Eocho Mountains

A large oblong gas bag crafted from membranous robeskin floated high in the sky, soaring through the clouds as it was guided by a steering reflex shaped into a cupola beneath the main bag. Master Shaper Mira Yim looked out one of the translucent portals serving as windows aboard her blimp-beast, which essentially amounted to a Yuuzhan Vong airship. Part of its secret was that the outer bag was actually filled with hundreds of smaller gas bags inside of it, so that in the event of a leak, not all of the gas needed to keep it aloft would seep out. It was still a difficult thing to pilot in such strong winds as the ones they were fighting against right now. Shaper Adept Lilith Zun-qin, a Handmaiden of Yun-Ne'Shel just like Mira, operated the controls while the coven leader studied their surroundings. Lilith's brow was creased with strain as she fought with the steering yoke, her arms already beyond exhausted, with little to show for all her effort. The blimp-beast was being blown towards the icy peaks of the Eocho Mountains.


Mira waved her eight digited shapers hand dismissively. Her glowing pink mqaaq'it were still fixed out the window, thin lips firmly pressed together as she looked for a safe place for them to land. She'd already set down the long stemmed crustacean that served as her pipe, which spoke to the seriousness of the situation. She began to tap on the window as something caught her eye.

"We'll be find as long as we can land until this weather blows over." She tapped the window again, this time harder. "I think I see a spot, 45 degrees to port, there is a plateau near that cave mouth. See if you can land us there."

"Yes, Mistress." Acknowledged the shaping adept, pulling on a tentacle hanging beside the coral steering yoke, which began to vent some of the gas bladders. The blimp-beast began to descend, still drifting as the wind pulled it towards the west. Foot by foot they dropped, until finally the rigid coral bottom of the cupola struck the ground and began to drag across the stony platform as the wind continued to tug the giant gas bag overhead. Lilith grunted, manipulating the neuro-circuits to deploy arrest tentacles to stop their slide towards the plateau's edge. She stopped when she felt the warm caress of Mira's hand on her naked shoulder.

"Time to leave." Said the Master Shaper matter-of-factly, pulling Lilith away from the controls as the two female Yuuzhan Vong rushed over to the hatch-sphincter. The portal dilated and the two handmaidens jumped out just as the wind dragged the blimp-beast the last few feet off the side of the cliff. Mira and Lilith rolled as they hit the ground, stopping right at the edge overlooking a very far drop. "What is the infidel expression?" Asked Mira as she sat up and began to brush off her sleeveless crimson oozhith gown. "Any landing you can walk away from?"

"Indeed." Replied Lilith, clearly less amused by the situation. She stood up as Mira helped her to her feet, rubbing her naked arms as a chill from the frigid mountain air caused goose-pimples to rise on her grey and elegantly tattooed skin. Like the Master Shaper she was wearing an oozhith, though Lilith's was more of a cerulean blue at odds with Mira's bolder red. The adept peered over the edge and watched their airship descend into a valley far below where it snagged on the rocks and the gas bladder tore open, releasing hundred of miniature robeskin balloons into the air. "We won't be leaving in that."

"Shush now, Lilith. I need to concentrate." Said Mira as she stroked the sides of her temple, occasionally flicking the tips of her pointed wing shaped ears. The villip implanted inside her skull was awake now and had connected with the World Brain of Ossus. Wordlessly the Master Shaper and Dhuryam conversed, until Mira blinked twice and lowered her hands. She turned to Lilith and explained. "Help is on the way, though it will be a while before it arrives. Hmmm." She placed one hand on her hip and brought the other under her elegant chin. Eventually one of her longer segmented shaping digits that ended in a slender proboscis flicked outwards to indicate the cave mouth at the base of the rocky plateau they otherwise seemed stranded upon. "Perhaps we should seek shelter in there until they arrive. This wind isn't getting any warmer."

Lilith eyed the cave mouth suspiciously. "I'm not so sure about that Mistress. We don't know what's inside." Her light blue eye sacs puffed with concern. "It could be dangerous."

A child-like infidel smile crossed Mira's beautiful Yuuzhan Vong features as she looked from the cave back to Lilith. The groan that came out of the adepts mouth suggested she knew exactly what the Master Shaper was thinking. Mira confirmed her suspicion a second later.

"Me?" Endor scoffed, feigning offense as he held back a smile threatening to erupt across the bearded lower half of his face. He ran a rough hand through his greasy mane of hair and scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, I suppose my diplomacy skills could use a bit of work, but Lucy's good people, mostly." The General adjusted his eyes to the sunlight baring down overhead as he and Katja descended the ramp and walked outside the ship. "Clever too. He picked this place for a reason I suspect." Isolated as they were up in the mountains and away from the Praxeum in Knossa, they would have a much harder time gaining the ear of prospective Jedi to join their suicide mission. Clearly High Lord Malvern wanted to hear the details himself first before he let that information be disseminated to the rest of the Jedi Lords.

