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(6.23) Raise of Darkness
(6.23) Raise of Darkness
Ruins of a Jedi Prison
Outer Rim World of Korriban
October 15th, 1937
I have heard the same rumors that I am some kind of time traveling savor of our Galaxy. These rumors are laughable. I was born on a simple world to simple parents. My life before was humble and filled with hard found lessons. I am not a time traveler, I am not some Holy Savor of the Galaxy. In fact there is nothing remarkable about me. What is remarkable is what I found in God. It was only within God did I truly understand his grand plans for my future. It is my hope that as a tool of God's will, I will be able to help as many as possible to find the pure of His love.
Excerpt from I, Citizen Murl
During the hight of the Great Republic, Korriban had become a place of pride for the Jedi. This once headquarters of the mighty Sith Empire, had been captured by the Jedi. Through their vision of Korriban, the Jedi transformed it in to one of the most beautiful worlds in the Outer Rim. The markets and spaceports of Korriban were always filled with some level of commerce. Scholars and artist would come from across the Outer Rim to learn, teach and enlighten each other. Some would use Korriban as a spring broad to take them in to the Core worlds. Others would take what they learned and return home worlds to pass on that knowledge. There was a wide range of schools and universities that any Republic citizen could attend. These schools offered a wide range of learning that had never been offered in the Outer Rim. For the first time since before Korriban's rebirth, Outer Rim citizens could enjoy the same kind of education that Core World citizens enjoyed. There was even a large Jedi Academy located on Korriban. Between the pursuits of knowledge and the simple beautify of the world, there was always a large abundance of tourists and foreign students visiting Korriban. It was no wonder that Korriban had become commonly known as the Coruscant of the Outer Rim. It was a reputation that would not last beyond the fall of the Republic.
The Republic military held a strong influence on the world and used this influence to ensure the peace in the surrounding regions of the Outer Rim. There were two major naval bases here as well as a massive training complex all located on Korriban. To ensure law and order was kept, the Republic's Tingel Military Command was located on Korriban. From here, the Republic was able to play a key role during the Brush Fire Wars. Hundreds of Jedi operations were planned and supported from Korriban. A large number of Jedi Hunter teams and their Ranger units would use Korriban as a R&R station to get much needed rest and recovery before heading out on their next mission. During this time, the population of Korriban exploded as more and more support personal were needed to keep the Jedi war machine rolling smoothly. When the Brush Fire wars exploded in to the Jedi Civil War, Korriban played an even greater roll. From here Azgardian and Republic military units would be staged before lunching full scale military assaults on Rebel Jedi strongholds throughout the Outer Rim. Many historian believed that without Korriban the length of the Civil War and possibly the entire outcome could have been different.
Throughout the entire Brush Fire wars or the Jedi Civil wars, not once did the Rebel Jedi or their allies threaten the safety of the Korriban system. Though not because of lack of wisdom or strategic vision. A number of times, fleets attempted to make their assault of the key military world that had become Korriban. Each time, the assaults were turned back by Korriban's Jedi led defenders. Like all wars, the Jedi Civil War ran its course and came to an end. With the end of the Civil War, the massive support units that had called Korriban home during both wars packed up their supplies and returned to their home worlds. It didn't take long either for the large number of ships to vanish from orbit and the soldiers to return to their homeworlds as well. Aside for a few minor notes in history Korriban's military importance slipped from public sight. Soon Korriban returned to the state that it was before the Brush Fire Wars. Though, it remained in the Republic's news as the only jail break from the prison took place was reported. One of the most notorious prisoners, General Graff was broken out by the terrorist group known as the Flail. The brought the other importance of Korriban to the public light once more. For Korriban was also home of the well known Jedi Prison.
