Nar Shaddaa - Rebel Alliance Headquarters

[The Jedi Order]

((Posted by OK.))

 

So dire were the reports of casualties incurred by the raid on Serenno, that rather than simply taking the word of an Imperial Knight without question, that the Jedi Order dispatched one of its agents along with the Healers scrambled to receive Grandmaster Alluyen. Master Hassan, a veteran of the previous war and trainer of numerous Jedi quietly watched from the periphery of the medical suite while two Healers dressed in sterilized robes sat by a bacta tank. The Jedi Master could only barely perceive the Grandmaster’s outline through the concentrated murk as she bobbed listlessly in the tank. Sensors attached to her body read cardiac activity, neurological responses and endocrine changes… all of which were well outside the norms for healthy human beings. Or any sapient species, for that matter.

 

Hassan felt the beginnings of a stress migraine building up as the Alliance medtech attempted to explain her dire condition in a gentle, patronizing tone.

 

“Thank you,” the Jedi Master waved off the technician as the pain began to mount. Muttering something about needing to report to the Order, Hassan staggered out of the room and into the confines of a nearby supply closet. Breathing deeply, the Jedi Master reached to the Force and waited for the throbbing pain to subside. Then, finally, he allowed himself to indulge in a single curse before returning to his duties.

 

The shout of SPAST could be heard from two floors beneath him.

 

Minutes later, his recommendations were transmitted to the Alliance headquarters on Nar Shaddaa.

 

 

Spoiler

Grek-Mern critically wounded. Status incap. Possible neurological damage? No estimation of recovery time. Healers demand to not be disturbed. Recommend recall Masters, convene Council.

 

An hour later, he had returned to The Red and Black. There was one more person involved in the raid on Serenno who required personal attention--a potentially delicate interview, considering the relationship between the members of the Rebel Alliance. The finer points of negotiation were somewhat lost on the Jedi Master, but he at least had the sense to visit the commissary before hunting down Aidan Darkfire's office.

 

It was locked. Understandable, considering the unexpected casualties of the raid. He knocked softly on the door, the best that Hassan could manage while attempting to not scald himself with two steaming cups of tea.

[The Jedi Order]

((Posted by OK))

 

“I just came from the Grandmaster.” Master Hassan left the spare mug of tea on the younger Darkfire’s desk. The Imperial Knight was free to accept the tacit offering or ignore it at his pleasure. “I… cannot speculate on her condition. I am utterly unqualified for that. In the light of the present emergency I’ve sent a recall of the Jedi who have served on previous Councils. Knowing your mother….”

 

Realizing he was about to indulge in an indelicate remark that held significant value for intelligence, Hassan silenced himself by taking a long sip of tea. “What I mean to say is that the present situation in the Galactic Core and Colonies is intolerable. Even if Corellia continues to hold, it will have been an expensive exchange. A counterattack into Sith territory is necessary--no more of this defend and rebuild strategy.”

[The Jedi Order]

“Now this…” Britt waved her hand towards the magnificent building of metal as they mounted the stairs to the old Moff’s complex that formed the heart of the Rebel Alliance base. She turned the wave into a point that motioned towards the northmost tower. “...Is the tower of the Jedi.  Right across from our brothers and sisters in the Imperial Knights!” 

 

She continued at a brisk walk up the long flight of stairs before turning back around. 

 

“So tell me about yourself Chieftain, where do you come from and what do you want to do with your life?”

[The Jedi Order]

The Jedi Ace, still wearing the light blue flightsuit of the fighterbomber wing attached to the Rebel carrier group Methostopolies, walked through the low door into the reception area where a myriad of Jedi applicants and hopefuls were waiting. The orders had been clear, as the carrier group had been transferred to home defense of the rebel base, she was back to doing the tasks she had always dreaded. Teaching and mentoring. She would have much rather had the cramped cockpit of a Javelin or K-Wing then take on an apprentice, but the council was clear and she would do her duty. 

 

She closed her blue eyes and clasped the chinstrap of her helmet around her belt and then looked straight at the bearded young man who was sitting near the Zabrak applicant. She strode forward and offered her hand in a traditional human expression of greeting. 

