Session export: GJW XVII - [Operation Wrathful]

Dark eyes rose to meet hers as the shuttle moved hurriedly towards the Fallen Spear. Electricity bounced between the two fiercely.

Rath Oligard The thought entered her mind as easily as if he had voiced it.

Her eyes lit with astonishment. She had thought him long dead by now. It had been so long that this mere man had evaded the Brotherhood that she was surprised the order had come in now. That they hadn’t taken care of this sooner. Ashia shook her head. At last, maybe they could end this. She still had that shipment to pick up. If it waited much longer someone was bound to come along and just…aquire it. Then she’d be in real hot water.

The shuttle jolted to a stop as it landed in the hangar bay of the Fallen Spear. Tasha’vel and Bentre followed them as they made their way to Dagger One Leena was already finishing up final preparations.

She smiled most graciously as they approached, and then she saw Bentre and Tasha’vel. The Twi’lek raised an eyebrow as the two boarded the ship and looked to Muz as if to say, ’You brought friends?’. He gave a slight nod and she just shrugged as she went back to checking things over on the ship.

Suddenly a large Lasat came running through the bay towards the ship. Ashia paused as he approached.

“I’m here!” He said a little out of breath. “Karabast, Bo! You could’a given me more warning.” He had a bag over his shoulder and across his body and was in the process of fastening his belt on with his Bryars.

He finished clasping the belt and settling the blasters on his hips when he looked up at Ashia to find her just staring at him blankly. He shrugged his shoulders and quietly said, “What?” as she turned to board. A frustrated groan escaped her lips. Sully followed her on board and settled in.

It was his first mission for the Brotherhood. Ashia loathed the idea of bringing him along but he might be needed. He could fly Dagger One if Leena was otherwise occupied and could provide a quick get away if nothing else. He was eager to do something, anything, to help. For too long he had watched as Ashia left for this mission or that and didn’t take him with. He was itching for some action.

He looked warily in Muz’s direction. The Grand Master still intimidated him. Obsidian eyes turned towards him ever so slightly. The low light that glinted in them gave an ethereal sheen that made Sully gulp. He raised his hand in a hailed salute, his lips a thin line across his face with a slight turn at one corner to indicate a slight smile. Muz’s eyebrow went up at this. Ashia elbowed Sully hard in the ribs. When he looked, she was rolling her eyes and smirking at him. The Lasat looked down at his hands and let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

Tasha’vel was quiet, she had already summoned Vance to arrive. If this was to be a hard operation and they needed one of the best strike teams, then having Vance to take care of some of the riffraff while she worked to clear a way would be beneficial to success in capturing Rath. Plus as she looked up at the silent former GM, she could tell this was very important to him. For the Council to summon him was a very big deal.

Already she had what she needed minus her sniper, but he would be there very shortly. “Never be unprepared.” was always her motto. She looked at Muz, using her telepathy she had learned a long time ago when she first had spoken to him.

“I have one more coming to assist in clearing a path to Rath Oligard. He will be arriving about now.”

The Lion of Tarthos’s eyes turned to her as his head tilted just slightly in a nod as she could hear him in her head.

Good.

She grinned, he always was a man of few words. Shortly as the Lasat had arrived, so did Vance.

“Made it faster than a nexu hunting a womp rat, Lady Versea. So what are we doing exactly?”

He asked as he came aboard and set himself down into one of the seats, buckling himself in.

“We are heading into the fray and clearing a path, that is our mission Vance. You are to shoot, kill and not to ask questions, got it?”

Vance nodded shifting a bit in his seat as he examined his slugthrower pistol.

“Shoot first and drop ‘em, crystal clear.”

The Corellian looked between Vance and Tasha’Vel, then between Sully and Ashia, and he blinked in confusion. “Wait, so this isn’t just-” he turned a finger between the four Sadowans, “the four of us?” He tapped a finger to his chin.

