Open Invasion Angry Women: Invasion of Byblos

[Charlotte Le'Anna]

The Hapan Royal Navy burst from hyperspace. Charlotte having called the full force of the Hapes Consortium and whatever dregs managed to survive Commenor. Her people spanned across 63 inhabited systems. The Hapan Royal Navy a thing of legend. Xerxes and his Republic would burn for what he’d done. Charlotte checked her chrono. The request to Weylin had gone out the moment Commenor was attacked. He should be here by now. She was dressed to kill. Her naval uniform perfectly white. Her saber hidden in her sleeve. The Darkside threatening to rage through her.

Charlotte wanted desperately to give in. To let the Force, rip forth. She was so tired of hiding, so tired of the games. The Empire she served seemed to no longer exist. Draugr was gone. Her link to a true state of command. Celeste was the closest thing she had to connection within the Empire and that slim at best. Who was giving the orders? Who should she report to? Did it even really matter? Her kingdom had been attacked. She would respond. Perhaps this could still do some good, if the Free Worlds were at war with the Republic, they could hardly aid the ISC. Yes…she told herself that made sense…she was still a loyal solider.

The reality was much different. Her face felt hot. Her anger very real. She wanted the Republic to pay. She wanted Xerxes dead. That was why she had come to Byblos. The corporate world came into view. “Burn it down.” The Royal Navy moved into position and prepared to attack. A smile spread across the Queen Mother’s face. This would make her feel better. She could already tell.

@Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

Spoiler: Reminder of King Weylin

The New Republic had gone mad.

King Weylin had agreed to work together with Hapes and other mothers of the FWA in more co-ordinated ways than before out of concern that the Sith would return. That they would come back and he would be found wanting in the face of an enemy that would come to claim his family and his people. Even the most Sith-Friendly of his people believed that this was more likely to happen than literally anything else.

Then the New Republic went mad and invaded the FWA without warning and without provocation.

It was madness and he could do nothing but watch on the holonet as they burned Commenor. When his generals and admirals, advisers and fitness coaches turned to him for his command, he had given it much thought before he gave the order to mobilise the elements of the fleet that would not leave Onderon defenceless.

And he rode out, standing upon the bridge of the lead Bulwark Battlecruiser as they emerged from hyperspace to meet up with the Hapan fleet. He nodded to a communications officer, who patched him through to Charlotte's command ship.

"Queen Mother." he greeted her, large arms crossed over his chest as he looked like he had been basically poured into a naval uniform, "Shall we begin?"

Spoiler: Onderon Fleet

• 3x Bulwark-Class Battlecruiser
• 9x Battle Hydra Class Cruiser
• 10x Shogun-Class Carrier
• 18x SC-32 Screw Frigate
• 30x Nexu-Class Corvette
• 1068x AFC-X1 Super Kobra Starfighter

@Valen Pelora

 

[Jana Kang]

THEME​

Byblos had been invaded before. Unsuccessfully.

The Sith had appeared in the sector out of nothing and send an entire fleet down to bombard defensive placements and takeover the planet from the proud Republic citizens. Sector Rangers, the Jedi Order and the Republic had come to its aid in repelling the Sith Invasion and preserving the planet's freedom. But it had changed things. Its new government had been focused on protecting its planet from future invasions moreso than even, something their senator had fiercely advocated in the senate sessions these past few years.

The government had expected this turn of events and had already acted to strengthen planetary defenses. Jana arriving onplanet the day before had actually been a coincidence. She was up for review today and was in the bunker to have her meeting with the president when the radar operators in the command center alerted everyone to Hapes' Fleet coming out of hyperspace.

Within moments the Byblos military that had already been on high alert was now on red alert and as shields were activated and orbital defense cannons charged to return fire, Jana was given the open line:

"Hapes Fleet," she said just before the Onderon fleet arrived, but both could hear her on the open line that was broadcasting openly throughout the sector. "My name is Senator Kang. Yesterday the Republic denounced the actions of its former Chancellor and the rogue Republic Fifth Fleet. Actions and fleets are underway to engage them near Commenor. I ask you, no implore you, to stand down and not give space scrappers work tomorrow. The Republic and the Free Worlds Alliance are not at war."

Perhaps the space scrappers union, which was intergalactic and didn't necessarily care for the fate of a single planet, would send her an angry message that she so blatantly disregarded their livelihood. That was of lesser importance to her now.

