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Post by Force_Flow on Jun 16, 2007 21:23:28 GMT -4
This is the era of Luke Skywalker's legacy; the Jedi Master has unified the order into a cohesive group of powerful Jedi Knights. But as the new era begins, planetary interests threaten to disrupt this time of relative peace, and Luke is plagued with visions of an approaching darkness. Evil is rising again—out of the best intentions—and it looks as if the legacy of the Skywalkers may come full circle. Honor and duty will collide with friendship and blood ties as the Skywalker and Solo clans find themselves on opposing sides of an explosive conflict with potentially devastating repercussions for both families, for the Jedi order and for the entire galaxy.
When a mission to uncover an illegal missile factory on the planet Adumar ends in a violent ambush—from which Jedi Knights Jacen Solo, Jaing Redgrave and Jaing's protégé and cousin, Ben Skywalker, narrowly escape with their lives—it's the most alarming evidence yet that sparks of political unrest are threatening to ignite into total rebellion. The governments of numerous worlds are chafing under the strict regulations of the Galactic Alliance, and diplomatic efforts to enforce compliance are failing. Fearing the worst, the Alliance readies a preemptive display of military might in a bid to bring the rogue worlds to heel before an uprising erupts. The designated target of this exercise: planet Corellia—renowned for the brash independence and renegade spirit that have made its favorite son, Han Solo, a legend.
Something of a rogue himself, Jaing is nevertheless duty bound as a Jedi to stand with his father, Jedi Master Calvin Redgrave, on the side of the Galactic Alliance. But when the wary Corellians launch a counterstrike, the Alliance's show of force—and a secret mission to disable Corellia's crucial Centerpoint Station—give way to an armed skirmish. Once the smoke clears, the battle lines are drawn. Now the specter of full scale war looms between a growing cadre of defiant planets and the Galactic Alliance that some fear is becoming a new Empire. And even as both sides struggle to find a diplomatic solution mysterious acts of treachery and sabotage threaten peace efforts at every turn.
Determined to root out those behind the mayhem, Jaing follows a trail of cryptic clues to a dark rendezvous with the most shocking of revelations—while the Jedi Council grapple with something even more troubling: dream visions of a shadowy figure whose Force power and ruthlessness remind them of Darth Vader—a lethal enemy who strikes like a dark spirit on a mission of doom. An agent of evil who, if the Council's visions come to pass, will bring untold pain to the Jedi Masters—and to the entire galaxy.
CANON CHARACTERS:
Luke Skywalker (RedEagle) Mara Jade Caplin (Walruseater) Jacen Solo (hk47fan) Ben Skywalker (Force_Flow) Leia Organa Solo (hk47fan) Han Solo (hk47fan) Threepio (hk47fan) Artoo (hk47fan) Jaina Solo (Force_Flow) Zekk (Alyva) Wedge Antillies (Walruseater) Iella Antillies (Walruseater) Admiral Matric Klauskin (The Unknown One) Prime Minister Aidel Saxan (RedEagle) Syal Antillies (Walruseater) Thracken Sal-Solo (RedEagle) Anakin Solo (Alyva) Cal Omas (Walruseater) Admiral Niathel (Alyva) Tycho Celchu (Alyva) Lumiya (Alyva) Admiral Pellaeon (Tallboy Dave) Corran Horn (Alyva) Denjax Teppler (RedEagle) Nelani Dinn (Alyva)
OC CHARACTERS: Calvin Redgrave, Jedi Master, (human male) hk47fan Jaden Gwa Redgrave, Jedi Knight, (human female) F_F Jaing Gwa Redgrave, Jedi Knight, (human male) F_F Shalin Gwa Redgrave, Jedi Weapons Master, (human female) F_F Selena Skywalker, Jedi Master, (human female) Alyva Electra Fletcher, Jedi Knight, (Twi’Lek female) Walruseater Michael Fletcher, Jedi Knight, (Twi’Lek male) Walruseater Kala Poppellwell, Jedi Master, (human female) hk47fan Sandra Poppellwell, Jedi Knight, (human female) Tallboy Dave Robert Poppelwell, Jedi Padawan, (human male) hk47fan Vanessa Poppelwell, Jedi Padawan, (human female) Tallboy Dave HK-100, assassin droid, (HK series) hk47fan T3-M4, astro droid, (T3 species) hk47fan Tian Gwa Solo, Jedi Padawan, (human female) F_F Rylee Skywalker, Jedi Knight, (human female) F_F Lenoora, Sith Clone, (Twi’Lek female) Walruseater John Caplin (male droid) Tallboy Dave Andy Fletcher Tallboy Dave
RedEagle: 4 Luke, Aidel Saxan, Sal-Solo, Denjax Teppler
Walruseater: 8 Electra, Michael, Lenoora, Mara, Wedge, Iella, Syal, Cal Omas
hk47fan: 10 Calvin, Kala, Robert, HK100, T3M4, Jacen, Han, 3PO, R2
Force_Flow: 7 Ben, Jaina, Jaden, Jaing, Shalin, Tian, Rylee
Alyva: 8 Zekk, Anakin, Niathel, Tycho Celchu, Lumiya, Corran, Nelani
Tallboy Dave: 5 Admiral Pellaeon, Sandra, Vanessa, John Caplin, Andy
The Unknown One: 1 Admiral Matric Klauskin
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Post by RedEagle on Jun 16, 2007 21:46:35 GMT -4
Co-Post with me and Alyva.
