There is no emotion... (A Jedi Order Quest)

[Barondoctor]

Fortunately for everyone involved, the Anzat tend to consider exposure to the level we'd even find out about them a failure condition. Anzat are known to be sociopath predators who eat people (the vampire reference was not ill-placed). Killiks, I'll grant, are more complicated, but there are ways of doing a hive mind in ways that are more readily agreeable to society at large. Like Bilar.

I'm curious about this weird planet thing, but we'll see what we find out about that from our Czerka leaks.

 

[Voikirium]

Fortunately for everyone involved, the Anzat tend to consider exposure to the level we'd even find out about them a failure condition. Anzat are known to be sociopath predators who eat people (the vampire reference was not ill-placed). Killiks, I'll grant, are more complicated, but there are ways of doing a hive mind in ways that are more readily agreeable to society at large. Like Bilar.

I'm curious about this weird planet thing, but we'll see what we find out about that from our Czerka leaks.

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Let's just say there are no species takes running around in Voikirium Star Wars that justify genocide. None, do not pass go, do not collect $1000. Not even the Sith species.

 

[Themarineguy]

Not even the Sith species.

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At least, the Sith species, as far as I am aware, were victims of poor name and both major force groups.....
Got conquered by the exiled jedi and brought into a war which they lost, then the jedi of the time decided to use extreme measures, 'rationalizing' it with the theory that they were naturally attuned to the dark side of the force..... At least if I remember correctly. May have not been the most pleasant to begin with, but things have been bad for them for a long time.

 

[Icipall]

You are Mical, the Disciple, and from beyond the grave one of the greatest Jedi to ever live speaks to you through his holocron. You recieve the last of his knowledge; methods to avoid falls to the Dark Side, his philosophical musings, and more.

(+60 Knowledge, +10 Personal Attention, +5 Force Combat II, +5 to Infrastructure Doctrine once chosen)

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Nice, finishing Holocrons gives a lot of goodies.

And you can barely listen to that as Mira and her group speak to you, telling you all that has transpired. The Ring, the massive construction that Czerka found, is essentially a giant hyperspace cannon, crafted by unknown.

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My guess, either Rakta or Kwa.

At least, the Sith species, as far as I am aware, were victims of poor name and both major force groups.....
Got conquered by the exiled jedi and brought into a war which they lost, then the jedi of the time decided to use extreme measures, 'rationalizing' it with the theory that they were naturally attuned to the dark side of the force..... At least if I remember correctly. May have not been the most pleasant to begin with, but things have been bad for them for a long time.

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Not quite. Yes, the exiled Dark Jedi did conquer the Sith, but by the time of Great Hyper Space War all of the Sith species consisted of purebloods or Sith/Human hybrids who were the ones who started the said war when Republic spacers stumbled on Korriban, and following that war it was the Republic who decided to take the drastic measures of reducing Korriban to rubble, cause the people of the Republic were angry over the destruction wrecked by the Sith and wanted to ensure that they'd never threaten the Republic again. Ended up biting everyone in the ass with it leading to the Sith instead of being destroyed, scattering into the Galaxy, like Yavin 4, Vjun and the True Sith Empire on Dromund Kaas.

 

[TaliesinSkye]

Interesting, would like to know how they are able to fight at a seemingly level playing field with Czerka. Considering the setting, there are so many different avenues and crazy stuff that a group could tap into, which has me curious.

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My personal gut feeling is that they're kind of like many nations at various stages of WW2; desperate, and that desperation gives them a unity and willingness to sacrifice that lets them punch above their weight and hold out longer than numbers would suggest.

 

[Themarineguy]

My personal gut feeling is that they're kind of like many nations at various stages of WW2; desperate, and that desperation gives them a unity and willingness to sacrifice that lets them punch above their weight and hold out longer than numbers would suggest.

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Probably why they are still kicking around despite the liberal bombardment. Interestingly, whatever the super soldier are, they punch way above their weight by word of GM. Somehow, despite the tech gap, the only reason czerka is winning by any degree is orbital supremacy.

More particularly, the Companions managed to dominate the ground war, but the superior armaments of the Czerka vessels allowed them to take the orbitals and rain hellfire on resistance.

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We are not sure about how big the tech gap is, but it is only sufficient for space dominance it seems.

 

[Voikirium]

Mission 1 (Knight Kador Shirot, Padawan Sorda, The Core)
-Knight Kador-
We have the Shipyard manifest; now we just need to actually deal with the yards themselves.