“I mean, I can think of one guy we can add, as a bit of extra muscle. I mean, as long as nobody is like, I don’t know, allergic to Selonians or something.” He smirked, amused by his own bad joke. Tasha’Vel looked at him, her emerald eyes narrowing before she shook her head.

You know you love it. She stiffened visibly at his voice in her head, but quickly subdued the reaction, arching an eyebrow.

You’re an ass. She shook her head. If you have an asset though, bring them.

He smiled wryly. “Seriously though, the one extra body I can think of that might prove useful, while not being too costly. This guy is good as boots on the ground, able to shake things up with explosives, not that bad if we stick him with some slicing equipment in a pinch. He’s been helping me with some side projects in my free time. Good people.” He stretched, pulling out his commlink.

“Hey Ko,” he adopted a falsely cheerful tone, “I know that you have probably missed me. More than that, I know that you are always looking for excuses to make enough piles of credits to keep that wee frigate of yours flying. So, are you free, right now?” He listened for a moment, nodding to himself. “Sounds good. Hold that position” He scratched the side of his head. “If we can pop by a ship in orbit of Inos, to pick up one more asset, I got a guy.”

If he was honest, Bentre knew that some of his skills were better utilized outside of the battlefield. If he was going to be otherwise occupied, he wanted to be sure to take along someone else who could back up his wife and comrade, someone he knew he could trust. He looked at Muz, briefly making eye contact. “Unless time is so much of the essence that we need to depart immediately. In that case, I can fill multiple roles, as needed.”

Light streamed past the windows rapidly. She stared blankly out the window, not really seeing, just thinking. Her mind was drifting sideways as she thought about what was to come.

“It’s easy to get lost out there.” A voice from behind pulled her out of her reverie.

Blackwind moved up beside her. His arms behind his back as he gazed out of the window of the Fallen Spear. “The stars…” he nodded towards the window as he glanced at her. “Very hypnotic.” He rocked back on his heels a little. “It’s quite easy for one to get lost in thought while staring at it.”

She nodded silently, letting out a sigh as she did.

“If this mission is successful, it will change a lot of things.” She spoke quietly. Almost too low to even hear herself speak. Knowing full well what could happen, despite his endeavors to manipulate the world in which they lived. To stop time as they understood it. She was putting herself in harm’s way on this mission. To what end, only the gods knew. And even Muz and all his power couldn’t change that. She wondered, as she always did before a mission such as this, what would become of him, what would become…of everything.

“Yes, but hopefully for the better.” he retorted.

She looked up at him at that moment, her eyes glistened slightly.

“I’d better go…prepare.” She said quickly as she turned to leave.

“Of course, M’lady. I await your message.” he nodded to her as she turned to leave the bridge.

Ashia made her way to her quiet spot on the ’Spear. She sat down among the foliage and trees he had put in just for her. Large flowers bloomed all around. She breathed in the scent of the flowers. Allowing the rich scent to wash over her in a wave.

A small green teapot with a matching cup stood on a small table nearby. A wisp of steam wafted from the spout as she gently poured a cup of tea. She lifted the cup with both hands, letting the warmth from the liquid warm her hands. Another tendril of steam escaped the small cup as she lifted it to her lips, the jasmine tea warming her and bringing her some peace.

She pulled out a small disk. A ritual she began many moons ago. The message was then given to Blackwind. Should the mission result in her demise, he was to deliver it.

She had recorded many of these over the years. Each one replacing the previous. Pouring her heart out was not something that came easily to her. So the ritual created the right mindset she needed for the task. She hated recording these, but they were necessary.

She was fearful that the world would suffer should she succumb to death. That the destruction of those responsible wouldn’t be enough for him. That his pain and anguish would be loosed upon all until there was nothing left.

As she finished her recording, a tear slid down her cheek. She sat for a moment to compose herself before leaving to make her way back to Blackwind.

Tasha’vel simply nodded, she knew what had to be done for the Brotherhood, for Sadow..for her daughter’s safety. Her mind stopped a moment thinking about Lynna’Vel who thankfully was safely far away from harm.

