Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on Apr 25, 2013 16:07:31 GMT -8
The War Room on the second level of the Great Temple, from which the Rebel Alliance once commanded their desperate defense of Yavin IV, was renamed the Strategy Centre with the founding of the Jedi Praxeum. Equipped with computer systems and facilities suitable for military planning and communications, the Strategy Centre provides the Jedi with both a strategic planning centre prior to embarking on missions, and a primary control location. Shield access and Praxeum defences are managed from here, as is central communications and Praxeum security. The Strategy Centre is the most secure room in the Praxeum, and only authorised personnel are able to gain access.
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 17, 2013 16:10:28 GMT -8
Dav passed into the Strategy Centre with an almost directionless amble. He was usually one for movement with purpose and precision, but his wanderings today were the wanderings of one lost in thought without result; in questions without answers. He found himself trapped with the mysteries of two new residents of the Temple; Lita Trykk, and Arcanus Sunstrider. No easy, or obvious, explanations presented themselves for either person's curious past, and it was a genuine concern that the answers would never present themselves. That forever, would both of them go on wondering about their pasts, their pasts that didn't correlate with anything that made sense.
Dav came to a stop by the large central display, resting his hand on the outer edge of the familiar circular display.
Sometimes questions did go unanswered. Sometimes they went beyond what he, or any of them, could discover. He was not blind or unaccepting of that, and though he didn't like it, he did not let it draw him to obsession. 'Ignorance, yet knowledge', as the oldest renditions of the Jedi Code had said; acknowledging the lack of information, knowing it and accounting for or accepting it, was an essential part of Jedi philosophy.
Sometimes, however, questions would seem to go unanswered, but just a little perseverance, a little attentiveness, and a little unwillingness to let a cold case become a discarded one, could tend results when they were least expected.
A few months earlier, an opportunity arose. And as such, one such question looked as though, at last, it would be resolved.
Whatever happened to Darth Miros
~~~~~~~
TWO MONTHS AGO
Dav walked in to the strategy centre, the datacard gripped tightly in his hand. So many possibilities, so many potential accomplishments, all through one action. If they could just pull this off...
"Ptrelli, have Jago and Ronan been called?"
The Commodore, highest ranked non-Jedi in the Taskforce, stood with arms folded by one of the side displays. He turned to look at Dav as he entered, giving a tight nod.
=Ptrelli Stargazer=
"They're on their way. Should be here any minute."
"Good."
The Jedi Master came to the central display, leaning against it, and looked down at the datacard in his right palm.
"Very good..."
There was silence for a moment, a long moment, before Ptrelli spoke once again.
=Ptrelli Stargazer=
"You're going to send someone in, aren't you."
Dav continued to stare at the datacard for a moment. He didn't respond.
=Ptrelli Stargazer=
"It'll be dangerous. Sending someone to infiltrate an Empire like that. You'll need to give them someone they can believe would want to join them, someone that they want. Someone they'd be willing to risk trusting in a high-up position, if we're to stand even an outside chance of getting the kind of intel you're after. It could all be for nothing, you know. There aren't many people available to us that fit the bill, that would be willing to take that risk."
The Jedi Master knew Ptrelli was right. The Commodore was an insightful, intelligent, thoughtful man; he had been working with the Jedi for a long time. Especially with Dav. And his tactical analysis was, as always, spot on. This was a high-risk endeavour.
Nonetheless, Dav could not ignore it. He could not discard it.
"Well, we only need one..."
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Ronan Starflare
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Post by Ronan Starflare on May 17, 2013 20:41:42 GMT -8
~TWO MONTHS AGO~
*The dank brick was a contrast to the technological equipment that lined the walls and floors of the room. It was from here that several of the most important plans in history were hatched, and given the type of people that currently utilized it, it would continue to do so for years to come.
This was the thought that entered Ronan's mind as he stepped through the entryway, doors whooshing open as he stepped near and closing again as he stepped into the room and made his way to the central display in the room. He took a quick glance around the room and noticed the lack of others in the room, save for Dav and Ptrelli Stargazer, CO of the titan ship, Mraz. The display was empty, but Ronan knew it wouldn't stay that way for long. Not with just these two in the room. No, this was big. Really big.
As he approached the console, he reached into his breast pocket, pulling forth a datacard dissimilar to the one Dav held in his hand. With one movement, he inserted the datacard into one of the console's many open ports, and a cyan-hued, holographic woman stood before him, only around a foot in height.*
::You do know I hate that thing.::
*He laughed. Orleanna, his ship's Artificial Intelligence, was not one to be cooped up in a datacard. She lived throughout an almost-2000 meter long ship. To be confined to something as small as a datacard was tantamount to claustrophobia.*
"Behave, Orleanna."
