a ship full of cargo the moment they do. Any of you running HIMS? as we might need it if they show up with interdictors."

The Midnight Kyber turned toward the Prontus IV and closed the gap as it tried turning, desperately trying to find a way out of the perceived gravity well before the pirate were set upon it. "Warm up the Cutter and route it to my console, I want to have a play, get the crew ready to board that ship."

As her frigate approached the cargo vessel and picked a nice looking target for her cutters. She marvelled at the size of the other vessel, nearly 1000m long, there was lots of room for her allies. She expected to be flanked by the Boudoir and Lightning. Turning to her comm officer, she sent a message to Pix's ground attackers, they would be lucky if the had 40 minutes before the Ashlans returned, they would have to be fast.

...incoming..."Corporal Tellisha, this is the Kyber, the Captain says you have 35 minutes to have your asses back here before we leave"

Pix laughed, once again, her Cass was asking the impossible, her crew had almost secured the base now, with her air support making quick work of any defenders. They themselves probably had no longer than the 35 minutes Cass suggested before ground support arrived anyway. She opened a crate, this was mostly mundane stuff, blasters, construction supplies, power units. It would make a decent enough amount on the black market, but she was after something a bit more special, something to surprise her Captain with. Chuckling again to herself, she wondered if there were any Jedi about, if she could get a new light saber, that could be something.

There was a loud bang behind her as one of her crew dropped something. Pulling her sidearm out "if one of you has dropped something that is going to blow us all sky high, I kill you before you kill us" She turned and saw two of her crew wrestling with a speeder bike that had fallen of a trolley, well, at least it wasn't going to explode them all right now.

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[Dispara]

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Dispara gripped the arms of the captain's chair as the Witch's Boudoir darted around the Ashlan patrol frigate. While the nimble pirate corvette evaded a number of the larger ships batteries, enough were finding her to rattler her hull. The Enhancer did well in compensating the shields, and would keep the Boudoir in the fight a bit longer, but even with the thwumping rail gun sending giant slugs at the frigate, the corvette would not hold out in a long fight.

Suddenly her ships ion, lasers and railgun fell silent. The Ashlan escorts had left enmasse, blinking into hyperspace. Dispara checked the sensors and peered out the bridge viewports. The lone cargo ship sat vulnerable, defenseless. Hot damn.

Dispara heard Cass over the comms, frowning slightly. The Witch's Boudoir didn't have a HiMS installed. She cursed her own procrastination in adding it to the corvette. She ordered the Boudoir to flank the Midnight Kyber, scanning to note the location of Isidor's Blood Lightning.

"Cap'n, unidentified frigate incoming." A saurin crewman advised. Dispara peered again at the sensor console next to her. She couldn't identify it as friend or foe at the moment.

"Stay close to the Kyber. Train weapons on the incoming ship." She ordered. She knew Cass would be focusing on breaching the big freighter's hull and boarding.

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Cass Gemini Isla Draellix-Kobitana M Mark Air Gami Isidor Justeene

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[Heinrich Faust]

Tags: Isla Draellix-Kobitana , Eina L'lerim-Vandiir , Geiseric , Isidor Justeene , E Eric Vales , Dispara, M Mark Air Gami , Cass Gemini

Heinrich had been busy with securing the other worlds that had recently come under Ashlan rule; a task that seemed to take an eternity. He was not cut out for politics, nor did he claim to be the most charismatic. He had been making his way to Mirial to conduct talks with the government there about possibly bringing them into the fold when he had gotten the call...

Pirates... it wasn't surprising that such opportunistic individuals would find their way to this part of space. The Sith's departure had created a power vacuum within the Tingel Arm, breeding a sense of general chaos and lawless. Such places would become prime targets for those of a more criminal nature.

"Well then, change of plans. Captain, set a course for Tiss'sharl."

The jump to hyperspace was a short one, and they found themselves overlooking the planet. Heinrich could sense the confusion from the pandemonium of the pirate raid upon the supply lines as the captain spoke.

"Sir, should we assist the convoy?"

