The Dark Times (Star Wars RP) IC

[Imperialisium]

Coruscant
Imperial Palace

The summons was brief. The labyrinthine Imperial Palace itself a warren unto itself. Lavishly furnished and chalk full of artifacts stretching back to the earliest days of recorded Galactic history. The Emperor was a reclusive man. Public appearances were seldom and typically brief. Preferring to work through a variety of servants and emissaries. All of which added a layer of mystique to the Galactic Emperor. Few even in the upper echelons of the Imperial military have met the Emperor personally. But one of those few, was the head of Operations for the Naval High Command, High Admiral Valens.

The man walked with measured pace as his booted feet clicked on the polished flooring. Red Guards guiding him, watching him, utterly distrusting of all who entered the Emperor's private demesne. More guarded the doors leading to the throne room itself. Its cavernous space deep in the heart of the Palace. A rare meeting place given the few audiences His Imperial Majesty did provide were typically in a smaller room in the upper ziggurat which afforded at least a partial view of Imperial City.

Moving into the throne room Valens knelt and bowed his head, waiting for the Emperor to address him. The monarch of the Galaxy sat on his dark throne with his hood draped over much of his face. His mouth with all its lines and creases the only part of his face able to be seen.

"Appraise me, High Admiral, what of the Western Reaches Campaign." The Emperor's gravely, imposing, vocalization emptying out any other noise in the room.

"Imperial forces are conducting mopping up operations on the few remaining systems held by the Separatists remnants. Completion of the campaign is on schedule in sixteen days."

"Grand Moff Quillen has requested significant investment into her Oversectors. Does her missive bear merit?"

"The Grand Moff is not overestimating the difficulties in dealing with stubborn holdouts to Imperial authority."

"High Command is to prioritize a military-industrial build-up in Oversectors ten and thirteen. Further, Project Onager is to relocate itself under the authority of Grand Moff Tervils."

"What of the growing material requests of Project Stardust, Director Krennic was adama-."

"Project Stardust must not be impeded, as much as I doubt such an expenditure, but both Krennic and Tarkin assure me the weapon shall greatly inhibit treasonous star systems. Go."

Valens rose, bowed, and left the throne room quickly.

[Revlona]

Milagro
The Grand Republic Reclamation Fleet

Alarms blared their screeching cries, red lights flashed through motion filled corridors, men and women with rank yelled orders and those below them followed, all while Admiral Kalydan Pretit watched in silence, her orders already having been given and now just needed to be followed. She watched from thee bridge as strike, interceptor, and other forms of craft began to flood out of the already opened main hanger of the Resolute and her sister Venators. It was a well practiced and smooth maneuver, hundreds of craft soon forming up in their assigned wings and squadrons, moving about in patrol patterns as they awaited intercept or attack orders. Outside of the small craft, Dreadnoughts, Light Cruisers, and other escorts moved forward silently in the dark of the void, setting a strong screen in between the carriers and the foe, a wall of fire which any attack would be hard pressed to breach.

It seemed like war would soon envelope Milagro, fire and bloodshed in a scale not seen since the War. Thousands held their breath on both sides, Imperial and Republic, man and woman, old and young, all knew many would die here in this vital world, no one knew if it was to be them however. One of the two people in control of the entire encounter had another idea however. "Coms, open a channel to them, to the Praetor." Pretit said calmly, her voice cutting through the motion and excitement. "Aye Aye" Came the simple response and a line was opened.

She knew this was a gamble, her entire plan, both of her plans, all of her plans, all gambles. She also knew that if she ever hoped to see the Republic again, gambles were a necessary thing. She continued to watch as her fleet moved into formation, thousands and thousands of willing souls, ready to fight and die for her, for their beliefs, for their home and for the past. So it was with conviction she spoke when the link was opened.

"I am Admiral Pretit of the Republic, whom do I have the pleasure of speaking too?" She said, awaiting for a hologram to appear before her as she knew her own image had appeared before whoever her foe was so far away, if whoever it was accepted the attempt at all.

[Parcia]

Jaggos's Ship depot
Rishii City
Rishi Prime


The Morning sun hung high over the dusty yard as Jak and Meli went about browsing the motely assortment of ships the Scruffy looking man had in his inventory.


The man was more interested in Meli then he was Jak, something to do with her being the only one to ever get his nix hound to roll over and thump his leg. The Dealer's inventory was varied in actual make, but similar in model, that being a rusted assortment of freighters, old corvettes, some more recent gunships, hell even a wrecked Councilor class cruiser.

While he kept Meli in the corner of his vision he turned the side of one of the larger buildings and caught a glimpse of what was inside. Calling Meli and Jaggo over, he spoke. "Jag, man, what do you have in this hanger, this wasn't here last time I browsed." The squat ship salesmen whistled as he came over and brought out a large metallic key and unlocked the door, inviting Jak over the two men braced them selves and gave the door a mighty shove.

There, standing before them, was a Gozanti Cruiser, but not just any generic one no. This was one he recognized. This was the Void Dragon, The Void Dragon, the infamous outer rim and later Confederate Privateer that had gained such a reputation even he had heard of it in the Rim.

He turned to Jaggo. "How much?" Jaggo looked at him dumbstruck before sputtering an answer. "A-a-a-a-a-are you kidding me Morin? She's at least worth 200, maybe 230." Jack Nodded. "I'll give you 300 if she's in flying order and to expedite the paper work, I know who owned this bird, I need an entirely new set of papers that are legit and I need them asap, something tells me I might need to get a crew and get off Rishi."