They will all pay for the damage caused when they dared to attack us.

Knowing the danger and the cost, she rechecked her gear again. Her blades, poisons and lightsabers were carefully looked after and ready to strike.

Her eyes turned to Vance, the magenta colored half Sephi, who at the moment seemed to be admiring The Spear.

“Muz has taste.” She half smiled. “Right now, we simply wait till we drop and strike. No mistakes Vance. This is war. Every choice, every moment from when we hit the ground will mean the difference between success and death. Kark this up and you will be nothing, but dust. That said, good luck out there. If you need me I will be on the second deck working out at the gym.” She gave a small wave to him, sauntering off towards the elevator to the second deck.

As he watched her leave, Vance explored the area a bit and soon found himself in the mess hall.

“A whole dining hall and kitchen, nine hells this guy is loaded with credits.” He whistled while sliding into a seat at one of the tables. He was impressed,but still he needed to focus and pulled out Alva Rúnya, spinning his gun a few times around before holstering it and folding his hands together.

“This is gonna be a long day.”

The calm before the storm. He had been here before, but this was the first time in a while where he was not the one helming the ship. The Fallen Spear was not cozy, but it was a bright spot in a dark galaxy. He was heading into conflict. For once, he was not planning to lead from the front. Rather, he was going to be playing the part of support.

It really irked him. If his wife was going to be in danger, he wanted to be on the ground. It was not a time for heroics. They were not here for their personal safety. The Collective were posing themselves as a danger to the Brotherhood. The Collective were posing themselves as a threat to the Clan. They were posing themselves as a danger to the Orian Empire. This he could not abide.

He sat on the cold deck, leaning back against a wall. In a galaxy that was a torrent of chaos, he had to be a tool of precision. He needed to make sure they all made it back. If he was honest, he knew his reasons to be here were not altruistic. The survival of the Brotherhood was, at least, a preferred side-effect of his own brand of selfishness.

He reached out into the Force, feeling the brush of Tasha’Vel’s consciousness. He smiled. We are gonna make it back from this, and then we are going to celebrate. He felt the brush of her thoughts in the echoes. It was like a soft hand resting against his, a hint of acknowledgement akin to a soft squeeze of assurance. After all, we gotta make sure Lyna’ isn’t left sad at the end of the day, right?

He smiled grimly, thinking back to the task at hand. Soon, they would be one the outskirts of the system. It would have to be a quick trip. Thankfully, the mercenary in question was good at what he did. His ship would have been a useful asset, but there was a greater need for subtlety than sheer power.

This made him stop. This operation was being actively directed by a former Grand Master. Muz Ashen was a force of nature. The fact that subtlety was the order of the day was, in a way, an irony. If he had wanted, he felt pretty sure that Muz would have been able to claim their objectives. He would have to have a beer or something with the Sadowan Proconsul, to pick his brain about his choice of machinations as it pertained to the Clan and to the Brotherhood. Though an Elder himself, Bentre did not fool himself to think that he understood all the moving parts involved.

As he felt the Fallen Spear jumping to hyperspace, he took a moment to center himself. He would meditate. Soon, he would have to act, and he needed the clarity of mind to be a tool of war.

—

The small crew of the Starship Tiss'shar were abuzz with activity in the moments following the message from that Corellian jerk. The Selonian captain did not hold him in poor regard, but he also was not going to lie to his crewmembers about the nature of their employer. The Sith was one to pay well enough, but Razraf did not trust him beyond what the job entailed. Excessive trust got a knife in your back, or a blaster at your back. He just had to keep a comfortable personal distance.

“So, what sort of action are we going to be seeing?” The toned security officer, a term that was charitable given his history, sitting across from Razraf sat across the table. His arms were folded in front of his chest, his tone suspicious. “Is this going to be like the action in Hutt space?”