The Jedi Prison on Korriban was called the Jori Daragon Correctional Facility, named in honor of the human explore turned Jedi Hunter after the Great Hyperspace war, had become a place of renewed hope for those Force Users that had used their powers for greed or darkness. When a Force User was sentenced to Korriban is was believed that they would never return from it. This was largely a misunderstood myth. In fact well over half of the inmates sent to Korriban would receive some of the best counseling that the Jedi could provide. Two thirds of all inmates sent to Korriban would be helped back to a better path. In the words of Jedi Hunter Jori Daragon during the opening ceremony of the Prison named after her, “When I had to hunt down my own brother, Gav Daragon, there was no place like this back then for him to be imprisoned. Just a few years ago, for Force Users like my brother, there was no hope of turning back from the dark side. There was no safe place to hold them where society would be protected from him. Because of this, his sentence was death and carried out at the tip of my own blade. I hope, from the deepest parts of my heart that this facility will save countless others before they cross that final line and are no longer savable, like my brother, Gav.” It would be promise that would be kept by the tens of thousands of Jedi Masters and non-Jedi counselors who would serve the facility over the hundreds of years the prison would be in operation.
With the fall of both the Jedi and the Republic, Korriban tried to hold on. For almost fifty years after the Great Fall, the Tingel Command formed what was called the Tingel Protectorate. However as resources became harder and harder to come by, the Protectorate finally was disbanded. The Tingel Command remained in operation till Korriban was invaded by Tion Hegemony. These once allies during the Tingel Protectorate days proved to be powerful enemies of the Tingel Command. The Tion Hegemony had the Tingel Command out shipped and manned nearly twenty to one. Korriban's reputation made her a very appealing prize for the Hegemony. To their lack of foresight, the Tion Hegemony didn't realize the quality of soldiers that came with thousands of years of traditions and training doctrines. The battles between the two Outer Rim powers were intense and pushed both sides past their breaking points. The nearly hundred year war drove both powers to destruction, however it saw the Hegemony's military completely wiped out. Though in victory, Tingel Command and Korriban didn't make out much better. Without the Republic to replace lost warships, equipment and personal, the Tingel Command was in all senses dead after the war. They tried to hold on as one faction or another would move through the area. By the end of the first century, Korriban had become nothing more than a minor point of interest by the remaining local powers. Beyond the Outer Rim, Korriban was all but forgotten by all outside of the region.
The world had officially changed hands between regional powers nearly sixty times. However these events only occurred as lines on maps were redrawn after wars. Very rarely did anyone ever land of Korriban to lay physical claim to the world. There had been so little activity on Korriban that many actually thought it was a dead world. That remained the case till the eleventh century and the raise of the Telos Republic. Near the end of the eleventh century, the Telos Republic was facing a pirate and slaver crisis. It didn't take Telos long to follow the pirates to their secret base on Korriban. The pirates barely put up a fight and the base was captured. The Telos Republic built an outpost on Korriban's southern continent. From here, they were able to effectively deal with future pirate problems. Reports back to the Telos Congress reflected a long lost culture on Korriban that offered little or no real value to the Telos Republic itself. Over flights were ordered of the northern continent where this culture was discovered. Several ruined cities were mapped as well as ruins of military bases that had long been looted. During the twelfth and fourteenth century a groups of researchers ventured deep in to the northern continent to explore the ruins. These explorations yelled very little to offset the massive costs involved in the explorations themselves. For all the costs and efforts all that was learned was that these ruins were part of a forgotten cultured that once belonged to the Great Republic. Just as some clues started were starting to be answered, a sudden stop occurred when an entire research team vanished without a trace. Current explorations of the continent were stopped and future explorations were banned. From that point on the only people on Korriban were just a few hundred naval and support personal assigned to an isolated outpost on the southern continent were the only known inhabitants of this otherwise dead world, known as Korriban.
