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Post by Magus Serendor on Nov 30, 2015 20:15:45 GMT -8
Magus laughed at the thought of his father's reaction to him amounting to something. His father had often seen him as a waste of talent. He shook his head, which almost seemed instinctive when he thought about his father.
"I highly doubt he will even believe it."
The young man nodded as Hevn spoke of experimenting with Shards. There was a common thread in both of their goals. It was a significant relief compared to what he had been through with Asemi. The Gray had been overly cautious and full of rules.
"Barradius and I had different goals with our project. The old fool couldn't see the true potential of our work. We imprinted information, memories, and something of a personality on a protocol droid. Asemi wanted to create a robot for each of the Sith Lords, Jedi Masters, and Gray Masters that he felt had something to teach. These robots would allow the user to ask question and run simulations to get a better feel for that force user. If necessary, he would have used Sith alchemy to attempt to give these robots something of their own life. They would become a council of sorts, one that he alone had complete control over. He said it would be a council library and nothing more. While I agree that this would be helpful, there is so much more potential. I took one of his protocol droids and switched it out with an assassin droid. This droid had the military knowledge of dozens of Jedi Masters and Sith Lords. He was better than any programming, though it would have been better if we could have used a cyborg like Grievous. Asemi found out what I did and told me to shut it down. The droid overheard and tried to assassinate him. In the end, I was forced to behead him. I did keep the head though. My goal was to create a robot that could access the memories and insights of people with actual combat experience and an allegiance to myself and my allies."
Magus took in a deep breath as he considered the possibilities. Hevn had opened his eyes to even more options wuth these experiments. Perhaps a trip to Korriban is in order for the near future, he thought to himself. The ultimate goal would be to create troops that could harness the strengths of all manner of species without the weaknesses.
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Post by Bedrovelse Hevn on Dec 11, 2015 5:25:08 GMT -8
At Magus's first remark Hevn chuckles shortly. It is a deep sound thrumming with the whine of the cybernetics assisting his vocal chords.
While Hevn lost his father well before he was ready to, he was not punished by the lifetime of being taunted by such a symbol. Someone you're supposed to look up to. Take pride in. Aspire to be. Seek comfort and affection from. Standing in the place of a father is some sadistic parody of the title. An empathy he would never shame another man by pursuing.
"May he live long enough that you cherish his shock, and teach him a lesson in due respect."
Excitement brewed behind Hevn's brutal thoughts of all the things such a machine could accomplish if programmed correctly. As the young man explained what his previous master had devised, he saw both the wisdom that perhaps Asemi sought, and the foolishness that Magus identified.
The wisdom was the faintest flicker of interest to him. He imagined the Old Guard, the Jen'jidai of legend recreated to check and balance the future of the Order. The Grand Master confiding in these droids in his darkest hours to right his path when the Council deemed it so. However, all personalities include the flaw of change. Would the personality warp with each decision the droid was programmed to make, as each human is forced to evolve with the questioning of their path? Or would their teachings become frozen and stagnant? How long can pillars of the past stand against the rising tide of the future?
These questions were no revelation to Bedrovelse Hevn, but they were a reminder of what he was trying to build. What he was trying to become. How far from that man he was when he still saw himself as a thing.
Bedrovelse raises a finger in an "aha" moment.
"I'm glad you brought up the protocol droid. I wonder if such personalities can change as time passes. I've heard stories of a protocol droid, whom was a coward by nature, performing an act of courage without orders. As if it became inspired. Had an original thought of it's own. I am glad you kept the assassin's head! It would make for an excellent training tool until we can provide a more suitable medium."
Hevn considered himself for a moment. Proof that cyborgs were malleable alongside sith magics.
"I can speak from experience that being a cyborg would make for the strongest scenario. I wonder, how much of the human brain you actually have to take apart to control it with science. Given that my knowledge is ingrained to my spirit, I have not been able to use cybernetics to augment my mental faculties in any way. It's been a long time since I've played with brains! This should be fun. I'm taking us down initiate. Time to meet my crew."
Hevn sets the ship's trajectory for the bunker, punching in the landing codes to offer them access as they enter the atmosphere and descend.
