Dominion Riot in the Ashes of Vaethis | TAC Dominion of Zigoola

[Braze]

TAGS: Old Man Leonis

Braze glanced over at Leonis with amusement at the older man's reaction. "Hey, if the boot fits," he teased, a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. "But don't worry, I know you can still handle yourself, Gramps. Those cultists won't know what hit them."

As the faint voices echoed down the corridor and the flicker of candlelight caught Braze's attention, his demeanor shifted. With a quick nod, he responded in a quieter tone, "Got it. Lights out."

Braze's playful air melted into a focused readiness as he reached into his cloak, hand brushing over his ornate lightsaber hilts. He crouched slightly, softening his footsteps as he prepared to move ahead in the shadows. His voice was barely above a whisper now, but the confidence was still there.

"I'll follow your lead. Let's give them a proper welcome."

 

[Old Man Leonis]

Zigoola
Tags: Braze

Lothal Protectorate, Lucy​

"Copy."

Leonis slinked ahead to the end of the corridor, peering around the corner. There, lit by only a few dim candles, were a handful of cloaked figures, only three from the looks of it. They sat on the floor upon their knees, their heads covered by hoods and hung in some sort of reverent position. Before them lay something bizarre looking, some kind of triangular pyramid-looking thing. It shone with a red aura, faint and eerie as far as Leonis was concerned. The voice was a chanting, it seemed, incomprehensible because it was in a language that he clearly did not understand.

Maybe it was better not to know what they were saying.

The old man was quick to act, drawing his axe and cleaving it into the back of the closest's head, positioned middle-back in the triangular chamber of the structure. He rather quickly shot the other two with Lucy, drawing the encounter to a swift close. Leonis grimaced as he withdrew the axe from the head of the cultist, shaking the blood off as he turned to step away.

"Right," he muttered. "That's that then..."

Behind him the cloaked figures began to stand up again...

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Old Man Leonis

Braze's attention sharpened the moment he saw it. "Oh..." he murmured, eyes narrowing as he recognized the object—a Sith wayfinder. His gaze shifted to the man ahead, watching him swiftly dispatch the cultists. But as they began to rise again, something far more sinister stirred.

Braze frowned, his expression hardening. Without hesitation, he moved toward one of the reanimated corpses, lightsaber in hand. As the zombie-like figure began to lurch back to life, Braze sliced through it with precision, teal and blue blurs of energy carving through the form, dismembering it before it could fully rise.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing \ Gear : X | X | X | X | X
Interacting With : Balun Dashiell | Aeri Vyn

Getting out of the city wasn't easy. There were genuine rioters and Makai could certainly sympathize - if a large contingent of workers were going missing then of course the miners would want action. One of the reasons he was able to step in and buy the mining sites at a decent price - the current owners were over their heads. The deal was freshly inked and not announced, which at least allowed him to get on the city streets without being punched for being part of the problem.

What was a problem was the genuine protesters who were truly trying to change their plight had now been interrupted by those looking to take advantage of the situation. Looters, pirates, low-level gangsters, anyone who was potentially interested in just stirring up trouble in the area. With the chaos it was a perfect time to do so.

That made his journey difficult.

It was slow going, navigating the streets without hitting anyone. Especially since he had a coup speeder and not a speederbike on rental. Not exactly made for weaving in-and-out of thick traffic. Plus, some of the looter types decided he didn't need headlights or tail lights anymore

Good thing I got rental insurance.

Yet within twenty minutes he was finally able to escape the city streets and more open roads into rural areas. Hitting the accelerator, he headed for the location of the mines himself.

---

Meanwhile, Thirty-Three and Tevis Thane were just beginning their journey into what was now Mining Site No. 3 .According to reports, it had some of the highest activity and most reported missing miners. Optical sensors were flicked on more like a flashlight as Thirty-Three looked around, craning his head every which way.

[ These ceilings will need to be reinforced. They are not to Mister Dashiell's standard ]

"Will you quit worryin' about the ceiling? We're looking for the root of the problem here."

