Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Jul 18, 2005 9:04:50 GMT -5
((OOC: Sorry if I'm hijacking a few characters, here, but, yeah, I wanted to advance the story a bit.))
Iric stumbled as the man bumped him. Weak, he fell, as the darkness of the man overtook him.
"Watch it," the man said, "unless you want to end up a pile of slag."
Iric swallowed, stood, and began to walk away from the rough bar, leaving the man behind.
But then he felt more beings in the alleyway, heard the man who had bumped him groan. Iric turned to look over his shoulder. A Devaronian held a pistol at waist height, pointing at the man who had bumped Iric.
"Oy there," the Devaronian said, "We hears you've been mucking up our boss' business, bounty hunter."
The man just shook his head, his hands in the air: "What're you talking about?"
"Just killed the senator from Tatooine. Trying to snatch it from the Republic?"
"It was just a job."
"A job that cost me boss a good many creds and contracts."
Recognition seemed to dawn on the man's eyes, "Hey, I've got no more love for the Hutts than the Vigos but a job's a job, and killing me won't do anything about it."
"But it'll help cheer up me boss."
"I'm sure there's some other way I can help cheer him up."
The Devaronian considered this, ran a hand over his horns, and holstered his blaster. "Awright, then, bounty hunter. He may have a job for ya. Seek 'im out."
The red, horned man turned and left, leaving the bounty hunter in the alley. He sighed, and entered the bar. Iric shook his head. Black Sun?
* * *
The Emperor turned to regard the two dark cloaked figures that entered the room. He reviled them, but could not deny their usefulness in the past, during the War.
The human, Lord Farlond, dipped to his knee, and the Gungan, a reminder of Palpatine's home, followed suit.
"Greetings, Lord," Farlond said, head bowed, "We have come in pursuit of the Jedi, Iric Kelrim."
"Yes, I have felt him, but his presence is clouded."
"Do not worry, my Lord, we will find him."
"Worry?" Palpatine let out a single hoot of laughter, "Sith do not worry, Jedi, they prepare. Rise. Find Master Kelrim. Kill him. You have my permission to move about on the planet. Report back to my office in a few days' time. I would like you to meet my new apprentice." The Emperor grinned, his distorted features stretching grotesquely. The two Dark Jedi rose to their feet, and left.
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Post by Christopher on Jul 18, 2005 10:24:47 GMT -5
The Rodian pulled the trigger to the blaster, surely a speeding blaster bolt could hit him, before he could thrust the blade into his throat.
With lightning quick reflexes, Riz leaned to the right, and the bolt missed him altogether. The Rodian was then thrown back, by a mighty blow, though he never saw his opponent touch him, the human did reach out towards him. The alien fell onto the hard floor, winded, and his blaster clattered against the ground, just out of his reach. With a single leap, Riz was standing over the Rodian, with his sword to the alien's throat.
"Seems I win again."
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Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Jul 18, 2005 10:41:31 GMT -5
The Gran proprietor's head snapped up at the sound of the blasterfire. His eyes swung around on their stalks, and finally he trained all three on the man standing with his blade to a rodian's throat over one of the card tables -- the one pazaak table amidst the three sabaac ones.
The barkeep spoke out: "Hey, hey, settle down! Have a drink and clean up that mess!"
But no one heard him. The man with the sword held out his hand, and the Rodian flew out of his chair.
The Gran recognized that kind of power.
Awful sloppy to be using it, now.
He tried not to call too much attention to himself as he contacted the the transmitter number he had seen on the HoloNet for information on Jedi.
There was a monetary reward.
* * *
The Emperor sat, reading reports on the Outer Rim sieges. He gave orders to the officer that stood by, patiently at attention, in the hologram. "Leave half the garrison on Saleucami -- that should be all that is necessary to subdue the resistance -- and send the other half to hammer Boz Pity. It is good that we are making progress on the other sieges. Order Zork back from Oranphor. That planet is not populous enough to justify the size of the military force currently there. He may rest, for now. I have work for him."
((OOC: Ha. Now, you cannot resist, Aric. Mwuahahaha...))
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Post by Christopher on Jul 18, 2005 11:28:29 GMT -5
"I give! I give! Just please, don't kill me!" The Rodian begged
"I think it might be more fun to kill you." Riz stated, as he added pressure to the sword
"Please, no! I'll give you the money I owe!"