We're not capturing them, the risk really isn't worth it. No...we're destroying them.

Once we find some fighters to take them out, anyway. But I think I know a guy, or two.

Mission 2 (Knight Breda Sunguard, Padawan Atris, Master Juhani, 1 Padawan, Mid-Rim)
-Knight Breda-

There are reports coming in from around the Mid-Rim of the Sith Vessel trying to attack trade convoys and going pirate; heading straight here, to resupply.

How fortunate we all are then, that we are ready.

Mission 3 (Bao-Dur, Bastila, 3 Padawans, Outer Rim)
-Grandmaster Bao-Dur-
The Ysanna have proven fascinating. The descendants of those Jedi who fled beneath the mountains, they are universally Force Sensitive; a result, perhaps, of the Sith Alchemy involved in the nova's creation? Or of being, well, universally descended from Jedi? That sort of metaphysical weight is hard to ignore.

They would like to reconnect with us. I am currently attempting to negotiate; and reopen communications with Dantooine. They say there is a small transmitter that survived the Nova; I believe I can repair it.

Mission 4 (Brianna and Ossin, Colonies)
-Knight Ossin-

The Ring is currently dominated by Czerka forces; their larger ships.

Fortunately, I happen to have a fleet.

[Mandalorian Accented Voice] "You have a fleet?"

Oh for the love of-

There is a friendly fleet in the area. We are going to move to take the Ring and the orbitals, and finally end this destructive conflict.
--
Mission 1 (Knight Kador Shirot, Padawan Sorda, The Core)
-Knight Kador-
Captain Ahjers can get me a face to face meeting with General Donores, the head of the Star Fighter Corps. in the sector. After that though, it's all up to me.

May the Force, be with us.
--
Mission 2 (Knight Breda Sunguard, Padawan Atris, Master Juhani, 1 Padawan, Mid-Rim)
-Knight Breda-

Mindefields are set in every possible attack vector. Fortified pillboxes stand vigilant over every possible landing zone, while trenches scar the land. Three Hammerheads and complements wait for war, as down below a whole Corps of soldiers waits for revenge.

This is not the first time Kalapoli has faced down a Sith attack; it will not be the last.

Meanwhile, we Jedi take up position, waiting for the end, one way or another.
--
Mission 3 (Bao-Dur, Bastila, 3 Padawans, Outer Rim)
-Grandmaster Bao-Dur-
It has been...nice. To have silent thoughts, for once. This place, it breeds peace.

As I walk through valleys that once homed thousands, as I see the ashes of world burned in solar fire, I am forced to consider whether repairing it, or leaving it as a monument would be the more ethical action.
--
Mission 4 (Brianna and Ossin, Colonies)
-Knight Ossin-
Czerka fighters swarm as thick as stars around what I can only call Battleships; corporate built, so no doubt corners have been cut, but they are the same size as a Derriphan class. Three of them form a U, presenting turrets and broadsides to our force.

And we do have a force: old Terochs and Shaadlars, around a handful of Q-Carriers, both old.

It's gonna be a hell of a show for anybody watching, I can tell you that much.

Master Brianna will be preforming Battle Meditation; I will be on one of the fighters.

If I die, tell Jerron he doesn't get my lightsaber, will you?
--
Mission 1 (Knight Kador Shirot, Padawan Sorda, The Core)
-Knight Kador-

I've done it! The General is a jackass, bluntly telling me he thought the Galaxy was better off when we Force users were all dead; but in the end I persuaded to dispatch half the squadrons in the sector with me on a mission to blow that shipyard to hell.

Now to see it done.
(Reward: Gain aid of Republic vessels in bombing run, +5 PP)
--
Mission 2 (Knight Breda Sunguard, Padawan Atris, Master Juhani, 1 Padawan, Mid-Rim)
-Knight Breda-
Good news, then bad news.

We won.

Up above, the Republic's fleet engaged with the Warship and her fighters, dozens of the smaller vessels tossed aside as minesweepers in the most suicidal fashion. Even from here I could feel the Sith's presence; it was palpable, a dark, probing thing that attempted to shatter my resolve like so much glass. With effort we Jedi managed to ward it off; if we hadn't been here, though...

As that was happening, Sith troopships disgorged from the Vessel, carrying thousands of troopers, even as AA guns set up by general Yro cut through them like the scythe through the field. They just kept coming, even as hundreds died; until finally they reached landing zones.