[ Cave-ins are a serious problem, Mister Thane. Perhaps our missing miners got trapped in a branch. ]

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Objective Two: Restoring Order Amidst the Chaos of Vaethis.
Inventory: Field Apparel, Lightsaber & Balun's K-16 Bryar Pistol.
Present Company: Task-Force Rebel Dawn.
Interacting With: Makai Dashiell & Aeri Vyn .

Isabella Johnson had just relayed the news to Balun: Makai Dashiell, his brother, was within the city limits of Zigoola. The revelation struck Balun like a bolt of disbelief, yet at the same time, it made perfect sense. Makai, the ever-successful mining mogul, had built a substantial fortune in the galaxy. Much of his wealth stemmed from the manufacturing and sale of construction materials, not only distributed throughout the Galactic Market but also utilized by Dashiell Incorporated. The idea that Makai might be on Zigoola for a business operation was logical, though troubling in its implications for the family business.

"Negative. Do not intercept. Let him leave," Balun instructed calmly. Makai was reportedly heading towards the edge of the city in a sleek, open-top speeder. Johnson and Fletcher would only be able to maintain visual contact for a limited time. "Decamp and meet us at street level. We're about to close in on your position. It's time to get our hands dirty and help the locals," he added, his voice firm with purpose. Turning to La'das Beiran, Balun gave a subtle wave with his left hand, signaling him to relay orders to Lieutenant Whitley and Private Buckley: it was time to pack up and move out.

As his squad began their preparations, Balun took a moment to attune himself to the energy flowing through the galaxy—the ethereal connection binding all life together. He focused his thoughts, reaching out into the cityscape with his senses, searching for the familiar presence of his brother, Makai. In the quiet recesses of Makai Dashiell 's mind, Balun imparted a whisper, a gentle yet urgent warning: "Be careful out there, brother." His telepathic message drifted through the currents of the Force, wishing Makai luck on his unknown journey.

 

[Aeri Vyn]

​

MaraTibx, Haven Shipyards, Arceneau Trade Fuel and Trade Station
Zigoola Space
BYOO: Placement of neutral Trade, Refueling, and Ship Repair facility Orbiting Zigoola
Open to Interaction | Makai Dashiell Balun Dashiell

The deeper they went into the mine, the darker and colder it became. Their headlamps flickered, casting long shadows on the walls. The air smelled stale, like rock and damp earth, and Aeri could feel the weight of the planet pressing down on them. The unease in her gut grew stronger with every step.

Suddenly, her commlink crackled to life again. "Aeri, this is Mia. We've picked up something strange in the energy readings from your location."

Aeri stopped, motioning for her team to halt as well. "Strange how?"

"There's a fluctuation in the planetary magnetic field. It's faint, but it's centered around the mine. We don't know what's causing it yet, but it could explain some of the malfunctions the miners were reporting."

Aeri's grip tightened on her blaster. "Any chance it's natural?"

"Unlikely. We've ruled out the usual geological activity. It's too localized."

Of course, Aeri thought. Nothing was ever simple on a planet like Zigoola. "Thanks for the heads up. Keep monitoring."

She clicked off the commlink and turned back to the tunnel ahead. "You hear that? Stay alert. There's something happening here, and it's not just bad equipment."


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Tags | x x x x x x x
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[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing \ Gear : X | X | X | X | X
Interacting With : Aeri Vyn | Balun Dashiell

"Be careful out there, brother.

Makai rubbed his face, blinking hard. He wasn't getting a decent amount of sleep and still woke and got ready for the day at his usual time. It seemed to be taking a toll, now he was hearing things despite having no music on and nothing coming from his datapad. Now he was hallucinating things. Maybe a small break was due after all this mining mess was sorted and done, a few days back at home with work tucked away.

It was a dusty ride out to the mines that laid quiet. Parking the speeder near the main gates and offices, he got out and stretched. First was a small look around the mines. He had purchased all five, one large cluster around the central office. Eyes squinted as he looked around. Head craned around, taking in the peaks and valleys. Nothing but quiet, he didn't even spot any wildlife yet. Desolate.