Selana and Luke
“He doesn’t exist.”
With those words, spoken without any concious effort, Luke Skywalker sat upright, his breathing slightly faster than what was usual. His eyes, light blue in color, took in his surroundings. For a millisecond, Luke did not know what had stirred him, but as the memory crept back, his spine started to tingle with fear.
Searching through the Force at what had caused the disturbance, Luke tried to fruitlessly locate the dark, hooded figure who kept entering his dreams. His gaze turned over to Selena, who stirred next to him. His shock and alarm, though already wearing off, must have traveled over their Bond, because her eyes opened at the precise moment he looked at her face, taking in her beauty. Her gaze met his,and it was neither clouded by sleep or irritation. Just concern.
“Who doesn’t exist?”
“I don’t know,” Luke said. “An enemy.”
“You dreamed about him?”
Luke nodded in affirmation. “I’ve dreamt of him a couple of times before. It doesn’t feel like a dream. It’s feels like it’s being projected through the Force, almost. He’s wrapped in shadow, rotting in the Dark Side. He wore a dark hooded cloak, but just more than that–“ Luke shook his head, looking for the correct word. “And ignorance. And denial. And pain. To the Galaxy... and me.”
“Well, if he brings pain to the Galaxy, you’re obviously going to feel it,” Selena said.
“No, to me personally, in addition to his other evil.” Luke sighed and lay down again. “It’s too vague. And when I’m awake, when I try to peer into the future, I just can’t.”
“Because he doesn’t exist.”
“That’s what the dream tells me.” Luke hissed in aggrivation.
“Raynar, you think?”
Luke considered. Raynar Thul, once a promising young Jedi, had been captured and named UnuThul, leader of the Killick race. He was currently going through mental and physical changed in the center of the Jedi Temple, maybe for the better. Luke shook his head. “In this vision, I don’t sense Raynar’s alienness. Mentally, emotionally, it remains human, or near-human. There’s even the possibility of my father.”
“Darth Vader.”
“No, before he was Darth Vader. Or just when he became Vader.” Luke’s gaze lost focus as he fought to recapture the dream. “What little of his face I see reminds me of the features of Anakin Skywalker as a Jedi/ But his eyes... as I watch, they turn a molten gold or orange, transforming from Force use and anger...”
“I have an idea.”
“Tell me.”
“Let’s wait until he shows up, then crush him.”
Luke smiled. “All right,” he said. Leaning his head on his wife, Luke settled his mind, albiet slowly, then slowly fell asleep. Selena stayed up a bit longer, peering out of her room with the Force, beyond Coruscant, as far as she could reach, searching for the hooded man. She found no sign of it, and she, too, slept.
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Post by hk47fan on Jun 16, 2007 22:06:07 GMT -4
Jacen Solo
I took a deep breath as I looked around the turbolift we were in. They had a bright gray color, like the whole turbolift. I just want to get this done. This place doesn't give my gut a good feeling. I thought
I didn't like the guide. He gave me the creeps, although he did seem kind. But looks and tone of voice don't tell you everything. I played along when ever he spoke, taking this subtle. Subtle is the best route.
