Chapter One: New Journey

[Akirapryde]

Chapter One: New Journey
Post One: A New World
Core World of Alderaan
The 1st Galactic Empire
Date: Days before the Battle of Yavin

The snowcapped Juran Mountains loom across the horizon. Despite the warm temperatures, crisp cool air swoops down from the mountains. Through the mountain pass, an air speeder whipped through the scene. Tree tops bent as the air speeder rocketed passed at tree top levels. The air speeder cleared the trees as slowly descended over a mountain side lake. Ripples on the water followed the air speeders sped its way towards a lone cottage on the other side of the lake.

As the speeder approached the long dock, it started to slow down. The speeder started to spin in the air as a side door slid open. Even before the speeder landed, a figure leaped from the craft and rushed in to the cottage. While his garb was more Alderaanian, the lightsaber on his hip slipping from under his clothing indicated his true identity.

The door swung open as Nontho Truer walked in to the small cottage, a female Twi'lek rose from her chair. “Master Nontho” she said in surprise to his arrival. Like Nontho, she wore a lightsaber on her hip. These two weapons of the Jedi Order were two of the four lightsabes the entire group had.

Nontho Truer was not a true Jedi Master so to speak. However, as the ranking Jedi, the others often referred to him as Master. What made Nontho Truer special was the fact that he was one of very few remaining persons alive who had been trained within the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. At the time of the historical betrayal of the Jedi Order, Nontho Truer was only a Padawan of unremarkable talent but with superb ability to find trouble. Padawan Nontho and a lone astromech droid were ordered to travel to the Mid-Rim to pick up a group of younglings and escort them to Coruscant when Order 66 had been issued.

Spared the horrors of Order 66 because of what had been seen as a punishment Truer was unaware of the trap he was leading his charges in to on their return trip. When Truer’s transport exited hyperspace as it was approaching Coruscant he detected Master Obi-Wan’s warning of the trap waiting them. It was at that moment Truer ordered the transport to conduct radio silence and flee Coruscant. It wasn’t long till Truer discovered the lies of the Empire and the fate of his beloved Order. After wondering the core worlds for days, Truer found safe harbor on Alderaan.

Since that fateful week, Nontho Truer set out, more from guilt than anything else, to ensure that the teachings of the Jedi were not lost. Gone was the screw-up Padawan, and Truer reinvented himself in to a Jedi that the Order could be proud of. Using Holocorms that he was bringing back to the temple, Nontho continued his own training as well as carrying on with the training of the younglings.

Protected by the extreme elites of Alderaan, Nontho and the other children became a closely guarded secret across Alderaan. Often known as the School because of the lack of adults, Nontho and the children existed in shadow of the Empire for years. As the Empire started to clamp down on those who were force sensitive, many powerful families searched for places to hide their children. It was come to pass that Alderaan’s secret School would become save haven for these children as well.

“Nalan,” Nontho said with haste in his voice. “We have to get them ready to leave,” he said to the Twi’lek.

Knight Nalan Passik had a look of shock on her face as she stood there for a moment. Like Nontho, Nalan was only a Padawan who had just started training with her Master when Order 66 was issued. During that fateful day, she and her Master were returning from the Jedi Temple on Lothal. It wasn’t long till Imperial forces were on the pair’s tail. After dodging Clone pursuit for days, the pair were forced to set down on Pantolomin in hopes of repairing their ship. It was on Pantolomin that Clone troopers caught up with the pair. After a heroic battle, Nalan’s Master gave his life so that Nalan could escape Pantolomin.

It was because of a fateful encounter with noble family, Nalan heard about the School on Alderaan. She was expecting to find a well-established Jedi Enclave on Alderaan. Instead, she found Nontho and a rag tag group of children. Nalan saw in the eyes of these children the future of the Jedi Order, and chose to remain and help Nontho with training.

The look of concern crossed Knight Passik’s face, “what is going on?”

“The Empire is coming” Nontho said as he walked over to a cabinet and opened it. “I had a vision while I was in town. I saw a dark cloud slowly engulfing Alderaan,” he explained as he pulled a small case from cabinet and carried over to a table. After he set the case on the table he continued to walk over to a door and opened it. “Padawans” he commanded and motioned them to enter the room, “please join us.” They left their tablets behind as they moved in to the center room.

As the Padawans gathered around the center room, Nontho walked in to the room and picked up a Holocron that was on a table in the room. Nontho continued, “Within that cloud I saw a large dark moon filled with hate and evil. It was coming for Alderaan and if we don’t leave, our fates will end here. We have to leave Alderaan before the Empire arrives.”

Knight Passik nodded, “okay” she said then turned back to their charges. Seen as the only mother many of them had ever known, Passik carried a great deal of respect among the Padawans. “We are going to relocated. I need everyone to get their things packed up” she said. With that, the Padawans moved for their rooms. While they were packing Knight Passik turned back to Nontho, “so um, where are we going to go?”

Nontho opened up the case to reveal five Jedi Holocrons. He placed the sixth Holocron with the others. “I have heard rumors about a place in the Outer Rim. Yavin," he said calmly. "we will find safe haven on Yavin.”

“Yavin? Are you sure,” Knight Passik questioned.

Nontho closed a locked the case, “no, I am not sure. The vision is confusing” he said as he took the case and walked over to her. “I do know that Alderaan is doomed. Those I have spoken with friends back on Coruscant, there are whispers that the Emperor has grown tired of Alderaan.”

She put her hand over her mouth, “you don’t think the Empire will invade Alderaan.”

The look of dread on his face answered her question. He lifted the case and handed it to her, “I need you to protect this case with your life.” He looked in to her eyes with complete trust. “The future of the Jedi Order might be in this very case.”

She knew that he had spent the past decade hunting down these Holocrons and safe guarding them. For Nontho, collecting these Holocrons had become a personal mission to safe the teachings of the Jedi Order. He had used them to help train the younglings as well as to continue their own training. Nontho’s determination to continuing the ideals of the Jedi Order was just another reason why the small group of refugees referred to him as Master. This simple act of handing her the case was more than significant. It spoke volumes to the seriousness that Nontho took the situation.

“I have contacted Nines” Nontho said speaking of the groups droid. Nines or R9-N9 was the Astromech droid originally assigned with Nontho on his fateful mission that would spare him the horrors of Order 66. In all truth, Nines was much like Nontho and Knight Passik, a refugee and survivor of the long lost Jedi Order. “He is getting the ship ready to depart” he said calmly. “You must safe guard the case and the Padawans” he said then reached out and grabbed her arm. “Promise” he urged as he held her arm.

Nervous now, Knight Passik nodded, “yes, I promise Master.”

After hearing her promise, he let go of her arm and gave her a nod. On that note he turned and started to walk for the door. “I will be waiting outside for you guys. Make haste, I don’t know how long we have before the Empire arrives.”

As Nontho walked out of the small cottage he saw a second air speeder on the ground. It must have just landed because the armed group were just making their way towards the cottage. Nontho knew who they were as they walked up. “Bounty Hunters” he said softly as he made sure that his lightsaber remained out of site. They had tried to hide their true objective but Nontho knew one of the men as a well-known and respected bounty hunter. He was Giui Catulos. The man was no fan of the Jedi or the Empire. He worshiped the all mighty credit and that was it. More importantly, Giui was thorough to a fault. This was probably the reason why there wasn’t stroomtroopers storming the cottage. Giui most likely wanted to verify the group was here before calling in the Empire.

Nontho knew all too well that the Empire had placed a bounty on any Jedi who survived. He held his near his lightsaber as he turned to intercept the new group. “Greetings Friends” he yelled towards them as he waved with his other hand. At the moment the five bounty hunters appeared more relaxed and that was where Nontho wanted them. ‘That’s right, be calm, be relaxed’ he thought as he calmly walked out to meet the bounty hunters.

At the same time, he activated his communicator which was hidden just below his collar. Being under the ever present threat of the Empire Nontho had been to become a bit paranoid. “Passik!” he whispered as he slowed his pace towards the bounty hunters. “There is no time. Get everyone out through the back door now,” he commanded. His voice left little room for debate. Being paranoid as he was, he had long built a secret tunnel, called the back door. This tunnel ran three hundred meters to a hidden cave where their second air speeder was hidden.

He continued to whisper “I will buy you guys time to escape. Get to the ship!”

He heard in his ear Knight Passik’s voice filled with fear, “what about you?”

The distance was closing as Nontho walked right towards the bounty hunters. “Don’t wait for me. Get to the ship and head for Yavin. I will meet you guys there.” With that, he flicked off his small communicator.

“So how can I help you guys?” Nontho said trying to remain calm.

The bounty hunters laughed as the group of five formed a half circle. If Nontho had actually been a real Jedi Master, the five bounty hunters wouldn’t have stood a chance. However, seeing how Nontho barely had the training of a Knight, this was more of a fair fight. A fact that Nontho wasn’t happy with. Giui placed his hand on the grip of his blaster but didn’t draw it. “So I hear that there are Jedi hiding out here,” Giui said coldly. A protégé of Cad Bane, Giui knew how to deal with Jedi.

“Jedi?” Nontho said trying to play it off and failing at it. “No….no Jedi here”

“His lying!” one of Giui men said. The man looked more like a droid than a man. Under his hat was a highly sophisticated electronic ease dropping gear. “He ordered the others to head out the back door!”

Before Giui or his men could react, Nontho reached out with the force and picked up his own air speeder. With sheer force of will, Nontho hurled the air speeder at the bounty hunters’ speeder. The massive explosion caught even Giui by surprise. The blast knocked all five bounty hunters off their feet. He didn’t expect the young Jedi to act so rashly. “That was foolish” Giui said as he looked behind him to see his air speeder was in flames.

“yeah, I know,” Nontho said as he reached for his lightsaber, “but I was never known for level headed thinking or rational actions.” On that note, Nontho activated his lightsaber and prepared for battle.

The sound of the explosion told Knight Passik that things behind them had turned serious. With the group of padawan’s ahead of her, she rushed the group down the tunnel. Her eyes filled with tears as she so badly wanted to turn around and run to Nontho’s side. As she ran down the tunnel she held the case tightly to her chest. Her lightsaber illuminated the path before them as they ran down the dark, wet tunnel. Before long the sounds of combat were nothing more than a distorted echo behind them. For a moment, Knight Passik thought that the battle was over. However, when she reached the exit of the tunnel, she could hear the sounds of combat in the distance.

Before she allowed the padawan’s to move forward, Knight Passik searched the surrounding area. Master Nontho had made sure that they practiced such evacuations monthly. Master Nontho had never hid his fear of the Empire coming to Alderaan for them. He had always made sure that they were ready for this very day. That practice was now paying off. Knight Passik searched the area before motioning for the padawans to follow her to the air speeder that was hidden under camouflage. Even though battle was several kilometers away, Knight Passik still used all the skill she could to keep the padawan’s quiet as they readied the speeder for takeoff.

Once the air speeder was ready, Knight Passik took the controls and brought the machine to life. Within seconds Knight Passik pushed the controls and air speeder rose in to the air. As they cleared the tree tops Knight Passik could see the wreckage of the two air speeders by the cottage that had been their home for nearly two decades. She could also see the combat between Nontho and the bounty hunters. It was clear that Nontho wasn’t holding his own against the bounty hunters. A tear slowly dripped down from her eye as Knight Passik turned the speeder away from the desperate struggle and pressed the throttle.

With the bounty hunters behind them, Knight Passik pressed the air speeder for a nearby cavern system. As the air speeder rocketed through the mountain passes, Passik kept the speeder low to avoid further detection. She turned the speeder hard in to the mouth of the large cave. As she turned on the lights of the speeder the form of a large old Consular-class space cruiser took shape.