A Few hours later.

They had set up shop in the captain's quarters and after nearly a day of checking through the ship, he finally went back and grabbed the Drunken Bandit and docked it to the cruiser. The Ship it self was extensively modified and refit, beyond even what the up gunning of the Corsair variation of the CROC retrofit normally included.

He counted 4 quad Taim and Bakk Laser cannon turrets, on along each flank, a ventral turret amidships and a dorsal turret aft that gave the Ship good Anti-fighter cover all around. Also along both port and starboard were a pair of two Heavy laser cannons with the ability to be trained forward. A normal CROC would end there, but it had also under gone a Corsair Refit at some point which fitted a turret barbet for a heavy, if limited to more compact designs, turbolaser battery. While this ship didn't fit a proper heavy gun, it fit a specialty piece. A Kuat Drive Yards "Spitfire" turret battery fitting a pair of rapid fire medium turbo lasers and a lighter variety of Ion cannon.

He was pretty sure it wasn't even legal to sell those to civilians anymore. What perplexed him the most though, was the largest of the three turrets. It held a long barrel with an odd angular housing. It wasn't until he was shifting through the ship's fire control computer, one that was in it's own right an aftermarket and heavily refitted model, that it was something that made his jaw drop.

A working, perfectly functioning Mandal Motors M250 series linear mass driver deck gun with independent targeting and automatic loading. It was a veritable relic of a weapon system, with the design lineage dating back to before the Mandolorian wars. Best he could tell though who ever ran the gunnery section aboard the old Privateer had opted to vastly improve its targeting and orientation. It was a 127mm linear mass accelerator with a single unified armature and a direct power feed in to the ships reactor core. Its housing was armored and EM protected and featured an automatic loading system that reached in to the upper cargo hold. This renovation lead to almost the entire upper deck being re-arranged to fit. It held a small ready magazine of 40 rounds and could hold another 320 in its main magazine, but currently only less then a 100 were loaded.


Combined with high grade durasteel armor reinforcement, an expanded sensor suit, 4 Incom F-110-GE400s Ion Drives, and a still respectable 2800 metric tones of cargo capacity with the ability to dock the Bandit on the Port Outrigger....It really only hit him as he turned and watched Meli jump up and curl in to the large captain's bunk that he realized he had something more concrete then just the Bandit for him and Meli.

Landing Pad 1313
Nar Shadda

It had taken a few weeks to make their way out there, especially with the cargo he had to load on just to pay for it, but if there was any place to start making legit money it was Hutt Space. Still, he had to do most of the heavy lifting as he off loaded the 600 crates of Rishiian vanilla rum just to pay for the trip out. The money was good though and he set out from the docks to go hit up some of the Cantina's he knew were good for crew when a commotion started down the walk way...

[Civia Welephilostopia]

Ord Mantell:
Bilu looked over his forces, he was readyfor his next assaignment, hed requested an extra 2 squadrans of Tie-Fighters and a corvette or Clone Wars surplus and hoped that the resources being horded to reclaim the holdouts would not hinder these efforts.

He would also send a message to his superior officer to ask for his next assaignment.

[Darlingtown]

Yulith Jesim
Nar Shaddaa

Yulith began hyperventilating as the door to her tiny apartment slid shut. Having now made her way home, she collapsed to her knees, trembling from both exertion and fear. It took her several minutes before she was able to calm herself and begin thinking again.

What have I done?

The day had been a particularly uninteresting one just moments ago. It was a slow afternoon at Uncle Sul's Diner, and there wasn't much of a rush for the line chefs like Yulith to worry about. If anything, it was shaping up to be a particularly good day. But this would not last.

While prepping one of the meals that day, the heating element of one of the stoves broke, setting the machine on fire. And as it turned out, the fire extinguisher that was being kept in the kitchen was little more than decoration, having gone out of date over a decade prior and no longer able to function. With how caked in grease Uncle Sul's was, Yulith realized just how much of a lethal threat the sudden blaze was. So, faced with a life-or-death situation, Yulith's survival instincts kicked in.

She used the Force to chuck the stove out the window.

As the burning cooking device fell into the dark abyss below and the once chaotic kitchen fell deathly silent, it began to dawn on Yulith what she had just done. She had spent the past few years trying to lay low and avoid detection, going to far as to shut herself off from the Force, an decision which as a Miraluka left her completely blinded. Though it seemed she didn't do quite so thorough a job as she had hoped, and now her cover was blown. Even if she trusted the other chefs at Uncle Sul's, which she didn't, word would inevitably get out. Not to mention she had heard rumors of special agents within the Empire who were trained specifically to hunt down Force-sensitive beings like her. They would undoubtedly be able to feel her presence in that moment if they happened to be searching the area.

So Yulith quit her job unannounced and ran back to her apartment where she was now. And now that her adrenaline was starting to fade, a sense of dread began to creep in. She had to get off world as soon as possible. She had to find a new place to lay low, and if possible do more to numb or sever her connection with the Force.

The Miraluka scrambled to pack what few possessions she had, mostly tools and various knick-knacks. Then she paused for a moment. There was one other thing she had brought with her to Nar Shaddaa, one thing she had kept on her just in case. Her lightsaber. She had hidden it well, having disassembled the weapon and scattered its pieces throughout her apartment, which to the unfamiliar would have appeared life any other bit of junk she had laying around. Yulith had kept her lightsaber despite knowing it increased her chance of being found, perhaps as a source of comfort and security, perhaps out of instinct. Whatever the reason, Yulith gathered up the pieces and, with a heavy heart, dumped them out her window. Wherever she was going, she could no longer risk having it in her possession.

