Vasty Nothingness [Salacia/Firemane]

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"], [member="Judah Dashiell"]


"Eyrecae, what did I tell you about being polite to the friendly guy who's paying us lots of money? Don't make me regret taking you with me instead of leaving you on Dahomey," Siobhan responded.


"Or there won't be any...training sessions for you anymore." Siobhan happened to be the only one willing to 'train' with Eyrecae. Yes, train! Well, the beating the hell out of each other was foreplay. Of course it was very doubtful that Siobhan would be able to resist for long.


"City seems to be where this 'tribe' hangs. Probably the one we overflew when we landed. He mentioned something about a 'temple' and 'outsiders'. Apparently there's a sort of tribal warfare going on between the two groups. Would not rule out them being force-users...it seemed like he thought we were with them because of our powers."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Eyrecae Alzari"]



Instead of being angry, Judah smirked and chuckled a little at Eyrecae's comments. Obviously her stance on men was a little harsh but he still found it incredibly amusing. Judah shoved his hands into his pockets and glanced around their location. He hadn't planned on a scouting mission but it could be useful in learning more about the planet. They had already crossed over one vegetation covered city.


"First off, my wife has me trained and broken in to her liking. Sorry its not up to your standards. As for the city, we didn't see much there so I don't count them to be a large threat to us at this moment in time. More like an annoyance. I would like to know about this tribal warfare. I doubt the man was open to Force users. If we can track down this....other tribe of Forcers we may have a better idea of whats going on."


Outside the Silurus-Class, scientists were slowly filtering back out, picking up their samples.


"The question is do we worry about this feud now or just continue on with our operations?"

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Oddly Eyrecae laughed at his comment. "Good to see you've got a proper woman in your life! Got to have someone wear the pants, hmm?" she said approvingly and slapped him on the back...forgetting her own strength and almost pitching the poor man over. She hauled Judah back to his feet and dusted him off.

"Keep your pelt on, Kerri, he's fine, everything's fine!" she asserted.

As to what to do next...there was only one choice. "We go and find out what's going on and if anyone takes a dislike to us we kick their ass so hard it comes out of their nose!"
That...probably wasn't anatomically possible, but considering Eyrecae's large hammer she'd probably give it a try!

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"], [member="Judah Dashiell"]


"Eyrecae....mind your strength." Siobhan looked part amused, part exasperated at Eyrecae's antics. Why did she put up with the woman again? Oh, wait there was that thing...and that other one...and then that thing she did with her...


Besides, she was sort of adorable. "I'm not here to fight anyone's tribal war. Or to conquer the planet if there's nothing sufficient to be gained from it. These primitives, if this skirmish is any indication, are more an annoyance than an actual threat. That said, I think a demonstration of force to show what we can do if they mess with us would be advised."


In other words, just drop Eyrecae in the city and have her hammer lots of people. "For now, I think we should track down this other tribe of forcers. For one to ascertain whether they'll be a problem. I'll leave a suffcient force here to guard your people."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]


Back stinging from the hearty slap, Judah could only shake his head. He wasn't entirely sure where Siobhan found many of her workers. There were a few ideas floating in his head but he preferred not to entertain them. Ever. Eryecae and Siobhan were filling him in on the plan about their annoyances. Eryecae seems eager to smash brains in with a large hammer while Siobhan was incredibly showing restraint.


"We'll be fine here with a small force, that is already clear. Salacia has quite a bit of work to do surveying the valley. You're more than welcome to track down the Force-group...Not sure how hard or easy that will be. I don't think our prisoner is talking. Flying over the planet may be your best bet. Not as if we've seen much in the way of civilization. Shouldn't be hard to spot."

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Eyrecae just grumbled about frail manlings under her breath. As for where Sio found her workers, mostly waifs and strays across the galaxy who signed on to the Sapphic Estrogen Brigade. Eyrecae though, well that would be an answer which would surprise even Judah, what with her being a 20,000 year old demi-goddess unfrozen from a tube on a remote part of Kaeshana. Most people would probably have expected a primeval matriarch of her people to be a bit...well...nicer.

In the present, meanwhile, Eyrecae was getting bored. Showing the sort of attention span usually displayed by kittens in a tinsel factory, she wandered off to scout the area. Siobhan would tell her where to go. It wasn't that she was stupid, far from it, she just didn't give a Jester's droppings for the opinions, emotions or beliefs of most people. Siobhan would tell her where to go, and she'd...probably...obey.