If the Hapes and Onder fleets stood down, then she could always suggest them to join the ongoing battle near Commenor.

@Valen Pelora @Nefieslab

 

[Charlotte Le'Anna]

Lights began to blink to life on the holomap. Colored to designate the Kingdom of Onderon. Charlotte smiled, Weylin had come. The combined might of both Kingdoms would turn Byblos to slag. Her teeth bared. The Queen Mother prepared to give the order. The Darkness in her pushing her closer and closer to the edge. It wanted these deaths. She was determined to give them to it. Annoyingly, her preparations were interrupted by voice of Byblos. A plea to stand down. The combined fleet continued to stand at the ready.

“Send me the Senator.” The communications team set to work. Patching together the holographic form of Charlotte to the Senator Kang. Careful to ensure Weylin was included. “I don’t believe you.” Her voice was full of venom. “Who governs the Republic now? Commenor…my people…burn beneath a Republic Fleet.” The veins in her neck strained with the force of her anger.

“How are we to know you aren’t joined? If they stole your Chancellor, why not others high within the Republic?” Perhaps the entire New Republic now answered to a different authority. A higher power as it was. “What if this is nothing more but a ploy to turn us around?” How clever of Senator Kang. The snake. “Why should we trust you now when the Republic has never shown us anything but disdain.” Spit flew from her mouth on those last words.

The feed would cut out. The communications still open but Charlotte switching to private coms with Weylin. “I have a bad feeling about this Weylin. How can we decide who to trust?” No one the Darkside whispered in her mind. Trust no one. Better they’re dead than you’re wrong. Well…it had a point.

@Eccles @Nefieslab

 

[Jana Kang]

THEME​

The holographic image of Hapan's Queen Mother appeared in the crisis room with Jana, the president and members of the military high command. None of them liked what they saw. This woman was clearly unhinged and unfit to rule any civilized world. It was a miracle they let her command a fleet, yet that they did. They would even follow her into death surrounding Byblos' orbit. Well, not if Jana had anything to say about it...

Her own holographic figure was projected to the Hapan Queen Mother and the Onderonian King. "If you want people to burn for the Killik's actions at Commenor," she dry-swallowed and the president looked at her with some confusement. She was going off-script, after all. "Then take me and burn me." She cut off audio for a moment to mute the protests from the war room, "I will prove to you that I am not joined and I hope that will suffice to spare the innocent people of Byblos, the fate of your people on Commenor."

She trembled, her knees buckled and she had to hold her hands to avoid their shaking to be noticeable on the hologram. "Byblos navy will join you in fighting the Killiks that are now engaging a fleet of the Free World's Alliance near Commenor and help save those than can still be saved."

But please, let the death of a single Byblos citizen, her death, be enough.

@Valen Pelora @Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

As King, Weylin had heard petitioners come to him dozens of times with stories of woe and of unfairness. Sometimes it was all he could do to not sigh as, one after another, they all seemed intent on blaming others for their problems. It was something he only continuing doing because there were always those few who turned out to actually be correct - those who actually had unfairness done unto them and they wished someone to pluck them out of the mess that had been made around them.

They were always outnumbered by those who begged for a way out of their own messes but that was to be expected. Having heard the impassioned speech of Senator Kang, King Weylin was more convinced than ever that she was one of them entirely; either entirely in a mess not of her own making or a liar.

Either way, the answer was clear to him.

"The only way that rulers ever decide who to trust; we must see her with our own eyes and get her measure. If she doesn't measure up, then we procede with the burning."

He hated the idea of burning a fleet out of atmosphere and he hated to think on the destruction that alone would cause on the planet. But they were the wronged party here - the New Republic naval forces had invaded their allies and slaughtered their people. There had to be an accounting for that and merely tossing a now-obviously mind-controlled elected official out of office was not enough.

"Senator Kang - a Xi-Class Light Shuttle is en route to you now. Violence visited upon this ship will be considered a betrayal of this proposed truce in the name of discussion." he warned the Senator and her people, "You will be welcomed aboard my ship and we shall have a conversation."

Changing to the private line with Charlotte, Weylin chewed at his bottom lip.

"Bring a shuttle to my ship as well... let's see if we believe her. If we do, then we can fold her forces into our own and strike at the back of the Republic fleet that has invaded us. If we don't, we detain her. She may be useful as a captive."