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Post by Magus Serendor on Dec 12, 2015 7:00:49 GMT -8
Hevn's comment sparked something inside Magus' mind. His plan had always been to return to his father with a quick twist of the saber, saying something witty as the life drained out of the fool. It flew in the face of how he had always viewed those who were unworthy of being his equal. The mention of due respect unearthed a different side of the young man. His father would become a willing servant before accepting death. Perhaps he could be of some use, Magus thought.
The young man merely nodded. His thoughts and feelings about his family were complicated and better suited for another time, if at all.
"It seemed like a waste. I thought Asemi would, at the very least, seek to alter the droid. He called it a grave mistake, yet gave me no chance to amend the situation. I've had to keep the thing hidden since it happened. It has made experimenting extremely difficult. Only twice have I been able to examine the head at length. We had an interesting conversation about the Battle of Coruscant during the Great Hyperspace War. I cannot say that the droid exhibited a personality beyond its programming, but it was able to extrapolate more information than just Master Tuknatan and Lord Shar Dakhan's accounts told. When I asked the droid how it was possible, it explained that the two accounts, plus its own copy of what Barradius had taken from the Jedi archive, allowed the droid to recreate the situation with ninety percent accuracy."
Magus was still not entirely certain of the implications that his discovery brought forth, but it was all rather exciting. He paused for a moment as he contemplated Bedrovelse's words.
"I know very little on the intricacies of cyborgs. Barradius was overly cautious with subjects that were unknown to him. It is understandable, given his personality, but it made for slow learning in certain areas. Enough about him, though. I look forward to meeting your crew."
Magus braced himself both mentally and physically as the ship headed down to the surface.
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Krennel Gulch
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Post by Krennel Gulch on Nov 9, 2017 17:40:50 GMT -8
A Providence class Dreadnought arrives over the planet, and begins to ferry droids bearing the signal of the Confederacy down to the planet floor.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2017 20:09:29 GMT -8
A second Providence-Class Dreadnought appears in orbit. However, this one doesn’t bear the Separatist colours, instead having a dull gray scheme. As it slows, a Consular-Class Cruiser and 20 Umbaran Support Ships come out of the large rectangular hangar bay and begin decending to the surface, escorted by a large number of Umbaran Starfighters.
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Post by Krennel Gulch on Nov 14, 2017 15:17:02 GMT -8
They are escorted to the surface by squadrons of Vulture Droids, and watched closely by Krennel Gulch's fleet.
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2018 21:16:44 GMT -8
From the depths of hyperspace, a battered Providence-class Dreadnought would exit into Geonosis's space. Moments later, the lone ship is joined by several other vessels, all of which seemed to have been battered and bruised in a severe battle. After the terrible losses at Mygeeto, these ships, led by Faal Tonith, had to fight their way through Imperial Space, being chased down the Hydian Way and halfway down the Corellian Run to the far reaches of the southern Outer Rim. Having finally shaken off the Imperial pursuers, somewhere in the Mid Rim, the fleet found the closest system and landed itself at Geonosis.
Faal Tonith, though his crew was mostly droids, still had some Muuns present with him. All of whom were the remnants of the IGBC and terribly exhausted from the fight and long-ranged pursuit. They had lost a great number of ships, narrowing their fleet down to eleven vessels and a remainder of a hundred thousand droids and over five thousand pieces of war machines. With the old caches on Muunilinst and Mygeeto destroyed by the First Order, Tonith had no choice but to retreat, knowing they couldn't mount an effective response.
Alarms then went off on his deck, causing the remnant leader to awaken suddenly from his thoughts. Sensors had picked up a cluster of warships in orbit with unknown transponder codes. From the viewport though, they were definitely not Imperial... at least Faal hoped not.
Any transmissions?
=Super Tactical Droid, K-4= None, Commander. We are being scanned though.
How are our shields and weaponry looking?
=Super Tactical Droid, K-4= Pitiful, Commander.
No help from this one, but this was a droid speaking to him after all.
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Post by Krennel Gulch on May 10, 2018 0:32:49 GMT -8
Krennel Gulch stood up the deck of the Defiance, with two hands upon a cane place before him and the rest firmly behind his back. A thoughtful series of clicks were sounded as the battered vessels attempted to form a semblance of order.