Heinrich thought for a moment before finally giving a reply.

"We will hold our fire, for now. See if you can slice into their frequency. I have a message for these pirates."

The captain was clearly confused by the order, but proceeded to relay it nonetheless. Heinrich continued to eye the pirate vessels from the observation deck of the Principality-class Corvette as he patiently waited for his technicians to finish there work. As time passed, Heinrich finally got an answer.

"Sir, we believe we have locked on to their frequency, should we begin transmitting?"

"Yes, captain. Put me through."

As the transmission began, Heinrich took care to balance his tone between cordial and authoritative.

<<To all pirate vessels, this is Heinrich Faust, Grand Marshal of the Ashlan Crusade. I request a sit-down with whichever of you has the authority to speak on your behalf. I have a proposition that you may benefit us both. I give you my word as a Jedi that no harm will come to those that board this vessel. I await your response.>>

Heinrich terminated the transmission, leaning back in his chair on the observation deck.

"Now what, sir?"

"Now, Captain, we wait, and pray that Ashla blesses us with her favor."

He knew it was a gamble, but perhaps if these pirates could be reasoned with, then there would be a way to salvage this situation.

 

[Cass Gemini]

Spoiler: Gear and other links

Equipped: Calypso's Thunder, Harlequin sabers, Gravpack, Viper mk2 skinsuit
Ship: Midnight Kyber
NPCs: Crew of the Midnight Kyber

Location: Tiss'Sharl
Tags: Isidor Justeene E Eric Vales Isla Draellix-Kobitana Dispara

Cass saw flares of shield hits as she read the message from Gami.... who does he think he is thinking he can shoot at my ship to protect his own cover?

"Screw that guy!" She shouted at her crew, "target his weapon systems, full weapons power" she considered holding back as his plan did make sense from a certain point, but her holding back would not sell the ruse, and she also didn't want to. Turbolasers and ion cannons lanced out from the Midnight Kyber.

Cass stepped away from the cutting tool and focused on commanding her ship again, she had plenty of crew competent to handle salvage operations, and reports were good from her boarding party that they had met little resistance and were already transferring cargo into space for the Kyber to scoop up. " Isidor Justeene , Dispara I am having to deal with something here, my looting is going well, but if you have crews available, please feel free to take the freighter bridge and I will deactivate my interdiction systems."

The ensuing fight was brought to an end by the arrival of a new Ashlan vessel, Cass listened to the message from Heinrich Faust and then from M Mark Air Gami . He couldn't be part of the main fleet, they were too far out to respond this quickly, was he buying then time. She weighed up her options, she checked out the details on this man, this was risky, but she could play delaying tactics too whilst her crew finished their work.


She turned to the holo recorder and spoke..

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"Welcome Heinrich Faust , I am Cass Gemini of the Kraken Coalition, I do not speak in any official capacity, other than for myself, but what do you want Ashlan?"

Heinrich would see the beautiful woman on the screen in front of him, she wore a lot of makeup, but something would feel oddly familiar, maybe it was the bone structure, the accent or the way she carried herself, but there was something about her that he felt he knew, but not nail down in his head.

" M Mark Air Gami I will decline your offer, first you refuse to take part for fear of being caught playing both sides, then you choose to attack me to protect your cover. Now you openly admit to working with both sides, before offering yourself as a neutral party? Implying you work for neither. I think you need to pick a side before anyone trusts you to step foot on your vessel."

She had to get that out of the way, the strikes she had against Gami and his associates were growing, she was feeling a proper showdown was on the cards at some point, but not today.

Returning to Heinrich

"What would a powerful Jedi of the Ashlan Crusade, a devote group of lightside worshippers want to offer us pirates? Maybe I should come over there in person, come and sit in a nice warm cell on your brig, that would be lovely right?" She laughed and blew a playful, kiss that screamed nice try "maybe it's something as simple as you cancel the inevitable bounty on our heads if we leave this ship alone? Actually, tell me its that and that I have stumbled across something really juicy that you don't want to lose?"

