Felucia - Jedi Temple

[Adenna Alluyen]

As their ship reverted from hyperspace, Adenna contemplated the situation they were in. She had never been to the exotic jungle planet, but had heard some about it. She had wondered why the Jedi would establish a sizeable base here, but perhaps it was part of a grander plan she wasn't privy to. Stretching out to get a sense of the planet, she couldn't help but admit it was vibrant with life, though that life wasn't purely of the light. It had tinges of the dark, but it was a natural feeling. This was a place that was healthy, in balance, and full of potential. A smile graced her lips as she thought, Frond will love this place.

 

There were other Jedi here. Scans indicated a small Jedi fleet in orbit including a large capital ship, and defenses began to register as they got closer to their destination. That brought her comfort knowing that there were other Jedi and that there was at least some level of protection for those here. There was a lot that needed to be done when they arrived. The Padawans needed to be guided through the last parts of building their lightsabers, and more intensive training needed to begin. She and Tobias needed to find the Grandmaster and figure out where they could best be used to aid the Order. There was also the issue of seeing what was going to be done on Coruscant.

[Adenna Alluyen]

Adenna smiled warmly at Tobias. "I love you too," she said, then added with a wink of her own, "even if you might need a bit of a shave." She agreed with getting the apprentices to the temple, though found it amusing to consider a sentient tree thousands of years old a "youngling." Still, she needed to find out what was going on here. Too long, she had been out of the loop, so focused inward on her own struggles and her viewpoint tainted by the madness that fought to control her. It was not exactly a pleasant feeling, but she figured she could probably catch up to speed fairly quickly.

 

Upon going into the temple and receiving verification of her identity, she inquired about who all was here. There weren't any Council members present, though there was a sizeable fleet in orbit. Adenna immediately began sending out messages to Grandmaster Trevelian and the rest of the Council requesting instructions about where they could use her and Tobias. While she waited responses, she began digesting all the information she could about what was going on in the Galaxy.

[Adenna Alluyen]

Adenna was frustrated with the news that she was getting. So much of what was going on in the Galaxy had been of no note to her while she was so focused on the internal battles waging within her. Now that she was awake, it was time to address them. She realized that, despite her role as a more senior Jedi in the group, she had very little connections or interactions with those Jedi who had been traveling with them. She wasn't much aware of it before, now she was and felt a bit guilty. She wanted to correct that soon, but there were some other, very important things she needed to get done first.

 

There were a few Jedi here on Felucia, but among them, it seemed that Adenna was among the more senior, or rather, perhaps it was that she was one of the few that wasn't occupied. It could have been for that reason that Admiral Antilles of the Adi-Wan and a few of the captains of the other smaller ships approached her. They were growing frustrated at being here on Felucia when Coruscant was falling and chaos erupting. She talked to them for well over a while, evaluating their situation and what might the best course of action be. It was odd to her for them to come to her to get directions as she wasn't in command of anything. In truth, she had been on the verge of leaving the Jedi Order for the Imperial Knights had the Jedi not taken some action.

 

Tobias was working with the other Jedi, and Adenna was glad for that. Someone needed to take care of the newer Jedi, and despite his protests, he had proven himself quite adept at looking after and teaching them. She smiled at the thought of the burly man surrounded by younglings all hanging on his every word, waiting for him to teach them something new. He would protest and complain, but she suspected he would love such a thing.

 

Leaving the assorted officers in the briefing room, Adenna went out to think and consider the options. Felucia was rich with life and she did love being around other Jedi once again, but she couldn't sit here. She couldn't let herself be consumed by her own inner desires, but had to put the greater good first. She had always been a woman of action, one who wouldn't stand by and allow evil to flourish. That is why she pushed the Jedi and other allies to liberate Thalassia from slavery. That is why she led the Jedi and CoreSec to destroy the Sith Temple on Coruscant. And that is why she went back to Thalassia to finish more of what she had started.

 

The Jedi needed to do something, and not a token effort. Evil was evil, and it was growing. If the Jedi stood by and did nothing, or only gave a half effort, then they were helping that evil to flourish. The Jedi Order had tried to keep to their peaceful ways, opting to defend only instead of take the fight to the enemy. They tried to preserve life, tried to restrain themselves, and failed miserably in doing so. She was no supreme tactician, but looking at the makeup of the Jedi fleet, even she could tell it wasn't designed to wage war, but rather to support and offer aid. They had only one true capital ship while their foes had many.

 

Looking out over the strangely fungal landscape of Felucia, Adenna made up her mind. If the Jedi leadership wasn't going to take action, she would. She would take command of the fleet here and move it to Borleias to regroup with whatever Galactic Alliance and remaining Jedi forces managed to flee from Coruscant. There, they could decide their next course of action. If someone higher up than her took issue with that, they could come and remove her from command. Until then, she would take that action and hopefully make a stand against the encroaching evil.

 

She sent messages to Sandy and Tobias telling them of her intent while she walked back to the briefing room. When she got there, she told the gathered officers to ready their ships for the jump to Borleias. It would take them an hour or so to ready the fleet and load up with whatever reserve medical supplies that could be found. In the meantime, Adenna went to the landing platform and waited, watching the crews scramble and shuttles lift off.