Knight Passik didn’t even wait to power down the speeder, “Everyone OUT!” she commanded to the children and teenagers under her care. “Get to the ship!” she added. While they had drilled this before, never once had the situation or urgency been so clear in her voice. Knight Passik rushed behind them ensuring that no one was left behind.

Halfway to the ship, Knight Passik grabbed her stomach as if something hammered her with enough force to cause Knight Passik to fall to her knees. She couldn’t put her finger on the source of the pain she now felt. Her eyes watered as she felt loss like never before. She fought for breath trying to cope with the feelings that surged through her. She fought to get back to her feet as her eyes watered. She leaned forward desperately trying to get up, only to land back on her hands. The waves of sadness and loss were unbearable for her to cope with. It was in that moment Knight Passik realized the source of the pain. Master Nontho had been slain!

With time running out, Knight Passik forced herself back to her feet. She ran for the ramp that led in to the ship. “Nines, get us off the ground!” Within moments, the mighty engines of the Consular roared to life. Knight Passik rushed through the ship. She passed her charges along the way to the bridge. “Wait here in the crew lounge and buckle down. This could get rough” she ordered.

It was Mykala who asked, “Wha....what about Master Nontho?” Mykala was a Force Sensitive young noble in hiding with the group of refugees.

Knight Passik paused long enough to look each of them in the eyes. “Master Nontho has been cut down by agents of the Empire” she explained with sadness in her heart. She reached forward and handed the case, the single most valuable thing the group owns, to Elden.

Elden was the oldest of the Padawans and one of the original younglings brought to Alderaan by Master Nontho. Mykala on the other had was brought to Alderaan by friends of her family at a young age. Their hope was to protect Mykala from the Empire. Both Mykala and Elden had surprised expectations during their training. In keeping with tradition, Master Nontho made the pair their own lightsaber from shards of his own force crystal. The pair wore their lightsabers with pride and used them to help train the others. The two became the mentors and tutors for the rest of the Padawans and other children safe guarded with enclave.

“Elden, safe guard our legacy” she said with trusting words. She then turned to the rest of the group. “We don’t have much time to flee if we wish to avoid the same fate” Knight Passik explained. It was always a fear that the Empire would find them, and now that fear has been realized. “Now go to the crew lounge and get strapped in” ordered once more as she turned for the bridge of the ship.

As Knight Passik reached the bridge, their astromech droid, Nines, already had the ship climbing for space. It was in that moment that Knight Passik froze in fear as she looked out the main window.
“What the hell is that?” she said in terror. As her searched over the large object, her mind attempted to rationalize what she was seeing. If it was a moon, then why was it so close to Alderaan? If it was manmade, who would make such a large thing?

As the droid spoke in its beeps and whistles, a large sphere engulfed the main windows of the ship. It quickly became clear that this was no moon, it was a space station! The sphere was larger than anything they had ever seen before. The pair became transfixed on the massive thing as the small cruiser continued to climb higher away from Alderaan. Horror crossed over Knight Passik’s face as she saw a number of energy beams being emitted out from a point on the sphere. “Nines! Get us out of here!”

The old Republic Cruiser turned trying to escape, its engines glowed white hot. A massive energy beam from the sphere reached out for Alderaan causing the inside of the cruise to actually glow in a blinding green/white light. Screams echoed from the halls of the cruise as everyone was caught by surprise. It was as if light, sound and even time itself came to a stop. As everyone seemed frozen in place, the horrors linked to the death of Alderaan flooded their minds, as the screams of millions were heard then suddenly silenced. At the same time the old cruiser slipped in to hyperspace and vanished from Alderaan.

Sometime later, the sounds of birds chirping in the distance filled the wreckage of the old cruiser. As those who survived started to regain consciousness, it was clear that the cruiser had crash landed somewhere. Sunlight pierced the shadows from where the haul had been ripped open like a tin can. Around the crew lounge, located aft of the flight deck, lights flickered. The doors in the rear of the lounge were dented and buckled from the force of impact. The sounds of burning and heat told the survivors that a fire was building somewhere within the walls of the ship.

Thick smoke hung in the air with the smell of both burnt flesh and wiring chocked the survivors. An account of those alive was taken. To the horrors of the survivors, both Elden and Mykala were dead. Their bodies twisted and burned till they were hardly noticeable as being humanoids. Of the survivors, panic stated to set in as the two oldest and most qualified to lead had been killed in the crash. Calls for Knight Passik echoes only to be answered by the crackling of sparks blowing out from a nearby panel.

From a five-meter-long by quarter meter thin rip in the haul, the sight of a dense jungle could be seen. It was clear that the cruiser was resting precariously along a cliff’s edge. The gaping hole that once was the multi-comm room crushed all hopes of reaching the flight deck. Forward sections of the ship appeared to have been ripped from the cruiser. Walking through the destroyed remains of the multi-comm room, the survivors could easily see the terrain around the wreckage of their cruiser.

From the gapping opening that is the multi-comm room, the survivors could see a large winding river valley far below from where the cruiser was resting. For as far as the eyes could see, thick jungle blanketed the landscape. Far below the ship and half submerged in the river, the Salon Pod could be seen. It was clear that the upper forward section of the ship was still attached to the Salon Pod. Sections of the pod that was not submerged were engulfed in flames. Thick black smoke bubbled up around the Pod indicating that the fires consumed the entire section. The forward section of the cruiser had been crushed under the weight of the pod when they both landed in the river below.

Looking back towards the remains of the cruiser, flames from fuel had spread across the skin of the ship, threating to cook those inside alive. Any possible escape by leaping down to the valley below would be suicide. Crossing the surface of the ship was impossible due to the flames and heat. With toxic smoke slowly filling the crew lounge, escape has become a matter of life or death. Through the smoke and flames, a path to escape is spotted.

The starboard docking ring had been ripped open from the crash and was currently shielded from the fire by the port side engine, which had been ripped from its moorings. The path would not be easy, but must be follow if survival is to be assured. The survivors much climb two levels down via the remains of the lift located at the rear of the lounge. Transition through the port side mid-deck corridor to the rear of the cruiser would be hard because of the heat but not impossible. Then cross the ship between the two docking rings and exit the cruiser through the starboard docking ring. It is the only way to escape the ship and survive the crash!

[Akirapryde]

Master Undull slowly walked in to the class room, “greetings, my able students” the male Mirialan said as he walked slowly over to the desk. “Today is a very busy day. We will be going over the Azgardian/Mandalorian War and how this conflict helped shape the Republic as we know it today.”

He stopped at his desk, “Before we continue, we have four new students. They are, Gadeon Halvran, Unna Chaanu, Ashla Marr, and lastly, Auro Syrdash.” He said pointing out the entire party of four. “I am sure you all will make our new arrivals feel welcome.”

He drew in a deep breath, “now, allow us to move on to the lesson. Take notes for everything you learn today will be tested.”

He leaned on his desk as he folded his arms before him, “Tell me, can anyone please tell me the year the Azgardian/Mandalorion War took place.” Lysire’s arm shot up and he let out a sigh, “Lysire…..”

Lysire stood up with pride, “the first in a series of violent engagements begin in the year Thirteen Sixty-Four, Before the Order of Korriban.”

“Good,” he said as he raised his hand to stop her. “This war erupted after a large group of Mandalorian raiders conducted a successful surprise raid in to Azgard space. They hit three Azgardian colonies. Prior to this date, no one had explored this region of space. From reports of the era, it is likely the Mandalorians were not looking for the Azgardians at the time of the raid. Still, there were rumors of a great warrior that could rival even the Mandalorians of old. It is possible that they were in fact looking for the Azgardians after all. We will never know the truth.”

“What we do know, is that this raid triggered a violent war between the two cultures that raged across serval star system. Despite how wide spread the death and destruction was, the conflict never entered in to either side’s home system. The vast majority of the battles took place in and around the Vjun and Gala systems. Both systems suffered greatly due to these conflicts. As the war took its course, both sides started to wear themselves out. Despite neither side willing to accept an official end to the war the fighting started to burn its self out. Can anyone tell me when history marks the end of fighting.”

Once more Lysire raised her hand and he smiled, “Lysire….”

“History marks the end of the 1st Azgardian/Mandalorian War at, Thirteen Twenty-nine, Before the Order of Korriban.”

He smiled, “good girl. Can anyone else tell me why this date is important.”

A Massassi male raised his hand and was called upon by the name, Xhan, “This date marks one year to the day when the last Azgardian or Mandalorian warship or unit was spotted by either Vjun or Gala.”

The old teacher nodded, “yes, neither side accepted an end to the war. They simply withdrew back to their respected space. And a year later, the war was reported official over. Not that the Republic would know any better. At this time, the Republic had little interest in this region of space.

He looked over the class as his smile faded. “This was not the end of the conflict though. Anyone tell me when fighting resumed?”

A young Twi’lek raised her hand, “Um…..Eight, thirty five.” There was uncertainty in her voice.

He looked at her and shook his head, “no little one. But close. Eight thirty-nine, Before the Order of Korriban.” He took a pause before continuing. “In Eight thirty-nine, a group of Azgardian warships cornered a Mandalorian fleet near the Vjun system. The exchange was short and the ill-prepared Mandalorian were decimated. Only a handful of Mandalorian ships managed to escape the battle. This battle reignited the conflict and once more the two sides went to war. Just like the war before the majority of the battles were fought in the Vjun and Gala systems. And like before nether side could claim any measure of victory.”

He paused before adding, “can anyone tell me when this conflict ended?” he said looking right at young Twi’lek.

She raised her hand and he called upon her, “Seven fifty-seven?” she said with more of a question in her voice than any measure of fact.

He nodded, “yes, that is correct. And ten years later, rumors of this conflict finally reached the Republic. Rumors of two great warrior races throwing everything that they could at each other started to make their ways around the parties on Coruscant. Oh such wondrous stories of grand battles delighted Senators and Nobles of Coruscant. Sadly, these wondrous and grand stories were far too real. The suffering was far too real. Only if those with power at the time had listened to these stories and saw the death and destruction that was leveled across the Vjun and Gala systems.”

“These rumors didn’t warrant even a single debate in the Great Senate. Ten times the Great Senate was urged to send diplomatic missions to the region to find out what was going on. Despite this AND urgings from the Jedi, the Republic failed to do anything. This was such an unimportant region of space and the Republic was distracted with internal issues. History will record this moment in Republic history as a great missed opportunity to stop bloodshed before it started. When brave men and women fail to act, horrors WILL follow!”

He fell silent as he scanned the class, “And tell me, what is coming?”

Lysire shot her hand up and was called upon. “The third Azgardian/Mandalorian Wars. But this is a lie.”

He waved his hand and cut her off, “a lie? Dangerous words to speak of history.” The instructor’s voice was harsh, “explain yourself young Lysire.”

Lysire’s eyes didn’t faint as she stood her ground, “Instructor, despite what history writes. The war between Azgard and Mandalor was never truly over. Each world, each culture holds traditions regarding warfare dearly. Nothing short of the complete destruction of the other would cause the war to end. This didn’t happen yet so to call these wars, separate is to place forward a lie. The Azgardian/Mandalorian War which started in thirteen sixty-four, Before the Order of Korriban was still ongoing all the way up to the Great Hyperspace War.”

The instructor smiled and nodded his head, “well well, it would appear someone has done her reading. Know your enemies. Almost as important as important as knowing yourself. Fail to know either and you will always know defeat. A lesson the Republic is about to learn.” He waited a moment then continued, “When did hostilities between the Azgard and Mandalor resume.

A human raised her hand, and was called upon, “what is commonly known as the Third Azgardian/Mandalorian War began on four sixteen Before the Order of Korriban.”