With all her things stuffed into a bag, Yulith left a hastily scrawled note to the landlord that she was leaving and stepped out the door. She then proceeded to take what few back alleys she was familiar with as she headed to the nearest port, using her long cane to guide her and keep her from running face-first into a wall or off a walkway and into the void below.

She had just about made it to her destination when a large arm stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Oona goota?" a voice said from Yulith's right, obviously a Rodian. She didn't know much Rodese, but she knew enough to know she was in danger.

"I-I'm just going to meet a friend at the port," Yulith responded shakily.

"Fna ho koru gep, Jeeday. Oolpunki," the Rodian responded, taking out some sort of metal device. What Yulith could not see was that the Rodian had a slave collar in his hand.

"I'm sorry, I-I don't-"

"Oolpunki!" the Rodian demanded again, kicking her cane away and placing his hand atop Yulith's head to push her onto her knees. Now having a rough understanding of the Rodian's intentions, Yulith began to fight back. Though she had been absolutely awful with a lightsaber in her time at the Academy, Yulith still had some level of fitness and combat training. That was, of course, back when she could still see.

The struggle intensified, with the Rodian trying to clap the collar around Yulith's neck and Yulith resisting and trying to blindly find and strike her assailant. She managed to actually hit him a few times, but the uncertainty of her blows from her lack of sight prevented them from doing any real damage.

"Help!" Yulith weakly cried out, several years of laying low mentally catching her voice in her throat. "Somebody...help!"

[Flarbinia]

Tulq City
Ruhr Draay entered a Koro-2 with Dregg as worker droids and flesh and blood workers headed aboard the Barrison, the copper finish on the wings showing signs of rust. "Your boss uses PK-Series Droids to oversee the delivery of shipments?" Ruhr asked Dregg as he glanced at the droid directing the worker droids that were unloading crates of Engspice. "Can't you blame him? Organic foremen can be bribed or intimidated or steal a couple of crates and sell them without paying the boss's cut of the profit. Droids, on the other hand, are loyal." Dregg said to Ruhr as he flew the Koro-2 towards the center of Pickax Alley. They passed over dilapidated tenement blocks that had been converted from what were barracks built to serve as temporary housing for the workers when Tulq City was a small mining colony, the oldest of which still bore the fading symbol of The Exchange, a long defunct criminal organization that once competed with the Hutts. "Noticed those ancient markings? Two hundred years before the Sack Of Coruscant, The Exchange kicked the Tulq Family out of Pickax Alley and expanded until they controlled a fourth of Tulq City. The Tulq Family tried to take it back during the decline of The Exchange and those Trandoshans ended up fleeing back to their turf. They were later wiped out by a local gang, which was taken out by another gang once it had grown as fat and lazy as the Exchange did, and on and on it went for centuries. Black Sun ended that cycle by killing Drask Gimo and any member of his gang who couldn't be turned and taking over his empire. Or at least, that's what I was told when I asked about them. History ain't my area of expertise." Dregg said to Ruhr as they continued flying over Pickax Alley.

A Couple Of Hours Later
The Koro-2 arrived at the center of Pickax Alley, a massive skyscraper that towered over the rest of Pickax City, its exterior covered in segmented plates of reinforced Durasteel that made it llok like the tower of a castle. The landing pad was decorated with heads on pikes. "Like what you see? When it comes to disposing of traitors, my boss prefers the swing of an executioner's ax over a plasma bolt to the head or feeding you to a pet. If you cross him, Zul Nelm will take your head." Dregg said to Ruhr as he landed the Koro-2, the smuggler exiting the vehicle as soon as the door opened. Dregg exited the vehicle and swallowed some salt, knowing that he had accomplished his mission of keeping the shipment safe and bringing the smuggler. Ruhr was escorted into the building by several Kaleesh lead by a Makurth. "Rothgorn. Chief of Security. My employer is in his office. Make any move against him and I won't hesitate to cut you down where you stand." The Makurth said to Ruhr Draay as they walked down the hall, the Kaleesh staring at the smuggler with murderous intent. They arrived at the boss's office, Rothgorn motioning for Ruhr to enter the room. The smuggler immediately headed inside, wanting to get his credits and get out. "Yousa lucky, Ace. Most smugglers just get paid by Vosh Gigh, but most smugglers do not bring as much Engspice as yousa. Very tempting target for robbery. Mesa Gul Kurg. Mesa Boss of Black Sun turf on Tulq City. Nobody be expectin' a Gungan to be boss. Allowed mesa to kill Vopil Yomel and taketh hisa place." The head of the Tulq City branch of Black Sun, a Gungan, said to "Ace" in a gravelly voice as he lit his pipe, the light of the office shining off the imported wooden desk.

[Parcia]

Nar Shaddah
The Force workes in interesting ways.

He had left Meli on the ship, double checking the locks and set about looking for his normal hunting grounds for crew when the commotion caught his attention.

He tipped his wide hat low and pushed through the crowd when he first saw her. "Seeing" her was a bit of an over simplification, the girl radiated in the force, what ever cloak she had thrown over her self gone in the moment of desperation as she attempted to fight off the Rodian trying to make a slave of her.

He quietly approached and drew the IB-94 at his side before quickly grabbing the alien by the shoulder and leveling the Blaster at his face. "Fuck off or you get a bolt in the face." His voice was leveled toned but dripping with venom. The Alien attempted to argue but was cut off by the stun bolt hitting in directly in the face, sending him to the ground in a twitching heap.

