Public The Front Lines

[Valery Noble]

Zolan

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Business, not pleasure."

Valery pouted and stared right back at him for a long moment until he corrected himself by saying not too much pleasure. She could accept that and smiled warmly at him. At least, until a woman seemed interested in snatching their room from them. This caused Valery to squint, but Kahlil acted faster and spoke up.

"That rooms already spoken for, you know."

"What happened to business, not pleasure, huh?" Valery teased with a waggle of her eyebrows before she was ready to head off to their room and drop off their stuff. But at that moment, the strange lady returned and... ate her key. Valery blinked, shook her head in confusion, and looked at her husband while she retreated into the elevator.

"I don't know what's worse - senate meetings or having to see that."

Valery then took his hand, and rather than walking up to their room, headed back outside to their taxi, where some of the luggage was still waiting in the compartment. But as she walked, she felt a familiar tremor and suddenly stopped. "Babe, you feel that too, hm?" She glared at some bushes, where Loomi was hiding and shook her head.

"Please come out now and explain yourself. This is not the place to be alone."

That was rather quickly confirmed, as something stirred up inside the hotel. An argument or fight of sorts, that soon escalated when a weapon was fired. Valery blinked, sighed, and looked at Kahlil.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"A lot of things happen it seems."

Kahlil chuckled, glancing down towards Valery with a smirk. No, senate meetings were far worse than that sight. Leave it to a Cyborg of some kind to make things even weirder. It was still alarming that such beings were here, though. House Io was full of problems. Not as many problems as the people shooting in a hotel lobby. Part of him wanted to intervene, but they were guests here.

The local guards would handle this.

"Mm? Oh, yeah. Loomi seems to have come along with us. Did you not..?" He raised a brow. She wasn't the one who brought her along? Kahlil had assumed this was some attempt for the young Padawan to learn some skills as a Shadow. Who better to learn from than Valery?

He looked right towards where Loomi was hiding, tilting his head to the side.

"Padawan Loomi. You heard Master Noble."

Valery Noble | Loomi | @Others

 

[Loomi]

Zolan
Tags: Valery Noble , Kahlil Noble , Others…

"Please come out now and explain yourself. This is not the place to be alone."

Loomi’s head very quickly popped out of the bush, revealing a very flustered face.

“I-I didn’t fall in a box!” she was quick to defend.

Not that she was confident about that, as it had happened after all. She sighed, pulling herself out of the shrubbery and hanging her head.

“S-sorry,” she apologized, “Th-there was a big box, and I got curious so I poked my head in…”

Loomi shouldn’t have been snooping around in their luggage. Her single eye turned to the unfolding scene in the Hotel, with random individuals seeming to come out of the woodworks to… fight each other? Whatever the case was, Loomi subconsciously stepped a little closer to the two Jedi Masters. Her plan to find a way home on her own felt stupid now.

“Where are we?”

 

[Zinayn]

Zinayn watched the sneaky human enter the turbolift and vanish as its doors closed. Quite an interesting figure. He turned back to the battle unfolding before him and began to wonder: Which side would he join in on? If any?

Perhaps Zinayn could beat the Mando, then take the thief and turn him in to get the bounty for himself... no that would be too selfish, too...dark side. He could hop in and negotiate between the two of them and hope for a peaceful solution...too light side. Or, he could fight them both. Equally. That was balanced.

The Chiss strode forward and ignited his lightsaber, casting an orange glow on his robes. There is passion; yet peace. The Gray Jedi code echoed through his head as he drew upon the emotions of the others around him. The fear of the hotel clerk (who was urgently trying to check out of work), balanced by the unwavering calm of Kahlil Noble. The determination of the Mando to successfully hunt his prey; balanced by the indifference of that sneaky stranger that used the turbolift just a few seconds ago. All the emotions fueled his power.

"Final warning, Mando and thief. The security guards will probably be here soon, so... you can take it outside in some alleyway or something."

Drego Ruus Nej Tane

 

[Nej Tane]

Meanwhile, while the Gray Jedi was mulling about in his mind...

Nej didn't bother to stick around for the Jedi's speech about balance or whatever.

He just ran towards the counter, towards guest services... Hoping to escape out of the back. He was giggling as he ran past everyone, striding along at a pace that only a person avoiding the harsh reality of prison could.

 

[Drego Ruus]

"Final warning, Mando and thief. The security guards will probably be here soon, so... you can take it outside in some alleyway or something."

The mando had to take a second to reboot his systems, but the disruptor didn't seem to do much other than force said reboot.

"Do you not understand-"

He just ran towards the counter, towards guest services... Hoping to escape out of the back. He was giggling as he ran past everyone, striding along at a pace that only a person avoiding the harsh reality of prison could.

