There are few sights so utterly majestic in this universe than that of the wealth and proportions of the ships involved in a full-scale planetary blockade....

Unless it would be the sight of those potentially ravening monsters bowing in obescience before one. Such was the sight on my forward viewscreen as Ransacker popped at long last into Coruscant space and homed in a direct line on that shining world. I allowed a small smile to grace my lips behind my helmet as both star destroyer and SSD, not to mention the vast number of lesser transports and cruisers and fighters, all backed off an infinitesimal amount to allow my ship entry into the glittering atmosphere of the planet. The underlaying web of laced tractor beams in direct line of my trajectory flipped off for the brief time it took me to pass by the ships from which they originated; they sewed space up in my wake scarcely had I gotten further into the depths of the atmosphere.

My comm crackled in affirmation of my presence.

"Welcome back, Lt. General Tarnus," a metallic voice greeted me. "You have a landing vector cleared for you; please follow...." A string of numbers came politely into my ears; they had already been automatically uploaded into my navigational computer.

I reached out a gloved hand, flipped a toggle.

"Thank you, sentry," I replied to give them voice confirmation that it was indeed I who they had just let slip past their momentarily muzzled dogs of war. Another superfluous motion; I had already been thoroughly scanned the moment I had come out of hyperdrive.

I held my breath, counting to myself. Then it came....

"Sir, we're detecting another life form aboard your vessel. This was not according to your departure signatures, nor have you contacted us regarding you bearing another party. You may wish to engage an interior scan, Sir; we shall deploy fighters to follow you to the surface and--"

My lip curled in a somewhat humorless grin. "Belay that order, sentry," I commanded in return. "All is secure aboard this ship. You need not deploy the fighters; I repeat, you need not deploy the fighters. All units are to continue their normal duties in the blockade of Coruscant."

I sat back with that, then turned my attention to piloting my ship manually back to my private landing pad in Imperial Headquarters. A fly-by assured it was still mine and mine alone: bare of so much as a tin can, it floated there ready to receive the hot kiss provided by the landing jets of Ransacker as we gracefully swooped in and came to a feather-light halt upon its duracrete surface.

Inside the ship, everything degraded to the clicks and pings and other small noises a ship mutters to itself upon closing up shop for the duration. I got to my feet, taking Darra up in my arms as I did so.

"Come on, darlin'," I crooned to her, allowing myself this one small opportunity where my defenses might be dropped and I could treat her as I really desired to. "Let Daddy show you your new home."

With that I departed my cooling and venting ship, my boots ringing as I proceeded down the landing plank and onto the tarmac without and headed toward one end of the pad. There I keyed a sequence of numbers into my gauntlet; I was soon rewarded with the sight of an approaching private transport. It came to a hover over the tarmac beside me, its hatch sliding smoothly open. The droid-pilot turned its gleaming head to me in greeting.

"Good to see you again, Sir," it welcomed me as I stepped inside and settled down with Darra in my lap. She cooed and burbled, reaching out her tiny arms to the shiny entity controlling the vehicle, obviously entranced.

I leaned back with a sigh as the hatch slid closed and the transport shot away from the landing pad.

"Home, James," I murmured, closing my eyes for a moment's respite. Around me was only the soothing sounds of the humming vehicle and my garbling daughter.

Khaandon alone knew when I would find myself in such a peaceful moment again, and I wanted to savor every single moment of it.

[ 04-14-2003 01:43 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

--------------------

Jasyn Lancaster scowled blackly through the viewport of the borrowed Lambda-class shuttle the Raptor, really wishing he could have a good keg of Whyrene's Reserve. He folded his arms then against his chest, scowling even more darkly; beside him Malf sat very cramped, probably eating something. Jasyn didn't know; he wasn't paying attention to anything except the distant scene of the blockade ahead...

...and the fact that Shayla Stargazer had apparently not arrived yet. Logically this could be due to the distance she was having to travel, but Jasyn couldn't help but be suspicious...

...especially after the brief and succint little warning he’d received from Aaron.

“Where the kriffing Hell is she?!” he growled at last, not shifting his eyes from the viewport but merely continuing to glare outside into space. He didn’t much like being this close to Coruscant anyway, and he couldn’t help but think what a convenient way this would be for Ms. Stargazer Kartan to get rid of him...

...just like the Sith had conveniently gotten rid of Terrin... some little shoulder-devil taunted in his ear.

Still scowling, Jasyn continued to wait, all the while trying to shove that particular little taunt as far away in his mind as he possibly could. After all, the Sith were the only ones who he could call upon to bring his Boss and friend back...

[ 02-15-2003 11:39 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

--------------------

JhinDarra's little cooing burbles bubbled from somewhere behind me, accompanied by a soft sort of swsshing sound. She had just begun crawling, and was simply into everything her chubby hands and knees could take her to. I had decided to sit out one day's overseeing of Imperial matters, trusting to the competence of those officers under my direction, and take Darra out on a jaunt through Imperial City, maybe to the XenoZoo, but now this had suddenly arisen.

