The Noose [Galactic Alliance]

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Darth Mudrac"] [member="Sarge Potteiger"] [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Taeli was currently underneath the holo terminal on her ship, fine tuning it so it could pick up signals even in the most obscure places in the galaxy. It had been one thing that had slipped her mind until now, but it was a good thing she had just finished it when a message came through that had been bounced from her comm unit on Ossus to her ship. Curious who was calling her, and making sure not to disturb her guest on board her ship as Connor needed quiet and rest, she slipped an mic and ear piece on and accepted the call.

"You've reached Taeli Raaf, what can I do for you?" she asked, closing up the paneling and sealing it.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]
[member="Darth Mudrac"]
[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

The audio connection to Nulgath's cell was switched off abruptly.

"Greetings Master Raaf," Jacen addressed the second sibling of the day. "I'm with several members of a Jedi Academy on Sullust. Some bold claims have been made regarding the activities of a Nulgath Zardai and his participation in a raid on a Sith facility. Would you be willing to shed some light on the matter please?"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"] [member="Sarge Potteiger"] [member="Darth Mudrac"]

"Nulgath Zardai ... big, but very soft spoken Epicanthrix," she said, going through her memories for a moment. "Oh yes, he was the source of the schematics and location for a Sith school dedicated to alchemy and sorcery that was established on Fresia called the Temple of Pain. We launched a raid on it, but not much really came of the attack. Not enough resources were devoted to it."

Frowning a little, she wracked her brain for mention of an academy on Sullust and that was when she remembered the word around the galaxy that a new galactic power was emerging from the ashes of the Omega Protectorate.

"Not sure if he did it out of the kindness of his heart, he is a Banite if I recall correctly," she continued saying. "Met him during a ... different time and then encountered him again in the Roche Asteroids. Told him if I ever caught him in Republic space again, I'd personally throw him in a ysalamir detention cell. I'm assuming he is currently in your custody?"

 

[Chevu Visz]

Throughout the questioning and the Holocall with Corvus Raaf of the Republic Jedi Order, Chevu had stood quiet for the most part. She was still processing the information and trying to decipher the hidden meanings behind the Sith's words. When Taeli Raaf, the second Jedi Master they called mentioned this Nulgath giving away temple schematics out of the "kindness of his heart," it caused an involuntary outburst.

"The kindness of his heart? Are you kidding?" Chevu asked incredulously. Her eyes narrowed in frustration. A Sith had turned up on Sullust, crashing their social gathering, bringing a tainted cloud of the dark side into a bastion of the light, and this Jedi Master was referring to him as kind? It was obvious that he was playing them.

"He had to have an ulterior motive for helping you. What is it that you're not telling us?"

The Mirialan Jedi Knight blinked fiercely, and then gave the room a sheepish look, arms crossed in front of her chest, slightly embarrassed at the lack of control over her emotions.

[member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Jacen Voidstalker"] [member="Darth Mudrac"] [member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The pilot had been here, but he’d been cautious. He wasn’t a Jedi, so he wasn’t going to involve himself in Jedi business. Not when some had followed him away from the Jedi Order run by Master Raaf. Girl was cute, but he didn’t see her all that much for some leader of action. Whatever, if it worked for them? Let the Republic approach it their way.

Intergalactic product sharing, right?

But when the other one showed up for speaking, he could feel the Force boiling in him. There was no kindness in a Sith heart. The Sith needed to be extinguished. Why the Republic’s Jedi were allowing this, why the New Jedi were allowing this was beyond him.

They were targets, and the Sith were holding all the rifles. Thinning their numbers, that was what was needed.

Maybe the Sith corruption did carry into the Republic. "Probably not telling us how deep in bed the Republic is with the Sith." He'd say, just loudly enough to be heard.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Chevu Visz"] [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

"Oh my, it seems some people didn't understand the veiled sarcasm in that comment," Taeli said, rolling her eyes. "You might want to rein in that sort of reaction. I quite clearly said he is a Banite. That means he is a follower of the tenets and ideals of Darth Bane and his incarnation of the Sith. Of course he had an ulterior motive, his ulterior motives have ulterior motives. As for being in bed with the Sith, need I remind you who has been fighting and dying against the Sith and their armies for several years now? Not exactly the actions of two bed fellows."

Some people these days, she could understand why someone might see that here, but honestly ... intelligence was intelligence. Information was key and when a traitor offered some to the opposing force, of course actions would be taken.

"Do I know what Nulgath Zardai's motive was, no," she continued saying. "All I know was he was betraying Sith that he thinks do not follow the proper ideals, in his mind. Only he could say what his motives were for doing so, whether or not he tells the truth ... well that is the question."

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Unlike most of the Sith and the Jedi, Coren Starchaser was not an invalid. He understood what a Banite was. He hunted them for a living. “There is no time for sarcasm while the Sith are working progressively to destroy our way of life, Jedi.” The last word came out almost as Jeedai. Like filth in his mouth. Anyone around him “And clearly you’ve not been watching where I’ve been. I’ve been right there on the front lines against these bastards.”

He flexed his cybernetic hand. He did not like this Raaf.

He turned away from the other Jedi to the ones here.

“We should end the Sith’s life right now. All they will provide is lies and bullchit.” He shook his head. “When we’re ready to actually start killing the Sith, winning this war and take the galaxy back, let me know.” And that was the mic drop.

Jedi needed to get moving on this war before there was no galaxy to fight for.