*He motioned behind her. The short woman turned around and noticed those standing opposite the display from her.*
::My apologies, Admiral, Commodre.::
*Ronan looked across to the pair of men. While he didn't attempt to sense what was going on in either of their brains, Ronan knew Dav well enough at least to know when he was contemplating something. Contemplating something large, grandiose, and generally insane. Those were the types of plans Ronan took the most joy in. They were the ones that baffled anyone that wasn't Force-sensitive, and that, to Ronan, was worth it. Even today, as widespread as the Jedi were, they still had a mystique about them that many simply couldn't not understand. And while he wasn't the most traditional Jedi, Ronan did enjoy that particular aspect of the Jedi life and intended to uphold the tradition that started long before anyone in this room had been born.*
"So, Dav, what seems to be the scoop? The message was urgent. Or are we still waiting on somebody?"
*Might as well get down to it. This was the most "action" he'd seen in some time. Yavin space had been mind-numbingly unventful since, well, a long time.*
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Jago
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Post by Jago on May 18, 2013 8:52:17 GMT -8
~ " You're always waiting on me, haven't you learned that yet, Ronan?"
The laugh that accompanied the quip was full of mirth, reflecting the grin on Jago's face as he strode into one of the most famed rooms of the entire Praxeum. The so-called Strategy Center, where a Galaxy was first set on the path to freedom and victory over tyranny and malevolence. What must it have been like, the young Jedi Master wondered, to be within that room some fifty years ago, watching hope itself slowly fade, only to witness it burn brighter than ever before.
Inspiring.
Jago was dressed in his normal state of comfort over formality: trousers of grey, a shirt of white, a jacket of burgundy. It was simple, and in its simplicity was the truth of Jago's character revealed. No grand displays, no attempts to impress or manipulate, only a man and what he could do. Truth be told, that last sentiment applied to the trio of Jedi now gathered around the holodisplay: Men and the actions that defined them. Warriors and Leaders all. They had a background as diverse as the entire Galaxy itself: mercenaries and soldiers, dark marauders and brilliant guardians.
It was a woeful day for any enemies of The Jedi and The Republic when the minds of Man'Sell, Starflare, and Pulastra came together, as they did so now.
" Came as soon as I was called. What's the situation?"~
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 18, 2013 17:50:05 GMT -8
Dav smiled tightly at Ronan as he entered, before looking back at the datacard in his hand.
This was big. It was very big. The biggest news in over a year.
Dav didn't respond to Ronan, in part because of his deep thought, in another because, before he could, Jago's voice filled the room. He glanced at Jago, and, finally confident that everyone that needed to be here was here, he pressed a control on the console before him.
The door slammed shut behind Jago, and great bolts could be heard sliding into place, putting the Strategy Centre into lock-down. That alone ought well have suggested to Ronan and Jago the seriousness of what they were about to see. Ptrelli moved forward, his face illuminated more clearly as he stepped up next to the display.
"The situation is this."
He slid the datacard into the reader on the control panel, and on the great, circular display before them, an image resolved itself. Slightly pixelated, speckled, and hard to make out, it looked like a section of space like any other. A green-yellow cloud of stellar gases dominated, from where Dav stood, the top right quarter. One point, brighter than the others, was clearly the system star, though it was clear that the shot was still focused in on the outer edges of a system.
"This is a long range image captured by one of our scout-craft headed out towards Wild Space. The area represented in this image lies outside of Republic jurisdiction, in former Imperial Space. The shots were taken from five thousand light minutes out... give or take."
Dav started adjusting some controls, and a box blinked around one very small part of the image, probably no larger than one twentieth of the total image. Within the box, a blurred shaped could be made out in a dull grey against the swirls of green and yellow from the gas cloud.
"This is what interests us most of all."
The image swept up, and then, through five distinct steps over the course of ten seconds, sharpened it's detail until the shape became significantly less blurred.
What greeted them was the shape of an Interrogator-class Star Dreadnaught. Most wouldn't ever recognise it, but for the four of them, the shape was unmistakable. A ship designed nearly four years earlier by Ronan Starflare, as a possible addition to the forces of the Jedi, but never built. At least not by the Jedi or the Republic.
Only one other had knowledge of the design - Darth Miros, the dark personality born in Ronan Starflare and separated from him. Separated from him and given a life of his own, as an echo and champion of the insidious collective known as the Corruption.
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Ronan Starflare
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Post by Ronan Starflare on May 18, 2013 18:12:37 GMT -8
He heard the great pins in the door slide into place, sealing the room tight. Something was most definitely up.
As the image formed, he leaned down, resting both his palms on the console to keep himself at least marginally upright. And slowly, as Dav spoke, another image formed, one that was an omen to his own checkered past.
His brow furrowed immediately as his own emotions came rushing back at him. Forcefully, he pushed off the console and turned around, taking small steps away from it, willing himself to not see what had already been seen. He cupped his hands around the back of his skull, lacing his fingers and breathing out heavily. His legs moved of their own accord, pacing back and forth, back and forth. His head swam with feelings. Anger. Resentment. Guilt. Vengeance. But at the same time, a singular determination. One last effort. If he did anything else with his life, he would run that ship to the ground.