I sighed again, refocussing on the rather dramatic gestures this young ensign was directing toward me. How in the name of all the Universe did he get a position in Command HQ? the thought brushed through my mind as I watched yet another unprofessional wave of a hand reveal the excitement running through his blood.

"Sir!" he was saying for the umpteenth time. "Extreme long-range sensors indicate the presence of... of something we can't quite bring into complete resolution, but it's coming into Coruscant space! And we haven't been able to raise the ships you sent to Tatooine, either; we had that one transmission and then all hell seemed to break loose...."

He stumbled to a halt with that, as though finally realizing that he had indeed repeated himself yet again, and that no further arm-waving or histrionics were necessary to gain my attention. Let alone keep it.

I folded my hands on the tabletop and directed the enigmatic visors of my helmet into his eyes.

"Send a battalion to Tatooine... and mop up anything that flies in space within three parsecs of that hellhole. Then send a detachment down to find out what the hell is going on out there; I don't know who it was who wreaked such havoc on that miserable dustball, but I mean to find out.

"Have someone poke around and see if he can determine the whereabouts of one Paul Arakeen, who is on Imperial business in Mos Eisely." The fact that the ex-jedi had fallen out of communication didn't set well with me either. "And keep an eye on that sensor-ghost, and let me know the minute anything further is revealed."

I nodded a dismissal, then flicked off the vidscreen. A delighted burst of laughter erupted from behind me: I turned to see Darra rearing back onto her fat little behind, her eyes widening in wonder at a boxi-ball I had picked up for her in the local marketplace. With each touch of her hand it changed size and color, morphing in and out from its center via a cunning arrangement of triangular-shaped pieces of which it was made. Those pieces responded to body heat, and normally just lightened or darkened accordingly when touched.
It was almost frighteningly eerie the way Darra could make those pieces flare out in the precise spectrum of a rainbow.

I shook my head, watching her play. Looks like there's no zoo for you today, darlin', I thought a bit ruefully.

Then I swivelled back to the now blank screen and proceeded to just sit there, lost in thought.

((OOC: The post following this has been deleted by it's author. However, it had been saved, and is here in it's entirety:
FROM LOBAN:

posted 02-16-2003 11:35 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
((OOC: From 'The Curse of the Uninvited' in CSWU, thank you...))

Lo-Ban sat...

Not sure what he was feeling, but he did know how he was making the others feel...

He rose,"I will take my leave from you, as soon as it is permissible..." Lo-Ban said, nothing but dry logic in his tone...

He then took himself from the two lovebirds...

Although was unable to feel anger, or hate...

He could still feel hurt...

[ 04-14-2003 10:55 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

--------------------

She then paused, forcing herself to calm. "If it is your wish to depart, then so be it. But be aware that the evil planted within you was possibly done so purposefully, so that you could used as a pawn to distract and destroy us. Though the evil has been taken from you, and has been likewise removed from the innocent child that it was transferred to...

...that alone does not remove you from being used as a pawn once more. I'm not sure what game your Master Tyberius is playing...

...and I am suspicious that he may have some link with Lord Aelvedaar due to the timing of certain events...

...but the moment you leave here you are at the risk of capture, and very much at the risk of being used as a pawn once more regardless..."

FROM LOBAN:

posted 02-17-2003 12:39 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If there was any trace of hate or anger left in Lo-Ban, this was the greatest enticement to bring them to the surface...
nothing...

This scared Lo-Ban, because he knew something was missing...

It took him some time to collect his thoughts...

Lo-Ban's mouth was now ajar, attempting to put together syllables that would assemble words...

"Eeee... I..." He stopped, as a throbbing affliction hit his temples like that of a thousand hammers dropped upon his head... one after the other...

He fell to his knees, veins bulging up his neck as his face turned beet red...

The aggravation was so great, he now stopped breathing all together...

Tried, as he did, he could not feel any anger toward Shayla's outburst of this emotion...

In fact, the effect was quite the opposite...

However upset the old Lo-Ban would have become, the anger-free Lo-Ban now embraced... love...

Without a moment's delay, Lo-Ban took himself from his crouched position... taking Shayla in his grasp, he laid a long passionate kiss deep upon her lips...

As if he were kissing her very soul, and perhaps he indeed was...

[ 04-14-2003 10:57 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

--------------------

"You damn well better take your leave of us as soon as possible!" growled then. "But in the meantime, keep your distance..."

FROM LOBAN:

posted 02-17-2003 01:09 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lo-Ban now felt pain in only one temple...
And, that was due to the impact on the bulkhead... a single thread of blood ran down the side of his face to prove it...

He shook his head, knocking the cobwebs out...

