The Long Night of Gaeren III

[Syren]

*The sky began to purple at the edge of the horizon, and the wind blew a sharp note through the ridges of ice carving slightly deeper into the edges of the canyon. It was going to be a clear and crisp night. Stars began to pucker into sight as the sun slowly sank away. The three moons peeked cautiously, one after the other, over the mountains, like naughty children daring to defy their mother after scolding.

A low murmur and whine of engines throbbed across the snow dusted cliffs. As the darkness rode in, winter settled its embrace over the northern reaches of the world. The snow speeder raced along darkness's edge flirting with the night like a teasing lover.

The speeder flitted past a field of stones, too uniform to be a natural structure, and headed towards the kindling lights in the eastern distance. The speeder made its way to Govanatsad, a settlement in the northern reaches.

A deeper crimson light welled from just below the setting sun. The Cairdor Shipyards to the west had been busy and showed no sign of decreasing production. The cold places of the north were the best to test feats of engineering for space travel. Despite the welling light on the edges of the horizon, the north seemed a barren and bleak place.

​It was treacherous: full of jutting ice fields and frozen pools -- drop offs easily covered with snow... and many things far more sinister with the long night at hand.

 

[Syren]

*Syren stamped her booted feet on the mat and opened the door to the Ronde, the meeting house of Govantsad. There were already many Calnennore gathered there facing a speaker, the head of the order of Nenya. Syren pulled the balaclava from her face and pushed the hood back to hang from her shoulders. A tousle of brilliantly green hair flew in every direction. It seemed to move of its own accord towards the heat of the fires after being confined to protect it from the cold.

She hung up her coat and took a seat at the edge of the room. Nenyave'Do Gaelan Vornmatil had the attention of the room as he paced back and forth across the podium. The way he moved and fidgeted spoke volumes of agitation. Something was very wrong.*

~The situation is grim. They are untrained and have no idea what to expect from the galaxy beyond our solar system~

*Syren blinked. She had come into the middle of things.* ~What did I miss?~ *She asked a woman sitting beside her for some details.*

~Some Noli stole a ship and have made it past the planetary shield. They made it to hyperspace and we were able to triangulate their jump point, but the Aran has put a stay on any travel off world since the breach to the shields~

*Syren nodded. Well that explained the agitation from Vornmatil. Any time the Nenya, trainees or other wise, set a toe out of line, the Aran was ready to jump into the Nenyave'Do's business.* ~Were Shalonia and Teluni a part of this runaway mission?~ *The woman at her side nodded in confirmation.*

*Syren sighed heavily. The Aran would be doubly pissed at that news. Not only were untrained Noli galavanting across the galaxy, potentially spilling all of the secrets of the Calnennore and endangering the well being of the remaining populace, they were the unclean mutants of a project gone terribly wrong in attempt to save the race. Oh yes, the Aran would be a seething mess demanding that the Nenya do everything in their power to end this terrible breach in etiquette.*

*She now had a good idea about why she had been summoned to this meeting. She would be asked to go fetch them back given her vast experience off world. She rolled her eyes at this. But why were there so many people here and so public?*

*Syren immediately felt her stomach cramp tightly* ~They didn't kill anyone, did they?~

*The other woman shook her head.*

*Well that was a relief at least. Syren's gaze wandered back towards the Nenyave'Do and saw him take a seat. He still fidgeted uncomfortably -- worried no doubt about his Noli. Yes his students. No doubt his precarious placement as Nenyave'Do was also being considered as a mistake, but Syren was hopeful that the repercussions about his students would be more of a worry than his position.*

*To her utter astonishment the Aran Cardhten Valas stood next. It was not often one met the leader of the clans, but it may explain the turn out in the meeting hall. He gestured for silence and began to speak in his rumbling, bear like vibrato.*