Just as he bolted, his system went back online. "Motherfu-" He bolted after him. attempting to shoot at Nej Tane 's leg with a cryo projector in his vambrace.

 

[Zinayn]

Zinayn watched as the thief tried to run away. The Mandalorian seemed to be stunned after the disruptor bolt hit his torso. Then, all of a sudden, the Mando woke up to reality and started chasing the thief, arm extended with some type of weapon extended.

Zinayn figured that there was some type of weapon on his vambrace (Mandalorians had weapons everywhere), and reached out a hand. He Force-pushed the Mando slightly (not enough to knock him down, but certainly enough to adjust his aim). At the same time, he put away his lightsaber and used that hand to try and pull the thief down, preventing his escape. He nodded and smiled to himself. A nice, equal split of violence.

Drego Ruus Nej Tane

 

[Nej Tane]

His pants- were on ice!

Fire, but with ice instead! Sonofabitch was using cryo!

He kicked off his pants, leaving himself in a handsome pair of commercially unavailable Ranger Riders.

Then it kicked off.

He was yanked to the floor by the force, but Nej, despite being an idiot, wasn't. He sprawled to his feet, and reached into his jacket. A secondary, always two. The Sith had the rule of Two, Nej had the Rule of Cool. And cool was looking cool, and having two Disruptor pistols.

He aimed both of them- one to the Jedi, one to the Mandalorian trying to come after 'em.

"Rain check, fellas."

Click- click.

Both guns aimed up and right at the... ceiling sprinklers. One shot from the gun in his left hand caused enough heat crossing it to set off the alarm, and the second shot was enough to activate the sprinklers.

And suddenly, the very nice hotel that all Nej wanted to do was rob, was beginning to be doused in water- lots of it.

Nej bolted for the kitchen, bursting through the door.... but not before pushing a nearby service cart full of... delicious... bread.

He took a few pieces, stuffing his mouth as he shoved the service cart to the kitchen door. That ought to slow 'em down.

(He forgot there was a service window and another entrance to the kitchen).

 

[Drego Ruus]

He Force-pushed the Mando slightly (not enough to knock him down, but certainly enough to adjust his aim).

Was this guy for real? Messing with a legal bounty hunter for what? Kicks? Some force bullshit? Whatever, problems for later. He had a targe-

"Rain check, fellas."

Not again!

The mando bolted to the left, pulling his shotgun off his back, before chasing after the thief. If the so called jedi stopped him now, he'd have problems. For now though, he was a nuisance at best.

 

[Valery Noble]

Zolan

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble Loomi

"Mm? Oh, yeah. Loomi seems to have come along with us. Did you not..?"

Valery squinted, "You don't actually think Shadows hide in boxes and bushes, right?" Valery asked, now wondering if he thought Loomi's hiding tactics were some kind of Shadow training. If so, she was going to have to show him again what a real Shadow could do. Not that he needed to see it after all those years together, but she could get pretty defensive about her Shadow skills.

...hiding in bushes. Hmpf.

Either way, Valery turned around and watched the Padawan appear, clearly embarrassed and the explanation she had for how she ended up here was... interesting. Valery blinked, looked at her husband, and then sighed. "You're on Zolan, a neutral world between the Alliance and Mandalorians. We're here to discuss the planet's future, considering recent events." She blinked again as the commotion inside the hotel picked up, and grumbled a bit.

"I think we should have gone with a different hotel," she commented before shaking her head.

"You think we should step in, or maybe try to reach some of these representatives?" she asked her husband. "Oh and Loomi? You're staying real close to us, until we make it back to Coruscant." That was not a question.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"This place is.. Very hectic, that's true."

Kahlil just shook his head. People were going to be in trouble, that was that. He turned his gaze down towards Loomi though, giving her a brief, small smile. "Hopefully it won't be anything too crazy, but you'll be sticking beside us. And don't talk to the androids around, they're a bad influence."

Loomi | Valery Noble

 

[Zinayn]

Zinayn looked up at the ceiling, letting the water rain down on him. A moment later, he turned his attention back to the thief, who bolted through the kitchen door. If Nej Tane and the bounty hunter were taking this fight into the city, Zinayn had to make sure there would be no damage to the civilians.

He ran over to the service window and vaulted through it into the kitchen, following the thief. He hoped those disrupters didn’t do too much damage to buildings. He would have liked to research the illegal weapon more, but then again, he couldn’t have known that he’d see a disruptor today.

Now he was a dozen meters away from the chase, a good distance to save civilians, and be out of the way.

Drego Ruus

 

[Loomi]

Zolan
Tags: Valery Noble , Kahlil Noble

"Oh and Loomi? You're staying real close to us, until we make it back to Coruscant."

Loomi nodded nervously. She wasn't going to be disputing that, what with the disruptor being fired off in the distance. The young teen did step closer to Valery as another round fired off, her antennae flattening downwards towards her face. A confused frown came to her face at the mention of androids, to which she tilted her head.