Grabbing a heavy breaker bar from the mechanic's shop, Makai started down the entrance of one mine. He stopped at the entrance, ensuring all the lights and oxygen controls were functional. All systems green,so suffocation wasn't an issue. Could rule that out.

He looked up and tsk'd, there would be a need for more ceiling supports. The previous owners had skimped there and he did see a number of cave-ins on his disclosure report. Yet he continued further, deeper down. After about ten minutes he stopped at the glint of something shiny. Hand reached up and grabbed the glowing spider webs but he quickly recoiled, pulling his hand back.

He was bleeding.

The web wasn't even disturbed. It was strong, practically attached to the rock.

"Maybe thats our problem..."

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Objective Two: Restoring Order Amidst the Chaos of Vaethis.
Inventory: Field Apparel, Lightsaber & Balun's K-16 Bryar Pistol.
Present Company: Task-Force Rebel Dawn.
Honorable Mentions: Makai Dashiell & Aeri Vyn .

Balun Dashiell moved swiftly through the city center, Oscar Buckley close on his heels. They kept to the left side of the main strip, heads low, eyes alert. Across from them, La'das Beiran and Ewan Whitley mirrored their movements on the right, the four men advancing with purpose toward the high-rise where their recon team, Isabella Johnson and Reuben Fletcher, kept watch from the rooftop.

"Fletcher, Johnson, we're almost at your position," Balun spoke quietly into his tactical headset. His Ranger Scout Rifle stayed pressed against his shoulder, the barrel angled downward in caution. They moved quickly, sticking close to the wall, eyes scanning the distant streets for any sign of trouble. He didn't want to risk a stray shot hitting a civilian.

"Copy that, Dashiell. We're moving down to the street," Fletcher's voice crackled back over the comms as he and Johnson descended the stairwell. Soon, Balun and his team would be in position. Beiran and Whitley hung back near the entrance of the building while Balun and Oscar took point further ahead.

Suddenly, something caught Balun's eye. He paused, instinctively pulling out his binoculars from his side pouch. Through the lenses, he saw a group of civilians moving with three robed figures. "Eyes forward. We've got company," he muttered, his voice tense. "Civilians and three unknowns. The locals are armed, but those robes…"

He hesitated as a cold sensation washed over him. The Force stirred with a warning, a subtle pulse of danger. "Grist, I think they're Force users," Balun murmured, his right hand leaving the rifle to signal the squad to halt and take cover.

Force users. Or worse, Darksiders. It would explain the chaos that had engulfed the capital and why the civilians were so agitated. Lowering his rifle, he allowed it to hang by the sling over his shoulder, his hand drifting to the lightsaber clipped to his belt. With a quiet determination, he unlatched it.

"I'm going to try talking to them," Balun instructed, his voice steady but firm. "Cover me, and if you can, avoid killing the civilians. We need them neutralized, not dead. As for the robed ones—if they draw their lightsabers, do what you have to."

With that, he straightened up, stepping out into the open, his hands held loosely at his sides. He moved into the center of the street, making his presence known, hoping they wouldn't simply shoot on sight. The tension crackled in the air as he approached, waiting for their next move.

 

[Aeri Vyn]

​

MaraTibx, Haven Shipyards, Arceneau Trade Fuel and Trade Station
Zigoola Space
BYOO: Placement of neutral Trade, Refueling, and Ship Repair facility Orbiting Zigoola
Open to Interaction | Makai Dashiell Balun Dashiell


They pressed on, the tunnel narrowing as they descended deeper into the mine. Then, without warning, the ground beneath their feet trembled -- a low rumble that sent a cascade of dust and pebbles falling from the ceiling.

Aeri's heart skipped a beat, but the tremor passed as quickly as it had come. Still, the unsettling feeling intensified. It was as though the planet itself was stirring.

"Ma'am," one of the mercenaries said, his voice tense. "I don't like this."

Aeri didn't like it either, but she wasn't about to let fear make the decisions. "We keep moving. Stay sharp."