The pair of pirates turned rebel were pushed aside as a short and stocky white furred bear with curling horns forced his way between them, as Redclaw waddled past them, wearing a pair of crudely carved stone knives thrust through a safety harness stolen from the Halcyon that the abominable snowok was using as a makeshift belt around his waist. Since that dastardly drake had stolen the Heart of the Mountain from Mt. Permafrost on Hoth, the winter magic wielded by the Lost Tribe of Ewoks had waned, making the Force imbued ice they had previously crafted into weapons about as useless as regular ice. Thus, Redclaw made due with stone painstakingly hewn from the cavern walls beneath the abandoned rebel base in the Wampa Valley region of his adopted homeworld.

Endor cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted after the determined little scout. "Where are you gong?" To which the snowok paused, and turned its horned head to regard the General and Captain with two blood red eyes. "Eecha." Replied Redclaw with a growl and curling lip that exposed the snowoks enlarged canines, then it turned and vanished a few second later into the surrounding forest. Scowling, Endor looked at Katja and translated. "Hunting."

As they neared the castle ruins, the General looked around, noting nothing out of the ordinary about the wilderness around them. "Huh." He scratched his chin. "Apparently the planet's revitalization was the work of the Vong. I half expected to see something weird, but so far it looks pretty normal around here. Still, I wouldn't trust them. The way I hear it, they're all a bunch of sadists."

The wide bearish smile that seemed permanently fixed on the General's face diminished somewhat as he listened to the knightly Duros' explanation of what the head of the Jedi Lords was currently up, eventually leaving the former woodsmen turned rebel pilot with a blank expression and vacant stare as he retreated into his own mind. The only visible sign of emotion came from his right hand, clenched tightly in a fist down at his side. They were...excavating a Jedi meditation retreat? The last time Endor came to Ossus, he had spoken to Lucien in person and had been told by the High Lord that the Jedi Lords could only offer limited assistance to the Rebellion, as they already had their own important responsibilities that kept them from being able to commit further aid. He had assumed that meant driving off interstellar highwaymen or securing their borders against Imperial encroachment, but instead he found the High Lord spending his time and energy digging up an old Jedi Yoga studio! Endor's right eye began to twitch and he forced his tightly grit teeth into a false smile. "Fascinating." He looked at Katja, eyes wide and wild. "Isn't that fascinating? Seems like a great way for the Jedi to be spending their days..."

In case it wasn't completely clear, the General was on the verge of an angry meltdown, but for the sake of the fight for freedom he was doing his best not to speak his mind. As the gunship lifted into the air, Endor appeared to be hyperventilating, sucking in deep breaths through his nose and exhaling quickly. Inwardly he was reciting a few meditative mantras of his own. I am a leaf of the wind. I am a lily pad in the pond. I am the bark on the tree.

The R5 unit bounced from side to side excitedly as it continued to beep and whir at the troopers. Meanwhile, very faintly in the distance, a voice could be heard shouting, clearly in a slight bit of distress.

"R5! Vait! Vhere are you going???"

Voo was still quite quick for his age, so it didn't take him too long to catch up to the droid who had now finally decided to stop running away. He noticed the guards though, so he slowed his pace significantly, and approached carefully and in a non-threatening manner. He did not know these guards, and the guards did not know him. And he was in no mood for any further derailments so he played it safe, and held up his hands in a gesture of peace as he approached. A bit short of breath, and clearly flustered, he addressed the patrol.

"My apology. My droid ran avay from me. He flew my ship here vhile I vas sleeping. I did not have de intention to come here at all."

If the patrol guards were familiar with the Gungan race, they might find themselves a bit surprised at how well spoken Voo was. He spoke with an accent, but it was not nearly as thick as what one would expect from a typical Gungan. If they were not familiar with the Gungan race, they might have been surprised by his appearance. He had very large ears that extended down his back like most Gungans do. He was older, though not elderly by any means. Despite his age he seemed quite fit. His voice was deeper than the average Gungan, and not at all squeaky like some might suspect, though also not as deep as some Gungans, like the big bosses. As he addressed the patrol again, his tone would turn more apologetic.

"My droid also failed to shut down de engines ov de ship vhen he landed. I awoke to no fuel. I am afraid I had no choice but to leave it out dere. I don't know who to ask for help wit' it."

R5 annoyingly continued to bounce excitedly and beep and whir with determination.

Endor

Everything this time. Lucien turned around and proceeded towards the railing, looking down at the valley that was being inspected and excavated. The High Lord had tasted war enough on Serenno and sought for the Jedi Lords to find that there was more to the Force than using it enforce. He had always worried that they skimmed too close to the Dark Side as a result. Ossus was that way forward from their beginnings. To achieve a newer height as they sought to cultivate knowledge, explore the stars, and rediscover their ancient past. However, they still had the vestiges of their time on Serenno given the strong number of ships, battle droids, and skilled warriors at their disposal. Lucien had heard the opinions of the more Hawkish Jedi who believed the time was coming close for them to, once more, raise their banners and battle against darkness.