This was how Korriban remained till just a few weeks ago. Alarms were sounded in that isolated outpost as a fleet arrived in orbit over the planet. The patrol ships were dispatched to investigate the new comers to the system. The ships bore strange markings and didn't match anything in the Telos records. The warning was sent out throughout the Telos Republic of the possible invaders. The patrol ships made contact with the fleet and they found out that the fleet belonged to the Galactic Republic. Prior to their arrival, the Telos Republic had all but forgotten about the Galactic Republic and had no idea of what was going on outside of their region of space. There were a few tense moments till Chancellor Murl made contact with the Outpost Commander. After being invited down to Korriban, Chancellor Murl and his staff took a shuttle down to the Outpost. Chancellor Murl had played the part of visiting dignitary perfectly. Within days of his arrival to Korriban, he had managed to get most of the Telos Leaders to meet with him on Korriban. They were all skeptical of Chancellor Murl at first but soon they all seemed to warm up to him. Chancellor Murl noticed that the entire population of the Telos Republic were a mix of races, but lacked any humans among the population. Chancellor Murl spent a few days speaking with the leadership of the Telos Republic while his staff talked with the military officers of the Outpost and other ships that arrived. The first days were spent collecting valuable data on the Telos Republic. Chancellor Murl learned that the Republic has been hounded by the Jedi and their slaver allies. Most notable was the pirate, Captain Stains. To Chancellor Murl's secret delight, Captain Stains was a human.
Chancellor Murl learned that like most of the Galaxy, the region had been ravaged by war between local powers. Unlike the Core Worlds, this region found a very special solution to their problem. After a unnaturally brutal war, a group of local leaders met to talk about the future. It was a desperate attempt to curb the suffering and death of their own citizens. The leaders talked for months working out the details of this peace. What ended up occurring would become known as the Telos Peace Accords. It was named after the location of the meetings which brought them about. Unlike other Accords, this one was drafted to grow in to something greater than the what it was at first. As the months turned in to years, the Accords brought the local powers closer together. First they were bound through trade and continued to grow in to what it is today. The Telos Republic, in all sense of the ideals is a smaller copy of what the Republic was during its Golden Years. They continued to grow and invite other local powers to join them. Some did while others didn't. It was the Jedi that blocked much of their growth by organizing rivals against the Telos Republic. Captain Stains and his all human pirate fleet quickly became a thorn against the Republic. It was directly because of Captain Stains actions is the reason why the outpost on Korriban was built. Chancellor Murl saw his opening and played his cards nearly perfectly to work the way he needed.
Chancellor Murl explained the situation within the Core Worlds and talked of the Human empire known as the Reich. He explained how they were invading their neighbors and forcing the non-human populations off their own homeworlds. This fact alone had won over the leaders of the Telos Republic. Chancellor Murl pushed his cards even further. He explained how the Reich used other non-human races, like the Dorins, in their evil plans. He had more than enough photos to show evidence of this. The most damning were of the refugee camps along the Free Worlds Council boarders and the suffering of innocent civilians. When asked about other non-Reich humans, Chancellor Murl answered with this, “Yes there are a some humans that have seen the light and realized the mistakes of their human leaders. But in our experience, we have learned through personal experience that humans tend to stay loyal to their evil leaders. Some can be trusted. But we have to be very sure as to where we place our trust.” In the end, Chancellor Murl got what he wanted and needed. The Telos Republic saw the embattled Galactic Republic as a cause worth supporting. They agreed to provide both ships and troops to help fight back the darkness that is the Reich. Chancellor Murl smiled as they sighed the Articles of the Republic and officially joined the Galactic Republic. He enjoyed the fact that they were able to accept that the humans as an entire race were demonize. He played their fears, simple and good nature against the humans as an entire race.
It was something that Chancellor Murl never thought he could have pulled off but there it was. The leaders of the Telos Republic not only accepted what he said, they saw him as a near god like figure. He enjoyed the feeling that came with it and more importantly used the new status by asking them for the world of Korriban. He trumped up a story of needing a place to train soldiers out of reach of the Human empire. That other training areas were prime targets for the humans to attack. The Telos Republic couldn't sign the document fast enough to please Chancellor Murl and further the goals of the Galactic Republic. All of this played very well in to Chancellor Murl's plans. Once more everything was working just the way he needed it to go. By mid November, the last of the Telos military had departed Korriban and the first wave of new recruits were coming in from Shan'a'duna space. All of this gave Daz the image that he needed to continue to his original goal for coming to Korriban. He made sure that only non-human recruits were trained on Korriban. He made sure that those being trained on Korriban would know just who has caused the pain and suffering in the Galaxy. He would ensure that his message would be the only message that they would take home to their fellow soldiers. Chancellor Murl knew that hate was a powerful tool and was learning how to use it in others. Korriban would become a place where his new found hatred of the Humans would be spread. He had more then enough reason to hate the Humans, after all it was a human that murdered Swip in cold blood. From here, he would ensure that they would pay for this crime. Now that this was emplace he turned to the real reason why he came to Korriban, the ruins of the Jedi Prison. He waited till all of the eyes were no longer watching him, then and only then did Chancellor Murl finally made his move.
