[ Vanguard Campaign ] GA Dominion of Bpfassh & Death By Teacup!

[Sorel Crieff]

She was a Jedi. That was how she defined herself. There was no prefix or suffix. She was quite simply a Jedi. Sure, she'd been rocked by what had happened to the Republic and chosen not to seek those that followed them and had a base on Lothal. And those that supported the SSC had reached out to her and had supported and trained her. Her Master was a member of their Order, as was she, she supposed. But that did not mean her duties as a Jedi began or ended at some given hyperspace lane. That was not how she interpreted the Code. And she'd met a few Jedi who served the New Jedi Order and so tagged along . She was there for support, to show solidarity - and to help out if it was needed.

Post: 1/20

 

[Ipsy]

Objective 3: Exploring the Praxeum

"Cacti," Ipsy said to [member="Abel"] as she reached a paw toward the prickly plant and broke off a large chunk. She munched on it, experience teaching her how to avoid the razored barbs. "Cactus only refers to one deliciousness. Cacti refers to many." Her explanation finished, the small Amaran returned her attention to the piece of succulent and continued to eat it, humming with relish. She completed her meal just as she and Abel stepped into the praxeum, and she was in the meticulous process of cleaning her paws and face when he spoke once more.

Slightly embarrassed at being caught licking herself so vigorously, Ipsy began smoothing out her ruffled pelt. She was in the process of responding when the droning of a nearby transport cut her off. She turned back toward the desert landscape. Her ears twitched as she tried to place the ship's location; twin urges began to battle inside her--one, the ingrained desire of all vulpines, to flee as far from the potential threat as possible, and the other, unique to her, to investigate until she'd learned all she could.

Her inquisitiveness won out, and Ipsy turned her attention once more toward the human beside her. "Someone's coming. I say we find out who they are and then finish exploring."

The ship landed near the front of the praxeum, a few feet from Ipsy and Abel. Ipsy's large eyes widened even further as a tusked figure unfolded itself from the transport and began walking toward them. She sniffed the air, trying to determine whether the newcomer was friendly. His question reached her, and she took a slight step in his direction, still cautious.

"We are," she replied, her heartbeat a tiny pitter-patter against her chest. "Have you come to look here as well?"

@Z'Zharen

 

[Z'Zharen]

[member="Ipsy"]
[member="Sorel Crieff"]
[member="Abel"]

The Whipid moved toward the duo, but from behind he saw a mysterious young woman appeared, she followed behind him, but the Whipid focused and looked down at the small vulpine creature. He was surprised it spoke, but he kept his expression blank throughout her response. "I have." He said in a rough voice. This creature was so small he could easily lift her with just the palm of one of his giant hands. The human male stood beside his tiny companion, they might be Jedi.

"My name is Z'zharen...or Zhar if that suits you." He glanced behind him, cautiously watching the woman behind him as she approached. His hand reached behind his back to firmly grip his electrostaff he kept strapped on his back. Just in case this woman was hostile, he heard the rumors of locals being anti-Jedi...he did not know what the locals looked like, this woman could very well be one of them. "And who are you?....All of you." He said, finishing in almost a demanding tone towards the young woman.

 

[Joy]

"My name is Abel" Abel replied with a hesitant smile, craning his head up slightly as the huge Whiphid approached. The sight of the creature had given him a cold sweat it had, poppin' in like he did all announced and unaffiliated. At least, so far as they knew. Ipsy looked a tiny thing compared to Zhar.

He glanced toward his companion. Well, she didn't seem all that frightened of thew new fellow. Then again, Abel had heard that cactus juices could sometimes be a stimulant of some sort, or a hallucinogen. She'd taken a whompin' bite outta that cactus earlier. A single bead of the green juice bearded her chin. Abel felt like it probably wouldn't be polite to point it out.

"This here is Ipsy. We're Jedi, Galactic Alliance."

If this Zhar was also part of the team sent to investigate the Praxeum, Abel hadn't been told so in the briefing. But then Abel didn't get told a lot of stuff, so it didn't seem all that wild that this whiphid might actually be part of the Galactic Alliance. Then again, he could be from a different, more sinister group.

The Vanguard.

