Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Oct 2, 2015 0:40:53 GMT -8
The Yuuzhan Vong war, as it's probably the single greatest event in the EU, is a major part of my character's backstory, so he's a Legacy/Post-Legacy character. In his timeline it would be around 60ABY , as he's 50, and was born about the same time the Clone Emperor met his final death on Onderon in 10ABY, making him just old enough to fight in the Vongese war which kicked off around 24-25ABY.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 29, 2015 2:47:06 GMT -8
There are many great Star Wars books, long and short, old and new.
Some authors have written many books, some only the one. Some are great, some good, some average, but they're all special. Which author is YOUR favourite and WHY?
I have a soft spot for Timothy Zahn for starting it off, and writing one of the greatest trilogies, the VII VIII and IX we all wanted. Also Karen Traviss for her Mandophilia, can't get enough of the Mando stories! But I have never failed to enjoy a James Luceno book, and because he's still writing them, he gets my vote.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 27, 2015 17:56:02 GMT -8
Well, i finally finished it, and I'm not ashamed to say it's one of the worst SW books i've ever read.
Really the only part I got invested in were the 5 minutes of Han and Chewie.
Here's hoping books 2 and 3 are an improvement.
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 27, 2015 14:07:27 GMT -8
Kaine heard her words, but they only barely registered. His mind reeled with the flood of returning memories. As Arla spoke, his consciousness was flooded with the events of the missing years of his life. And they were for the most part, severely unpleasant. First to return was the event that led to the whole unhappy saga. Korriban, and the duel with his father, killing his father, then his father's essence transfer, and his own incarceration in his own body, as his father sought to cast him out, and very nearly succeeded. Kaine had badly underestimated the old Sith, and had very nearly paid with his life, and failed utterly.
His eyes seemed to watch her as she spoke, but in truth, his attention was almost totally distracted, though like a good recording system, he still heard and catalogued her words as his mind raced.
Kaine had, for a time, been an unwilling observer as Darth Vesull adopted his name, identity and took over. The Sith had eventually been brought low by treachery on Belsavis, and during a session of Force torture, Kaine had seen his chance, and retaken control of his body and his mind, and cast out the old Sith for good. Vesull's essence had been completely annihilated in a Force blast that had seared Kaine's mind, and cut him off from the Force entirely for years.
That had been small comfort to Kaine, his memory in tatters, his body and mind battered to the breaking point, and marooned on the horror world of Belsavis. Three years of scraping, stealing, murdering and conniving had eventually led to his escape and return to the shattered remnants of his former life, returning to find his family dead, or so he had believed, he'd known his wife was dead, and had assumed the children had also been killed. He'd been a shell of a man, and had taken long months to return some of his vigor and vitality.
Now, though, he had all the missing pieces put back together, and he now knew with certainty that it had all been worth it. Despite the heavy, dreadful price he and his family had had to pay, they were free and safe from Vesull's machinations for all time to come. His children, and their children, his line, had had the stain of the Dark Lord of the Sith removed and expunged forever.
As Arla asked the question 'Why?', Kaine stood up, and stepped forward, so that the muzzle of Arla's blaster would press into his chest, and made eye contact. His gaze now was unflinching, now in command again, and with the confidence in himself and his cause that he had lost, so long ago. The General was back.
Alright then. You want to know why, and I guess you're old enough to handle the truth. He looked pointedly at the blaster pointed at his chest, then continued.
I left you, your brother, and your mother all those years ago on a mission. To hunt down and destroy my father, your grandfather, the dark lord Vesull. A powerful and dangerous Sith. Your mother knew something of why I left, and she understood why I absolutely had to.
You see, my father has stalked and haunted our family ever since I've known him. You and your brother would have been his playthings, and he would have twisted and warped you both into nightmarish dark side caricatures of yourselves. Nat'ika and I were not prepared to allow that. So, I went to confront and kill him. That's where things went to osik.
