Temple Island

She pursed her lips. This was going about as well as could be expected, which wasn't very well at all. Lyn understood his concerns, she shared them frankly. Cohabitation of infidel planets was more of a pipe-dream than a true possibility. Their peoples were just too different. Yet these orders had come from the top. It was just too bad obedience hadn't been bred into the intendant caste like it had the warrior and priest castes. Still, she was confident Kar Yin would do as instructed. It was his domain that seemed to call the shots these days.

"Executor, please, mind your blasphemies." She chided. "Your reservations I understand completely, but the purpose of the trial is to see if cohabitation can be accomplished. From what I am told the Praetorite high command is committed to colonization efforts, which can only be accomplished through two means. The first, conquest, which we have tried before and failed at. The second, coexistence, which is what we are attempting now. Consider this, if our efforts on this world are successful, we will have a guideline for future expansion. If we simply return to our old habits, we will make enemies and face potential extinction. Our people need space to grow. This is the first step towards that goal."

"You shall have the resources you require." She said, offering the Yuuzhan Vong equivalent of a coy smile, which to the infidel races likely looked like more of a threat of intimidation. "Expect settlers from Zonama Sekot to be arriving in the coming weeks. In the meantime, feel free to procure anything you feel you might need from the damutek here. This will continue to serve as the Praetorite's base of operation while we monitor the planet and your efforts upon the island."

In the coming weeks, several organic transport vessels arrived from Zonama Sekot to drop off Yuuzhan Vong settlers. Kar Yin stood on a large protruding rock near the bottom of the island, watching as the transports set down in the water and extended molleung worms to the rocky ground. Large bio-engineered beasts of burden were led off the ships, carrying supplies necessary for the day to day survival of the settlers. Lyn Kwaad even came up from the underwater research damutek to consult with several of the shaping adepts who were be setting up living spaces for the settlers.

Cohabitation with the existing population on the island would be difficult, given the obvious differences and somewhat invasive nature of the Yuuzhan Vong, but several policies and protocols had been put into place to attempt to avoid conflict. The original inhabitants would keep to the upper portion of the island, whereas the Yuuzhan Vong would establish their soon to be growing population at the bottom portion of the island.

Teams of worker caste under the supervision of the shaper adepts were already starting to grow yorik-coral and plant a variety of fauna native to Yuuzhan'tar. Kar's mqaaq'it gazed from the work of his people up towards the higher reaches of the island, where several of the avian locals watched with something he could only describe as concern. From what he had gleaned they were a peaceful people, so the threat of violence was likely non-existent, but it would still be worth keeping an eye on them. He offered one of them a sneer and waved, causing the local to turn away and go back to whatever routine activity they were involved in.

As time went on, a certain rhythm started to unfold in the day to day activities of the Yuuzhan Vong now inhabiting the island. Like the primitive bird people that were native to the planet, they had begun to spend a great deal of time fishing, relying on the sea for most of their needs. Any excess food stores were distributed amongst the locals, who at first treated the outsiders with much distrust, but slowly and surely they grew accustomed to the immigrant population. It helped that while the Yuuzhan Vong bio-technology could in some instances be invasive, it also kept the environment in good shape. If anything the environment had improved since they had arrived, including the smell, as now the yorik-coral had been adapted to absorb the porg droppings that previously coated just about everything.

Kar Yin, for his efforts and great success, was promoted to Prefect. He had assumed living quarters inside one of the caverns near the top of the island, obviously altered and enhanced with his peoples organic technology. Life was good, easy almost. Any misgivings he had about the impossibility of cohabitation melted away with every passing day. It wasn't just possible, it was actually happening, every single day before his very eyes. Peace... He smiled. Who would have thought? Well, the Executor had, he supposed.

Waves rolled in beneath the intendant Kar Yin as the Yuuzhan Vong rested his boney butt on a rock protruding above the ocean waters, his feet submerged in the brine, occasionally scraping the algae from his uncomfortable platforms sides. In his corpse grey calloused hands, he held a long fishing pole made of a living reed, its hook a water-breathing spider and its fishing line the web. Several feet down, the multi-faceted eyes of the arachnid waiting as a fish was drawn to its bioluminescent form. At the least moment it clutched the silvery scaled fish with its eight legs and sank in its fangs, injected a paralytic toxin into the creature that would also serve to marinate its future filets. Kar pulled back on the ride as he felt the line vibrate, retracting the spider with its catch and letting out a hearty cry of excitement at his success. Doing so caused him to lose his balance and he nearly stumbled over backways, but managed to catch himself by placing his free hand on the rock. Taking a moment to resituate himself, he reeled in the line the rest of the way and removed the spider from the fish, placing the catch in a yorik-coral bucket full of ice beside him.

