The tension builds. All parties on the landing pad stand with their nerves on edge looking for any sign of real or imagined aggression which will cause the impending fight to break out.
A twitch in one of the bodyguards is all it takes.
Rexx moves first. With a flick of his wrist he ignites his lightsaber and brings it up into a defensive position. He then resolutely moves towards Trick Siss with a look of utmost focus on his face.
Still standing on the cargo elevator, Lyza takes careful aim at one of the bodyguards and fires. Unfortunately Rexx just moves into the way, and Lyza misses her mark.
A bodyguard of Trick Siss
- By me!, Trick commands his two henchmen and as one the three pau’ans move forwards. They have barely moved two steps before Trick produces a narrow cylindrical device from the folds of his robes. To the utter astonishment of all the companions a burgundy lightsaber blade (that perfectly matches the color of his robes) emerges from the handle with a *snap-hiss* sound!
- Now perhaps you understand what you face…, Trick gloats with a wicked smile that reveals his needle sharp teeth…
Not scared by the revelation Rwaar’ac draws his mace and lets out a resounding roar to answer the challenge from Trick Siss. The wookie then moves forward to Rexx’s flank and towards the pau’an antagonists.
With the enemies still too far away for his arsenal of Force powers, Jason ignites his guard shoto and moves forwards, and closer to Rwaar’ac, to form a front matching that of the three oncoming pau’ans. Just keep coming…Jason thinks to himself…Soon you will be in a world of hurt…
With the short distance to his targets and no appropriate shooting position for his Helix sniper blaster rifle nearby, Malrek draws his S-5 heavy blaster pistol from his hip holster and invokes his Force cloak, vanishing from view.
With the combatants coming together Kharo cannot find any clear shots. Keeping his eyes on the companions’ antagonists he draws his blaster carbine and moves right to outflank the pau’ans and looking for a way to play his part in the fight.
Perturbed by the fact that Trick wields a lightsaber (and the possible indications of that), Rexx calls upon the Force, from tens steps away, in a quick attempt to disarm him right then and there. But trick has a solid two-handed grip on his weapon and he refuses to yield to the yank and maintains his hold on his lightsaber.
Lyza again aims very carefully and fires precisely at the same instant as Rexx’s disarm attempt pulls Trick’s lightsaber slightly out of position. A hit in Trick’s exposed face seems inevitable, but from out of nowhere one of Trick’s bodyguards throws himself in the way, and the blast hits the bodyguard instead of the indtended target, damaging him painfully in the chest between the ablative plates of his ceremonial armor.
Agitated by this near hit on his person, Trick seeks to remove distractions from the fight. From an outstretched hand he suddenly generates a sustained blast of lightning at Rwaar’ac, and for a few seconds the mightly wookie stands rigid, quivering in pain, until the Force lightning ceases. Hurt and weakened, Rwaar’ac still manages to stay on his feet…much to the surprise of Trick Siss.
Trick then advances, his commitment to destroying the companions clearly visible on his face, and the pau’an bodyguards follow tightening their formation and using their riot shields effectively to protect Trick as well as themselves.
With his scorched fur still smoldering, Rwaar’ac needs a few seconds to recuperate. His soldier’s endurance lets him recover from the worst of the lightning’s effects quickly, and before he again lifts his mace he catches his second wind. Now back in the fight Rwaar’ac feels his temper starting to boil…
With Trick and the bodyguards now in range Jason unleashes his devastating Force slam upon them. Rexx and Rwaar’ac are standing in the area of effect, but Jason’s discipline with his ability has grown to such an extent that with a minor effort he manages to leave his allies totally unaffected. Trick and the bodyguards are hit, but these are no weak battledroids that the companions are now facing! The pau’an trio leans into the slam, protected by the riot shields and fortified by many long years of battle experience, and while they are pummeled by the kinetic impact of the Force slam, they hardly let it show.
Damn!, Jason curses as he moves forwards to support and protect Rwaar’ac.