I managed to defeat him, but he used a powerful dark side technique to invade my mind, and to take possession of my body. His body was destroyed, and he very nearly succeeded. He won the battle of wills, and I only just managed to retreat to a corner of my mind and hide before he destroyed me permanently. It took years before I found a way to destroy him and regain control. Years of my life when all I could do was watch. Try to imagine what that's like.
He raised an eyebrow at her and paused.
Finally, he was destroyed, and the stain on our family, and the threat to you, your children and their children, was gone. I, however, was still alone on a lost, ravaged, Sith and criminal infested prison planet. It took years more for me to escape alive and come back. By the time I did, everything I knew was gone.
You see, it's easy for you to assume I abandoned you on a whim, or due to boredom, or one of the other stupid and selfish reasons men abandon their families. But that just isn't the case. Even if I had died to destroy him, it would have been worth it. Even though it cost me the chance to be here to protect the love of my life, it was still worth it. Maybe you can't see that, but if you think about it for awhile, I think you will.
Now his voice hardened, and the tone of command was there for all to hear.
You had it tough, a mother and father that loved you, friends and extended family to take care of you. So you lost your mother, and your father wasn't around. That going to be deciding how you live your life for the rest of your life, is it?
He looked her up and down.
You seem to be doing alright for yourself, healthy, well trained. His blue eyes hardened to chips of dark ice. Now grow up.
Life isn't a fairy tale. You had it damn easy, and you're smart enough to know that. So stop feeling sorry for yourself, and act like a Mando'ad. I won't have my beloved daughter crying in public. With the last line, his eyes softened, and moistened once again.
He'd forgiven himself, finally, and he hoped Arla could see that, and find it in herself to forgive him. Now he knew the truth of his missing years, he no longer felt that he'd abandoned his family. He'd gone to protect them, and done his duty. At massive personal cost, he'd put their interests above his own, above everything, and he had paid the price. He owed no one anything further, and hoped Arla had the maturity and good sense to see it.
Slowly, he spread his arms, palms open.
Either come here, or pull that trigger, ad'ika.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 23, 2015 13:32:44 GMT -8
Oh, switch off!
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 23, 2015 13:30:55 GMT -8
Kaine was at first intrigued as to what could possibly have provoked such a violent response. Her words distracted him slightly, as he pondered their possible meaning. These two factors, combined with his curiosity as to how hard she could hit, meant he did nothing to defend himself from her initial attack.
He paid for his nonchalance immediately, as a cracking blow struck the left side of his jaw and rocked him back. Kad, but she packed a punch! Then the triviality of that thought was erased, as a sensation hit him all at once from an unexpected direction; the Force. Like the light escaping from behind a door that's been opened just a crack, bathing him for a moment in its blazing illumination, Kaine felt a disturbance. As a man who's been badly burned avoids touching the burned area long after it has begun to heal, Kaine hadn't even thought about the Force since Belsavis. Being Force tortured did that to a being. When he'd come to associate the Force with nothing but pain, it had been lost to him.
Arla's blow seemed to have knocked him into involuntarily dropping his mental walls, if only for a split second, he'd felt a definitive surge. And then, without a shadow of a doubt, his memories brought him to the only possible conclusion. The pieces all suddenly seemed to fit together, and he had his answer. Floating in his mind, an image of two babies, one male, one female, cradled in his arms. Lives that he and Natasi had made together. Two new lives, theirs to nurture and protect. Feelings of joy and contentment flooded him, and overwhelmed his tight control, his focus, his will, and spilled forth from him, carrying Kaine along in the rushing tide of repressed emotion being released from long confinement.
With eyes moist, from the blow, Arla's words, and the knowledge of who she had to be, Kaine's brimming blue eyes met the angry visage of his long lost daughter. His hands remained at his sides, offering no defence to any follow up attack she might make. He could never, ever, harm her.
You.... A.... Ar.... Can't belie.... His legendary powers of speech had deserted him, and he struggled to form a coherent sentence.
He looked at the floor, and gathered himself with an exertion of what little will remained to him in this shocked state. His eyes again met hers. Full of tears, his vision blurred, uncaring of the dozens of other Mando'ade in the tapcafe watching on, he looked to his little girl.
