Welcome to Gaia! ::

Admiral Borill Elsyn was a bothan, and his black hair with a white goatee and stripped top made him distinctive. He didn’t wear the standard imperial naval cap, they wouldn’t fit on his head with much ease, and his personal uniform moved away from the current imperial standard. It had a pair of gold corellian blood-stripes and near identical markings around his shoulders. In addition the command bar was over his breast, not in the center of his chest, much as imperial soldiers of old had their rank.

The briefing room they quickly found was designed with all the comforts of command in mind, plush chairs, clean upholstery, and a small basket of various entrees that were often consumed during a briefing. They all slid into the chairs as Commander Corak set up a holographic projector.

As the last of his new officers settled into the chairs the Admiral stood and walked along the table, “I know some of you may be surprised that you’ve been placed under the command of a Bothan. You saw that I was named Elsyn, and some of you certainly assumed that I was a Corellian… In some ways you’re right, I was raised on corellia under foster care. If any of you are uncomfortable serving under an… alien commander you’re free to request a transfer out of this Task Force.” Glancing around the table Borill smiled, “Of course you’ve already served under an alien, being as that none of you outrank Commodore Kull.”

There were low chuckles around the table from the officers, though Commodore Kull didn’t utter a word.

“Well, laugh now… it’ll be awhile before we have reason to laugh again.” A somber silence descended over the group, “We won’t be doing the sector patrol and pirate hunt you’re used to… We’ve got an assignment, and this one comes from Emperor Krayt himself.”

The holoprojector hummed to life and a map of the galaxy appeared over the central table. Commander Corak stood and walked toward the projector keying an image of a chiss man, “This is rogue Chiss Warlord Elaeke'nen'etnaruodo. He’s carved out a small empire along the Hydian Way additionally vessels from his fleet have been spotted around Onderon.

“His fleet consists of heavily modified and updated versions of ancient warships. The two primary vessels which make up his fleets are the Victory IV and Acclamator III classes. Both of these vessels classes have had significant enhancements, but Kenet’s propaganda has vastly overstated the amount of starfighter squadrons carried by each starship. We estimate that the true number of fighter squadrons carried by each class to be four and two respectively.”

Commodore Kull frowned slightly at the map, “If he only holds two systems currently and neither one of them are especially resource rich… How is it that he’s able to afford to construct these vessels?”

“Good question and the answer unfortunately is that we’re not quite sure. In addition to the construction of vessels he’s also producing clone crews for the vessels… we don’t know who the template is, or their combat effectiveness.” Corak shrugged, “We do know what his cash reserves are at…” With a flick of a switch the holoprojector shifted to show a chart displaying the estimated credit reserves of his group.

Captain Bren Drak, commander of the Stalwarth-class Star Destroyer Obsidian Knife laughed, “He’s at negative reserves!”

“That is correct, Elladan Kenet has expended what resources he has obtained, now by attempting to expand his empire beyond the two worlds on the Hydian Way he hopes to obtain enough resources to continue his military build up,” Commander Corak glanced at his displays, “Since we do not know the true size of his fleet, any direct confrontation would be disadvantageous in my estimation…”

“Thank you Commander.” Borill stood and tapped a button on the holoprojector switching it back to a map of their theater of operations, “Elladan Kenet has split his forces, he probably at Onderon currently attempting to secure the world for his empire… There his supply lines are stretched; he’s far from his base.”



Smiling Borill pointed to the Holo, “There are only two logical hyperspace routes between his base and Onderon, each one passes over the Perlemian Trade Route… one at Taanab, another at Donovia, we will patrol these two locations hoping to catch a supply run or reinforcement cadre. Our objective should be to capture and interrogate the ship’s crew and computers. Meantime I want Predator flights on reconnaissance of his space, tell them they’re not authorized to engage I want information right now… not blood.” Glancing at the group he smiled, “Is that clear?”

“Yes sir!”

Borill nodded, “Commodore, how soon can we depart?”

“Within the hour,” Commodore Kull responded instantly and flatly.

“Make it so,” Borill answered as he turned away from the briefing table, “Now I believe would be the best time to inspect the ship.”

"And, I totally don't trust Krayt, just simply for being a Sith," Freya said.

"Nor should you, young one," Kalnar chimed in.

(( hey, FP. Was Ashe with Vaan when he was giving Veron the third degree? If so, would she be recognized? ))

Twin suns beat down upon a dry, barren land, baking the parched ground.
Golden sand shifted in the hot breeze, forming dunes and depressions and slowly eroding the rocks that jutted up like bones out of the desolate landscape.

This was Tatooine's infamous Dune Sea, a place of eternally shifting sand hills and slow, scorching death under the merciless heat of the twin suns.

Amid the shifting sand and burning temperatures, an eopie and its mounted rider made their way across the burning dunes, traveling steadily west.

Link Darksun stared out at the dune sea from under the shade of his broad rimmed hat, pulling his mutch patched and mended cloak around him tighter to shield himself from the heat.

It had been two days since he had set down in Mos Eisley, having just put Anchorhead behind him five hours ago.
He was making good time by his account. The Eopie he rode, was a remarkably swift walker, living well up to the name the livestock dealer had given it.