Cloaked and invisible, Malrek maintains his concentration to remain unseen and moves forward swifty but silently, away from the cargo elevator and towards the rear of the enemy.
Kharo continues his flanking move, and with impeccable timing he lines up a series distracting shots at the closer one of the bodyguards, causing the pau’an to lose track of him and present Kharo with a chance for a totally clear shot at the bodyguard’s exposed back…
With the pau’an trio momentarily off balance Rexx moves up to Trick, but before the Jedi padawan has a chance to attack one of the bodyguards takes a swipe at him with his vibrohatchet. Rexx reacts quickly and sidesteps. Focusing on the Force Rexx feels himself entering the crystal clear flow of a battle trance, and with enhanced reflexes and accuracy he attacks Trick with three rapid strikes. Unfortunately the pau’an’s defenses prove potent indeed, as Trick blocks each of Rexx’s three rapid attacks.
With melee combat ensuing Lyza has a hard time finding good shots. Instead of placing her friends in undue risk, she circles right, moving past Jason, Rwaar’ac, and Rexx in an attempt to get a clear shot.
With his confidence high after parrying Rexx’s attacks, Trick unleashes more of the Force at the companions. First he clenches his fist at Rexx inflicting a terrible persistent pain that the padawan can only ignore with the greatest of efforts. Then he turns towards Jason and with a horrendous stare inflicts a fear into him that momentarily overcomes the Force warrior’s senses!
Capitalizing upon Jason’s near paralysis, the first bodyguard moves forwards and tries to cleave Jason in half with his vibro-hatchet. Fortunately Jason has enough self-preservation instinct left to raise his guard shoto in defense, and actually manages to deflect the blow with the phrik-laced handle of his weapon.
The second bodyguard still hovers defensively around Trick, but also tries to chop at Rexx. He misses, as Rexx somewhat cumbersomely shifts to the side.
Rwaar’ac’s anger finally boils over! With an ear-splitting roar the wookie throws off the restraints that he always maintains on his emotions and brings down his mace at Trick’s forehead. He would have hit, too, were it not for the second bodyguard who intercepts the attack with his riot shield.
With fear overcoming his senses, Jason can do nothing but stagger backwards in attempts to avoid being hit by the first bodyguard’s attacks.
Malrek sees how the fight seems to go badly for Jason, Rwaar’ac, and Rexx, and knows he must get more directly involved immediately! Foregoing his cloak of invisibility he instead trusts his feelings to attack Trick, and his shot is true! Or would be, were not the second bodyguard again there in harm’s way on behalf of his master, and so instead of hitting Trick, Malrek hits the boduguard with a clipping blast in the abdomen!
After showing remarkable patience, Kharo finally takes the opportune shot he lined up a few seconds ago, and with all the focus he can muster (and a good bit of luck to boot) he blasts at the first bodyguard’s exposed rear. He hits, and although the bodyguard’s armor probably reduces the extent of the damage, Kharo manages to buy Jason some reprieve in his desperate plight. Satisfied, Kharo continues his flanking maneuver, following at the heels of Lyza.
Despite the pain wracking his body Rexx continues his attacks, and this time he manages to overcome the defensive maneuvers of Trick. With a wide sweep he knocks the pau’an’s burgundy lightsaber far to the side and plunges his own blue lightsaber at Trick’s exposed midriff…but again the second bodyguard leaps in the way with his riot shield. Rexx shifts his attack ever so little, and manages to bypass the bodyguard’s shield and hit him instead. The hit is no more than a glancing blow, and the bodyguard still remains standing.
Lyza finally gets her clear shot at the pau’ans, and switching her blaster carbine into autofire, she blasts a torrent of shots into the area behind Trick and the second bodyguard. With amazing quickness and presence of mind the second bodyguard whirls around Trick to protect his master’s back and again he takes the damage intended for his master.