Forgive me.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 15, 2015 16:56:20 GMT -8
We don't serve your kind here.
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 15, 2015 16:53:29 GMT -8
Thats 3 former Mand'alors in favor.
Anyone opposed? Anyone else think they've got the goods?
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 14, 2015 15:17:29 GMT -8
Kaine noted the reaction to his jab, and wasn't fooled for a moment by her attempt to mask her slip. There was something there, something she obviously didn't want him to see. It would keep, he decided, it wasn't as if she was going to leap at him and jam a blaster down his throat. The way she held herself, so familiar, but he knew he hadn't met her before. The way she held herself, her gestures, they reminded him of someone, but he couldn't put his finger on who.
Kaine nodded as if accepting her explanation at face value, and took little notice of the serving girl, his attention was on Arla, watching her watch him. He acknowledged the girl with a nod. No thanks, love. That'll be all. He turned his attention fully back to Arla.
You don't like social situations, I get that. He paused, leaning toward her again, lowering his voice.
Remember, we're all family in Clan Australis. Every member of this clan would give his or her life for yours. While we might be a bit rough and ready, you couldn't ask for a finer group of people to associate with. You can come to me, or any other vod with anything, anytime. Clan Australis is above all, a family. We look after our own.
It didn't even occur to Kaine that such was the change since his years away, that he had not even given the serving girl a second glance. He barely recalled, if at all, that there was a time where he'd have taken her onto his lap and gotten her to pour his tihaar, or given her rump a quick pat on the way past. That man had died with his family. This man barely noticed her beyond noting her age, the lack of any visible tokens of marriage, and a quick consideration that she might make a suitable bride for one of his young warriors. Even then, he only thought of her in terms of providing future Mandalorians, not even considering that there was another reason for males and females to interact.
Kaine Australis had truly loved just one woman. And Natasi was gone. Damnit, he thought, why was his mind turning constantly to his wife. Why did this young woman keep making his thoughts drift back towards his lost love? Perhaps, he considered, it was just being back on Mandalore. Returning home after being away had a way of making you take stock. Maybe that was it, and this Ad'Atin was just the trigger. He pushed the thoughts from his mind before they continued to distract him. He'd mourned his loss, and accepted the pain would never truly go away. His work was his life now. Young warriors like Ad'Atin were his reason for living. He brought his thoughts back to business.
If you're going to be working for a living, ad'ika, you're going to need a ship.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 13, 2015 18:14:09 GMT -8
Well, it looks like plenty of us are on or around Mandalore.
I guess the next step is for us to declare a Mand'alor.
Cathaoir Ordo has my support. Any other challengers, or should we give him the kyr'bes?
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 13, 2015 14:52:48 GMT -8
Kaine considered her words carefully. There was something in them, a glimpse of rage, anger, directed at him, but he couldn't work out why. She was too young to have been with the Clan on Myrkr, but he couldn't think of another reason. He made a note that he would investigate this further. Kaine's eyes never left hers as she stared at him, meeting his gaze unflinchingly.
I could tell you stories of the battles i've fought, the victories, i've won. But really, if you're looking for convincing, that won't cut it. Look to my aliit, the men and women who choose to follow me. Ask them where I was when the clan went to war? They'll tell you. In the front lines.
Kaine leaned forward, still with his eyes on hers, now with a fire burning in them of his pride and passion for his Mandalorian brothers and sisters.
At Myrkr, I walked the forests with the commandos when we fought the Sith of the Eye. At Korriban, I led the landing force that captured the Sith Academy. At Onderon, I flew lead for the attack squadron in the days before this clan even had a name. Whenever our vode stand in harm's way, that's where you'll find me. I will not ask anything of my people that I am not willing to do myself. He leaned back.
Almost as an afterthought, he threw in a little verbal bait, to see if he could provoke any reaction from her that would give him a clue as to where her combative attitude came from. He'd gathered she had abandonment issues, but wanted to know if his hunch was on the money.