He swept the crowd with the still hot blaster and satisfied with the fact the Rodian was acting alone, he turned to the girl ,a Mirialuka, and wrenched her to her feet. He leaned in close and whispering in her ear. "Stay close, I have a ship and I could use you." Hesitating for a moment, he spoke even lower. "Master Yoda would be impressed." Helping her get her walking stick, the two set off for the Star Dancer were it lay in the port.

[Segmentia]

Milagro, bridge of the Lament

“Full strike craft compliments, or there about.” The voice of Admiral Jakorr mused as information flooded in, the Imperial sensors getting a clearer picture of the GRRF formation and strength. As expected, they were holding a defensive formation, weapons bared and more or less daring the Imperials to engage. Looking down at her data-pad, Jania couldn’t help a small smile forming on her lips. Within a few hours the GRRF would be hard pressed, very hard pressed, even with their large numbers of strike craft. Three additional task forces worth of ships were making their way to Milagro, the closest to arrive in thirty minutes. And the 55th was also waiting to make their own jump into the system as well.

“Grand Moff, we have a communication incoming. From the GRRF.” The senior comms officer spoke. Admiral Dystraay frowned at the senior officer for going over his head, though Jania was in charge of the operation as well.

“Probably going to bark out some Republic rhetoric and dare us to attack.” Jakorr huffed.

“Open the channel.” Jania said, ignoring the gruff admiral.

"I am Admiral Pretit of the Republic, whom do I have the pleasure of speaking too?" Echoed the voice of the rebel admiral.

Jania stood from the command chair and walked to stand slightly before Dystraay, her hologram being projected back to the GRRF flagship bridge. “You have the honor of addressing Grand Moff Jania Quillan, of the Galactic Empire. I’m not sure what exactly we have to discuss, Admiral, unless you are offering your surrender, but I’ll allow you some time.”

[North American Commonwealth of Nations]

Nar Shadda

The figure that walked among the thick crowds of Nar Shadda's bustling walkways was entirely unremarkable--and this was by design. The shields erected around her force presence came with a suggestion to simply look away, to treat her as if she was the most uninteresting thing one could possibly encounter. It was a necessity in the galaxy she found herself in, and one she was thankful to be relatively skilled in before... Well. Before.

Submerging her presence in the Force diminished her own Force Signature to no greater than the average civilian--a trick that the Inquisitors currently scouring this moon could stand to be more trained in. Even through the throng of life on the city-world, Master Null could feel their twisted hatred and fear, roiling with the power of the Dark Side. Their sadistic glee stood out the most, however, as they seemed to be searching for something... No, scratch that, for someone. More than likely, the same person that she was searching for. Even in an enormous city-world like this, someone tossing an entire range stovetop with the force shone out like a beacon in a galaxy devoid of Light. She managed to catch sight of the two Inquisitors as they moved through the crowds of humans and aliens alike, a pair of figures dressed in dark armor wearing featureless black helmets. A crude intimidation tactic, perhaps, but an effective one for undertrained and frightened young Force Sensitives just trying to survive in a world gone mad.

The pale Nautolan woman stopped as she sensed something else, almost like a flare had been tripped in the force. Fear and desperation rang out like a clarion call, and Raati could tell that the Inquisitors could sense it too--though they would have to fight through the crowd to get to the alleyway it had emanated from. By the will of the Force, it seemed, she was almost directly beside said alleyway, and knew that she didn't have much time to waste in ducking inside and moving swiftly towards the source of the beacon.

As she came upon the scene, her hood still up, she watched silently as a man shot the Rodian threatening the source of the Force Signature that bled out into the wider cosmos. Only once he had ascertained that the girl was alright did the Jedi Master clear her throat and step forward, pulling the hood that disguised her identity. Her skin was a pale white spotted with ice blue spots, with long headtails that were spread evenly over both shoulders with a large mass of them tied behind her head with a simple leather wrap. Her eyes were a deep blue green and one solid color, with no pupil or sclera visible.

"I hate to interrupt, but you may be interested in knowing that there are a couple of Jedi hunters on this moon, and they are on their way now. We may not have much time," Master Raati spoke, her gentle voice sounding totally at odds with the dire news she was delivering. "I don't suppose either of you has a ship?"

Her eyes turned from the Miralukan to the white-haired man that had just protected her from slavery or worse. "Would you mind if I tagged along?"

[Parcia]

Nar Shadda-snip-

Jak Morin
Near the docks

The Entrance of the alien women caused Jak, who was already on edge, to pivot and level the gun at her for a moment before he froze, the flash of recognition on his face evident to her before he lowered the pistol and chuckled in disbelief. "Yea, that...that works." Any further shock induced quip would be cut off by the sudden feeling of the hunters beginning to near.

"Stars above I can't catch a break tonight. Right, fallow me, the Star Dancer is just down the cat walk." He tipped his how low on his brow and took the Miraluka by the wrist, more so pulling her along rather then letting her walk as they nearly ran for the ship through the crowds of people and pedestrians for the from of the CROC cruiser on the pad.

As they did so Jak was running the numbers in his head. He could feel them get closer, perhaps now only a few blocks away. It'd take the spool the engines up from a cold start and then he had to-Frack! he forgot about Meli still aboard the ship. They had to hold them off and get off world. He couldn't let them have her.