I looked at Jaing Gwa Redgrave and Ben Skywalker next to me. Jaing was an old freind, going all the way back to when we were born. He was the son of one of the early masters of the New Jedi Order, Shalin Gwa. Mabye Redgrave, but I didn't know if she ever wanted to use that name after the hectic relationship with Calvin Redgrave, Jaing and Jaden's father.
Jaing was the twin of Jaden, the best person I had ever met in my life. She was now my wife and we had a beautiful daughter, Tian. However, she was blind but powerful in the Force. The blindness barely changed her. Once she was ready, she could even learn the ancient power of Force Sight. I had heard some, notably the former Jedi Master Kreia, preferred to use that over their regular vision.
Jaden and Tian weren't on this mission, though. They were back on Coruscant, and despite how much I missed them I was glad. If anything erupted here, I wouldn't want them to get hurt. But I know Jaden would want to get involved.
Ben was Jaing's padawan. He was my cousin, and son of Selena, the descendant of Atton Rand, one of Jaden and Jaing's adopted ancestors, and Luke my uncle was his father. Ben was very fluent and strong with the Force. But it can be expected when you are the son of Luke. One of the strongest in the Force I had ever seen, excluding my uncle.
The turbolift finally came to a stop, and the silver doors slid open. I slowly walked out into the chamber, an old missile manufacturing chamber, and smelt the strong fumes of labor and industrial work, something I was not use to smelling. I was use to smelling bloodshed, unfortunate or not.
I gave out a breath, then turned and saw several steps going up to the rail that overlooked the large chamber. I walked towards it rapidly, so my robes would billow. I went up the steps, then walked over to the edge of the rail.
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Post by Force_Flow on Jun 16, 2007 22:17:34 GMT -4
Jaing made a good show of authority as he crossed to the end of the balcony, looking over at the hundreds of Dammant workers. Both hands on the rails, he felt Testan Ke Herran come up behind him, along with Ben, his apprentice. Testan was a riot of color: his tunic, with it’s nearly knee-length hem and it’s flowing sleeves, was the precise orange of a starfighter pilot’s uniform, though decorated with little purple crisscrosses that really gave Jaing a headache. Testan stroked his shiny black beard in an effort to hide his nervousness. It was no use, for Jaing’s highly attuned Force Senses picked it up clearer than the scene before him.
“You can see,” Testan said, “ar workers enjoy very fan conditions.”
Ben cleared his throat. “He says their workers enjoy very fine conditions.” Jaing nodded absently. He understood Testan’s words, and it had taken him little time to understand the Adumari accent. This was another act, a ploy, to keep the Adumari off of their feet. While Jacen and Jaing did their initial survey, Ben kept the guide occupied.
“Do you wax your beard?” he asked politely.
“I do not.”
“It just seems very shiny. Do you oil it?”
Testan’s voice grew irritated. “I do not oil it. I condition it. And I brush it.”
“Do you brush it with butter?”
Jaing smiled slightly at Jacen. He got an answering grin. He looked at Ben, and nodded. “The Jedi Knights acknowledge that your factory meets the exact minimum of health and safety regulations of a Galactic Alliance military contractor.” Jaing smiled.
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Post by hk47fan on Jun 16, 2007 22:38:36 GMT -4
Jacen
I gave a slight nod to Ben, as in saying "Good job."
Ben was acting as the translator for us, trying to imply that the adult Jedi were even more aloof and mysterious than these factory workers had thought. Testan was already seemingly nervous, something was wrong. But we knew that the moment we stepped in the door.
Testan tried to convince us that the factory was above the minimum standards and then started telling us how the duracrete barriers were to vent explosion farce upward, saving most of the workers' lives.
I looked at Jaing, with a slightly raised eyebrow, telling him "This guy's not a good liar. Its no doubt something is up."
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Post by Force_Flow on Jun 16, 2007 22:52:40 GMT -4
Jaing nodded, too.
"No, no, no," Testan assured. He drew a sleeve over his brow to wipe the persperation that had gathered there. "We are wall above minmam standards. Those duracrete barriers? They vill vent any explosive farce upward, saving the majority of workars under calamity. Workar shifts are oly two-fifths the day in length, unlike the old days."