Abel didn't like that thought. Not one bit. A Dark Jedi operative? An Imperial? There had been a Sith Abel had once heard about. A powerful whiphid who put fear into the hearts of his enemies. Velok was his name, but Abel had heard he'd died long ago. Besides, this fellow didn't really seem dark at all. Just a bit pushy.

[member="Z'Zharen"] | [member="Ipsy"] | [member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Audren Sykes]

OBJECTIVE: 3
ALLIES: [member=Abel] | [member=Ipsy] | [member=Z'Zharen] | [member="Sorel Crieff"]
Post: 1/20

Bpfassh was a not a friendly world to Jedi. History said it was because a group of Bpfasshi Dark Jedi had rampaged through the sector around the time of the Clone Wars, now the sentiment was simply ingrained into their society. In any case, the Sephi was not planning on interacting with the natives at all. There had been a Jedi Praxeum on the planet, and it very well may be recoverable even now. The New Jedi Order, its ranks swelled by an influx of Jedi from the more classical Jedi Order, could absolutely use the Praxeum if it was in good enough shape.

Audren had considered shipping here with others from the Alliance. One group was shuttling in on an NJO shuttle, and he had no doubt that others would be using personal vessels to travel to and from the planet. For the sake of flexibility, that's what he chose to do as well. However, he'd landed near the back of the old grounds. No need to put all the eggs - it was an appropriate metaphor for space-fairing vessels after all - in one basket. It most certainly was not him being anti-social. He was able to slip onto the grounds and start exploring without stopping for introductions or whatever else was happening at the front.

The Knight spent almost a half hour searching through the various clefts. Most of them resulted in dead ends, or if they went further then the ways were hidden to him. However, one cleft, which initially appeared to be shallow, ended up deepening and containing a back entrance, remarkably preserved for the years it had seen. Much to his misfortune, when he checked to make sure his datapad had been recording his explorations via GPS location, he found that he'd neglected to start the recording. He had to go back to the beginning, start the recording, and walk his way to the entrance again...which really wasn't all that bad, as luck would have it. Once he arrived at the entrance he took still images of it and typed in notes, thoughts on the preservation and the methods he'd used to arrive.

Equipped with his standard robes, a lightsaber, sidearm, and glowrod, the Sephi headed into the Praxeum itself, eager to explore a piece of the past.

 

[Noah Corek]

OBJECTIVE: 5, Investigating possible Vanguard Special Forces on planet
ALLIES: Anyone who is interested
Post: 1/20

A small listening post was stationed in the deserts of Bpfassh. Like most Imperial outposts it was big and noticeable, it was truly a wonder no GA patrols or ships had discovered it yet.

"Once again the Pyre has to do the heavy lifting." Noah muttered to himself as he looked through his marcobinoculars at the scene below him. Noah was currently hiding on top of a fairly tall sand dune that was a couple hundred meters away from the outpost.

It wasn't anything special, a trio of prefab bases surrounded by half a dozen deployable barriers at a few points, a few auto turrets and manned by at least thirty stormtroopers, ten technicians, a small group of officers lead by a Captain and a team of five commandos. For GA regular forces? A bit of a tough nut to crack. For the experienced veterans of the Pyre's 1st Expeditionary Battalion? Might as well have been a bunch of two-bit pirates guarding it.

Noah looked behind him and saw a magnificent sight, a platoon of the best soldiers the Pyre could muster. Twenty soldiers Mk II/S Battle Armor and armed with OPR-2 Blaster Rifles. But of course nothing would be a military operation without artillery or air support. Supporting the ground pounders were a trio of OLM-1's Light Mortars and a Omega Low Altitude Attack Craft, or a O-LAAC for short.

 

[Z'Zharen]

OBJECTIVE: 3
ALLIES: Abel | Ipsy | [member="Audren Sykes"] | Sorel Crieff
Post: 3/20

The Whipid made a pondering noise "Hmmm..." The Galatic Alliance...he heard rumors these Jedi were the most territorial and political...possibly some of them were the conquerors he heard about on Nar Shadda. They looked....under-whelmingly non hostile, the silent girl...he would keep an eye on her. Perhaps the small vulipine had some scrappy nature in her, but one smack or kick from the Whipid would easily kill her or the very least comatose her...