@Valen Pelora @Eccles

 

[Charlotte Le'Anna]

The passionate plea sounded on the bridge. Charlotte was impressed. Such emotion such drive. It would have worked on most, but she was not most. Her heart pounded to a very different drum. Noble sacrifices meant very little to her. Still, Charlotte was not so lost as to not understand the effect this would have on Weylin. That man was noble.

A trait she twisted to her own ends and won easily preyed on. She blew out hot air. He was right. They would play this both ways. “Agreed.” She signaled to her Chume’doro. “I’m coming.”

In short order Charlotte’s royal shuttle was headed towards Weylin’s ship. A squad of her Chume’doro riding alongside. The ship was waved through to dock in the nearest hangar. Charlotte stepped into the hangar bay, her guard forming up around her. Now, they just needed to wait for the Senator’s arrival.

@Nefieslab @Eccles

 

[Jana Kang]

Following through on her promise, Jana left the undeground bunker alone and after a short walk ascended in an elevator to the surface. There she waited and motioned for nearby military personnel to make room and not interfere as planetary shields were momentarily disengaged locally to allow for the shuttle to descend to her location.

All of this was too surreal. She had never anticipated Byblos to come under attack from another Republic or FWA world. Neither had even shown a tendency towards waging and declaring war in the past few decades. Yet, despite the surrealness of this situation, she was resolved and at peace with her own actions.

She boarded the shuttle in silence and watched through the window how the planetary shields would be engaged again one the shuttle was out free and ascended through the spheres. Would the Republic and the Jedi Order come to their aid again, or did they only care when it was the Sith or the Empire that did the invading?

Inside the hangar of the Onderonian ship she waited on and followed up on whatever her escort would say or lead her towards, until finally she was face-to-face with the aggressors; the King of Onderon and the Queen-mother of Hapes.

"Your majesties, King Weylin and Queen-mother Le'Anna, I am Senator Jana Kang. Here on your request and I implore you to please-" the gravity of her worries and the responsibility of her planet's safety and survival suddenly weighed heavily on her shoulders, "-cease your hostilities against my planet."

@Valen Pelora @Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

He was glad that Charlotte was actually coming along as part of this almost-diplomatic conversation. For a moment, he had feared that she would be still too distraught over the plight of Commenor to really give the suggestion the due thought it required. Weylin himself almost didn't and he had been branching out into the Thorne Total Yoga shows to try and find a sense of personal peace alongside his abs.

"Commander, you have the bridge."

Leaving the bridge, Weylin would head for the main hanger as the two shuttles would make their way towards his ship. Of course senator Kang's shuttle took longer to arrive but that was to be expected - they weren't quite in engaged range with the planet yet after all. Coming to a stop in the hanger, Weylin took a drink from one of his guards and enjoyed the fruity flavour of the hydrating sports drink before gesturing for the guard to take it away as first Charlotte arrived.

"Charlotte... lets get to the conference room. Our guards can escort the senator."

Guiding the Queen Mother to the small conference room in the centre of the ship (it had once been an anti-piracy vessel for a large corporation after all), Weylin sent for some water and light teas to be arranged as they waited for the Senator. It didn't take long before Senator Kang arrived and King Weylin nodded in greeting to her.

"Senator Kang." he gestured to the conference table, "I appreciate your courage in attending and your willingness to open potential peace talks. But you have to understand - our people have been attacked. Our people have been killed and so far as we can tell, the repercussions are levied against one man... and it would not be unfair to say that this isn't the first time the New Republic has elected a Supreme Chancellor who is happy to fire on a world."

He sat down himself.

"At some point the responsibility leaves the individual and rests on those who have empowered them. Would you claim innocence in light of this?"

@Valen Pelora @Eccles

 

[Charlotte Le'Anna]

She allowed herself to be led by Weylin. Her remaining Chume’doro forming up behind them. He was a calming presence, but the reality was Charlotte had little incentive to stop. The Senator would not know it, but Weylin was saving Byblos. Charlotte could not risk alienating the Onderonian ruler. This was a chance to further ensnare her hunky target. What she really wanted was to feel the deaths of billions while the fleet bombed Byblos to scraps. The sweet release of death would be so welcome. Her senses craved it. Charlotte frowned…she would have to wait.