Now with his second bodyguard guarding his back and not in the way, Trick lunges forwards with his lightsaber and takes a quick stab at Rexx, and the padawan’s block succeeds only partially. Grazed in the upper arm Rexx lets out a muffled grunt of pain.
- To my side!, Trick shouts at the first bodyguard who has moved to engage Jason.
After a defensive slash at Jason, the first bodyguard moves back hastily to Trick’s side, and in this haste both Jason (who is has shaken off the worst of the terror) and the berserking Rwaar’ac, get opportunities to take wild swings at him. But the bodyguard shields himself adequately with his shield, and neither of the two companions manage to land a blow at him.
The second bodyguard continues his defensive strikes at Rexx, and again his cautious strategy makes it relatively easy for Rexx to evade the attack.
Rwaar’ac, still raging, lines up another mighty swing at Trick, but this time it is the first bodyguard who intercepts the powerful blow with his riot shield. The ineffectivity of Rwaar’ac’s attacks only serves to push his rage to new heights.
Humiliated and embarassed by his inability to resist the Force induced fear Trick invoked in him, Jason decides to pay back with equal measure. Calling upon the Force with in his anger, he grips Trick in an invisible vice and begins to crush the life out of him. Almost lifting the pau’an off his feet, Jason’s attack not only seriously injures Trick, but also renders him unable to move.
With Trick immobilized Malrek seizes the opportunity, and again trusting his feelings he fires at the pau’an Force user…but again the first bodyguard thrusts himself in the way of the blast saving his master at a painful price to himself.
Kharo, a bit worried about Jason’s destructive tactics, briefly ponders whether to intervene but quickly decides against it. These pau’an adversaries are no innocent bystanders. After all…isn’t the pau’an sorcerer also using identical underhanded means against the companions? Kharo again lines up a diversionary attack at the first bodyguard while he continues to circle around the pau’ans and towards the entry of the Black Opal. This time his diversion is ill timed and goes unnoticed by the bodyguard.
Feeling somewhat wobbly Rexx takes a step back and quickly catches his second wind before again launching a sequence of attacks at the nearly immobilized Trick, but the second bodyguard intercepts Rexx’s advance and forces him into some defensive maneuvering, and so Rexx’s attacks come to naught.
Lyza continues her autofire strafing at Trick and the second bodyguard and this time it is the first bodyguard who steps in and take damage on behalf of his master. The second bodyguard is also slightly injured by the barrage, but neither of the tough pau’an warriors still yield to the number of wounds they have taken.
- K-k-kill him!, Trick desperately shouts to the first bodyguard while still struggling in Jason’s Force grip, and the bodyguard complies. Evading a wild opportunity swing by Rwaar’ac, the pau’an steps within Jason’s guard shoto defense and traces a long and deep gash along Jason’s midsection with his heavy vibro-hatchet. Grunting in pain, Jason looses his concentration, and Trick goes free of his Force grip.
The second bodyguard catches his second wind and with renewed strength he again sets upon Rexx. But with his main focus still being on protecting Trick, the bodyguard cannot outfight the lightsaber wielding padawan, and so he misses again.
Rwaar’ac, as furious as he has ever been, discards of his mace and attempts to grab hold of Trick with his bare hands…but again the second bodyguard is there! Foiled in his attempt to grab Trick, Rwaar’ac instead grabs hold of the second bodyguard’s riot shield and rips it from the bodyguard’s arm with a ferocious roar, and sends the shield soaring through the air far over the edge of the landing pad! The second bodyguard gets even paler than usual as he looks up at the furious wookie towering above him…
…but he doesn’t have long to lament at his predicament. Moments later Jason again wantonly channels the Force, this time lifting the shieldless bodyguard off his feet and sending him hurtling into Trick with enough force to break every bone in both pau’an’s bodies. The bodyguard takes the impact badly, and lifelessly he is sent skittering along the landing pad together with the badly injured Trick, until they both grind to a halt some meters away.
