Fiora Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 333
Affiliation: The First Order - The Knights of Ren
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Post by Fiora Ren on Dec 22, 2021 4:59:43 GMT -8
She froze up as Harnan removed his helmet. Despite the time spent under his tutelage, she'd never once seen him unmasked. She didn't actually know what he looked like under there. Her visions and dreams had always had him in his armour. But now, for the first time, he removed his helmet and her gaze quickly took in every feature of his face. Scars from battles past, His square, jawline, the salt and pepper colour that was starting to invade his hair colour. He looked battle hardened for sure.
She felt herself blushing as his hand reached out and then removed her own helmet. She felt powerless and vulnerable beneath his gaze. Her cheeks were burning as she held his gaze. His praise a few moments later made her want to melt. Her heart rate rapidly increasing as he told her that he was already proud of her. She tried her best to maintain a stoic expression and do her best to control her breathing. She could sense Neith's amusement through the Force, indicating that she was not doing a particularly good job Oh... uhhh... uhmm... She then fumbled her helmet as he tossed it back, the item almost slipping through her grip before she managed to get a good hold on it. She clutched the helmet tightly to her chest as she followed Harnan from one Hangar Bay to the next. She shot a glare towards Neith Shhhh... When she turned her attention forward again, she once again almost dropped her helmet in surprise as she looked upon the Wyvern. It was spectacular. She'd never seen anything like it before. Landed, it looked like a dragon about to take off. The cockpit currently sat open with a ladder leading down to the floor. She was practically beaming as she turned her focus back to Harnan This... This is mine?!
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Dec 22, 2021 22:04:44 GMT -8
He turned his attention from the ship down to Fiora. The joy and excitement was clear on her face. He gave a nod of his head on assent then Yes, kid, it's all yours. One of a kind, beaten only by the TIE Silencers. You'll stand out in the battles to come... The rest of the Empire is going to look down upon you as you take these steps forward into the public once more. You're young and a Ren... For those safely and securely in their positions of power, you are going to be seen as inferior and they will try to knock you down. Their ignorance will be their own downfall. They may have gotten where they are, but does not mean they are the best around forever. Got it?
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Fiora Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 333
Affiliation: The First Order - The Knights of Ren
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Post by Fiora Ren on Dec 25, 2021 1:22:57 GMT -8
Within the span of a single day, Fiora had received armour AND a ship of her own. Things that had seemed out of reach when she began had suddenly been bestowed upon her as recognition of her progress. But some of her joy was tempered as Harnan spoke of the missions to come. Despite her best efforts, the Ren were still looked down upon, the Imperial's preconceived notions winning out over the facts. She gave a nod up to Harnan I understand Master... She slid her helmet back on, the distinctive hiss sounding as the suit sealed. Fiora then ran across the Hangar Bay and began inspecting the Wyvern's outside, examining the plates and landing configuration. Then, with the outside checked, she climbed up the ladder into the cockpit and ran through a systems check. Different segments of armour plating shifted open and closed. Everything felt so intuitive for her to use
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Apr 26, 2022 20:01:04 GMT -8
Birth of the Skin Changer
The trip had taken a little longer than expected, due to the brief interruption, but Harnan finally landed at the Citadel that towered above the Ruling City. Guards awaited his arrival and accompanied inside right up until he reached the entrance to the vast archives, which consisted of several large rooms. Books, scrolls, hard drives, relics, and a variety of other material filled the shelves and terminals. A great wealth of knowledge upon which Harnan and the Ren could fall back upon to learn new powers, study friends and foes that had come and gone, and prepare for future conquests. Within this pool of knowledge, he would find the answers he sought. Or something that would at least help Fiora
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
Posts: 301
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Faina Delvardus on May 12, 2022 1:57:37 GMT -8
Harnan's datapad or comlik pings to alert him of an incoming request for acceptance of a holo-call originating from Coruscant; should the device be configured to identity the caller, it will reveal that it is Faina Delvardus.