~Before we send off anyone to search for these troublesome Noli, there is a much more dire problem at hand. While we are stocked for winter across the cities of the north, there have been a series of attacks on settlements to the east. Very few details have been gleaned as of yet, as our scouting parties have been attacked as well. Prior to the onset of the fall, there were sightings of Circumanka on the fringe lands. At first we took these sightings to be random curiosities -- perhaps elders of the packs with a death wish or adolescents trying to prove themselves. It is just too cold for them to survive in these places. But what few accounts we have from these attacks sound very much like those previously encountered in the marsh lands far in the south.~

*Syren felt her stomach tense again. The battles between the Circumanka and the Calnennore in the marsh lands had been a bloodbath. Many in the meeting house had not been apart of those massacres however, these were a northern people who knew mainly snow and ice and had very likely never seen one of the saurians outside of holograms or picture books. Her eyes followed the Aran as he paced, then they slid towards Vornmatil. He was making a point of not looking at her, his eyes fixed on the back of the Aran's head.*

~Sulanen~ *The Aran's voice cut into Syren as she sat in the back row. No one used that title anymore, at least no one outside the order after all that had happened. Syren blinked and felt the cool touch of fear brush at her heart. She blinked once, breathed deeply and settled her eyes on the chosen leader of her people.* ~You, and a party of six of the Nenya will be the eyes and ears of our people. Nenyave'Do Vornmatil has picked you to lead this mission, as you are most familiar with the Circumanka and how to... deal with them. There have been a total of three attacks: one on Leagheb, one on Acharnpel, and the last on Elegaglon at the foot of the Northern Mountains. I have summoned the remaining settlements to travel to the shipyards in the meantime and bring as many provisions with them as they may yet carry~

*Syren felt her jaw clench. While this was a safety precaution that the Aran was making, it would put a great deal of hard travel on her team. Provisioning and refueling would be difficult if the northern towns were emptied. It was as if the plague had a hold on them all over again and fear was clouding judgement. The shipyards were the most fortified area on Gaeren III. The primary planetary shield generator was housed there, the new temple of the Nenya also stood there. Even still, most northerners were capable fighters... but the Circumanka could easily cut through a field of Calnennore...*

*Syren felt herself nod slowly.* ~When do we leave, Aran'hi?~ *Syren remember that honorifics were important to Valas. He smiled smugly and nodded his head*

~Tonight. The beginning of the long night. May the Nen shelter you and the Gailgwilith illuminate your path in the snows.~ *Syren felt all of the eyes in the room settle upon her for a moment and wondered which were her six doomed fellows.*

 

[Syren]

It was cold. Five puffs of mist drifted into the night as the stars looked down from above and the Calnennore scout party sat huddled together in the snow. Syren had several things on her mind, primarily how she had managed to make it into the bad ledgers once more, and secondarily, though really it was a priority about to outstrip the latter, was Kuila. Syren breathed deeply and let her mind clear momentarily to reach our and brush the mind so far away.

Asleep, warm, happy dreams. Syren smiled despite her situation. At least her daughter was safe, whether or not she had gotten a chance to say goodbye before the expedition headed out. But what had really been the rush? They didn't have their initial supplies yet and why in Mokemi were they freezing to death in the snow waiting for supplies? Because Raasa was supposed to have been right back, with sledge, pulled by huoolos, and goodbyes all told. Or at least Raasa was the only one missing in action.

​Mollified momentarily in her maternal matters, Syren ran through what she knew about her men and women on this death march.

Raasa Veiriquient, great son of a northern tribe, ah but why bother with that part? The northern tribes were really all that were left, and all of them were great sons or daughters. Most of them were twice Syren's height and girth to boot, Raasa three times. But he was young, probably the youngest member of the party, and reckless. He had not quite learned his limitations and still had the exuberance of youth, so he of course thought himself invincible. Supposedly a fair hand with finicky technology that Syren had not spent much time learning how to use, mostly slicing into high security systems if you could believe his boasting.