Trick Siss still stirs, and with amazing fortitude the pau’an struggles to regain his feet, still gripping his lightsaber. Malrek puts an end to Trick’s struggles…and life…with a precise and carefully aimed blast in the pau’an’s back.
Wasting no time Kharo capitalizes on the sudden and dramatic turn of events:
- This fight is over! SURRENDER!, he demands of the remaining bodyguard, and after the bodyguard takes a look at the lifeless corpses of his master and his colleauge, he drops his vibrohatchet and riot shield…
The companions barely have time to catch their breaths before the earsplitting sound of the spaceport’s turbolaser batteries blast to life!
Alarmed they look up into the sky and see an imposing sight they will seldom forget; several Republic Acclamator-class assault ships are descending from the upper atmosphere in the dawning rays of the sun. The cavalry has arrived!
While under constant fire from the turbolaser batteries and point defense guns of the spaceport, the Acclamator-class assault ships begin to spew out Low Altitude Assault Transports for infantry, and these LAAT/i:s rush towards the spaceport with total, death-defying, disregard for the heavy fire that the spaceport defenders target at them.
Not all of the LAAT/i:s make it down for a landing, and the burning debris of these unfortunate ones either crash into landing pads or the crater walls, but a good number do LAAT/i:s do make it. As soon as they land white-armored republic troopers start pouring out and assaulting the fortified spaceport terminal entries.
With the battle escalating around them Malrek is still working fevrently to get the Black Opal entry ramp open. The other companions have fanned out around him under the protective hull of the E-9 Explorer keeping lookout for any possible counterattack from the separatist and Ysalonian defenders. The republic soldiers promptly ignore their activities, focusing on bringing down the terminal defense towers and assaulting the entryways to the city. Aside for the occasional stray shots that hit the Black Opal’s hull the companions are remarkably safe where they are, in the eye of the storm as it were. Finally the ship’s entry ramp yields to Malrek’s attempts and he, Kharo, and Lyza quickly duck inside the Black Opal taking the repulsorlift sled with them. While Kharo and Malrek take the lift up to the main deck and the cockpit to get the Black Opal off the ground, Lyza deposits the sled and cryo pods in the lower deck gargohold, hooking the pods to the ship’s powergrid. Jason, Rwaar’ac, and Rexx remain outdoors to ensure that no separatists try to board them.
A few moments after the LAAT/i:s have exited the crater the republic troopers have already pushed inside the spaceport terminals and the situation on the landing pads have clamed down somewhat. At this stage the three companions standing guard by the Black Opal’s boarding ramp see a group of white-clad soldiers approaching them.
Signaling that they come in peace the soldiers approach, and Jason, Rwaar’ac, and Rexx allow them to come closer.
- Nice seeing you alive, Sirs, the lead figure whose white armor is decorated with red highlights says in a voice modulated by his helmet, obviously knowing who the companions are. Is this ship yours?
- It is now, Jason replies with a wry smile.
- Admiral Yularen and General Kenobi would be most intrested to talk with you as soon as you lift off. You can find them on the Resolute, the republic officer points at one of the colossal Acclamator-class assault ships in the sky. Use codeword: Lightning Blizzard go get docking permission on the Resolute…
- We are good to go!, Kharo informs all the companions through their comlink as the Black Opal’s external flight lights simultaneously are turned on and the sub-light engines whilr into activity. Get on board!
- Good luck, Sirs, the republic soldier wishes them before turning back and heading towards the battle raging inside the terminals…
- You need it more than we do… Rexx mutters to the soldiers’ backs as he turns and boards the ship.