And destroy it. Along with everything on it. Everything he had created. Every regret he ever had in his life. Would die with the Interrogator.
His face hardened as he spun back around.
"I'm only going to ask once. Where. Is. That. Ship?"
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 19, 2013 5:32:21 GMT -8
Ronan's reaction had been much as Dav had expected; tense, guilt-ridden, and angry, the young man, who carried the title of Jedi Master perhaps a little young, turned from them, pacing the room, attempting to focus his thoughts.
Darth Miros represented Ronan's great unfinished business; the demon of his past, a being created and forged from his anger, his pain. Ronan had spoken of a shadowy master, a voice disembodied, a powerful incorporeal being shrouded in the Dark Side. They had never found out who this being was, what his intent had been, but Dav felt fairly sure that this mysterious shadow had taken the anger in Ronan and poured something more into it, in order to forge it into a separate entity.
But, the Jedi Battlemaster mused, it was just a theory, one so far unproven.
He dipped his chin, worked his jaw. What he was about to say would be hard for Ro to hear, but it was the only answer to the question.
"Honestly? We don't know."
At this, Ptrelli turned from the display, and Dav was thankful the Commodore took over at this point. For one, the Commodore had started his career as a sensor analyst, and had a tremendous capacity for keeping track of multiple streams of data simultaneously. But the main essence of Dav's relief came because he knew that the answer he had given was one of massive disappointment for Ronan, and he had nothing better to give him.
=Ptrelli Stargazer=
"The image was taken, as Master Man'Sell said, from five thousand light minutes out, on enhanced optical receivers."
Reiterating that point was likely to explain to Ronan why they had no knowledge of the Interrogator's whereabouts - five thousand light-minutes on an optical receiver would mean that the image was already over three days old by the time the light had reached the scout-ship's lens. Even with a slower hyperdrive, the ship could have traversed half the Galaxy in that time.
=Ptrelli Stargazer=
"The area the shots have captured lay within a portion of space uncharted by Republic or Jedi forces. A maze of star systems with complex gravitational influences making uncharted Hyperspace navigation arduous and extremely dangerous. These systems lay within the territory of the former Phoenix Imperium, who are likely to be the only people with accurate navigational data."
Dav lifted his head. The Phoenix Imperium. They had expressed interest in Yavin more than once, and though they had never seemed hostile - indeed, all of their approaches to the Yavin Jedi had been under a banner of peace and diplomacy - Dav had always felt a discomfort towards them. An Empire ruled over by one totalitarian ruler, with no diplomatic process. They accepted all branches of the Force, from Jedi through to Sith. They harboured War Criminals and gave them ranks and status and governmental protection. They were forged by Matar Lyndruss out of the Clann of Draach Dea Cealestis - the empire of Lady Tanith Desaevio, realm of some of the most dangerous Sith the Galaxy had known at the time.
There was much to feel uneasy about.
He stood upright from his leaning position, and folded his arms across his chest.
"Republic Intelligence has information that the Phoenix Imperium is undergoing something of a renaissance. Looking to reaffirm itself, re-establish its dominance in those sectors of space. That in itself is a concern, but the fact that the Pee-Eye has, in all likelihood unknowingly, the forces of Darth Miros hidden within its borders, is a major issue. We can't easily travel there on a military operation to find him; to take down a ship of the power of the Interrogator would require a massive military operation, and the Pee-Eye are unlikely to permit such an operation within their borders. The best we could hope for is that they would allow us to partake in a joint operation with their forces, and frankly, I don't think that is an option that works for us. Lyndruss has demonstrated in the past that his desire is to draw in powerful and talented individuals to his government to strengthen his empire, regardless of their affiliation. I don't think we can trust that, if he found Miros first, he wouldn't try to form an alliance with the Corruption. He's just arrogant enough to think he could control it."
That was the problem. They couldn't work alone in Imperium space. They couldn't work with the Imperium, either.
Which was why Dav had formulated a third potential path in his mind.
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Ronan Starflare
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Post by Ronan Starflare on May 20, 2013 16:02:01 GMT -8
He blinked. And again. And once more as comprehension of the situation dawned on him. The fact they had even seen the Interrogator was blind luck. Or the will of the Force. Or something. It didn't really matter which, in the end. What did matter was that it had been seen. And what was seen could not be unseen. He shook his head, clearing his mind, and when he spoke, his voice was grave.
"This ship is not to be trifled with. The Interrogator is nigh unstoppable. Well over three thousand turbolasers, over a thousand starfighters plus support craft...To go after her with anything short of a full Republic fleet would be suicide of the highest caliber."
