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Post by The Elusive Man on Jan 24, 2022 12:11:22 GMT -8
Supplying the First Order with fuel was the key factor in keeping Cloud City prosperous. The Hutt Cartel's demands continued to dwindle, though a new customer had approached. One Sevran Del Oucoa, the political leader of the Blackguard Imperium, had approached the Cloud City management about securing a significant amount of fuel for the Imperium, giving The Organization ties to the Imperium as well as ensuring Cloud City's economy remained prosperous.
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Endor
New Rebel Alliance
"No man is good enough to be another's master."
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Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA)
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Post by Endor on Mar 10, 2023 14:28:44 GMT -8
A twin-set of saloon doors swung open with a rusty creak. Obscured by the bright rays of the mid day sun over their shoulder, a figure stood in the door way, finally coming into view as they took a step into the Drunken Rancor cantina. Scuffed black spacer boots clunked across the floor as he approached the bar, thrumming the fingers of human hands on the electrum buckle of a reek leather belt secured around his waist, just slightly askew due to the occupied holster drooping against his outer right thigh. Hanging from the left side was an ornately crafted wooden hilt without a blade, engraved with esoteric tribal iconography. He slid a blue panted leg over the bar stool and sat down before reaching into the burnt umber hued flight jacket he was wearing over a black body glove that adhered tightly to his body, ending at the neck. Removing the hand from his pocket, he dropped a credit chip on the bartop and slid it towards the four armed besalisk working behind the counter."Bespin Port." He said, resting a finger on the chip as he fixed two forest green eyes on the alien bartender. The besalisk nodded, grabbing a glass with one set of hands while sweeping the credit out of the General's hand with the other set. Twenty seconds later and a decanter of reddish-brown hued liquid and an empty tumbler glass were set before him. He nodded his appreciation and took both in hand, then turned and found himself a table in one corner of the establishment. He took a seat with his back to the wall and leaned back on his chair, lifting the front two legs from the floor. Endor freed the cork from the decanter with a twist and poured a measure of the dark spirit into the tumbler glass. Trading the decanter for the tumbler, he took an exploratory sip, savouring the mixture of sweetness followed by a slow burning sensation that extended down his throat, warming his stomach.Endor studied the cantina as he sipped his drink. It was full of the usual mix. Off duty Ugnaught maintenance workers or tibanna labourers, a few local alcoholics, a shifty eyed devaronian with two pointy thorns jutting out of its head, and a gallery of roguish characters that currently occupied the General's attention. Those were the sorts he was here for, he reminded himself. While he didn't appreciate being chastised by the Alliance's new fish faced Admiral, Jyn Dackbar, he couldn't argue with the Mon Calamari picking apart his plan to fill their current pilot vacancies with ewok warriors. The ewoks of Bright Tree Village were unquestionably brave, but they did lack the technical skills required to go toe to toe against the Empire. So while Dackbar came up with a plan to get the Alliance's hands on some former Imperial pilots, it fell to the General to enlist smugglers and other characters of ill-repute to shore up the ranks. Fortunately he didn't hold any prejudice in that regard. After all, Endor was a former pirate himself. Above the bar, several display screen were anchored to the ceiling, all of which were playing holo-net footage from several different news networks covering the events of Fondor. He'd seen it personally six times; the footage was a few days old now, but no less troubling for being so. It spoke of the erosive state of freedom across the galaxy.SSSSSQQQQQUUUUUEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKK! A grinding scrape sounded as Endor used both hands to push the table away from his seated form, making enough of an irritant of himself in the process to draw all eyes to him just as he stood up. He smiled, not arrogantly or with malice, but with genuine confidence and a natural charisma that had always served him well in the past."Whose tired of this?" He said, never resting his eyes on one patron for longer than a few seconds as he addressed the bar. "Who else is sick of watching liberty die?" "Yeah!" Replied a blue skinned dug in a green flight suit. "Put on the shockball game! We've seen this news report a dozen times already." "No, that's not what I mea..." But he had already lost them, as more of the drunken patrons clamoured for a channel change. The besalisk bartender shrugged, crossing three out of four arms, while using the last to pick up a remote and change the channel to the local shockball coverage. The Sluis Van Sabrecats were currently leading the Bespin Bloodwooks 4 - 2. Scowling, Endor stepped between the bar and the seated smugglers and raised his hands, trying to once more draw their attention. A few jeered, one even threw a bottle which he managed to duck, but eventually the intensity of his eyes caused them to settle. "Listen to me! Listen! I'm speaking from experience when I tell you..." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder, indicating the screens and the pronounced hexagonal Imperial logo floating across the screen. "...this, is not going away. What little you have now, even that will be taken from you if the brave men and women of this galaxy refuse to stand up and...""What about hermaphrodite species?" Someone interjected. "What?" They doubled down. "Hermaphrodite species. Ya know, like the hutts for example. Not every species is divided into male and female. Why the zeltrons for instance recognize seven different genders and seven hundred different categories for...""It doesn't matter!" He interrupted, allowing some of his exasperation to seep into his weary tone. "Whoever or whatever you are, the Empire is coming for all of it, and they won't just stop with what you own. They might not resemble that which you've fought against in the past, maybe they don't seem as bad, but do not be deceived. No matter what they call themselves, they are the same fascist institution they've always been, just with a new face lift. It's time for the hard working and honest citizens of this galaxy to take a stand against tyranny, to not give another inch in the face of..."Despite his self proclaimed charisma, he wasn't having much luck. He was making a fair bit of noise however.