He nodded, “good” he said then got up from the desk and walked towards a display that showed the region of space where Mandalor, Vjun, Gala and Azgard lay. “After decades of buildup, it was time to go to war again. However, this time, Mandalor wouldn’t be alone. After decades of manipulation, Mandalor managed to secure the loyalties of Vjun, Gala, Ar’Kani, Ulish, Quiin and a dozen other worlds between. The Mandalorian Collation was thought to be so grand that it was assumed that Azgard would succumb.”

He smiled and looked at Lysire, “tell me, why is this assumption wrong.”

Lysire nodded as she filled pride, “because while Mandalor’s forces were highly trained warriors, well over the majority of Mandalor’s allies were only part time warriors at best.”

He nodded and looked over at a human male, “tell me how Mandalor was able to amess such a collation.”

The human male shifted his eyes a bit, “because um, well Mandalor did conduct raids on their neighbors, so did Azgard. Mandalor focused their raids on worlds closer to Republic, Azgard directed their raids on worlds closer to home. Mandalor choose their allies from a list of worlds that had been targeted by Azgard in the past.”

The instructor nodded, “A collation of enemies now faced Azgard’s warrior houses.

“A group of ships from Quiin led by Mandalorian warships, conducted a deep raid in to Azgardian space. This raid is rumored to have stuck the Azgardian Temple On High. The single most sacred and cherished sites on Azgard. It was a foolish blunder by the Mandalorians. They didn’t realize what this single raid would unleash. Mandalor didn’t realize that during the past two wars between Mandalor and Azgard, Mandalor only battled a few of the warrior houses of Azgard. This raid caused all the warrior houses of Azgard to be consumed with a kind of hatred that will not be satisfied until all of Mandalor burned.”

He paused a moment as he searched the classroom, “who can tell me when this event occurred?”

The group students looked around as they thought about the answer. It was Lysire who raised her hand and was called upon. “History recorded this raid in four sixteen, Before the Order of Korriban.”

He smiled, “good Lysire. That is correct. It was Warlord Astrid of the Ulfdotter, or Astrid, daughter of the wolf god, who led the Azgardians during this time. She called upon all the Houses of Azgard in to a great war against Mandalor. It wasn’t until much later that the truth of this raid finally came out. During their raid on the Temple on High, it was accused that Mandalor had stolen a priceless scroll. Drawing upon this theft, Warlord Astrid was able to rally all of the Houses of Azgard in to one single war. In Azgardian culture, this was the first time that this happened since the Gods walked on Azgard.”

“Several events took place during this era that are very important that you understand. The warning signs written across the Outer Rim of the coming war. It was the Old Republic’s inability to influence these events that led many to lose faith in the Old Republic. As we learn about this war, we will see the missteps take place. As the influence of the Old Republic becomes more and more degraded we will see the slow raise of the Republic that we know today, the Galactic Republic.”

“On Mandalor, we see the height of Mand'alor power and influence within the Mandalorian culture. It was Mand’alor Almec Vizsla who ordered the raid on Azgard which would lead to war. Almec was the man behind the Mandalorian collation. While there will be a few more Mand’alors after Almec Vizsla, he will be the last Mand’alor of Mandalor to hold any real power.”

“On Azgard we see the ascension of the title ‘Warlord of Azgard.’ Before this time, this title does not show up anywhere in Azgardian culture. Warlord of Azgard was more than just an honorary title. Warlord Astrid created a structure of leadership that would allow her to rule over her people. Hated like no other, Mandalor had unleashed a monster that it couldn’t hope to control or defeat. It is rumored that Warlord Astrid used a great Warhammer to create the Throne of Azgard by hammering the remains of Mandalorian armor together. Under this title, Warlord Astrid was able to unify her people in to a single war effort.”

“After a series of subsequent raids across all Azgardian colonies, Mandalor and their allies regrouped for a final attack on the Azgardian homeworld again. The destruction across Azgardian space was very extensive. It was suspected by Mand’alor Vizsla that these attacks would trigger the Azgardian culture to collapse in on its self. With Azgardian colonies in flames and Azgard once more in the crosshairs, Mand’alor Vizsla wrote that he had brought the end of Mandalor’s most hated enemy.”

“Azgardian warships exploded from Azgardian space seeking vengeance against those who attacked them. This counter attack hit hard and fast while Mandalor’s collation were preparing for the next wave of attacks. Because of its close proximity to Azgard space, the first major battle of this counter-offensive was fought in the system of Ar’Kani. Ar’Kani was a critical forward base of operations for Mandalor and her allies.”

“Mandalor and her allies stood against a fleet of Azgardian ships that was not even half their size. What Mand’alor Vizsla thought would be an easy victory, turned to become his first major defeat. For as courageous as the Ar’Kani fought, they were not on the same caliber as Mandalor or Azgard. Ar’Kani saw staggering losses during the battle for their homeworld. Mandalor warships simply couldn’t hold the lines together.”

“Mandalor and the surviving Ar’Kani were forced to withdraw from the system. This is when the real horrors of the war began. Warlord Astrid ordered the destruction of the Ar’Kani homeworld. On that order, Azgardian warships picked asteroids from within the Ar’Kani system and flung them on to the Ar’Kani homeworld. Three other colonies within the system were also attacked in the same manner.”

“Within a week, the Ar’Kani homeworld was near lifeless as tens of thousands of refugees fled the destruction. To ensure that others knew the price that would be paid, Warlord Astrid allowed these refugee ships to flee the system. She even made sure that they carried a personal message to Mandalor. ‘Death is coming for Mandalor!’ were the words she made sure each and every refugee ship carried with them.”

“With Ar’Kani in flames, the next major battle took place in the Ulish system. Ulish was only a stone’s throw away from Ar’Kani and would be a critical turning point for Mandalor’s war effort. Mand’alor Vizsla led his own personal clan against the Azgardians. Like in the Ar’Kani system, the Ulish fought alongside their allies. Just like with the Ar’Kani, the Azgradians targeted this group in hopes of breaking Mandalor’s lines.”

“Warlord Astrid created a battle tactic that called for a third of her battle units to break off from the main element. Already outnumbered three to one, the move was seen by Mand’alor Vizsla as foolish. As Warlord Astrid’s main lines approached Mand’alor Vizsla’s lines, her break off unit made a highly accurate attack run on the Mandalorian lines.”

“He paused and brought up a map showing two battle lines facing each other. “The move, now called the ‘Azgardian Hop Light,’ brought one third of her ships to conduct a hyperspace maneuver directly in front of the Mandalorian lines. The Azgardian warships exited hyperspace at very close ranges. This maneuver caused chaos among the Mandalorian lines.” The map reflected the new line of warships coming in at close ranges. Warlord Astrid then ordered her own lines to advance on the chaos. As her first line had completed their combat run, they exited the system at light speed.”

Once more the map reflected the change. “This led Mand’alor Vizsla to assume that the current threat was Warlord Astrid’s mainlines. While he fought to regain control of his battle lines, many hired mercenaries fighting alongside of Mandalor turned and fled the battle field. This left holes in Mand’alor Vizsla’s lines. Those fleeing mercenaries would be the first to witness the trap unfolding. As they attempted to flee the battlefield, Warlord Astrid’s first lines returned behind the Mandalorians. There would be no escape from Ulish.”

“As the battle played out, the last of the Ar’Kani fighting ships as well as the Ulish were destroyed in the Ulish system. Mand’alor Vizsla was able to create a hole in the Azgardian lines that allowed some of his ships to escape the slaughter. But the people of Ulish were not so lucky. Like with the Ar’Kani, Warlord Astrid ordered the complete destruction of the system. The Ulish’s homeworld and five colonies were laid to waste just like that. The death toll was so horrid that it could not be hidden. Two of Mandalor’s biggest allies were removed from the war.”

“While the Ar’Kani and Ulish were the largest systems whipped out during the war up to this point, a dozen other worlds suffered similar fates. It became clear that Azgard was out for blood and they were not being picky. Having fled their homeworlds, waves of refugees swarmed for the safety of the Old Republic. Rumors started to reach the Republic Senate of near lifeless worlds and millions of deaths. These rumors triggered a public outcry as the horrors of the conflict were becoming impossible to ignore.”

“According to rumors, both the Ar’Kani and Ulish were driven to near extinction at the hands of the Azgardians. To add insult to injury, Azgardian forces occupied both systems. While the Senate debated the truth of these rumors, reports of more death and destruction were being brought to the Senate. The Republic Senate ordered Jedi Observes to the conflict zone to uncover the truth.”

Jedi Observers were on scene to watch Azgardian warships arrived in to the Gala system. In advance of the Azgardians, the leadership of Gala offered their surrender. Warlord Astrid accepted the surrender and gave instructions to abandon their ships and military bases. At the appointed time, Azgardian warships laid waste to Gala’s military structure overnight. Warlord Astrid personally executed Gala King Lonnag as well as his advisors. This move effectively ended the rule of the Gala monarchy.

As Warlord Astrid’s fleet moved on, another Azgardian fleet forced Vjun to the same fate as Gala. It is important to note that while the destruction on both these worlds was complete, it was limited only to military facilities and members of these world’s leadership. Can anyone one, please tell me why this is important to note.

A human student raised his hand, “because the Azgardian culture is a strict caste system. In removing the military and leadership, they can in their own views justify sparing the remaining members of the population of these two worlds.”

A smile crossed the instructors face, “and what of the Ar’Kani and Ulish who saw their worlds laid to complete waste.” The instructor paused for a moment before challenging the young student, “what was different?” The young human looked down as he thought. Lysire’s hand shot up and the instructor waved her off, “let him think about the answer.”

Final the human boy looked up, “was it because Gala and Vjun both surrendered?”

The instructor nodded, “yes, very good. Because both worlds surrendered. Azgard’s view of justice is very simple. Gala and Vjun had joined the war against Azgard and their military had blood on their hands. However, in surrendering, their leaders had been able to shield the rest of the population from Azgardian justice. This didn’t protect their leaders though. Warlord Astrid ensured that key leaders on both worlds would pay for the Azgardian blood that was shed.”

“A fate that the Quiin King Shoni would do anything to avoid. King Shoni concealed reports from Gala and Vjun as he brought his world’s focus on Ar’Kani and Ulish. King Shoni promised that his people would stand against the Azgardian threat regardless of the cost. Mand’alor Vizsla sent over a hundred warships to support his last ally. The battle for Quiin would be one of the most critical battles in Republic history. Jedi Observers would be on station for the battle and its results would send ripples across the entire Republic.”

“Noting that she was once more outnumbered, Warlord Astrid sent a large number of her forces in an end run maneuver to attack the Mandalorian colony, Concord Dawn. Concord Dawn was only a few light years from Mandalore its self. With much of his forces between Mandalore and Quiin, Mand’alor Vizsla made the fateful decision to pull forces from the front lines to reinforce his lines at Concord Dawn. This left the world of Quiin underdefended. And this was when Warlord Astrid launched her assault on Quiin.”

“The Quiin fought valiantly but couldn’t hold up against the might of the Azgardians. And like the Ar’Kani and Ulish, Quiin faced destruction on a level that shocked and terrorized the Republic. Almost overnight, the Quiin population went from a thriving fifty billion, to just over a million. Many of them were not located on the Quiin homeworld. King Shoni fled the destruction of his world and managed to reach the Republic. He spoke before the Republic Senate begging for their help against the Azgardian menace.”

“The Republic Senate convened an emergency meeting and voted to intervene in the war between Azgard and Mandalore. They commissioned a fleet of over a thousand warships from hundreds of worlds. While the Republic fleet was massive in numbers, it is important to note that many of the ships were nothing more than armored patrol ships unfit for the kind of war that was going on in the Outer Rim. At the request of the Jedi Order, a young untested Jedi Knight, Knight Crlisst from the world of Mrlsst, was placed in command of this important relief operation. His orders from the Senate were simple. Stop the Azgardian menace!”