"Nah, Two-thousand creds it chump change."
"I'll give you more, just make your demand, I have plenty!"
Riz stood above him, in thought.
"Okay, give me the Two thousand you owe me, plus your deck."
The Rodian graceously complied with the force user, and was soon on his way out of the cantina. Riz returned to the Pazaak table, and gathered the cards, and placed them in his pocket. Having finished his urge to play a few rounds of Pazaak, it was time to quinch his thirst. Riz stepped over to the bar, and took a seat in front of the Gran running it.
"Give me your most expensive drink."
The Gran nodded, and brought the force user his drink. Riz sat quietly, in deep thought, before finally speaking to the Gran.
"How long do you think it would take for those soldiers to arrive? Oh, nevermind, they're right out front, now. Do feel free to point me out, when they ask."
Riz roze up from the stool, and waltzed back to the Pazaak table, his usual posistion for meeting 'guests'.
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SilvanoshiS
Apprentice
flightless and loving it
Posts: 143
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Post by SilvanoshiS on Jul 18, 2005 23:08:38 GMT -5
Jacob walked through the bar door, but never made it to a table. Something wasn't right, he couldn't place it, but chalked it up to hunter instinct. He looked out the still open doorway and, sure enough, 6 shock troopers were heading towards the bar. "*chocolate*," thought Jacob, "How'd they figgure it out this fast?" Hands near his consealed blasters, he casually backed toward the back of the bar and into a table that happened to have another occupant, who seemed aloof, but was tense none the less. The unwary soldiers had little time to react when the bartender pointed in their direction. In a little under a second the solders were all dead four with blaster bolts to the head and two dismembered via vibroblade.
"Call any more and you're dead barkeep," snarled Jacob. He ran out the door followed by the strange vibro-weilder.
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Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Jul 19, 2005 11:42:01 GMT -5
Weapons fire issued from within. Commander Hex whispered into his comm, pressed up against the wall on the right side of the doorway to the bar. Two men stood to his left. Three were on the opposite side of the door.
"We've lost contact with Theta Squad," Hex hissed, "be careful, boys."
The other clones readied their rifles and waited for the hand single to bust in the door.
The hand signal never came.
Two men rushed out of the bar, weapons in hand. Hex called out: "Freeze!" His men leveled their blasters and stood in a half circle formation.
The two men halted, turned, and saw the troopers.
"Drop your weapons, Jedi."
One of the men smirked. "We're not Jedi."
The clones did not falter. "I said drop 'em, and put your hands above your heads."
The two men glanced at each other.
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Post by Christopher on Jul 19, 2005 12:30:23 GMT -5
Riz smiled, when he saw that his 'guests' had arrived. The squadron of shock troopers marched over to the bar, and began to question the gran behind it. It was then, that another human backed into the chair opposite of him. Riz turned his head, to examine him, he seemed worried about the presence of the shock troopers. If he was indeed bothered by the troopers, it could lead to trouble.
"Sorry, pal, the pazaak table is closed, your gonna have to find another bar."
But it was too late to shoo him away. The Gran pointed in thier direction, and the troopers walked over to the pazaak table.
"Your coming with us." the commanding officer demanded
"Whatever you sa-" Riz's words were cut off by a blast
The bounty hunter, who thought they were after him, quickly drew his blaster, and dropped the officer, and the man behind him. Two shock troopers, who didn't know who to shoot at, trained their blaster rifles on the supposed Jedi, but before they could pull the trigger, they were screaming in pain, while clutching the stub that had been their hand. The bounty hunter finished off the other two, and made a mad dash for the door, but not before making a threat to the Gran. Riz sighed, and walked for the exit, he knew it was too late to make a run for it, seeing as there was a squad standing out front.
"Drop your weapons, Jedi!" The captain of the squad ordered
"We're not Jedi" Riz protested
The clones did not falter. "I said drop 'em, and put your hands above your heads."
Riz glimpsed over to the bounty hunter, to make sure he wasn't dumb enough to try that stunt in the bar again, then let out another low sigh, and drew his vibro blade from it's sheath. The vibro blade, then clattered to the floor; Riz could always get it again, if things went sour.
