Event Galaxy in Crisis!

[Nykoria Tallis]

CORUSCANT​

"Kark!" The curse whirred out of Kori's lungs as she attempted to get up on her knees and regain her footing. One moment, she had been heading towards the Sector Ranger HQ, intent on discussing the recent incidents involving the Sith and offering her assistance. The next moment, she was knocked down by the shock wave coming from the very building where she was heading. But the emotional backlash was even worse: fear, pain, and confusion spread throughout the district like another explosion, and the susceptible Zeltron was next to the epicenter.

Get up. Do something... Do what exactly?! Anything! You're a Jedi, and before that you were training for law enforcement. This is exactly where you're supposed to be. Right...

Nykoria looked around. She sensed a Jedi present nearby, but couldn't see them yet. She tried to attune her senses and make something out of the cacophony of screams, sirens, and fire. Then she heard a man nearby; agitated, talking on the radio and mentioning HQ. There was only one HQ worth mentioning, so the Zeltron rushed towards the man.

"Are you with the Rangers?" she went straight to the point. "Nykoria Tallis, Jedi Order. I want to help." The Zeltron wasn't your typical robe-wearing Jedi though. She wore a black flight suit without a helmet, and a dark brown leather jacket over it. Should've taken the kriffin' helmet, Kori. Now she'd have to hold her breath if she were to go in.

@Ecclessey, @TerranSteel

 

[Kel Dryden]

CORUSCANT​

Kel was anxious about the whole thing. Unreasonably so, as he reassured himself. That was supposed to be ordinary routine. Park the Black Swift in the second district; wait for a few people; get them off world; get more than a fair amount of credits for the job. Even the fact that his employer was Preef Callo—not a small deal in the Syndicates—and the mission was a prison break didn't bother Kel as much. At least it wasn't supposed to. Then why did Kel's gut tell him to take the Swift and run away? It always happened when the poodoo was about to hit the fan.

The answer came in the form of earth tremors and a bright flash up ahead—right in the direction of Sector Rangers HQ. Kel couldn't believe his eyes. Was the Rodian Enforcer playing that big? It certainly seemed like a good diversion. Too good, even for Callo's reputation. As a proof of that, the LED on Kel's beeper changed its color to red. It meant that the ground team had run into some trouble and needed help at the sewers.

Kel looked at it, weighing up his options. He could just take the Swift and fly away that very moment. Preef was probably in deep poodoo, and a bunch of rangers and local security would show up soon enough. Of course, if Preef somehow made it out of there, he'd have a score to settle with Dryden and his crew. Not to mention that Kel would be missing out on all of the promised credits and fame. The scoundrel cursed at himself and the decision he was about to make...

"Nyx, keep the engines ready," he addressed his astromech before hitting the intercom: "Looks like our passengers are delayed and need some help. I'll take the speeder and pay them a visit. Anyone coming with me?" While the crew members were making up their minds, the pilot checked his equipment. The dual-barreled RSKF-44 seemed like the best choice; it could be hidden in the black leather jacket that Kel wore over his flight suit. Yet something urged him to put the two halves of his electrostaff in a special sheath behind his back. Then he proceeded to the cargo hold.

Kel's T-85 had room for one more passenger; but it was up to the Swift's crew to decide if anyone else wanted to come along. He wasn't going to ask them to risk their life and limb for Preef's illusory credits. But of course, whoever actually came with Kel could hope for a bigger cut. That's how business was done on Nar Shaddaa and aboard the Swift.

Alone or with a teammate, Kel was sitting on the speeder. With a deep breath, he prepared to gun it down the ramp and towards the chaos near the Ranger HQ...

@Nightfall, @Ecclessey

 

[Iko Gark Lokan Jistos]

Iko frowned as he examined the pathogen under the microscope, taking notes while mumbling to himself. The virus's structure was clearly manmade, and he recalled about some of the symptoms of AMS from reports coming from other planets. But this strain in particular was somehow... potent in the Force. Dark Force, to be exact. He examined it, and compared it with notes he had about Sith Alchemy, an art that he hadn't practiced or studied thoroughly, but that honestly intrigued him, given the possibilities. And indeed, he spotted signs that the pathogen had been created through Alchemy. Hm, once I'll get out of this planet, I'll try to contact some Eternal members that practice Alchemy to see if they're the author of this wonderful creation, he thought as he kept working.

 

[Juniper]

Spoiler: Nar Shaddaa

While the human @Nara Allam sat tinkering with a sewer grate a group roving group of monsters, stretching the edges of one of the hot zones wider in a search for more flesh to consume, spotted her. What had been a group of pazaak loving buddies just a few hours ago was now a voracious hunting pack and without hesitation, the trio of AMS inflicted Gungans let loose an inhuman shriek as they began to charge towards her.