Pillboxes, trenches, and hidden firing position in the trees spat death, as minefields herded them.

They just kept coming.

Bodies fell so thick they could be used as cover.

They just kept coming.

The first defensive line was broken under a tidal wave of broken meat and spilled blood, as Republic forces withdrew.

And then we entered the field.

Atris was...Atris proved she has not forgotten her Echani heritage. She dispatched at least five of the assassins, one without even using her lightsaber. Juhani was only a little less so, managing to toss a grenade into one of their tanks after slicing open a crew compartment with her lightsaber.

In comparison I did little, only helping aim artillery where it would be most effective, accompanied by my Padawan.

We were the Force's instruments; they could not break us, not for love nor money.

In the skies above, Admiral Onasi's men managed to tear the thing, destroying the warship.

But that is where the bad news comes into play.

We detected a small ship jumping into Hyperspace, headed for the Outer Rim.

Headed for Dantooine.

Evacuate the Padawans, ready the defenses; Darth Axa is coming.

(Reward: +20 PP, -5 Czerka Morale)
--
Mission 3 (Bao-Dur, Bastila, 3 Padawans, Outer Rim)
-Grandmaster Bao-Dur-

I've done it. The transmitter is repaired; further, and quite helpfully, it is hardwired to the Dantooine Praxeum.

The Ysanna have rejoined the galactic community; and Ossus is open once more.

(Reward: Gain Ossus Enclave, 100/300 towards Praxeum)
--
Mission 4 (Brianna and Ossin, Colonies)
-Master Brianna-

We have won. The Ring is ours, for whatever that is worth; the Mandalorians fought like Lions.

Ossin survived as well. Currently he and the Mandalorian are carrying on as...well, how do you expect a Mandalorian to carry on after a fight, really?

Now the Republic only just needs to dispatch some forces through the Ring itself, and perhaps we can get to the work of rebuilding.

Of preparing.
(Reward: Claimed the Ring, -5 Czerka Morale)
--

 

[The Englanderish]

Well I dunno about the rest of y'all but I'm real glad we invested in those defences for Dantooine.

 

[Menthewarp]

Well I dunno about the rest of y'all but I'm real glad we invested in those defences for Dantooine.

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Which defenses?

 

[Icipall]

-Knight Breda-

Mindefields are set in every possible attack vector. Fortified pillboxes stand vigilant over every possible landing zone, while trenches scar the land. Three Hammerheads and complements wait for war, as down below a whole Corps of soldiers waits for revenge.

This is not the first time Kalapoli has faced down a Sith attack; it will not be the last.

Meanwhile, we Jedi take up position, waiting for the end, one way or another.

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I've noticed that Breda has a tendency for being dramatic.

Good news, then bad news.

We won.

Up above, the Republic's fleet engaged with the Warship and her fighters, dozens of the smaller vessels tossed aside as minesweepers in the most suicidal fashion. Even from here I could feel the Sith's presence; it was palpable, a dark, probing thing that attempted to shatter my resolve like so much glass. With effort we Jedi managed to ward it off; if we hadn't been here, though...

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Nice.

As that was happening, Sith troopships disgorged from the Vessel, carrying thousands of troopers, even as AA guns set up by general Yro cut through them like the scythe through the field. They just kept coming, even as hundreds died; until finally they reached landing zones.

Pillboxes, trenches, and hidden firing position in the trees spat death, as minefields herded them.

They just kept coming.

Bodies fell so thick they could be used as cover.

They just kept coming.

The first defensive line was broken under a tidal wave of broken meat and spilled blood, as Republic forces withdrew.

And then we entered the field.

Atris was...Atris proved she has not forgotten her Echani heritage. She dispatched at least five of the assassins, one without even using her lightsaber. Juhani was only a little less so, managing to toss a grenade into one of their tanks after slicing open a crew compartment with her lightsaber.

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Da fuq? Why is she just sending her forces to a meatgrinder to be slughtered?

But that is where the bad news comes into play.

We detected a small ship jumping into Hyperspace, headed for the Outer Rim.

Headed for Dantooine.

Evacuate the Padawans, ready the defenses; Darth Axa is coming.

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Oh, oh shit! She must have hoped we wouldn't notice.

 

[The Englanderish]

Which defenses?