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Vaughan Emrys
Member
Posts: 86
Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA) - Republic of Haven
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Post by Vaughan Emrys on Mar 10, 2023 21:51:02 GMT -8
The double doors swung open again as the tall statured figure of Vaughan swept into the Cantina. His large blue fur lined cloak obscured much of his form, except for the glimpses of the armour that clad his forearms and legs as he made his way over to one of the booths. His mop of blonde hair and piercing blue eyes would have been enough to make him stand out in a place like this, but his style of clothing expounded that difference greatly.
As he slid into his seat, the hilt of the bastard sword strapped to his belt peeked out from his cloak, daring any stupid enough to pester him and try their luck in a fight. The Waitress that came over to take his order seemed unnerved by his armed state, but Vaughan paid it little heed. He muttered an order of the house special and handed over a handful of credits. She nodded and quickly run back to the kitchen, seeming to want to get out as fast as possible. Something he could understand better a few moments later as his focus shifted over to the pilot who seemed to be trying to speak over the shockball game playing on the screens above the bar.
Such talk, even in a neutral and free port like Bespin, was quite dangerous. There were a number of criminal rings that much preferred the Empire's reign over that of any Republic or Government of freedom. Not to mention the Bespin authorities were undoubtedly keen not to attract unwanted attention and would likely be along soon to deal with the matter. He focused his gaze upon the pilot and spoke up then A noble cause, but a wasted effort here friend... None of them truly care. They're too caught up in their own personal greed... They would sell their own kin for a credit, so it's laughable to expect them to sacrifice for a cause greater than themselves... They'll sooner sell you out to the Empire than join a fight against it... The events of recent weeks and months had doused much of the youthful naivety which he had regarded most people with. Fighting against fascists required sacrifice and determination, things many out this side of the galaxy were unwilling to commit to. War had not ravaged their lands or taken their loved ones. Here, complacency had softened many of their wills
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Endor
New Rebel Alliance
"No man is good enough to be another's master."
Posts: 204
Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA)
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Post by Endor on Mar 11, 2023 5:50:59 GMT -8
When Vaughan spoke up, Endor turned his head and focused his attention on the outspoken cynic. He understood that sentiment all too well, had even raised it himself before setting out on this latest recruitment drive, but he couldn't in good conscience allow it to stall his efforts at this critical junction. Besides, he was living proof that no man was beyond redemption and could be convinced to look beyond their own self interests, yet... Taking a deep breath, he reached out with the Force, extending his senses beyond what was physically presented. He was too respectful to probe deeply of a stranger, but in just scraping the surface of the seated gentlemen carrying a bastard sword on his hip, he felt a lingering sense of bitterness. ...this man, possibly a nobleman or wealthy merchant based on his blue ermine cloak, didn't want to hear that. Unable to give up, the General switched tactics. While this swordsman was clearly hardened to sentiment, perhaps he was cynical enough for the cold truth."You're right." His irritated features softened as he approached the table Vaughan was seated at. As he approached, his hand came up to rub the back of his head while he offered the blonde haired man a sheepish smile. "They are hardly paragons of virtue, I don't deny it. But the Rebellion..." He spoke openly of the movement, unafraid of who heard. After all, inspiring others to bold action required a certain boldness of his own. "...is short on skilled pilots. There's no lack of willing bodies, especially after the events of Fondor." He casually motioned with a gentle head jerk towards the televisions above the bar, unaware that he was talking to someone who had lived through those events. "I'm sure you've seen the holo-news reports about the First Order breaking the Coalition's back. The Imperials would like everyone to believe that was the end to the galactic resistance to their total rule, but it wasn't, not by a long shot." He placed his hand on a chair next to table and spun it around, sitting backwards on the rickety wooden bar seat as he maintained eye contact with Vaughan. He pressed his index finger into the table's surface as he spoke with growing passion in his tone. "Every day more people are joining the cause. They don't know it yet but what those Coalition boys did for us at Fondor, standing up to the First Order like that, it started something."Click! "Ah, so this is the seditionist whose been running his mouth. Hands up, traitor." Looking over his shoulder, Endor could see an Imperial officer in First Order apparel standing just inside the cantina entrance, flanked on either side by four Deathtroopers in black reflec coated armour. All four obsidian garbed soldiers had their blasters up to join the officer, whose SE-14r light repeating blaster was in hand with the safety disengaged and the muzzle pointed at the General's back. Endor's forest green eyes hardened, but he remained seated. He responded with words alone, his tone angry and rife with warning."Take a hike, sleemos, you have no jurisdiction here. Bespin is an independent port." Four red beams of light appeared on Endor's back as the Death Troopers activated the targeting lasers on their blaster carbines. The officer, a pasty faced human with an obnoxious upper class Coruscanti accent, had his gloved finger a hairs breadth from the trigger of the blaster in his hands."That's where you're wrong, seditionist. The First Order's jurisdiction ends wherever I say it does. Now, I'm not going to ask you again, hands up and turn around." He sneered. "You're coming with us."