 

“Hello I am Jedi Knight Britt and if you are interested I would like to talk to you about the jedi order. Are you interested?” 

[The Jedi Order]

Britt grinned widely at the man's expression and slowly put her hand back down. Perhaps not every human had been raised in the core worlds and she did not let it bother her. Instead she squatted into a seat across from him and nodded, her dark hair bouncing around her ears as she nodded. 

 

“Of course we will need a formal test. But for now I can sense a small spark of the force in you, and fate has brought you here after all!” 

 

She looked him firmly in the eyes as he pulled on his moustache. Then she stood and motioned for the doorway. 

 

“If you trust the force, then follow me. I want to see what you are made of.” 

 

And she stepped outside, heading towards the refugee slums of Nar Shaddaa.

[The Jedi Order]

“Well…” Britt let her voice trail off as they rounded the corner on the large thoroughfare and found themselves staring at a makeshift bazaar. Large swaths of the road taken up by milling tourists, beggars, shoppers, and the stalls themselves. Which were heaped with second hand electronics, fruit, and off world vegetables likely grown in small backyard horticulture plots. 

 

“Tests to see if you have the moral character to be a jedi.” She grinned then led the way to one of the fruit stands where the seller eyed them suspiciously. She pointed to the scales he was using to measure his product. “For instance the law states that anyone using weighted scales is to be imprisoned for up to a year. It's a holdover from the imperial order that ruled this planet only a year or so ago.” She overturned the scales with a flick of her wrist where small micro weights could be seen glued on the underside. 

 

“So you as a Jedi, what should you do in this situation? Call the authorities? Or what justice will you met out?” The seller looked aghast from her face to Cloak’s. Off in the distance some of the martial stormtroopers, in their grey and green armour, that made up the mixed imperial/rebel security forces began to make their way over to them. 

 

[The Jedi Order]

Britt nodded as her eyes kept firmly on the stormtroopers weaving their way through the crowded bazaar towards them. When they came closer she gave them a wave which they returned and pushed their way to where Britt and Cloak were standing. Their grey and green armour marked them as the colonial garrison, and though they wore the stripes of a sergeant and a corporal, the pair seemed differential to the Jedi knight and companion. The sergeant pulled her helmet free and gave Cloak and Britt a friendly salute as the crowd gathered to receive the freely given fruit and vegetables. 

 

“You lot always have a better way of handling things eh?” The stormtroopers voice, now unmodulated by the lack of helmet, carried the brisk accent of Carida. Marking herself as a refugee, much like those that crowded around the two jedi and two colonial stormtroopers. 

 

“We always try to find a medium between the laws of man and the sense of justice they should carry with them.” The stormtrooper grinned at that and leaned down to look at the pair of weighted scales. She noted the modifications and nodded to Cloak. 

 

“A good decision.” She scooped up the scales and together with her still helmeted companion walked back off to their duty station. 

 

Britt turned her eyes back to Cloak and shrugged. 

 

“A wise decision indeed Mr Cloak. You acknowledge the extremity of laws without advocating their breaking. A sound moral decision.” She gestured towards the stormtroopers. “They will follow their own laws, the Imperial Remnant always did. Even before they formed the rebel alliance with the ruin of our Galactic Alliance. It has not been easy for me to work alongside stormtroopers. Tell me of yourself, what is your story?” 

[The Jedi Order]

Britt looked sideways at him for a few moments before beginning to push through the crowd again. “Your tale of woe is sadly as normal as drinking corellian ale here on Nar Shaddaa. What did CoreSec teach you? I hear it is a hard life. Does that life experience give you an insight as to the position or need of a fair and strict justice system?” 

 

She pushed until they were at the edge of the crowd where an Imperial Knight in his crimson armour was giving a half hearted speech about the ‘great victory’ at Corellia that the Alliance had somehow won just a few weeks before. The Knight Caught eyes with Britt then Cloak and gave them a crisp salute before beginning his speech again. 

 

Britt lowered her voice to conspiratorial levels. 

 

“I have not seen children kidnapped. I myself was given to the order by my mother.” She shrugged delicately. “Though I have no doubt some degree of credits changed hands. Likely so she could dive nose first into a pile of spice. I had the shakes for years after coming to the order because of her addiction. Nothing quiets a baby like a shot of glitterstim.” She scowled  towards where a few adolescents were halfheartedly watching the speech from the back of the crowd. 