As she waits in her office in Fel Tower on Coruscant to see if Harnan is both available and willing to accept her call, Faina laces her hands together beneath her chin and composes herself for whatever manner of greeting she might face, should she be greeted at all; there being no way to be certain that Harnan is available and not otherwise occupied. It is mildly frustrating for Faina that she would need to seek Harnan's permission to visit her eldest daughter, but she understands the need all the same; she has no desire to interfere with her daughter's training, nor would she want to interfere with Fiora's relationship with her Master, necessitating the need to speak with Harnan first. Faina hopes that by showing respect for Harnan's role in Fiora's life he might be more amenable to her request, and has even, to her surprise, come to respect the man himself over the years; her fears that Harnan or his training might come between her and Fiora having proven thusfar unfounded, and his vigilant, fierce, unwavering protectiveness of her eldest daughter something she has observed for herself.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on May 12, 2022 5:22:42 GMT -8
The day seemed to pass by without much notice from Harnan as he scoured the archive of knowledge within the Citadel. A handful of times laid open, while several screens and projectors were displaying other texts and digitised scrolls. Traditions, mysticism, scientific texts, and philosophical studies about the nature of shapeshifting and the species that could perform the act were on display for Harnan to read even as he pulled out more reference material. Almost all of the works concerned pure shapeshifters, never any half-bloods, or even the process by which shapeshifters could change form. It was a maddening quest for knowledge, even as he tossed aside several items.
He wouldn't give up though, Fiora was counting on him to find an answers/solution to her situation. So he pulled out another tome, just as his HUD displayed an alert that Faina Delvardus was trying to reach him. Her timing seemed... impeccable, to say the least. Not that he figured she would have any insight into this situation. But it would be like her to call in a situation like this. He transferred the call to a nearby projector pillar, transmitting his image back to her as he answered. It had been quite some time since the pair talked, so what ever it was, must have been important Faina... It's been a while...
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
Posts: 301
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Faina Delvardus on May 14, 2022 10:58:07 GMT -8
Faina, never sure where she stands with Harnan, and in truth as unconcerned with where she does as she imagines he is with where he stands with her, decides to pay him the respect of not wasting his time with any awkward attempts at small talk, simply nodding in lieu of a more involved greeting as she agrees, It has.
Her holo-projected image flickers as she leans back in her chair as she explains dryly and tersely, I'd like to visit Fiora. With your approval, of course, and when it is convenient with your training regimen, she adds, acknowledging that he holds all the cards before explaining how she hopes to inconvenience him as little as possible, I would come to Prakith, alone, and meet her in Prak City, as she imagines he would not want her in the Citadel of the Ren anymore than she would want to be in it.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on May 14, 2022 23:38:39 GMT -8
If Faina did ever truly get curious as to where she stood with Harnan, the fact he used her name instead of just her title would be a good sign of that. While he did not much care for the Imperial Knights and their rather limited view of the Force, He did respect Faina for having held her oath where Fiora was concerned. The truth of the matter was, she could have fought harder and even turned the Imperial Knights and the Empire against him, given her position within both structures.
He pulled his attention away from the research materials as she put forth her request to visit Fiora upon Prakith. His helmet shifted enough for her to see he was now giving his undivided attention to her. It wasn't so much a question, as it was a request to be completed. The Ren's reputation had kept most others from coming forward with such requests. But Faina was far more... stubborn than others. Truth be told, this was the first time she'd made such a request. But it had also been some time since an Imperial event had been held which demanded his and Fiora's presence to be at A bold move to come to the heartland of the Ren alone... But probably wise, all things considered. Such a request, as we both know, is not one I can deny... He glanced across the works he was studying through. There was still more information to sort through, but he could only put this meeting off for so long. Truth be told, there was one Imperial Knight whom he would have wished to accompany Faina in this moment. But he had already given his life. A father literal dead end. Unless... When this request can be completed will depend upon something... What do the Imperial Knights do with the personal effects of their fallen comrades? It was a long shot, but there was only one person crazy enough to have leave a contingency. Especially given he was well aware of what he was about to do, about the sacrifice he would be making. He just had to hope the one specific item he was hoping for, hadn't been destroyed or thrown away. Then again, holocrons were rather difficult to destroy
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
Posts: 301
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Faina Delvardus on May 15, 2022 5:07:19 GMT -8
Though Faina has not become any less succinct when she interacts with Harnan, their brief meetings when circumstance necessitates they be in the same place and the respect that she has gained for him as it became apparent that he was not only protective of her daughter but also as concerned about her happiness and well-being as one could hope for in one bound to be such a strong influence on their child's life and future have made her comfortable enough with him that she does not feel the need to police her body language as diligently as she most often otherwise does.