She hoped for more hammering though.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"], [member="Judah Dashiell"]


Given Sio's voracious appetites for bloodshed and massive - and often thoroughly pointless - property destruction, she was in no position to criticise Eyrecae without coming across as a complete hypocrite. Then again, as a matter of fact she was a complete hypocrite! In any event she gave Judah a nod and quickly barked out orders to the troops. Sergeant Freya Solveig, another one of those former waifs and strays who had been brought into the Sapphic Estrogen Brigade, would make sure that everyone's favourite mermaid admirer, who seemed fated to be the sane guy accompanied by two lunatics, stayed on one piece.


After all, no one wanted to face the wrath of the mermaid [member="Thessa Kai"]!


With these details settled she headed off to a ship, making a gesture to Eyrecae to follow. "C'mon, let's go find that temple. Don't hammer ayone without me telling you to. Or if they shoot at us. I'm sure you'll get to hammer lots of people before the day is over!"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]



"Enjoy, don't get killed."


Judah was fairly certain one of them was going to come back injured. Or there would be reports of razing whatever city or area they were running off to find. Either way there would be no surprise once the women returned from their side trip. Raising a hand in a goodbye gesture, Judah walked off to his own work. Off past the scientists and the Firemane soldiers was a small group of Salacia employees that were not here to survey natural resources. Engineers and construction managers here to oversee a potential building site for a facility. Soil samples were being pulled and geographical surveys were being conducted, droids sweeping the area in a square-grid pattern.


"The land is looking good so far. The challenge is bringing in building materials and erecting something in a short time span."

"Challenge? Not if we bring in a horde of workers. We could be done in a week easily. Perhaps make some sections modular and build them off site."

"Could work. We'd have to get the foundation in soon and start letting it dry and cure."

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Eyrecae left the man to it and headed out with Siobhan to commandeer a gunship. Behind them came a few Firemane troops to provide backup in a dropship. Eyrecae dismissed them from her mind; she didn't need backup, and nor did Siobhan.

They headed down into the lowlands where one of the ruined cities, flying over and looking for any signs of life or resistance.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"], [member="Judah Dashiell"]


And so the mighty sky chariot of our two loveable, but slightly bloodthirsty and violent ladies lifted off into the skies and went in search of the mysterious tribe of shamans and magi that was said to have made their home in a temple.


What, one might ask, would they find? The Lost Tribe of Sith, who had somehow ended up on this benighted world and spent millennia plotting their vengeance...while ending up with Bronze Age technology? A crazed, bearded hermit playing a latter-day Obi-Wan? Well, this was for the Game Master, in other words Judah Dashiell, to decide.


While the Silaqui-class Gunship-sized chariot blazed a trail across the sky, much like a hungry bird of prey, the Firemane soldiers were busy securing the site for the scientists. Soldiers were deployed to the mountains, gun emplacements were set up and mine fields were being laid at strategic points. Likewise a scout patrol was using speeders to explore the woods.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]


As the intrepid women of Firemane searched the land, it was clear the terrain was changing. Greenery became more sparse and large, jagged rocks started to dot the landscape more frequently. Snow and ice mixed in, revealing an overall rocky and cold area. Evergreens now were the predominate form of plant life, with scrub bushes and various hardy and woody plants scattered about. As the land moved up into a mountainous like region, a gleaming dome of copper shone through the cold sunlight like a beacon.

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Clearly there was a large village in the mountains, along with the copper-domed towering structure. Lesser structures in the village were made of thick rock and timbers, with nearly every structure having a neat stack of smoke rising from the fireplace. If the Firemane vessel was low enough, it would clearly show daily life for a large number of Mirilians. Children and teenagers craned their heads up to view the vessel as it passed over. No Mirilian had seen a working spaceship in generations. Their large library and record-keeping system meant nearly every citizen knew of their existence though.


Shouting echoed through the cobblestone streets, with some vocal concerns if their village wall would hold against any attacks. Not that the vessel was overly large. There were more Mirilians than those in the ship, no doubt.


"Someone go alert the Elders.Quickly."