In almost direct contrast to the IGBC vessels, the Grand Confederacy fleet shone with the look of freshly built and painted warships. A Harch head beside the National Insignia designated this fleet as the fleet of the Military Consul.
Almost lazily, the warships took up battle order, forming behind the command ship. It was clear these ships were commanded by experienced officers, as they quickly flitted into position. Eventually, Gulch himself would appear on the deck of the opposite Providence by hologram.
"You have entered Grand Confederacy space, I'm afraid I must ask you to identify yourselves."
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2018 5:13:46 GMT -8
Unfortunately for Gulch, the holoimage device onboard the Faal's flagship was somewhat busted. The Muun banged the transponder, trying to get it to present a solid image, but a few choice words managed to get through to him. Confederacy, entered, and identify... it wasn't enough to go on. At the same time, the image of a Harch was something new to Tonith, having not met one in all his life. He turns to his tactical droid.
What is our status on the commlink system?
Battered, but holding, Commander. We should be able to still communicate directly with them.
Get me an open channel!
With that said, one of the droid crew members begins punching in the necessary sequence to get an open channel available for Commander Tonith. It did take a few seconds later, due to the damage of his ships, but at least his communications array wasn't entirely busted. Otherwise, this would have been the end of the fleet. With an open channel available, the Muun speaks to the defending ships.
This is Faal Tonith, Commander of the IGBC Remnant. To whoever communicated with me, our holoimage transponder is damaged due to the long weeks of fighting. I must openly state that you do not open fire! I repeat, do not open fire! Our ships are barely being kept afloat and we are in serious need of supplies and repairs.
The channel was kept open as the Muun awaited a response.
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Post by Krennel Gulch on May 13, 2018 6:31:11 GMT -8
Gulch clicked thoughtfully, eying the ships opposite him. They had clear IGBC markings, and scans indicated that there was little possibility of it being a trap - considering the species involved and the state of the ships.
Regardless, Gulch wasn't in the mood for a surprise, and no doubt Tonith would see the guns and shields coming online on whatever was left today his scanners.
:: Very well, prepare to receive a boarding party. ::
Gulch turned, nodded to Dofine and severed the link. Meanwhile, a HMP Predator Gunship was loaded with a company of droids, with 6 B2s and around a dozen B1s.
As soon as the Gunship landed, the Company and its OOM Commander Droid tramped along the battered and sparking corridors to the bridge.
::"Commander Tonith, we have been instructed to take you to the Consul."::
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2018 17:18:06 GMT -8
Seems he didn't have much of a choice, thought Faal, as the boarding party sent by Gulch arrived rather quickly. Listening to the OOM's words, Tonith nods reluctantly before turning to his Super Tactical Droid, RN-4. He gestures to the commander's chair.
You have command of the bridge while I am away. Continue with internal repairs.
Yes, Commander Tonith.
With those orders given, Faal follows the OOM and its company back to the hangar bay. Along the way, he notices the droid and Muun crews getting to work on the internal repairs. They could not do anything but keep the ship from splitting apart, keeping oxygen running and other necessities. They would need a place to dock and repair more thoroughly once Faal was done talking with this Consul.
It didn't take long to venture over to the more pristine Providence-class Dreadnought. It was odd... the Muun felt like he went back in time as he stepped on the hangar bay. Whatever this Grand Confederacy was, it utilized a lot from the Separatist faction that existed during the Clone Wars. Was this Consul seeking to revive the faction or make it into a new vision?
He didn't have much time to think about it as Faal was soon enough brought into the presence of the Harch, known as Krennel Gulch, Consul of the Grand Confederacy. For a moment, the Muun stood rooted, remaining silent before deciding to speak.
Forgive my lack of etiquette, but I do not know how to properly address you, Consul. I only know the procedures involving how to greet and address one's superiors within the IGBC. My crews are thankful, nonetheless, for the breather, you have given my fleet.
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Post by Krennel Gulch on May 14, 2018 0:38:02 GMT -8
Gulch waved his hand dismissively, such etiquette was usually a pointless affair. Base respect was perfectly adequate. "You are Intergalactic Banking Clan then? Or rather, what remains of it? And I believe you call yourself Faal Tonith? A relation of Pors Tonith perhaps?"