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Vaughan Emrys
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Posts: 86
Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA) - Republic of Haven
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Post by Vaughan Emrys on Mar 11, 2023 20:59:44 GMT -8
There was a time he might have believed anyone and everyone was capable of standing up and fighting for Freedom. But he'd become a bit too much of a realist for that. But he couldn't help but respect the man's idealism and commitment to the cause. It had been inevitable after the siege of Fondor and Corellia that others would step up in place of the Coalition. Which, in his opinion, was probably the best form of freedom. Central governments had their advantages where resources and jurisdiction of certain authorities were concerned. But they had drawbacks as well, like an over-encumbrance of bureaucracy and were often more prone to corruption or infighting.
His gaze then shifted across the bar from the man now sitting next to his table over to the Imperial Officer and the Death Troopers by the door. He'd hoped to perhaps have a bit more time to talk with the man, but the First Order was much faster these days. No doubt the Bespin authorities would be unwilling to interfere much in what was about to go down. And a Rebellion movement was unlikely to have enough political and military sway to raise concern about protecting one of their recruiters Fondor... Corellia... They seemed like the endgame, but I saw them... Survived them... They won't stop... He lowered his right hand down to rest upon the hilt of his sword, while his left hand shifted to plant itself under the edge of the table as he spoke louder for the Imperials to hear him this time And I say your jurisdiction ends at the edge of my blade, coward! His left hand flung the table up and over onto its end to provide cover behind which Vaughan slipped first and which he hoped his new friend would take the opportunity to as well
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Endor
New Rebel Alliance
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Post by Endor on Mar 12, 2023 5:51:50 GMT -8
It all happened fast. One moment the Imperials had their blasters aimed at his back, the very next and Vaughan was responding with defiance and had flipped over the table. Endor just managed to throw his body over the makeshift barricade as a barrage of screaming blaster bolts raced after him. One came close enough to scorch the shoulder of this flight jacket, so by the time he hit the ground on the other side of the table, he quickly patted out the flames before dragging himself across the floor closer to their cover. It was absolute chaos as the Imperials rained down indiscriminate blaster fire into the cantina, exploding high proof bottles of alcohol which started a blaze across the bar-top. He pulled himself up to a sitting position with his back against the flipped over tables bottom side next to Vaughan. High velocity bolts peppered their temporary shield, witling down the wood. If the owner of the cantina hadn't splurged on real wroshyr wood from Kashyyyk it would have been burned through already. They'd need to move, and soon.
"The name's Endor." He said to Vaughan as he forced a grin across his face and reached down to the holster on his right hip. Wrapping his hand around the custom textured grip of his personalized DL-22 blaster pistol, he pulled the sidearm free with the muzzle pointed towards the ceiling, waiting for an opening to return fire. "I wasn't expecting to run into these goons so soon."
Or at all, really. While Bespin was indeed a free port, the First Order did occasionally send a diplomatic envoy to negotiate the rate of tibanna gas. Most likely these troopers and officer were a part of such an envoy. That meant they probably couldn't expect any help from the local authorities, not with so many credits in play. They were on their own.
His eyes searched the rest of the cantina. The other customers, those that hadn't been gunned down by indiscriminate fire, were likewise hiding behind tables or taking cover wherever it was available. Already Endor could feel the acrid tickle of smoke in his lungs as the establishment began to burn around them. The four Death Troopers started to fan out across the cantina floor, while the officer who had caused all this remained blocking the entrance, blaster still in hand and a cruel hateful look writ across his pale features.
"Any idea how we're getting out of this?" He said to Vaughan somewhat more hushed, listening to the crunch of broken glass underfoot as the Death Troopers advanced. He checked the charge on his blaster pistol.
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Vaughan Emrys
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Posts: 86
Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA) - Republic of Haven
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Post by Vaughan Emrys on Mar 13, 2023 14:02:29 GMT -8
As soon as he had gotten into cover, Vaughan had drawn his vibrosword from the sheath at his hip. It was, admittedly, a weapon at great disadvantage in this fight scenario. However, it was the only weapon he had aside from the Blurrg-1120 holdout blaster he had concealed in his cloak and now held in his off hand. He carefully peeked around the table and let off a couple covering fire shots which exploded upon impact. One of the customisation features available to the Blurrg-1120 was explosive shot rounds, and no expense had been spared for his pistol. He pulled back behind cover as the pilot finally dove behind the cover of the table and introduced himself as Endor Emrys, Vaughan Emrys... Between the bolts whittling away the table and increasingly out of control blaze that was spreading from the bar, they'd need to force a fight with the Death Troopers. He let a smirk creep across his features as Endor seemed to have expected the First Order to show up much later Much as I hate the Empire, they're pretty organised and fast... Underestimating them is a mistake most people can usually only make once... Let's hope this is one of those times we make it out, yeah? His gaze likewise began scanning the Cantina for a way out without having to go through the Death Troopers and the Officer at the door. In this confined space and with the blaze as intense as it was, they wouldn't stand a proper chance before succumbing to the flames. He kept his gaze fixed upon the doors to the kitchen then, figuring it would be the best way out Well, that depends. In the long run? No real choice there. But our more immediate situation? We need to get to the Kitchen. Staff entrance will take us outside... The fire suppression system activated then, causing sprinklers to deploy and start spraying water to try douse the inferno
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Endor
New Rebel Alliance
"No man is good enough to be another's master."