The powerful engines of the Black Opal have it on course for the Resolute in short order. With the battle having moved into the underground quarters of Icefell City there is hardly any anti-aircraft fire to dodge (and that which there still is, is focused at the Republic capital ships), and the companions soon make their final approach towards the republic flag-ship. Using codeword: Lightning Blizzard quickly gets the companions a landing permitand when Kharo maneuvers the Black Opal into the cavernous hangar of the Resolute the companions can make out some kind of small military procession waiting for them. Setting down the ship, the companions hurry to disembark only to be surprised to see the platoon of republic soldiers waiting outside snapping to attention the moment they exit the Black Opal. In the middle of the platoon’s two rows, they see three additional figures waiting for them.
Admiral Yularen
The first is no doubt Admiral Yularen, a man in his early fourties wearing a crisp and sharp Republic uniform. As the companions step off the Black Opal’s boarding ramp the Admiral approaches them.
- Your Grace, Gentlemen…welcome onboard the Resolute. I am Admiral Yularen. Let me immediately congratulate you on your success dealing with the Ysalonians, and offer my condolances for your loss. Know that the entire Republic shares your grief.
Turning towards the two other men behind him Admiral Yularen introduces them too…
- This is General Kenobi of the Jedi order…and his apprentice Commander Skywalker.
General Kenobi and his apprentice step forward and they both bow lightly to the companions. The General speaks:
General Kenobi
- Your Grace…Gentlemen…Good to see you in good health. I have to congratulate you on your remarkable feat on Ysalon. Based on the limited reports we have recieved it seems largely thanks to you that we did not arrive here to be greeted by a strongly fortified separatists force. A most remarkable feat, indeed…
General Kenobi’s eyes seem to linger on Lyza a bit longer than the rest of the companions. Skywalker, Kenobi’s somber-looking apprentice who looks to be about Rexx’s age, lightly touches his master’s arm to get his attention.
- Master, my Gold Squadron is about to launch the attack on the Lucrehulk in orbit. How much longer will this take?
- Patience my young apprentice, Kenobi urges before turning back to the companions.
- My eager padawan is not wrong, I am afraid. The battle calls to us and there is much yet to be done. But you have done your share and we will ask nothing more of you. Rest and gather your strength. You will be back in Republic space as soon as this matter here on Ysalon is settled…
With another light bow General Kenobi and his apprentice excuse themselves, leaving the companions in the company of Admiral Yularen.
- This is Captain Tick…the Admiral waves the nearest soldier in the procession to approach…he will be your liaison onboard the Resolute. If there is anything you need ask the Captain. Once more, thank you for all you have done. Excellent work!
The admiral snaps his heels together and quickly salutes the companions before sharply turning about and moving off with the rest of the military procession in tow.
Captain Tick, who stays behind, removes his helmet to reveal a dark-haired and swarthy-skinned man in his early thirties. With a distinct accent he waves for the companions to follow:
- Right, let’s get you settled in then…
The Aftermath of the Battle of Ysalon
In retrospect the battle of Ysalon was a mere footnote in the dramatic events of the Clone Wars. The stubborn resistance of the locals, combined with the awesome contingent of troops commited by the Republic to the battle, gave the separatists little chance for ultimate victory. But the Republic didn’t score a neat, clean, win either. Before retreating off planet with heavy losses the separatists sabotaged much of the vaunted industrial capability and infrastructure of the Ysalonian cities leaving nearly half of the planet’s metropolises without functioning heating, water distribution or other essential utilities. In the harsh climate of Ysalon these cities were thusly rendered unhabitable, forcing civilian relocations on a massive scale until the extensive (and expensive) repairs could be completed. Despite the hardship the people of Ysalon were forced to endure (or perhaps because of it) they enthusiatically sided with the Republic and would go on, once their industrial capability was restored, to supply their allies with a lot of precious resources.
The companions did not sit idle during the fortnight that the Battle of Ysalon raged. After the assassinated diplomatic envoys had given proper navy funerals befitting to their status, all of the companions engaged themselves in the Battle of Ysalon, each in a way best suited to his or her particular talents.