Dark thoughts, Zhar cringed at the brutal death of the small creature before him. He was no longer a slave gladiator, he did not have to kill or think in terms of how to kill...but after years of that lifestyle it some times became instinctive when he assessed a new area or person.

The young woman seemed too quite, Zhar broke the rest of the silence by speaking in a low gravely voice. "We all sought out these ruins...I would think for the same reasons. Let us explore and learn together the ways of the old Jedi order." The Whipid rolled his shoulder so the strap on his back was more balanced, before taking his first steps up to the main entrance.

He turned back and gestured with a hand that was wider than Ipsy's whole body, summoning this group to join him. "You may lead..." He said to no one in particular, but curious to see if the others had some insight on this place already.

 

[Ayme Katash]

Objective 4
[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]
Phase – Waterboarding without water

Ayme looked at the sullen man being forced against the cell wall. She had never wished to be in the belly of a large ship more than at that moment. The very walls seemed to ooze with anxiety. She could feel her heart pound against her chest as she took a deep breath praying that her nerves would listen and take it down a notch.

The Sith grinned through the obvious pain of fighting the hold Voidstalker had on him. “So you finally appear, Jedi.” He spat the last word through his clenched teeth. “I will take such pleasure in slicing this child you present me with in half.”

Ayme narrowed her eyes, his words only steeling her resolve. “Vanguard, your pathetic little cult supports them. How? What do you possibly bring to Fal’s table?”

The man laughed as much as he could against the invisible hand across his body. He relaxed his features just slightly and gave her only a defiant smirk.

“I mean Bpfasshi? They hate Jedi, Sith or not, and you decide to come here? Why?”

“Why?” His anger quickly rose to the occasion. “Are you that stupid? Hatred, so easy to manipulate in a place that raises its children indoctrinated in its power.”

Ayme kept her emotions in check but was pleased that she got him to take the bait, then cringed at what he was suggesting. Playing these people on their fear and internalized hatred was almost too easy. Then it all fell into place. “It would be easy…That’s why this is a training facility.” She smirked and crossed her arms. “So that’s what you bring to the table, huh?”

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Ayme Katash"]
Objective 4

Jacen felt a hot stab at the back of his brain. He turned his head aside and grimaced. The dark jedi grinned at his success. The next black spear came, but shattered into a thousand pieces of obsidian as it hit an impenetrable wall of pure light. Ayme might have been oblivious to this mental battle, but she'd see the dark jedi as the mental defences - courtesy of [member="Adele Adonai"] - writhe in pain.

"That's enough of that," Jacen grunted. He allowed the Sith to sink back to the base of his cell. He remained vigilant for any more attempts to use the Force to attack them.

"You're no half-trained acolyte of Fal," Jacen observed.

"Stop saying that name!" he cried.

The Marshal narrowed his eyes and looked to Ayme. That was unexpected. There was sheer revulsion in the Sith's face.

"Qorbin Fal is behind the Vanguard, aren't you?"

"He took what was mine," the Sith whimpered quietly. Jacen looked to Ayme again. What exactly was going on here? The rumours were that Fal had been spawned by a hidden cult on this world. Had he returned and excised his former masters recently?

 

[Ipsy]

Objective 3: Exploring the Praxeum

The late afternoon sun shone down on the planet's scorched surface, its beams heating Ipsy's fur. The shadows had begun to lengthen while she and Abel spoke to the newcomers in front of the Praxeum, the sun having moved slightly from its position right above. Ipsy closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the frissons of warmth, then opened them at the Whipid's invitation for someone to lead. She nodded at him, then turned and began to skip farther into the building's interior, chattering over her shoulder as she did so.

"I always love exploring new places. Are you part of the Galactic Alliance too, Zhar? It's ever so fun. You get to learn all about the galaxy's curiosities and see them for yourself. It's a little colder in here than out there, but that's mostly because of the sunlight. I wouldn't mind for a little more light to be let in. Maybe then everything would be all cozy and den-like. What do you all think?"