 

“Glitbiters are everywhere of course, but you know that from CorSec. But No I wasn’t kidnapped, though the Imperial knights probably do it. You could always ask him after he finished his speech if you want, or we can watch these kids sell spice.” One of the adolescents made a deal with another group of teenagers and a few small baggies of the stim passed hands. “So tell me Officer Cloak, would you intervene there?” 

 

[The Jedi Order]

For @Cloak

Britt’s eyebrows raised a half millimeter before she looked back at the young Jedi Hopeful. Her voice was a bit surprised. “So Corsec…” She had decided to call him that instead of Cloak, “He is what I know about Corellia. A major push by the combined fleet of the rebel alliance came and forced the sith fleet back to centerpopint. A lot of people died, half of the fleet is still at drydock. I’d say if we can keep our momentum we might actually be able to take back the Core.” The excitement in her voice did not betray her own doubt at such momentum getting off the ground. “Though with our recent elimination of the spice mines at kessel I would say we might have a shot at taking out the big sellers. You want to see if we can?” 

 

She pointed towards one of the youth who was selling. “If you want to let's catch him. We don’t need to prosecute the little fish, but we could get the higher ups.” 

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For @Katakros
 

Jedi Knight Liam VronWeis read the datapad report as he drake the last bit of his stimcaf from a paper mug. He could barely feel the slick metal pathway under foot as he sprinted towards where he could feel a dark sense of pain and anger. It could have been a speeder accident, he couldn’t tell, but what he could tell was the Imperial Colonial Police were probably not far away. The report on the datapad told him as much. 

 

But hey why not, he was already in the area, and though this was still a majority imperial remnant planet… It was technically also rebel alliance territory. An Alliance the Jedi Order took a leadership role in. The Imperial Remnant had folded into the Rebel Alliance after all, or had the Galactic Alliance folded into the Imperial Remnant? Well it was one huige rebel alliance now anyway. A rebel Alliance with stormtroopers and an empress leading it all. He shook his head, the caf didn’t help his already poor concentration, but he couldn't help but to laugh at the irony of it all. Seven hells there were even TIE fighters patrolling somewhere in the sky, but they were friendly. Bizarre. 

 

Laim almost ran smack into a young Chiss but skidded to a halt when he noticed the faint trace of blood on the man’s hands. Liam cocked a sloppy grin and extended a hand in the traditional human core worlds greeting. 

 

“Hello stranger, I can’t help but notice you may have just been in a bit of trouble.” He gestured to the obvious lightsaber on his hip. “Now trust me, its probably better you talk to me than any of the local Colonials.”  

[The Jedi Order]

Liam let a grin spread across his face as he watched the young chiss work out the moral quandary he had just gotten himself into. As the blaster discharged its crimson bolts into the prefab wall the Jedi KNight kept his green eyes on the crimson eyes of the Chiss. When the young man had made up his mind Liam beckoned towards a turbolift a quick job down the promenade. When they were safely inside the ascending turbolift he gave the Chiss a quick lookover. He took a breath in, letting the force flow through his tired muscles and then extended it towards the other man in an attempt to calm nerves he found already far too calm. 

 

“Ahhhhh.”

 

He considered as a few more dozen floors ticked by.

 

“I sense a little of the Force in you stranger. Have you ever considered the Jedi path?”

[The Jedi Order]

For @Cloak

Britt grinned from ear to ear, one side of her smile  slightly deformed from a sliver of scar that ran from from ear to halfway down her cheek. Shrapnel, especially during the rapid depressurization of one’s cockpit during a dogfight, could make wicked scars. And though she was a beautiful young woman, she had seen much fighting during the last five years of conflict. The ribbons on her pale blue uniform told as much. 

 

“Thanks Coresec, I'll let you do the interrogating.” 

 

Summoning the force she reached out and rooted the boots of the youths to the metal decking that made up the street. Frozen as they were, they had no chance to lead them on a chase and their leader, a Rodian male in his late teens, held up his hands in surrender as he saw the lightsaber. Britt’s voice was stern as she ordered them to empty their pockets and she collected the packets of spice from each of them. She looked to Cloak and indicated that he should pursue the line of questioning to find the higher ups of the small drug operation.