“I don’t think so,” the sandy-orange skinned Twi’lek at the other end of the small table chuckled, “his tone was a little too clipped and short. My old master is a talkative man. It would not be that easy, if he was being that brief, Mikael. This will be some serious business. I will bring some extra equipment.”

“Cute,” Mikael grumbled, “you think that your space wizardry is gonna be helpful when the blaster bolts are flying? I really think you need to remember-”

The Loyalist’s words were cut short by a sharp strike on the table. Razraf, already clad in his colorful Mandalorian armor, glared at the pair of them. “No. You two are going to stay here. I want you to make sure that our two guests are kept nice and safe, right where we are at. I am going to be riding into combat on a different vessel.” Mikael let out an unimpressed sigh, which earned a glare from the Selonian. “You will get your cut, after fuel and expenses, Vulgaris. I am going into this one alone, but you will still be compensated appropriately for your services- for your services here keeping the Starship safe.

As though on cue, the black and purple form of the Fallen Spear slipped back into normal space beside the Starship Tiss'shar. Razraf nodded to the crew as his commlink chirped. He raised the device.

“Captain Ko, at your service sirs.” He walked towards the ship’s umbilical tube as he spoke. “A ready and willing gun. It is always a pleasure to work with clients like Naga Sadow.” The Selonian grimaced a little. He hated leaving his ship behind, but the fat paycheck was not something he could ignore. The Clan was good for keeping order, and order had proven good for his business in the long run, after all.

30 mins prior Her thoughts were deafening in her own mind. Pieces and snippets threatened to recrudesce as she struggled to get them under control. One slipped past her defenses, a visceral jolt that sent her reeling.

Standing before her husband, the words spilling out of his mouth as a wave engulfed her, lifted her up as a blinding light exploded all around her before dropping her back to the floor. The energy that surrounded her, coursed through her very being like a tidal wave of power, begging to be released upon the universe in unimaginable ways.

Her head snapped upwards as her eyes tried to focus on the world around her. She took a deep breath as she emerged from the depths of her psyche, as if emerging from an ocean as waves crashed against her, threatening to pull her under again.

She was alright. She was still in the meditation chamber. Her hands shook as she tried to stand up. Just then, the door opened.

“Hey, Bo. We need to get ready to….you alright?” Sully’s expression said it all.

She took another deep breath, this time much slower and nodded at him.

“I’m fine, just old demons come a callin’. You were saying?”

She lifted her azure eyes to meet his, hoping to appear as alright as she said she was. She gave him a reassuring smile.

“Right, well, we need to get ready. We’ll be dropping out of hyperspace soon. You sure you’re alright then?”

She gave him a look of exasperation.

“Ok! Ok!” he put his hands up in surrender as he backed towards the door.

She let out a sigh after he left.The abhorrent remembrance sent a shudder through her.

Now Ashia pulled her boots on slowly. Her thoughts threaten to betray her again. Behind her, she heard her husband attaching the straps to his armor.

Here they were again.

This wasn’t their war. Thiers was behind them. Long enough ago that she had been able to recover. Recover from the Rite, from the power eating her soul. Destroying her very being. Pulling her down into the murk and leaving her there to fester until she was a shell of her former self.

She would not make that mistake again.

The Nightsister pulled the white paint out and looked at it. The paint she’d used countless times in battle. The paint she used on her face before every Rite. She stared at it for a moment, and then she put it back. No longer would she succumb to that.

She looked up and caught Muz’s eye in the mirror. His eyebrow lifted ever so slightly.

’No.’

It was the only thought she let out. He gave her a curt nod of his head, he understood. It had nearly destroyed her, after all.

She settled her sabers on her lithe hips and looked up. Her warcoat drifted towards her on invisible wings. She turned around and let him slide the sleeves up her arms and settle it gently on her shoulders.

She turned to face him. Onyx orbs looked deep into her azure eyes as his finger lifted her chin oh so gently towards him. The effluence of passion was undeniable between them.

’Let’s finish this.’ The thought passed between them as one.

Thwack! Thwack!