Allowing herself a small smile accompanied by a tiny chuckle to acknowledge that she is well aware of how her electing to come alone to Prakith might seem foolhardy on the face of it, Faina frowns skeptically when Harnan suggests that he could not deny her request to visit with Fiora given that she disagrees with the assertion, but as she sees no need to argue the point, refrains from commenting.
Faina narrows her eyes as though attempting to divine the possible conditions Harnan is going to impose on the timing of her visit when he begins by announcing that such conditions are about to be imposed, and she wonders if the conditions are being imposed simply to avoid him needing to deny her request outright. Faina's surprise when Harnan, rather than coming right out with what the timing of her visit will depend on instead asks a question that seems like a complete non sequitur is evidenced by the arching of her right eyebrow, and she drums the fingers of her left hand absently on her desk as, rather than replying immediately, she tries and fails to guess where Harnan is headed, save for the obvious conclusion that there is something Harnan wants that was once in the possession of an Imperial Knight that has died. What that something could be Faina cannot begin to guess, but she supposes that she will be finding out shortly. As concise as ever, Faina decides to answer Harnan's question with one of her own, there being a myriad of replies to his query depending on the fallen Imperial Knight in question given how the Imperial Knights defer to the wishes, or cultural customs should those wishes not be known, of the fallen Knights. What is it you're looking for, Harnan?
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on May 15, 2022 12:42:25 GMT -8
Perhaps he was growing soft in his old age, or he had grown a great deal of respect for Faina over the years. But there was something, dare he say, nice about their rare conversations. Perhaps it was indeed their rarity combined with a number of other factors which made it less grating than dealing with many of the other Imperial Knights. At the very least, he did not feel the urge to reach through the holoprojector and strangle her. So that was progress.
He studied the projection of Faina between his own comments, seemingly noticing her own changes in attitude to him. It seemed that perhaps he was not the only one slipping. He focused his full attention upon the holoprojector as she asked him outright what he was looking for. Another trait he did appreciate about Faina Hopefully, assuming he made one, a holocron that belonged to Kortos Vel. Its existence and whereabouts I am unsure of, but if it does exist it needs to be located and brought with you. Not for me, but for Fiora... Despite the respect they had or had not garnered for one another over the years, he was pretty sure Faina would have merely just brushed off such a request or even denied it outright. A decision he would have made himself in her shoes. But this would ensure she would at least make the attempt to locate the item in question
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
Posts: 301
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Faina Delvardus on May 15, 2022 19:52:49 GMT -8
Faina rests her chin atop the interlaced fingers of her hands as she listens to Harnan explain what he wants her to bring, her expression neutral save for a faint crinkling between her brows borne from the oddity of the request as much as the lack of certainty surrounding its whereabouts and possible lack of existence entirely. As she has begun pondering the possible reasons Harnan might have for wanting a holocron that Kortos may or may not have had in his possession at one time, which may or may not still exist, and, should it exist, does so in some unknown location, Faina finds the need to ponder it alleviated when Harnan explains he wants the holocron not for himself, but for her daughter.
Barking an amused, completely unguarded laugh, Faina sounds almost playful as she says, Shit, Harnan, that's all you had to say. Clearing her throat as her brief slip from being en garde is realized and quickly corrected, Faina suggests in her more customarily dry tone, You should have led with that.
