Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 439
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Nem Yin on Apr 3, 2023 18:08:15 GMT -8
His own experience with the Ssi-Ruuk was limited. Nem had traveled to Lwhekk to sign the original peace treaty between the Praetorite and the Ascendency, but the race of aliens to which it belonged was much subdued at that time. In all likelihood, his visit must have taken place some time after Esthh Krazhmir's task force had been to the region, which spoke towards their success. Of the aliens themselves he knew little, but he had heard the whispers of the soul ripping constructs. In truth he had doubted the validity of them. Who could fathom such a thing existed? A technological terror that could drain the life force of sentient living beings? It was the ultimate affront to the Yuuzhan Vong people's religious beliefs, but we weren't dealing with the devout here, not in this office. Sadly, these two Yuuzhan Vong had lost their faith. Though the cold callus part of the Intendant could still see the danger.
With his elbows resting on the desk, Nem leaned in, clearly intrigued. He could sense no deceit in the other Yuuzhan Vong, and he could hear his heart beat. Thump-thump, thump-thump. He coaxed open the seal of his own bladder-flask and took a healthy swig, savouring the sweet narcotic substance as it burned its way down his throat. Definitely warrior caste. What soldier of their Empire wouldn't have traded a limb for even a thimble-cusp full of sparkbee honey during the height of the war? Though Intendants, Nem's more martially inclined domain were quite fond of the spirit. He'd even kept a hive of sparkbees while serving aboard an infidel pirate scow during an intelligence gathering mission. Not an easy feat, they tended to get into the ventilation system. Not to mention all the fires they started. Still, damn good stuff.
This batch was extra special. The sparkbee hives he cultivated behind the cottage pollinated a particular herb that had been planted nearby, one that originated on Zonama Sekot. The Handmaidens of Yun-Ne'Shal had called it Sekotan Green, and considered it a sacred herb gifted by She-Who-Shapes to all Yuuzhan Vong. It was even said to possess healing properties. Nem didn't buy into any of it; however, the herb did make for a fine pipe weed. The variant grown on Ossus, referred to by the locals as Ossus Kush, was even better. When smoked it had a slight euphoric effect, a very mellow buzz, with hints of citrus. It was what was burning in the braziers overhead.
With one hand he stroked his chin ridges ponderously, with the other he nursed the bladder-flask, though it frequented his mouth with increasing intensity the darker Esthh's tale turned. In fact, the Executor clearly paled, becoming ghost white. He sat rigid in his thorn-seat, forcing his backside deeper into the cushion so that each thorn penetrated just a little further into his punctured flesh, biting sharp. A memory threatened to surface. Not something forgotten, no never that. Something buried so deeply he had hoped to never revisit it. He dragged the backside of his hand across his lips, wiping away any lingering residue before setting down his bladder-flask on the desk.
"That changes things." Nem considered himself a good judge of character, and he could tell at a glance that Esthh was visibly troubled by the recounting. It meant it was real. It was a threat to everything he was trying to accomplish. Not just preventing the extinction of his race, but a path to actual prosperity. That future couldn't exist with a danger like this looming in the dark corners of the galaxy. If this is what he thought it could be, steps would need to be taken, and tough choices would need to be made. Possibly tougher consequences to live with. "I want to help." He scowled like an infidel. "The Praetorite I was a part of, it is broken, maybe beyond repair. I can not speak for it or the martial might it can bring to bare, I fear it is none. But I speak for my domain, the bitter and brooding Domain Yin..." He briefly jerked a thumb towards the robeskin flag on the wall. "...when I say I want to help. We have some influence among the infidels, my politicking has seen to that." His brow ridge furrowed. "Though they will require proof, and there are so many threats already."
One need only watch the holo-news to know the galaxy was on the verge of something terrible. Dark forces gathering in the Outer Rim, war between the Coalition and the First Order, guerilla factions and mercenary lords. These were the dangers he had successfully navigated his people around, but it was doubtful that any of the allies and friends he had made could look past their own wars to such an existential threat. It was possible the Yuuzhan Vong would be on their own until this threat manifested in such a way as to awaken the various infidel factions instinct to survive, at which point it might be too late. Unless they were made to see...