She gave him a moment, trying to read his reaction, to see if that would give her an answer.

"No, it's not that either is it, maybe you are just buying time hoping your fleet will show up and blast us to oblivion? Or maybe, just maybe you actually are offering something I would want?

Please, don't keep me in suspense?"

Pix was nearly finished her, pickings had been good, no ancient artifacts or hauls of high value equipment, but her captain would be proud of her today. She ached, this stuff stressed her out, she would rather be in the air in her starfighter than slumming it on the ground, but it is what it is, this was her role today.

"Let's get ready to go ladies, we have 20 minutes to rendezvous with the Kyber or we will be making our own way home."

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[Dispara]

"No fekkin' way." Dispara grumbled as Gami's message came through. "That guys rides the fence so hard he has to have splinters in his stone sac." The half-Sephi spoke into the air. She saw the streaks of weapons from Gami's ship arch towards the Midnight Kyber. She knew damn well Cass would not buy into such a one-sided bargain either. the woman would unleash all she had at the Dalyrake.

"New ship on scanners, corvette, Ashlan I think." The saurin sensor officer barked out.

"Teats, we just want to get some booty and scoot." Dispara growled. Then the new message came through. A Grand Marshal was on the corvette, asking to negotiate. Well, now there was a proposal much more intriguing than Gami's, that was for sure. Then a message came from the Kyber regarding taking the bridge of the freighter. Dispara agreed to defer the talks with the Ashlan to Cass, as the defacto leader of their little soiree.

She saw the Midnight Kyber's weapons targeting the Dalyrake. Gami was playing a dangerous game. Dispara pondered the situation for a short moment. "Target the Ashlan corvette, but hold fire. If it flinches, let the have it. Prepare the force tunnel, and find a hatch in the hall near the bridge we can access. Tyra..." She commanded, then called to the Twi'lek woman most likely to become her first mate. "Ready a boarding party to go over and help take the freighter while Kyber's crew haul the loot."

She assumed by this time Cass was engaging the Ashlan officer. An exterior hatch was located in the Prontus IV and the Witch's Boudoir sidled close enough to engage the force field tunnel, allowing the boarding party to cross to freighter and break into the hatch. It was a risky proposition with hostiles nearby. The boarding party would be essentially hanging in space within a force field cylinder between the two ships.

Cass Gemini Isla Draellix-Kobitana M Mark Air Gami Isidor Justeene Heinrich Faust

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[Isidor Justeene]

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Location: Tiss'Sharl

Everyone on board heard Gami’s idea and although it may have worked on paper, It certainly doesn’t work in this situation. Holding back would let the cat out of the bag. He can’t risk anyone for a ruse. That never ended well for anyone. No, we'll send a large group to seize the Freighter and have his own guns aim shots towards Gami. Full tilt. The missiles won’t be used for this, not worth the loss.

Gami is playing with fire, and fire often burns.

<“Aim for Gami’s ship and keep firing. Xena, you head the boarding party.”> Isidor barks, recovering from the momentary disbelief. Xena, the Cathaar nodded and began to organise a large group to head to the now stricken Freighter.

It didn’t take long for them to arrive and stick to the Freighter hull, the small craft allowed them to get in without decomp. They were to secure the bridge and relieve the ship of its belongings, the cargo mostly. They got to work, and they kept the crew in one place out of the way. The crew are not to be harmed. As that was not why they were boarding.

They found the main hatch switch to the cargo hold and, with a few presses and lever pulls, the hatch opened, releasing the precious cargo within.

Isidor himself still gave out silent orders to the crew onboard the Lightning. Nikita had managed to switch the lights back on in the Freighter. He sat back and sighed; this was the most difficult Slice he ever attempted. He himself felt pride in what he had accomplished.