Chancellor Murl already knew that Korriban was not the dead world that the Telos leaders thought it was. In fact Chancellor Murl knew that Telos owed more to Korriban than it owed to any other world. Through the continued teachings of Makarov, Chancellor Murl was able to learn of the location of three communities on Korriban. Though each offered their own obstruction to his plans, he was not concern himself with the first two. The last one was the only one that stood directly in his way. He used Sister Dar'rus, an associate of Makarov's and Lord Murl's, to convince the Church to have Chancellor Murl take a few Knight Rose teams with him on this mission. He informed them that the first two communities were linked by some kind of pack. He explained that the first was a Sabbat group that used this world as a staging area to operate in the region and threaten the Church. He told them that the second, a group of druids, would stop at nothing to protect the Sabbat. Chancellor Murl insured that the Knight Roses had enough information to ensure that they would be victorious but kept back enough to ensure that their losses would be high. He calculated that it was a better way to further weaken the Church by ensuring that they continued to fight the Sabbat. He offered them something that the Church never had before. A way to find the Sabbat when they reached out through the Force. Chancellor Murl justified his actions by comparing the Knight Roses as the same level of murders as the Sabbat. For him, it no longer matter who the individual was. Rather they were light or dark, if they belonged to either organization, they were just as guilty as the whole. He removed their individuality from the groups they served. The druids were just icing on the cake for Chancellor Murl. They were just one less problem to deal with. Especially if Master Visst somehow showed up. He knew that they would be lured in to following Master Visst and would betray him. By removing the Druids, it removed a possible ally of Master Visst. The last community had been the ancestors of the original guards and support personal of the prison. They offer Chancellor Murl the largest problem and had to be dealt with personally.
Though it turned out killing off the guards of the prison was much easier than Chancellor Murl had thought. When his forces arrived, they rushed out to greet the Republic forces as returning friends. If Chancellor Murl had more time, he might have tried to turn them like he did with the Telos. Sadly he simply didn't have to the time to vest in that endeavor. He waited for the large community to gather at the landing port. They were smiling and waving old Republic symbols in the air. It appeared that they were waiting for the Republic to return one day. Chancellor Murl was not going to disappoint them. Once he was sure that the majority of the community had shown up, he gave the order. His troops opened fire on the guards of the prison. Adults and children were all cut down by the massive rapid flood of weapon's fire. Chancellor Murl allowed his Captain of the guard to finish off those that had escaped the massacre while he continued on to his true goal. He had a time table which the Telos Republic had wasted. He didn't even care enough to help in the murdering of the guards. They continued towards the large underground holding centers. The large sealed blast doors offered little hindrance to Chancellor Murl and his mastery over the Force. Though the act did trigger alarms to ring out that could have ruined his plans.
Across Korriban and in to space, a signal was released. It traveled at slightly faster than the speed of light as it rode the hyperspace lines. One such signal rang out at the Tingel Command Headquarters. Deep within a massive military complex, a light started to flash and a buzzing sound was heard. The cobwebs over the light told the story as the underground complex had not been manned for hundreds of years. The light and buzzer sounded in an empty command center. At the same time an alarm signal raced its way back to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. The structure had been blasted to pieces by the Azgardian navy when they turned Coruscant in to the rubbled world it is today. Ships on patrol would have heard the signal if they were still there. Local authorities would have heard the signal if they knew to listen for it. Even after the massacre, still the guards fought a desperate battle to defend their prison against these invaders. Some even attempted to sound a secondary alarm as their ancestors had taught them in just this situation. They placed their hope in the fact that someone out there would be hear the alarm being sounded. That someone would come to the rescue. The system that had been created to warn the galaxy of what was about to happen worked perfectly. It was the galaxy that had stopped listening for that warning. In the end, Chancellor Murl had the prison to himself as he lead his team deep in to the prison.