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Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA)
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Post by Endor on Mar 14, 2023 4:56:20 GMT -8
Beads of water dripped down his face as they were doused from above by the overhead sprinklers. Endor threw his head back, tossing his unkept mess of wet hair from his eyes, then looked at Vaughan and nodded. "Let's move." He said, before rising from behind cover and taking aim across the cantina. In the half second it took him to target a Death Trooper off to the right, half a dozen screaming bolts shrieked towards him, barely missing their mark while leaving blistering welts where they had come close. He managed to squeeze off two trigger pulls of his own before diving to the left and landing hard on his shoulder, sliding across the bar room floor behind another table.Groaning, he reached out for support to pull himself up to his feet when his hand wrapped around something hard. As he looked up, he saw he was holding on to the black reflec covered greave of a Death Trooper. He raised the blaster pistol in his other hand only to have the trooper smash it from his grip with a sweeping blow from his carbine, sending the DL-22 clattering across the floor. The trooper then lowered the barrel of their blaster for a point blank shot, when Endor's now emptied hand came up and grabbed the muzzle of the weapon and redirected it just as the soldier fired. The metal in his palm turned searing hot in that second and he released his grip, fingers steaming in the artificial rain. "Sithspit!" He cursed, before thrusting his leg out to catch the trooper's ankle with the heel of his boot. It felt like kicking a solid piece of durasteel, but fortunately the floor was wet and the trooper's leg slipped back, causing him to fall to the floor beside the General. Snatching up a long sliver of glass from the floor that had once belonged to a bottle of Corellian whiskey, he climbed on top of the trooper and raised the shard over his head, attempting to drive it down into the space between the Death Trooper's helmet and chest-guard where there was only a black body-glove.Both of the trooper's hands came up and caught his wrists as he tried to slam the glass home. Whatever augmentation these soldiers underwent to transform them into the killing machines they were, it increased their strength beyond that of an ordinary trooper. Endor felt like he was wrestling with a wookiee, unable to force the shard the last few inches. All the while the officer by the door was screaming in his nasally Coruscanti accent."KILL THEM!"
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Vaughan Emrys
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Posts: 86
Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA) - Republic of Haven
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Post by Vaughan Emrys on Mar 14, 2023 14:07:58 GMT -8
Vaughan was glad for the weather resistance of his cloak, which caused the majority of the water to simply shed off onto the ground. A small amount did manage to start seeping in, making the cloak and clothes underneath quite damp. But this fact did not overly hinder his movements, even as Endor confirmed that they should get going. Vaughan had swung around the side to help provide some covering fire while Endor got to the Kitchen. However, his new friend did not manage to make it that far, instead he very quickly ended up entangled with a Death Trooper. A less than ideal situation given he did not trust the accuracy of his 1120 Pistol at such close quarters.
A hail of blaster fire pelted the table top again, preventing Vaughan from being able to rush over and help Endor. Instead, he was forced to take some pot shots towards the remaining Death Troopers that were standing. Explosive rounds exploded on impact, filling the air with debris from each hit. Feeling more brave, he poked around from behind the Table and let off a shot toward the Commander at the door. In a hope to either kill him or at least distract him and the remaining Death Troopers long enough to provide Vaughan an opening to rush out and aid Endor in killing the Trooper he was currently fighting with
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Endor
New Rebel Alliance
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Post by Endor on Mar 15, 2023 9:12:54 GMT -8
In a moment like this he would have preferred to draw his lightsaber. He was confident enough in his abilities with the energy blade that he was certain he could have dispatched all four troopers and their commander without too much risk. His hesitancy had come from not wanting to reveal his true nature to the Imperials, and it had cost him. Now with everything soaked in water it would be impossible to use the firkraan crystal powered blade without electrifying himself and possibly everyone else in the cantina. So instead here he was, fighting on the ground with a piece of glass."CHOO DOO!" He shouted in the trooper's black helmeted face, yelling the ewokese word for 'enough'. Raised by the ewoks of Bright Tree Village after his parents ship crash landed on the Forest Moon as an infant, he often reverted to the old tongue in moments of stress. This counted as one of those times. Impossible as it seemed against the trooper's surgically augmented strength, the shard of glass inched closer as tribal drums sounded in his head. As though possessed by the spirit of ancestors that weren't even his own, the battle hardened General forced the shard centimeter by bloody centimeter into the Death Trooper's throat. Endor sank the bottle fragment as far as it would go, until the soldier's blood mingled with his own that was running from where the shard had bit into his hand. The trooper drowned in his own blood, giving one last sputtering cough that caused a red mist to spatter from his helmet's respirator and briefly paint the rebel's face red.He didn't like to kill. That didn't mean he wasn't good at it. Breathing hard now as adrenaline pumped through his veins, Endor raised his arm to the side with his bleeding palm flexed like a claw. From its place on the floor, his DL-22 moved just a little, it would have been barely noticeable unless someone had been looking right at it. The General took a deep breath, releasing some of the anger that had consumed him moments before, giving room for serenity to take its place. The blaster pistol leapt from the floor into his hand, painfully smacking into the same palm that had been burned and cut. Mother kriffer, that stung. Grimacing, he was back up in an instant, adding his own blaster bolts to Vaughan's explosive rounds as they returned fire and made towards the swinging kitchen doors.He spied the commander that had started this mess on the floor. Not dead, but possibly soon he would be as he bled out from the stump where his left arm used to be. Whatever Vaughan's weapon was packing, he made a mental note to pick some up for himself. Damn that thing made a mess. The other three troopers were still up and moving, using cover and actually aiming as opposed to firing from the hip like most stormtroopers often did. Endor made it to the kitchen doors just as Vaughan seemed to reach him and the two might have even taken out a second trooper between their hail of shots as they passed into the kitchen, though it was impossible to know as the doors swung closed behind them.