"..thank you..." he muttered under his breath, as he charged Erik... landing a clean blow between his fist and Erik's gut...

Lo-Ban drew back for another blow, this one connecting with Erik's left temple... which was in perfect view considering Erik's crumpled position.... Lo-Ban sized up the swing, taking a look back at his closed fist he smiled in complete satisfaction...

He had back whatever it was he was missing...

The closeness between he and Shayla was all he needed to take upon her rather strong emotions...

It was now Erik banged up against the bulkhead, Lo-Ban waiting for what would transpire next...

He had his nerve back...

[ 04-14-2003 10:59 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

--------------------

Injuries Loban had caused...

Things seemed to be spiraling into a certain sort of de ja vu, and this greatly disturbed Shayla. For the last time Loban had attacked, he had been virtually unstoppable. And though all traces of that evil planted inside him were taken, here he was, acting out in anger once more. Shayla had had enough, but she also clearly recalled that Loban had appeared to be feeding off her and Erik’s defenses the last time this had happened...

Shayla stretched out via a Force-link with her husband, who clearly intended to land another punch. Don’t, she warned.

Still quasi-doubled over, Erik shot a concerned and questioning look in her direction, but complied. Shayla then turned a pair of very hurt eyes in Loban’s direction, memories again taking hold. Shayla couldn’t help be feel threatened by Loban Kenobi, couldn’t help but be concerned about those surrounding her if he continued to spiral further downward.

For someone who professed to love her, he sure didn’t care one whit about how much he hurt her.

Her pain-filled blue-green eyes shifted to that electric blue pair of Loban’s. ”Stop,” she said quietly yet very firmly. ”If this is truly you, Loban, I don’t even know who you are anymore...”

FROM LOBAN

posted 02-17-2003 02:55 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noticing Erik's backlash tuning down, Lo-Ban himself came under control...
But, he would not stay here...

He'd already gotten everything he would ever need from these two...

Tuning Shayla out, he exited the cockpit... giving them their space...

They had run out of their usefulness...

[ 04-14-2003 11:00 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

--------------------

"Sir!" he exclaimed excitedly. "We've managed to tighten the band-width... that sensor ghost out on the edge of our system is a lambda-class shuttle... and Sir--!"

He paused, visibly taking a breath as though the very end of the universe rode upon the next words he was going to say.

"Sir! There's another ship that's joined it... only it's not like anything we've ever encountered before. It's putting out weird signatures; they're off the scale, Sir, and it's just sitting there...."

I had been simply staring into this ensign's features with a modicum of irritation, sighing as he went on about the ghost he was monitoring veritably to death. But that final information he delivered....

That captured my attention. Every lick of it.

A brief chill raced through my body as his words about the off-scale signature readings arrowed into my ears. There weren't any ships in the known universe with signatures like that other than....

My thoughts flashed back to a day so very, very long ago. Lifetimes ago, in fact.

I cut my eyes to where Darra was burbling happily on the floor, playing innocently with her boxi-ball.

I leaned forward, pinning the ensign's eyes with my visor.

"Keep an eye on the situation, Ensign, and I do mean watch it like a hawk! I'm holding you personally responsible for all information regarding that so-called ghost, and the strange ship as well. You let me know the minute either one so much as burps!"

The ensign's chest puffed visibly, and his eyes glittered in pride. "Yes, Sir!" he replied smartly, then closed the connection.

I sat a moment, my gauntleted hand poised over my personal console. Then I got to my feet, ripping off my helmet and gloves in one savage motion. In but a few strides I was over my daughter; she turned her wideset blue eyes up to me, swaying there on her bottom on the floor, a little bit of spit drooling from her pouty little lips.

I bent down and swooped her into my arms, cradling her to my armored chest, my cheek laid against the soft fluff of her bright hair.

"No one's gonna come get you, darlin'," I promised her, moving my head slightly to kiss her head. "Daddy's gonna keep you safe, that's a promise you can take as sure as there's Treasure on Roon!"

With that I hurried into the den I had converted into a nursery, and dressed Darra in her little coat and hat. Then replacing my helmet and gloves on my person, I left my apartment, and took my daughter out into the world of Coruscant.

I was heading for Imperial HQ, and Darra was coming with me. Rules and regulations be damned.

--------------------

He shifted his gaze from that of the warship in the viewport to Malf, who was sitting busily eating something. Jasyn hoped that something wasn’t anything important that he might need later...

He jerked his broody browns back to the viewport.

This was for Terrin and Galen and Darra... he reminded himself.

Biting his lip for but a moment, he then reached out and slammed a hand on the comm unit aboard the Raptor, opening a secured frequency to the warship. He was hesitant to even identify himself.

Kriffing hell, he thought irritably, WHY did you agree to meet THIS CLOSE to Coruscant?

The answer came in a flash. Because you’re a distrusting nerfherder, like everyone else who works for EE.