Ben repeated Testan's words, and Jaing shrugged. Ben imitated his Master. The gesture caused his own Jedi robe to open up slightly, revealing the lightsaber on his belt. Testan glanced at it, then looks back at Jaing, clearly worried. "Your apprentice--" Unsure, he looked to Ben again. "You are very young, are you not, to be wearing such a weapon?"
Ben gave him a blank look."It's a practice saber."
"Ah," Testan said, relieved. He nodded as though he understood.
And there it was. Perhaps the thought of a thirteen year old with a deadly cutting implement did it, Jaing didn't know, but Testan's defenses lowered slightly enough to let the worry pour through. It was like the game where children are told Do not think about banthas. Try as they might, they would, within minutes or even seconds, think of a bantha.
Testan's control finally gave way and he thought about the banthas--or rather, a place he wasn't supposed to go, even to think about. Jaing could feel his worry radiat clearly as he tried to clamp down on the thought. When Testan turned back around, Jaing stood in his face, nose to nose. Testan's eyes widened in surprise. "There is something here. Something wrong." They were the firs twords he'd spoken in Testan's presence.
Testan shook his head. "No, everything is fan."
Jaing looked past him, towards the wall to the far right of the chamber. It was gray and rectangular, a series of metal panels each the height of a man and twice his size stacked like bricks. He nodded, and pointed. "There. Ben, cut the door."
Ben, obviously excited, activated his lightsaber and plunged it deep into the door. Testan's eyes widened. "He told us it was a practice lightsaber."
Jaing looked at him and grinned off-handily. "Yeah, it's true." A circle big enough for Jaing to enter fell from the wall with a clang. He didn't even flinch. "He does practice with it."
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Post by hk47fan on Jun 16, 2007 23:07:04 GMT -4
Jacen
I could feel Testan getting more and more nervous the more and more we examined this factory, and he got even more nervous when Ben cut the door. I chuckled at Jaing, and then looked to the circle in the door. I began to follow Jaing and Ben over to it, and Testan's anxiety grew.
He asked if we wished to see the observation chamber, barely any calmness in his voice. He struggled to keep up.
I still didn't speak to the Adumari, and looked at Jaing. Something troubles him. We must go into his mind, find what is making him so much more nervous the closer we get to this area. I told him mentally through the Force
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Post by Force_Flow on Jun 16, 2007 23:20:03 GMT -4
I don't think we'll have to, Jaing responded.
Ben stepped through the circle, Jacen ducked to follow, then Jaing. He heard Testan muttering--doubtless and alert into a comlink. Jaing didn't bother to interfear. Hundreds of works just saw him, and if he cut down Testan, someone else would make the call. Dealing with Testan wouldn't keep the alarm from being broadcast.
The room beyond Ben's improvised doorway was actually a cooridor, four meters wide, and eight high, every surface made up of the same dull grey metal rectangles found in the outer chamber, greenish white light pouring from the luminous ceiling. To the left, the cooridor ended after a few meters, and that end was stacked with tall plasteel transport containters. They were marked Danger, do not drop and Dammant Killer Model 16, Quantity 24.
To the right, the corridor extended about another forty meters and then opened up; the rail and the drop-off at the end suggested that it opened to another observation deck. Now making the turn from the balcony to the cooridor were dozens of armed security forces with blaster rifels. They reminded Jaing somewhat of how his mother, Shalin, had told him what kind of clothing not to wear. Dressed in bright orange jumpsuits, they weren't really physically imposing.
Jaing brought up his lightsaber and snapped it to life; the blue of his blade made the glow around the cooridor swim in a sort of aquatic-like light. The leader spoke up: "Stop whar you are! This saction is restircted!"
"Could you speak up?!" Jaing shouted. "I'ma bit deaf!"
Ben snickered. "Good one."
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Post by hk47fan on Jun 17, 2007 7:47:24 GMT -4
Jacen
"You may not entar this section!" the leader yelled louder and harsher
I walked up right beside Jaing and Ben, and I examined these troopers ahead. We were twenty meters from the ranks.
