Public Secrets Beneath the Surface

[Liin Terallo]

I give Karl a moment as he had requested. And as he gave his commands, I could not help but draw my eyes skyward. There was a hightened buzz of activity both within the dome, as well as high above it. If we weren't careful we could be overwhelmed by visitors. I just hope that Prime Minister Laan was ready for it.

Once he was finished I led the way into the old NCBC Headquarters. I did not want to use the old museum entrance that was somewhat highlighted in the leaked video if one could piece it together. No, I knew of another point of entry. All of the senior members of the Board of Directors were aware of it, but not quite of what it led to. The only notes passed on from generation to generation was that it led to an ancient shelter if the domes failed. Now I am certain that it was much more than that.

I watch the droids and drones surrounding us while we walked. It was a strange thing. Their footfalls in unison, their hovering and movements were in sync with my own. It was like they were reading my mind, but such a thing is impossible, is it not?

My thoughts are interrupted as Karl asks me about carrying a weapon. I give him a slight nod and bring up the fan which dangled from a cord at my hip beneath my coat. "I have a dagger hidden in the handle. It's blade is made with biomolecule-infused steel. Tests have shown it to be very sharp indeed which can cut through most metals. I had a bit of training with it so that I at least know how to wield it if need be. I have not yet fired a blaster, so I am not so sure that my aim would be true."

Down and down we go. And with each new corridor we enter, my biometrics are needed to allow us entry. One could easily suspect that we were well beyond NCBC Headquarters by now and instead we were somewhere else. The final corridor showed it's age. There was not any rust, but you could just smell how old it was. Another panel flickered to life as we approached. The whirring of an old system starting up was heard. I place my hand on top as I had done so to all of the others. But this time it hurt! "OUCH!" I pulled my hand back to see two fingertips bleeding. I step back from the panel as the grinding of metal and stone can be heard. It was loud!

--CRACK--CRACK--CRACK--

A door slid slowly open revealing a bright light behind it. And nothing else that I could see. Just a big bright light in a large empty space.

Karl Von Strauss

 

[Forse Dirum]

The submersible surfaced in a grotto, bobbing on the surface as it's repulsor engines powered down, relying on the submersible's natural buoyancy to keep it afloat. The submersible's hatch popped open, and Forse stood out of his lying position, hopping onto the nearby rocky ground, pulling the submersible over to the side with him. Reaching into the open submersible, he pulls out a few storage boxes and places them on the ground. He highlights each box on his HUD, and focused on them. A progress bar fills as he retains eye contact, culminating in a check box appearing over the storage container. The lids on all the storage boxes are opened, and Forse begins to strap on his loadout.

First was his E-11 Blaster rifle. An antique by modern standards, Forse kept a modified version for himself. It lacked the power cycling problems and misaligned sight picture the original was plagued with. With a flick of his wrist, the rifle's collapsible butt stock swung out to it's full length. Forse switched on its power pack, and the E-11 began to softly whirr as its internal systems booted up. Seconds later, a reticle appeared on his HUD, corresponding to where he was pointing the rifle. Forse could accurately fire from the hip now, but he preferred to shoulder the weapon, not wanting to develop bad habits were his armor systems to be knocked offline by something.

Next, Forse took several emp grenades and fragmentation grenades and strapped them to his belt. The emp grenades were designed for tackling war droids, but Forse didn't know what he'd find in these caves, and wanted to be prepared. The bioluminescent light stretched along the walls of the cavern, leading into a tunnel from the grotto. Forse dragged the submersible onto dry land, and stowed it along the side of the wall. He'd possibly need it to exfil if the operation went south.

Forse cycled through different visual spectrums as he made his way toward the illuminated tunnel. Even though it seemed like he was alone, the lights pulsed with the rhythm of, what appeared to Forse as, a heartbeat.

 

[Reicher Vax]

Location: Operational Zone: Zulu, New Cov.
Equipment: Standard Issue Sith Trooper Armor, Vibroblade, Standard Issue Blaster Rifle, Datapad.
Tag: OPEN

The twin Muur-class Transports hummed with the steady rhythm of repulsorlift engines as they broke through the atmosphere of New Cov, descending toward the sprawling jungle city of Ilic. Through the thick transparisteel viewports, Reicher could see the city's unique blend of natural beauty and industrial sprawl. Towering skyscrapers rose like steel obelisks above the dense canopy, their surfaces shimmering with energy conduits and vibrant lights. Between the structures, the lush greenery of the surrounding jungle was threaded with rivers and bio-organic conduits that glowed faintly with the same unnatural luminescence as the Heart in the holovid.

Inside the transport, the mood was tense but controlled. The soft hum of the engines was punctuated by the occasional clatter of armor as troopers adjusted their gear. Reicher sat near the front, his helmet resting on his lap, his eyes scanning the briefing data displayed on his datapad. The map of Ilic City highlighted key locations—the excavation site, NCBC headquarters, and the perimeter zones they were to secure.

The voice of the transport pilot crackled over the comms. "Approaching the designated landing zone. ETA five minutes."

Reicher stood, his armor's servo motors whirring softly as he addressed the men of his triad. "We hit the ground running. Secure the AT-OT, establish the perimeter, and lock down our section. Stay alert—this isn't a backwater planet. Expect complications, and handle them with precision."

A chorus of affirmatives echoed through the transport. These were seasoned soldiers, hardened by campaigns across the Empire's contested territories. They wouldn't falter.