Weylin and the Queen Mother entered the conference room and waited. She did little to hide her contempt for the Senator. “The former Chancellor still has not been brought to justice. The fifth fleet still sits above Commenor.” She folded her hands and leaned back. “The King is right. First Emil Ro slaughters the oppressed peoples on Denon and now this.” She shook her head.

“And you claim to be blameless. Our people suffer again at the hands of the New Republic.” Oh, she wanted Kang dead. What a fun twist that would be.

@Nefieslab @Eccles

 

[Jana Kang]

At least the King of Onderon was courteous enough to address her by her title, while the Queen-Mother of Hapes seemed to be an extremely impulsive individual. Something that made sense considering their move to attack Byblos. Jana couldn't win this argument, she knew, not against an impulsive fanatic who by her entire body language made clear she desired a war above all else. She would need to focus on the Onderonian King.

"I understand your viewpoints, King and Queen-Mother," she began with a respectful nod towards both, "and I know my sympathies are never enough. The Senator of Lothal was a valued colleague as well as a good friend and yet we all stood by and watched how the Mandalorians took the planet and murdered him." She mentioned him specifically because the senator of Lothal had been one of the biggest advocates for peace by preventing hostile intergalactic nations building entire fleets. He was murdered because of it, or so Jana believed, and neither the FWA or the Republic had raised fleets to avenge him or free his planet.

"Some of us have learned from this," she continued, "The Republic is gathering a fleet that will be confirmed as Killik and Joiner free to engage the rogue Fifth fleet, while I've received reports that Senator Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl-" she took the effort to try and say his name correctly out of respect, "-is personally leading the FWA fleet to engage the the Killiks near Commenor."

This was more than they had done for Lothal and its senator. Perhaps if Jana had been more active, had more actively pursued her ideals in the Senate, then maybe she could've stopped it? What she knew now for certain is that the Queen-Mother of Hapes had not learned from it. Her impulsivity could doom Byblos now, or it would doom it later.

"As for the Republic's poor choice of chancellors," Jana sighed, remembering the misdeeds of Emil Ro all too well. "I can only agree that we -in our responsibility to elect stable leaders-" she couldn't help but look at the Queen-Mother as she referenced stable leaders, "-have failed. We failed to notice that Xerxes was the victim of a Killik investation. We failed to strip Emil Ro of his powers and we failed to see to machinations of Palpatine." In that list, Xerxes seemed more like an unfortunate victim than the big bad evil that he was being out to be.

"Bombing my planet and killing millions of innocent civilians will not solve anything, however-" she focused again on the Onderonian King, "-taking a stand together might. We can aid Senator Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl with our combined fleets."

@Valen Pelora @Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

Damn.

Darnation, tarnation and other, varying, degrees of fuck.

Weylin hadn't anticipated quite the level of frost that was present between Senator Kang and the Queen Mother. Even if they both had accepted his calls to work toward a peaceful resolution, it was clear that they would be battling against their own emotions regarding each other to do so. He could just imagine his little sister laughing at the very idea that the fitness enthusiast King of Onderon was being pushed into the position of a moderator.

The day had taken a strange turn, though it had yet to take a bloody one.

"We arrived into this system with the intent to do your people harm - I'm sorry, Senator Kang, but even if I do believe that you genuinely do wish to avoid coming into direct conflict, I can't trust in each and every one of your sailors and officers to feel the same. And our own sailors have their blood high - they are eager for some measure of vengeance." he admitted at length, "Bringing your fleet with us to aid our esteemed colleague Aezzair... it is tempting though."

He rubbed at his chin as he thought on the matter a little more - there had to be something that he could do. Something he could offer that would allow Senator Kang to show her peoples' commitment to a better future government and a future without war with the FWA. And something that would reassure Charlotte and give her some measure of control that she seemed to be all but grasping for at this point, to arrest the chaotic spinning the Galaxy had been plunged into, he was sure.

Reaching out across the table, he would take one of Charlotte's hands and give it a reassuring squeeze.

"Perhaps... perhaps something from the old days." he mused before coming out with his suggestion, "I, personally, would want assurances that your fleet would not turn on us. I would want their aid in destroying the ones attacking our allies too. So I propose something akin to my own planet's old methods; guests. Or, if you prefer to be blunt, hostages."