Lifting her right index finger and tapping it against her cheek, Faina thinks about what she recalls of Kortos, trying to use those recollections to gauge where best she might begin her search for the holocron, presuming it exists, and wonders what the holocron could have to do with Fiora when, to her knowledge, the two never crossed paths. Setting the former aside as something she would be better served by giving her full attention to later, and trusting Harnan will answer the questions the latter gives rise to sooner or later given that the one thing she and he see eye to eye on has always been Fiora's welfare, Faina says in a determined tone, If it exists, I'll find it and bring it with me. Which, she unlaces her fingers and lifts a hand towards Harnan as she almost but not quite smiles, will be . . .? trailing off as she prompts him to set a date for her trip to Prakith, as the timing will depend on his plans for Fiora's training or other tasks he or her daughter might have to tend to.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on May 15, 2022 21:26:12 GMT -8
I'll be sure to remember that on the rare off chance this happens again... Was all he quipped in response to her brief slip of character. They weren't, as it might seem, all that different after all. Faina just had a much better control over her public and private persona's and who got to see what.
He knew he would have to explain his reason for wanting it and how it related to Fiora in greater detail once Faina arrived. Such information was not for discussion on com links, no matter how secure they might seem to be. But soon enough she did return to the question of the timing of when that visit would be. The problem was, setting a time on it was rather difficult, since the location of the Holocron might be more elusive than anticipated if it does exist. With the alternative being that it might not exist, in which case that presented a whole host of new issues As soon as you find it, you are to head for Prakith. But if you can't find it within a week, then head for Prakith regardless. I don't imagine he would have hidden it in too challenging a location... I hope...
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
Posts: 301
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Faina Delvardus on May 16, 2022 3:02:46 GMT -8
Faina nods somewhat distractedly, her mind already turning to where she will begin her search as Harnan explains that if she doesn't find the holocron in a week she should just come to Prakith without it.
We'll find out soon enough whether or not your hopes are founded, she says, then, having learned that Harnan, thankfully, has as little use for idle chitchat as she does, gives him an informal yet respectful bow of the head as she says, I'll see you within the week, before ending the transmission, her holo-projected image winking out.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on May 16, 2022 3:47:48 GMT -8
Good hunting... and may the Force be with you... The holoprojection winked out of existence, leaving him alone in the archives once more. He scanned the various materials still strewn about, contemplating it all for a moment. What ever information he needed would not be found within these pages. Kortos' holocron was the only hope he had now, of finding the training necessary to help Fiora learn to control her inheritance. He left the books and files as they were, before sweeping out of the Archives and heading for his shuttle to return to Byss. His visit was over, at least until Faina either showed up victorious and failed in the task he set her
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Silas Darkstar
Knights of Ren
Posts: 196
Affiliation: Knights of Ren - The Magisterium
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Post by Silas Darkstar on May 21, 2022 0:28:59 GMT -8
The Lux Cathedral Within hours of Harnan having agreed to welcome Silas into the Ren, The Eye of Providence and it's accompanying ships had made the trip through hyperspace to Byss and taken up position on the far side of the planet. Silas, meanwhile, had headed to the surface of Byss with his guards to scout out a new base of operations for his Intelligence network.
Given his history of the world, such a search had not taken long. In the heart of the Imperial Control Sector the old Cathedral of the Prophets of the Darkside still stood. While the years had not been kind to the building and scavengers had picked it clean, the building itself was still there. The following day had seen Silas confirm his choice of location and the arrival of workers and equipment from orbit to begin reconstruction efforts upon the pyramidal structure. It would take a few weeks, but the structure would be restored and the old defences rebuilt.