Nar Shaddaa​

The first sign something was wrong? When 3-B squeaked and flapped. The map disappeared and Nara looked aside, wondering what'd got him so worked up?

"Calm down for g...." she started to say, before hearing the shriek. She saw three of them, Gungans, started to rush towards her. Her jaw dropped. How had she been so stupid? Too absorbed in the grate wiring to check her corners. If I live, Master Hannibal is going to kill me.

She pulled her blaster pistol from her belt and fired, three blasts one after the other. One was aimed right at the bloodied chest of a Gungan, smacking the creature back. The other two went wide, narrowly skimming the sides of the other Gungans. They came closer and closer, charging right at her. 3-B scattered, running towards her as fast as his little legs could manage. Nara prepared herself, slipping into a stance as she plucked her saber from her belt. She ignited it, bathing the alley in sapphire-blue.

Wait... wait... careful... NOW!

Nara swung her saber in an arc, slicing through half-dead flesh. The cries died out as the former Gungans collapsed, flesh peeling around the deep, cauterised wounds in their flesh. They twitched on the ground vaguely, pathetic groans coming from their slack mouths. Nara stared for a second before shivering.

"What am I doing?" she asked herself as she turned away, holstering her pistol. She looked at the grate and shook her head. "Screw this." She plunged her saber into the metal surroundings, watching it melt around the blade. She carved around it roughly, the scent of molten-hot metal filling the air, overpowering the dead flesh. I'm not waiting around for more of them to come swarm me.

Once the deed was done, she scooped up her droid back onto her shoulder and slipped down into the tunnels below the street. Her droid activated it's flashlight, bathing the place with light. Nara winced a little as she held her free hand to her mouth.

Ugh... the smell never got any better.

With that, she started to move deeper into the tunnels. Hoping that with the outbreak, the mass of the creatures would have moved onto the surface. There must be something down here to show where it started. Something.

 

[Helen Holcomb]

DATHOMIR

After a few more minutes of sitting around feeling sorry for herself, Helen eventually came to the conclusion that it would be no use hanging around her crashed starfighter. After checking over her flight suit, a sturdy Imperial-era antique, she had climbed back into her wrecked ship to extract what she believed she would need. In addition to her helmet - which she saw no need to wear in a perfectly breathable atmosphere - she wore a pack which contained the small fighter's survival pack, which included rations and camping supplies, her small number of personal possessions, a small projectile pistol she kept as a personal sidearm, and a battered but fully functional E-11 blaster rifle that she had discovered in a long disused equipment bin.

It was as she was getting ready to set off from the crash site into the rocky, forbidding wilderness that she heard the rumble of engines, and looked up to see a ship coming in to land. Shading her eyes from the reddish sun, she watched it circle once overhead before coming in to settle on its landing gear.

The Lepi fingered her blaster nervously as a being in flowing robes descended a ramp that folded down from a hatch on the ship. The planet and the crash had her on edge, but something was telling her that the being before her was not dangerous, or at least wasn't the most dangerous thing in her vicinity.

At Hannibal's casual greeting, Helen nodded cautiously, looking around at the landscape once more.

"Yeah... small Galaxy." She replied, glancing back at her crumpled TIE. "You the local welcoming committee? Or did you hear it too?"

(Edited to reflect a previous post by @Mr. Teatime that I missed.)

 

[Indy Sati]

Dathomir​

A place that gave a silent cry in the Force. A place steeped in darkness, once assumed asleep, now stirring again. It would be no surprise that both sides of Force Users would come here; it was a lurid beacon, speaking of both dark side and light, of tales in history that even the most minorly aspiring historian would crave to seek out.

That being said, Indy was not here for a picnic.

She had parked not too far from Max, actually, but it wasn't coincidence. She had felt its' draw as surely as a red thread, but her hand hovered close to her blaster. Her lightsaber remained deactivated in her hand for now, but such caution was not to be taken lightly.

If there was a particular reason why this planet still seemed to whisper into the dark, she would be there to answer it. And perhaps ease whatever deep-steeped malevolence that seethed even in the simplest shadows.

 

[Weiss Zano]

Coruscant

Weiss had taken action immediately seeing the state that everything around him was in. He had reached through the Force when landing next to the doctor and could feel life still present around him. Two signs of life seemed to be coming from under a large portion of a knocked out wall and immediately realizing what it was and that survivors were trapped underneath the young Jedi extended his right hand. Gritting his teeth and squeezing his fist half shut his arm shook as Weiss grasped on the giant piece of the wall and pushed it off of the two survivors.