Kharo not only got involved in the ferrying of supplies to the more distant cities, but also in inventory management and redistribution of essential supplies among the various conflict zones. Using the newly unlocked and re-registered Loronar E-9 Explorer (the ship that had formerly had the designation “The Black Opal” in the records of the Bureau of Ships and Services) Kharo became a welcome sight in the strife-ridden and hard pressed remote areas among the valiant Ysalonian and Republic forces.
Lyza, with her prior exposure to the Council of Patriarchs, quite unexpectedly became the spokesperson for the Republic efforts on Ysalon. It was through her that all contact with the remaining loyalist Patriarchs were handled, and it was she who accepted the final capitulation of the traitorous renegade leaders once the separatists decided to cut their lossess and abandon their erstwhile allies. It was no surprise that after peace again settled on Ysalon, Lyza Silverfane, 3rd Duchess of Theed, was granted the prestigious Champion of Liberty -ribbon by the Senate as well as the Icestar, 2nd Order -medal by the re-assembled Ysalonian Council of Patriarchs.
Jason, born and bred for conflict, had no taste for sitting still and he soon tried to involve himself in the assaualt missions conducted by the Republic army. His intentions went somewhat awry when Rexx consulted with Master Kenobi on what to do to help Jason get more control over his emotions and impulses. The wise Obi-Wan Kenobi offered Jason the chance to join himself and the other Jedi in their missions, and to work closely with them in order for Jason to see for himself first hand what it was to live by the Jedi code. Ever patient, Master Kenobi did his best to instruct and steer the impulsive Jason away from the dangers of the Dark Side throughout all the missions they shared. Just what measure of this positive influence rubbed off on Jason was to be revealed later.
Commander Skywalker
With the demise of Master Wraff, Rexx was temporaliy assigned to Master Kenobi’s supervision. Together with Master Kenobi, his padawan Anakin Skywalker, and Jason, Rexx handled dangerous and crucial missions involving scouting, assaulting enemy positions and the like. While Obi-Wan took special care to keep Jason close by, Rexx was often paired with Anakin and sent on missions not only on the surface of Ysalon but beyond as well. One particularly challenging mission was conducted on the jungle moon the companions visited earlier, when Commander Skywalker, Rexx and a troop of Advanced Recon Commandoes were sent to investigate the rumors of a separatist plan to set off some kind of superweapon there. Republic command lost contact with this task force for 5 days, and when contact was again restored they learned that a separatist failsafe plan to derail to the entire moon into Ysalon in case of defeat had been foiled. Fighting beside Commander Skywalker taught Rexx a lot and he was often astonished at how developed Anakin’s skills were; not only was Anakin Rexx’s equal in lightsaber combat, he clearly surpassed Rexx in Force abilities. When the two padawans went their separate ways after the Battle of Ysalon they did so as good friends.
Not particularly keen to advertise his Force abilities, Malrek kept a relatively low profile through out the Battle of Ysalon. He frequently joined Kharo on the relief runs the chiss made with the Loronar E-9 as “every ship needs a mechanic”, as Malrek quite accurately pointed out. More hazardous, perhaps, were Malrek’s solo missions in the remote confict zones that he and Kharo occasionally visited. While Kharo would oversee the logistics of their brief stops, Malrek occasionally used the hours until lift-off to stalk the perimeter of the secured areas, hunting battledroids through the lens of his high-powered scope mounted on his sniper blaster rifle. With his skill at stealth Malrek came back uninjured every single time and wracked up a good number of droid-kills.
Given a chance to relax his guard Rwaar’ac seemed truly overcome by the passing of Colonel Kendra. He mourned her like family which was in fact what she was, it turned out, as Rwaar’ac explained the concept of the wookie life debt to the companions. Rwaar’ac’s grief soon turned to a steely resolve to steadfastily stand against tyranny, slavery and oppression, and armed with these convictions Rwaar’ac offered his help in many a skimrish on the surface of Ysalon.