"An...droids?" she noted, "W-what's an android?"

 

[Arianna Belasko]

In her luxurious suite of pearl and Aurodium, Arianna reclined lazily whilst reading the reports just transmitted to her from the vessels in Orbit. All things quiet. Zolan's navy, it's hand me down capital ships staring down her fleet.

It was useful to her purposes, giving them time to think. The fleet that would come to this world to actually conquer it would be larger. Her fleet could ravage, and maybe even conquer the surface of Zolan. But then they wouldn't get what they want either.

The carrot before the stick.

A Holo projector brought into her room allowed her to speak to the commanders, in particular a Mercenary B1 Droid called Karl.

"Karl, dear, tell me how it's looking."

"Zolan's fleet isn't making any moves. Our assessment of their naval weapons and defenses suggest their shields and hulls would fail long before ours would be at risk. Still. If we are going to strike, the time is now. Hit them hard, knock 'em out fast, then install someone friendly." The Droid answered, voice made to resemble a Fett Clone. (Morrison, not Baker)

"And we'd have clawdite rebels trying to get in our ranks within a week. No. Diplomacy is our best option. These people are on the verge of getting visits from very unpleasant customers. House Io had something to offer Zolan that the Alliance can't..."

"What's that? New ways to kill?" The Droid asked.

"No, Silly!" Arianna chuckled. "Though we would totally offer that if they so desired. But that's a bit below your pay grade, love."

"What else is new?" The Droid grumbled.

"Now Karl, you just stand by the ready for the other side to go full tilt." The Countess ordered. "But do NOT fire until fired upon."

"By your command." The Droid confirmed, ceasing communication.

Arianna stood up, went to the Balcony, smiled as she watched the people in the hotel below, gawking at the fleet in orbit. Her comm buzzed. One of the House Stormtroopers, observing the chaos in the lobby, had called in.

"Commotion down here. Want us to break it up?"

"Nah. Observe. Keep informed if the Jedi decide to leave. They'll probably go try to talk to the representatives early."

Sure, sensors from orbit were keeping watch but Jedi were crafty. Arianna knew the representatives wouldn't dare have the meeting at this point without someone informing her. But she remained on her guard.

Perhaps now was the time to activate her asset...

"Strelok, darling, come out of hiding, won't you?" Arianna cooed.

Darth Strelok, once a bounty hunter named Maple Harte turned off her Stealth Field Generator but didn't stop hiding her presence in the Force. She was clad in fresh black biker leathers, Dashade Sonic Blaster hanging from her left hip, red bladed lightsaber hanging from her right.

"So tell me, Countess..." Strelok muttered, pale skin made paler by the lighting, sulphur eyes.

"What happens if we fail?"

"There are many ways to win. The Fleet is only one way..." Arianna replied. "You have the names of their most valuable military commanders?"

"Yes. Standing by on them. What about the Jedi?"

"Dangerous. Think you could take them?" Arianna asked.

"Not sure. Dicey. Got files on 'em. Nasty lot."

Arianna smiled that mischievous smile again.

"Well... let's see if we can't tilt the odds. Do you have inner pockets on that Anti-Hero Jacket of yours?" Arianna asked.

Strelok nodded.

"Do you have rubber gloves?"

"I'm gonna need a plastic bag, ain't I?" Strelok asked.

"No. But you will need rubber gloves."

Arianna's face began to bubble and shudder, tearing itself off her skull, exposing the dull white muscle and matching blood. It still maintained the shape of a face even as the flesh started to turn green in and sprout tendrils as it crawled down her catsuit clad body...

"EW! EW EW EW!" Strelok exclaimed, running to the kitchen and grabbing a pair of tongs as it crawled to her.

She managed to find a sandwich bag and picked the crawling, bubbling, squealing face shaped abomination with the tongs off the floor, and put it into the bag, folded the wriggling thing up tight and put it in her inner jacket pocket.

"If you see the opportunity, infect Valery Noble ." Arianna instructed, still smiling after regrowing her face.

Strelok nodded, turning on her stealth generator again and vanishing...

Loomi

Kahlil Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Zolan

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble Loomi

Valery glanced up at the fleets in standoff above them and let out a soft sigh. So much for handling all of this diplomatically without unnecessary tension. The worst part? The fleet up there wasn't even Mandalorian or Sith — a third player had decided to show up all the way out here for a reason, but why? This planet held no real strategic value or had any resources that were worth risking a fleet for.

They were simply here to try and offer protection in case the Mandalorians showed up.

"An...droids?" she noted, "W-what's an android?"

Loomi's question pulled her eyes back to the others, before she blinked. "It's like a very advanced robot with an appearance that makes them look like whatever species they were designed to look like. They're treacherous because of it, so try not to engage and just stay close."