The boy was always noted to have strong connection with the Force even in his early youth but Weiss's use of the Force amounted more to sheer magnitude rather than precision or some creative uses. Thus sending powerful telekinetic waves and throwing objects around came far more easier to the young man than some precise delicate action which would require a larger deal of concentration.

Before Ilana stepped into the building he called out to her ''Doctor.. Wait!'' Sensing danger from the fiery ruins of the headquarter building more specifically from the entrance door that was blasted open. Weiss moved up trying to catch up to the doctor and approach the entrance before she did. He noticed the ceiling of the ground floor which would be the floor of the first floor was caving in in one area near the entrance.

The white hair man was faced with a problem of choice. He did indeed have enough power and strength within himself to manage the potential debris from the cave in but it was the question of approach. Should he just try to blast it with a telekinetic strike from down bellow and propel it upward to the floor above ? That would risk hurting more potential survivors. Perhaps he should yank it out and let it collapse to the ground floor ? But he feared that might further the cave in and have the entire upper floor collapse on them.

Without a clear result in mind he opted for the third best thing. ''Doctor your services might me far more valuable than mine up there. Your advance should be the top priority.'' the tall young man extended both of his hands in the air as he grasped and held onto the part of the ceiling that was almost collapsing with the Force, pushing with all his might to maintain the potential debris in the same position, supporting it from bellow. ''H-hurry.. you go up and I'll try to follow.''

@Killa Ree @TerranSteel @Catbert @Ecclessey

 

[The Forgotten]

Dathomir​

Those who had arrived on the surface of Dathomir would find the surface of the planet to be quite similar to any records found in their star charts. The music that had drawn them to the world was quieter now, but with each gust of wind they might hear the faint sound of its call.

There was no response to the shouted challenge of @Helen Holcomb but for a moment, she would feel a prickling down her spine as if someone had heard despite the fact that there was no one nearby. An almost imperceptible presence would leave her to look over her shoulder only to see nothing there but small insects and creatures scrambling away from the crash site. It wasn't until the arrival of another person in the form the @Hannibal Grayza that the presence seemed to dissipate.

For @Maxims Tionson, @Malleus, @Maeve Byrne, and @Indy Sati who all still walked alone, they would feel a familiar pull in the Force that, if followed, would lead them away from their ships and toward a hill in the distance. Rising high into the sky, carvings of faces and homesteads could be seen atop its peak offering shelter to those who lived or had lived there. Surrounding its base was a thick forest of the gnarled trees native to Dathomir that appeared anything but inviting.

If they looked beyond the cliffs, they would see that the sky was dark and heavy with clouds that stretched to the ground. They seemed to move with unnatural speed toward the mountainous area, and would arrive shortly, consuming the entire area within a thick mist and heavy storm.

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Coruscant​

That presence, the appearance. Amber eyes stared up at the Jedi, features then hardening. He seemed intent to help her... and she wasn't certain how to process this civilian.

Until he seemed to hold up a weak point to access the floor above. Her jaw hardened, and her voice was a low, hard rasp.

"Don't try to play hero until it breaks you," she ordered crisply, but a name filtered through, another voice saying his name. A Ranger, perhaps? ( @Darmus Onn ) Suddenly she turned, and looked at him. "You know Corran?" she rasped harshly. Despite her icy tone, worry flickered in amber eyes. Something constricted in her heart as well, an emotion that she hadn't felt in years.

Fear.

It narrowed her focus, drowning out everything else. "You know Ranger Velt?" She finally managed, jaw gritting. Not waiting for a response, she continued speaking. "You get in contact with him, ping me. Affiliate Doctor Morata. Going in to rescue and aid, second floor."

She then turned on one heel, and sprinted ahead.

There wasn't much smoke or fire on the ground floor, but she sprinted past the Jedi, began heading for the floor above.

All the while, her heart thudded sharply in her chest, the smell of smoke dulled by the rebreather and other accessories.

She had a job to do. Hopefully the Jedi would help her do it, but not be boneheaded enough to play hero and strain himself. If the floor collapsed, it would be the least of her problems.

@TerranSteel @Ecclessey @Six @AutoFox

@Catbert

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Dathomir​

The call was strong once again but it wasn't all he could feel through the Force. There was a twisted lust ( @Malleus ) within roughly the same area as him and a presence that stank of pain and desperation to make others feel it too ( @Maeve Byrne ). Alongside those darker presences were ones in the Light.

Ones he knew.

One he had been on several missions with ( @Indy Sati ) and one he had been working with for perhaps a touch longer still ( @Hannibal Grayza ) - nice to see that they were here on this terrible little rock with him. Indeed Indy was actually rather close, allowing him to meet up with her fairly quickly even as he moved toward the hill that beckoned them forward.