[Adenna Alluyen]

Adenna was glad that Tobias came to see her. She knew he was busy, but if he hadn't come to her, she would have come to him before she had to leave.

 

She smiled at the burly man's words, especially in their awkward, rambling sort of delivery. He was generally a bit odd with speaking to her, though it was an endearing trait. "Of course," she said. "You did so well with Sandy and the others, I think it is best you do stay here to tend to them where it is safe and you have room. I won't be gone long, just a few days. I just need to get the fleet to where it is useful and the Council can take some action with it. I won't leave you with the apprentices for long, and then I can see how well you have done."

 

Seeing that he wasn't going to take any further action, she slipped her hand around his waist, pulled him close, and lifted herself up onto the tips of her toes to give him a warm kiss. "I love you too, though I would rather see your handsome face than a bunch of whiskers." She gave him a big wink and slowly let him go to attend to another familiar presence.

 

She definitely took note of Sandy's attire. As much as it dismayed her that someone who had so earned peace had to continue to fight, she was proud that the timid young girl she first came across was now a strong, determined young woman. She would never get used to seeing the Imperial symbol or their armor, but in these strange times, it was better than many alternatives. There was sadness in her voice as she responded, "I am no master, and I can't order you to do anything. We are equals, and you have earned that. I know you want to join the Imperials there, but I think even you see that may not be the best path to take just yet. There are other Jedi on Borleias who have the authority and ability to use this fleet and there are people there who also need us.There will be a time to take action, truly, but rushing in unprepared is what got us into trouble in the first place. The Jedi need to refocus, not split up into small groups to be picked off one by one."

 

Adenna let out a long breath. "I know that I haven't always done that, but going on our own path leads to weakness and ineffectual order. Going to the Imperials on your own would make you but one more in a crowd: easily lost and hardly effective. Staying with the other Jedi will allow you to strengthen and drive them to action so that, when we do help the Imperials, it will be with ships, armies, supplies, and strength. I will need your voice to be added to my own when I urge the Council to take action. The Imperials have offered support before, and the Jedi were hesitant. They proved themselves, and I hope to come to their aid as they did the Wookiees, but the Council needs convincing. Who better than two who fought with the Imperials and their Knights?"

 

She put her hand on Sandy's armored shoulder and said, "You must do what you feel is right, but I urge you to join me and help convince the Council that it is time to fully commit to this war." Not wishing to put the younger Knight on the spot, Adenna then turned and left her to make up her mind without her staring expectantly. Adenna truly hoped Sandy would join her, but they were both Knights and she had already put her faith in the young woman, she wouldn't question that or force her to do anything.

 

All she needed was her small carry bag from the quarters that she and Tobias shared, and she was ready to go. As the last of the preparations were underway, Adenna boarded a shuttle and was taken up to the Adi-Wan where guest quarters were set up for her. Once onboard, she reported to the bridge where Admiral Antilles was overseeing the last of the preparations. When all was done, he gave the order for the fleet to jump into hyperspace on its route to Borleias.

 

[[All wanting to join at Borleias, assume you joined and post there]]

[Adenna Alluyen]

Ordered constructed after the massive Sith assault on Kuat, the angled red and off white Nebula class Star Destroyer Justice's Mandate was finally complete.  After completing several test flights and two mock combat drills, its master, Commodore Lendran Neldis, deemed the new ship finally ready for action. With the realization that true war was now upon them, there were no attempts made to make this vessel anything less than a warship. Its weapons were not inhibited, its fighters were the latest, most advanced available from its XJ7-wings to its B-wing bombers and the quick strike E7-wings. The ship wasn't as large or intimidating as the Imperial II Star Destroyers, but they packed similar firepower. With the change in purpose, the naming scheme of Jedi capital ships changed from venerating its heroes to espousing virtues and goals.

Once all troops and supplies loaded on board, its engines flared and it left port escorted by a small swarm of its starfighters. As soon as they cleared orbit, the fighters docked and the capital ship made its jump to hyperspace destined for Borleias to join the main Jedi fleet.

 

[Adenna Alluyen]

The Jedi Temple on Felucia was the most publicly visible Jedi installations in the Galaxy. Despite the constant threats from the Sith, the Jedi refused to completely hide their presence, hoping to attract as many newcomers and recruits as possible. While there was definitely a Jedi affiliated military presence here, most of the defense strategy revolved around its planetary shields and ion cannons rather than brute strength. Even with the knowledge that a Sith fleet could appear above the vibrant colors of the fungal forests that made up most of the planet, recruits and possibly Force sensitive Aspirants continued to flood into the facility.

 

Knight Zhoto Zaan was one of the many Jedi who was tasked with greeting, evaluating, and sorting these new Aspirants. It was his job to detect threats from infiltrators as well as determine if those coming to the gates to join were actually Force sensitive and could become a Jedi, or if they would better serve the Order among its varied and assorted military, medical, and support divisions. It was a position that he found fulfillment and joy in because he was able to meet so many people with dreams and hopes rather than being on the front lines of the conflict with the Sith.