A sound was heard overhead, causing the High Lord to gaze upward at a patrol of Solar-class Jedi Defense Frigates that had entered the upper atmosphere. Lord Malvern closes his eyes and exhales softly, still keeping his back to General Endor as he thought things over. Releasing the railing, Lucien turns to Endor after this necessary silence and time to think.

As always, I can't give you everything because Ossus must be protected. Once upon a time, Kol Skywalker sought to revive this world to prove that the devastation of the Yuuzhan Vong could be altered for the better. He didn't have the security needed to prevent the Sith from sabotaging it... the galaxy paid in a galactic war for that.

The High Lord continues not long after speaking his first piece.

But, you will have your fleet, your soldiers, their starfighters, and vehicles that can be granted.

The composition of which was already being drawn up into his mind. To liberate Mon Calamari would require a great sacrifice of material, built up from the Jedi Lord's time on Serenno, Lianna, and other worlds they once held direct sway over. It was to be a mighty expenditure.

Twenty vessels, led by one of our capital ships, the Starhawk-class Battleship, Stone's Endurance, with a complement of nearly two hundred starfighters and over ten thousand troops. Both mechanical and organic. With plenty of Jedi to see this achieved.

The only question left was if Lucien Malvern would join this personally or not though.

========================

Voo Jib-Jib Shool

When the Gungan appeared, the soldiers turned their attention to the wandering humanoid from Naboo. The commander glanced at the astromech and then at the Gungan, putting two and two together. His helmet turned to one of his soldiers.

=Commander=
Either mechanics or Jedi have astromechs here.

This was a sound observation considering who they served directly, the many members of the Jedi Lords and the Conclave of Ossus. Astromechs were a regular thing to see considering the starfighters utilized by the Jedi these days. An inheritance of both the Old and New Jedi Orders. He nods to the same soldier who keys his helmet, reporting in what was spotted on foot.

=Commander=
We can have a skiff patrol go out and inspect your vessel. If it can be hauled, it will be taken to Knossa to be fixed up.

He then shoulders his weapon and takes a water canteen from his hip, offering it to Voo.

=Commander=
Welcome to Ossus, the home of the Jedi Lords, the Conclave of Ossus.

Voo Jib-Jib Shool

The soldiers looked at one another. A Jedi who didn't want to be involved with the Jedi? That didn't entirely make sense to them. The commander did not seem too alarmed as he stood up now, putting his binoculars away as he had been surveying the area a bit. With the newly revived ecosystem, there were some predatorial creatures introduced for the sake of the living cycle that was reborn. Territorial ones were just as bad.

=Commander=
Jedi Order may have changed since you last interacted with them.

He points behind them all, indicating the mountain and thus the area beyond it.

=Commander=
Our leader, the High Lord, would very much like to meet you. Why don't you come with us while your ship is retrieved and taken to Knossa?

=================

Endor Katja Eve

Naturally, they would request him to join them. Lucien already had a reputation, among the Jedi of his circle, and into the rest of the Order, for having recent military experience. Before becoming the High Lord of Ossus, replacing their founder, Everett Stone, he had been the Lord Commander of their military. He was the leader of their forces in liberating Serenno and a handful of other worlds from the grips of tyranny and darkness. Lucien had found new peace though after coming to Ossus, a peace he wasn't sure if he was willing to give up for the sake of leading ships and soldiers again.

You are welcome to speak with the others who follow my leadership here.

Malvern gives consent for the two of them to approach the other nobles and Jedi of Ossus.

If they deny support, do not take it as a bad sign. They have found their peace after all. However, I doubt none would deny your request.

Plenty of veterans still lived since the liberation campaigns of Serenno and just as many knew the capabilities of their High Lord when it came to military matters. Lucien was merely hesitant due to past experiences where he felt the cold touch of the Dark Side on the battlefield. And because he felt a greater duty in managing the affairs of his branch of the Jedi Order. Still, he knew Endor would likely not take any answer that wasn't yes from his mouth. Lucien seemed to deeply contemplate once more, resting his hands upon a metal railing nearby as his gaze surveyed the lush green of Ossus beyond this valley.

General Endor, I will give you my answer after I have spoken with someone. Right now, I do not have a person to run things while I am off to war.

At least, not a named someone who was appointed as a second-in-command. That had been intended for certain positions, but it never materialized considering Lucien's heavy focus on Ossus compared to matters beyond this sector. It had been policing, observing, and cultivating, ensuring those that came here were safe and that the planet was truly restored.

In the mean time, you can speak with the other Jedi and get answers from them. Is that fair?