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IIRC one of the votes we did ages back included defence cannons for it - and I dimly reccall us getting other stuff to beef it up as well.

 

[One Autumn Leaf]

All right Battle Stations. We will have Darth Axa joining us soon enough. Let's see if this Sith can tango with the best of them.

 

[TaliesinSkye]

IIRC one of the votes we did ages back included defence cannons for it - and I dimly reccall us getting other stuff to beef it up as well.

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We asked the Republic to station troops, which it did. It's reasonably well-fortified now.

 

[Blonddude42]

So Czerka Morale has gone down several times, but I don't think I've seen anywhere the current values for the war are tracked. I might just be blind though...

Infrastructure- While grabbing abandoned temples is always going to be a good plan, there are other questions to consider.
A Thousand Sparks (0/10)- You will expand far and wide. (Expands to more planets, colonies, and polities)
A Hundred Bonfires (0/10)- You will focus on heavily entrenching, improving, and rebuilding a few temples. (Expand more heavily to fewer worlds)
(Note: +5 to Infrastructure research waiting)

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Might have already been clarified, but are these mutually exclusive like our training doctrines were?

 

[Voikirium]

So Czerka Morale has gone down several times, but I don't think I've seen anywhere the current values for the war are tracked. I might just be blind though...



Might have already been clarified, but are these mutually exclusive like our training doctrines were?

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Latest was on Strategic coordination 3947 BBY.

Yes, they are exclusive.

 

[Blonddude42]

Latest was on Strategic coordination 3947 BBY.

Yes, they are exclusive.

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Just ran the numbers and Czerka Morale should now be at -5%. As in Negative 5%, although they might have had things that raised it back up that we didn't see.

Well, unless it was switched from moral points to percentages. Because several of the moral losses were not marked as percentages like they now are. But that'd make the math really fucky especially since the number given to us for their moral was a percentage.

 

[Voikirium]

You are Pal.

Up until two or so years ago, you were a beggar on Nar Shaddaa, one of infinite bits of filth trapped in that cesspit. With only just a family secret and a handful of credits.

Now you are staring down some really pale, stringy-haired witch, all covered in black robes. There is nothing in her. Only the black ice of hate, and of rage, a slimy, miasmatic mist that covers her heart, her soul. Whatever she once was is lost, all covered up under her rage.

Even from a thousand feet away you can feel it, a dark presence; you'd hate to imagine what the Council and the knights must be feeling.

Mira, Visas, they're both recovering in the medbays. The Republic soldiers, they're guiding initiates to the safe rooms, along with Padawans.

And you can already tell, nobody is going to be ready in time.

Or at least, you're pretty sure. The plans were surprisingly complex, really.

Nobody on Nar Shadda would have been ready with so little time, anyway. Especially not with the thick rain that falls down like a thousand little knives.

And so you enter your current situation. Looking at the last of the Sith through the scope of a blaster, emptying your breathing, staring her down.

One heartbeat.

Two heartbeats.

Three.

You fire, and a hunting bolt bursts into red life.

It streaks through the air like lightning, zooming, unstoppably, towards a grim finale.

A moment later your senses scream and you roll away, only for the read bolt to slam where the dirt had been, lighting the grass on fire and leaving a smell of ozone.

You move and snap shots in her general direction as you do, even as she moves faster than any human has any right to. She chews through the distance like a starship, coming closer and closer, thick black robes falling all around, molding her into the shadows. It makes hitting her near impossible.

Not that there was ever much chance of that anyway; even the stuff on the right course gets blasted away with the Force, sent whizzing into the ground, or screaming towards you, or something else stupid like.

As she gets closer she varies up her attacks; distantly it occurs to you the only reason she's doing this is so she can toy with her prey. Feeling you die might do them harm.

A rock the size and general shape of a bantha slams down near you. An airspeeder left as the people of Khoonda fled goes sailing overhead, misses you; but the explosion knocks you to the ground.

By the time the world stops being just a smear of light and color and sound, she is standing over you.

Her red lightsaber is lit, high over her head.

You close your eyes.

You hear the hum, and wait for a hot death.

You wait.

And you wait.

And you wait some more.

Finally deciding if you haven't died yet, you probably won't die in the immediate future, you open your eyes.

There is a purple lightsaber, grasped in a single hand, that stops her blade.

You follow it up, only to see Atton, standing, whole once more, all four limbs attached.

"Master Rand."

"Allaxa."