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Post by Esthh Krazhmir on Apr 4, 2023 13:19:50 GMT -8
Esthh nodded his head slowly as he brought his eyes back up to Nen Yin’s face.
“One droid race, from my searching, is called the Silentium, and has made appearances in several places. Often in a vast fleet. Years before our entry, there was a government called the Centrality, not far from Hutt space. There was a battle at a place called Thonboka, that just one of these mechanics pushed back the energy beam from the flagship and destroyed the vessel utterly. The reports are not long on information, a defeat by a weak puppet hardly needed to be recorded accurately, possibly for the loss of face. There have been a number of sightings of them, but space is vast and their movement through space would have to be unmatched. Evidence however…” He didn’t blame Nen, he would have asked for evidence as well. He wouldnt move troops or ships on rumor except under the most dire situation. For someone to commit to full mobilization would need incontrovertible fact, no matter what someone wished to spin of it.
He raised his left arm and turned it outwards slightly and light began to spill from a discolored portion of the bracer and a ball of light focused at his mental probing, revealing a planet, dirty, brown and red. When the planet focused he continued.
“This mechanical is known as Ronyards. It is in the Inner Rim. It is the only one that I have found in the Known Galaxy. It was a dumping ground for war material and small mechanical...and a Star Destroyer crashed onto it. The records that we have been able to obtain through operatives in the Imperial Remnant were only able to confirm the ship crashed onto the planet and all were killed. It is standard to account for all enemy assets and investigate for design weaknesses. Star Destroyers don’t crash on accident. A poor hyperspace jump, a collision with other ships or asteroid. Crashing into a planet has never happened in realspace. The ship would have had to lose all of its power from primary and secondary reactors, and all emergency reserves to both the repulsorlifts and the primary and secondary engines. There are too many safety features in the form of redundancies for this to happen. No crash reports. No fleet wide maintenance or software updates. Nothing. Scouts were sent to examine it, who wouldnt jump at the chance to examine an intact front line enemy warship that we were already facing and would continue to? There was no impact crater and the ship was shredded, physically. She didn’t fall from orbit nor even atmospherically. It was torn apart at an altitude of less than that of her length from the surface. No Imperial Warship was allowed back to the system after that time.”
He paused.
“I believe that it is of the same...line...as something called The Great Heep, that was involved with an Admiral Terinald Screed of the Galactic Empire. The reports were that it sucked all the moisture from the planet. It also used its own army of mechanicals. The New Republic was quite happy to record its victories, no matter how small and ignominious.”
He took a swig of the sparkbee honey as the holographic creature was bid to go back to sleep.
“Your offer is appreciated, but who can take on a planet? My ships are old and wouldnt be able to take a mechanical of this size. I don’t even think Yo’gand’s core would work on this.” He sighed. “And its not just one. There are half a dozen that I have confirmed or are in the Unknown Regions. Like I said earlier. I don’t know if I could get those who follow me ready in several lifetimes. The mechanicals havent made a move yet, but they did in our ancestors galaxy. Why wouldnt they eventually do the same thing here?”
He sat back. His face relaxing into the weary deadpan of resignation that leaders reserved for private times, or for those who understood the burden of command. The responsibility and worry that came from making the best decisions that one could and knowing that choosing wrong meant more than a failing grade or a punishment from a superior, when the consequences weren’t isolated to the leader alone.