Loose Ends
Dinpay Rinn
Life after the resolution of the Battle of Ysalon was not much fun for Dinpay Rinn. When the mob of Icefell City had finally been pushed over the brink, when they ran amok on the streets looking for persons to blame his name was clearly present among those called to justice. Wasn’t he the Patriarch’s major domo? Wasn’t it he who often spoke on behalf of the Patriarch in public events? With the retreat order of the separatists given Dinpay’s life fell to pieces. Abandoned by his patron and hunted by the mob, Dinpay fled to his secure little hideaway that he had financed with funds skimmed off the books from various civic projects. There he now sat, in his cramped underground bunker a hundred kilometers from Icefell City, surrounded by nothing but the frozen wastes, alone save for the company of a single valet droid…Life was surely not much fun for Dinpay Rinn.
Prelate Seladon Hakkarath
After the Battle of Ysalon had ended the people of that world faced monumental social upheaval. Half of the population had to be relocated, fed, and housed. Supplies were low and often strictly rationed. It was during these times of difficulty that a new breed of leaders arose to guide the people of Ysalon back towards prosperity. These leaders had been hardened in the battle that had raged. These leaders had sacrificed much for the common good, won victories, and suffered personal losses. The words of these leaders were listened to out of respect, not out of fear or complacancy. Seladon Hakkrath was one of this new breed of leaders. The zabrak prelate was respected by all as one of the few who had stood up when the chips were down. He had gone against the grain, questioned convention, and ultimately effected change upon the stagnant hierarchy of Ysalonian leadership. There was even talk that perhaps soon Ysalon would be ready for its first non-pau’an Patriarch. Perhaps…just perhaps…that Patriarch would be Seladon Hakkarath.
Crakas - shadowport crime lord
Nothing had changed in the shadowport throughout the conflict that raged between the Republic and the separatists. There was always a need for covert channels for supplies and never more so than in times of war. Crakas was now richer than ever, more influential than ever, and more connected than ever. Before the arrival of the Republic fleet Crakas had fearlessly played both sides of the fence. He had dealt and cooperated with the henchmen of the Patriarch of Icefell City, but at the same time he had used his underground connections to ensure that the Republic was well informed on the goings on of Ysalon. With the death of Trick Siss, that damnable hound of the Patriarch, no one knew of Crakas’ collaboration with the Ysalonian traitors and with the triumph of the Republic he was owed big time for the infomation, supplies, and manpower he had ferried in and out on behalf of them. Crakas laughed at the notion that war had no victors. He was surely one of them.
Commander Khun
Hospitality for the Klikton Rangers on Ysalon ended abruptly when hostilities ceased. They were paid as agreed, thanked, and them promptly shooed off onboard their frigate and ushered offworld with little ceremony. While some of the grunts of the unit complained about this poor and ungrateful treatment, it didn’t really matter to Zaratos Khun. That was what the life of a mercenary was all about. You did the job, got paid, and moved on…and with the advent of this galaxy-spanning pissing contest between the Republic and the ceceeding Confederacy of the Independent Systems, there was sure to be many lucrative places to move on to.
The Patriarch of Icefell City
From a hangar in Icefell City, known about by only a handful of people in the highest social echelon, a single shuttle launched just minutes before the last retreating separatist craft had lifted off the ground. This sleek and elegant hyperspace-capable, droid-piloted, vessel carried just one passanger. This passanger was the architect of the disintegration of Ysalonian society. With boundless ambition he had made a play for autocracy of his world. Through subterfuge, coersion, and acts of covert violence and terror he had tried to set up all the pieces to his liking…only to have them toppled over by players he had never even factored into his plans. Now he was exiled from his homeworld and set adrift in the galaxy at large. He had lost it all and these insignificant interlopers would, in the fullness of time, pay with interest for this singular disaster that had been inflicted upon him. So swore the Patriarch of Icefell City.
- Well this is another fine mess you have gotten us into, Obi-Wan shot towards Anakin only half-jokingly.
Unconvinced Anakin shook his head.
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