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Vaughan Emrys
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Posts: 86
Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA) - Republic of Haven
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Post by Vaughan Emrys on Mar 16, 2023 13:44:34 GMT -8
A lot happened in a short amount of time. His shot firing off an finding its target had created a loud explosive noise as the Imperial Officer's arm ceased existing. With the Death Troopers attention momentarily drawn to that, Vaughan was able to turn toward Endor as the man finished managing to impale the Trooper he was atop with the shard of glass. However, his attention was turned back to their attackers as the momentary distraction was over and their blaster bolts were filling the air once more. He let off a couple final shots before his pistol ran out of ammo. Causing him to let out a hiss of frustration. He had more ammo for it, but none of it was with him. He had not planned on getting into a firefight with Imperial Soldiers and thus had not packed additional magazines.
He grumbled as he slid the pistol back into his holster and watched as Endor started moving again whilst firing off some covering shots. Choosing his moment correctly, Vaughan pushed off from behind cover and used his cloak to act as a kind of slide across the increasingly wet floor. The lack of friction allowed him to slide across the distance, with blaster bolts burning through the air around him. His motion meant that most shots did not hit him directly. A few shots grazed his arms and legs, a couple others were absorbed by the armour plating he wore. But all in all, he was still alive as he impacted the wall and came to a stop next to the Kitchen doors.
He quickly pulled himself up and passed through into the kitchen with Endor, his sword drawn as he tried to keep behind cover in case the Death Troopers started firing through the wall or the window between the kitchen and the bar area. Thankfully the sprinklers had done their job of dousing the flames, so they were in less immediate danger of immolating to death. However, it had also somewhat increased their chances of being shot. At least being shot was a much easier thing to avoid at present. Vaughan quickly shifted his weight against the staff entrance door and heaved it open just as the Death Troopers appeared at the opposite end of the Kitchen Hurry up!
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Endor
New Rebel Alliance
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Post by Endor on Mar 17, 2023 8:53:47 GMT -8
Endor didn't need to be told twice. He raced through the door Vaughan had flung open, shooting blindly behind him as he passed through the entrance and out into the alleyway behind the cantina. Looking around, he spied a dumpster on the wall nearby and put his shoulder into it, sliding it across the alley to block the employee entrance just as the door slammed shut behind his ally of the moment. The door shook in its frame and they could hear several loud bangs coming from the other side, but that old piece of corroded durasteel wasn't about to budge with the dumpster in front of it. The General let out a sigh of relief, sliding his DL-22 back into its holster on his hip before giving his hand a closer inspection.
He'd need to submerge it in bacta later, but for now... He reached into his pocket and found a small canister of disinfectant spray. Sadly the fact that he carried it on him meant he required its use more often then he'd like to admit. He gave his palm a quick spirts, then slid the applicator back into his pocket and turned to Vaughan. He was about to speak when the another bang sounded from the door.
"We should keep moving." He motioned further down the alley with a nod of his head. "Come on."
Now that they had a minute to catch their breaths, his curiosity got the better of him.
As they walked with purpose. "Emrys, you said your name was? Listen, I appreciate your help back there but I have to ask. Who are you really? You definitely are familiar with that blaster and you didn't hesitate to confront those Imperials. Are you with one of the resistance movements? I know you said you hated the Empire. Well, that makes two of us."