He made to explain quickly since he knew it sounded... well, kind of bad.

"Notable citizens of Byblos will be taken aboard our ships as honoured guests. Their safety and comfort assured during the operation - and their return agreed to take place after the defeat of Xerxes."

@Valen Pelora @Eccles

 

[Charlotte Le'Anna]

Warmth spread through her hand when Weylin squeezed. She returned the gesture. Her eyes drifting over to him for a moment. Charlotte made sure he saw. Finally, her head turned back to Kang. Her tongue clicking. “Hapes would agree.” The words were ice from her mouth. “We take the fight to Xerxes and save Commenor with our new passengers.” Charlotte drummed her fingers on the table. “But this does not absolve the Republic, Senator Kang. I believe you know that.” She leaned forward. Her gaze intense. Her eyes shimmering.

“I trust Weylin with my life. He has saved yours.” The words were soft. Quiet almost. “I would make another offer.” Could her power grow? Even here was it possible? The risk was great, but the reward could be even greater. “By your own words the Republic is failing. Has failed.” Coruscant burned and the greatest fleet was full of joined. The Republic as it was known was all but gone. “Choose a different path. You have seen what Weylin and I are building. Strength beyond the Free Worlds. Protection for when the Republic falters.” Charlotte leaned just a little bit closer.

“My blood runs hot. He keeps me even. I push us to action. The old powers are failing Senator. We must find safety where we can. Let us free my people on Commenor and then walk away together.” She smiled. Her most genuine smile. The very best charming grin she could muster. If she couldn’t burn Byblos maybe the day could offer another piece.

@Nefieslab @Eccles

 

[Jana Kang]

Jana nodded to the King of Onderon, "I will be your hostage." she didn't want to send up more citizens of Byblos for this deal because she didn't quite want to risk their lives. Neither at the hand of the Queen Mother or indeed in a fleet engagement, where citizens would only get in the way. "But neither of us can guarantee the safety of anyone on board our ships while we're in battle over Commenor. I would appreciate if I alone could suffice as hostage."

Then the Queen Mother spoke again, her reasoning purely emotional and her jump to secession on a day that she had threatened to destroy Byblos sounded too much like an 'or else'.

"I am a mere senator. The representative of a government from a planet that is alive today thanks to the Republic's actions in our defense. We are not a warlike people, we do not order our fleets to bomb civilian targets -war crimes- because our enemy does so, too." her disdain for the Queen Mother and so too the Onderon King was clear. She regarded them as little more than the Sith that happily bombed planets and massacred innocents. She would never propose to her government that they'd secede from the Republic to join them.

"I thank you for your promised help in ridding the galaxy of the Killik infestation. Perhaps one day you will offer the same deal to join you to my successor, but I will not entertain it today, after you just threatened to massacre billions of innocent people."

_________________________
OOC: if terms agreeable I think we can handwave fleets going to the other open thread.

@Valen Pelora @Nefieslab

 

[Charlotte Le'Anna]

Bleh. Such righteous indignation. Did people actually feel that way? Charlotte narrowed her eyes. Senator Kang seemed believable enough. Gross. She could have respected the woman if it was an act. There was a time and a place for patriotic anger. No…this was sincere. How very annoying. Charlotte often forgot there were genuine people in the galaxy looking for more than just influence or survival. “Fine.” The good Senator did not hide her disdain and so neither did Charlotte. “Weylin can keep you. We’ll leave immediately.” She gave one last passing smile to the King. A brilliant flash of her perfect teeth.

“I’m sure we will see each other again, Senator.” She favored the woman with an even broader grin before standing and leaving the room. Her Chume’doro formed up around her as they quickly made their way back to the shuttle. In short order, the Queen Mother was returned to the Royal Fleet. “Make preparations to jump to Commenor. Senator Kang will be offering her assistance.” At her command, the Royal Fleet sprang into action.

She still wondered how this might be spun to her advantage. Rushing back to the Defense of Commenor was useful. The senator as a hostage was useful. Clearly, she had Weylin wrapped around her finger. She had really wanted to burn something today. How disappointing. Nothing a drink couldn’t fix. The route to Commenor was fast but not that fast. Charlotte smiled as the shuttle landed and she disembarked. A glass of Hapes finest wine waiting for her. She took a big gulp before sauntering towards the bridge. Perfect.

OOC: End