I have never abandoned my aliit, or my people. The only agenda I have is to make this clan and Mandalore as strong as I can before I die. That, to me, is a goal worth fighting every damn day for. As he said the last sentence, he brought his right hand up and made a fist to emphasize the point, all the time watching her face for any telltales...
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 13, 2015 14:33:04 GMT -8
Have you felt it? (yay for sequel trilogy quotes!)
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 12, 2015 16:58:46 GMT -8
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 12, 2015 16:34:46 GMT -8
Posted a bit more fluff for the train heist RP on Onderon. Found here...
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 12, 2015 15:17:02 GMT -8
A plethora of transports, shuttles and landing craft descend on Hyllyard City from above. The craft almost overwhelm Hyllyard's small spaceport, taking up most of the available landing bays, and disgorge a horde of armored Mandalorians, droids, and technical personnel.
Under the watchful eye of their black and green armored commander, Colonel Darzeka Australis, the army begin the process of unloading the equipment needed to establish the Clan onworld. In a short while, heavy vehicles and liftloaders begin moving crates of cargo and equipment off the transports. Ori'rami'kade units sweep into Hyllyard, taking control of warehouses and other essential buildings. Most are unoccupied or disused, and those that are not are quickly vacated by the arrival of Mandalorian forces.
Overall, the mood of the civilians in the city seems relaxed to Darzeka. Used to seeing Mandalorians, and with good memories of Clan Australis, at least among the older settlers, there is no opposition to their arrival, and little to no trouble in the streets, which are nowhere near as crime-ridden as the first time the Clan had come to Myrkr.
As the unloading and setup process continues, Darzeka turns his attention to security. He dispatches squads of commandos into Hyllyard to begin a regular patrol schedule, and prepares to send a force into the forest to establish the first of many outposts. He also sets locations for the defensive emplacements and shield generators that will again prepare Hyllyard against any invasion attempts. The work moves at a steady pace, and the Clan personnel, military and civilian, begin to settle into life on Myrkr.
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 12, 2015 15:04:01 GMT -8
Kaine had been on an inspection tour of the beskar express, and was relatively pleased at what he saw.
The train itself was sixty eight cars long. The boxy black engine was followed by a security carriage, housing a full platoon of ori'rami'kade, outfitted with pair of roof-mounted quadlaser turrets, and another security carriage which contained secured heavy weapons, and twelve potted trees in two neat rows of six.
Following this was thirty 30m enclosed cargo cars, with removable boxy durasteel cargo containers bolted onto them. The cars had doors on either end to facilitate unloading, or could be unbolted and the entire container lifted off.
After these were a spare security carriage that was usually used as a break room, and an empty flatcar that doubled as a landing pad.
Behind this was another thirty cargo cars, 50m long, and flat, that were stacked with building materials, or had heavy equipment strapped down.
On the end of the train was another pair of security cars, again with roof quadlaser turrets, and the final car was a mirror image of the engine at the front of the train that was kept inactive, but could be used if the main engine failed.
All in all the entire thing stretched a little over two and a half kilometers from nose to tail. Kaine had parked his shuttle on the flatbed of the central section, but would ride with the security personnel in the lead carriage. He had given his officers free reign of the train, and allowed them to make their own security inspections, just to keep in practice.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 12, 2015 14:49:42 GMT -8
A single Keldabe battleship exits hyperspace in the Myrkr system, and moves inexorably in toward the mottled blue and green world. The ship broadcasts a Mandalorian IFF, but no further communication, and quickly establishes an orbit above Hyllyard City. Almost immediately, a swarm of dropships and shuttlecraft begin disgorging from its hangar bays, all dropping into Myrkr's atmosphere towards Hyllyard.
After years of absence, Clan Australis had returned to their old home. Though the base was long gone, and probably most of the infrastructure as well, they had brought enough to establish a strong presence on-world. Over five hundred warriors, along with thousands of civilian administrators and technical personnel, with all the equipment and logistical support needed had come in aboard the battleship. This first wave would establish a defensible, self-sufficient presence onworld, and could then be reinforced and expanded with further arrivals.