It wasn't a lie. The ship was a god among titans. Horrible odds for anything that dared to oppose it. But, they were Jedi, and had faced more ridiculous odds and came out on top. And they would do so again. Of this, Ronan was confident.
"Having said that, this ship must be stopped. Although, like you said Dav, I doubt Matar will allow us into Pee-Eye space with firepower of any viable magnitude. And I doubt even more that the Republic will let us borrow a fleet when it's not only likely, but practically guaranteed that many of their ships and their crews will die... Or worse."
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 21, 2013 15:50:20 GMT -8
Dav nodded. Ronan's words were tactically sound, as they always were. He designed the Interrogator, he knew its abilities better than anyone, and he was right in every sense - direct conflict was suicide.
Which led to, as far as Dav could see, only one alternative. The Jedi Master's eyes fixed on the pixelated shape before him.
"Which is why we need to find another way. The first thing we need to do is track it. Find the thing, and make sure we can always find it. And that's a job for only one person."
He turned his eyes on Ronan now, that piercing purposeful stare that punctuated statements of great importance.
"You."
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Ronan Starflare
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Post by Ronan Starflare on May 21, 2013 16:09:33 GMT -8
His eyes widened a tad. That was certainly not what he had expected to hear. He was no intelligence agent. At the same time, he knew more about the Interrogator than he could ever explain to anybody. Burying his face in his right palm, he spoke.
"Provided this was a good idea, how would I even go about that? Send me around in a StealthX?"
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 21, 2013 17:22:53 GMT -8
Dav smiled tightly. Ronan was a good friend, and a good Jedi, but his tactics in any given situation generally tended to be... direct. He didn't share Dav's flare for the subtle and the underhanded, and though it might well have seemed as though that rather limited the Jedi's skill set, Dav couldn't help but feel like, in many ways, Ronan was better off as a result.
If you live too long in the shadows, as I have, being comfortable in the light becomes almost impossible.
He was a Champion of the Light, and walked the path of the Light Side, but he did get restless when away from those shadows. Always charging off on the next adventure; it was a trait he had had as a teenager, the better part of a century earlier, when he had been a student on Coruscant, and these days it had been exacerbated by the feeling that if he was somewhere peaceful, safe, warm and comfortable, then he wasn't where he was meant to be. That where he belonged was in those shadowy places, fighting.
Not a healthy feeling, which was why it was one he resisted sometimes.
"Something with a little more finesse, I think."
Dav glanced at Ptrelli. The Commodore was not refuting the statement - but then, it wasn't the finesse of the plan that bothered him. It was the risk, and the limited chances of success. The odds were stacked against them, and it relied a lot on being in the right place, at the right time, and knowing how to respond to that.
"We know that Matar likes to gather talent to him. We're also very aware that he's had an eye on Yavin for a long time, for whatever reasons, and that he knows about the three of us here pretty well. He's not stupid, he'll have his ways of keeping tabs on Yavin four now that the Pee-eye is looking to re-establish itself. And last we were keeping an eye on him, he hadn't found a successor to command his military forces after his previous supreme commander vanished."
Dav crossed his arms before him.
"So, we leave you as... bait, of a sorts. Start slipping the rumour out that you're not happy. Have you seen as publicly disagreeing with the Council and the Republic. You spend a little more time on Yavin Station, and are seen coming down to the Praxeum less and less. If he is watching us the way I suspect he is, it's a matter of time - and not very much time, I should think - before Matar approaches you with an alternative option for employment. Just giving you the choice of somewhere else, somewhere your talents could be used."
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Jago
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Post by Jago on May 23, 2013 15:35:56 GMT -8
~ Jago didn't like the idea. Not one bit. Giving up one of their best and brightest to essentially be ... Used, like that. It didn't feel right. Then again, what else could they do? Miros's ship was more than capable of tagging their entire fleet in the Eastern Rim battle group without taking so much as a scratch. Inside intelligence was needed, fast. Who knew what that sociopath was planning out in the far-flung reaches of space.
" Considering this even works," he began, tugging briefly at his hair in thought and frustration for the situation, " What then? Ronan hunts down the Interrogator, becomes Supreme Commander of yet another government's military ... Then what?"
He looked to both of his friends, clearly expecting an answer.
" Tracking it down is one thing. Killing it is another entirely. I know we have to crawl before we can walk, here, but if that ... That beast of a ship is just roving around the Rim, obviously Miros is trying to accomplish ... Well, something. Something I don't think we want to pass. If, If the Imperium falls for the ruse and recruits Ronan, and if Ronan is able to find the damn thing, how do we bring it down?
He mused over his own words, pondering. Getting the PI to snatch up Admiral and Master Starflare was the simple part: there was relatively few other people Jago could think of (being able to count them solely on one hand, if that) that could match the strategic and tactical brilliance Ronan exhibited in a Fleet Command role. Matar would be insane not to snatch him up if ever the opportunity provided itself.