“Knight Crlisst would spend much of the journey to the conflict zone reviewing the reports of the war and in meditation. By the time his fleet arrived in Mandalorian space, the Mandalorians had just lost their last major battle at Concord Dawn. To the horror of his commanders, Knight Crlisst ordered half of his ships to blockade Mandalore while the other half of his ships engaged the remains of the Mandalorian fleet.”

“In a short battle, the battered Mandalorian fleet was driven from their homeworld. After that critical battle, Knight Crlisst ordered his half of the fleet to reinforce the blockade of Mandalore. With complete control of the space around Mandalore, Knight Crlisst issued a long list of Mandalorian transgressions against the Republic. He then demanded that Mandalore accepted terms for negotiations.”

“As Warlord Astrid’s three battle lines converged on Mandalore, Knight Crlisst refused to turn his ships around and face the threat behind him. Instead, he sent a transmission to the approaching ships that his fleet was laying claim to Mandalore. He sent the same list of transgressions that Mandalore had committed against the Republic to the approaching warships. The Azgardians replied with, ‘stand aside little bird!’ Knight Crlisst knew that his thousand ship fleet could hardly stand against the might of Warlord Astrid’s three fleets of pure warships. Still he stood his ground and replied with, no….”

“This bold move triggered a three-day standoff between Republic and Azgardian forces. During this critical time, Mandalorian forces tried twice to break the blockade on their world. Both times, Knight Crlisst’s forces threw back the Mandalorians. On day four of the standoff, Warlord Astrid invited Knight Crlisst to her flagship.”

“Despite concerns from his senior officers, Knight Crlisst selected a lone Bothan pilot named Ogon Koo'Lak to accompany him. According to Koo’Lak’s first reports, the trip to the Azgardain flagship was a journey in to a dark world filled with blood thirsty warriors who wore the skins of their victims. Even Warlord Astrid wore the skin of a fallen Wookie, who had been defeated on the world of Ulish.”

He paused and walked up to a human female. He leaned down as he placed booth hands on her desk. “Tell me youngling, there you are Prim. Standing before the mighty Warlord of Azgard. She commands nearly a thousand warships. Hundreds of her warriors are watching from the shadows. As you look up at her, you see the skull of a Wookie upon her head. His skill hung over her shoulders like a cloak. What do you do Youngling Prim….”

Youngling Prim appeared clearly shaken by the mental image. She opened her mouth in an attempt to speak but nothing came out. It was a human male behind her that spoke up, “nothing teacher.”

The instructor turned to face the human male, “continue” he said waving his hand.

The human youngling nodded, “Azgardians are well known for their honor. If safe passage is promised, then safe passage will be assured. Knight Crlisst and his pilot were under the protection of the Warlord herself. No one would dare challenger that promise.”

He nodded, “well said youngling” he said as he turned to face the rest of the class. “However there is a flaw in this line of thinking. Knight Crlisst wasn’t aware of such things. Remember the Azgardians were as much a mystery to us, as we were to them. The lesson here is that Knight Crlisst trusted in the Will of the force.”

He walked back to the front of the class room, Unna set there looking out the large windows of the classroom. She couldn’t help but think about her time on the 501st. She had met many members of the elite unit. She met several members of alien races aboard the Unyielding Light. However, Unna had heard that a sister ship that traveled with the Unyielding Light, the Firestorm. Like the Unyielding Light, the Firestorm was a Venator class Star Destroyer. What Unna learned was that the Firestorm was manned completely by Azgardians.

Even though Unna was half paying attention, she couldn’t help but think about their trip here. “After a long drawn out negotiation, Warlord Astrid challenged Knight Crlisst to find a flaw in her battle plans to defeat Mandalore. She offered that if Knight Crlisst could find a flaw in her plan to end the war after this single battle, then she would take her forces home. If he could not find a flaw in her plan, then Knight Crlisst would order his forces back to Republic space and leave Mandalore to its own fate.”

“Knight Crlisst spent the following day and night carefully going over the battle plans. After spending the night meditating Knight Crlisst went to Warlord Astrid before her entire War Council.”

Unna’s attention was drawn beyond her control outside. In her mind, she heard a female’s laughter. As the teacher continued, Unna couldn’t shake the laughter in her mind. “Knight Crlisst stood there surrounded by all these massive Azgardians who watched him. The entire conversation was well recorded and reported by Knight Crlisst’s pilot, Ogon Koo’Lag. He confessed that the Warlord’s battle plans were in fact brilliant. But he pointed out that there was indeed one flaw in her plan. He explained that if Warlord Astrid issued the order to attack Mandalore, that she would not be able to end the war during this single battle.”

Unna looked out over the city as she heard the lecture continue. “He explained that should her ships attack, his own ships would be caught in the middle. They would be forced to defend themselves in the coming battle. Knight Crlisst admitted that Warlord Astrid’s forces would victorious, but that victory would only expand the war. This battle would draw the Republic in to a war with Azgard. He explained that while Azgard would most likely be victorious over the Republic, this war would not end at Mandalore.”

In the distance, Unna saw a bright flash between the buildings on the far side of the city. Her eyes grew big as the instructor continued speaking, “Warlord Astrid thought she had the Jedi Knight as spoke to him. There is a flaw in our assumptions Jedi. If you fail to find flaw in my plans, your ships will be removed from the battlefield. Therefore, your Republic will not be drawn in to the war.”

Once more Unna saw another bright flash in the distance as a thick cloud of black smoke rose above the city. “Knight Crlisst accepted the statement but countered by saying, if all things were equal the Warlord would be correct. But all things are not equal. Knight Crlisst explained that his orders were clear. Stop the Azgardians from destroying Mandalore. This meant that he couldn’t remove his ships from the system no matter what.”

Unna watched a second think column of smoke climb in to the sky. “Warlord Astrid and her council withdrew from their meeting with Knight Crlisst and Ogon Koo’Lak. After two hours, and without any other explanation Warlord Astrid informed Knight Crlisst that she had ordered her ships to withdraw back to Azgardian space. She informed Knight Crlisst that Azgard would maintain possession of the Ar’Kani and Ulish systems….”

Unna saw a flash and felt the rumble that shook the building. The blast seemed to be just beyond the wall of the academy. Unna’s eyes widened as she watched the blast wave approaching the windows. She turned her head to see the class completely oblivious to the coming wave. Unna turned back to the window just in time to watch the wave hit the window with full force. Within seconds the window shattered inward as the Unna threw up her hands to shield her face from the coming glass. She felt the shockwave and smelled the order of the explosion. Unna let out a scream as the glass ripped past her….

The instructor stopped speaking as he looked at Unna, “are we okay?” Unna looked at her hand and saw that her hand had been cut by the glass. She looked back at the window which was still intact. In her mind, Unna heard that female’s voice laughing. “Okay class, that is enough for today.” He said as he walked up to Unna and rested a hand on her shoulder. “Tomorrow will talk about the Great Hyperspace War and how it was effected by the Azgardian/Mandalorian War.”

[Akirapryde]

Chapter One: New Journey
Post Three: Dark Plots
Outer Rim World of Fray

The chamber was dark, with the only light coming from the few control panels along the metal walls. Armed guards hide in shadows as they carefully watched over the area. The footsteps of a lone shadowy figure echoed through the corridors as she walked slowly in to the large room. She couldn’t see the guards hidden in the shadows, but their presence did not go unnoticed. As she walked towards the center of the large room, anger filled her heart as she approached the slightly raised platform.

The past few days had not gone the way she had planned it. In fact, she considered herself lucky that her guards had not been ordered to execute her once she returned from her mission. While she was grateful of that little stroke of grace, she knew she wasn’t out of harm’s way. She had failed her mission and she knew that there would be a price to be paid for that failure. She slowly lowered herself to a knee, “mother, I am here as summoned” the figure said as she lowered her head. Her voice echoed and shifted, making identification impossible.

The platform came alive with a cloaked figure of a woman. “My daughter Orchard, I have heard troubling news from Fray. It would appear that the Republic has yet to join the conflict. In fact, due to victories in the field, the North has gained popular support.”

The figure lowered her head, “yes mother, this is correct. My plan was sabotaged but unforeseen forces. Their speeders were shot down before my own plan could take effect.”

The hologram woman reached out with her hand and Orchard gasped as she reached for her throat. As Orchard choked and grasped for air the woman spoke, “I am not pleased by your failures. I warned you about your complex plans and how easily the Jedi would thwart them.”

Slowly Orchard was lifted off the ground as the guards watched the scene on folding. The woman’s voice became darker and viler as she spoke, “I foresee a shift in the conflict. The Government WILL loss, and in that, the conflict will be resolved. A neutral Republic will support the Northern leaders in exchange to keep the fuel flowing. The Jedi will be brought in to secure the final peace and hailed as heroes Fray. This cannot be allowed to transpire!” Orchard continued to choke as she hung in midair.

“If the Jedi do not become involved in this conflict, then we will become forced to find another hot spot to ignite the war. I have vested a great deal of resources to create this conflict and manipulate the event in the Outer Rim so that the war is primed.” Orchard continued to choke as the woman spoke, “I will not allow your incompetence to destroy my plans.”

Orchard struggle to speak, “mother.....please...” she cried. “I know the name of Sinya's daughter!” She had wanted to keep this as a surprise for her mother, but it was a time to think of saving her own life.

Orchard struggled even more as the woman's anger grew. The woman spat, “liar! Sinya can't have children. This was made ensured.”

“Pl....please...hear.....me....out....mother.....” Orchard could feel her life slipping away as she pleaded for her life. But suddenly air flooded her lungs as the woman released her. She fell to the floor in a heap as she was released.

“You better not disappoint me, my daughter,” the woman said as she lowered her hand.

Orchard caught as she allowed herself a moment to fill her lungs. After a moment, “Mother, I suspected that Sinya had a daughter here at the Academy. But only recently was I able to prove it. I framed Graff in hopes of allowing Sinya’s daughter to over play her hand. Sinya became involved almost immediately, this proved her personal interest here. I have a new spy within the Academy who was able to give me a security recording of the call which brought Sinya’s involvement in to the issue. I believe that Lysire is Sinya's daughter.”

Orchard started to choke again as she was lifted off the ground once more. The woman in the hologram erupted, “fool! I already know that Lysire is Sinya adoptive daughter.”

“Moth...mother....not....adoptive.....” Orchard manage to struggle out. Once more she fell to the ground as her throat was released. Coughing Orchard continued, “my spy was able to secure a DNA sample. Lysire is more than an adoptive daughter to your hated foe. She is a genetic match for Sinya and her human husband. Lysire is Sinya's flesh and blood. The story of her past is a lie that even she doesn't know. My spy is assured me of this information.”

The woman smiled as she leaned back, “for years I wanted a way to have my revenge on Sinya for her betrayal of me and my son. Sinya’s actions cost him his life. And now, I know her secret,” the woman said laughing with darkness in her heart. “Sinya must have had her genes and Prince John’s spliced to create a daughter. Then created the story to conceal the girl’s true identity from me.” She laughed as she brought her fingers together, “clever Sinya….clever…”

Orchard smiled as she looked up at the hologram, “I can have Lysire's head delivered to you in five days.”

The woman shook her head, “no, my daughter. Too much is at stake for us to become distracted. As much as it would please me, Lysire’s death will have to wait. For now, we must focus on the task at hand. It’s time that you show yourself to Auro. There is a force user helping him. Guiding him through visions of the future.”

Orchid nodded, “yes I am aware of her involvement. Mya is her name. My spy has reported that Auro leans heavily upon her and her guidance.”