Yulme Milquisneen was a medic, one of those red headed Calnennore that are a rare breed. Syren was not sure how Yulme would be in a fight, but she had some skills kindling a fire, and Syren would never be unhappy about that, given her love for warmer climes.

Rana Hisse supposedly had been from one of the edgeland settlements before the plague. He seemed a dour fellow, dressed all in black and flipping his ringletted hair out of his eyes constantly. Syren wondered if his constant moodiness would make Raasa seem like an adult.

Suufion Uur was a mystery. He was a tracker of the great morkhels across the ice wracked plains. Morkhels resembled wampas, but had six legs and could punch through transparisteel like it was a cupcake. While wampa like, the normal amount of animal intelligence held sway over the morkhels, and the rich coffee eyes seemed so inviting and warm, cute even. But these were animals with nearly a ton of muscle and meat hooks for claws. Suufion possibly felt a great weight of duty to the Uur clan, or was completely insane for such a profession.

Liiko Tumbo liked explosions. Syren was not sure when the demolitions expert might come in handy, but you always wanted some grenades when you didn't have any.

Uin Lusse was Syren's Noli. He was young, and working on his lightsaber skills. Syren had not wanted him to come, but this was a volunteer mission... well for the part of her companions. It would have been far easier to send Syren off alone to die, but no, only seven deaths would do.

Syren did not know any of her team well, save Uin. They had a long trip ahead of them though, so they may yet grow to know one another. She looked out at the horizon.

~If Raasa isn't here in the next five minutes, we're heading out to the west compound to acquire sledges and huoolos.~ Everyone nodded in agreement.

 

[Syren]

*Sounds of yipping and barking hurtled up the snow track just as they were hefting their packs to move to the western compound. Syren turned to see a bundled mountain riding hard against the sledge. It was loaded down with supplies, seemingly.*

~Finally Raasa! Took your time with that gear didn't you?~ *Uin was impatient to be on his way, or out of the cold. Syren couldn't say. To her knowledge, Uin had only ever known cold and snow. Syren shrugged her shoulders. Her great coat was warm enough, but there was just something about the great white north that caused her to be chilled deep in her bones.*

~All right. We need to make it to the West Compound tonight so we can move out in the morning with the speeders. It will be warmer and faster, plus less huoolo breath.~ *The dog like creatures quirked their heads at her, nictitating membranes slide over chocolate brown eyes and whiskers twitched excitedly. Syren was more of a raavi person, and felt uncomfortable around the huoolos, but only just.

The team formed up around the sledge and began the long march across the tundra to the western compound. There was a curfew in place around the city. The long night was not a time when most Calnennore wanted to out and about. It was the coldest night of the year typically, and it lasted for several days. Syren recalled a time when the long night was not too much longer than a normal night, but that had been when she lived near the equator rather than the top of Gaeren III. All of the nights were long here. The northerners were a hardier people for it apparently.*

~Nenya've?~ *Uin looked at Syren huddled in her deep red coat, hands clinched tight in her pockets.

~Yes, Noli'hi?~ *Syren replied to his questioning tone.*

~Why are we walking and not taking a speeder directly from the compound here?~ *It was a fine question, with an answer that Syren had to bite back hard on to keep from growling.*

~Because the Aran has decreed that our departure should be discreet. Supposedly missing speeders would be a problem should the city need to evacuate quickly. I am not sure why the city would need to evacuate, but we are to rendezvous at the west compound and take those older, more decrepit hulks that will pass for speeders and will probably break down at the slightest bump. The real question Noli, hi, is why didn't we send a fighter squad to investigate the edgelands?~ *Syren felt that this task screamed of something political to get her and a few of the more rebellious individuals out of the way during a time when tensions were incredibly high. Not to mention the Noli that had stolen a ship to get off world. And not just any Noli. Noli who had themselves found and coerced Syren to return to Gaeren III rather than continue her vagrant existence looking for the Jedi.*

