The Vagabond moved at low impulse through Silver Space, built for stand-alone patrol of the Outer Rim Territories before Caedyn Arenais had taken her to the Order of the Silver Jedi along with his change in station. Since the Silver Assembly had recalled him back to Kashyyyk, the Heavy Cruiser had become one of numerous vessels actively patrolling the border and the Jedi Knight frequently moved between the vessel and wherever his responsibility to the Silver Jedi and the greater Galaxy required him.
While the
Bridge Senior Officers of the Vagabond were full-time, Caedyn’s position was one of an adviser rather than an active naval officer for the Order. He had hand picked a number of the Officers, while others had been former associates and colleagues of his father’s and had opted to work alongside Caedyn when offered the opportunity to serve aboard a starship similar to the former
Judiciary that Veiere Arenais once captained. In Caedyn’s frequent absence from the bridge, nothing went beyond Captain Gene Whayeson’s notice and under her authority, she ran a tight ship well armed and ready to defend the border if and when required.
Unfortunately, today was set to be one of those days…-And had Caedyn known this, he’d not have organized a transport to bring his Padawan aboard after spending the past week with her remaining behind on Commenor (And wherever else she may have neglected to inform him).
The pair of them had been standing upon the observation deck at the head of the bridge when word had come through the communications station, Ticia C'Heri calling to the Captain for her attention. The Catharian Officer was rarely caught off guard, yet in his deep words there laid a hint of concern which accompanied a familiar whisper in the Force that caused Caedyn to turn and glance back across the room. That quietly, gnawing instinct that told him whatever was going to follow, would probably ruin whatever plans he and his Padawan had in her first flight lesson with an actual Starfighter.
Kyra herself wasn’t a slow learner despite her tendency to doubt herself, and more than likely she’d be able to read the look that came over her Master like an open book. His attention distant and laced with concern, it didn’t take long for him to leave her side and move to meet the Captain at the Communications Hub.
“
Something wrong?” he asked, not mincing his words. Gene and Ticia both glancing back at him from the comm’s terminal, the Captain lock-jawed by his knack for reading the situation through a power she couldn’t comprehend.
“
We’re getting reports of a size-able fleet having crossed the border, there haven’t been any casualties that we can tell though civilian ships have been fired upon. They’re heading for the Yurbian System” Gene explained, turning to call across the bridge to her second in command, Loni O'Jakri. “
Inform the crew to drop what they’re doing and ready battle-stations, Jakri. We’re changing course for Yurb”.
The Vagabond’s arrival sounded with a heavy shudder reverberating across the vessel’s durasteel floor as Caedyn and his Padawan were already making their way down towards the Hangar, a contingent of the Antarian Rangers there awaiting them and their dropship being prepped for the likelihood of landfall under fire.
Intelligence was still coming through on what exactly they were to expect on the ground, yet by this stage the invading fleet had been identified as part of the Bryn’adul horde that had previously hit them at Kessel and had been moving from Planet to Planet slaughtering what or whoever stood in their way. The skirmish on Kessel had been a mess, yet by the numbers picked up across long-range scanners, what they had met with there was nothing compared to the armada they were now preparing to fend off against. Fortunately for the people of Yurb and the Silver Jedi preparing the world’s defense, their border security and sensor array that monitored Silver Space would have given them some warning, hopefully enough to be prepared for the likely battle to follow.
Tension was thick when the pair arrived through the blast doors of the Hangar Bay entrance, troops scrambling to organize their field gear while the crabs (Engineering and Maintenance Crew) ran back and forth between the Dropships and their stations, refueling and rearming the craft’s defensive counter-measures.
The anxiety Caedyn felt had been buried for the sake of showing any sign of vulnerability and influencing further fear in his Padawan, yet it was there all the same and the likelihood that many of these men and women would never make it back to the ship for exfil threatened to fill him with dread were he to let go of his self-restraint and awareness over the power and influence one’s emotions could harbor when left unchecked.
Captain Whayeson’s voice called out across the Hangar intercom speakers;
“All Military Personnel make ready for departure, we are five clicks out and counting. Repeat. Last call for battle preparations. Time to haul ass, people. Man your stations and Godspeed".
Looking to
Kyra Perl
, Caedyn gestured for her to step up onto the troop deck of their dropship with a half nod. He didn’t share any words of comfort or seek to assure her of what they were doing, he’d said all that was needed on the turbo-lift ride down. His silence would be a testament to the state of his mind, his body-language tense in the way that he looked to their Ranger companions and regarded their presence. Each and every one of them were about to step out into what would become a battlefield and put their lives on the line for the people of Yurb, and the neighboring systems provided the Bryn’adul not to be driven back today.
In mere moments they would be departing the Vagabond and beginning their descent for the Capital, Edsert City of Yurb.