<“You did well Nik, we wouldn’t have got anywhere without you.”> A pat on the shoulder and an extra package of rations will be given to the Duros after they completed the mission. Those who were still outside beginning to move the now floating cargo in range of the Kyber and their own cargo bay of course

 

[Geiseric]

Eina L'lerim-Vandiir

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Her voice boomed in his head with a pure clarity, illuminating the truth to him. He understood. And he knew he'd made a mistake. The Bogan was wrapping its ethereal arms around him, and he failed to even notice. it had made him rash, vengeful, clouded to the way he should be and what he should do. He was only a shell of Geiseric. He felt unworthy of his rank as a master. He put a hand to his heart, knowing the rosary he once clutched was gone from around his neck, the images in his mind repeating of a Sith crushing it under heal. Death on Korriban would indeed have been kinder than whatever ignoble end he was about to come to.

"Enough!" said the Sith Lord angrily.

He watched from aside at the horror of Eina being impaled against the wall. Anger swelled in his throat, his body shook in recoil at the sight. He could feel the warm light of the Angel's protective barrier dissipate from around him. The aura in the cell was brutally cold but the rage that gripped him boiled his blood.

In an effort to calm himself he recited his mantra again as he had been doing every day, aloud for the SIth to hear. Geiseric did not consider himself a student of the Jedi Code, realizing how soft it made the Jedi, instead he had returned to living by an older version of it.

"Emotion, yet peace." to him those were the truest words in the mantra. Even though hatred for this Sith Lord coursed through his veins, it would not consume him. In his youth he had been told hate led to suffering, but he had come to realize the only people suffering from his hate would be his enemies.

"Ignorance, yet knowledge." in the wake of the revelation of Eina's true origin he admitted ignorance. It was his ignorance, his position of disadvantage, that let him learn. Without admitting he was wrong, he could never hope to have accepted the truth. As he recited he took stance in Form I, the most primal and desperate form of lightsaber combat.

"Passion, yet serenity." his passion in the moment was hatred towards the Sith who had imprisoned him and tried to turn him against the Light, yet it did not blind him. His focus on the man was unparalleled, his passionate disdain giving way to immense clarity as he observed every way he knew how to strike the monster before him.

"Chaos, yet harmony." the Galaxy was in a state of constant, debilitating war. Generations had lived and died fighting the Sith since their resurgence after the Plague, and now they threatened to destroy the universe once and for all. Yet through all of it, Ashla guided her chosen ones and protected those who put their faith in her. The forces of the Light were various, scattered, separated by political and doctrinal differences... but they were all bound as one by their goals and their hopes.

"Death, yet the Force." if Geiseric died in the coming moments, he knew it would not be in vain, for he would return to Ashla's side in the next life. As he finished his recital of the mantra, as if Ashla had been listening to his every word, the blade of Eina's sword that he carried lit aflame like a holy torch. It was another boon, a fitting homage to the saber he had lost, that which he'd called Ashla's Torch for it was a light in the darkness.

Now, standing with providence in his sword arm, he took a deep breath in and out, and charged at the Sith Lord with a brutal, animalistic swing of the burning sword.

 

[Eina L'lerim-Vandiir]

Eina L’lerim-Vandiir, the First
Princess of the Eternal Empire and Terraris; Angelic mascot of the Ashlan Crusade
Matriarch of the Valkyrja; Leader of Sanctuary; Liaison of the Fjölkyngi Smiðr Guild​

Location: Geiseric's cell
Objective: Save Geiseric.
Equipment: Sverð Fyrstr (weapons) | Skrúð Engill Fyrstr (armour) || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Writing With:: Geiseric

[ Dawn ]
<"High Nelvaanian"> | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

For the time being, the Sith waited in disgust on his face to see if the man would fall to the dark side or not. He was visibly amused that Geiseric was burning in hatred in his direction. On the one hand because of what he did with the crusader and because of what he did with Eina. And during the Jedi's prayer, not only did her goddess answer the prayer, but so did Eina. Her pleasantly warm, neutral aura touched the man again. Now, however, she was infinitely weak and powerless. The Valkyrja hung motionless, impaled to the wall, but in the Force, while she had the strength, she tried to do something. Even If the cost will be her life, she wants to help; she also inherited this from Ingrid, though the man could not have known it. He could be only feel that Eina still wanted to help him.