_______________________________

for @Katakros

“Well isn’t the Force just something eh?”

 

Liam let out a long sigh and gave the Chiss a quick lookover before he turned back to watch the glowing lights of the turbolift.  He pressed another button and waited for the lift to ascend to the upper most levels of the planet. When the lift finally reopened they were greeted by the garish lights of the upper districts. High level civilian shops and fully uniformed colonial militia patrols were the norm on this level and the high pyramids of the old Imperial Mission jutted up against the dark sky which was barely illuminated by the floating drydocks in high orbit. 

 

He indicated towards the closest metal ziggurat and  together they walked into the Jedi Training Facility, which was housed in the outermost imperial mission. Liam pointed to the largest of the facilities as they walked.

 

“These are the imperial missions, a initiative put together by the Imperial Remnant when they seized these worlds from the Hutt Cartels and Black Sun. They are designed to give jobs to  the refugee and underground populations. They still function even after the Remnant formed the Rebel Alliance. And in time we may even visit one if you progress through the ranks of the Jedi Order.” 

 

He waved to one of the guards who saluted him. 

 

“There is no great formal process for joining the Jedi Order, most Jedi like myself just pick up new apprentices. Would you be interested?”

[The Jedi Order]

For @Cloak

 

“Oy don’t got much to say mate.” Whispered the young Rodian, his eyes somehow bulging even more than they naturally did. He tried a nervous grin but the trembling at the end of his proboscis like mouth kept the smile from being realized. He did not know much about the Jedi Order but he did know that they were dangerous and extrajudicial. His eyes focused on Britt’s belt, where the lightsaber dangled from its cord and he sighed.
 

“I work for Calmine. Calmin the Tall. Trandoshan, red sector.” He bowed his head. “Please let me go and don’t tell my parents.” 

 

Britt laughed and shooed the youths away, free to go. She smiled at Cloak and indicated the long staircase that would descend into the lower levels. “You did well there CorSec. Now concentrate while we walk into the lower levels. Think deeply and find your center, then tell me what you feel.” It was a very introductory lesson in the force, but it would start the path. 

 

((Describe what your character feels, and how he feels what he does. How does the city with all of its life feel around him?))

________

 

For @Katakros

Liam nodded, “Tell me about this sight? How do you access it and what have your people taught you?” They walked together towards the center training hall where many young people were receiving training from several jedi knights. Liam indicated one of the training mats and sat down upon it, indicating that the Chiss should sit down in front of him. 

 

“Show me how you access this Sight.”

[The Jedi Order]

For @Cloak

Britt gently guided the ex CorSec agent as they descended, feeling the first ripples of the force stretching out from him. Hesitant at first, but stronger as they went. Feeling the emotions of the world, however tumultuous they could be as she guided him down towards the underlevels of the once hutt owned city asteroid of Nar Shaddaa. But like all the other times she had been in the lower city a fight of some kind was breaking out. She gave it a glance and nodded. 

 

“That was the very beginnings of the force my friend. There is much still to learn. But for now, yes let us intervene, but be cautious. The thugs here are not above kidnapping or murdering Jedi Knights should we cross their paths and they outnumber us. Lead the way CorSec.” 

 

______________

for @Katakros

Liam nodded briskly from where he sat and considered for a moment before he responded. 

 

“It may be best that you have little training. Some find the power that lurks behind the sight or the force addicting and are lost to it. But for now I will ask you to close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Then when you have focused, begin to reach out, open that mind to the presences around you. While we may be in a mixed base of Imperials, Rebels, and Jedi, I believe you may be able to pick each one of us out by our attitudes.” HHe let his own eyes flutter closed. “Listen for the stern confidence of the Imperial Knight, his resolute righteousness even as he shines his armour in the room above. Expand your senses and tell me what you see and what you feel.”
 

((Describe three NPCS you can feel through the force.))