"Indy." he called out to her when they were closer, "Hannibal is around her somewhere too but there are others here less... restrained than he is."

He held his saberstaff in his right hand, not activated for now but at the ready as he pulled the Light around himself to cover him. It acted as both a beacon and as a protective aura from the lingering taint of the Dark Side in the area. Breathing out a sigh, he flicked up his hood after a long look at the clouds rolling in as he marched resolutely toward the treeline.

"Never rains but it pours, eh?"

@Killa Ree @Mr. Teatime @Six @GABA @AutoFox @The Forgotten (idk who is DMing)

 

[Malleus]

Dathomir

The presence of the Dark Side on the planet was intoxicating feeling almost like a pull and seeming more and more like a call the further the Sith traveled across it's surface. One presence among the sea of Dark Side energies stood out, mostly due to it's proximity but also for it's familiarity. Moving through the forest surrounding the base of the hill and towards the familiar presence Malleus came face to face with Maeve - the girl who issued a call to the Sith to engage in the attack on Corucsant.

Though he did not know her name and her face was hidden behind a mask sharing such an experience as the Coruscant station attack did indeed leave a mark on everyone present and Malleus was more than familiar with the imprints of all comrades left within the Force from that day.

''You..'' the towering Zabrak spoke behind his re breather mask but not in a hostile way but more so in a 'i know you' kind of way. It was pretty clear that Maeve was here for the same reason he was, she felt the call of this place to her. ''You feel it too don't you ?'' The large Sith asked as his eyes looked upon the top of the hill above them.

@Killa Ree @Mr. Teatime @Nefieslab @AutoFox @The Forgotten @GABA

 

[Birsk FanQeete]

NAR SHADDAA
​

It took only a few seconds for the wookiee that had charged him to be shot down, but to Birsk it felt an eternity. The girl trembled in his arms, though the sight of their Kiffar savior calmed her down slightly. The Bothan blinked, then looked up at the man who had saved their lives. Familiar... "You... you were in that sleemo bar the other night." He frowned. "Don't really remember that night, honestly..."

Birsk was still dazed; he had almost died. It wasn't the first time, for sure, but the fact that it had come so close this time... and the girl...

He looked down at her, covered in her mother's blood, dirt, tears. Though she was human, she reminded him of someone else.

And the simple fact that he could've done nothing to save her if the Kiffar hadn't been there broke him a little bit. Just like last time.

Birsk shook himself back to the present, asked if the girl was alright with no answer. She was utterly terrified. Fan'qeete looked up at the Kiffar once more, then to the pouch at his side. He produced a small blaster, the barrel no longer than his index finger, and almost too small for his hand to grasp effectively. He managed, though, and stood up with the girl in one arm. Birsk winced as pain shot up his leg; he hadn't noticed he'd hurt it.

"I suppose we'll see just how serious you are about leaving us behind soon. Lead the way." His eyes never left the Kiffar's, even with the entire moon of Nar Shaddaa screaming and roaring around them.

@Topher Ridge

 

[Corran Velt]

Coruscant
​

Adrenaline was building in his veins the closer he got to the raging fireball. The primal fears tried to stall his heavy footfalls; terrified of the danger and the lethal blaze. His discipline, training, and his oath propelled Corran onward. Normally, the Ranger wouldn't be this reckless. This driven. But Sector Ranger HQ was the monument to their hard work. Earning the trust of Coruscant, the New Republic, and the Free Worlds Alliance. A central base. A home. Countless innocent people worked and served there. To hesitate for time was to trade lives.

As the blond youth neared the inferno, the dust and ash in the air began to thicken and obscure vision. Debris lay strewn everywhere. Scatterings of people were running, walking, or unconsciously being dragged away from the disaster. Corran stopped after he heard Trinni's faint cry to wait up. He'd carry her if he had to. She was scrappy and mouthy, and he knew no measure of her skills, but the little alien could at least fit through places he couldn't. Almost at the same time, his commlink chirped. In all the chaos, he could barely make out the voice. Darmus? It had been so long that the young Ranger couldn't barely believe it. "Ranger Onn? Is that you?" He held the communicator close, to break through the noise around him, "Onn, I'm at Headquarters. Massive damage. Casualties high. Survivors are in danger. Say again, survivors at risk. I'm going in with a rescue team. Repeat, proceeding to ground floor with rescue team." Corran glanced back at the Amaran. Well, two of them technically made a team. He spoke back into the commlink, his voice less professional, calling upon their shared history, "We could really use you, Darmus. Out."