As they finally turned down the cat walk he broke out in a dead sprint while clicking the comlink on his wrist and unlocking his ship. Standing by the door he ushered the Miraluka inside just as the rain started to fall and a flash of lightning reveled the dark armored forms of the inquisitors standing at the other end. He turned to the women, the Jedi and spoke. "Give me three minuets to get the drives spooled."

[Darlingtown]

Yulith Jesim
Nar Shaddaa

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Yulith froze in silent horror as the Rodian who had been trying to enslave her crumpled to the ground, shot possibly dead by another stranger who was now trying to drag her by her wrist too fast for her to keep track of where she was. For all she knew she had been cast from one potential abductor into the clutches of another, likely wanting to sell her off to the Empire with they're subtle mentions of Yoda and "Jedi hunters".

And, unfortunately, several years on Nar Shaddaa had jaded Yulith's trust and crushed her hope. She had long since abandoned the fantasy of running across another Jedi and had spent all of her post-Purge years looking over her shoulder, waiting for the day she was caught and killed. Whoever these sudden strangers were, however gentle or well-intended they sounded, Yulith was certain no one would ever rescue her. The Jedi were all but dead, and she was alone.

Tearing her hand free of the stranger's grasp, Yulith stopped dead in her tracks right outside the ship's entrance.

"No!" she shouted, finally getting her mind in order enough to act once more. "I'm not going anywhere! I-if you want me, you'll have to kill me here!"

As she finished her sentence, Yulith heard a sound come from behind her. A familiar sound. An old one. A sound that turned her blood to ice as she heard it.

It was a lightsaber.

Two, in fact. She could hear the blades erupt from their hilts, sizzling in the falling rain. The hum of the sabers caused Yulith's heart to race as she stood there, paralyzed by fear. Her fight-or-flight instinct failed completely as she found herself unable to will her body to move forward or turn about. Out of nervous habit, she began whispering "There is no emotion, there is peace..." to herself over and over again, the phrase only serving to panic her further than actually calm her. And in all her thought-seizing fear, her presence in the Force was made very clear once more.

"If that is what you want," one of the voices behind her responded, "then we'll be more than happy to oblige."

And in that moment, Yulith felt the fear of death stronger than ever before.

[North American Commonwealth of Nations]

Yulith Jesim
Nar Shaddaa

~Snip~

The Jedi Master had just opened her mouth to placate the young woman and assure the man that she could give him that time when the sound of the lightsabers' activation cut her off. Her gaze turned towards the young Miralukan, paralyzed by fear, and she brought her hand up to lightly rest on the young woman's shoulder. "There is no death, young one. So there is nothing to fear. Trust in the Force," she said confidently before she let out a long-suffering breath through her nasal slits as the Jedi Hunters made their threat.

She turned around to face them, stepping in front of both of her newly-found traveling companions. The fully realized Jedi Master unleashed the shackles on her own Force Presence, allowing the Living Force of this city-world flow into her and breathe life into her elderly limbs. The Nautolan seemed to stand taller as her presence shone out in the force, a bright star to combat the void of darkness that was embodied by these two fallen Force-users. Raati raised her right hand with her palm out towards the Inquisitors, even as her left strayed to the lightsaber hidden at her belt line. "You will not be taking--or killing--anyone on this day," she stated, with the same tone and certainty one would use to convey the time to someone who inquired about it. The faceless black masks turned towards each other before a harsh laugh emanated from the one who had spoken first.

The figure's dual-bladed lightsaber began to spin menacingly as he took a crouching stance, clearly preparing to jump forward, and snarled, "Just try to stop me," before they leapt into action, blade singing down towards the old Nautolan's seemingly frail form. The snap-hiss of a lightsaber activation sounded as a green blade leapt from the silver handle of her blade, intercepting the Inquisitor's blade and shuffling him off to the side before she delivered a Force push that sent him flying across the docks. Her saber twisted to intercept the thrust of the second Inquisitor's blade before twisting in order to allow it to pass her by, turning into a Force-empowered side kick that sent the lightsaber wielder stumbling back.

She spun into a base form for Soresu, her blade held above her head and paralell to the ground with her right hand out, palm displayed as she stood between the Inquisitors and the ship.

"This is not a fight you can win, Inquisitors. I would suggest retreat, before any lives must be lost," she said with a serene calm that starkly contrasted the skillful display she had just put on. The first inquisitor stalked towards her and growled as his face mask slid up, showing the face of a young, orange-skinned Zabrak twisted into a ferocious snarl, even as the second recovered from her stumbling backslide and held her own blade out before her.

[Parcia]

Duel at the docs
Nar Shaddah

Jak cursed under his breath and reached out for her, not for her hand or arm, but for her collar and latched on hard. With a rough yank he wrenched her in to the ship and almost tossing her in to the deck plating. Reaching down he picked her up by the shoulders and got rather close to her face. "You want to live? Stay in the damn ship and keep the door shut!" Letting her go, he turned and bolted for the for the ladder well to the cockpit.

Nearly jumping up the steps he flew in to the cockpit and landed in the helmsmen seat and started the too long processes of spooling the engines up from their cold start and soon the engines began to hum with life.

First with a hum, then to a not to subtle whine as the turbines began to spun. A flash of light caught his attention out the bridge window and he paused. A green Counselors blade versus two red and one was even a saber staff. Cursing even more he set the systems to start automatically and again bolted from the bridge for his weapons locker. Slamming on the panel to open the bulkhead door and quickly went to his weapon's locker opening it and reaching inside for the cloth wrapped sword held inside.