"I'm telling you, your making a mistake, I'm not a Jedi. Just look in your records, you won't find any affiliation with them or me."
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SilvanoshiS
Apprentice
flightless and loving it
Posts: 143
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Post by SilvanoshiS on Jul 19, 2005 14:26:40 GMT -5
Lowering the blasters, Jacob stared at the clone who addressed them. He thought, "What does he think? Jedi use blasters and vibro-blades? Wait, he's a clone he doesn't think."
He had holstered his blasters but hadn't put his hands up yet, he was listening to the other human "reason" with the troopers. "This isn't gonna get us anywhere, these shock butts only understand force, not reason. But what the hell, this could be amusing" thought Jacob. He indisciminantly brushed one of his many consealed weapons, just in case.
"Look," said Jacob finally, "we can't be Jedi because we'd have lightsabers and you'd be dead or just walking away smiling because we said to."
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Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Jul 19, 2005 14:56:08 GMT -5
Hex considered this for a moment. Finally, he turned to one of his men. "Denk, keep an eye on these two. You five, follow me in."
The trooper called Denk nodded and continued to hold his blaster level with the men's chests, his finger snug inside the trigger guard. The rest of the squad followed Hex into the bar.
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Post by Christopher on Jul 19, 2005 19:44:53 GMT -5
Riz continued to comply with the clone's request, and stood with his hands behind his head. Something told him, that now was a good time to beat a retreat, afterall, the clones might not be too happy to see their squad lying dead, or dismembered. But if things turned bad, Riz could always claim it was self-defense, and the two troopers he left alive could vouch for that, or lie, and get him into trouble.
Of course, Riz was certain Hex already knew his squad was dead, and only went inside to question the Gran, or clean up....hopefully.
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aric
demi-admin
I drink your milkshake!
Posts: 989
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Post by aric on Jul 19, 2005 22:53:07 GMT -5
((OOC: Sorry to burst in on the action like this. Just gotta post some interesting stuff about the birth of the Rebellion and some thoughts on the Starfleet))
The figures in the hologram distorted as the feed’s resolution was adjusted. Agent Hastur Zork modified the spy transmitter’s frequency, making sure the broadcast could not be detected by security scanning devices. At his workstation, he was recording the meeting in Senator Bail Organa’s office.
Zork’s supervisor walked up behind him. “So, what’s going on?”
Zork didn’t bother turning around. “Implementing new surveillance methods as per the Emperor’s new directives. We may have something here.”
His supervisor leaned in. “Looks like Bail Organa and some senators…”
“Yes. The expansion of surveillance parameters allowed us to catch this in progress. Apparently, Organa has called a meeting with a few other senators.”
“Have you identified Organa’s guests?”
“Yes. Mon Mothma, Giddean Danu, Terr Taneel, Fang Far, and Chi Eekway. The subject of the discussion seems to be the Emperor himself.”
Zork’s supervisor straightened up. “Some of those names are not friendly to the Emperor. This might be relevant to the security of the New Order. Forward this to his office. Priority status.”
“Yes sir.”
* * *
The Berserker entered the Genezee system with a flicker of pseudomotion. Within the gravity well of the planet Genezee, the warship’s repulsors guided the ship towards the surface. In seconds, the Victory-class Star Destroyer moved from high orbit down to a kilometer above the surface. The control tower of Genezee’s largest spaceport fed the navigation station on board the Berserker’s bridge. The repulsors maneuvered the ship next to the docking arm that jut out from the 17-kilometer high spaceport tower. The docking arm sat near the top of the fat spire of a tower. The repulsors along with the tractor beams from the spaceport gently slid the dagger-shaped ship into the crotch of the docking arm. Magnetic clamps locked the ship in place while couplings attached themselves to the access ports on the ship.
The walkway access to the bridge slowly extended to the superstructure. Great machinery groaned as thousands of tons of durasteel moved into place. Shafts of bright sunlight poked through the skeletal framework holding the transparisteel in place. On the broad platform of the access causeway, a lone figure stood waiting to greet Fleet Admiral Zork. The blue-skinned Twi’lek was dressed in copper and indigo colored robes. Cool breezes wafted through the causeway and tugged at the edges of the Twi’lek’s clothes. With a slight jerk, the egress causeway locked with an access port on the Berserker’s bridge. The large armored hatch recessed then slid to the side. Droves of command tower personnel poured out of the hatch. All over the ship, thousands of crewmen and clone troopers were departing the ship for shore leave. Only a handful of skeleton crew were left aboard to run maintenance diagnostics and security. Even they would be rotated out and given time off.