For the time being, Silas worked between the Cathedral and his office upon The Eye
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Silas Darkstar
Knights of Ren
Posts: 196
Affiliation: Knights of Ren - The Magisterium
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Post by Silas Darkstar on Jun 5, 2022 18:39:29 GMT -8
The Lux Cathedral Reconstruction efforts at the Cathedral continued as the exterior surfaces were all removed and replaced with new plating and windows. Interior spaces were torn out, allowing the foundations and framing to be reinforced. The Rooftop itself was converted into 5 different landing pads. 4 small ones on each of the raised platforms, while 1 large central platform dominated much of the roof space. Turbolift access was planned and installed, allowing access to and from the roof. Several anti-air guns were installed just below the roof, with the intention being they would raise up into action.
While it was to serve as the headquarters of the Ren's intelligence network, Silas intended the building to look as inconspicuous for such a purpose as possible from the outside. As far as the public was concerned, a new corporation was setting up their head office upon Byss
The gardens around the palace were renovated, bringing life back to the place, while the old paths were torn out and new ones put in place. A hangar space was set up where the two pyramid shapes met which could land several starfighter sized craft
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Silas Darkstar
Knights of Ren
Posts: 196
Affiliation: Knights of Ren - The Magisterium
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Post by Silas Darkstar on Jun 15, 2022 17:21:04 GMT -8
The Lux Cathedral While the Ren's Purge Troopers provided perimeter security at the edges of the park, Silas' Diarchy Shadow Stormtroopers were setup much closer to the Cathedral building in case anyone got too close. As construction continued on the Cathedral, several basement levels were added on to provide barracks and training areas for the Storm Commandos and Shadow Stormtroopers. Small construction facilities were also set up for the Inquisition MagnaGuards, and a small cloning setup was prepared in the event Silas needed to replace any of the Bounty Hunters he had out in the Galaxy.
As the office spaces were completed in levels, operations were slowly transferred down to the planet, allowing Silas to take up residence more permanently in the Cathedral. The less time he spent travelling to the fleet was also less time he spent potentially being in the public eye. Which meant his identity would take a bit longer to get out to the rest of the First Order. At this stage, he was merely trying to delay the inevitable
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Silas Darkstar
Knights of Ren
Posts: 196
Affiliation: Knights of Ren - The Magisterium
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Post by Silas Darkstar on Jun 23, 2022 18:07:17 GMT -8
The Lux Cathedral - Magisterium HQ Construction upon the Lux Cathedral was, for the most part, completed. The park grounds were opened up and given access to those on down time from work doing exercise. Shadow Troopers, meanwhile, maintained guard points around the Cathedral itself to screen staff as they came and went from the building and guide anyone who was lost or stumbled upon the building back to where they came from. Works were still underway on underground facilities, but they were completed for the most part. Allowing the Magisterium to officially begin full scale operations.
New analysts and operatives were hired from amongst the Ren's Oversector, moving people from Prakith and Khomm to the Fortress World. The Magisterium outposts were also set up upon these worlds where members of Silas' inner circle had taken a leaf from Zariel's book and had started running communal services. While the Grand Inquisitor might have wanted him dead, Silas had a great amount of respect for her work and methods which had proved extremely useful upon Etti IV. But unlike the Diarchy preaching the good word of the Inquisitors, Section 11 was focused on raising the esteem of the Ren. As their ranks grew and more loyalists were secured, expansion across the Empire would begin, inducting new faithful into the "Obsidian Order"
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Jul 13, 2022 0:42:37 GMT -8
Slowly and quietly, Ren assets and interests were shuffled off of Byss. Archivists spent long hours in the Citadel collating and copying files where possible, and physically relocating those that had no digital versions. Everything was shipped out to Prakith where it would be relocated to the Citadel of the Ren for storage and study. Databanks were wiped clean of any Ren files with backups having been created and stored on Prakith. The Fortress world was emptied to the point that should it be needed as a retreat location, it would still be viable to be used as such. But should it be lost, the Ren would suffer no great loss to their plans.