The woman nodded, “yes, this has to stop. Maya must die. Auro cannot be allowed to stop us. Blind him from the future. I want her death to be before him. Show him that he can’t stop us. That there is nothing he can do to protect those close to him. In doing this, we will ensure his fall to the darkside.”

Orchid nodded, “yes mother, it will be done as you wish. There is something else. There is a Twi’lek with a strange name. She is called Unna Hi Chaanu. A Twi’lek with an Iktotchi name. I am not completely sure about this Unna. But Mother, could we have been wrong about the Seer we were warned about? This Maya is a powerful Seer. The information I have, proves this.”

The woman looked at Orchid from over her fingers, “It matters not. The Iktotchi are a dead race. The Iktotchi Seer that was meant to aid Auro is gone. Just like the Miraluka who would fight by his side. While he might find himself surrounded by people, he is all but alone from those whom he will need. With Maya’s death, he will become blind to the future.” She fell silent for a moment. “Also. The King is losing focus of his role. The boy is not controllable. Remove him from power. This will allow his younger brother assume the throne. Alask will prove to be more controllable.”

Orchard nodded, “yes mother it shall be done. The coming New Year Celebration will be a perfect backdrop to remove the Child King. I know just the means to do this and further our plans with the North. It will throw both sides in to chaos.”

The woman smiled, “if your plans for the New Year celebration fail to draw the Jedi in to the conflict. Than the Field Army which the King has deployed to Baku will prove to be useful. Reprogram the droids to attack the people of Baku. This will force Baku to change sides and cut off the Republic's supply of fuel.”

Orchard returned to smile, “and in cutting off their supply of fuel will force Master Chun's hand.”

“I have known Master Chun long before he was even a Knight. Threaten the Republic's supply of fuel and Master Chun will stop at nothing to return the flow of fuel to the Jedi's war machine. And in this, Master Chun will give us the spark needed to ignite a war that will burn a thousand worlds,” she said coldly.

Orchard nodded, “Mother if we turn Baku against the Crown, what of Lady Baku?”

The hologram woman withdrew in to her hood allowing only her nose to be seen. “Lady Baku's usefulness to my plan has expired. Remove her from the board in such a way that it further divides the world and draws the Jedi deeper in to the conflict. Do not fail me daughter or I will not be as forgiving.”

Orchard nodded as she lowered her head, “it will be as you wish, Mother.”

[Akirapryde]

Terror in Paradise!

Coruscant News Network Flash Report

Bail: “Good evening. I am Bail Organa; we interrupt your locally scheduled program to bring you the latest in development on the Core World of Val'Dora.”

Sinya: “I am Sinya Lefe, just a few hours ago we received world that a group of adolescents associated with a local Jedi Training Academy attempted a peaceful protest at the exclusive resort Gold Coast...”

Bail: “Regardless of their initial plan, what it turned in to was an armed hostage situation that escalated quickly when locate security forces attempted to remove the would-be protesters from private property. These highly trained military cadets...”

Sinya: “whose average age was between sixteen and seventeen.”

Bail: “While that may be the case, we cannot ignore the facts. And the facts of this case are simple. Ninety innocent lives were placed in jeopardy at the hands of former loyal cadets turned terrorists. The local authority requested Jedi support to help resolved the situation and our Chancellor sent her own son, Jedi Knight Auro Syrdash to lead the efforts to free those innocent hostages.”

Sinya: “While the first day of negotiations were led by Jedi Knight Syrdash own trusted advisors, Unna Chaanu. Based on reports, the first negotiations were largely a success and opened the door to Jedi Knight Syrdash being about to free several children which the Cadets had taken hostage. Plans were made for future negotiations and the entire situation was on track for a peaceful resolution.”

Bail: “That’s right, until advanced intelligence indicated that the terrorists were about to get reinforcements. Jedi Knight Syrdash was pressed, BY the terrorist, in to a difficult situation. Faced with the betrayal of trust, Jedi Knight Syrdash plotted and carried out a daring capture of one of the terrorist leaders….Do we have this person’s identity? Yes? Okay, her name is Padmé Naberrie. Hold on…. We actually have footage of her daring capture carried out by Jedi Knight Syrdash’s elite team.”

The image shows Padmé soaring from the roof of the resort as a Jedi Knight leaps to her capture. As Padmé was grabbed in mid-air by the Jedi Knight, a nearby shuttle moved in at high speed to facilitate the capture.

Bail: “Breath taking courage and planning. Do we know who that Jedi was that ensured the capture of Cadet Naberrie? Jedi Knight Duncan Starchaser… Is that right? Yes, it has been confirmed, the Jedi we see in this footage carrying out this courageous capture of the terrorist Naberrie is Jedi Knight Duncan Starchaser. With the terrorists distracted, Jedi Knight Syrdash ordered the rest of the terrorist captured by local authorities.”

Sinya: “What followed was a short by intensive battle between local authorities and the cadets. Of the thirty-five reported cadets, only six, including Padmé Naberrie were taken in to custody.”

Bail: “Correction, five, including the ring leader of this horrible crime. One of the terrorists didn’t survive her injuries.”

Sinya: *sighs* “Five, including Cadet Naberrie, are currently in custody. Per the Department of Justice, the five will be placed on trial for acts of terrorism and crimes against the Republic. According to unconfirmed reports, an additional thirty to forty other cadets along with two unidentified Jedi Masters were killed when Jedi Knight Syrdash ordered an unconfirmed number of airspeeders shot down.”

Bail: “What is known about these airspeeders, is that these craft were most likely loaded with additional terrorist that could have threatened the safety of the hostages. Jedi Knight Syrdash made a hard call in an impossible situation. A call that was proven to be the right call to ensure the safety of the hostages and the end to this nightmare for them. A source with credible information confirmed that these terrorists with the aid of their Masters had raided the armory of the Jedi Academy with the intention of aiding their encircled fellow terrorists.”

Sinya: “Once more, we must acknowledge that these cadets were…..”

Bail: “Highly trained military cadets who had murdered one hostage already and had armed themselves with military grade weapons. These terrorists killed three local militiamen and wound a half dozen others during the final hours of the crisis. If not for the heroics of Jedi Knight Syrdash and his team, there is no telling how many other innocent lives would have been lost.”

Sinya: “We attempted to reach Jedi Knight Syrdash or his team for an interview. However, they have been taken to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant for recovery, where they remain currently. An official spokesperson from the Temple has said that Knight Syrdash and his team were being granted the right of privacy to meditate and clear their spirits of the events on Val’Dora. Being a former student of the Jedi, I know how much it taints the spirit to be involved in such a horrific event. Our prayers and good well go out to Knight Syrdash and his team.”

Bail: “Yes, we do hope the very best for Knight Syrdash and his team. AND I hope that this event sends a powerful message to all other would-be terrorists out there that the Republic will not tolerate these kinds of acts of hostility against the Republic or its protected citizens. I have been told by sources close to the Chancellor that she has been advised that a possible solution to these revolts against Republic rule could be the deployment of the Grand 1st Fleet of the Republic. Six hundred warships lead by their Jedi Commanders stand ready across the Core Worlds to bring these rebellious worlds back in to order.”

Sinya: “Thankfully, the Chancellor has of this date rejected the idea of a military solution to this crisis.”

Bail: “Sinya. As the full-scale revolts across the Outer Rim continues….”

Sinya: “Bail, these are not full scale revolts. These are isolated protests on only a handful of Outer Rim Worlds. If the Chancellor were to deploy the Grand 1st Fleet, then this all situation will explode in to a much wider conflict. Millions of lives will be affected. I am sure that the Chancellor has taken this in to deeper consideration.”

Bail: “Sinya, I respect the fact that you are a dreamer, but that doesn’t change the reality of the situation. As the Republic is pushed by these terrorists, it’s only a matter of time before the Chancellor must deploy the might of the Republic to bring peace and order back to the Outer Rim.”

Sinya: “If or when that happens, may the Gods have mercy on us all.”

---

The After Situation

Auro was forced to call in the local militia when Padmé warned that she had lost control of the other cadets and that Vor’en had usurped her control. He was planning on murdering the hostages. Unna felt the motion of the darkside and confirmed the warning. Auro issued the order and the hostages were saved after a short battle with the cadets. Most of the cadets were killed during the battle though a few were taken in to custody, including Padmé.

After the battle, Auro was greeted by his mother and congratulated for successfully ending the crisis. Once the situation was resolved, Chancellor Syrdash ordered Auro and his team back to the Jedi Temple to recover from the situation. The team was kept there within the Temple, where they had access to Jedi Councilors to help them overcome and deal with any emotional darkness that has come from this event. The Party will be treated very well and honored for their heroics. However, they will not be allowed to leave the Temple during the next three weeks while the dust of Val’Dora settles. The fear of reprisals against the team has driven the need for security on the party.

However, within the Temple secrets arise. Just before she was taken in to custody, Padmé slipped a holorecording to Duncan. Well after returning to the Temple, Duncan was able to find time and more importantly the privacy to review the recording which depicted the duel between Chancellor Syrdash and Graff. It is important to indicated that the angle of the recording was made from far beyond the Jedi Temple using a powerful zoom recorder. The recorder moves regularly and sounds by the two reporters indicate that they were perched on a dangerous ledge or another unstable platform.

The duel was everything that the rumors had made it out to be. Two powerful Jedi crossed blades in the Grand Council Chamber before Grand Master Dooku, Master Windu, Master Shaak Ti and a pair of Republic Royal Guards. The drawn out fierce battle ended when Chancellor Syrdash disarmed Graff and claimed his right eye in a combination attack. As she announced the end of the duel and walked away, Graff attempted to attack her from behind. He was stunned by the two Royal Guards. Chancellor Syrdash, enraged by the dishonorable attack reactivated her lightsaber and moved to strike the unconscious Graff.

At that point the person holding the record slips and nearly falls to her death. For the next five minutes, the pair of reporters struggle to regain their position. Once they were able to resume recording, the Chancellor and Grand Master Dooku are walking out of the chamber. The pair of reporters start to speculate that the Chancellor had murdered the fallen Jedi Knight, whose identity was not known to them. Shortly their after, the pair were spotted by security forces and the two reporters had to flee the scene.

Duncan shared this video with the entire party at the Jedi Temple, and these events are considered party knowledge. The party has complete access to the entire Jedi Temple but cannot leave the Jedi Temple (this means you Jess! No disguises, No Sneaking out! LOL). This is for the party’s own protection.

Please contact me via text or email regarding anything you wish to have your character doing prior to the beginning of the next game. The game will start THREE WEEKS after the events of Val’Dora. There will be no backtracking once the game begins!

Remember that we will be starting at 6:00 PM, Sunday and ending at 10:00pm!

[Akirapryde]

Visions across time and space
Auro's Personal Quarters
Republic Vengeance, Flagship
Venator-class Star Destroyer

Auro set in the middle of his quarters on the floor with his legs crossed. His eyes closed, and breath so shallow and slow that one might mistake him for dead. He was very much alive, and very much in deep meditation. His mind clear and focused as sensed the movement of the Force around him. He could sense the struggles between the light and dark all around him. Some seemed light years away, while others were much closer to home. It was if there was a great tension between the two opposing sides of the Force and it was slowly growing.

Then without warning, a voice echoed through time and space. It was if a window in to the past had slowly opened for Auro to peer through.

“Agree, you do not cadet” the all too familiar voice of Master Yoda echoed in to Auro’s mind.

The vision came painfully slow in to focus as Auro continued to meditate. He could see a group of young Jedi cadets alongside of military cadets. They appeared to be in formation. A formation that Auro knew all too well. He had seen this before on Fray, where cadets line up in hopes of gaining a Master to further their training. The vision however lacked any color. Instead, the entire vision was cast within gray scale.