Among the last of the personnel leaving the ship was the senior staff. A dozen junior and some senior officers followed FADM. Zork and Captain Astarta out. A retinue of a squad of clone troopers, now bereft of their color schemes, marched out, escorting the senior staff. Their sterile white uniforms were now more impersonal and less individualized.
The Twi’lek brought up a hand to signal Zork. Mephisto caught sight of the Twi’lek and gestured back. He dismissed the rest of the senior staff, ordering them to relax. The group broke up, but the clone troopers stayed with their charge.
“Well,” Zork said. “It’s good to be back home. Hello Migo.”
The Twi’lek bowed. “It is good to have you back.” He flourished an arm toward the direction of the turbolift to the transport platform.
The group moved off down the long pathway towards the turbolift. Zork looked back at his ship. It was a bit battered. The red Republican markings of the warship were peeling. In some areas, the paint had been completely vaporized by fusion missiles. Along with the repairs that awaited the ship, it would also get a new paintjob. Like the clone troopers escorting him, the ship too would be colored white. Just like every other ship in the Imperial Starfleet will be. Zork’s fleet was moored at the sector capital undergoing their makeovers as he was thinking. Zork thought about having three-vids taken of the ship, but figured it was overly sentimental. He decided to forego capturing the image of the Berserker in the waning days of the Republic. He would already have a souvenir in his blue uniform. Soon, like millions of other senior grade officers, the blue outfits of the Republic would be replaced with olive gray. The style of the uniform was exactly the same, he had heard. Only the color scheme changed. At least the Empire left this piece of the Republic in recognizable form.
“Master Zork?” Migo inquired as they entered the turbolift after walking the two hundred meter length of the causeway.
“Yes?”
“Is there something that bothers you?”
“Maybe.” Mephisto didn’t feel the need to be any more specific to the executor of Genezee. He thought Migo should concern himself with the day-to-day operations of the planet. Soothing Mephisto’s psychological disturbances was Myu’tio’s job.
Zork smiled. What a job she did.
The turbolift halted at the level of the transport platform. Walking out towards the gleaming bronze-colored transport, Zork ask, “Are the preparations for the party finished?”
“Indeed they are. Your palace is ready to receive your guests.”
Zork smirked. A palace. It was hardly such. Certainly a mansion, but a palace? No. The Zorks’ condominium complex on Coruscant was a palace. It was almost the same height as the spaceport they were in right now. The entire function of the complex was to house the hundreds of thousands of servants who would see to the needs of the thousands of guests that the Zork family hosted over the course of the Galactic year. The complex itself held millions of tons of supplies to handle every conceivable need of the occupants. Everyone from political dignitaries to captains of industry to the employees of the Zork family were entertained there. It was the pinnacle of achievement to have a center of operations at Coruscant. It was the heart of Galactic civilization, and the perfect place to network with politicians and industrialists.
Terminus, while a bustling metropolis city-planet in its own right, took a back seat to Coruscant in the focus of the family business. The fairly recent adoption of Terminus as the Zork home world allowed the extra step needed to put their collective foot in the door of opportunity. Something that would never had happened if the family had stayed here on Genezee. With the center of operations moving away from Terminus, the old condominium complex there was being relegated to the status of a retirement home for the aging patriarch of the Zork family. While not as important now as either the spaceport or the Coruscant condominium, at 19 kilometers high, it was still the highest structure on Terminus. It was renowned as being one of the tallest buildings in the Core. It was often called the Ziggurat – a testament to the fortunes of the Zork family.