Teenagers scattered off to do their alerting duties. A relatively peaceful group they weren't above attacking if provoked. Many wondered aloud if it was the native Tabaquians coming to finally destroy them. Shops were quickly closing shutters, mothers pulling in young children. All over the streets were slowly growing empty as the mountain village peered through their windows.

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Eyrecae paid little attention to the high copper dome or the sublime and rugged beauty of the scenery. She was instead looking at the hurrying figures below. She smiled behind her helmet.
“Alright, Kerri, let’s light them up. Put some cannon rounds into that dome and bring it down, I’ll go in and crush the ones who try to flee!”

Subtle.

One wonders if Eyrecae realised she was almost becoming a parody of herself, or if she was doing it to troll Siobhan…she wouldn’t be the first of the Firemane girls to do so!

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"]


This is the Force's way of teaching me patience, forethought and all the good stuff. Is this how Tegs felt with me sometimes? Siobhan thought to herself, feeling terribly annoyed. Clearly the best way to teach the battering ram to use her mind was by...giving her a battle sister who was just as bloodthirsty as she was. Perhaps even more!


Or maybe Eyrecae was just a terrible troll since all the women in her life seemed to be.


"No, we're not tearing the dome down. We're not gonna start slaughtering the natives without good reason. Good reason being them attacking first. Am I clear?" Siobhan said very sharply, voice brokering no contradiction and like the sharp crack of a whip. Maybe she should not have taken the primeval supersoldier with her...but on the other hand she liked her.


"Pilot, bring us down. We'll go in. Be on call if evac is needed. No hostile action unless provoked...but be ready to bomb the place if I give the signal." The dome was large and it did not take a genius to figure out that the village would have far more people in it than their gunship. There was also the rumour that the dome would contain several force-users...but the Firemane team had modern weaponry, two demigoddesses and the Gunship had missile launchers and bombs.


First contact scenarios required tact, empathy and understanding. Ah, great!

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Judah Dashiell"]

Eyrecae’s helmet swung to look at Siobhan. There was silence. Then she laughed. “Yes, oh great lady mistress, your humble servant obeys!” she replied mockingly.

As they came in to land Eyrecae slung her hammer, but then jumped from the open door of the gunship, landing in a crouch and standing up. When she spoke her voice thundered over the noise of the gunships.

“People of this settlement! Know well that we come in peace and friendship. If any of you attempt to show us violence I will find you and crush you and mount your heads on spikes over the gate. But…if you deal with us in amity and friendship all will be well. Now…take us to your leaders!”

As first contact speeches went, this one probably went down alongside Pizarro, Cortez and Commodore Perry as examples of how not to do it. Still, the natives could have utterly no doubt of her intentions. She was the bad cop to Siobhan’s good cop…a role Mrs Kerrigan probably didn’t play often.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]


Townsfolk stood and watched as the she-beast emerged from the vessel and gave a rousing speech. Small murmurings went through the crowds, wondering just what type of creature had the universe bestowed on them. Several villagers had tools such as pitchforks, hammers or axes in their hands. They would be fools to come unprepared. No doubt the she-beast would look past the utilitarian nature of their chosen weapons.


The crowd parted slowly an a wizened elder emerged. He was bent over on his cane, with long white hair and pale green skin. Traditional tattoos graced his wrinkled face, currently set in a mild frown. He was slow to walk but soon arrived at a respectable distance between the villagers and the vessel. A small hmph escaped from his wind-chapped lips as he took in the women. The old man walked closer, soon within touching distance of the she-beast. He reached out and tapped Eyrecae's boot with his cane, as if to chastise.


"I am Nej. Head of the Elder's Council." He stopped to look her up and down. "What brings you here to threaten violence on our settlement?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Eyrecae Alzari"]


Siobhan likewise emerged from the gunship, jumping down from the open door of the craft even before it had landed. Only rather than falling she was gracefully - and probably rather theatralically - gliding down as she utilised her power of force flight, levitating her own body mass downward until her boots touched down upon the ground. She was not wearing her helmet and so her long brown mane was caught by the breeze of the wind, though the control she wielded ensure that it did not get in the way and obscure her face.


Needless dramatics. Perhaps a bit pompous as well, but then that was the sort of thing she liked! The Gunship landed and soldiers emerged from it, forming an honour guard of sorts. They made no hostile or sudden movements upon seeing the assembled villagers. However, their imposing battle armour, bolters, blasters and other weapons were a clear sign that they were ready to initiate hostilities if needed.