He decided Shayla Kartan could figure out who he was for herself. ”Well?” was the only word he shot across the frequency. Then he fell silent and waited for a reply...

...rather impatiently.

--------------------

She promptly switch her frequency to something more public, something that the blockade of Imperial ships could most certainly pick up. “This is Shayla Stargazer Kartan,” she said calmly, no trace of emotion in her words. “I’d like to request a meeting with Sorben Tarnus concerning his daughter...

...and the Sith.”

She paused then and simply waited, hoping that her words would be enough to attract someone’s attention, and indeed enough to warrant the immediate attention of Tarnus himself...

[ 02-17-2003 10:52 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

--------------------

Just crisp enough to redden one's nose and to get one's blood singing....

All thought of such was promptly dismissed as I entered the command center. Everyone seemed to be operating under a peculiar state of controlled anxiety, everyone that is except Ensign Excitable, who was jittering in his seat, muttering as he assailed the console before him with a finger that kept a particular control under constant attack. I grunted a bit, and handed Darra to an aide who appeared like magic beside me. He took her somewhere in the recesses of this hive of activity, and I walked up to the fidgeting young man.

"I'm here," I stated brusquely, reaching a gloved hand over his shoulder and closing the communication he was trying to open with me. I looked at my gauntlet with a guilty start; I had closed off the receiver as I had travelled here with Darra, wanting just one more slight bit of peaceful time with her without any transmissions or cries for help or questions or dire announcements to break that peace. Khaandon knew we probably weren't going to have peace for some time, judging from the look on the ensign's face as he swiveled his chair round, eyes wide, then leapt to his feet.

"Sir!" he cried, saluting and coming to stiff attention. A lieutenant lingering over yet another ensign's progress turned his rolling eyes toward me, then puffed himself up and approached me as well.

"Sir, we've been receiving a transmission from an unknown ship," he said smoothly, interrupting before the ensign could report to me himself. "It--"

I cut him off with a swift rise of my fist, one finger pointed to the ceiling. "I believe that is this soldier's duty, Lieutenant," I interjected, giving him a brief glance then turning back to the young man. The lieutenant tilted his head, then returned to his place. I leaned a little bit forward.

"Replay that transmission now, if you will, Ensign," I ordered. He saluted, whirled, and promptly complied.

It took every bit of self-control I possessed to remain as though completely unaffected by the words which now came into my ears. But I had not been the Top Gun Hunter of the Tavlorean Guild for nothing; the roiling feelings and memories which blasted into my gut as Shayla Stargazer's voice broke our suddenly expectant silence remained hidden away, locked firmly away from expression by rigidly held muscular control which kept me still as a statue.

Perhaps too still. With a start, I realized the ensign was speaking.

"Shall I reply to her, Sir?" he questioned, his eyes bright and eager. "She sounds a little worried; shall I let her know Darra is safe here, Sir?" A flicker of a smile came along with that last query; everyone in CHQ knew Darra, and had been won over completely by her innocent charm.

"Negative, Ensign," I finally replied, now standing upright in thought.

She's fishing, was the first thing which flashed through my mind. She and her Sith pals haven't a clue as to where Darra is, and its obvious they want her back. They've been after her so long... they must have finally realized she's alive, and have sent this one out on the hunt for her. Only--

Only why wasn't she using this weird power the Sith seemed to possess? Could it be she herself didn't have that power, and those who possessed it weren't with her... or perhaps it wasn't quite as powerful as they deemed it was.

Probably all the above, I concluded with a slight nod. They sure as hell seemed able to pop in and out of places at the drop of a pin, but finding people in particular....

"Transmit the following, Ensign," I said suddenly, now crossing my arms. The young officer nodded with a quietly uttered, "Sir!" and turned to open a line.

"'We are aware of the situation, and have everything under control to our satisfaction. Any information as to the whereabouts of Lt. General Tarnus's daughter is to be transmitted immediately, along with what other information in possession pertinent to said child and situation.

"The Empire thanks you for your assistance. Please send reply signatures in the event that further contact with you is necessary.

"That is all. Imperial Command Center, out.'

"Then close the connection, ensign." I reared back a little, my eyes narrowing behind my visor.

"Let's just see what fish come swimming in our pond now."

FROM ENSIGN EDGAR

posted 02-18-2003 04:24 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ensign's duty was to stay at his post, and await whatever reply was soon to come from this Shayla Stargazer Kartan...
Edgar new his duties well, although, this did not prevent his mind from wandering...

He was up for promotion this next coming quarter, and he couldn't help but think how the great Sorben Tarnus could help him achieve such...

But, this matter would have to wait, as the eccentric Ensign sat in anticipation...

Beaming with pride, as Sorben stood near by...

They don't call him "Eager" Edgar for nothing...

[ 04-14-2003 11:03 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

--------------------

Something’s not quite right here...