[member="Abel"] | @Z'Zharen | [member="Audren Sykes"] | [member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Isha]

OBJECTIVE: 1
ALLIES: [member="Loske Matson"]
Post: 4/10

[ Copy that. ]

The Yodaling would follow Matson and Wizbit, angling their flight path to break away from the other scouts into their own little group. The moon Noie, would bloom upon her viewport, her large, wide lavender eyes curiously studying the Ice moon.

[ Sensors Activating. ]

A thick finger would flip the sensors to discern an atmosphere. Life Sensors would also come online. Turning to the right side of her console, she would activate her holographic cameras to take pictures upon Matson's mark.

[ No signs of activity. ]

At least in terms of hostiles... Hopefully it will stay that way.

 

[Loske Treicolt]

Loske was used to flying solo - though lately she’d been requested to spread her wings a little wider lately. There were a lot of hot shot pilots in the Alliance, and as a newbie, she was still expendable ; despite her talents. So, she was on captain duty, flying a local researcher and company titan, [member="Elaine Thul"] who was interested in some of the sites the new area had.

Loske was curious, but not scientific - so her words did not meld to questions as of yet. She was more focused on the organization of the team.

“Did you have a specific moon in mind, that you wanted to investigate?” The first question came to light, speaking over her shoulder from the pilot’s chair to the blonde haired expeditionary. “Or Bpfasshi itself?”

 

[Elaine Thul]

post 2/20
Objective: 1
Allies: [member="Loske Matson"] [member="Isha"]

She listening to the communications as a pilot answered her, she was asking where she wanted to search first. She thought about it, and she needed scans of everything so it did not really matter. She then pressed the button to send the message to her escort, We need a scan of everything, so please choose the best route for you. We shall follow in the middle of your formation over. The scanning ship then took up formation, so the fighters could protect them from all angles. She waited for the lead ship to begin moving, and her helmsmen would set course to follow each scan would not take long. The processing the data would take longer, as each one would have to take computer analyzed. To see what positions would be best to build the base, and possible mining area for minerals. As they need raw materials to pay for any building work, as money did not come out thin air.

 

[Lief]

Objective V: Spreading His Disease ​

Post Three​

​

They did not notice him, though he made no attempt at hiding his presence.

So infatuated were they by their hedonistic needs, and so unaware of who had even been invited to this unnecessary show of wealth and splendor, that his crooked frame and haggard coughs did not strike anyone as odd. Truth be told it was both a freeing and frustrating experience for a man so often scorned. Were they so foolish? Did they not realize that the end was nigh?

Every room was full to the brim with people, so much so that the pariah was forced to push through swathes of bodies. Uncomfortable, yet aware that the contact would only hasten their demise, he pressed on... Yet from behind him the ragged coughs of another bit through the air, causing a twinge of confusion. Was there simply a bug in the air, or was this place also home to...

He sniffed the air, before turning in a half circle to stare upon the source.

She was tiny. Oh, it did so love to envelop the young. They were far more susceptible, dangerously so in fact as they never had a chance to pass on the plague before falling down.

Already she was coming up in a rash, no doubt someone would begin to notice that something was wrong. It was time that he left.

In such an environment, the damage was already done. They would spread it between themselves, whether they realized it or not, and by the time that they suffered the same ailments as the girl it would be too late.

Sometimes it was far too easy. After all, even he enjoyed a little game every now and then.

 

[Audren Sykes]

OBJECTIVE: 3
ALLIES: [member=Abel] | [member=Ipsy] | [member=Z'Zharen] | [member="Sorel Crieff"]
Post: 2/20

Due to the gorge's walls and the relative small size of the entrance, there wasn't much ambient light inside. Whatever glowrods had come before were long-since spent and there didn't seem to be any bio-luminescent items or creatures conveniently nearby. Fortunately, given the Type II atmosphere of the planet, Audren had already donned a breath mask that had built in alternate vision modes. He'd personally never used the alternate vision before, and while the modes seemed to work well enough it was unsettling.

The architecture inside the Temple was different. It obviously wasn't much like the Sith Temples he'd seen but it had its differences from other Jedi locations as well. Oh, there were similarities: arches rather than squared doorways, ramps leading off, rooms that were simultaneously austere yet comfortable. It didn't appear that the entrance he used had been frequented often. Nor was it intended to be, given the smaller antechamber and lack of statues commonly seen at older, similar sites.