As the golden light appeared around the blade, something else happened. The sword wasn't a simple sword, just like the one that just impaled Eina to the wall. The straight blade we had in Geiseric's hand was a sword with fire ability. The blade began to glow in an orange light all the way, the air seemed to tremble because of the heat, but the man felt nothing of it. The grip was as cool as before. As he swung forward, the blade looked almost like a golden lightsaber and literally left a plume of fire behind it.

Like a holy fire. Only this was a Force ability, which was imbued into the blade by Force Alchemy, was Eina's power, belonged to her. That's why she reached out to Geiseric to help him do so. After all, the man couldn't even know that the sword could do that. However, this was already felt by the Sith. He looked angrily at the almost unconscious Valkyrja.

"Do you never give up?!" he asked angrily.

But before he could do anything with her, Gieseric arrived. The flaming sword and the red lightsaber met. The lightsaber did no damage to the sword, it was resistant. The Sith Lord was physically weaker than the Jedi, it was immediately noticeable. He had to pull away and move quickly before the other man was able to strike him.

"And you need a little extra encouragement, as I see it!" he snarled, made a hand gesture, a metallic sound was heard as the sword in Eina's stomach slide even more into the wall. She could only groan in pain. The next moment the Sith even sent a Force lightning at her, she really screamed, the scream of mingled agony and pain.

The Sith Lord hoped this would distract Geiseric, and it was then that he tried to strike the man with a quick stab in the middle of the man's chest.

 

[Geiseric]

Eina L'lerim-Vandiir

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He couldn't bare to watch her anymore. He could feel Eina was still alive through the Force, but he was unsure how long that would last, for either of them. Geiseric caught the sly attack of the Sith in the last moment before it struck him, pulling his blade up from his left side across his chest in a wild and desperate arc to knock aside his aggressor's strike. Parrying it, he stepped back to give some more space between them, though he was quickly backing himself against the cell wall.

"I gave up once before, that is why you have me captive. But I have endured your torture long enough. I have seen the edge of the abyss, and I have turned away from it!" the crusader gripped both hands around the sword. "Strike me down and grant me vindication in the eyes of The Lady, or I will destroy every Sith and sympathizer on this ship."

Geiseric readied himself for another charge, one more onslaught to break free. His feet broke into a run to cross the short distance, delivering a heavy two-handed swing, striking across the Sith's upper body.

 

[Eina L'lerim-Vandiir]

Eina L’lerim-Vandiir, the First
Princess of the Eternal Empire and Terraris; Angelic mascot of the Ashlan Crusade
Matriarch of the Valkyrja; Leader of Sanctuary; Liaison of the Fjölkyngi Smiðr Guild​

Location: Geiseric's cell
Objective: Save Geiseric.
Equipment: Sverð Fyrstr (weapons) | Skrúð Engill Fyrstr (armour) || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Writing With:: Geiseric

[ Dawn ]
<"High Nelvaanian"> | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

The Sith Lord was not a very good swordsman. He almost dropped his sword when Geiseric blocked the attack. That’s why he also took a few steps away, so it really became a small distance above the two men. The man laughed at the knight's words and snorted mockingly.

"I didn't ask you, but your winged girlfriend… She is still struggling to help you. Don't you feel?" he asked mockingly; if Geiseric tried to concentrate, he could really feel her attempts.

The crusader then attacked the man, who couldn't do much with this rush and attack. He couldn't avoid it completely, and so Geiseric cut his upper body long and deep. Only the body armour saved the Sith's life, who fell to the ground howling, his lightsaber also fell out of his hands and fell to the ground. The smell of burnt flesh swept through the whole cell, just like the smell of urine emanating from the man. After all, not everyone can stand the pain. However, he seemed unable to lose and was still trying to bargain.

"You have two choices, crusader! You try to kill me and she dies too… or you save her and then I survive too!" he said, panting, in a voice distorted by the pain.