Theven's voice cut in through Reicher's helmet comm. <Vax, you'll be taking the northwestern perimeter near the Heart's site. My squad will reinforce the corporate security along the southern sector. High Command's made it clear we're not to overstep unless necessary. Keep things quiet, but don't hesitate if someone steps out of line.>

<Understood,> Reicher replied, his tone calm and deliberate.

The transport shuddered slightly as it touched down on a reinforced landing pad on the outskirts of Ilic. The ramp hissed open, revealing a humid jungle breeze mixed with the acrid tang of industrial exhaust. Around them, NCBC corporate security personnel moved with hurried purpose, their black-and-silver uniforms gleaming in the artificial light of the landing zone.

Reicher descended the ramp first, his crimson visor glowing faintly as he scanned the area. The AT-OT was already being offloaded, its heavy legs planting firmly on the duracrete. The walker's turret-mounted blasters and reinforced plating were a reassuring presence, a symbol of the Empire's might.

The Sith Diplomat, a hooded figure flanked by a pair of Legionaries, approached briefly to acknowledge the squad before heading off toward the NCBC headquarters. Reicher barely spared the diplomat a glance; his focus was on the mission.

"Move out," Reicher ordered, gesturing toward the AT-OT. His triad climbed aboard, their movements precise and efficient. The walker rumbled to life, its engines thrumming as it began its slow march toward the northwestern perimeter.

As they moved through the city, the contrast between Ilic's gleaming towers and the ancient jungle that encroached on its edges became more apparent. The conduits that ran along the ground seemed alive, their faint glow pulsating rhythmically. Civilians watched from a distance, their expressions a mix of awe and fear.

Reicher's comm crackled again. <"Legionnaire Vax, this is NCBC Security Control. You'll be coordinating with Sector 7's head, Overseer Talmek. He'll brief you on the local situation.">

"Copy that," Reicher replied.

The AT-OT came to a halt near the excavation site, its bulk towering over the small temporary command post that had been erected nearby. Reicher dismounted, his boots crunching against the dirt as he approached the command tent. Overseer Talmek, a tall man with a sharp, angular face and the polished demeanor of a corporate officer, greeted him with a curt nod.

"Vax," Talmek began, his tone clipped. "The situation here is… volatile. We've had reports of unauthorized movement in the jungle—scouts believe mercenaries or independent operatives are probing the area. And there's been a spike in communications traffic suggesting potential Jedi involvement."

Reicher's visor tilted slightly as he processed the information. "Understood. My triad will establish a secure perimeter. Any hostile movement will be neutralized."

Talmek hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "The Heart… it's unlike anything we've ever encountered. Some of my men are uneasy. There have been… incidents among the excavation crew. People speaking of whispers, strange lights in the conduits. Superstition, perhaps, but…"

Reicher's tone remained cold and steady. "The Sith Legion doesn't deal in superstition, Overseer. Maintain discipline among your people. We'll handle the rest."

With that, Reicher turned back to his triad, gesturing for them to begin setting up the perimeter. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in a dim, otherworldly glow, Reicher couldn't shake the faint sense of unease that had been with him since seeing the holovid of the Heart.

Whatever lay beneath New Cov, it wasn't just another resource for the Sith Empire to exploit. And as Reicher watched the glowing conduits pulsate faintly in the darkening jungle, he wondered if they were prepared for what they might uncover.

​

 

[The Heart of New Cov]

Bioluminescent tendrils pulsed throughout the cavern that Forse found himself within. With each step he took the pulsing took shape, changing their intensity and pattern to match that of his own heartbeat. His footsteps barely made a sound, for as though the terrain appeared to be rocky, it was in fact densely packed moss and lichen. This made it more difficult for anyone to know if they were being followed. The sheer abundance of life amongst the cavern walls and floor also made it more difficult for Force Users to discern one life signature to the next.

But Forse's HUD would be able to pick them out. The deeper Forse went through the twisting cavern, the more that his HUD would be able to pick up. Stagnant pockets of unknown life could be detected up ahead until finally the cavern opened up revealing a large bioluminescent synthesis chamber, with walls that pulse gently with bioluminescence. Inside, vast tanks contain an array of genetically engineered creatures and plant life, each contributing a different element to the biomolecule synthesis process. The air inside the chamber is dense with the scent of various plant species, and faint hums from the machinery suggest the operation of a complex, organic system.

The chamber seems to be powered by a unique energy source, derived from the planet's own core and linked with an interstellar energy resonance tied to the Force. It is rumored that within these chambers, scientists or technicians of the ancient civilization could manipulate genetic material to create biomolecules far beyond the capabilities of current technology, producing highly potent compounds that could alter biology, extend life, or even manipulate the Force.

The synthesis chamber may seems to be operational, though in a dormant state, just waiting to be reactivated.
​

---

Legionnaire Vax could see the faint glow through the trees as the day's light faded. However beneath his feet there grew a hum of energy. It vibrated through the ground. The very air around him seemed to pulse with it, as though just having him there awakened something.

A pulse of energy brushes against his mind, almost like a dream or a half-remembered memory. A whisper slithered into his thoughts, a soft voice, rich with promise, vibrating with something ancient. Something that knew him and those like him.

~You feel it, don't you? The power. There is power down here, beneath the depths. And it is yours to command. It is yours to wield should you take that first step towards a far greater destiny than you imagined.~

Visions of an ancient civilization on New Cov were interlayed with the whispers. Flashes of a select few people commanding and manipulating an entire planet to serve their needs. A neverending power source fueling technologies long forgotten, yet surpassing those of today. Following that were visions of a current map of the Galaxy showing a cloud of influence moving beyond New Cov, encompassing all that lay in it's wake.
​

Tags: Forse Dirum Reicher Vax