Walking down the dark corridors of the prison made Daz remember how the Jedi once was. The images of long forgotten Jedi Master hung along the walls. They were the proud defenders of the Republic. They had stood for peace and justice in the galaxy. He knew many of their stories, these were the great Hunters of the Jedi Order. Legends of greatness, “Behold my friends, we are walking where legends once walked. We all should be honored to be here.” he said with pride in both his voice and heart. Though now they were only long forgotten legends. Why had they become forgotten legends? two words 'Master Visst' Daz thought coldly. Master Visst had weakened the Jedi to a point that they could no long serve their mission and protect the galaxy. Back then when Daz was not as knowledgeable as he is now, he had allowed himself to buy in to the lies Master Visst was selling. Back then, Master Visst had promised so much and delivered on none of them. It was Master Visst who started to demilitarize the Jedi and further weaken them. The down fall of the Jedi was all of Master Visst's doing. Daz knew this to be a fact. The future and past were all to clear to Daz now.
It was because of Master Visst's suggestion that Daz trusted the Sabbat. As a result, Swip paid the price for that misplaced trust. Daz paused as her face crossed his mind. He loved her so much and missed her even more. Daz gazed up at the darkened ceiling to hide the pain on his face. While she had been murdered, there was hope of saving her. The Book had a power that could have brought her back from the dead. Makarov told him that Lord Murl used the same power to save his beloved. Daz searched the Force and found truth in what Makarov told him. Surprisingly, Daz found allot of truth in what Makarov told him. He tried to find the book but Master Visst beat him to it. Before, sure Daz would have listened to Master Visst. But now that Master Visst destroyed the book, Daz could never forgive Visst for that. It was clear to him now. 'Master Visst did it on purpose to prevent me from saving Swip' Daz thought with such a hatred that even he was surprised he held. Visst never once told him of his plans for the book. Not once did Master Visst even reach out to Daz about the book. They could have worked together on finding it. It was the last straw that Daz felt break in his heart. It was the finally act that Daz could no longer ignore. At one time he had called Master Visst friend, mentor and even Master. 'No more' Daz promised himself then added, 'i swear, Visst will suffer just like he has made me suffer! I will deny him what he has denied me' Daz already had his list of names, but Makarov insisted that it was not the right time for revenge.
“Sir?” One of Daz's aides said quietly. The statement snapped Daz back to the moment and helped clear his mind. The hatred was still there, but he was able to focus on the task at hand. “Are you okay?” the aide asked.
Daz cleared the hatred from his mind as he turned to his aide, “I am fine. There are a number of very dark beings here. The darkness can easily be felt by me.” Daz turned toward the direction that they were heading and continued. He could make out the large blast doors at the end. Daz needed this mission to be successful if his next mission was going to work. In time he knew that he would have to face the Church and needed powerful army of force users to do it. The Church was not going to be an easy nut to crack. However, Master Visst did teach Daz one important lesson. To wait for the timing to be just right. The Church will fall when the time is right. Just like Master Visst will pay for what he did, when the time is right. Daz's communicator sounded and Daz activated his ear piece. He didn't want those around him, hearing what he was being told.
“Sir, we have confirmed that the Knight Roses have eliminated both the Druid community and the Sabbat Enclave. There are Knight Rose survivors. Only a few though. The battle against the two were much more than the Knight Rose's had expected. The Knight Rose survivors are returning to our ships.” The briefing came from his Captain of the Guard, Commander Fitish. Fitish, a Togruta, was a highly trained slave soldier of the Varl. Daz had tested his loyalty recently and was pleased to see the man's loyalties were sound.