At least that meant help might be on the way. The young man gestured for Trinni to stay close, "Follow me." Unlike the others, the duo had come from the landing pads opposite the main entrance. No rescue vehicles had landed here yet and the two sets of doors remained intact. One had been thrown of its track and jammed. The other looked usable. Activating it and motioning Trinni inside, they were greeted by debris. Part of the second floor had collapsed and blocked their progression. The smoke was thinner here but above them they could see through holes in the floor all the way up to the heart of the raging inferno. A crimson and orange monster, consuming everything it touched. There would be no survivors from those floors, because they were completely gone. Blown to smithereens.

With their way forward blocked, only one optioned remained: going down. The basement, where backups of evidence, janitorial equipment, miscellaneous supplies, and the prisoner holdings were located, had several entry/exit stairwells across the entire first floor. A route around the duracrete pile. Corran coughed and hunched down further, "Head down to the basement." With a secure durasteel door, the Ranger entered in a numbered pass code and a small green light fluttered above the handle. The security door shut behind them, sealing away the smoke and chaos. Only barely flickering lights guided their path in the labyrinth of Ranger HQ's dank basement level.

@Killa Ree @Ecclessey @Catbert @Six @AutoFox @Nightfall

 

[The Eclipse]

Coruscant
​

All in all, everything went better than expected. Despite recent activity on the Republic capital, or perhaps because of it, the Sector Rangers had not been prepared for the kind of swift action that had resulted in the ruination of their station. Seemingly random murders and the relentless slaughter of civilians in a train station were nothing compared to the surgical precision with which a squad of individuals had infiltrated the building, disabled alarms, and planted heavy explosives within. In short, the Rangers were not prepared. Now, groups of armed men and women stalked through the burning and half-ruined building to seek out what they came for and take advantage of the inevitable attention the detonation would draw.

Moments after the explosion, a pair of guards standing by the prisoner lockup fell before a mix of crimson blade and sharply accurate blaster fire. The crimson plasma burned through the door within sight of @Marissa Hesse and the newly arrived @Preef Callo a young man, breath mask covering his face, stepped into the room. He was flanked by a pair of armoured men brandishing blaster rifles, which were presently pointed at the rodian.

"It's not safe here. I suggest evacuation, Rodian," the masked young suggested with mock concern through his mask's voice filter, shoving a security spike into the prison console. Shortly thereafter, every cell within the prison level unlocked, freeing numerous prisoners from their confinement. The man chuckled darkly before turning to face the prisoners. "On behalf of the Black Sun, enjoy your newfound freedom. Don't get caught now, kiddies." A pile of what used to be Ranger blasters was dumped on the ground by another armoured man before they all backed out of the room, assuming they weren't stopped by something beforehand.

Elsewhere in the building, many little rats had already entered the maze. As @Dr Ilana Morata moved up the stairs to the second level, a soft humming buzz was the only real warning before an active vibroknife flew out from the clouds of smoke toward the good doctor from the end of the hall. A red blade ignited within the smoke ignited immediately afterwards while a second figure made itself known in the form of two blaster bolts aimed at the doctor. The saber-wielder lobbed a metal sphere directed down the stairs the doctor was climbing. A thermal detonator, primed to explode within seconds. The grenade, however, wasn't being directed at the doctor, but at @Weiss Zano down below, whose use of the Force announced his presence quite nicely.

From outside the burning building, @Darmus Onn and @Nykoria Tallis could clearly hear the sounds of blaster fire from inside, though they themselves had not been engaged and were relatively safe, for the moment. They would be able to easily sense the presence of the Dark Side within the building now, as the various Sith within ceased to conceal their presence and engaged the various rescue teams and other individuals. More fuel to the fire, and all according to plan.

Meanwhile, @Corran Velt and @Trini Halrixien were entering the basement. The sound of the security door shutting off the area echoed in the otherwise quiet hallway, a respite from the chaos above. But not for long. The humming of a repulsorlift cut through the quiet as a Viper probe droid turned a corner at the end of the hallway and opened fire with its twin blaster cannons toward the wayward Ranger and his little companion. It slowly advanced down the hall with no concept of cover or subtlety, deafening weapons fire echoing in the close quarters environment.

Reports came into the arranger of this particular little party regarding the various engagements, and he honestly couldn't be happier. Like proverbial moths to the literal flame. Jedi and Rangers, always rushing to save those in need. How predictable they were. He, meanwhile, was in the middle of burning his way into the backup records room while another pair of soldiers were setting up an E-web emplacement to guard the single hallway leading to it. Within contained not just criminal files, but also information on the Rangers themselves. Should he manage to get inside, there was no telling what he could manage with the information.

Of course, he knew exactly the kinds of things he could do with it, so long as the rest of his squad kept the moths at bay. His master would be most pleased with information regarding Ranger operations as well as any personal connections that could be exploited. None would stand before the Eternal or the Black Sun. The Eclipse would come for them all.