Even as they spoke, Tonith could see emergency supplies and teams of engineers being ferried over to his vessel to help keep it afloat.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2018 8:10:39 GMT -8
Seemed this Harch was aware of his surname.
I am of some distant relation through a relative of Pors Tonith. An ancestor of mine, from the Clone Wars, served in different theaters, but only after the death of Pors sometime after Praestilyn. I believe he was a cousin of the late Pors Tonith.
It was sometimes a confusing subject to speak of ancestry, considering the influence the Tonith family once had within the InterGalactic Banking Clan. During the Clone Wars, before that time, after that time... up until the Imperial resurgence just recently. There were others of his family still alive when battles of Muunilinst and Mygeeto raged, but it was unknown what their ultimate fates were. At this point, Faal was one of the few remaining of his family alive.
We are indeed what remains of the IGBC. Our superiors tried to mount defensive postures against the First Order, going as far as reactivating Separatist caches on Muunilinst and Mygeeto... but it was for nothing. Both arsenals have been thoroughly destroyed, the company's assets are no more and many of our own have been arrested or killed.
His superiors were fools for what they did... it cost him his own and the lives of many lost. What did they fight for exactly? Many reasons, but Faal only knew of stubbornness from those above. Many of his kin died for nothing it seemed. Faal points his finger behind him where his fleet was positioned.
We made it to the Hydian Way, but the Imperials chased us all the way to the Corellian Run. We were able to lose them once we passed Denon in the Inner Rim. We lost many warships... what's out there is all that remains.
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Post by Krennel Gulch on May 14, 2018 13:08:28 GMT -8
Gulch idly stroked a chelicerae, glancing as Vespa came back into the bridge, with the data base from the IGBC Providence loaded into his own memory bank. As Gulch listened carefully to Tonith, Vespa jumped in on the end.
:: I have examined your data base, and I am impressed with your evasions of the First Order Fleet, Commander. ::
As the robotic voice quietened, Gulch turned. "Indeed, Commander, to evade the First Order, and to combat them no less, with warships from the Separtist Era raised from old Arsenals, and still save such a significant unit is an impressive feat indeed."
Gulch's own ships were newly built and retrofitted, well fit to go toe to toe with modern ships, making Tanith's actions ever more impressive.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2018 19:30:27 GMT -8
You honor me with your words, Consul, but I only took command of the fleet after we entered the Core Worlds.
There had been several other commanders before Faal's default promotion. There was the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the Commander at Mygeeto, the two commanders that helped them down the Hydian Way, a commander over Brentaal IV, and then Faal was promoted as the fleet fled south down the Corellian Run. It was more sheer luck that they were able to utilize rearguard ships to jump for Denon and then jump further away from Imperial sensors. Still, the cost of the Denon jump was close to twenty vessels.
My droid forces are in a more desperate state... many of them refused to turn on, likely due to old and faulty programming. We were lucky to muster a stubborn defense, but not enough to truly bleed the First Order.
The advanced technology of the Imperial nation slashed through their soldiers like a maelstrom. The IGBC leadership had not anticipated facing veteran and well-led forces, seasoned commanders, and great morale when the rebellion happened on Muunilinst. Misculations had resulted in him eventually on the other side of the galaxy.
Once our repairs are done, Consul, we will be on our way though. We thank you for your aid, nonetheless.
Faal did not anticipate sticking around. The IGBC would find another world to rebuild.
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Post by Krennel Gulch on May 15, 2018 9:56:12 GMT -8
Gulch stayed silent for a long moment, obviously forming an idea and pondering its implementation. His major trouble was constitutional powers, not that it bothered him too much. He eyed the Muun for a long moment, gently stroking the chelicerae and clicking to himself.
"I will be frank, you have many things I need. Therefore I will offer this:
I will commission your fleet into the Confederate Navy - at the base construction costs - as well as commission you as an Admiral. In return, you will use the funds gained from this action to re-establish the Banking Clan, which will be then be given the formal contract to perform as the Central Bank of the Grand Confederacy.
You will regain your business and gain a commission, I will gain a fleet, an able command structure for said fleet and an efficient Central Bank for the nation. I think this is a good deal, no?"