“Commander, you know your orders. Please make sure that you follow them.” He had already talked to Commander Fitish about what was to come. The report was only to ensure that Daz knew what was going on before it happened. Daz had already ensured that none of the Knight Roses were going to leave this world, alive.
“Yes Sir, they will be taken care of. We have eliminated the remaining members of the guard force. A number of family members were also discovered and captured. What shall we do with them?”
Daz thought about the situation as he walked towards the large doors. He had not considered taking prisoners back with him. While he could trust his men to keep their mouths shut, he couldn't trust these prisoners. “Commander, we simply don't have room for that.” Daz gave the coded order, “You will have to leave that behind.” The first part means what ever they were talking about before would have to be killed. The second phrase meant that no one was to over see the act.
“Yes, we will ensure that your orders are followed.” Commander Fitish said without a second thought.
Finally Daz stood at the large blast doors. He looked at them as he felt the darkness trapped deep inside the prison. 'One step at a time' Daz thought to himself. He turned to his group and nodded, “It is time for us to get what we came here for.” he said calmly and without emotions. He turned to face the large doors and drew upon the Force and aid from Makarov. He reached out through the Force and pulled the mighty blast doors apart. Sparks flew as the doors and its supports fought against the actions that Daz was forcing on them. Slowly the doors started to part and the vacuum that had been in the chamber for over two thousand years finally tasted fresh air. A loud rushing sound was heard as the doors were force further apart. Daz smiled at the power of his will. This was something that he could not have achieved before he left Master Visst's teachings. The Doors continued to part as Daz forced his will upon them. He felt the metal bending and yielding to his command. Soon the doors were fully forced opened. He turned back to his group once more, “Lets go” he said moving in to the darkness of the chamber.
On the bridge, late night duty was a thing that just came with being a lower officer. Lieutenant Dal Yic'ish looked over the operations of the ship has she sped on her way from Reich occupied space. The cloaking device was working fine as they were moving from hyperspace point to the next one. The ship was at a state of yellow alert because they were still deep within enemy lines. The other crew members on the bridge went about their duties normally as lieutenant Yic'ish walked the bridge. His whole life, this is what he wanted, command of a warship. And because of a remarkable stroke of luck, here he was. lieutenant Yic'ish walked from one side of the bridge to the other. He didn't mind the late night watch, as he already figured. It just came with being a lower officer. It was the chair that he truly wanted and would do what it takes to get it. He walked over to the Captains chair and took his place in it. “Status report please” he said in a commanding voice.
The two junior officers sighed, “Sir, as we told you an hour ago. All systems are normal. We have nothing new to report.” They hated being on late night watch with lieutenant Yic'ish. They saw him as an over achiever and mistook his pride in his own duties as snobbish. None of the Third Shift Watch saw him as a bad officer or person. Just that he took too much pride in the simple duties of babysitting the ship on third shift.
Lieutenant Yic'ish smiled, “Good, I shall ask for the report again in one hour. Just as the regulations call for.” Lieutenant Yic'ish stood up and walked towards the back of the Bridge, “anyone would like some coffee or a drink?” He loved his fellow Watchmen, as he called them. He believed that no Captain would be great without a great crew behind him. These men and women who served with him were the best on the ship. And he knew that they each respected him. It was the nature of their relationship. None of them replied as he poured his own cup of coffee. A beeping sound broke the silence.
The Communications Officer turned in her chair, “I can't believe I am saying this, but I have something to report!” the Twi'lek said as she turned back to her station.
Lieutenant Yic'ish rushed to her station and watched over her shoulder, “What the hell is that?” he questioned as they started to read the screen.
Emergency Action Message: Stygian Caldera, Esstran sector, Horuset system
Flash Message Intercept: Alarm Events Received
Event Log: Alarm Event from Jori Daragon Correctional Facility, Code 104
Event Log: Alarm Event from Jori Daragon Correctional Facility, Code 085
Event Log: Alarm Event from Jori Daragon Correctional Facility, Code 101
Event Log: Alarm Event from Jori Daragon Correctional Facility, Code 013
End Flash Message
End Emergency Action Message
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