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Vaughan Emrys
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Posts: 86
Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA) - Republic of Haven
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Post by Vaughan Emrys on Mar 21, 2023 13:59:42 GMT -8
As soon as he saw Endor pushing the dumpster into place, Vaughan moved just as quickly to aid by pulling from the opposite side. Feeling a slight sense of relief only once the heavy object was in place and the brakes were activated. He sheathed his own sword whilst giving his outfit a quick visual examination. For the most part, some aesthetic damage and a few grazes, but nothing potentially fatal. As Endor ushered him onward, he pulled his cloak around himself and followed alongside the Pilot as they headed to the far end of the alley and out into the "regular" flow of foot traffic passing through Cloud City. For the time being they would be relatively safe, though how long Bespin would be safe for because of their actions remained to be seen. His focus turned to Endor as the man started questioning him about who he was Lord Vaughan Emrys of Naboo, to be precise. But given these dark and dangerous times we live in, I suppose such titles seem a little superfluous... He did his best to remain subtle as he glanced around, looking for any First Order forces or local authorities that would seek to stop them As for the resistance? Something like that... I worked with the Galactic Alliance and the Corellian Coalition before both governments failed... I've spent a great deal of my wealth working to free slaves and bring an end to the practice. When the Coalition fell, well... Without the backing of a proper government, I've had to go private, so to speak... Fighting the First Order and their oppression has been something of a natural progression... And what of yourself, Endor? Seems a new rebellion has formed, separate of the resistance movement... Not being pat of the Coalition formally, Vaughan had no real clue as to the exact nature of the government's hand in the Resistances existence. But there were certainly rumours that had run wild in cantinas and pubs, with some indicating the Coalition was funding the Resistance. But what ever fate had befallen that group was unknown, but they certainly seemed to have gone silent or disappeared. Perhaps this Rebel movement that Endor had been recruiting for was just a reincarnation of it
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Endor
New Rebel Alliance
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Post by Endor on Mar 22, 2023 5:03:41 GMT -8
Vaughan had been a part of the GA and the Coalition? Holy Kenobi! Talk about luck, at least for Endor. Not that he tended to believe in such things. After leaving galactic society behind, he had spent years living the life of a druid, becoming one with the forests of a certain moon he happened to share a name with. You can blame the Jedi that recruited him as a child for that one. Their grasp of ewokese had been questionable, to say the least, resulting in mistaking the child's name for that of the forest moon. Between that somewhat religious indoctrination, his shamanistic upbringing, and years spent communing with nature he had come to believe that the Living Force had a will of its own. What might have felt like a coincidence to others was simply destiny to Endor. He quickly came to accept that Emrys and he were meant to meet this day.
"There aren't many of us, not yet, but we're growing." His face became stern, all hard edges as he forced his certainty of purpose into the tone of his voice. "We call ourselves the New Rebel Alliance. Not the cleverest name, I know." He smirked. "But we wanted it to represent what this movement looks like. I'm sorry what happened to the Coalition." He shook his shaggy brown mane of hair. "It's terrible. I'm sure the First Order thinks they've sent the galaxy a message, that those who stand against them will be ground beneath the tread of their unstoppable war machine." His jaw locked for a moment, as though that statement left a bitter taste in his mouth. The timber of his voice rose as he continued, causing some of the citizens they had blended in with to look back in his direction. "They're wrong. Hope only dies if we let it. Fondor wasn't the end of the resistance against Imperial galactic rule. It was just the start."
Realizing he was drawing some attention, he motioned to Vaughan to take the stars heading down to one of Cloud City's lower less trafficked platforms. What he was about to reveal was a lot, maybe even it was a mistake to share such vital information, but there was nothing to gain by those unwilling to take a chance. Endor believed in what the NRA was doing, and now he believed this man of noble Nabooian origins could help them.
"We've established ourselves at the old alliance Echo Base on Hoth. It's a bit out of the way, which frankly right now is useful, but its also symbolic. Times like these when things are at their darkest, people need symbols to rally around. Another reason for the name we've taken, but we are more than just that. We've gotten help from Incom, who have provided us with snub-fighters. My people have thrown in with us and are working on the assembly line there, pumping out more starfighters every day." Not that Vaughan would be aware, but when Endor referred to 'his' people, he meant the ewoks of Bright Tree Village. While the General was unmistakably human, he still considered himself more wok than man. "With the help of some uniquely qualified friends..." Purrgil...it's a long story. "...we were able to free some MC80 cruisers from the Mon Cal Shipyards. In the process we even acquired a legitimate Mon Calamari admiral, Jyn Dackbar. Recruiting pilots was her idea. Right now we just don't have enough qualified people to operate all the hardware we've gotten our hands on. I have some contacts from my smuggling days..." He muttered that last part, not entirely proud of all his past deeds. "...but like you said in the cantina, they mostly only care about themselves and keeping their pockets full of credits. We need people who believe in the cause."
He hoped he didn't sound like a crazy person when he said this, but Endor stopped as they reached the bottom of the stairs and rested a hand on Vaughan's shoulder, meeting his gaze. His eyes held the same intensity as when they had been fighting for their lives only minutes ago.