“No master,” a young female Miraluka cadet said. Her hair appeared the same style and color that Demaya wore. She couldn’t have been more than ten or eleven at the time. But Auro could easily make out the pride and self-confidence that Demaya was well known for. “I just think that the Jedi are more like any other weapon that has been created. We cannot create peace where there is war or conflict.” She spoke with confidence and her poster was near perfect. “The Jedi are formed as both law enforcement and a military arm of the Republic. This makes us impractical in the creation of peace. The Jedi can impose order, where this is none. We can enforce the peace and even bring an end to conflict. Master, as long as we are part of the military we can't create peace where there is none.”

A Kel Dor master stepped forward, “what role would you see the Jedi partaking in, cadet?” There was something in his voice that Auro found offensive. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but it was there.

The young cadet looked down as she went in to a deep thought. After a short moment, she looked up with confidence, “Master, our role would be that of, to deter conflict. When that fails, to crush the enemy and force them back negotiation table so that others can create peace.”

“So, you would strip the Jedi if their time-honored role of Keepers of the Peace. Those who bring peace where there is none” The Kel Dor master said harshly. He shifted his stance, “your words are foolish and dangerous cadet. You are unfit for advancement."

“Harsh on her, we should not be,” Yoda said. “Truthful observation she speaks of who the Jedi are today.” He paused for a moment then added with sadness in his voice, “No longer the Jedi of the old, we are.” He turned, “Maybe an unorthodox Master will come forward to train this unorthodox Cadet.”

“I will claim her as my Padawan Learner,” Master Urias Chun said stepping out from the gray shadows of the vision.

While time for the cadets passed normally, however for Auro he could feel that time moved by as if he was watching the scene in fast forward. Other cadets were asked questions and given a moment to shine before the potential Masters. Auro could sense the animosity from that Kel Dor Master throughout the remaining ceremony.

Time seemed to slip back in to normal scale as it showed that same young girl standing alone while her new master was speaking with Master Yoda and that Kel Dor Master. It was clear that her confidence seemed to have been shaken a bit. Her nervousness and fear was clear on her face as she reached behind her head and pulled her hood up over hear head. Within her robes, she sought to hide from prying eyes, yet Auro could see her perfectly well.

He could sense her fears. She knew that Kel Dor Master well. All her life with the Jedi, he had been there pushing her down. Criticizing her, making a mockery of what she believed in. At one point, she had looked up to the well-known Jedi Master, who was now the second most powerful Jedi in the order. Today she feared what he might be telling her new Master about her.

From behind her, a young military cadet walked up. Even in the gray scale vision, his uniform appeared to stand out. “Don’t mind them,” he said with a friendly voice that seemed to have caught her by surprise. She turned around as he continued, “I agree with what you said about the Jedi. We can't ignore who they are, less we fail to realize their potential to enforce the peace.”

She smiled and nodded, “Thank you for your words. I am Kali Demaya, but my friends just call me Demaya.”

The young man smiled and held out his hand for her to shake, “I am cadet Tarkin, but you can call me Wilhuff.” He looked over at Master Chun. “If you are anything like what you showed here today, you will surely make your master proud.”

She smiled and blushed at the words... The image slowly faded to darkness.

As time and space shift around Auro's consciousness, he chose not to fight the currents of the Force. Instead he allowed them to take him to where the Force willed him to be. A sound started to fill Auro’s ears. That of joyous singing and firing crackling. The fog that had obscured the first part of the vision slowly started to retreat revealing a snow-covered world with two moons. The vision was still in the same gray scale as the first one was in. But clearly this was a different world.

A group of Republic soldiers huddled around a barrel with fire coming out of it. Beyond them were other barrels and other Republic soldiers. Despite the cold wind, the soldiers were not allowing their spirits to be dampened. They lifted their metal cups and raised their voices in song.

As Auro drifted over the large group, his vision became centered on young Padawan dressed in appropriate Padawan robes. Auro knew that this was Demaya as she raised her metal cup singing along, with the rest of her soldiers “we remember the fields, where our tanks held the line. We remember our brothers in arm......”

On her shoulder, she proudly wore the patch of the elite 10th Division. A unit that Auro knew all too well. A member of Master Chun’s larger 501st Army of the Republic. The 10th Division had been led by Master Falynn Drease until her forced retirement from the Order after Master Chun’s expulsion. Now the 501st was leaderless, with rumors of Auro possibly taking over from Master Chun.

As the vision slowly came in to focus Auro could see a unit, the 2nd Battalion, after a long hard fought battle. Nearly every soldier, including Demaya, had a bandage or more on them from wounds they had received. This told Auro the nature of the battle the unit just won. Their song interrupted by the arrival of numerous Republic Gunships landing.

A new group of soldiers led by a Kel Dor Jedi. It didn’t take Auro long to realized that this Jedi was the same Jedi Master who called Demaya unfit. There was clearly surprise on the faces of the new arrivals as the Jedi Master walked up to Demaya. “Reports of your unit's imminent destruction appear to have been highly exaggerated,” the Kel Dor master said. There was considerable disregard in his voice towards her.

Demaya smiled, “No, Master” she said as she offered her own metal cup of steaming liquid. “At the time the report was issued by Knight Bree, that was the case.”

He looked around, “where is Knight Bree, Padawan” he asked than added, “I would rather the report be giving by the led Jedi. Not by Master Chun's latest pet project.”

She frowned at the statement but it was one of her own Republic Officers who spoke up. “With all due respect, Master Jedi, Knight Bree perished shortly after she sent her urgent message for help. For the next ten hours, we fought a losing battle. If not for Padawan Demaya, we would all be dead.”

“And yet, you are not,” the Kel Dor master said. “How is it that your unit, not only survived an overwhelming battle, but appeared to turn victory out of certain defeat.”

Padawan Demaya allowed pride to fill her sense of being as she spoke. “I presented to them what they expect me to be. After our situation became hopeless, I sent a message informing them of who I was and requested terms for surrender. They expected a weak willed Padawan, so a played my part while elements of my unit moved in to position. When I was brought before their leadership to hear their terms for our surrender, I unleashed our counter attack.”

The Republic officer that had defended Demaya spoke up again, “while she cut down their leaders, we broke their lines and will to continue the conflict. The battle ended only a short while ago. Those that survived, either surrendered to us, or fled north.”

The Kel Dor spoke with a disappointing voice, “you deceived them and used their trust to lure them in to a trap. You have saved your unit, and in exchange cause the future Jedi on this world the trust of the people of this world. Your actions were not in line with the philosophy of the Jedi. Instead of building trust on this world to secure peace, you have ensured there will be none in years to come. Congratulations Padawan, you won the battle, yet lost the war.”

Padawan Demaya looked down with disappointment as the Kel Dor turned and walked away. As the situation settled down, a lone Republic Officer walked up. Auro could tell that this officer was Wilhuff Tarkin.

The Tarkin smiled to her, “did you really trick their leadership in to a meeting, only to slaughter them.” She half smiled as she looked up and nodded. He looked around to make sure no one was looking. Once he was sure there was a window of secrecy he leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. As he pulled away she reached up and touched the side of her face with surprise on her face. Her face grew red with blush as was caught speechless for that moment.

He nodded as he added, “you were brilliant!” he said with pride in his voice. “I wanted you to know that I submitted my transfer to the 10th Division.”

Once more the vision faded to grayish clouds. Just like before, Auro could feel his mind riding the waves of time and space. Letting go, he felt the currents of the Force guiding him through this tapestry of Demaya’s life. He was uncertain as to why this was important but trusted in the Force. Within moments, Auro heard voices reaching out to him from deep within the grayish clouds.

“You disobeyed the direct orders of your Masters, Padawan.” Auro knew that voice all too well. It was the Kel Dor who had taken special interest and criticism of Demaya. “You disobeyed the direct orders of this Council. You turned a delicate diplomatic situation in to a slugfest that still rages to this very day. Throughout my life, I have never seen a Padawan so completing unfit to serve. What do you have to say for yourself!”

The image came in to clarity as Auro saw the Grand Council chamber around himself. In the center of the room, Demaya stood alone. Near the back of the room, Master Chun and Drease stood silently as the full Jedi Grand Council gathered in judgement of Demaya. For her own credit, Demaya stood confidently and defiantly.

“Masters,” she said speaking to all the Masters on the Council. “I accept the consequences of my actions. I know that I disobeyed those above me. I ask for your mercy and let your punishment end with me. My men followed my orders. I could not sit by and allow Commander Tarkin's unit to be overran. Four hundred brave Republic soldiers and their civilian charges were in immediate danger,” she tried to make a case for herself.

“Your actions were foolish,” the Kel Dor Master charged.

“Someone had to decide a course of action,” Demaya protested.

“Tens of thousands are dead because of your brash ill-tempered actions,” he said cutting her off. “A world is now in conflict with its self. The honor of the Jedi has been tarnished and the people’s faith in the Jedi has been placed in doubt,” the Kel Dor Master in a deep yet stern voice.

“Master,” Demaya cried as she tried to defend her actions.

“Enough!” the Kel Dor said in a booming voice as he rose from his chair. With Coruscant as a backdrop he moved from his chair and towered over her. His form was imposing as he stood before the entire Jedi Council. With Padawan Demaya standing alone before him. He raised his hand towards her. “Padawan Kali Demaya, this has been long in coming for you. Your views and actions are not in line with the Jedi Order,” his voice boomed throughout the large chamber. “For this reason, we have chosen to cast you from the order!”

Master Chun open his mouth to speak but was cut off by Master Yoda, “Confidence, the Jedi hold dear. Confidence of the people. Confidence of its Masters. Many views, held by many different kind of Jedi,” he nodded as he spoke. “Important, are these things to more than just the Jedi," he said. He then he held up a finger, “important are traditions to the Jedi as well.”

As Master Yoda slipped from his chair, the great Kel Dor Master stepped back and took his seat. “Placing faith in the Force, is one such tradition that all Jedi hold dear. As this Padawan did on Suline Three.” Master Yoda walked with help from his cane till he stood next to Demaya. “Faith in this Padawan, I still have,” he said turning his head up towards her. “Another tradition I will remind the council. A request the council must grant, for a departing member of the council.”

He turned to face them, “over the horizon,” he said waving his towards the direction of the Senate building. "Coming the storm, which I have sensed. Warn you, I have tried. Blind to the signs, you have become,” he said looking down while leaning on his cane. “Help no more, I can provide,” he said with profound sadness in his voice. “Walk this chosen path, the Jedi must. Clouded is the future of many of you,” he said then looked up to Demaya. “As is, this Padawan’s”

He drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. For years he had fought to bring the Jedi back from brink of destruction. It had now become a realization to him, that the corruption was too far spread and ran too deep to save the Order that he loved. Master Yoda felt that there was no way for him to halting the coming storm. “Leave the council and the Jedi, I must. Spare this Padawan, I ask of you.”

He turned to face Padawan Demaya, “Forget your family within the Jedi, you should not. No matter the darkness you face. Trust in the Will of the Force.”

Auro sensed the foot print in history slowly slipping from focus once more. The clouds of gray slowly clouded his vision of the moment in the past. As Auro slipped through time and space once more, he felt the Will of the Force guiding him once more. Within the currents of the Force, Auro's mind traveled once more.

He slowly started to hear music filling his ears. Within the sounds of music, Auro could hear something else. It took a moment for Auro to realize the sound was that of two lovers. The clouds slowly gave way to a darken room. Auro heard the sounds of passion and lust as he saw Demaya and Wilhuff locked in a lovers’ embrace. The couple were laying in a bed covered by their own lust and desires. Their bodies were woven as the floor was lined with articles of clothing and uniforms. Demaya’s lightsaber laid on the floor still hooked to her belt.