@Killa Ree @Nightfall @Six @TerranSteel @AutoFox @Ecclessey @Catbert

 

[Roland Rook]

DATHOMIR​

After Mandalore, everything had changed. Each encounter with the Sith and their associated Dark Side pealed back a bit of the galaxy he had been unaware of. But word of strange occurrences matched Force related phenomena. It was for this reason he had requested one of the IT-6 drone barges deployed with probe droids would be deployed to Dathomir. It felt like the smarter call since he doubted any Rangers were jumping at the chance to wander through the strange wilderness of the Outer Rim world.

While the probe droids would find something eventually, Roland had taken to visiting the planet in case something did turn up. The monitored ship traffic that spiked seemed to indicate others felt the same. <"Because it's such a nice tourist spot"> He spoke sarcastically to himself as he pulled a flame projector from his armory locker. It wasn't the first time Mandalorian had ventured to the witch-cursed-world but it was never pleasant.

His two droids, Grem and Grim, floated out of their charge sockets and exited the ship with the Lieutenant. As soon as he reached them he gave his P-0-Tc the order to stand guard over the ship and alert him if anything happened. Roland's ID-21 was directed to fly ahead thirty meters and move at a walking pace once it reached that point. Roland continued to walk through the undergrowth of the Dathmirian terrain. It looked like it had once been full of life or just reduced to harshness. Part of him wondered if something happened to the planet like what had happened to Mandalore long ago.

Several moments would pass before Roland heard a moment of chatter from Grem over the thee closed comlink. +I have found additional voices+ The lieutenant began to make his way closer, careful to not step in any dry branches. The man had been wondering if he was going to come across some locals. Though the Zabrak and his cohort weren't the ones the Mandalorian would be entirely expecting. Non-the less he called in the activity to also possibly mark as a place that needs guarding. If there was an unmarked population center they could use help in supplies or protection. I bet an agriculutral project would work better on Dathomir soil than Mandalore. He thought as he made his way through the denser part of the forest. He was pretty sure the planet had some close ties with the Force. He stopped for a moment and debated whether or not he should call Indy since this was also her sort of subject.

@Six @GABA @Nefieslab @Killa Ree @AutoFox @Mr. Teatime

 

[Weiss Zano]

Coruscant

Still supporting the part of the ceiling that almost caved in Weiss heard clear blaster shots coming from above. Though most of the sound from the shots as well as flashes of their bolts were heard and seen from the direction of the stairs Ilana had previously went up to get to the first floor. With his attention turned toward the stairs the Jedi noticed something tumbling down, a flashing red dot on the object giving it away as an obvious thermal detonator.

With not much time to think Weiss yanked the portion of the ceiling that he was supporting before and yanked it towards the device, making sure to fling a larger part of the concrete first before the rest followed and cover it. This way he figured he would minimize further damage at least to the part of the ground floor he was in, the one near the main entrance, as well as snuff out any possibility of potential shrapnel.

Bent over forward and covering his face with the forearm from his left arm as the device exploded, most of it's explosion being snuffed out by the debris so that the side Weiss was standing only suffered a wave of dust and smaller particles. The area around the stairs though was now even more inaccesible due to both the debris the Jedi had flung in it's direction and the thermal devices detonation as most of it hit that side exactly.

Looking over his arm Weiss now clearly saw through the hole in the ceiling. Though most of the upper floor was covered in smoke and clouds he managed to get a visual of movement of what seemed to be a figure wielding a blaster rifle or a blaster pistol few meters from the hole in the ceiling and facing it sideways. The previous maneuver with the Force did put a significant amount of strain on the young Jedi but he still had plenty of fuel in the tank. The option to use it sparsely did cross his mind and he would follow that instinct put for now he had to call upon the Force once more. With obvious hostiles on the upper floor and their possible surprise attack and numbers the doctor lady as well as other potential survivors could be in quite a pinch, and he seemed to have an opportunity for a surprise attack.

Weiss called on the Force once again squatting down before leaping up into the air and through the hole in the ceiling holding the hilt of his lightsaber in his right hand. He swung his right arm in a slashing motion from his right side to his left igniting the weapon's blade halfway through and aiming to decapitate the blaster wielding hostile in a blue flash of plasma or at least if the man somehow reacted in time cut through his arm. His 55 inch blade, longer than that of the standard lightsaber allowed him to attempt the strike on his target from a relatively safe distance.

The Jedi's leap ended with him falling on his shoulder and instantly rolling out using the momentum of his jump behind a concrete support pillar. He was positioned in such a way that he could see the stairs Ilana had went through previously in front on him while behind the pillar the Jedi's back were now clinging to was the blaster wielding hostile and potential others.