 

He noticed a young man enter the Temple Courtyard and approached him. "Greetings," he said, "what brings you to the Jedi?"

[Adenna Alluyen]

Knight Zaan nodded at the words of young Tai. He had seen many come to the Temple in this manner. "I see," he said. "Well, Mr. Mundo from Naboo, I am glad you have come to the Jedi Order. If I may ask, why is it that you believe you have a strong connection to the Force?"

[Adenna Alluyen]

((Sorry for delay, didn't realize you posted))

 

Zaan had heard of many stories. There were some among the Order who felt called to scour the Galaxy, following where the Force took them to find others who had the spark needed to use the Force. They didn't feel the drive to teach or train those they found, but instead guided them to the Jedi. He had not been called in such a manner, but he respected those who did.

 

"I am glad you were able to save your father," he responded. He couldn't sense any sort of deception coming from the newcomer, nor any sign that he was an infiltrator wanting to harm the Jedi, but that didn't mean he was able to be a Jedi. Still, he would continue with procedure and introduce him into the Jedi life. He gestured with his hands to follow deeper within the Temple grounds. "You have taken the first step in your journey by coming here. Come, let us take the second by getting you registered in the Jedi Temple."

 

He took Tai through the public areas of the Temple, showing the cafeteria, the public version of the Library, and the general training rooms. He also got Tai assigned to some temporary quarters and showed him where he could stay.

 

"There are many tests that a young aspirant must undergo to see how much they can fully touch the Force," Zaan said. "Please, tell me what is it that brought you to the Jedi? What made you choose us over the Sith?"

[Adenna Alluyen]

"This is true," said Zaan. "The Jedi seek to help others and bring peace, but that is not all the Jedi do. More important than anything is harmony with the Force. We serve the light side of the Force, the Living Force, and not the other way around. The Sith seek to bend the Force itself to their will and use it for selfish reasons, the Jedi listen to the Force itself and follows where it leads.

 

"There are many paths within the Jedi Order. Some, such as myself, seek to help those who have just discovered the Force. Others teach and train those Padawans so they may become Jedi Knights. There are some who wish to study and meditate upon the Force and seek new answers, or who wish to live among a select population and offer guidance as best as they can. Some among the Jedi believe that violence is never the answer, but seek peace both within themselves and in others. There are a few, including our new Grandmaster, who believe that the Sith must be fought directly and in turn become soldiers rather than simple monks. No single path is right for everyone, and the Jedi would not force any to follow a path they do not feel called to.

 

"I am but the start of your journey, the guide who will help you learn about options available to you. For a time, you will study among others who are like you and new to the Temple. You will learn about the basics of the Force, how to reach out and touch it, and the philosophy that binds all Jedi together. Do well and show the needed aptitude and you will eventually catch the eye of a Knight or Master who will take you on as a Padawan and further complete your training. Should you not show the needed skills in the Force, and there is no shame in it, there are always places here among the Order for you to help and contribute your skills to the greater good.

 

"Do you have any questions for me?"

[Adenna Alluyen]

Zaan smiled at the zeal of the newcomer knowing that there was so much more for him to discover. "Come, then, let us get you settled and I will introduce you into the classes with the others."

 

For the next several hours, the two of them went throughout the Temple on various tasks. First was to properly record his entrance into the Jedi Temple as an Aspirant, then to get quarters and training garments assigned to Tai. Though it was not intentionally obvious, while this process was undergoing, biometric scans were taken of the young man and run through every affiliated recognition system the Jedi had access to in order to filter out possible Sith infiltrators and to build an actual profile on the newcomer. It was a shame that such actions had to be taken, but there were always those who wished ill in the Galaxy.

 

As soon as Tai was able to be settled into his quarters and get some food, Knight Zaan met him to escort him to the first of his training classes. This particular class was designed for those Aspirants who were fresh to the Temple. The longest any had been here was only a few weeks. The ages of the students ranged from young children all the way to older adults: the Jedi did not care about age so much as connection and knowledge of the Force. All were new to the Jedi way and were on the same level.

 

Knight Tealg, a kindly older human woman, entered the room and began the class. For the next several weeks, Tai would attend this and other classes that gave him a range of knowledge from the history of the Jedi to the basic concepts of the Force. He was taught and allowed to reach out to feel the Force, but for now, until he learned to control himself, he was discouraged from using the Force to do anything further. In time, he would be able to develop his skills further, but he needed to learn the basics more. He was also given an opportunity to ask questions and focus his studies a little more on what interested him.

[Adenna Alluyen]

Construction begins on a new flagship for the Jedi forces: a newly designed and updated MC95B that had been ordered. Surviving crew from the Adi-Wan would be joined by new recruits, both veterans of local planetary naval forces and those who were fresh out of various academies around the Galaxy.

 

 

((Completion time: November 14, 2019))

Edited October 14, 2019 by Adenna Alluyen