 

[The Jedi Order]

The trio broke apart like a wave on a strong cliff, spreading out with a single member wiping at a rapidly blackening eye and a dripping nose. He started to speak but the other two swiftly spirited away, dodging into an alley as the one they had been assaulting looked down to see a silver object glittering in his abdomen. A vibroknife. He let out a sharp cray and collapsed against one of the tall buildings. 

 

"Stay with him, I will get the other two.” The Jedi knight said, disappeared at a blistering pace after the two fled assailants. Leaving Cloak along with a wounded and moaning man. But perhaps the force could help him or guide him. Or there was a commlink to call the colonial militia and their medical staff. 

[The Jedi Order]

“I want a full report on the squadron.” She wiped her grease covered hands on her trousers, not even noticing that they did not get much cleaner . The XJ horizon engines were not clean pieces of equipment. Designed with warfighting in mind they had fuel efficiency and thrust in mind, not cleanliness or consistent thousand flight hour maintenance. The fighters had been given to the Jedi Order by the Imperial Remnant of all places, as second hand replacements to stem the tide of Jedi losses over Onderon, then Dark sun quickly after. They had served their purpose, but now they were showing their wear. 

 

Pulling heavy atmosphere duty day after day in combat air patrol was not a kind thing to an engine or an airframe that was designed for deep space flight. So now their squadron was in a deep maintenance cycle. Or what would have been a deep maintenance cycle if the impending Sith invasion did not get in the way of their plans. So the twelve Jedi Order pilots were doing a quick set of repairs and cleanings. Knowing that any minute, a Sith Armada would drop out of hyperspace. 

 

“Intercomm two indicates that there is a Jedi apprentice on standby. Needs an escort while his Master is sorted out by the council.” 

 

Brittany Vor’tok looked back at her assistant flight officer and sighed an exasperated sigh. It made sense, she needed a break, she needed lunch, but apprentice babysitting? Well it had to be done, even if she was dirty as seven hells. 

 

A quick stop in the refresher unit to change into a slightly less dirty set of bright orange flightsuits and clean the rest of the grease and carbon off of her forearms, and she was running down the corridors to find the young man. 

______________________________________

[The Jedi Order]

Was that one of the Imperial Remnant high command? And he was talking to the wayward apprentice? Oh what trouble would this be? She felt her heart flutter for a moment as she continued her jog down the corridors towards the main entrances, hoping the young man was not saying anything too revealing. The Alliance operated just fine as it was, a conglomeration of old enemies who had only one thing in common. The destruction of the Sith. 

 

If she had been born fifteen years before Brittany would have been very likely trying to kill or disable that Imperial Admiral. Now she gave him a crisp salute. Her ungloved hand pressed keenly beside her eyebrow, and her pale eyes staring at him from beneath her second lieutenants cap. Of imperial design, which halfway clashed with the orange flightsuit and silver flightwings which designated her as belonging to the Jedi Order’s flight crew. 

 

“Admiral, I see you have met our new member!” She smiled warmly, perhaps more warmly than she felt, but she did have to put on a good show. “Well new to us at Nar Shaddaa at least.” She turned her gaze to Cassius. “Did your flight go well?” 

 

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[The Jedi Order]

“Some of our Jedi helped the Imperials take this place from the Hutts too Admiral. We can be pretty effective even without a lifetime oath to an Empress.” Well one Jedi, and the very Jedi that had been assigned this new apprentice at that. The young man would be lucky to have such a Master, someone who had forseen the looming Sith Invasion for what it was nearly a year before the Galactic Alliance began their scramble to rearm. Brittany herself had only been in the Hesperidium flight academy at the time and like many young Jedi, she had daydreamed about helping the Imperials in their anti-sith crusade. But now that she was helping them a part of her, perhaps a selfish part, wanted desperately for the peace of her youth. 

 

She smiled back at the Admiral. And gave a deep bow. “I will let Master Kil know when she returns. Thank You Admiral.” 

 

She extended her arm to indicate that the apprentice was to walk in front of her as the two of them turned away and began to head further into the confines of the Citadel. 

 

“So Apprentice…” The Jedi Ace gave the young man a wry smile. “For now, Tell me of your training on Felucia and your own background as we walk to the mess hall. Food is free here for you, so why not grab a bite to eat while we await your new master?” 

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