"Join us, Emrys." He stated boldly. "That you've continued the fight privately means you haven't given up, but there is only so much we can do alone. Together, of unified purpose and cause, we can find the strength to not just resist, but strike back against the First Order. In the face of such great tyranny, people are asking themselves, what chance do we have? None, I say, if we refuse to take the one right in front of us. People like us, Emrys, we don't have a choice. This fight is in our bones. Join us."
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Vaughan Emrys
Member
Posts: 86
Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA) - Republic of Haven
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Post by Vaughan Emrys on Mar 22, 2023 17:30:10 GMT -8
As they walked and talked, Vaughan took in every detail that Endor spoke even if it did not seem that way. In neutral territory such as Bespin professed itself to be, one did have to be careful about who overheard what. Despite the pilots best efforts, he seemed to still start switching back into that patriotic speech mode, drawing attention from the crowd. But thankfully he seemed to recognise the scene he was causing and motioned down to another level. A cue that Vaughan was quick to follow. With less of a crowd around, he didn't have to worry as much about tails as he drank in the details Endor continued to reveal.
This New Rebel Alliance certainly seemed to be pretty well setup so far, with quite the infrastructure to support a couple bases and a small fleet. Something that could prove very instrumental in his own cause and that of his people. They could only survive for so long cut off from any allies. But this opportunity? It seemed like the perfect chance. The pilot was right, a united Rebellion stood a much greater chance than those fighting alone and independent of one another You've given me a great deal to think about... Such a decision would not be mine alone to make, however. The Republic of Haven, for whom I am a founding member and representative of, would need to take such a choice to vote. You are right, alone we fall but together we rise stronger, in this fight at least... I can make no guarantees, but I am certain your offer will be accepted. Not only to create a united front, but because we need allies we can rely on. However... This was where things might prove troublesome in the future Our fight will not be to re-establish the Galactic Republic or the Alliance, or even the Coalition. Such governments, as noble as their purposes were, fell to corruption and infighting. It is why the First Order was able to move and fight as they did. We fight for freedom, for systems to choose their governments and defend themselves. Just as we have chosen our own government and chosen to fight back. So long as you and the New Rebel Alliance can agree to that, then I suspect we will be good friends. He offered out his hand from beneath his cloak for Endor to shake on such details
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Endor
New Rebel Alliance
"No man is good enough to be another's master."
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Post by Endor on Mar 25, 2023 8:05:38 GMT -8
Republic of Haven? Now didn't that have a familiar ring. It took his thoughts to the small mountain community on the world of Tynna that he too had been a founding member of. Outer Haven, had been its name. He wondered if in the end that's what they were all looking for. Their own little slice of haven. He hadn't thought of that place in some time. It was now clear to him what it was that he liked about Vaughan. The Naboo noble reminded him of himself.Endor didn't hesitate. His hand, still stinging from their very recent escape from the cantina, reached out and took Vaughan's into his own. "That's what this is all about, freedom. The right for every person to choose, to live without the fear of oppression over their heads, to be able to survive off the sweat of their own brow." As they shook, he gave the other man's hand a firm squeeze before breaking contact. "I've never been a fan of big government, they have a way of forgetting the common people they are supposed to serve."A cloud car with flashing sirens zipped by the platform they were on, its repulsors carrying it in the direction of the cantina they had so recently departed on poor terms. No doubt the FO had made its complaints to the local authorities, who were now making a token effort to apprehend the 'criminals' responsible for the death of at least one trooper and the maiming of an officer with highly placed family connections among the senior ranks of the Empire. Endor watched the vehicle pass, his brow furrowing as it became clear to him that for now, he'd be finding no more help on Cloud City. Scowling, he turned back to Vaughan and offered a nod."Talk to your people. If they agree, as you believe they will, then meet me at Echo Base when you are ready. That Admiral I mentioned has been putting together a plan to help resolve our current shortage of qualified personnel. I don't have all the details yet, but it's safe to assume it a fair bit of risk will be involved."
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Vaughan Emrys
Member
Posts: 86
Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA) - Republic of Haven
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Post by Vaughan Emrys on Mar 27, 2023 2:49:40 GMT -8
Vaughan couldn't help but find himself liking Endor just a little bit more. Idealism was a dangerous blade, one that more oft cut those that wielded it. However, there were those cases where it struck mighty foes down from upon high. Where it inspired sparks of hope. And hope was an inferno that raged strongest of all Perhaps we are not so different after all, you and I... His own attention was drawn to the passing police cloud car and had a bad feeling of his own. Just as Endor would find no further help here, so too would the Republic be short on friends. Thankfully the supplies they had been procuring would last them some time. They would just need to arrange for different plans concerning any that still wished to leave Anoth. He shifted his focus back to Endor and returned the nod, pulling his cloak about him Hoth? I will do my best to make haste there, however the Republic will need some tending yet... He fished out a comm link device out from a pocket and tossed it to Endor A direct line to me. In case your plan comes together sooner than we can provide aide as a whole... Now you best be off, you're the far more recognizable of us as a troublemaker... Good luck. And may the Force be with you.
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Endor
New Rebel Alliance
"No man is good enough to be another's master."