Kar took a moment to refresh himself with a swig from his bladder-flask of sparkbee honey. He smacked his lips, savouring his small supply of the potent narcotic. As leader of the colony, he got first dibs on such things whenever they arrived from Zonama Sekot, which was happening with less frequency these days. The locals brewed a heady beverage of their own with similar potency, but he had never grown accustomed to the taste. Fortunately he wouldn't need to suffer it much longer. Unbeknownst to the others, he was putting together a secret sparkbee farm. Then he'd never have to worry about running out. Polishing off the last of the flask, he dropped his line back in the water and continued to fish.

Near the summit of Temple Island, Prefect Kar Yin was standing over a crudely carved stone table, moving several insectile biots across a gameboard as he mentally calculated how much of their latest haul from the sea they needed to send to Lehon. After the events of Shili-Secondus and the destruction of most of the Praetorite Council, things had become somewhat quiet in the Unknown Regions. They received less frequent villip transmissions from Zonama Sekot, and even less from the Yu'shaa who was believed to be slumming it in infidel space at the moment. So imagine his surprise when the leader of the Handmaiden's of Yun-Ne'Shel reached out to him via villip. Alone in his office, which was basically a cave that had been hollowed out near the top of the island, Kar dropped to a knee as he recognized the face represented in three dimensional detail. His glowing mqaaq'it focused on the floor as he bowed his head, unable to raise his ocular implants to look her in her glowing pink eyes.


Mira's beautiful visage practically beamed in delight as her image rested its focus on Kar's prostrating form. Her voice was like warm sparkbee honey when she informally spoke to the head of the Temple Island colony.

{{ The pleasure is mine, Prefect Kar Yin. Please... }} She softly chuckled, the sweetest sound Kar swore he had ever heard. {{...rise, Kar. How long have we known each other? There is no need to bow on my account. }}

Somewhat unsure of himself, Kar raised his head and met the Master Shaper's stunning gaze. Though she spoke true, they had known each other for many long years, he still felt like a Yuuzhan Vong coming out of the creche whenever he was in her presence. She simply had that affect on him.


{{ Ah, it is actually I who was trying to determine how the Handmaidens might be of service to you and our people's colony on Ahch-To. How fair things? Hmmm? And what can you tell me about the situation on Lehon? }}

Mira Yim, the greatest mind to grace their people in centuries, was asking how she could help him? By the Yun'o, that was a surprise. Of course, he had no intention of allowing this opportunity to pass them by. Even if the colony needed for little.

"Truthfully Mira, we don't need much. The sea provides for a wealth of sustenance to keep our bellies full, and trade with the locals had taken care of most of our other needs. If we are lacking in anything, it is amenities. The shapers we have are well suited to maintain the small structures we have raised since establishing a settlement, but we lack for some of the more complex organisms for further development and growth." Crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned against the stone table he had been using and shook his head gently. "But we aren't desperate by any means. I suppose we could use a few more transports to ferry supplies. Traffic from Zonama Sekot has been slow since...well, I'm sure you heard about the council."

{{ Nem filled me in on the details. It was a tragedy; we lost a lot of good Yuuzhan Vong that day. That is why I wanted to reach out. There may not be a Praetorite council going forwards, but if I can help provide the means for your colonies success }}

"We would be most indebted to you. That said, I think you should focus your attention on Lehon first. We were running supplies at first, but that's slowed since they finished their move to the old cave systems on the beach. They have a few vangaak so their food supply is no longer an issue. I'm sure they'd appreciate an actual damutek instead of a tide carved hole in the ground."

{{ Then I shall focus my efforts there. Thank you, Kar. I have missed you. Perhaps I can arrange a visit out there once the Ossus Project has been completed. }}

Ajax was built every bit like the element he had mastered years ago. He was a massive mountain of flesh and muscle, immovable as the Water Shaper known as Sillena guided a blast of water right at him. His arms took the brunt of the impact as he held them in front of his massive frame in a crossguard. As the water subsided, he swung his arms down to his sides and executed several different strikes, causing a pillar of stone to burst up from the ground. He struck an open palm forward, causing a disc of rock to break off and go flying at Sillena. But the Water Shaper was lithe and fast, dodging Ajax's first strike. But he had anticipated his foes moves and had already alternated striking on open palm with both hands, sending several more rocks to fly through the air.

He struck a downward chop with his right hand then, causing one of the discs to break away when it was moments away from hitting Sillena. The Water Shaper falling to the ground and offering up the gesture for surrender. Ajax smile and let out a laugh as he crossed the training field and grabbed her hand, hauling her up to her feet "A fine match! You've come a long way as a Water Shaper, but you still have some way to go before you can beat me." Sillena gave a short bow as she extracted her hand from his "Some day soon Ajax... just you wait. Just as water erodes away the rock, I too shall erode away your strength." Ajax let out a jovial laugh, giving Sillena a light smack on the back "That's the spirit! Ah, look who has shown up..." He cross the training ground and set his gaze down upon Pip " Pip..." He extended his right fist down.