 

[Chevu Visz]

The sarcasm that she was apparently supposed to get. The eye-rolling. One would think that a Jedi Master would put attitudes and egos aside to help out her fellow lightsiders, but apparently there was no love lost between Master Raaf and the Sullust Jedi Knights and Masters gathered here. Sure Chevu hadn't controlled her emotions very well and she was ashamed of it, but the Mirialan Jedi Marshall was disappointed in the tone of the Jedi projected in the Hologram before them. They all needed to work together against the Sith. Not have a pissing contest over who fought the most battles.

She could see from the look in Coren's eyes that he'd had enough. She knew how Starchaser felt about traditional Jedi orders, and it was the same reason he'd always be a Fringe Forcer. Starting with Taeli Raaf then moving on to their own ranks, he let everyone in the room know exactly how he felt and then stormed out.

He was her Master, well, until her former Master got better, but she did not address or apologize for his words. Chevu simply gave the Jedi Hologram a frustrated sigh and then turned on one heel, jogging after him.

[member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Jacen Voidstalker"] [member="Darth Mudrac"] [member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Chevu Visz"] [member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Sarge Potteiger"] [member="Darth Mudrac"]

"A moment Master Raaf," Jacen said, muting the audio once more. He turned to those still assembled in the room, raising one eyebrow. He felt the chink in his calm, a small bubble of frustration before it was quashed.*

"We need clarity on this issue," he stated. "If anyone else feels they can't act like a grown up for the next few minutes please go and sit in the crèche. We will discuss this calm and rationally or not at all. Arguing amongst ourselves could be exactly what he wants."

"I will admit Master Raaf," Jacen said in a calm voice after taking a deep breath and resuming the audio, "that we have the Sith in question in holding. I am concerned that even by revealing this I am playing into a wider Sith plot, which is why I was not entirely up front about the situation. I would advise taking any action because of this matter, lest it be playing into his hands.

"I am afraid I am not entirely familiar with Sith practises. Banites - that is the rule of two correct?


*Set before Graves

 

[Grrwunhoooll Agaburry]

Within his cell the Sith Lord began to daze off. How did this prisoner thing workout again? He could not remember. But judging from the comm systems cutting out very shortly after a message from Taeli only brought Nulgath to one conclusion. These group of rogue jedi were young, very young. Not in age but in experience. The Sith Lord did not have to tell them much in the form of words. Leading the group in circles like he was doing now even gave this galactic alliance Sith experience. In the end they lacked foresight.

Nulgaths expectations were none but needless to say he did some what expect..more.
" You should of turned yourself into the Republic... They would of took you up on your offer." The spirit of Balthazar commented as his ghostly form manifested in a corner of the Cell. " Tell me how does this fall into lines with our agreement?" he asked aloud.

Staring at Balthazar he responded. " You said show you the galaxy so here we are. This is what the galaxy has come too."

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]
[member="Chevu Visz"]
[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

"My apologies, I had not meant to offend and anger anyone," Taeli said as the link came back on. "We all have been pushed to the limits by the One Sith."

"That is correct," Taeli said, an amused glint in her purple eyes. "He believes that the only way to fight against his enemies is through subtle means, all the while building his own knowledge base and power. He cares nothing for other Sith, believing them to be heretical and in need of cleansing, especially if they don't have a modicum of his respect."

Strange that Nulgath was with this other group of Jedi as their prisoner. Had to be some sort of scheme, knowing him.

"I admit myself curious at how he came to be in your custody," she admitted. "He's not the sort to do something without prior planning."

 

[Veino Garn]

Veino dropped his head and shook in disappointment. Patience, everyone. Calm yourselves. Nobody in the room should be enemies. But the strain was getting to them. He could sense it in the room and from the last time he was on Ossus, he had felt the same. Everyone was wound too tightly. Desperate, perhaps even scared. Why would they not be? The One Sith had sliced through the galactic super-power and new ones were gnawing at the corners, keeping the Mandalorians and Silver Sanctum from lending aid. He had heard no word of what was happening with the Vitae Alliance. They would probably collapse as the Protectorate had. Hopefully the Alliance could secure this quadrant of the galaxy.

"I can speak to that, Master Raaf," Veino said after a moment, sitting back up. "In the opening of the temple here on Sullust, he walked in and offered to make a deal of some sort with us, from what I gather. Voluntarily surrendered without resistance." He nodded slightly, "Which is why we're investigating his claims before acting."

[member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]
[member="Veino Garn"]
[member="Darth Mudrac"]
[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

"And that's probably all we're going to reveal on the matter," Jacen added quickly. "I hope you can understand, this isn't about trust Master Raaf, I simply don't want to put his plans into motion simply by talking to you. I thank you for your time and your warning, it shall be heeded. Your insight into the workings of the Sith was most valuable."

After Taeli had responded* Jacen would cut off the connection and turn to Sarge once more.

"I fear it is time we asked the Sith what it is he wants from us, and plans to offer. I am already of a mind that anything he has to say is simply part of a wider plot and even if we benefited from any suggested exchange, there would be ripples beyond out site. I'm close to ready to saying we should simply leave him down there and not even listen to what he has to say, based on what I've already heard.

"I say we limit who listens to his words, lest he attempt to influence us with what he has to say. Put everything from your mind when the decision is made. We cannot sort the truth from the lies," Jacen said. He was a fighter, not a forward thinking. A more intellectual individual would have perhaps attempted to see through whatever scheme the Sith was concocting and turned it against him.

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

"I'll be the one to talk to him - no need to let anyone else be 'influenced.'." The man says, finally, clearly not going to discuss anything important with the Sith. "We can just leave him down there."

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

Voidstalker nodded. "Very well," he said simply.