Posts: 204
Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA)
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Post by Endor on Mar 27, 2023 9:31:31 GMT -8
Vaughan was probably right. At this point in time Endor imagined his face was posted up in every security station in the city. Even with friends in the Cloud City Police Department from his days among their ranks, he suspected it was only a matter of time before he ran into more trouble. Best to make himself scarce. Besides, he had a busy schedule to keep. He'd be headed to Ossus next, where hopefully some of the Jedi nobility he had heard about would be kind enough to offer the NRA a warship that Admiral Dackbar seemed to believe they needed. If not, well, they way he heard it these Jedi Lords were not short on credits. He wouldn't be too guilt stricken about helping himself to what the Alliance needed, especially since he knew it would be going to a good cause. What could he say? You could take the pirate out of the Jedi Order, but you couldn't put him back in without having picked up a few bad habits along the way. Besides, the thieving aspect of his career had mostly been Tarfang's fault. Right?
"And also with you." He said, repeating the old mantra as he slid the comlink Vaughan had given him into the right pocket of his flight jacket. Placing two fingers against his forehead, he offered his ally and hopefully new friend a quick salute.
Grinning, he turned and put his hands on the side railing of the platform, then leaped over the side. It was about a hundred feet to the next platform below, a fall that not only should have broken both his legs, but probably would have killed most humanoid species. Remarkably, Endor seemed to slow at the last moment, landing in a crouch before springing forwards into a roll. He stood up and brushed himself off, before looking back up at the platform where Emrys was. If the Naboo noble could see his face, he'd see Endor's signature playful smile. The rebel took off at a jog and disappeared shortly after, likely heading back to wherever he had stashed his X-wing.
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Vaughan Emrys
Member
Posts: 86
Affiliation: New Rebel Alliance (NRA) - Republic of Haven
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Post by Vaughan Emrys on Mar 27, 2023 16:02:34 GMT -8
He returned the salute before watching as Endor leapt off the edge of the platform down to a lower one. He was no stranger to those with the ability to use the Force and so was not worried nor surprised when the pilot managed to stick his landing without injury and hurried off. Pulling up the hood of his cloak, Vaughan turned from the railing and made his way back up a level or two and headed for the landing platforms where half a dozen U-Wing Starfighters were positioned, their cargo holds now full of supplies for the Republic Wrap it up, wheels up in five... The small crew gave affirmative nods before loading into their U-Wings and ran through lift off procedures. It would not be long before Cloud City authorities came looking for him, and it would be best that they were not anywhere to be found.
The U-Wings rose in formation and took off up into orbit. Their wings folding back out into flight mode as they made for the void and made the jump to hyperspace as soon as was safe to do so
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
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Post by Dragus on Nov 29, 2023 17:49:19 GMT -8
Continued from here.High in the ocean blue sky above the famed city amongst the clouds, a ripple in reality formed, splitting the barrier between dimensions as a hyperspace wormhole opened within the planetary atmosphere of the gas giant Bespin. Generally considered impossible, even for accomplished pilots, this fracture in real-space occurred nonetheless. Atoms and molecules shrieked as they were split and torn apart as something gargantuan forced its way through the tear over the capital, stretched wider by kilometer long tentacles that crackled with electrical discharge from barbed stingers, preceding the massive yellow eye of a space-born leviathan. A summa-verminoth, a creature of the Akkadese Maelstrom, pulled its way from the swirling blue bands of hyperspace into the upper atmosphere of Bespin, snapping its giant black beak at a streaking gunship bleeding smoke and radioactive particulate. The Amphibious Interstellar Assault Transport/infantry, Bad Bantha, blasted out of the wormhole through space at a frantic pace.Inside the cockpit, proximity alarms and warning klaxons blared with constant beeps and whines, alerting the occupants of the ship of the several hull fractures and damage they had sustained escaping the hungry edge of the Maw. In the co-pilot seat next to the thyrsian former Jedi Thrakk, a black scaled barabel in a cloak of charcoal Rishii feathers fiddled with a set of controls in frustration. "ARG!" Snarled Dragus, dragging his obsidian talons across the cockpit dash until the screen in front of him erupted in sparks and smoke, causing the fiendish Famine Lord to cough and extricate himself from his seat. "Squeakerz, take over here. There iz sssomething wrong with thessse controlz." Well, there was now. The ranat switched places with the Blood Wyrm who hovered behind Thrakk's seat, peering out the window as Cloud City grew larger in front of them, dominating the view."I think thiz iz Bessspin." He hissed, genuinely surprised they had ended up here of all places. A combination of using the black holes gravity to slingshot themselves across space and his alchemized hyper-fuel had flung them all the way across the Outer Rim at record pace. They must have broken a few records. There was no time to celebrate, unfortunately. The summa-veminoth they had pulled into hyperspace after them was still venting its wrath, trying to snag their fleeing craft as both they and the beast hurtled towards the city below. "There." Dragus pointed towards the upper tier of the repulsor lifted capital of Bespin. "Plenty of distractionz to keep our friend occupied down there. Let'z lossse it in the city and come back around once itz had a chance to sssate its appetite. I think the Potage Aux Esssclave may have given it the munchiez."
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