They rounded a bend in the tunnel and froze. Ahead of them, in the dim light, something shimmered -- an unnatural glow pulsing faintly in the dark. Aeri's breath caught in her throat. It was like a ripple of energy, barely visible but undeniably there. And it wasn't something she had ever seen in a mine before. A few more meters and webbing seemed to coat the walls with thin, pulsating lights.

Her commlink buzzed again, and this time it was Mia's voice, frantic. "Aeri, we've lost your signal for a moment -- what's happening down there?"

Aeri's eyes were fixed on the glowing energy ahead, her heart racing. She knew one thing for sure: whatever was happening in the mines of Zigoola, it wasn't ghosts.

"I'm not sure yet," she whispered into the comm. "But I think we just found the source of the miners' fear."

And as the glow pulsed again, she couldn't shake the feeling that something far more than ghost stories, was stirring beneath Zigoola's surface.

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x x x x x x x
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[Ro-Tahn Mashayekhi]

“Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.”
Ro-Tahn Mashayekhi, Knight Warden

Lightsaber / Winter Ring of the Snow Moon / Armor


​

Location: Sith Stronghold (Obj 3)
Tags: Open

The fear of the Dark Side, I remember being taught early on in my training back on

Tokmia, was not real fear, but a figment of the imagination, give it water and it will blossom; deny it sustenance and it withers away like a dying weed. The teachers of the Order of the Lotus Moon preached self-discipline and to extinguish any thoughts of the Dark Side; give it hope, and it will corrupt, deny it's will, and it dissipates like a fleeting bad dream. But I have witnessed the chaos and evil wrought on by the Dark Side and its followers, the fear that it creates is real. and it must be stopped. It spreads like a plague, corrupting and eating all in its path, but there is hope; a hope that if the galaxy stands united it will cure this encroaching disease.

I do not fear the Dark Side, for I am a champion of the Light; though I have stumbled in the past and found redemption, I remain staunch in my beliefs and convictions. Even now as I walk among this temple dedicated to darkness, I could sense the pull and seduction of the Dark Side, whispering promises of power in my ear, seeking to bless me with unnatural knowledge to crush my foes, destroy all that stand before me in defiance. And yet, as these disembodied voices make their attempts; I am deaf to their false words. Thier seeds they seek to sow will have no season. Still though, the power in this temple is intoxicating, clearly a nexus of the dark and whatever creeps and crawls here must be quelled.

The deeper I walked into the temple, the colder it became, and the vision became less advantageous with the lack of lightening or the flickering of torches casting shadows upon both walls and floors. At times I stumbled into cold spots, seeing my breath in cold plumes of air; I had experienced this once before, though I doubt this temple is haunted by the spooks of dead Lords of the Sith. But nothing should be discounted when dealing with the Dark Side. Suddenly off in the distance, I heard laughter like that of a child; the temple trying to rattle me, infect me with fear. All it did was boost my curiosity and I moved toward the cackling sounds.

These sounds of a small person led me to an antechamber pitched in utter darkness, and as I stepped inside reaching for my lightsaber to double as a means of casting illumination, the room roared to life throwing flashes of red lights in an eerie fashion whilst the sound that drew me here was joined by other laughter of children. It wasn't the cacophony of laughter or the abrupt turning of lightening that made me falter; it was the circle of ghostly apparitions that stood staring into my soul. I knew the agents of the Dark Side practiced unethical rituals; and these children must have been used in twisted grasps of power. I had to quell my growing anger at the thought of their needless deaths, because the temple would feed on that emotion and use it like a weapon against me.

​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing \ Gear : X | X | X | X | X
Interacting With : Aeri Vyn | Balun Dashiell

Spotting more spiderwebs, he had come to a complete stop, holding the breaker bar in his hand. Typically, he would have retreated to the surface and found a blaster rifle and went back down below. Yet he was alone and such a decision wasn't wise. Especially with a daughter on the way - tended to put a few things into perspective on risk. Slowly, he started moving backwards out of the mining shaft, not wanting to turn his back on the discovery just quite yet. Not until about the last fifty feet did he dare do so.