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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: 439
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Nem Yin on Apr 7, 2023 5:01:54 GMT -8
While Nem was certainly one to wallow in self misery, it was perhaps one of his most frequent hobbies after all, that was not to say he lacked an optimistic outlook toward the future. Elsewise he wouldn't be wasting his time performing all these various actions to ensure his peoples place in the galaxy, from alliances with regional powers, to spreading their population among the colonies to ensure if something terrible befell one the rest would remain. Monumental action could be taken if a grave enough threat presented itself. Their own peoples migration from their dying home galaxy to this one was proof of that. Plus being somewhat aware of those allies military might and unusual mystical abilities, he was confident they could come up with a solution together."The Emperor of the First Order is very wise, for an infidel. I am sure he would listen if we were to bring him..." His voice trailed off as something on his desk caught the attention of his mqaaq'it. Nem stopped talking and studying the glowing screen of the qasha shaped into the coral surface of the furniture, the dark skin around the glowing implants widened in shock. He was quiet for a moment, but when he spoke, the disbelief he was feeling clung to his words like a parasite, the despair infectious. "You may forget what I was just saying. The Emperor is dead." The words left him feeling cold, and a bitter taste settled over his tongue.With a series of wet pops he extracted himself from his own thorn seat. The Intendant stood and turned to stare out the window, folding his hands together behind his back. He let the silence linger uncomfortably between them, clearly affected by the news, but perhaps not for the reasons one might think. Eventually he turned, his face cold and drained of emotion. His brow ridges furrowed and his pointed ears seemed to stand on end, like a predator having caught wind of its prey."Your assessment was correct. This galaxy, in its current state, is unfit for confrontation with such a force. The First Order was a uniquely suited and powerful faction, and I believe if the rest of the galaxy could be convinced however briefly to follow their lead, could defeat such a threat. Unfortunately I have run the math several times and that assessment was based on the Emperor's continued longevity. As I said, a wise man, but not above fault. His nepotism has likely doomed his Empire, it is plain for all to see. The hierarchy of authority is too open to exploitation. While the Emperor's eldest son, Octavian, does have the strongest claim to the throne, it is far from a sure thing." He lowered his face and brought his hand to his chin, pondering visibly. "But there is potential to manipulate the result to our favour."His ocular implants snapped up, focusing with renewed intensity on Esthh. "I need a partner that wants the same thing for our people. A future, one where we can reclaim so much of what our people have lost. A home, a culture, our collective peace of spirit. Join with me, Esthh Krazhmir. Our people are strongest when working in concert towards one goal. The Handmaidens will not raise a hand in violence, and I will not ask the chazrachs here to expend more blood after all they have given. I need an ally with the same end goal, prosperity for Yuuzhan Vong kind, one who is not afraid to spill a little blood where necessary." His eye sacs puffed. "I do not expect us to be friends. I am well aware I am unpleasant company to keep, but I think we want the same thing."
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Post by Esthh Krazhmir on Apr 8, 2023 14:56:04 GMT -8
Esthh watched as Nen Yin’s demeanor changed after the message and let the silence hang until Nen Yin collected himself. He listened as Nen described what might happen to the Empire. He listened to the proposal and sat for a long moment mulling things in his head.
The proposal had merit, but he did have reservations. He didn’t know Nen Yin, nor much of his reputation. The fact that he had only gotten as far Executor, neither Prelate nor Consul, though that did not mean he was incompetent, it simply may not have been his niche. Many of the prelates and consuls likely grabbed for everything they could after the war.
His eyes traced up and down Nen Yin again. His guilty conscience could bring them into conflict with each other. Releasing the chazrach to blunder about on their own could be a serious mistake. Esthh had not released his Chazrach, though for replacing losses he had been forced to turn to cloning he knew it was likely not a long term solution. Other solutions were being worked on but he had no idea how those solutions would work out. He wondered if tying his fate to someone who was of lower rank, and unknown political connection or discernment. He did however have information that Esthh needed, a pathfinder and possible hope for those who might join him. Resources were limited everywhere, and these Handmaidens seemed less than useless and would have to be watched. Those that claimed to be against violence, many times turned towards violence or sabotage for their beliefs. Perhaps it was the sheer level of destruction that had been caused during the war, though few of the noncombatants had seen the front lines, or been hit by New Republic forces. He didn’t know what they had experienced since that time. At the end he realized that this alliance, or what amounted to one was his best options for now.