However, if the question arose in the man as to what exactly was a bargain, it was no longer time to ask. The lightsaber grip began to move on the ground, his voice betrayed and then activated and the Sith Lord threw into Eina's direction, now he was defenceless, but the Valkyrja was not able to defend herself either…

 

[Geiseric]

Eina L'lerim-Vandiir

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Knocking the Sith to the floor, Geiseric could feel victory at hand. He stood over his injured opponent. One more precise strike through this devil's heart would end this ordeal. He raised Eina's sword with both hands above his head, with the blade pointed down to drive through his fallen foe. He mistakenly gave the Sith a moment for his last words.

"You have two choices, crusader! You try to kill me and she dies too… or you save her and then I survive too!"

Before Geiseric could retort, he felt the Force shift before him, and the ignition of the Sith lightsaber signaled the worst. Geiseric threw down the sword, the fire around it dissipating as it clattered to the floor. He reached out through the force to catch the lightsaber as it flew towards Eina, managing to stop it a mere inch away from her. With the force he deactivated the blade, but the hilt remained vibrating harshly in the air, caught between opposing forces of push and pull. As the two fought over Eina's life, the hilt of the saber that operated as their proxy battlefield began to crack, then tear in two. Both men dropped their grip on the torn saber, the two halves clattering to the floor and the red kyber crystal rolling out of its chamber, which bathed the cell in its luminescence.

Relief washed over him, nursing his anger down, but only by so much. He hated the Sith and their slimy ways. It seemed deceit was all they knew. Geiseric moved to stand directly over the Sith Lord, looking down with nothing but contempt.

"You have made your last bargain, creature." he felt it right to deny this man's humanity, for the Sith were nothing but feral animals that needed to be put down. He pulled his arm back, then thrust it downwards towards the Sith's chest, delivering a crushing force push that would shatter the man's insides and finally end his life.

The crusader stepped away from the Sith's limp, deflated corpse, immediately turning all of his attention to Eina. He rushed to her side, pulling her down from the wall, though he was cautious of the sword impaled through her. He did his best to carry her the few steps over to the cot, sitting her on the floor with her back rested against it. He looked down at the sword still in her torso, unsure how to remove it without killing her. He knew no healing techniques with the Force.

He placed a hand gently under her chin and held her head up. Her warm golden ichor began to stain him, but it was least of his worries. "Eina, can you hear me?"

 

[Eina L'lerim-Vandiir]

Eina L’lerim-Vandiir, the First
Princess of the Eternal Empire and Terraris; Angelic mascot of the Ashlan Crusade
Matriarch of the Valkyrja; Leader of Sanctuary; Liaison of the Fjölkyngi Smiðr Guild​

Location: Geiseric's cell
Objective: Save Geiseric.
Equipment: Sverð Fyrstr (weapons) | Skrúð Engill Fyrstr (armour) || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Writing With:: Geiseric

[ Dawn ]
<"High Nelvaanian"> | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

Eina didn't sense much of what was the end of the fight, nor did she see the lightsaber heading toward her. What she first really sensed was the proximity of Geiseric. As the man took it off the wall, the woman made no sound and fell into his arms. It may have had her own sword, but it blocked the full flow of the Force in her body. The next thing she felt was the man's warm hand reaching under her chin and speaking to her. She understood what the man was saying and Eina smiled.

"I’m glad you’re alive and unharmed, and also that Bogan failed to poison your soul and heart…" she whispered weakly, but she still smiled gently.

Moments later, she moved her arms, trying to squeeze the sword around the grip to pull the weapon out from her, but eventually both hands fell weakly back to her side. Due to the helplessness, two tears rolled down her face, which eventually collided with Geiseric's fingers.

"I'm the Realspace's worst rescue team, aren't I?" she asked with a smile despite the tears, her voice was tired, very weak. " Pull out the sword, please. It won’t kill me, I don’t have organs, I'm still energy, but the sword makes it hard for the Force to flow in my body." she asked the man.

She did not know if the man would do what he asked, it was unlikely that he could have known how a Valkyrja was "working." In this, Eina was no different, even if she was created differently than the others.