It could never be said that Krennel Gulch would not take the initiative when he had an idea, even as Vice Admiral Lot Dodd spluttered in rage at the prospect of being skipped in the seniority ranks of the commission in favour of an officer who wasn't even an officer.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2018 13:34:06 GMT -8
This was an unexpected turn of events, thought the Muun as the Harch Consul practically offered him major gains on a silver plater. This made the Muun look through the back of his head, picturing his floating fleet behind him. This humanoid said that the Faal Tonith and his fleet had many things that he needed. That was rather surprising considering the state of his fleet and crew... yet here Consul Gulch was offering him the means to rebuild and be an organ of this Grand Confederacy within these parts of the Outer Rim. It would certainly be no Muunilinst, but it would be better than nothing.
Faal Tonith knew his crew would understand the reasoning behind accepting the offer. They were too tired and weary to argue after all. They too wanted a place to settle down and rest for some time. After a long silence, Commander Tonith looks at Grennel and nods affirmatively.
You have a deal, Consul. I accept the terms offered. You will hear no opposition from my crew... they are too tired after all to truly argue involving such an advantageous offer. Time to rest, rebuild and thrive again. I won't be the same IGBC, but it will at least give us a second chance.
An Admiral's commission, a spot as Chairman of a new banking clan, and rest... not a bad day after all.
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Post by Krennel Gulch on May 16, 2018 0:40:23 GMT -8
Gulch clicked in approval, already running everything through his head. The Nationalist run Civil Executive had ordered the industry - a power they technically had - to cease warship production. Then the Supreme Court had ruled in their favour. Gulch knew well that with Erris Rodes - a Muun with two sons standing for the Industrialists in both executives and extremely close connections, including donations and membership to the Industrialist Party - the leading judge for the current court session, they would rule that repairing an already commissioned fleet was not the same as building one.
On top of that, the price of the Outer Rim Credit was dropping like a stone with all this unrest, and the fact it was a newly minted currency didn't help either. The simple fact of the matter was that Gulch didn't know how to fix it and didn't have the staff to fix it - until now.
This was a great deal for Tonith, but a better one for Gulch. He had just scored a massive political victory - he (and thus his party, the Industrialists) had just fixed the currency decline and made the Nationalists look like weak fools. He was absolutely delighted.
"Excellent, Admiral. Let us cut to it then. On Geonosis we have a network of drydocks. I will continue to supply engineering teams and resources, and then we will land your fleet when it is safe to do so.
The ships will then be given full repairs and given a modernising refit. Meanwhile, I will see you get the necessary funds and a suitable headquarters for beginning your work as the Central Bank."
The Muun would get a shock when he saw the Stalgasin Hive, surrounded by the ever growing Stalgasin City, a massive acropolis filled with numerous ethnicities, surrounded by excellent defences and covered by an anti radiation shield, with heavy deflector shield generators surrounding placed around the city.
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2018 19:22:49 GMT -8
It seemed the Harch was rather excited about this. It made Faal wonder what the Consul got out of this agreement besides an additional fleet, another commander, and a source of banking for the Grand Confederacy. Time would only tell it seemed.
We will begin re-registering ourselves as the Confederate Fifth Fleet, Consul.
Admiral of the Fifth Fleet and Chairman of the Grand Confederacy Banking system, Faal had not expected such a turn of events by dropping out of hyperspace here. At least he had a purpose now and his people could rest. He may never see Muunilinst in his lifetime, but at least he'd see those who followed him find a new place in the Grand Confederacy. Now, they could rebuild.
After we have repaired, Consul, where should my fleet relocate?
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Post by Krennel Gulch on May 17, 2018 0:36:43 GMT -8
Gulch clicked contentedly, raising a large holomap with a lazy gesture. Outlined were the various territories of the GCOR, as well as neighbors such as the GA and the First Order.
Eventually Gulch spoke. "You will temporarily re-station yourself at Malastare to take on a full complement of fuel. The reserves here are mostly for defensive purposes, and they cannot be massively depleted. You'll be rearmed here and refitted, then refueled at Malastare. Then, Admiral, I intend to send you to Bothawui.
Technically it is a Galactic Alliance shipyard, but I'd like to see them stop the Grand Confederacy taking it. I'm sure you understand just how vital a world it is, with its shipyards."
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