*Uin seemed to take a moment to digest this. He was still quite young, sometimes her sarcasm eluded him, other times he grasped her meaning quite well. Suufion had overheard her and barked a short laugh.*

~You have the question exactly, Sulanen.~ *Suffion nodded, but the rest gave him a look for using Syren’s title in place of her name.*

*Syren was used to this. There were mixed feelings about her among the survivors of the plague, and banding about the title Sulanen could be tricky. But the Aran had called her by the honorific, so she did not think that the party would be too divided. Apparently they were.*

*Uin turned his questioning in a different direction now.* ~Why did the Aran call you that?~ *Yulme chuckled this time.*

~Your Ve is supposedly the great singer of fates who will lead our people to greatness. She has done a superb job throughout her life.~ *Syren kept her body language to a minimum in response to Yulme’s acerbic comment. Better to know your team sooner rather than later. Yulme’s assessment of her title was a common one, very few of the surviving Calnennore thought that Syren was in fact the Sulanen. A title from another life that haunted her.*

~Lead us to destruction by galavanting across the galaxy and getting involved with a war she should never have been apart. Leave us to fend for ourselves against the radiation of bombardment and attacks from the Circumanka. Never return while the Chiss pick apart our trade routes into the depths of the region. And when she finally did return, she brought a plague ridden alien with her to destroy us all again.~ *Yulme gave a dry and humorless laugh.* ~This is not the Sulanen. This is a Naramande. She is fiery destruction.~ *Yulme spat into the snow. ~And she will lead us to our deaths.~ *The medic stalked off to walk beside Rana who seemed to be like minded and walking as far from Syren as possible.*

*Uin stared at Yulme, not really sure how to digest this information. Syren offered him a small smile.* ~Do you remember how I mentioned that you would often observe a difference of opinion as a Nenya?~ *Uin nodded slowly.* ~This is one of those subjects that is a point of contention among many. I make no claims, but there are some who have, and it is difficult to shake some foundations that people set down.~

~You are a master of the understatement, if nothing else, Nenya’ve.~ *Raasa threw his opinion in for good measure. Suufion gave a nod.*

~Given the tenuous nature of saying the Will of the Force speaks through someone, I will call you like Noli Uin and Nenya Raasa.~ *He glanced over to the silent Liiko. She shrugged and padded along silently behind Raasa and the sledge.*

~The will of the Force?~ *Uin was ever curious, not a bad trait for a Noli, but it was late and tension was not subsiding easily. Syren nodded.*

~You have heard the tales of our people. You know of the history. The Calnennore are the children of the Force. By its will, we are fulfilled. But we did not always know this way. Once we were unruly, with few laws and as hungry for lands and power as the Circumanka. We roved the galaxy and attempted to conquer. But our numbers were few and we could not well establish colonies far from home. There is something about Gaeren III that can only grow Calnennore. Our wandering far from home would be the end to us. The first to realize this was a woman, who came to form the order of the Nenya, those who answer the will of the Force, warriors and protectors of the will. To serve the Force, is to serve the living, and that is the role of the Nenya. The first Nenyave’Do was said to interpret the will of the Force as well, and we call her the Sulanen, because she came to us in our hour of need. There have been two others called Sulanen since, both Nenya, and both leading our people to greatness. Those who are called Sulanen also see and hear great tragedy before it happens and can take action to warn the people against such events. Great foresight is said to be able to interpret the will of the Force. It is a rare trait among the Calnennore and those who are adept at seeing into the streams of the Force are said to be Sulanen.~ *Syren was giving the short version, but every child on Gaeren III knew the stories of the Sulanen. Why Uin did not understand was a bafflement to Syren. He was usually a sharp kid, which was the reason she had accepted him as a Noli.*

~Do you have great foresight, Nenya’Ve?~ *Syren new the question was coming and she could answer in several ways, tell the truth, tell a half truth, or lie.*

~No.~ *She answered.*