Slowly, Wilhuff raised himself up from her. He looked down in to her eyeless face, “I love you Kali.” There was love in his voice but a hint of sadness echoed as well. “If only you were human, I could take you back to Eriadu to meet my family.”

Demaya smiled as she reached up and touched the side of his face, “when you get back from Fedoth, I will have a special surprise for you.” There was a frisky look in her eyes as she moved her hand around his hand till it stopped at the base of his neck, “now kiss me, Wil” she said playfully pulling him towards her waiting lips.

The vision once more became clouded with rolling thick waves of gray mist. The mist grew thicker and thicker until nothing was visible. Once more, Auro rode the waves of time and space as sounds of machinery filled his ears. While the sounds seemed familiar, it wasn’t until the thick clouds of gray gave way that he realized that he was standing in the mists of a large hanger bay. The bay was clearly that of a Venator class cruiser.

Before him, Auro saw a Republic shuttle landing in the hanger of this mighty warship. As the shuttle turned to land, Auro saw the word, ‘Retaliation – 5’ on the side of the shuttle. As the engine’s powered down, the landing ramp slipped down. The back of the shuttle opened and a Republic Captain walked confidently out of the shuttle. His uniform was in prefect order and under his right arm he carried a leather case.

He walked up and held his hand out with a smile, “Greetings Master Jedi, I am Captain Tarkin,” he said pleasantly. “I have an urgent dispatch for Jedi Knight Demaya.”

The clouds once more filled Auro’s vision as he felt himself being shifted across time and space. The waves of the forces seemed more chaotic and turbulent then they were before. He could feel the swirling eddies of uncertainty passing close by his conciseness. Slowly, the sounds of a bridge started to pierce the clouds of grayness.

Under the sounds of the bridge, Auro heard whispers. “Is the Chancellor’s son still aboard” Tarkin said. Auro saw a hologram of Captain Tarkin being projected near a table. Tarkin was still dressed in his Republic uniform. There was a seriousness in his voice.

Demaya stood near the back of the bridge well out of ear shot of the rest of the bridge crew as she leaned over the table and spoke in a hushed whisper, “Auro is….”

Tarkin nodded, “order his arrest and help me take down the Chancellor!”

Demaya looked around with terror on her face, “Wil, you are asking me to betray all that I hold dear!” Her human eyes searched the bridge for any sign of those trying to listen to what was being discussed.

“I am asking you to preserve all that you hold dear,” Tarkin exclaimed. “The Chancellor has denied the Will of the Senate and is moving to secure power. We can stop her. I am sending you the coordinates and time of the ambush. Kali, we need the guns of the Vengeance if we are to be victorious. Our ships can’t take down the Victory alone.” He leaned closer to her as he reached out through the holonet towards her, “Kali, I am begging you. Help us rid the Republic of this usurper!”

Once more, the thick clouds of gray obscured Auro’s vision. His eyes were clouded but the sounds of the battle filled his ears. There were sounds of alarms that filled Auro’s ears. Within moments Auro could see once more, as the bridge of a Venator came in to view. Fires and smoke filled bridge as the crew desperately carried out their duties. Wounded were removed from the bridge as the battle continued.

“Sir!” an officer called out to Captain Tarkin, “The Repulse is reporting that the fires are out of control and they have to abandon ship.”

Captain Tarkin turn to his officer as the bridge of the Retaliation lit up in an orange glow, “Tell the Republic to keep firing!” He ordered as more lights from incoming fire lit up the bridge.

“The Victory’s shields are starting to buckle” another officer cried out.

“Captain, a ship is coming out of hyperspace” a voice called out. Captain Tarkin turned in the direction of the voice as it continued, “IT’S THE VENGEANCE!”

Captain Tarkin smiled as the excitement crossed his face, “Alright Kali, I told you we can count on her” he said with joy. He turned and rushed over to his command table, “Open a channel to the Vengeance!”

A Republic Officer turned as Captain Tarkin reached the table, “Sir, main communication is out. We can’t open channel.”

He scanned the holotable as the battlefield unfolded, “Fine, send to Vengeance Com” he said as he moved his hands over the battle. There were three Venator class Star Destroyers facing off against one Victory class Star Destroyer. One Venator was already out of action and the other two were badly damaged. The Victory was not fairing much better as the combined fire power was starting to take their toll on the pride of the Republic Fleet, the Victory.

“Tell Jedi Commander Demaya that we can win if we concentrate our fire on the Victory,” Captain Tarkin said then added, “inform the rest of the fleet to follow our lead!” He smiled, “Your regime is over Chancellor!”

The view of Auro’s vision changed to an outside view of the battle. Auro could see the crisis unfolding as the Vengeance slowly came in to view. It was if Auro was looking down the bow of the mighty ship. Auro could see the main guns of the Vengeance steadily coming to life as they swung in to firing position. Within seconds, the eight heavy turbo lasers opened fire directly ahead of the ship and past Auro’s perception.

As Auro’s vision came to a close, he heard his commlink chime. Auro reached over and picked up his commlink and activated it. He heard Duncan’s voice over the commlink, “Auro, I think you should be aware of something. A shuttle just arrived out of hyperspace. It’s from the Retaliation. Demaya received a personal message from the shuttle, then authorized the shuttle to land. She ignored standard protocol.”

Auro nodded, “Thank you Duncan, for the update" Auro said calmly as he felt the waves of the force subsiding.

[Akirapryde]

Demaya’s personal Journal Entry 109

Title: The Dark

(The main passage was written in Kale Demaya's own hand several years ago)
The dark is generous.
Its first gift is concealment: our true faces lie in the dark beneath our skins, our true hearts remain shadowed deeper still. But the greatest concealment lies not in protecting our secret truths, but in hiding from the truths of others.
The dark protects us from what we dare not know.

Its second gift is comforting illusion: the ease of gentle dreams in night’s embrace, the beauty that imagination brings to what would repel in the day’s harsh light. But the greatest of its comforts is the illusion that dark is temporary: that every night brings a new day. Because it’s the day that is temporary.
Day is the illusion.

Its third gift is the light itself: as days are defined by the nights that divide them, as stars are defined by the infinite black through which they wheel, the dark embraces the light, and brings it forth from the center of its own self.
With each victory of the light, it is the dark that wins.

The dark is generous, and it is patient.
It is the dark that seeds cruelty into justice, that drips contempt into compassion, that poisons love with grains of doubt.

The dark can be patient, because the slightest drop of rain will cause those seeds to sprout.

The rain will come, and the seeds will sprout, for the dark is the soil in which they grow, and it is the clouds above them, and it waits behind the star that gives them light.
The dark’s patience is infinite.
Eventually, even stars burn out.

The dark is generous, and it is patient, and it always wins.
It always wins because it is everywhere.
It is in the wood that burns in your hearth, and in the kettle on the fire; it is under your chair and under your table and under the sheets on your bed. Walk in the midday sun, and the dark is with you, attached to the soles of your feet.

The brightest light casts the darkest shadow

The dark is generous and it is patient and it always wins – but in the heart of its strength lies its weakness: one lone candle is enough to hold it back.
Love is more than a candle.
Love can ignite the stars.
(this passage was written by Kali Demaya years after she wrote the main passage)

The above passage was quoted from Matthew Woodring Stover

[Akirapryde]

What did you miss at the last game?

The last game was filled with so much in such a limited time.

As Auro, Ashla and Unna landed they received a message from Duncan. Duncan informed Auro that Colonel Noor’s daughter was kidnapped. Despite efforts to increase power, the jamming was too much for the party to overcome. The last thing that Auro saw, was Duncan’s shuttle being shot down. With the jamming increasing, it became clear that Auro and his group were on their own. Sensing that Gadeon was in desperate need of help, Auro led the rescue.

The group entered the underground complex through the burned-out ruins of a massive hanger bay. The group work their way through the underground complex till they ran across Nima’s younger brother. He informed them that Gadeon had said that he would help Nima from the darkness. Unna and Auro detected that Nima’s brother intentions were innocent and truthful. He led the group to a blast door that 9’s had to hack to open.

Once the blast doors were opened, the party saw Nima laying beaten and nearly unconscious. Auro rushed to Nima’s side as she looked up at him. “Auro…..” she said pointing to the larger blast doors deeper in the chamber, “Gadeon!” she said.

Ashla quickly rendered medical aid on Nima using a Medpack. Shortly thereafter, the party successfully employed Heal Another on Nima to heal the remaining of her injuries. After they revived Nima, Auro realized that Gadeon was in the battle of his life. He turned to a massive set of blast doors. 9’s informed the party that the doors were held closed and he couldn’t open them.

Drawing upon each other’s force ability, the party focused their move object on the massive blast doors. After a great deal of effort, the party was able to force the massive blast doors open. As the air pressure equalized, mist flooded the chamber that Auro and party were standing it. As the mist cleared, Gadeon stumbled forward a few steps. Then he dropped to his knees reaching forward for Auro. Then Gadeon collapsed to his left and remained motionless.

The chamber was massive! Forty meters across and over seventy meters deep. Along each side of the chamber stood seven massive fourteen-foot-tall statues of Sith Warriors. Each warrior was armed with a large pike and shield. In the center of the room kneeled a fifteen-foot-tall statue. This bronze statue was also of a Sith Warrior armed with a pike and shield as well. Unlike the other fourteen statues, who were facing the back of the chamber, this one was kneeling in respect.

It was the massive thirty-foot statue at the back of the chamber that sent chills down the spines of the party. The massive statue in the back of the chamber was of Darth Revan. The all white marble statue held a massive gold and silver lightsaber that was incrusted with gems. It was a massive and impressive statue that clearly was meant to drew the attention of anyone who walked in to this chamber. However, for the party, their attention was on their fallen companion.

As the group rushed forward to Gadeon’s aide, they felt the chamber flooded with hate and anger. Unna attempted to move him through the force. Her efforts failed as she felt a dark vile presence. “I can sense the darkness within you” the being said within Unna’s mind. He was clearly speaking about the darkside point that Unna was still holding on to. “Give in to your hate and anger and I shall teach you” he temped Unna.

After she refused, the power spirit revealed its location atop of the massive bronze statue. He unleashed a powerful attack of Sith Lighting at Auro. Unna retaliated with her Light Disk at range. This distraction allowed Ashla to continue to make her way to Gadeon while hiding from the spirit. The battle was epic and pushed our heroes to their limits. However, by fighting together and working as a team, they managed to destroy the spirit and save Gadeon from death.

In victory, the darkness won a smaller prize. During the battle, the spirit reclosed the blast doors by using the force. This made Nima’s escape that much easier. She murdered her own brother whom she saw as a traitor to her cause and dismembered 9’s who had heroically attempted to protect Nima’s fallen brother.

Nima fled from the underground complex while the party was occupied with the spirit and searching the tomb after the battle. Looking back, Unna could see that something about Nima’s actions didn’t make any sense. She had originally made her way for the part of the complex that she knew. However, something stopped her in midtracks. Something that scared her so much that the new dark Jedi drew upon her lightsaber and called upon the darkness.

She deactivated her saber after a moment and her fear subsided. Shortly after Nima nodded her head as if she were taking orders from something. She then turned and fled the complex from the same direction that the party entered. It was there that she found the party’s assault shuttle. She took the shuttle and escaped the world in to hyperspace.