Being surrounded by 4 seers and having the services of a spy network commanded by one of those seers left Harnan pretty reliably informed about potential dangers that may arise. Thus, with one plan at risk of being compromised, he shifted resources and attention to new routes and paths forward. Plans within plans
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 417
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Nem Yin on Jul 14, 2022 17:51:23 GMT -8
In the heart of the Ruling City an airfield usually designated for First Order military operations had been cleared for the arrival of the Praetorite Vong. From the Miid ro'ik warship in orbit, a long and steady train of organic shuttle craft descended to the field and offloaded war-beasts and living vehicles, along with two thousand members of the Yuuzhan Vong warrior caste. Given the vast divide in cultures and the Yuuzhan Vong's uncomfortable relationship with mechanical based technology, a great deal of supplies were imported to make their stay more comfortable while they awaited the beginning of scheduled war games between the Praetorite and the First Order Stormtrooper Core. Small domes of yorik coral were erected by teams of dedicated shapers to house the members of the warrior caste, while the war beast were stalled inside the available flight hangars already present. All together it was a considerable force, comprised of the Praetorite's entire mobile infantry division. Careful attention was paid to the arrival of a Yammosk, a venerated creature amongst these intergalactic aliens, that would be used to coordinate the forces once the games begun in earnest. It was housed in its own hangar, under the watchful guard of a hundred of the arriving warrior caste. Spirits were high as the Praetorite members were excited about the opportunity to test themselves against their new allies, and in some cases, friends. Warriors not on duty could be seen sparring beneath the mid day sun. Elsewhere...A lone yorik-vec, sleek and darkly hued, glided down through the clouds on the opposite side of the city. A tall-yor was pulled down over the head of the pilot, held firmly in place by hooks of bone that pierced his flesh, forming a symbiotic connection between the living ship and the Yuuzhan Vong at the helm. Nem saw what the organic transport saw, its visual sensors feeding directly into his mind through their physical bond. He manipulated the dovin basals to bend gravity to his command, gently guiding the living vessel into a private hangar he had reserved. Spindly legs extended from the transport's underside, bending at their segmented joints as the landing gear took the weight of the coral craft. A series of arrest tentacles protruded from its side and adhered to the deck, further securing it in place. Beneath the bow, yorik coral retracted to reveal a hatch-sphincter. It split at the seam and a long and firm molleung worm unraveled to form a ramp from the ship's interior to the hangar floor. Nem's flesh trembled in pain induced pleasure as the bone hooks of the cognition hood unclamped from his extensively tattooed skin and the symbiont rose back into the cockpit ceiling.The jet black cloaker adhered to his flesh like a layer of second skin absorbed the seepage from the small wounds pricked around his shoulder. As he rose and made his way towards the rear of the ship, he reached a hand to a stud hidden in the neck seal, triggering the attire's reflex. The cloaker peeled from his skin and compressed itself into a small molted ball of flesh at his feet. Naked as the day he exited the creche, Nem retrieved another molted ball from one of the racks. He stroked it, causing the biot to tremble and unfurl, quickly spreading over his flesh as it adhered itself to his body. Something akin to comfort registered with the Executor as the ooglith cloaker encased his head, replacing his ritually scarred visage with a plain approximation of a middle aged human. He flexed his limbs and performed a few standing squats, ensuring the living layer was properly adhered, then retrieved a set of robeskin trousers, shirt, and coat that had been specifically designed to resemble casual infidel attire.On the opposite wall he retrieved his favourite coufee, Shem-Sho, and tucked it into the waistband of his pants. Armed and disguised as the picture of infidel mediocrity, Nem strode out of the ship. An adjoining stairwell led him down to the street level, where an endless sprawl of duracrete roadways connected the vast city scape. There was no need to conceal his presence. Indeed his rank as First Prefect amongst the First Order practically guaranteed him access wherever he desired to go. But he preferred the anonymity his ooglith cloaker provided. To any who would lay eyes upon him, he was just another human. He reached into the folds of his long coat and withdrew his pipe biot. The bowl shaped end had been pre-stuffed with a few grams of Ossus Kush, an offshoot of the Sekotan Green he enjoyed overmuch. Putting the pipe to his lips, he puffed away and ventured out into the city, anonymous and eager to explore.
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