When the family assets were portioned out, Mephisto knew immediately that he wanted Genezee. He always loved the open spaces, deep blue oceans and the warm shallow inland seas. He preferred the wild and untamed nature of this world to the half-chaotic regimented lifestyle of the metropolis worlds. He could always relax here. His twin brother Hastur preferred the cities. While the Coruscant condominium was technically the property of the business, he still staked out living quarters in the building. Hastur thought that being closer to the organs of government on Coruscant was more interesting and rewarding. It wasn’t that long a trip from the condo to the burgeoning offices of the intelligence bureau. Mephisto really didn’t blame his brother for wanting a desk job. Anything to be close to the city…
Zork didn’t even realize that he had got on the transport and was already close to arriving at the mansion. Away from the traffic of the spaceport, the transport moved to higher altitudes and accelerated to mach 15. Within forty-five minutes, the pilot was already making maneuvers towards landing the transport at the platform within the mansion compound.
Zork looked out the window and caught the entirety of the compound in one viewing. The entire mansion was a sprawling maze of several wings, containing rooms, corridors, and landing platforms. These branched out from a primary reception hall at the center and front of the compound. The hall was just large enough to fit the entire crew of the Berserker and the servants. The primary staging area of the party, though, would be in the manicured gardens. It would have been criminal not to take advantage of the cool nights. The mansion was situated at the center of a nearly flat island that spanned no more than 75 kilometers. Only gently rolling hills that interspersed carefully maintained groves textured the land.
All had been created to Mephisto’s specifications. Here he could relax. And relax he would. He had no idea what the Emperor planned for him when his down time was over.
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Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Jul 20, 2005 10:06:56 GMT -5
When Hex entered the bar with his squad, he found the patrons still on edge. He did not see a single member of Theta squad. It wasn't long before he realized he was looking too high. All six stormtroopers lay on the floor, some with blaster wounds, others with gashes that still ran red. Only two were left alive, and they were missing limbs. The blood meant it had not been a lightsaber that caused the gashes, as lightsabers cauterized. But the efficiency of the clean, straight cuts, even through the stormtroopers' armor, suggested a powered weapon -- a vibroblade.
"Outside, troopers! Arrest those men!"
* * * Palpatine watched the senators on his desk, speaking in hushed tones -- the topic of their discussion was not alien to the Emperor. They had presented to him a petition, a "Delegation of Two Thousand" Worlds protesting Palpatine's appointment of planetary governors in fear that they would compete with the duties of the Senate, as well as to speak up about a number of other ammendments to the Republic's constitution made just prior to his self-proclamation as Emperor. Palpatine was troubled by these senators. He would need to keep an eye on them.
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Dakota
Junior Scholar
Breathe Deep, Read Fast
Posts: 363
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Post by Dakota on Jul 20, 2005 11:38:20 GMT -5
Valos and Lord Farlond left the empor's chambers.
"Master, I need to take care of somthing. You go take care of the jedi. I need to go see a senator."
"Valos I..." Said Farlond.
"Master they are going to rebel! Let me see if i can... persuade him."
"Fine, alright."
******Later******
Mon Mothma, Giddean Danu, Terr Taneel, Fang Far, and Chi Eekway left the room.
"Where is he? Thought Valos. Ah yes there he is.
He waiteed untill the others were down the hall.
Senator Organa. Mesa wants to have a word witha yousa ((OOC: I'm Speaking like a gungan now))
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Post by Christopher on Jul 20, 2005 12:26:21 GMT -5
Riz wasn't too suprised, when the clones stepped out of the cantina, wanting to arrest them. But Riz was always prepared for the worst. The force user locked eyes with the clone commander, and tapped into the force.
"On the second thought, we're free to go. That Gran is just trying to frame us for murder."
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Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Jul 20, 2005 12:46:11 GMT -5
The man waved his hand through the air. "On the second thought, we're free to go," he said, "The Gran is just trying to frame us for murder."
Hex felt inclined to change his mind. He lowered his rifle. "They're free to go. The Gran is just framing them for murder. Get back in the bar and arrest the proprietor."
Hex followed his men in, outraged that the barkeep could make such a mockery of Imperial authority.
* * * Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan looked up at the sound of his name. Before him stood a creature -- a Gungan, like Representative Binks -- wearing the warrior hood he had seen on so many similar Gungans in HoloVids detailing the Battle of Naboo. Its long ears were tattooed, and it wore a black cloak. The Gungan's voice was not the high pitched chattter of Binks, but more dignified, more stately.
Bail was confused: how had this creature gotten into his chambers?
He backed calmly behind his desk, secretly pressing the security button below his it. He sat. "And who might you be, exactly?
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