Tracking the Interrogator ... Difficult, yes, but not impossible. They had hunted ships and Sith before: this was no different. But bringing down the stag, especially when the stag was bristling with weaponry and armored like a Krayt Dragon made of beskar, that was the challenging part of the chase.
" It'd have to be an inside job, neh?" Jago thought aloud, tilting his head inquisitively.
" We can't fight it from the outside. We don't have the resources. But if we could get a team in the ship? Those hypermatter reactors are notoriously explode-y. The only real question is how much time we have, and how we even set about boarding the Interrogator once we get the opportunity to, let alone destroy her."~
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 26, 2013 15:42:17 GMT -8
Dav could sense Jago and Ronan's apprehension, which matched, if not surpassed, Ptrelli's. What's more, in truth, Dav shared it - the risk was great. He sighed, looking down at the display once more.
But what choice do I have? We have to find out where that ship is.
He looked up at Jago.
"I guess that part is a work in progress. We can continue to work on a method of neutralising the Interrogator whilst Ro tries to find it. And to ensure we're not gambling so much on one objective, Ronan..." He turned to the Jedi Admiral now. "...will have more than one goal in the Pee-Eye. You'll also be there to keep an eye on their development, to assess Lyndruss' political and military intentions and capabilities, and to establish intelligence ties for future use if they're needed. If we can get sufficient access to information the Imperium possesses, such as navigational and strategic data for space still under their influence, it could prove to be valuable on a wider scale than just this one endeavour."
Although it certainly was true that a battle against Matar's forces was one such example of where the data could be useful, conflict with the Imperium was not Dav's intention. He would rather find a peaceful resolution to any issues they had with them. But, as Miros had demonstrated, the PI were not the only threats in that region of space, and having ready access to navigational data through that area would often make all the difference.
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Ronan Starflare
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Post by Ronan Starflare on May 27, 2013 15:32:31 GMT -8
He listened to both of his friends speak their minds, loosing their reservations and confidences into the room. The intel that could be gained from such a gambit would be invaluable. Completely irreplaceable. And there truly was no other way to get it. The space that the former Phoenix Imperium covered was far too large and the threat that was posed to the Jedi of Yavin IV was two-fold.
He really didn't have another choice.
"And even if I were not to find the Interrogator, coming back with the star charts for that area of space and Force knows whatever else Matar has locked away, it would still be worth it.
"I'm not saying I like this idea. I don't. But there's not a better one."
It was nearly painful for him to say it. Long had he been at the front of the queue in the Yavin military and para-military forces. To abandon them now, even for an opportunity like this, did not sit well with him. Nor should it to anyone who held anything akin to a command position. And since Ronan had held a rank of authority for the majority of his adult life, following through with this plan was bordering on treasonous.
In the end, though, it was for the greater good. It was the Jedi way, and he would hold fast to it.
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 29, 2013 16:40:47 GMT -8
The Jedi Master nodded, reluctantly acknowledging the point.
"Well, we need to put it into action as soon as possible. We've already lost the better part of a week, which effectively puts us back to square one. We have to start getting the necessary rumours out there - and whilst we are, Ro, you need to also be putting together everything you know about that ship, so that whilst you're off finding it, we can be here figuring out how to kill it. Use whatever resources you need to tap in order to make it work, but keep it subtle -- too obvious and Matar will spot it. He may be occasionally greedy, but Matar is no fool."
Dav turned to Jago now, intent on working with his fellow Council member to ensure that Ronan was not going in blind and alone.
"We'll contact both Republic Intelligence and Zalor, set up a double contact route for Ronan to use in case he needs support or has anything important to relay. Which I guess, since I already have a few connections in Arr-eye, means you get Zalor." Dav gave a tight, lopsided, and somewhat uncomfortable smile. "Believe me when I say you're getting the better deal on this one."
With a sigh, he turned back to the display. Spy-work. He'd done it, oh had he done it, and it was not a role he wanted to return to with any great hurry, but the Galaxy they lived in demanded subtler techniques than could be achieved without it. They had a lot to account for, however. An awful lot.
"Looks like we've got some work to do, gentlemen. Let's get to it."
~~~~~~~
Ronan had been gone a couple of months now. It was weird, not having him around the Praxeum. But he knew that Ronan had it in him to achieve all their objectives, and he had faith that when the younger Jedi returned, it would be triumphant, with the Interrogator on his kill-sheet.
And meanwhile, Dav Man'Sell had other mysteries to solve.
Pulling up a chair at one of the smaller side-terminals, he got to work. He'd give it his best.
He always did.