He paused and turned, seeing Meli staring wide eyed at him from her little cocoon of blankets on his bunk. "J-jak?" he went to her and knelt down to her level. "Melire, listen to me. Stay hidden, stay quiet. There are some bad people outside and me and some friends have to make them go away now." she sniffled. "Your not leaving are you?" He took her in his arms. "No sweetie I'm not I promise, but do what I ask alright?" she nodded. "Good, I've got to go help our friends now." He set her down and left for the door, locking it to keep her safe.


As the engines began to whine louder and the rain truly beginning to fall Jak emerged from the airlock door and unwrapped the sword from his covering, letting the cloth fall away in the wind. As he began forward he drew the bland and the ancient war sword glinted in the rain, the wavy pattern of the cortosis weave catching the light of the lightning as it flashed in the air above them.

As the councilor engaged the Zarbrak his partner dashed forward to meet Jak who dropped in to a strange defensive stance only to surge forward and meet his charge full on, the metal blade catching his saber in a shower of sparks as it began to heat up. The inquisitor snarled and pushed to break the lock, only for Jak to push back harder, leveling his greater strength to shove the man back down the catwalk.

Their blades met again in a flurry of sparks again and again as he pushed the man down the walkway back towards were the counselor and the Zabrak were fighting. His opponent was getting angrier and angrier, almost none of his hits were anywhere close to landing as Jak swept his blade up to meet his strikes time and time again, even managing to land a light cut on his off hand and his leg, the steel and cortosis blade cutting through the armored fabric.

Jak was in what could be called a moment of zen. The rush of battle and his anger at the situation tempered by years of training in the various forms he had practiced in and even his seemingly passiveness in the face of the taunts of his enemy doing nothing more to anger him. That anger made him sloppy. The Inquisitor charged forward again and attempted to stab at his midsection. Jak side stepped, deflecting the strike and spun, landing a blow on the inquisitors back and cutting deep in to the skin below the armor plate on his back.

The inquisitor gasped and fell forward on his knees. "You don't fight like a Jedi. You wield that...that relic like a Sith." Jak held the blade low and turned to face him were he sat on his knees, blood pooling on the metal. "I sense great anger in you, I feel it wafting off you in the air and yet...you...you resist it, no. You command it, like you command that sword. How, how do you do this?"

Jak readied the sword for the final strike and met his eyes. "A lifetime of regret."

As the inquisitor's body fell back Jak reached down and plucked his deactivated saber from the walkway, clipping it on his belt he turned to the Councilor and the Zabrak Inquisitor. "Turbines are spooled, we need to leave."

[North American Commonwealth of Nations]

Nar Shadda, Duel on the Docks

The blade that her newfound compatriot wielded reeked of the Dark Side, and the emotions she sensed coming from him weren't Light in any sense. Then again, he was trying to save the life of a young Jedi and assisting her by taking on the still-masked Inquisitor, so perhaps that was a conversation that could wait. Raati leaned to the right to avoid a wild chop by the Zabrac before executing a force empowered leap to create some distance between herself and her enraged opponent.

A furious snarl ripped through the man's clenched teeth as he lunged at her again with a thrust, which she avoided with an elegant spin and the briefest contact between their blades. She hated fighting--the feeling of adrenaline, the vibration of contact, the heavy emotions usually displayed by her opponent, it was all so pointless. So destructive to no end except destruction, a circumstance that had become far too commonplace even before the fall of the Republic. The Master turned to avoid a downward chop and caught the Inquisitor's blood red saber with her own. She held the young man's blade down as he snarled at her, rage etched into his countenance as he struggled to overcome her Force-enhanced strength with his own.

He was unstable by this point, worked into a frenzy by his inability to even pressure Raati, and she looked at him with a mixture of pity and resignation as one hand came up and two fingers pressed against his forhead.

"Sleep, and forget" she commanded, the word almost vibrating the very air between them as she focused all of her considerable will into empowering the command with the Force. The Inquisitor's eyes rolled up into his head before he collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, completely unconcious.

"Such a waste," she lamented to herself as she turned to see the headless body of the other inquisitor fall to the ground. Her expression didnt change as she looked over to the Force-user wielding an ancient Sith warblade and nodded at his words. She clipped the saber to her belt and began walking towards the ship he had come from, starting up the ramp and only making it halfway before she turned and regarded the dead inquisitor with sad eyes.

"Was the killing absolutely necessary?" she asked, with no more accusation in her voice than if she'd inquired about the time. Her gaze drifted over to her new traveling companion, the solid midnight blue orbs regarding him inquisitively.

[Parcia]

The Docs
Nar Shaddah

Jak Stared down at the sleeping dark Jedi and shook his head. Giving a quick flick of the wrist to shed most of the blood of it, he sheathed the sword and turned. "Letting him live was a mistake, his kind aren't known to forget easily." He made up the ramp after her, shutting the ramp and the air lock after they made it inside.

Motioning for her to fallow him to the bridge, he sat down in at the helm and went about the final checks before taking the controls and lifting off. The Ship shuddered and groaned but the old girl took flight and Jak punched it, rapidly rising through the smog atmosphere before finally accelerating to hyperspace.

The entire time he could feel her observing him, both with her eyes and through the force and while he understood her likely reasoning he couldn't help but let a bit of his annoyance bubble up to the top. Speaking of simmering emotions. He gave the helm one last check over before setting the autopilot and leaning back in to his chair. The air was thick with tension and Jak closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, holding it in for a moment and letting it out in a long sight. This entire excursion had been tiring and would be a failure had he not secured the nice payment for the liquor run upfront upon delivery.