The rooms closest to the entrance he'd used appeared to be geared towards support. The little equipment left was ancient and basic, cooking ovens or plumbing tools. Laundering facilities too. Obviously the most glamorous jobs the Temple had to offer. He suspected that the shafts in the cooking areas probably led up to dining halls, but with no desire to attempt scaling those ducts he was left looking for stairs or ramps.

 

[Z'Zharen]

OBJECTIVE: 3
ALLIES: Abel | Ipsy | Audren Sykes | Sorel Crieff
Post: 4/20

Zhar raised a brow at the small vulpine, she seemed too...cute. "No...I serve no one, but myself." The Whipid paused...that sounded rather selfish. "What I mean to say is that...I am not affiliated with anyone at least not yet. I am discovering what it means to have a connection to the Force. And maybe...to study the ways of the Old Jedi."

Ipsy made her way up the steps and pass Zhar, she chattered all the way into the ruins commenting about a small light and a den-like environment. "Your people live underground?" The Whipid asked her as he lumbered behind her into the ruins entrance. "The cold suits me, I prefer it over this...dry heat." He had speed his arms wide apart to over exaggerate that he was always surrounded by heat on a non frigid world.

"Your comrades are quite, little one."

 

[Ayme Katash]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]


"He took what was mine," the Sith whimpered quietly. Jacen looked to Ayme again. What exactly was going on here? The rumours were that Fal had been spawned by a hidden cult on this world. Had he returned and excised his former.

Ayme looked from the Sith to her master quickly. "So you were...leader of the cult here, then what happened?"

The man spat in her direction and glared defiantly as the stream of saliva that didn't fly from his lips dripped down his chin. She looked back at Jacen then shook her head as she continued. "Fal was here, he trained here, did he return?"

"Go. To. Hell." His dark eyes turned to Voidstalker. "I'm not answering any questions from your pet."

Ayme shook her head in exasperation and started to pace.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Ayme Katash"]

"You made him," Jacen reasoned, "And now he's taken everything from you." If this was falsehood the dark jedi was far more shrewd that Jacen. Not entirely implausible, the veteran mused.

In return he was afforded a dark share, but nothing more.

"Tell me where they are," Jacen stated firmly. "We won't hurt any who hand themselves over. I'll ask them to give up Fal."

Laughter that descended into a hacking cough was his first reply. "I don't give a kriff. I just want you to take Qorbin's head."

"I can't promise that," Jacen replied gravely. "But he doesn't seem the surrendering type to me."

Long distance scans of the mountain retreat revealed life forms. Orbital imagery showed strange red flashes in the courtyards at night.

When Jacen set foot on the mountains a mile from the well hidden retreat he could sense the dark side clearly. But he could also sense that Qorbin Fal was not here.

But perhaps raiding the dark cult that had spawned him might still reveal secrets that could be used against him.

 

[Ayme Katash]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

The retreat sat in a picturesque landscape, bricks woven delicately into the cliff face with artistic precision. The sun beamed down against the ancient stone highlighting the green moss reaching for purchase through the rocks. The fresh air, the buzzing of insects, Ayme hated every second of it.

They made their way through the narrow pathways which at some points were so close she had to lean her body against the mountain and repeat do not look down like a childhood prayer.

The entrance to the retreat was a large stone door, at least 10 feet high. Ayme reached out and flattened her palm against the cold stone. "Nature is not my thing boss, why can't these ancient structures update?"

Jacen ignored her comment and began to look for a way into the structure.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Ayme Katash"]

Objective 4
All Welcome

Jacen didn't want to linger here too long. The rest of the Alliance forces would be here soon and he wanted to get inside. Out in the open they'd be spotted and the cult would either try to escape or barricade themselves in. He surveyed the ridge line above and to the right. With a few jumps and a bit of a scramble they could get high enough to then come down on the wall.

"Up that way then," he said to his apprentice. "And try not to make too much noise on the way up," he added with an exasperated sigh. Without much warning he gathered the Force to himself and launched ten feet up to a visible ledge. His hand snapped out to catch a hold before he could lose his balance. Ever so slowly he edged along to line himself up for the next leap.