@Killa Ree @Nightfall @TerranSteel @AutoFox @Ecclessey @Catbert @The Eclipse

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

CORUSCANT​

The stranger was indeed the ranger, as evidenced by a reply on the radio. But that didn't matter. Not anymore. There was a sudden shift in the Force. Something unpleasant, yet familiar. As if someone had quickly drawn all warmth and color out of the surroundings; and in the middle of a raging inferno, no less. Or just turned off the lights. For a moment, the Zeltron was out of it, as her mind and senses explored that shift. It was just like on Ontotho, when the Sith revealed their intetions and presence in the Force. Of course! Who else has been acting that boldly on Coruscant recently?

Suddenly, the Zeltron Knight regained a sense of focus that she had missed for a long while. Saving the survivors was one thing, and she'd do that in a heartbeat. But if the perpetrators escaped, they'd just do the same and worse all over again. There'd be even more victims. So, instead of "Find and save everyone you can", Nykoria's priorities shifted to "Find and stop the Sith, and help everyone you find along the way, if you can." That subtle change made things easier, gave Kori a clear purpose, and crystallized the plan in her head. "After all, what better choice to stop a Sith than a Jedi?" An arrogant viewpoint, but protecting people from the bad guys was what Kori had been training for more than a decade.

"There are Sith in the building," she informed her newly-found ally before he could even comment on her desire to help. The sounds of blaster fire only proved her point. "I'm going to try and locate their leader. But I don't have the access codes, or the layout of the HQ. That's where you come in. I mean, I could really use your help to stop this madness." Again, the Zeltron was resolute and straight-to-the-point. Perhaps the adrenaline and the opportunity to move forward with her investigation made her more decisive and eager to take the lead. Either way, even though she spoke as if the decision had been made, she realized that the ranger had no reason to trust her.

Even worse, the man was unarmed. With some hesitation, Nykoria unholstered her own stun pistol and extended it to the man. "Here, take this. Only twenty EMP stun rounds, but it packs a punch. I'll want it back after it's all over." Hopefully, offering the stranger her weapon proved that she was on his side. But with or without the ranger, she'd rush into the building with one of her azure lightsabers ignited. Holding the saber in one hand, she was ready to deflect blaster fire; the other hand was free in case she needed to push aside some rubble or pull a weapon out of an unsuspecting gunner's hands.

Inside the building, Nykoria would let her senses guide her towards the strongest Dark Side presence. Which was kind of problematic with all the death and destruction; like finding the darkest part of a dark room. The Zeltron raced through rubble and debris until she reached a stairwell leading down to the basement. Usually that's where the evidence and the servers with data were stored. Of course, Kori didn't know that inbetween her and her target, there was a security door, a couple of stranded survivors, a probe droid, and an E-Web turret being set up.

@Ecclessey

 

[Felix]

Dathomir

Felix had fallen asleep in the little hiding spot he had made for himself in the cargo hold of indy's shi[ behind some creates, he rubbed his eyes as his mind started to clear grogginess from it, his mind went to the weird dream where someone was singing in it, he had never heard the voice before but it sent a shiver do his spine just thinking about it.

It didn't take long for him to realise that engines were off which could only mean one thing, they had landed. He cautiously left his hidey-hole checking to make sure coast was clear before he made his way to cockpit to find out where he was, look out of it whatever world they were on was very red and looked a bit spooky, he brought the nav computer to give him an actual name for the planet.

"Da-tho-mir?" The name rang some vague bells in his head, probably read it somewhere when learning about the history of jedi or something. it couldn't be that bad, right?

He approached the load crunching down low, he tried to sneak off the ship but accidentally tripped on a tool of some kind and rolled down the ramp and landing on his back in the red soil, groaning slightly while holding his head.

@Six @GABA @Nefieslab @Killa Ree @AutoFox @Mr. Teatime

 

[Izel Thral]

Nar Shaddaa​

As Izel and her apprentice followed the map left by Nara deeper into the hot zone they found themselves moving against the grain of the crowd. Sentients of all species were screaming and running for their lives to get away. Even what counted for law enforcement on the Smuggler's Moon seemed to be giving little thought to their duty and trying to escape as well. More and more corpses lined the streets, torn open with blood and viscera splattered all about. The Vratix felt her stomach turn, but maintained her calm.