Still, Shayla figured she’d be open and honest, since that was her intention all along. “Lt. General Tarnus’s daughter is being held on Kamino. It is urgent that she is taken from there and returned to her mother...

...but convincing Kaminoan authorities to release her is going to take some authority that I don’t have,” Shayla said honestly, "And I knew that the Lt. General would want to know about this and take action."

With that and the transmission of her reply signature, Shayla then fell silent, wondering what the Empire...

...and Sorben Tarnus...

...might reply now.

FROM ENSIGN EDGAR:

posted 02-19-2003 12:46 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The young junior officer's day dream was interrupted by another communica from the stubborn woman....

He knew the Lt. General would be hovering near by... Edgar jumped up from his station... his arms cupped and at his sides, chest pronounced, his head facing forward... he called for his superior with the proverbial Sir!

[ 04-14-2003 11:05 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

--------------------

Though I was bridling at the implications in that statement, once again I managed to hide any hint of emotion from my demeanor. I just glowered daggers at the vid-screen, which was showing a distant greeny-golden speck somehow difficult to look upon....

Then I became aware of the eager ensign standing at attention yet again, fairly radiating spit-polish shine from every pore. My initial fury lightened a bit, and I nodded to him, my visor aimed straight into his earnest brown eyes.

"Repeat our thanks for the information, and let Ms. Stargazer-Kartan know that it is most appreciated. The Empire will be in contact with her if further information is necessary. Yadda, yadda, yadda.... Empire out."

I nodded then, turning to the aide who whispered to my side, holding my daughter out to me. I took her into the protective shelter of my arms, murmuring little utterances under my breath before turning back to the screen.

Turn my child over to her mother indeed....

FROM ENSIGN EDGAR:

posted 02-19-2003 01:13 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sir!"
Edgar saluted, about faced, took his seat once again and sent the transmission exactly as Sorben had instructed him to...

Aside from the yadda, yadda, yadda...

This woman better not ruin the General's gracious mood...

[ 04-14-2003 11:06 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

--------------------

"Looks like they'll take care of it..." he said quietly, shrugging.

Shayla nodded a bit half-heartedly, her look still distant.

"What's the matter?" Erik questioned.

She pursed her lips. "I don't know, I've just got a funny feeling about this, like they aren't telling us everything."

"But they clearly aren't interested in our help," Erik pointed out.

Again, Shayla nodded a bit distantly. "Well, there's only one thing we can do to make sure this is taken care of," she said.

Erik cocked a brow as if to ask exactly what.

"We'll have to try to get to Kamino ourselves, and try to be diplomatic...and very convincing...

...but first we have a date to keep on Chandrilla."

As Shayla turned to key in some things on the navboard then, Erik directed one final question at her.

"So, what if we get to Kamino and Darra has already been taken? How do we know that the right people have come for her, and that she's been returned to her mother at all?"

"Then we'll take it from there," Shayla said frankly. Then she turned to the navboard once more, and keyed in the frequency for the Raptor to fill in Jasyn Lancaster on all that had progressed...

[ 02-22-2003 12:27 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

--------------------

"Sir!" the science officer whirled at his station, his eyes wide. "I'm picking up lifesigns, sir... a-- a great many lifesigns; in fact, Sir--"

The young lieutenant paused, his eyes wide in surprise. Then he pulled the tiny receiver from his ear, played a tune on his console, read a screen.

"Both planets are fully colonized, er-- that is, I'm reading maybe populations in the numbers of tens of billions. Sir."

He fell silent, staring at his Commander.

Populated?! Captain Landarian's proverbial jaw dropped at this unexpected announcement, but he didn't let a lick of his surprise show on his features. He simply nodded.

"Very good, Lieutenant," he said smoothly. Then he turned to his communications officer. "Send data to Coruscant, and inform Lt. General Tarnus of the situation...."

[ 02-27-2003 12:19 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The Empire ]

--------------------

Populated? Oh Great Khaandon's Ghost, they did it, they really did it....

Behind the black lenses of my helmet, my icy blues cut to where Darra was crawling about on her hands and knees, poking with interest into whatever small nook or cranny she could find at her level in the somewhat sterile surroundings of my ready room. I pursed my lips in thought; then realized the officer was awaiting a reply.

I drew in a breath.

Here we go....

"Maintain station-keeping until I can get a backup freed to assist you," I ordered. "Remain on battle alert; the situation may be deceivingly quiet, but your circumstances are in level red danger."

I paused, frowning, then let that frown carry over into my demeanor as I creaked forward on my elbows, my hands clasped on the desk in front of me. "Secure link to Captain Landarian," I snapped, waited a few moments, then let out a sigh when his rugged features filled my screen. I interrupted his formalities with a lift of my finger.

"Captain, I cannot stress enough the danger of your current situation... nor can I stress the need that absolute top secret silence is maintained. Not one whisper of your discovery must be let loose from your ships, Captain; I tell you this just short of ordering your entire fleet destroyed to assure that silence."