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 29, 2013 17:28:35 GMT -8
 The Mandalorians have brought war to the Galaxy once more. Under the leadership of Mand'alor ASHRAH INTALBO, and his General CORR VHETT, they have begun a campaign against the Galaxy's Force Users. The Jedi World of Yavin IV was the first hit, a strike at one of the greatest Jedi strongholds. The Mandalorians took YAVIN STATION, the mighty orbital defence platform, thanks to a brilliant infiltration strategy by DUKE AUSTRALIS, and under the order of Jedi Master DAV MAN'SELL, the Jedi forces retreated from orbit. With the Jedi fleets scattered, the Mandalorians took their attack to the surface.
However, the Jedi defences were not so easily overcome. With starfighter cover lead by Jedi Master JAGO PULASTRA, and ground defences overseen by Jedi Knight ADI MATANGO and Falleen strategist TZA'UAX, the Jedi were able to force the Mandalorians to withdraw to orbit. However, the defence is not without sacrifice - redeemed former Dark Sider DACE CONCORDIA, at the beginning of his path to reclaim the mantle of Jedi, was slain by the Mand'alor in bloody, vicious combat.
Now the Mandalorians are settling in for a long siege on the Praxeum, blockading the planet and seeking constantly to take out the shield generator and ion cannons that form the backbone of the Praxeum's defence. Dav, Jago, and the other resident Jedi of Yavin lead the hard fought and desperate defence, whilst Adi, working with Master WILL SON'TIR and Jedi Knight DIAMONTE TUHLUTE, and the Jedi Watchmen, seeks to prepare the Jedi, and the worlds of the Republic, for the inevitable assault to come.... THE SIEGE
Day One The Jedi Praxeum had seen its share of combat. Ever since the Great Temple had been built, five millennia earlier, it had been the site of many a battle: the culmination of the Exar Kun war, which scarred the planet for centuries to come; the infamous Battle of Yavin, when the Death Star met its end; and after the Praxeum's founding, so many more, from the battle against the spirit of Exar Kun, and the campaign by Natasi Daala, and the attack launched by Desaan, to the Shadow Academy, and the Yuuzhan Vong war, and the forces of the Dread Lord Havok, and the Corruption.
The Jedi Praxeum was no stranger to conflict and war. Nonetheless, the Mandalorian assault had tested the Jedi defenders greatly, and, no doubt, greater challenges still faced the besieged Academy. The Great Temple - twice devastated, twice rebuilt - was already carrying wounds of the Mandalorian aggression, with at least one hole blown in its walls and pock-and-burn marks throughout the Praxeum.
The Strategy Centre, the former War Room that had once served as the command centre of the Rebel Alliance in its fight to survive the Death Star, now, again, served that role against the Mandalorian siege. Full of command crew in a way it had not been in many years, the room was a hive of strategic planning and defensive oversight, the central circular console ever manned, its vast holographic display constantly alive with strategic data for the area surrounding the Praxeum. If the Hangar was the beating heart of the Jedi defence, the War Room was the ever thinking, restless mind, plotting and planning constantly in an effort to gain the upper hand over the Mandalorian aggressors.... |
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on Jun 12, 2013 16:09:31 GMT -8
Dav stood at the centre table, hand clamped to his mouth, frown furrowing heavily at his brow, staring at the data for the Praxeum's defensive efforts. Jago had been somewhere across the room when he started, but the so-named white-haired-wonder had, at some point, slipped out to get more hands on with things; Dav didn't blame him, it was definitely more his style too, getting down where the action was and getting dirty, rather than standing back and moving markers on a holomap. He may well have held the title General at several points in his life, but he didn't take to back row command very well; he felt much more useful on the front line.
Especially because from up here, things did not look amazing.
"The third armoured battlegroup?"
=Major Ni'kor Owains=
"Gone; Most of them bit it under a bombing run by Bes'uliik's, the rest we lost to a swarm of Mandalorian infantry. The units were burned pretty thoroughly, I shouldn't think there's even scrap metal worth gathering from them."
Dav's frown deepened further still, if that were possible, as the Major, who through attrition had ended up as the senior member of the Peacekeeping Army on the surface, outlined the demise of yet another armoured division.
Things definitely did not look amazing. Far from amazing.
"So not much in the way of vehicles."
=Major Ni'kor Owains=
"No sir. We didn't keep much down here to begin with. For obvious reasons."
Dav didn't need that explaining; he had been one of the people that made that particular decision. The truth was, vehicles were at a huge disadvantage due to the terrain - thick rainforest, uneven ground, large ravines and steep hills, even large units like AT-ATs found the terrain challenging. Foot soldiers were entirely more efficient, so the majority of the vehicles they had had been kept back strictly for closer up guard duties. He nodded.
"Alright. So we'll be looking at guerilla strategies for the Army, then. We have plenty of speeder bikes and STAPs, so that'll help matters, but we'll be facing huge odds... how about specialist units?"
The Major frowned.
=Major Ni'kor Owains=
"A few. Not many army ones, but we've got Marine Squads first, third, and fourth down here, and they're trained for precisely this kind of combat."