Riding down aboard the first shuttle with a dozen handpicked warriors, some of the finest ori'rami'kade in Clan Australis, was the commander of the operation, Colonel Darzeka Australis. Standing among his elites, in full beskar'gam, the Colonel felt more alive than he had in years, as the shuttle took him and his men down to Hyllyard.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 12, 2015 14:43:06 GMT -8
Colonel Darzeka Australis loved his job. After years of struggling to find a purpose and to fill his life, Kaine had returned, and once again, Darzeka was back as his fixer, his right hand, his trusted emissary, adjutant and aide. Looking after Kaine was a full time job and then some, and while it caused him headaches on occasion, he was never bored.
A shuttle took Darzeka and his collection of Clan Australis personnel up to the battleship Brightflame. Within minutes of the shuttle's arrival, the battleship moved out of formation and headed outsystem. Once clear of Mandalore's gravity well, the ship jumped away to Hyperspace, on its mission for the Clan.
Kaine had given orders for the first of the new clan bases to be prepared. After much consideration of sites both old and new, they had settled on a plan that seemed to work for everyone. They'd be going to a familiar world, to set up a brand new operation. The clan's philosophies had changed somewhat since Kaine had returned, but the General himself was a changed man. His strategies now were subtle but effective, or so it seemed to Darzeka, with less of the aggressive and sometimes misdirected fiery rage that had embodied Kaine in times past. He liked what he'd seen thus far. Setting up this base was an important step for the Clan. If it worked out as hoped, it wouldn't be the last one they established.
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 12, 2015 14:35:26 GMT -8
Kaine nodded slowly as Arla spoke. Inwardly he was taking notes. She was confident to the point of bragging, but seemed to handle herself well. If she was acting, she had a skill in that, at least, he considered.
Any of my boys who was raised with a Mando mother, sister, or has been married or had daughters knows what it's like to be outdone by a girl. I think my lads are secure in their masculinity, vod'ika.
Slicing skills are at a premium, if you're half as good as you say, you'll be in demand. I can promise you'll get opportunities to prove the truth of your boasts. He let the last sentence tack itself on as a reminder that while she might be capable, she was young, and unproven. He wondered if she yet had the wisdom to realise that experience was not to be discounted completely. To accept that it came with time, and to assume one knew everything was a recipe for failure. Perhaps, perhaps not. They'd find out soon enough.
He was about to take another swig of the tihaar when his attention, along with much of the rest of the Oyu'baat, fixed on three new arrivals, in full beskar'gam. Tall and proud, the three approached Kaine. I'll be buggered, thought Kaine. Two Wookiees, and a Barabel. A quick glance toward Darzeka and a return nod told him these three were expected. Kaine greeted them before they could speak. Welcome, vode. Have a drink with us!
The three halted before Kaine, and the Barabel removed her buy'ce. Her reptilian eyes met Kaine's without a hint of apprehension. This one and her companionsss do not partake, General. This one is Jhala, her companions are Bairbaak and Bakdoor, of Clan Australis. We salute you, our aliit alor.
The three snapped their fists against their breastplates, a salute which after a moment, Kaine returned. Honoured to meet you, vode. Sensing these three weren't here for pleasantries, Kaine kept things formal and businesslike. Colonel Darzeka will have your assignments. I look forward to working with you. Dismissed.
There was another exchange of salutes, and the three hulking Mando'ade went off toward where Darzeka sat. After a brief confab, the four of them left Oyu'baat together. Kaine, meanwhile, turned back to Arla.
As you can see, no matter the gender, no matter the species, we all work as one in Clan Australis. And when it's time to use that blaster of yours, you will see what a united Clan is capable of. As he spoke, Kaine watched her studying him. Her attention seemed more than just a younger vod sizing up an older more experienced one. But he couldn't quite put his finger on it yet.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Sept 11, 2015 18:50:19 GMT -8
So certain are you...
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