For now Siobhan was not in the mood to bomb the village and raise the yellow and blue banner of the Eldorai Matriarchy upon the ruins of the great dome. As much as she liked playing conquistadorette, causing carnage, subjugating planets and receiving the...adoration of her subjects. Yes...she was such a warmongering wench! However, unfortunately for her Eyrecae was already playing Pizarro and so Siobhan had to be...nice. As much as she was capable of that.


So she stepped forward towards the Elder, chin held high and carrying herself with a commanding air. "I am Countess Siobhan Kerrigan. This is Eyrecae Alzari, a strong warrior and companion of mine. I ask her zeal to be excused. We have come far from a world called Kaeshana and were attacked by bandits shortly after landing upon this world. But we do not wish your people ill and have not come here for violence, unless needed," at that she gave Eyrecae a look, indicating that she should not tear the Mirialan Elder in half or something like that. "Though we are more than prepared to defend ourselves. We've come to explore this world and would like to establish friendly relations."


There, she had managed to give a short speech without using the phrases 'assuming direct control', 'bend to me' or 'my techniques will tear you apart'! That had to count for something. But then as far as she knew the planet did not have diamonds, gold or bacta. No blood for gold!

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Judah Dashiell"]

Eyrecae looked down at the tiny elder prodding her with his stick. For a moment some might have wondered if this would be enough of a trigger to start a horrible massacre. Instead, Eyrecae laughed heartily.
“Ha ha! I like you, greenie, you’ve got guts!” she said, relaxing a little.

Whilst Siobhan gave her rather pompous speech, Eyrecae paced around restlessly like a caged tiger.

As they waited for an answer, Eyrecae pulled off her helmet and took a deep breath, her white hair blowing in the breeze. It was good to be a demi-goddess of war. You got to go interesting places, meet interesting people…then then kill them in interesting ways! At least that’s how she saw it.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]



The elderly Mirialan chuckled along with the two women. His gaze turned back to the villagers, shrugging his shoulders, as if to say what can I do? The settlement full of Mirialans were murmuring amongst one another now. No one had been alive when contact had been cut off from the worlds beyond Tabaqui. Every villager knew the history well though.


"Zeal can normally be excused for young warriors Countess. Welcome to Kuna, Countess Kerrigan and Warrior Alzari. I am afraid we have no had outside visitors in many an age. You are welcome to stay. Be warned about other portions of the planet. Those native to Tabaqui, this planet, do not take well to outsiders. I do believe you mentioned an attack on your persons, yes?"


Leaning heavily on the cane, Nej sighed deeply.


"Still have not learned. That is enough for now. Would you care to explore our settlement with an escort or perhaps you'd prefer to warm up with tea and refreshments? I am not sure if you are used to such weather."

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Eyrecae, aside from being a homicidal maniac, had the metabolism of a nuclear furnace, and she had gone a long time (for her) without eating.
“Tea and refreshments!” she declared happily. As she headed that direction, doubtless to turn from eternal warrior into buffet nightmare, she picked a flower and offered it to one of the prettier girls.
“Now we are friends, let us act like them!” she called happily, going about her merry way, talking to people, chatting up the girls (and guys) who took her fancy and showing off her mighty hammer to anyone brave enough.

Of course, it was all totally egocentric, but at least she wasn’t trying to kill anyone at that moment, and Siobhan could get down to negotiations.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"], [member="Judah Dashiell"]


Entrusting Siobhan with anything connected to do with negotiations was bound to go wrong. After all, she was not vice president of a corporation because she was actually qualified for the job. Or rather qualified for anything beyond dumb death charging and non-PG-13 fun.


Anyhow, Eyrecae seemed to have made the decision for them. Siobhan would have preferred a tour of the place, but getting something to eat and drink should keep Eyrecae from killing everyone. As for the ancient elf being egotistical, that was probably true, but Siobhan was no better. "We would appreciate refreshments now and would be open to exploring your settlement after. I thank you for your hospitality," she said in what might be her politest tone.


The Firemane soldiers visibly relaxed since it seemed hostilities would not break out, though naturally they would stay vigilant. Of course, there was the chance that the natives might try to poison our slightly bloothirsty ladies, but Eyrecae could probably resist whatever poison had been brewed and Siobhan could use the Force to an extent as a counter.