Landarian's eyes widened fractionally, then he nodded in affirmation. I nodded in return.

"Good," I said. "Then we do understand each other. Maintain watch until backup arrives, and under no circumstances do anything to reveal your presence there. It is of strictest importance that your situation be strictly contained as is for as long as possible.

"Keep me informed. Tarnus out."

I sat back with a puff of exhaled breath, my mind whirling. Then my eyes widened as it whirled back to the words spoken by Ms Stargazer-Kartan.

Something about the Sith....

I exploded from my seat, swept Darra into my arms, and returned to Central Command.

"Ensign!" I barked as I entered the room, ignoring the aide who materialized to once again take Darra from me. "Contact Ms. Stargazer-Kartan; it would appear there is something of which we have need to discuss further.

"Battle Co-ordinator!"

A grizzled colonel whirled at his station, then leapt to his feet. I waved away his salute. "Find as many loose ships and patrolling fleets as you can. Direct them... here." I strode to the sector map, pointing to a position on the edge of the Mid Rim midway between Kati'Shyk and Kyrik.

"Their orders are to assemble there and maintain red alert until further notice. I shall be in my ready room in the event there are any returning transmissions. That is all."

I then fell silent, cradling Darra to me, and watched as the CC burst into a hive of activity once again. Then I returned to my ready room to await the transmission I knew would be coming, sure as there's Treasure on Roon....

FROM ENSIGN EDGAR;

posted 02-22-2003 07:17 PM
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Edgar was mid way through his first security meeting as General of the Imperial Armies, when out of no where someone with authority nearly scared the bajesus out of him...
Fear is not an acceptible trait for future Generals, Edgar shook it off and came to the position of attention...

Sorben exited Central Command as bluntly as he had entered...

Edgar quickly gathered himself, and took his post...

He relayed Shayla's reply signature into his board...

"Ms. Stargazer-Kartan, further information pertaining to General Tarnus's daughter is necessary... the Empire appreciates any and all assistance, Imperial Command Center awaiting transmission..."

Edgar played it by the book, but somehow he knew he'd have to go the extra mile to keep the attention of the Lt. General...

[ 04-14-2003 11:08 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

--------------------

What the...?

Was that guy transmitting for Tarnus a bit...edgy, or was that her imagination...?

Still, Shayla saw absolutely no reason to not reply. After all, what use would ignoring the comm serve but to further raise any suspicions?

"This is Shayla Stargazer-Kartan," she replied then across a secured frequency, "How may I help you?"

Then she fell silent for but a moment and began to wait, only briefly breaking that waiting silence when she at last decided to open one more secured frequency and inform Jasyn Lancaster of everything that had transpired thusfar...

--------------------

And now they knew exactly where she was...

...and suddenly were demanding MORE INFORMATION?

Kriffing hell, this was just ALL WRONG...

Jasyn slammed a finger down on the reply button, opening a secured frequency. "We've gotta get to Kamino, now," he said.

Shayla replied in the negative, muttering something about diplomacy and the appearances of running...

...Jasyn didn't really hear her.

"And what about Terrin?" he asked instead suddenly, drawing shocked silence from Ms. Kartan.

"Mr. Lancaster..." she then hesitated, "There's...nothing I can do for him right now, not with things with the Sith in such question."

The words fell dead in the cabin. Jasyn's browns simply defocused, and something in them simply faded into total hopelessness. Moments passed into awkward dead-silence. If any other words wafted through the comm unit, Jasyn didn't even hear them.

At length, however, he finally gulped, punching the reply button once more. "Well," he said a bit distantly, his own voice sounding hollow to even himself, "Thanks for nothing, Ms. Kartan...

...I'll take it from here."

If Shayla replied, the reply fell on deaf ears and an even deafer comm frequency, one which Jasyn snapped closed with the punch of his right hand. In another moment, he plotted a rather familiar hyperspace vector and sat in the pilot's seat, shooting an apologetic...

...yet somewhat vague...

...look in Malf's direction. "Hang in there buddy, I never was much of a pilot, unfortunately," he quipped half-heartedly.

Then he fell into silence once more, staring out towards the Sith warship which loomed like a curse out there in the space before him. He jerked his eyes from the scene, and pulled the hyperspace lever...

...and the sky before them exploded into the starlines of hyperspace...

(((OCC: Follow Jasyn and Malf to Thusfar the Miles are Measured in the CSWU, thank you.)))

[ 02-23-2003 11:14 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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"Relay to Ms. Stargazer Kartan that the Empire... requests personal audience with her. Send a shuttle to pick her up, and transport her to the Destroyer, Catalytic, which is in orbit about Coruscant. She shall be expected there; notify them of this asap, Ensign."

I flicked the channel closed, then took Darra once again and headed out of my ready room. As expected, I was met by my faithful aide; I handed Darra over with a small sigh.