A tight smile formed on the Jedi's lips. Marine Squad one - he knew them well from the battle of Kamino. They were good - no, good was an understatement, they were excellent. The best non-Jedi fighting force Dav had seen in many years, which said a lot. He glanced at the Major.
"Your brother is in first squad, isn't he?"
There was a flicker of a smile in the Major's face, one of subtle pride, mixed with surprise - Major Owains obviously hadn't expected the Jedi Master to remember that.
=Major Ni'kor Owains=
"Yes, sir. Sniper, sir."
Dav nodded.
"Mmm, that's it. Holds the forces record on the range, right?"
=Major Ni'kor Owains=
"Yes, sir."
Dav nodded. Alex Owains. He could prove to be an important member of their defences. The Jedi would have to keep an eye on that one.
"Well, it's not as bad as it could have been. Most of our defensive fire-power, though, is in the air. Our pilots, on the stats, have performed better than theirs so far, and we have the advantage of the ay-ay platforms. We need to maximise that..."
His attention was drawn by the familiar sound of an approaching astromech unit, and turned towards the source, his very own R2, the ever faithful Dirty. The droid chattered at him, prompting an arched eyebrow from the Jedi Master.
"Really? From where?"
Another series of hoots and whistles, and Dav looked over at the comms-board. The Major frowned at him.
=Major Ni'kor Owains=
"Sorry, sir, my droidspeak isn't very good. What did he say?"
The Jedi Master moved over to the comm-controls, slipping in to a vacant seat.
"He said that we're picking up some kind of encoded transmission, and that it's coming from orbit. Tight beam, piggy backed on Mando transmissions. Aimed straight at our transceivers, so that there's no-way the Mandalorians could have detected it... interesting..."
He tapped at the controls, glancing up at the screen, viewing the encrypted signal.
"Dirty... forgive me if I'm wrong but... are those the last set of Dragon Squad comm-protocols?"
The droid chattered in acknowledgement, and then with another set of toots and whistles, explained that they had been forward to him specifically as Dav's Astromech. Dav glanced at the little burgundy R2, and then at the comm screen again.
"Someone wants to speak to Dragon Lead. One of the squad..."
He frowned, glancing around the room, before extracting a headset from the storage cabinet set into the base of the console, and plugging it in as the decode algorithms ran. He wanted privacy for this one; he didn't have a clue what was about to be said, but anyone able to transmit from orbit on Dragon Squadron frequency had the potential to be a game changer.
However, the voice that greeted him was the last voice he expected to hear.
:: This is Eliana Shan, calling the Jedi forces on Yavin IV. There's no telling how long this signal will last, so I'm hoping someone gets this soon.. ::
Somewhere inside, his stomach dropped. This girl had been cropping up too much lately, which should have been impossible, and every time she had, somewhere along the line her most monstrous legacy had been mentioned along with her. The last time a voice from the grave, associated with that particular legacy, had spoken to Yavin over the comm-waves, the voice had been Andru Kierra Solo's, and the result had been the toughest battle many of them had ever fought.
But the way the voice of Eliana Shan spoke this time... something about it seemed more real. Older, weathered, and more real.
He flipped the comm alive, speaking softly into the microphone.
"Hello, Eliana. Pardon me for saying, but you're dead."
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Chalco
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You can lead a man to water but you can't make him think.
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Affiliation: Jedi Praxuem of Yavin IV
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Post by Chalco on Jun 14, 2013 6:49:30 GMT -8
*Chalco stepped into the War Room and paused to glance around at the various displays, taking a moment to analyse the situation outside the Praxeum walls. A report from Master Madoon caught his eye and he stepped over to the appropriate console, gesturing for one of the orderlies to call up the hastily compiled document. He winced as his shoulder and upper arms burned, struggling with his movements when he leaned over the shoulder of the young Bothan to peer at the screen. There had been an encounter with Mandalorian forces outside the entrance to the Great Temple. Two fatalities. One trooper dead from enemy fire and one Jedi. Chalco knew before he read on that it was Dace, having felt the dimming of the Force several hours previously. While at the time he hadn't known who it was, his unfamiliarity with the man making it unlikely he would have associated the feeling with the mans death, he know knew with certainty what had befallen the former Sith come redeemed Jedi. While with so much death and destruction going on could numb one to such a loss, Chalco was not the kind of man to idly shrug off the death of his comrades. The nameless soldier from Beta Team and Dace Concordia settled in Chalco's mind along with the twelve soldiers lost in the jungle following Mike and his rescue of Felia and Brakus. They all joined the growing list of those that had fallen in this war, a list of those that had given their precious lives to preserve the peace of the Jedi, laying down their souls for their ideals and freedom.