"The Force keeps me alive, literally. My species becomes a stone or a crystal, when we are in a place where there is no Force. I need a place where there is a lot and a strong Force, then I will be fine. A Nexus… or the Netherworld. I have to open a rift for both of us, into the city of my people. You have to take me home, please… I don't know... I don't know if I will have the strength to open one, but I have to… Please Gei…"

 

[Geiseric]

Eina L'lerim-Vandiir

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He smiled knowing she was alive. Even though his mind still reeled from her revelation, he knew it wouldn't have been right to just let her die. Any grievances he still had could be aired later, but he needed her to live if that was going to happen. He watched her weakly try and pull the sword from her, and when she failed to do so Geiseric clasped his own hands around hers and the hilt.

"I'm the Realspace's worst rescue team, aren't I?" she asked with a smile despite the tears, her voice was tired, very weak. " Pull out the sword, please. It won’t kill me, I don’t have organs, I'm still energy, but the sword makes it hard for the Force to flow in my body." she asked the man.

He let a chuckle escape from him in his moment of relief. Overcoming the end of his tortured captivity offered him a cathartic release. He was hesitant at her request, and confused by her physiology, but nevertheless he complied and pulled the sword out from the wound. It dripped with the golden spiritual energy that flowed through her. He could tell it wasn't blood, of course, but it was still very alien to him.

"The Force keeps me alive, literally. My species becomes a stone or a crystal, when we are in a place where there is no Force. I need a place where there is a lot and a strong Force, then I will be fine. A Nexus… or the Netherworld. I have to open a rift for both of us, into the city of my people. You have to take me home, please… I don't know... I don't know if I will have the strength to open one, but I have to… Please Gei…"

With their hands in each other's muddied with ichor, he tried his best to let her feed from his aura, though it wasn't something he was used to doing.

"Be strong, spirit. If we cannot stay here, then open your portal and I will take you to your people. Be strong."

 

[Eina L'lerim-Vandiir]

Eina L’lerim-Vandiir, the First
Princess of the Eternal Empire and Terraris; Angelic mascot of the Ashlan Crusade
Matriarch of the Valkyrja; Leader of Sanctuary; Liaison of the Fjölkyngi Smiðr Guild​

Location: Geiseric's cell
Objective: Save Geiseric.
Equipment: Sverð Fyrstr (weapons) | Skrúð Engill Fyrstr (armour) || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Writing With:: Geiseric

[ Dawn ]
<"High Nelvaanian"> | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

Eina may have been a Force Entity, but she felt pain. She looked gratefully at the man as he helped pull out the sword. Gritted her teeth, now she made no sound. What did her mother always say? Never show weakness. The blade floated in the golden ichors all the way, but the moment it no longer connected Eina it disappeared. It was as if it had evaporated. It returned, merged into the Force that surrounds everything.

She didn’t like to have to use something like this. To take away the others' energy or life forces. Usually the ubiquitous Force was enough. But then she wasn't so weak, the Valkyrja had to give too much to Geiseric. Eina didn't mind, but it was a good lesson in how vulnerable she could be. It was essentially about taking back its own strength. A very little. If all is true, the man will not even feel it.

"I'm so sorry I have to do this… I even more regret having to do this to you." she whispered.

It went hard for her, but began to concentrate, "stringing" her fingers between Geiseric's fingers without any back intent. A few moments of golden aura appeared around their hands. Just a moment or two, after which the light disappeared. All the effects became so much that the man became hungry again, as this was gone after the healing. The woman raised her free hand and drew a few runes in the air, they weren't a Sith rune, her eyes gleaming in a golden light, and then a two-meter-high and wide fissure formed in the fabric of reality next to the woman's fiery sword. On the other side was the Sanctuary, the woman's home. She tried to stand up, but she didn't have the strength to do so.

"I don't think I will make it without help." she said with shame in her voice.

Last post.

 

[Heinrich Faust]

Tags: Isla Draellix-Kobitana , Eina L'lerim-Vandiir , Geiseric , Isidor Justeene , E Eric Vales , Dispara, M Mark Air Gami , Cass Gemini

Heinrich continued to way patiently for the reply from the pirates, hoping to salvage this situation. The captain looked to him as the cruiser maintained its position.