"Take good care of her in my absence," I stated flatly, giving Darra's tiny nose a gentle tweak with my gloved finger. "I won't be gone long."

With that I turned on my heel and headed for the transports, to be taken to the personal landing pad where I had left Ransacker.

Moments afterward, I received my clearance vector, and was soon en route on the short hop to where Catalytic loomed...

...and where I hoped to find some answers to some questions that were beginning to stew about in my head.

FROM ENSIGN EDGAR

posted 02-22-2003 11:34 PM
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"Ms. Stargazer-Kartan, the Empire requests personal audience with you aboard the Destroyer, Catalytic, which is in orbit about Coruscant.... A transport will rendezvous with you at these coordinates... you are expected, do not disappoint... Imperial Command Center out..."

Edgar closed the connection, hoping this would be the last of this problematic woman... and, perhaps then he could approach the Lt. General with a much more important matter, that being the greatest word in the English language:

Promotion...

[ 04-14-2003 11:11 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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Erik shifted a concerned gaze to the viewport, where only moments before the Raptor had blasted off into hyperspace. "You sure about this?" he queried then, clearly concerned regardless of her reassurance.

"It'll be allright," Shayla promised, leaning over and kissing him softly. "I'll be back."

Then she turned on her heel and headed for the cargo bay of the warship, wanting to be ready and waiting when the transport ship arrived to take her to the star destroyer. After all, this ship wasn't open as a tourist attraction...

[ 02-22-2003 11:45 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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We exchanged pleasantries, then at my request he showed me to his private ready room. I nodded at the roominess of it; no need for Ms. Kartan to feel trapped during her visit. I only had to make a few requests, which the Commander saw were immediately carried out, and with alacrity. Indeed, I had no sooner entered the ready room and had seated myself there when a group of aides marched in, laden with drinks and other refreshments. These they placed upon the shining greelwood table, then backed off to become invisible against the wall.

I gave them a look they felt as well as saw, even through the enigmatic lenses of my visor. Saluting in reply, they departed, leaving me alone with the bounty they had brought.

I didn't have to wait long.

I had just helped myself to some Kashyykk greenleaf tea, when the door whooshed open like a breath of a sigh. Framed in the doorway was the slight figure of Ms. Stargazer-Kartan. She seemed to hesitate; I arose, and waved a gallant hand.

"If you would be so kind as to join me, Ms. Kartan," I said graciously, then moving to seat her as a true gentleman would. Scooting her chair up, I returned to my own seat, and picked up the pot from which I had poured my cup.

"Tea, Ms. Kartan?" I asked, falling silent then to let her assess the situation before she replied.

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Wonder if whomever replied to my original comm message waited til AFTER the fact to tell Mr. Tarnus of about it...?

...or was there something else?

Shayla was no idiot. She wasn't going to randomly pass along information til she knew exactly what information was truly being sought. "What is it you need to know?" she asked completely openly, directing her greeny-blues towards him once more.

[ 02-23-2003 12:42 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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And quite possibly for all of us. That dark thought followed on the heels of the former, completely unbidden but acting in representation of the growing concern I was probably blasting from every pore, Mandalorian armor or no.

Remember, she's a jedi... and one who hangs out with....

I stopped abruptly with that, and finished pouring her tea. Then I moved to my seat, set the pot carefully upon the table, and grasped my chair by its back. I remained standing, leaning ominously over it, staring her right in her eyes.

"Let's refrain from further amenities, Ms. Kartan," I began brusquely. "I'll get directly down to why I have sent for you."

I paused, considering how I wanted to place the words I wanted to speak. Such things had to be undertaken... delicately.

"That's quite a ship you're going about in, Ms. Kartan," I began in apparent non sequiteur. "I see you are still associating with certain individuals we both have been acquainted with, in one manner or another, certain individuals living on certain worlds...

"Certain worlds now seeming to be supporting a thriving population...."

I trailed off, my brows lowering behind my visor, keeping those lenses pinned to her eyes. For a long moment I just stood there, oozing Empire and Imperial intent from every pore.

Then I sighed and took my seat. I clasped my hands on the tabletop, leaning forward, completely earnest now.

"I am aware that the Sith have returned, Ms. Kartan," I said in a low voice. "And we both know I am aware of your association with them.

"I need to know what the galaxy is up against, Ms. Kartan. Do they all command that strange power wielded by the certain few known to the both of us? What are their intentions? Do they plan to live peaceably in the time into which they have come forward, or do they have thoughts of conquest?

"Ms. Kartan." I paused, placing my drinking straw in my tea, and taking a carefully orchestrated sip. I put the cup down as if it were the most fragile thing in the universe.

"The Empire is powerful, more powerful than you might think. We need to know how to approach these newcomers... with open arms, or armed for warfare.