"Come to gloat?"

"You're not worth it."

And with that the two enter battle, their lightsabers moving as extensions of themselves. Atton moves like a flowing river, attacks constantly flowing from one, to the other, to the last, until the cycle begins again, all smooth flourish. Haxa by contrast is like a staccato rhythm of blaster bolts, attacking from a thousand directions at once.

Attton draws first blood, feints and manages to open a nasty cut from just under her nose to her jaw. She screams and with a mighty, thunderous revenge chops into his stolen trooper's uniform, shattering his armor like so much glass.

He steps back, bare chest exposed (And you learning some thing about yourself). "What's a matter, no lightning? You sure didn't mind using it on me the first time you caught me trying to desert!"

"I should have used more!" Sickly bolts of blue energy begin to flow up and down her arms, sending bolts of pure hate arcing into the ground, killing yet more grass. Force, she is an ecological disaster zone, isn't she?

A fork of energy strikes out, hunting for his heart. Ancient Sith sorceries, horrendous magics, and contemptible powers that could smite down a starship lash out.

He catches it in one hand, brings it close, and dissipates it, letting the fury flow back into the Force.

Her golden eyes go wide as saucers, all new wounds opened up.

Atton takes up his lightsaber.

She takes up hers.

They race at eachother, the Force imbuing them.

They clash. A blur of black and blue as they roll on the ground, Atton grappling with her, Haxa grappling with him. They claw and bits and cut and stab at eachother; but finally Atton manages to jam a thumb into her eye, and with that distraction, puts the lightsaber through her lungs.

She gasps, once.

And then whatever was in her rustles as it leaves.

Atton falls to the ground, exhausted.

You never got up in the first place, and to be quite honest you are still too shaky from adrenaline to do it now.

"Master?"

He looks over at you, and for a moment it's just you, and him, and the storm, and he slumps as though he is the most tiredest man in the galaxy.

"Yes?"

"Are you...alright?"

He looks at the corpse he is next to, and has a look that seems to toddle between satisfied and sorrow. "Not really, no."

"Oh good, because I'm not either." You look down at the mud, before looking at him and speaking again.

"Master?"

"Hm?"

"Next time, you can be the bait."

"If it's your Psycho we need to draw out so you can deal with them, kid, sure."

"Thank you, master."

(Atton Rand revealed as Recovered, and back in action!

Darth Haxa dealt with!

+15 PP)
--
So, there's the miniboss dealt with. Now on to Czerka.

(So I had planned for a bit more votey stuff for this, but then I realized I needed to roll for Atton's recovery and low and behold, he was back to fighting trim. So I decided to do something real cool. Hopefully.)

 

[The Englanderish]

Pure Pazaak.

 

[Ternasta]

Very nice. The Ring secured, the Sith defeated, and Atton Rand fully recovered. With a bit of luck, Czerka will be finished off this year.

 

[Voikirium]

Uh, one thing.

Bluntly the people Mira met are on the SpaceHuman axis, as opposed to like, bugs or sapient rocks or whatever.

 

[Icipall]

Nobody on Nar Shadda would have been ready with so little time, anyway. Especially not with the thick rain that falls down like a thousand little knives.

Click to shrink...

Ah, of course, the dramatic heavy rain at the start of battle.

Finally deciding if you haven't died yet, you probably won't die in the immediate future, you open your eyes.

There is a purple lightsaber, grasped in a single hand, that stops her blade.

You follow it up, only to see Atton, standing, whole once more, all four limbs attached.

"Master Rand."

Click to shrink...

Wohoo, he is back!

Force, she is an ecological disaster zone, isn't she?

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I think there are more important things happening!

Atton really made this end quickly.

 

[KnightDisciple]

And then whatever was in her rustles as it leaves.

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You gonna take a second to give her a final goodbye there, Atton? At least you're not stuck bleeding in a cave when this goes down...

 

[Voikirium]

You gonna take a second to give her a final goodbye there, Atton? At least you're not stuck bleeding in a cave when this goes down...

Click to shrink...

Too tired, spit later.

 

[Ternasta]

I think, after a bit of reflection, we should go for the Infrastructure option that lets us build up a few worlds rather than spreading out to many. We have too few fully trained Jedi to spread out to any great extent and still protect them.

 

[ConfusedCanuck]

I was thinking the same thing let's concentrate on a few worlds we don't have the resources or the manpower to spread ourselves thin.