She could sense Isen's excitement about going on his first real mission as a Jedi. It was good he wasn't afraid, but Izel didn't want her Padawan to underestimate the threat they faced either. "Listen carefully," She said as she continued following the map. Her tone carried a certain stony severity that she rarely adopted. "These creatures may appear to be regular sentients. They are not. Don't allow yourself to feel any emotional attachment. The smallest hesitation could mean your death. The virus that has infected them has destroyed any personality they once had, leaving only ravenous monsters behind. When fighting them, focus on destroying the head." She made a gesture of dragging a finger across her throat. "That is the quickest and most reliable way to stop them. Individually they should not be a match for you. They behave like dumb animals. But be mindful of your surroundings, or they will surround and overwhelm you. And by the Force do not let them bite you. Or you'll end up just like them. If we are separated fall back on what you learned during our training in the jungle back on Ajan Kloss. Try to find my mark in the Force and trace your way back to me. I will do the same." She took a moment to look at her Padawan. Being an insectoid it wasn't really possible for her to offer a reassuring smile. Humanoids couldn't read her facial expressions. But she did the best to send an impression of confidence through the Force. "So long as we work together and trust in the Force we will be fine. We are Jedi. And you will show the people of Nar Shaddaa that you are worthy of that title." Despite her personal anxieties, Izel's words carried the certainty of a forgone conclusion. She wasn't about to unnerve her apprentice by looking scared herself.

Reaching Nara's transmitted coordinates Izel spotted the open grate, and the dispatched gungans. "Nara?" She called, looking the now abandoned street. She called her name again, but the Jedi Knight was nowhere to be seen. The Vratix cautiously approached the open grate, lightsaber pike in hand, and looked into the tunnel. Reaching out with her Force sense she quickly identified the human's familiar presence, already some distance away. It would take them some time to catch up. Again Izel sent an impression through the Force, trying to alert Nara to her presence. She then turned to Isen as she ignited the emerald blade of her saber. "Time to get to work." She said, and entered the tunnel.

@Isen @Charndley

 

[Bast Emblai]

Coruscant
​

The call had come while she was on Corellia, corroborating evidence for a homicide with CorSec databases. Perhaps the stoic woman was no longer one of their number, but the institution was a second home of sorts. At 14:28, her comm chimed. Bast ignored the sound. Likely a report sent in for review. Or perhaps Corran inviting her on another flight as copilot. The last instance had hardly gone smoothly, but he was probably rid of the gizka by now. Another ping. Quick footsteps. Looking up, Bast’s hazel eyes tracked the officer who had just entered the room. He looked young, not from her time. Politely, she nodded and continued her work. His approach did not stop. The expression written on the ruddy man’s face was one of panic. “Sir. Can I help you?” A cordial smile graced the woman’s visage, but there was a tinge of annoyance in her voice.

Despite his previous urgency, the officer paused a moment before talking, as if the words were stuck in his throat. “Ranger Emblai. There has been an attack. You are needed.“ A hand extending a datapad told her everything else she needed to know. Live footage of fire, destruction, the superimposed galactic coordinates: (0,0,0). Bast’s heart sunk. She knew what used to be where there was now only smoke and debris. She knew who was stationed there.

Thoughts blurred, the Ranger made her way onto the Crescent, numbly flicking the switches. This was her Sector. Nobody messed with her sector. Hyperspace streaked by, casting the stone-still figure of the former CorSec officer in washes of blue and white. Distantly, the ship’s comm broadcasted the Ranger frequency live. Chaos was mounting by the second.
———
District Two was in flames. Aid workers and prisoners alike streaked by in all directions. Still dressed in slacks and a pressed shirt, Bast had used a precious few seconds to throw on combat boots and her vest. Hot air rose from a nearby debris pile, distorting the shambles of HQ in the distance.
“This is Ranger Emblai. Someone come in. Please.-“ The desperation was thinly veiled. “I need an update. What the hell is happening?” So flustered was she that the detective forgot to close her statement, cutting the call short. There was practically no organization. The chances of her finding someone were low. She would go in alone.

Smoke and dust made Bast squint as she gingerly traversed the broken ground. Looking down, she was surprised to find her outer thigh bleeding, a gash through the now soiled fabric. When had that happened? Surely the back entrance was around here somewhere. Previously slicked back, perfect hair was now disheveled, a strand jutting out from the bun, having caught on a remnant of fencing. Buried under a chunk of duracrete was the staircase to the basement bunker. Buckling under the weight, the door was cracked just wide enough to squeeze through. Another ragged edge jabbed the woman’s hand. Internal alarms blared, but the power was out. In her hurry, she had neglected her helmet and attached light. Kark. Now there was no way to rush to the rescue. Slowly, chromium toed boots slid over the rubble, feeling ahead, prodding at the surroundings. She was practically a sitting Tip Yip.

@TerranSteel @Killa Ree @Nightfall @AutoFox @Ecclessey @Catbert @The Eclipse