"Sir, we have determined that some of the pirates have locked onto us. How do you wish to proceed?"

"Have faith, captain. We will not fire unless fired upon."

Moments later, Heinrich got his reply. The visage of Cass Gemini popped up on his holo display, and patiently listened to each word. She was certainly a careful one, and truthfully, her suspicions weren't completely unfounded. Were this any other day, Heinrich would have settled for either arresting these bandits, or blowing their ships away into the great vastness of the stars.

Luckily for them, this was not one of those days.

<<Unfortunately, nothing too juicy, in the grand scheme of things. Not that you won't find anything useful on-board.>>

Heinrich leaned back in his chair as he continued.

<<As for the fleet, I admit, that is certainly an option. In fact, members of my crew have suggested that we take care of you ourselves. The Ashlan Crusade doesn't usually let such crimes go. Luckily for both of us, you have something that we want. If you were so kind as to humor us, we could perhaps offer you something that you want.>>

The captain stared at Heinrich, still unsure of what the Grand Marshal was about to propose. Sensing the man's uncertainty, Heinrich simply motioned for him to sit.

<<You see, Captain Gemini, The Crusade has a need for those with your skill set. I'm sure you will find our terms most satisfying.>>

He leaned in, cracking a slight grin as he spoke.

<<Alternatively, I could always have my crew prep that cell. I hope that such actions will not be necessary, but it's your call.>>

Heinrich wasn't sure that these pirates would play ball, but he hoped that he had given enough information to pique their curiosity.

 

[Cass Gemini]

Spoiler: Gear and other links

Equipped: Calypso's Thunder, Harlequin sabers, Gravpack, Viper mk2 skinsuit
Ship: Midnight Kyber
NPCs: Crew of the Midnight Kyber

Location: Tiss'Sharl
Tags: Isidor Justeene E Eric Vales Isla Draellix-Kobitana Dispara

This was very interesting, the very fact that Heinrich Faust had been forward and open about the situation, and not tried to pretend they weren't currently enemies made her like him a little more, he was still a jedi though, so not to be trusted, she wondered if he could tell that she too knew the force, she would see if he tried any underhanded tricks on her, that was usually how you could tell the true intention of a jedi.

Risk, reward, risk, reward, risk, reward. Cass repeated to herself in her head.

"So Ashlan, I am going to have to pass on the brig cell, you could always come and see my brig though? The room service is excellent and I bet I could make a small fortune selling that pretty head of yours"

She checked on her allies, at the bare minimum, she needed to give them time to escape with the freighter, she knew neither of them had HIMS equipped on their ship, so if a larger Ashlan fleet arrived equipped with interdiction tech, they could be trapped and captured. "Come on guys, you can do this" she muttered silently to herself.

"You have my interest, I am very curious to know which of our skills your Crusade might find useful? And what do you offer in return? This would be a big risk for us, so an the potential rewards would have to be appropriate?"

She looked at her adversary, sizing him up, she looked too at his ship, of things went south she knew she outgunned him, so there must be something else going on here.

"I would warn you though Ashlan that you offer better be good, i am famously pragmatic and not prone to impulsive decision of flights of fancy."

If Heinrich was listening carefully he may well have heard a laugh at that last statement from the bridge crew.

Looking over at Thrace, she gave the thumbs up, the laser cutters had been successful in extracting useful tech, but not disabling the ship so it couldn't leave once captured.

All Cass needed to wait for was Pix and her fighters to return, then they could leave if they didn't like what the Marshall had to say.

The four fighters lifted off from the planet and blasted into space, it would take them less than 5 minutes to reach the Midnight Kyber. Every one of the ships was stuffed full of stolen hardware and even the passengers were sat with crates between their legs and on their laps, Pix wondered whether Cass needed to invest in some dedicated landers for missions like this, but then changed her mind as she did a corkscrew before engaging her SLAM and bursting with speed back towards the ship.

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