He took another breath and thumbed the button on the seat, allowing it to swivel around and face her.

"Welcome to the Star Dancer, she's my ship and I'm her captain. I mostly run her as a free tradesmen and have valid Corporate authority licenses in most of civilized space, guaranteed through Czerka." He shifted in his seat enough to remove the sword from his belt and gently set it down next to him, leaning on the console. "I'd tell you the name I give most folk, the name I took when I left, but, well, it's useless given you already know me...though I think you haven't heard it spoken in over a decade. Most Jedi don't like to dwell on the lost, and I hear even master Tel rarely spoke of me after."

He left the sentence open. She was a smart women, a Jedi master. She'd more then likely put it together already and was simply waiting for him to confirm her suspicions. He wasn't going to say it though. He wouldn't. Not again, not after all these years of peace, of separation from his great sin.

His great failure.

[Imperialisium]

Coruscant

Endless traffic and unceasing lights stretching from near too far, horizon to horizon, the sights and sounds of a city-planet. Capital of the Galactic Empire and the Galaxy itself. Home to countless sentients with a seemingly unstoppable flow of traffic going and leaving from the world. A city of plateau sized arcologies and expanses of forest like spires. The mass of the imposing Imperial Palace nearby, the Imperial Senate only just beyond that, stood a rather unseeming tower. Its lackluster and spartan exterior of flat gray walls and box like appearance giving it a feeling of plainness. As if it merely blended in with the surrounding cityscape rather than sought to possess its own architectural style. For many Coruscanti who passed by it would be just one of many thousands of structures in Imperial City.

The interiors were scarcely better and if it were not utilitarian then it was absent. Indeed, entire galleries and rooms within the tower were entirely absent of furniture. The most furnished areas only possessing the functional capacity to seat individuals and hold items via a table or two. The Security suite itself possessed the most life as uniformed officers of the Imperial military, Intelligence, and Security Bureau monitored feeds from a clandestine network. One which now chirped to life only an hour after a CROC leapt away from Nar Shadaa. The voice was encrypted and broken up into a mix of audio and transcription only communications. Making it double hard to track since even if the audio was listened in on or the transcription cracked, they'd only receive parts of the message.

"Decryption complete," said one of the officers.

"Nar Shadaa, one dead and one temporarily incapacitated, latter reporting. Has the High Inquisitor been informed?" came the response from a black uniformed officer.

"Yes, sir."

"Three possible Jedi. Two confirmed. One at least a Master. Bold claim."

"Should we leave it with the High Inquisitor?"

The black uniformed officer shook his head and silently left the room.

Moving through the tower he was on camera and multi-scanners the whole way. Biometrics ran no less than five times before he reached the entrance to a circular room. The door opening with a hiss as dark walls were shrouded in misting vapors. The work of various medical machines constantly online. Breathing apparatus giving raspy gasps as a deep voice came from the heart of the vaporous cloud in the middle of the room. A figure shrouded in the gray sat in the room as medical arms scrubbed parts of his body.

What is it, Major.

"Report from Nar Shadaa, My Lord, one Inquisitor dead and another incapacitated for about an hour. Force users, the surviving inquisitor believes it to be a trio of jedi."

"Three, is the Inquisitor certain?"

"Proof Positive. Further, he sensed that at least one was strong enough in the Force to be a Master."

The medical machines stopped scrubbing and retracted quickly. As other arms came to assist in donning a suit of encompassing black. Armored glacis and a flanked helmet. The figure turned as their chair rotated them around. Standing to full height once the chair locked itself in place. Heavy boots thudded through the vapors to look down at the Major who kept his gaze smartly towards the floor.

"Ready my ship, Major."

"Yes, Lord Vader."

[North American Commonwealth of Nations]

The Stardancer

Raati Null clasped her hands in front of her as she watched the Lost Jedi guide them out of Nar Shadda's atmosphere, her midnight blue eyes simply staring at his back. Of course she remembered Davion Cyrus--the only one of the Lost who's trial she had contributed to. One of the main reasons she had stepped down from the council was their mismanagement of his case. He had been in an extremely emotionally fragile state, and had needed counseling and guidance, not expulsion. She had argued vehemently against it, pleaded with her fellow masters to see reason... But they had allowed fear to cloud their judgement, and the boy's fate was sealed before she ever made her arguments.

The sad smile that flitted across her countenance at his words made her look even older than she already did as she said, "Yes, well. Master Tel was never the same after you left. She missed you terribly, I think." She walked over to the copilot's seat and tucked her robes so that she could sit comfortably before turning so that she was facing the man who'd saved that young girl's life.

"The Jedi made many mistakes before the end. Not talking about those who left--and the reasons why--was, I believe, the greatest failing of them all," she mused, her attention suddenly far distant from the small cockpit. Her mind lingered on that day for a moment, remembering the way the Force rent itself asunder and the Dark Side howled almost audibly in... not triumph, but something close to agony and ecstasy combined.

Many mistakes, indeed.

Her eyes turned back to Davion as she said, "Though, I do think the mistakes of the past should stay there. To be learned from, not forgotten or agonized over. At any rate, yes I know who you are. And obviously, you know who I am. The question then becomes what do we intend to do with this knowledge that we possess."

She leaned back in the co-pilot's seat, looking out on the field of stars that was just outside the cockpit window.

"I, for one, intend to keep the peace. And perhaps see if I can help the young woman currently experiencing a tremendous amount of anxiety somewhere within the hold of your ship. What of you, Davion? What is your intent?" she asked, the solid blue of her eyes turning to gaze at the man before her.