"Perhaps the steps we take may hinge on the words you reply, Ms. Kartan, so think carefully. And may I remind you of your inherent... humanity, before you answer."

I ground to a halt with that and leaned back in my chair. A tantalizing h'or d'eourve caught my eye; with determined ease I reached out and took it into my gloved hand. Then I stuck it up under my helmet, and waited to hear what she would have to say.

[ 02-23-2003 01:11 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Sorben Tarnus ]

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“No, not all the Sith have the power that Graysith and certain others possess,” she answered, allaying that concern immediately. Nevermind the fact that they could most certainly possess it in time, but at this moment they did not. Then, “As far as conquest, I don’t even think all of the Sith realize they’ve been brought forward in time yet. To them it’s just another day, four thousand years ago.

“The key lies in the Sith leadership,” she then said, pausing at that and perhaps for the first time hesitating, uncertain as to the words she would have to speak next. For although Graysith had spoken of deception she’d learned of, deception she had to have learned of from Roan, Shayla was far from ready to trust him either.

So then who? Was she ready to believe that, based on something she didn’t entirely understand, Roan was the “good guy” and Aelvedaar the “bad” one?

Shayla pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Things have seemingly changed from what they were when we were back in Prinn’chatka. There are certain things which may indicate that Lord Aelvedaar wishes to have the Sith to himself...

...but then I’m far from trusting Ankrist Roan on any account after all the things he’s done and after the way in which he tends to view those under himself.”

She paused at that and took another sip of her tea. She didn’t know if she’d answered the questions which had been presented to her or not...

...but she certainly knew she still didn’t even have the answers to those questions for herself.

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My tongue snaked idly back to a tooth in the back of my jaw, probing out a bit of the sweet I had just eaten, all the while my thoughts churned around what Ms. Kartan had so obligingly revealed. Personally, I didn't give a dewback's hind end as to who was running the show in what I was rapidly coming to think of as being the Sith worlds; all I found interest in was the apparent fact that there was indeed trouble in paradise.

There is no time better in which to strike, in which to take dominion over another, than when that other is ripped asunder by internal stress and tension.

But smack on the heels of that came the image of Khar Delba mysteriously... disappearing. I paused and reflected on that for awhile. Then, as Ms. Kartan was certainly willing to cooperate, I continued.

"Tell me of this-- this, whatever it is they have that can make entire planets disappear," I asked in a tone of voice just a shade beneath that of a command. "Who is it that implements such a feat, and how? What happens to the planet, the living things on it, when it's hidden beneath that dark shield. Does such an action destroy all life on the planet? What is that shield?"

Indeed, during my brief -- if intense -- soiree into affairs with the Sith through the connection of my ex-wife, I had seen that shield for myself. I had witnessed firsthand that weird power they seemed to hold; gads, but it almost had killed me. But I needed to take a step up from mysticism into reality if I was to gain true understanding of how to handle what could be seen as a threat to the Empire... if not to the galaxy as a whole.

"And tell me a bit more about the... leadership of the Sith. What politics you know of. In the interests of maintaining appropriate planetary relations, of course."

I reached out and took up a plate of sweets, holding it out to her with the same steadiness that my eyes continued to hold hers.

[ 02-23-2003 05:14 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Sorben Tarnus ]

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...and she wasn't quite comfortable with the fact things were all starting to sound political, if only vaguely.

After all, politics were deceptive and easily twisted.

Again she wondered if the information the bounty hunter was seeking was just a touch beyond what should be told...

...but then she considered that perhaps the answers to these questions could allay fears...

...or could the answers inadvertantly fuel the fire?

"The power they command to make entire planets disappear is the same which you daughter holds," she answered, once again bringing up a main concern of hers, if vaguely. Besides, this put things into terms that perhaps could be more understandable for the hunter. "The thing that makes a planet disappear is called a chronotic shield, and yes, it can affect the life on the planet if held for an extended amount of time. Few have the control to even do this; in fact Aelvedaar is the only one I know of who can do it relatively easily."

She paused then, pursing her lips to consider something. "It serves as a protective function, and keeps intruders away from the planet in a time of crisis."

Another pause and a bite of a sweet. Then, "As for the leadership of the Sith, it's governed by a triad including Lord Aelvedaar, leader of the Sorceror's clan; Lord Roan, leader of the Warrior's clan; and by one who is leader to a Weaponry clan. I believe they make decisions concerning the Sith as a unit, and I know that they gain their titles through their family lineage. That's about all I know," Shayla admitted.

"I must point out that thusfar the Sith have done absolutely nothing to harm any other members of the galaxy. As one who has associated with them, I have learned that they are no different than any other species or kind in this galaxy. For that reason I beg you to be wary of judging them based on any one particular individual or clan from their race...they are a people of many different varieties as we all are.”

Having said this she fell into silence, waiting to see what else the hunter might have to say or ask.

[ 02-23-2003 10:26 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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