I pulled my lightsaber off of my belt and ignited it, then I twirled it in a practice form. "Fewer people will get hurt if you just get out of my way." I said, it was sort of a ritual thing to say. Massed enemy forces almost never backed down, despite, the reputation of the Jedi- a reputation that became more widespread, more supernatural, with each year the Jedi prospered under Luke
The phrase was a ritual in another way, too. Once upon a time I would have felt tragedy around me when my actions resulted in deaths of common sense. But I didn't have that feeling anymore. After the Vong and Killik that feeling died down a bit, and there was a wearying inevitability of a leader sending his troops to die.
I took two steps forward, a calm look on my face and the trooper commander called "Fire!"
The troopers began firing. I gave myself over to the Force, no awareness of my surroundings, to my sudden oneness with the men and woman trying to kill me.
I simply ignored most of the blaster bolts. When I felt them angling towards me, I twirled my lightsaber blade in the line of fire and deflected them away, usually back toward the crowd of troopers. In the first few seconds of their assault, four troopers fell to blasts launched by their own comrades. The smell of burnt flesh began to fill the corridor.
I could feel danger from behind, and felt Ben react to it. I didn't shift my attention; I continued to march forward. I'd prefer to protect the inexperienced youth, but the boy was good at blaster defense practice. Hard as it to trust a Jedi whose skills were just developing, I had to. To teach, to learn, I had to trust.
I interecepted the next blaster shot that came my way and batted it toward the trooper commander. It struck the man in the helmet and caromed off, burning out against the ceiling; a portion four meters square of the celing's illumanation winked out, darkening the corridor. The commander fell. The shot was probably not fatal-protected by his helmet, the man would have forehead and scalp burns, probably a concusion, but he was unlikely to die.
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Post by Force_Flow on Jun 17, 2007 8:05:39 GMT -4
Jacen’s move had it’s effect, and as soon as the troopers saw their commander fall, a man in the front took the role. “Back, back,” he said, motioning quickly with his hands. Jaing was in the middle, seeing if he could protect both Ben and Jacen at the same time. A bolt slid through Ben’s defenses, and throughtheir Bond, Jaing felt a start of surprise from him as he realized he wasn’t at the right angle to block it. Jaing slipped under Ben’s arm and used his lightsaber to swat the bolt away, gathering the Force inside him. He released it, and the guards in front of him were thrown back. “Sorry!” Jaing called back to them, turning back around to help Jacen.
Ben scooted towards a position next to Jacen and started swatting at blasterfire. “What now?” Ben asked.
“Finish the mission,” Jaing said. “We’ll keep these di’kutlas at bay.”
“But you’re in charge—“
“I’m busy,” Jaing replied. He took a step foreword to give himself more swinging space and concentrated on his attackers. He needed to protect Ben, now. He focused on batting back one, two, three bolts, and saw three soldiers fall.
There was a lull in the barrage of fire, and Jaing spared a quick glance to Ben. He was holding a holocam usually carried by wealthy tourists, but was instead used to film the racks of explosives around him. “Um, this is Ben Skywalker. Jedi Knights Jaing Redgrave and Jacen Solo are with me in a, I don’t know, secret part of the Dammant Killers plant under the city of Catarnn on the planet Adumar. You’re looking at a missile manufacturing line. It’s making missiles that are not being reported to GA. They’re selling to planets who’re not supposed to get them. And that noise you’re hearing? That’s they’re guys trying to kill us.”
Ben swung the holocam around to view the Jedi-versus-guards lightsaber fight. “Is that enough?” Ben asked.
“Get the whole chamber!” Jaing yelled. “And while you’re doing that, figure out what we’re going to do next!”
“I was kind of thinking we’d get out of here.”
“Good. How?”
“Well, the way they came in—no, they’d be waiting for us.”
“Correct.”
“And you never want to fight the enemy on ground he’s chosen unless you can avoid it.”
Ben’s words, so adult, were a quote from Shalin you could hear Jaing say often to other students of his.
“Also correct.”
“So… the ends of those assembely lines?”
“Good. Ben, you first. Jacen, you next.”
Ben leapt vertically. Absorbing the shock of impact from his knees, he looked up. “Come on!” He shouted, waving his arm in the air, gesturing for them to hurry.
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