With the complex secure, all eyes turned to Duncan and his efforts to fend off Colonel Noor’s advances. Desperate to find his missing Daughter, Colonel Noor mobilized his forces and headed in to the mountains. Duncan supported by a handful of Republic Troopers, crashed landed near a village. It was there that he confronted Colonel Noor and forced the Colonel to accept Republic control of the situation, or else. Nothing says, accept our command, like the 2nd Battalion led by Jedi Knight Demaya

After Auro and the party returned to the Vengeance, the party discovered that it was the planetary Governor who had kidnapped the Colonel’s daughter. After intensive questioning, the Governor admitted to bringing Nima and her band to the world with the mission to provoke Colonel Noor. His plans were to have the Planetary Council declare a State of Emergency. Then he would be able to remove Colonel Noor from command of the militia once and for all.

The Governor had told Nima about the ruined complex to the north but had no idea about the spirit that lurked within. He also funded her team with military grade equipment to carry out their mission. He had no idea that Nima and her group had planned to attack the Jedi Temple or carry out the fire bombing. He had attempted to call Nima and her group off when the Colonel’s daughter had overheard his end of the conversation.

At the end of the interview, the Governor was broken and incapable of lying. While his goals were foolish, he only wanted to remove a man from power that he saw was dangerous. In the end, the Governor ended up becoming what he hated about Colonel Noor. Beyond the arrests of both Colonel Noor and the Planetary Governor, corrupt members who had their hands in the Mimar crisis were also removed from power. Leadership of Mimar was handed over to a Senate appointed governor.

While Nima did escape in an Assault Shuttle, the destruction of the Sith Spirit was a major victory for the party. Auro and the party loot the Tomb of nearly all its riches. Thanks to efforts by the party and the 2nd Battalion, Mimar has been restored to a state of calm and peace once more.

[Akirapryde]

Insights
Secret Base
Near the world of Myrkr
Expansion Region

The dark halls of this long-forgotten base seemed to pulsate with the heartbeat of the darkside. Long ago, this secret base was once the pride of Darth Raven’s secret recon bases. As his empire slowly became over ran by the Jedi and their Republic allies, this base slipped from the pages of history and like the war it was designed to support, it was forgotten.

Concealed within an asteroid belt, it was perfectly hidden from the eyes of the Republic and even from the detection of the Jedi. Its location placed it only a few hundred light years from Myrkr. For centuries, this old relic of a war long forgotten had been lost until it was discovered by a researcher. Now, the location made for a prefect base of operations for a new threat to the Jedi Order.

Deep down the dim lit corridors a lone figure walked through the passageways of this base. The figure was cloaked in a dark brown robe. Its hood was pulled up and over the upper part of the face to conceal its identity. A pair of lightsaber hung from its belt revealing that the figure was a force user. One of those lightsabers held close personal memories to the figure. It was once owned by Miya, a Jedi Cadet that the figure has murdered.

As dim red lights illuminated the way the cloaked figure walked passed armed guards. Who didn’t seem to show any reaction to the figure’s passage. Soon, the figure walked up to a large blast door guarded by four-armed guard. They stepped aside allowing the figure to pass as the doors opened to allow the figure to enter the room. The lights within the room slowly brightened until the room was fully lit.

As the figure walked in to the room, the figure waved the guards in the room out. Without speaking they each turned towards the opened blast door and exited the room. As the doors closed behind the guards, the figure slowly reached up and lowered her hood. Her red hair and green eyes gave away her identity as Orchid. She was wanted by Jedi Order for numerous vile crime that included the murder of Miya.

She walked up to a large plateful in the center of the room. She slowly reached the center of the platform and dropped to a knee, “Mother, I am here, as you have commanded.” The figure said and waited for the link to be created.

After a few moments, a larger than life image of a woman wearing a hood to conceal her identity. “My Daughter,” the woman said coldly. “Submit your report,” the ghostly blue hologram image said.

“We have rescued professor Corti from his Kel Dor prison,” she said looking down. “I am pleased to report he has accepted your offer to help us in return for his freedom,” Orchid explained. “I have sent him on to your flagship. He should be arriving at the rendezvous point in forty hours.”

The ghostly image shifted a bit, “good, with him working for us. Soon, we will have our army and bring our enemies to their knees.” The ghostly image paused a moment before asking, “something troubles you, my daughter.”

Orchid nodded as she gazed upward towards the image before, “yes Mother. I sense something. Something powerful moving through the darkside. I sense a being woven with the pure essence of evil itself.”

The bluish ghostly image move about as she spoke, “yes, I too have sensed it. War for the Jedi is coming. A war of their own doing. This war will bring all forms of darkness back in to the galaxy. We can’t be drawn in to this war. Let the Jedi destroy themselves. We have a greater mission. We will destroy the Jedi and all other users of the force. We, my daughter, shall bring a kind of darkness to the galaxy has never been seen before. No Sith. No Jedi. We will stand alone in a galaxy devoid of the light and the dark. All that will remain is just the force.”

The ghostly image fell silent for a moment. Then she spoke up once more, “tell me, my daughter, what of your long-lost pet? How is Cordelia behaving?”

Orchid looked down in disappointment. “She has always been difficult, but now something has changed,” Orchid shook her head as she continued, “I don’t know what is different. She seems stronger now. She defies me even more than she has in the past. I hurt her more and more and she doesn’t seem to care. She won’t submit to me as she used to. I now see, that despite my affection towards her, I must kill her.”

Orchid slowly looked up with a smile on her face, “where there is defeat, I will raise and use this as a weapon to hurt the one who has hurt me,” She said harshly. “I plan on using her as bait to lure Auro out and kill them both.”

“That will have to wait, my daughter,” the ghostly image said. “I know you desire to hurt the Chancellor for what she has done to you.”

Many years ago, the Jedi Order was desperately in need of resupply base in the Outer Rim. The world of Fray offered the prefect location. The city of Baku was rich in fuel and welcomed the Jedi’s future base. The Grand Council of the Jedi Order orchestrated a deal with the leader of Baku, a wealthy man who went by the title of Lord Baku. He offered the Jedi everything that they wanted. All he asked for in return was a Jedi Cadet who would serve as his bride.

That bride was Orchid, who went by another name back then. The member of the Council that made this deal possible was Praeta Syrdash. Orchid lived through a life of hell as Lord Baku’s wife. Slowly Orchid slipped to the dark side. Her final fall came as she orchestrated the murder of her husband and her own child. She went on to murder a large number of Jedi at a nearby Temple. Nothing has fueled Orchid like her hatred for Chancellor Syrdash and her son, Auro Syrdash. Orchid has proven her hatred for Auro many times already.

The ghostly image continued to speak, “forces within the Senate have devised a plan to remove the Chancellor from power. We cannot allow this to happen. The mastermind behind this effort is Senator Sheev Palpatine. If they are successful, then the Chancellorship could possibly fall in to the hands of someone that could calm to the chaos that we have worked so hard to create. He must be removed from the game, my daughter. He is traveling home to Naboo next week for the Festival of Light. I want him killed. this will send a power message to his cohorts.”

Orchid’s entire body shook as she spoke, “mother…….I can’t, please…..” Orchid’s statement ended abruptly.

“You do as you are commanded to do,” the ghostly image said as Orchid fought for breath. Orchid reached for her throat as her neck showed signs of being crushed. “The Chancellor assuming power was a gift that keeps giving. We planned for a power vacuum that would throw the Jedi in to disarray. However, this unforeseen change works for our goals. As long as she remains in power the Jedi and the Republic will be distracted from our activities.”

Orchid continued to fight for breath as the ghostly figure continued to speak, “I have given you an order. You will set aside your hatred for Syrdash and kill senator Palpatine.” there was hatred in her voice as the female figure continued to speak, “you will travel to Naboo at once and carry out your mother's orders!”

Orchid was released from the unforeseen grip around her neck. The sudden action allowed Orchid to fall flat upon the ground as she gasped for breath. “Yes.....” she tried very hard to say. “Yes Mother,” she managed to get out. Orchid fought to get back to her hands and knees as she added, “I will do as you command.”

“Do not fail me, my daughter,” the ghostly sad then disappeared. Orchid remained there on her hands and knees for a moment as she recovered from the attack. As she set there gasping for breath, a small creature watched continued to watch the scene. Realizing that the scene has past, it slowly moved deeper in to the shadows of vent it was spying from. Without making a sound, Pablo-Jill slowly vanished deeper in to the vent system of the base.

A little bit later Pablo-Jill worked his way back in to Cordelia's room via an opened vent. As he crawled down a makeshift ladder, Cordelia got up from her bed, “welcome back, boy” she said with an optimistic voice. The thick metal cuffs moved from her wrists as she reached up and picked him up from the ladder. They had been on her wrists for so long, that she had forgotten that they were there.

“What did you learn,” she added. Once in her arms, he snuggled up to her as he pushed his nose up towards her neck. He had to push her thick metal collar aside. She carried him over to the table. “So, shall we try this again,” she asked as she placed him down at the table. “I am confident we can get this to work,” she said with more optimism.

Cordelia walked over to her bed while Pablo-Jill watched her from the table. She reached under her bed and pulled out a large rolled up poster board. She turned and walked over to the table and unrolled it. On the board were symbols of sounds. “Okay, you know the trick buddy” she said softly. “Come on boy, what did you hear,” she asked as she tapped on the table. Pablo-Jill walked around the table as he sniffed the poster board.

Cordelia tapped a symbol, “sh….” She said making the sound of the symbol. Pablo-Jill turned and walked around the poster board as if he was choosing which sound to step on. Cordelia smiled as the anticipation filled her face. He continued to walk over the poster board. He paused for a moment as Cordelia blinked, “Ah” she said making the sound. He then turned and walked over to her. He stepped up on her arm and licked her nose. Cordelia dropped her head on to the table with a heavy thud.

She lifted her head to see Pablo-Jill looking at her. He leaned forward and licked her nose again. The soft lick brought a smile to her lip, “I know boy, I miss him too.”

She reached up and picked him up, “do you think he still thinks of us” she asked, speaking of Auro. Before her escape from Republic custody, she had taken Auro’s beloved pet, Pablo-Jill with her. She held him in her arms like a baby as she nuzzled her nose in his furry belly. The little Albek made a cute sound as she played with him. She laughed at the cute sound as she spun around with the Albek in her arms.

A sound at the door caused Cordelia to place the Albek on the bed. She walked over to the table as the door hissed open. Barriss had a sadistic smile on her face, “Still trying to interpret that dumb creature,” the Mirialan said harshly.

Codelia picked up the poster board and started to roll it up. “Pablo-Jill is very smart. I am sure in a few more tries we will be communicating with ease,” Cordelia explained. She turned with the poster board roll in her hands, “why are you here?”

Barriss smile grew as her eyes grew yellow, “I got bored” she said then unleashed a full blast of Sith Lighting.

As Pablo-Jill watched as Barriss’ lighting seemed to be attracted to the metal cuffs on her wrists and the metal collar around her neck. Barriss’ eyes glimmered with delight as she heard Cordelia scream out in pain. Within moments bright blue lines started to glow under Cordelia’s skin as the metal devices continue to ensure that Cordelia’s suffering was as intense as possible.

Pablo-Jill watched from under the bed while Barriss continued her lighting attack on Cordelia. As the lighting danced over and within Cordelia body, Cordelia screamed out in pain. After a long while, a loud buzzer sound rang out from Cordelia’s collar. As she heard the sound, Barriss pulled back her lighting. Barriss grinned as she watched Cordelia laying smoking on the floor. “One day, Cordelia,” Barriss said then added, “I will kill you.”

Orchid stepped in to the room as she added, “we both will. But for now, we need her.” Orchid walked over to Cordelia laying on the floor. She grabbed Cordelia harshly by the hair and pulled a scream from her as Orchid forced Cordelia to look at her, “you broke in to the Royal Palace on Naboo before. You will do it again for us, Cordelia.” She pointed her lightsaber at Pablo-Jill, “or else!”