[Parcia]

Bridge of the Star Dancer

He leaned back in the chair and thought for a moment. What would he do? He knew, for the time being at least, that they had to lay low, real low. He was currently weighing his options between running for the Rim or back for Rishi prime.

"I can't say for sure. I managed to build a decent going for my self. Sure I was pretty much a corporate sanctioned mercenary, but it was good work for good money. I saved up enough from company work and off the books trading for the Dancer after close to 4 years." He paused as the realization he was rambling hit him.

He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. "It seems the stars have different plans though." Leaning forward, he turned to face her. "I understand I can't make you do much, but if we're going to stick together we have to do it...intelligently. That means we work covertly if we have too. I'm still a legal trader on paper and the ships paperwork is still good for the time being. We need to set some rules and practices to fallow."

He paused, sighed, and went on. "We also need to deal with the less resilient members of our crew." He reached over and keyed the inter come. "Can I get everyone else to the bridge please, we need to talk."

[Darlingtown]

Yulith Jesim
Star Dancer
Hyperspace

After having been tossed into the stranger's ship, Yulith quickly found a secluded corner to hide in and feed her instinct to be forgotten. She knew it wouldn't last long of course, and eventually her presence and the events that unfolded would be addressed. But as the engine finished spooling and she felt the ship lift off the fear of the Inquisitors was left behind on the moon she had called "home" for the past few years.

Digging through her bag as quietly as she could, Yulith procured a a small modified remote droid from within. She carefully felt her way around the tiny sphere until, at last, she found what she was looking for and activated the droid.

The remote sprung out of her hand in an instant, beeping incessantly in anger.

"Shhhh!" Yulith hushed the droid. "Keep your voice down! I know it's been a while Beepo, and I'm sorry for that, but right now I need your help. We've been compromised, and now we're on the ship of someone I don't know. Can you look around and help me assess the situation?"

Pausing for a moment, the remote reluctantly beeped in compliance. It zipped around the cargo hold, scanning everything it could before returning to Yulith and giving her its report.

"A Gozanti? Well...at least it's not Imperial then. Though I suppose they could be with the Cartel or something. See any holding cells or evidence of sentient trafficking...or anything I should be worried ab-"

"Can I get everyone else to the bridge please, we need to talk."

Yulith froze in place, her heart pounding in her chest and her stomach sinking to the floor. She knew she would have to make her way to the bridge, there wasn't any way she was going to be able to hide from someone in their own ship...assuming this was their ship, of course. Shakily she stood up, grabbed her cane, and let Beepo guide her to the bridge of the Star Dancer. As the Miraluka entered she didn't say a word, crossing her arms and trying to pull off a cold or intimidating face. But her attempts were completely undermined by her body's fearful trembling.

[Flarbinia]

Tulq City
As the Koro-2 left the palace, it was hit by a missile, the vehicle spinning as it went into freefall. The Koro-2 crash landed into an abandoned building, Dregg and "Ace" leaving the damaged vehicle and heading out of the smoke-filled room. "What hit us?" Dregg asked "Ace" after they looked around. "An E-60R, judging by the sound. The fact that they didn't target the cockpit or the Power systems means that they need us alive or as a corpse." "Ace" said to Dregg right before the Arcona was shot through the heart, falling over dead with a blazing hole through the heart. "Dead or alive, Dregg wasn't worth much to us. You, on the other hand, are the real prize." A Neimodian in bronze armor said to "Ace" before blowing the smoke off his rifle, flanked on one side by a Koorivar with a red helmet and a Gossam covered in dents on the other. "A Koorivar Fusilier, a Gossam Commando, and a member of the Gunnery Battalion reduced to common Bounty Hunters. How the mighty have fallen." "Ace" said to the trio of Bounty Hunters as he stared them down. "Condescending towards us. I highly doubt that you will have the same attitude when we hand you over to Aaddla The Hutt, Ace." The Koorivar said to "Ace" as he pointed his blaster at the smuggler. "Were you washed up has-beens the best Aaddla The Younger could afford?" Ruhr Draay said to the three Bounty Hunters as he pulled out a bronze hilted lightsaber and ignited it, its blade glowing green. "Jedi!" The Gossam shouted in his native tongue as the three Bounty Hunters opened fire, "Ace" blocking the blaster bolts as he charged at them, taking a couple of shots from the Gossam's repeating blaster. He closed the distance, performing the Sarlacc Sweep, killing the Neimodian and the Koorivar. He then turned his attention to the Gossam and performed a Force Push, sending him flying into a nearby bulkhead, killing him instantly. He deactivated his Lightsaber and put it on his belt before checking his wounds. "Need to get back to the Barrison and get in the Bacta Tank. Those Bounty Hunters must have a speeder I can use." Ruhr said to himself before heading out of the building.

[Parcia]

Bridge of the Stardancer
Hyperspace

First the Miraluka, then, timidly Meli poked her head out from his quarters and scampered over to the small seat next to his. She was still wrapped up in her little comforted blanket, her face and little boots being the only thing visible.

"This would be the second though arguably most important reason I stress inconspicuous action. This is Melire. She's kin...and a bit like us in certain ways she's to younger to understand."

Addressing them in reverse order, he turned to the blind women. "Forgive me for tossing you in to the ship lass, we were in a tight spot and I didn't have time to explain. I'm Jak Morrin, and your in my ship the Star Dancer. The women sitting near me is the good master....what are you calling your self now days?"