Moving to the mine entrance controls, Makai overrode the doors and let them firmly shut. Who knew if there were entrances and exits made by the spider-creature but at least it would stop anyone trespassing and getting themselves killed. Still holding onto the breaker bar, comm was fished out of his pocket, lighting up with notifications now that he had a signal.

Word first to Miss Vyn.

[[ Large spiders - possibly energy spiders - on my side of the mines. Stopped any further, will have to call in a wildlife wrangler and few scientists. Maybe no mining but something else? ]]

Then to his assistants.

[[ Do me a favor and bring a contingent of scientists out to Zigoola. Zoologists and entomologists if we can acquire both. I will fill in later. ]]

Mining was looking unfavorable, but farming the spider webs was looking profitable.

END POST​

 

[Aeri Vyn]

​

MaraTibx, Haven Shipyards, Arceneau Trade Fuel and Trade Station
Zigoola Space
BYOO: Placement of neutral Trade, Refueling, and Ship Repair facility Orbiting Zigoola
Open to Interaction | Makai Dashiell Balun Dashiell

"Are these spider webs?" One of the mercenaries asked, and Aeri frowned. Grabbing a sensor, she swept it over the glowing energy strands. Sure enough, it confirmed that it belonged to a version of Energy Spider.

They finally found the culprit for the disruption.

The eerie tales that had spooked the miners were no longer just ghost stories -- this new species of energy spiders was real, and their glowing silk was a discovery with potential far beyond anything she had imagined. With Makai's team confirming the same findings deeper in the mines, the questions of danger, containment, and application loomed large.

As construction continued on the nearby space station, the PharmTech biodomes also moved forward, soon to break ground. Once completed, they would provide an abundance of fresh produce, a precious commodity for long-term travelers weary of preserved rations. But now, a new element had entered the mix. The glowing webbing from these mysterious creatures could hold untold possibilities for future ventures.

For now, time to go back to the station and write up a report.


Exit post

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x x x x x x x
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[Ro-Tahn Mashayekhi]

“Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.”
- Ro-Tahn Mashayekhi, Jedi Knight -





Location: Sith Stronghold (Obj 3)
Tags: Open

​

The apparitions made no move toward me, leading me to believe they were either tethered to the circle by unseen magic or they were not of the angered spirit variety and wished me no harm. But it was then that I noticed their collective eyes were not transfixed on me, despite the rising and falling levels of their laughter, but to a strongbox of sorts covered in dust and resting defiantly on a cracking pedestal made of I could only assume concrete based materials. The reddish light, too, began to slowly lose power but remained bright enough to keep a semblance of illumination within the antechamber. Taking a deep breath, I slowly walked toward the object, keeping my eyes wary of the ghosts and any movements on their part.

When I stepped foot into the circle, the children began to move from the seated box and fell eerily silent in unison. Upon reaching the box, all the children dropped to their knees in a genuflection posture; eyes closed, and heads bowed. I examined the box, front to back and side to side, taking note of rather shoddy looking locking mechanism. Two things where currently preventing me from reaching out and tinkering with the lock. The first is I possess the ability known as psychometry and I had no real desire to feel or see what touched this object previously to my arrival. The second was the Dark Side. Sith were known to set traps on their artifacts and treasures, one most commonly used trick was taint and again I had no desire to experience that feeling again. My only option was the Force to open the lock and after a few tries the result was fruitless.

With one final trick up my sleeve, I drew my hilt, activated it, and slashed at the lock. With surprising luck, it worked. Again, using the Force I pushed back the lid and peered inside. I discovered inside a hand-written tome, its coverings bound in some sort of leather. Until I could fully explore this find, all I had was assumptions. Reaching into my knapsack, I pulled out a sizable cloth and wrapped the tome as it floated in front of me via the Force. There was no way I was touching the tome, for if there was a trap on any object in this chamber, surely it would be on that. With the artifact fully secured in the cloth, I grabbed it and stored it away in my bag. When I turned around, the children were gone; and as I moved out from the chamber to further my exploration, the red hue light extinguished itself.