Tasha’Vel’s fists drove hard into the punching bag, before her azure foot came flying up, delivering a solid kick.

AGAIN

She continued her Echani martial arts training, shoving her entire body against the bag until she could feel her hands beginning to bruise lightly. She then took a flying leap and did a spinning back kick, sending the bag flying.

There was no time to stop, she had to stay in top form, every moment and every practice had to count. No mistakes and no kark ups.

Now focusing on herself, the blue Twi’lek threw out her hands towards all of the weights she could see and began to lift them. Some lifted effortlessly, the heavier ones plus the ones from the Olympean bar she had to give a bit more concentrate, however they gave in and began to move around the room. Tasha twirled her fingers and the weights shifted and began to dance in a circle around her. Lowering her hands, the weights obeyed her command and stacked themselves neatly.

“Well that’s impressive, not often I get a chance to see the boss working out.” Vance chuckled as he leaned against the inside wall of the gym.

One of the weights flew out from the stack, dangerously close to his face, making him flinch slightly.

“Interrupt me again Vance and I might put you briefly in the Med bay.” She scowled as she moved her right hand and placed the weights back to their homes.

“I was just finishing up now, better hurry if you are using the gym, we really don’t have much time left.”

Grabbing the white towel she had placed nearby earlier, she wiped her forehead,placed it over her shoulder as she walked past him and through the open door.

“See you at the command deck soon.”

Vance smirked. “Aye, won’t be long, just need to punch something.”

After a sonic shower, Tasha’Vel donned her black and purple marauder outfit again. Checking her blades, her lightsabers and her poisons, she would be ready.

”This war will end

The final moments of peace. The calm before the storm. It all made the Sith a jittery mess. He wasn’t going to be leading from the front this time. He was going to be an eye in the sky, a wizard on the datapad who would be knocking down Collective communications and paving the way in his own, unique way. The last big conflict with the enemy had him on the ground, but this time he would not be beside his wife in the thick of it. Nearby, the Selonian Mercenary was checking his gear meticulously.

Bentre glanced over with feigned nonchalance. “Hey so,Captain Ko,” his words drew a mildly irritated look from the furry biped, “you like credits, right?”

This seemed to put Razraf slightly off. “You aren’t changing the terms of our agreement now that you got me here, are you?”

“No, no, no.” Bentre shook his hands in the air. “I wanted to offer you a little bonus assignment. This one is a little more personal. I need you to keep an extra eye on someone down there. I can’t keep her safe while I am-”

“The blue Twi’lek?” Razraf seemed to brighten slightly. He chuckled at the change in Stahoes’ expression. “Yeah, I can do that.”

“How did you-?”

“The way you look at her, the way she looks at you. The two of you are obviously connected somehow. Doesn’t take a genius to figure that much out. What kind of a bonus are we talking?”

The Corellian blushed. “An extra twenty-five thousand creds?” He shook his head. “No, make it fifty. If that isn’t enough, then I will-”

Ko raised his hands and chuckled again. “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I am not going to charge you an arm and a leg to keep her safe. I would do just about anything for love, but I won’t do that. Though, we might talk about a more long-term contract following this?”

Bentre nodded. “You got it.”

With this one, last detail squared away, now he could focus. The software suites were already pre-loaded into his slicing datapad. He would connect it up to the systems on the Fallen Spear, and within moments of first contact, he would wreak havoc. This whole war against the conflict was long overdue. He could feel the tension resonating through his body.

One final detail remained. He lifted his commlink to his mouth, and spoke low. “Be a blade in the dark, and a champion to be feared, Tasha’Vel. May the gods guide your weapons and your body, and may the Force strengthen your every blow. Return to my side, or I will go to hell and bring you back myself, freykaa.”

He would do one last check, then it would be off to the ship’s computers to do his final preparations. Thankfully, he was made for this kind of work, much as his wife was made for the work she was about to inflict on those Collective bastards. They would find victory this day, he could feel it. There really was no other option.