Valery then sighed and looked at Kahlil, "You think we should head into the hotel again? We'll keep Loomi close but I don't like the idea of any representatives potentially getting caught in some crossfire."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"I think, perhaps, it would be better to expedite our meeting. It seems like House Io plans to hold this planet hostage."

He was already certain that they'd make trouble. Better to handle it now than later. He glanced to Loomi, giving her a smile before giving a thumbs up. They'd have to stick together, that much was for certain. The only hope was that violence wouldn't break out.

"Lets go see how the council here is doing."

Valery Noble | Loomi

 

[Loomi]

Zolan
Tags: Valery Noble , Kahlil Noble , Others..

"It's like a very advanced robot with an appearance that makes them look like whatever species they were designed to look like. They're treacherous because of it, so try not to engage and just stay close."

So it was a robot that looked like a person? That was a scary concept. How did she not know if the people around her were androids or not? She already struggled with identifying humans and near-humans, let alone distinguishing faces. Dealing with androids seemed hopelessly impossible.

Oh wait, the force. It was actually much easier than she had initially thought.

"O-okay," Loomi nodded when Kahlil explained what they needed to do.

She just had to stay close. Simple enough, if not for her nerves running wild. Loomi would, a bit instinctually rather than consciously, reach out to take Valery's hand, since she was the most reassuring presence for the Godoan. A moment of realization deterred her from doing so, however, and Loomi ultimately just ended up awkwardly folding her hands together in front of her stomach.

 

[Valery Noble]

Zolan

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble Loomi

"Good idea, keeps us away from this weird hotel, too," Valery agreed with Kahlil, before she noticed something from the corner of her eyes. Her motherly instincts made it impossible not to notice that Loomi was a bit nervous, and that she wanted to hold her hand for comfort. So even though she pulled back her hand and fumbled around a little, Valery gently reached over and took the Godoan's hand into her own.

A very light squeeze followed, and Valery looked at her with a warm smile, "Stay close, and it'll be okay." With that said, Valery followed Kahlil away from the hotel, and began the walk to a nearby office, where this Council would be meeting. It wasn't the most secure place in the world, which was troubling, but with several Jedi there?

Valery felt confident they could handle anything.

"If someone starts trouble, I say we head for the Bastion. We can't help this world if we're surrounded by too much trouble."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Our goal is to help fortify this world should the Mandalorians come to attack them. But, yes. If they start trouble with that fleet that came into orbit, we can't help much as just us three." Perhaps they could, but it was more likely they'd make a problem for the locals than anything else. He paused outside of the representative's building, dubbed representative's building, before just walking through.

He only paused at the front desk, offering a smile.

"I know we were supposed to speak in the morning, but some trouble has already stirred in the Hotel, and I see you have a fleet of what could be hostile ships just outside of atmosphere. I'd very much appreciate if we could hold this talks now, rather than when someone above decides to open fire."

The man behind it just blinked before reaching down for a phone.

Kahlil stepped away, glancing to the two other Jedi.

"And now we wait."

Valery Noble | Loomi

 

[Arianna Belasko]

The moment, the literal moment one of the Model 3 Nuetralizers had informed her the Jedi were making a break for the representatives building, Arianna had calmly but quickly gone to the balcony, conjured up a platform of pure water from the moisture in the air and then had gone full McKellen by standing on it, arms folded and floated through the air just on her ability to control the water beneath her feet. Her personal guards followed below, but slower once they spotted her. She followed above them at a leisurely pace, finally landing just outside the door.

"Oh, yes..." came the soft, feminine purr from the Countess of Khemost as she entered the representatives building, silver white catsuit clinging to every centimeter of her, not five seconds after Kahlil Noble had finished speaking.

"Now is an excellent time to wait for the representatives." Arianna added, just as her personal guards showed, a combination of Model 3's, House Stormtroopers , and several individuals in House Assault Suits , and a flock of modified B1's in blue and black coloring . Most remained outside.

"Permit me to introduce myself. I am Countess Belasko. CFO of House Io. I too have an appointment." she said to the desk clerk.

"She's the owner of the giant ass fleet." A Model 3 that had entered with her clarified.

The Desk clerk looked terrified, but added something to whoever he was talking too.

"The Representatives will see all of you now..." The Clerk said.

Doors swung open to reveal a large chamber full of all the most powerful officials on Zolan. Arianna had a total Diva walk as she strode into the chamber ahead of the Jedi.

"I have a wonderful deal for all of you, but I want to hear the Jedi's pitch first, just out of curiosity." Arianna spoke, leaning back in her seat.

"After all, they did arrive first, and I am loathe to have it said I didn't permit my opposites every courtesy..."

Valery Noble

Loomi