“You realize that I cannot release my Chazrach, and that my methods differ from yours other species may be used as well. I am every much as brutal and pragmatic as my rank decrees I be to achieve victory, that includes using who and what is necessary to achieve the end goals. If you can live with the harsh reality of what may need to be done, then we will work together.”
He stood, setting the sac bulb aside and waited for Nen Yin to make his decision.
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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: 439
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Nem Yin on Apr 9, 2023 4:34:40 GMT -8
Nem suspected they disagreed on more than just the chazrachs, but at some point it became necessary to find common ground with others of his race. The countless years their species had spent adrift in the starless sea had resulted in several diverging beliefs and values. Shimrra's war with the galaxy had only exacerbated the situation. If the Executor wasn't prepared to compromise in places then he would likely be doomed to fight his people until there were none of them left. Fortunately his time spent living amongst the infidels had left him open to such things, for it had become a means of survival to some degree, and perhaps if his own experiences had been as ill fated as Esthh's he would have developed a similar outlook. For necessities sake, he could afford to be patient. Time had long been his ally.Crossing his arms over his chest, the Intendant adopted a casual stance, resting his back against the window behind him. "I have long acknowledged the futility of attempting to dissuade a member of the warrior caste from any course of action." The corners of his lips twisted upwards by just a micro-fraction of an inch. "It is not my intent to compel you to reform your ways or believe as I do. I have not forced these things upon the Yuuzhan Vong under my care, despite holding the conviction that I know better." He was confident he did. "The benefits of partnership outweigh a bit of distasteful swallowing of certain realities." His lip curled further, completely evident this time. "So long as those realities do not threaten all I have accomplished thus far..." He'd killed for a lot less.Here was another reality. Whatever their disagreements, based on everything Esthh had said and the fact that he had arrived in a matalok cruiser, it meant he had access to some military resources. It would behoove the Executor to determine exactly what those were; they might be useful in what was to come. His actions had often by dictated by the resources at hand. The more the Yuuzhan Vong had access to, the less reliant they would need to be on the infidels for support.Placing a hand on his desk, Nem leaned over the qahsa and ran a spindly digit across the screen, quickly scrolling through whatever information was presented there."Apparently the Emperor's funeral is to be held on Coruscant in the next few days." He continued. "My title among the Imperials is First Prefect, an advisory position to the Emperor. I have an invitation to attend." Ordinarily he would avoid such public events, however, it would be a good opportunity to show his new comrade in arms how the First Order could be a useful resource for their people to exploit. "Come with me. If we leave shortly we should make it just in time. It will give you an opportunity to study the Imperial hierarchy for yourself. You might find the experience illuminating." His mqaaq'it flared for dramatic effect.
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Post by Esthh Krazhmir on Apr 9, 2023 16:13:59 GMT -8
Esthh nodded.
“Very well. We will see where this goes, wherever the future leads us.”
Esthh twisted his arm and waited a moment for the captain of the mataloks helmeted visage floated into clarity.
“Take the matalok and continue the mission. I will contact you if I have a need.”
I hear and obey commander.
The hologram disappeared as Esthh dropped his arm.
“Let us see First Prelate, how this Imperial Court will shake itself out.”
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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: 439
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Nem Yin on Apr 12, 2023 10:04:03 GMT -8
With their consensus reached, Nem let Esthh to the yorik-vec he kept parked nearby his homestead. The Bleeding Orifice shared many of the common traits typical of organic transports of the same variant, though no two vessels were entirely alike and the Executor's own had been shaped to his own personal preference. The result was that the ship was much smaller on the inside, cozy if you will, and could be piloted by a single individual.
Once they were both aboard, Nem operated the controls through use of a tall-yor descending from the ceiling to enshroud his bald head. Shortly after the vessel rose from the ground, its dovin basals manipulating gravity to propel it towards the upper atmosphere.
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