He watched the footage, alternating shots from the troopers cams and the surveillance devices set up outside the Praxeum and Temple proper. The incoming fire came streaking in from unknown assailants, the Mando attackers being careful to remain unseen. All apart from one. The computer systems gave it a ninety-three point seven percent chance that the black-clad figure was Ashrah Intalbo, Mand'alor of the Mandalorian Empire. Chalco's emerald eyes narrowed as he watched the video through again. The Mandalorian leader displayed impressive strength by hurling the body of Concordia, a man of towering height, and went on to show insolent disdain for the Jedi defenders by standing there and taunting them openly. He burned the image of the armoured form into his mind as he watched the man turn and, with a mocking wave to Zuli, disappear back into the woods.
The gauntlet had been thrown down it seemed. The open disregard and savage state of Dace's body making it clear that this man meant to wipe them out no matter what the cost. A chill settled over Chalco as he realised for the first time that the Mandalorians would follow this man into genocide in this endeavor, an unmerciful wave of Beskar that would seek to drown them all.
He glanced at the man sat at the control station he had commandeered, seeing the same trepidation in the Bothans face, the furry snout twitching in what Chalco had come to recognise as unease.*
"Courage my friend..."
*His voice was soft, barely above a whisper as he straightened and glanced around the Strategy Center. Spying Dav across the room, hand pressed to a headset, the Falleen Jedi Master lay a bandaged hand on the young operators shoulder.*
"There isn't a better place to weather a storm than here..."
*He glanced up at the ceiling for a moment before removing his hand and moving gingerly across the room towards Dav. His gait was slow and tender, favouring his right-hand side heavily. The bandages and bacta patches were stifling to him, interfering with his circulation, the glands with which he could distribute his pheromones making them all the more uncomfortable.*
"Even a storm raining Beskar..."
*He muttered the last with something close to dread, shaking his head in frustration before stopping next to Major Owains. He nodded respectfully to the wily veteran, smiling as he gestured back towards the turbolift, drawing a flash of pain and a wince as he stretched his wounds with the movement.
"The other Owains. I just left your brother in the hangar bay."
*It was likely that the Major knew where his brother was but in times as dire as these Chalco assumed it would be nice to know that ones family were safe and well the last time they had been seen. Alex and Ni'kor Owains were typical of the good men and women that defended Yavin IV. The unassuming heroes that put their lives on the line alongside their Jedi peers, every bit as important to the well being of their charges as their saber-wielding allies.
"I don't understand the Gands jokes like your brother does but they seemed to be in good spirits when I left them."
*His eyes moved to Dav, noting that the Jedi Battlemaster was frowning as he spoke into the headset, his aura in the Force spiking with surprise.*
"What's going on?"
*He addressed the question to Majos Owains but spoke loud enough for Dav to hear and note his presence. Not that Chalco thought for one second his arrival had escaped the enigmatic Jedi's meticulous awareness...*
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Post by Eliana Shan on Jun 18, 2013 15:37:55 GMT -8
There was a pause before there was any kind of response. The line was clearly open: voices, very faint, speaking in foreign tongues, could be heard in the background, though it was impossible to determine what they were saying. There was also the very faint thrumming over the comm that any experienced person would recognize as the sound of starship engines. But the woman who had contacted the Jedi was conspicuously silent. Finally, she spoke, her voice bearing just the tinge of a well-covered fight-or-flight response, though at what, it was difficult to determine. As far as a casual listener would have known, she was the same carefree girl she had been seven years prior.
:: I've heard that before. I don't really have time to explain right now, but I'm on board the Mandalorian flagship, "helping" them crack the security on this X-Wing. Plug here was kind enough to patch me through. ::
As casual as she was trying to sound, there was a definitively cold undertone to her voice, one that spoke of years of isolation and hardships: the scars of necessary evil. There was another pause before she spoke again, presumably checking her surroundings for eavesdroppers.
:: I don't know how long I can keep this guise up without actually having to damage or crack into the ship. Long story short? I need a way out. I think their general is already suspicious that I'm going to jump ship. ::
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on Jun 19, 2013 6:33:00 GMT -8
Plug?
Joshua?
Dav listened intently, a frown heavy on his brow, lips pulled taught into a thin line, his eyes flitting back and forth in deep thought. Eliana was aboard the Mandalorian flagship, under another identity, working as a 'hacker' for them. Joshua's fighter was also there - had he been captured? Last they had heard from Joshua, about a day earlier, he had been riding with Syla on the Lego. There was a chance that they simply recovered his X-Wing from wherever he had left it. Unfortunately, from where he sat, there was no sure-fire way of knowing, as Dav wasn't sure he would be able to sense Joshua through the Force with all the energies of the Battle the day before still in the air - Eliana was the only one in a position to find out.
If they didn't have him, then Joshua must have still been with Syla... somewhere. If they did? Then that was just one more name to add to an already slightly concerning list of potentially captured individuals that were still unaccounted for from the Station and the battle in orbit.
"The pilot of that X-Wing. His name is Joshua, Joshua Kierra-Solo. Have they captured him?"
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