Strider leaned down to rip a chunk of lichen from the shady surface of a Rock as they passed by, sucking it back into its molars and chewing almost in a thoughtful manner as it continued to walk its swaying gait.

The animal was traveling a route it was unfamiliar with. Rarely did its riders ever press it further than Bestine, and Link could sense its unease as it's beady eyes scanned the dunes.

He told the animal in Huttese, the language it was most familiar with.

The Animal looked back at him briefly, then turned back to the trail, its feet finding purchase in the shifting sand as the animal snapped its neck down to rip a tuber out of the loose soil.

Eopie and Rider continued into the dune sea, until they were swallowed up by the shimmering heated air.

Freya looked to Gorwooken, and then to Ashe. "Hey! Like, aren't you that woman that was with that Imperial mega-goon from a while back?" she demanded, glaring at the chiss woman.

With that, several of the volunteers from Kashyyyk gave glares and growls. < Is this true? > one wookie growled. < Explain yourself! > another wookie demanded of the Chiss.

"Wait!" Rusty chimed in. "It seems as though she is dissatisfied with Emperor Krayt," the little droid reasoned.

"And, it could totally be a trap," Freya countered.

"Mayhaps so," Kalnar agreed.

"Master, do you sense anything?" Gunther asked.

The Jedi Master shook his head. "In light of the new information, we should be wary." He then gestured to a couple of wookies, and bid them and Gunther to follow him. "I sense something over there,"

"As for you," Freya snarled at Ashe, "you try anything funny, and you'll be totally wasted. Am I clear?" she asked, indicating the various wookies with her thumb.

As Link and Strider rode on through the blistering heat, the swordsman made note of a large rounded face of rough bluish stone that was visible emerging from the sand like a bubble

"Oro?" he asked himself as he gazed at it curiously. "Why such a huge sheet of stone so far out here?"

He squinted through the haze as Strider plodded on and noted that the stone was oddly leathery looking.

He frowned. "A corpse of an animal perhaps? But nothing is that large....unless..."
The sheet of "stone" Sank beneath the sand as though under its own power.

Link's eyes widdened and for the first time on the entire trip he spurred his mount.
"Boska! Boska, Strider!" He shouted to it.

The Eopie glanced at him irritably, as though offended that it wasnt going fast enough.
Then they both heard it. An unholy banshee's wail that carried for miles across the dunes.

It was the hunting call of something positively monstrous.

And it was comming from underground.
Strider needed no further urging and bolted like a frightened scurrier across the dunes.

Link held on to the saddle horn as the animal's awkward gait jerked him around. He detected a massive life force motivated by a pekish sort of hunger.
Whatever it was, it was only interested in a snack. If his life wasnt at stake, Link would feel somewhat offended.

Link truned behind them and saw a huge crocodilian head attached to a massively thick serpentine head jut out from the sand.
It opened it's fighter hangar sized maw and prepared to swallow both Link and strider hole.

Thinking quickly, Link drew his saber and cast it at the beast, the blade snapping to life and forming a dark blue disk as it spun. The weapon severed one of the creature's massive fangs and came back to Link's hand as the monster threw it's head back and roared in pain.

It dove back under the sand, its massive multi legged body and impossibly long tail looping after it like it was a sea serpent.

"It swims in the sand." Link realized with Dread.
He pressed his hand to the Eopie's neck as it bounded through the dunes.

"Boska Strider! Run for your life!" he shouted as he channeled strength into the animal.

The Eopie didnt need to know huttese to know what Link was saying. Already it was running twice as fast as it had ever done and wasn't wondering how.

Again the collossal reptile surged up from the dunes to bite them, but it's jaws missed the force sped Eopie by mere meters. It roared in irritation and sank once more below the sands.

For the next few kilometers, it was quiet save for the padding of the Eopie's running feet against the sand.

This worried Link much more than actually seeing the beast, as he could sense it wasn't content yet with leaving the two of them alone.
He concentrated, trying to locate it's life in the Force's Web.

It was going away..

away...

away...

Then it suddenly shifted course and was coming drectly at them at a charge.
From directly beneath them!

"Strider! Jump!" Link called to the animal, and as though it understood what he said, it jumped off the trail.

The Monster burst from the Sand, it's jaws snapping together with a thunderous clap, another near mist.

Propelled by its own inertia, the beast surged to the surface of the Dune Sea and roared as it whipped it's neck about, trying to locate the anyoing human and eopie who had dared to escape being it's meal.
It spied the two on the trail again, but much further away.
It Roared again, but suddenly cranked its head over it's shoulder, having spotted something new.

Link quickly calculated it's length. The Beast was a quarter of a klick long. And now it had it's sights set on banthas. Link cold hear the brawing from where he and Strider were barreling down the trail towards the B'omarr temple, visible now in the distance as it stood silent vigil on the cliffs of a rock formation.

Now interested in much more nourishing prey, the massive Greater Krayt Dragon dove beneath the sands and disapeared, bent on swallowing up a few banthas and content to leave Link and Strider alone for now.

The Mandalorian couldn't help but be somewhat... convinced. It was the krayt in bantha's skin; he was staring down a ship he should've blasted apart in seconds and had already come to realize he was outmatched one on one. If he tried to throw everything he had out, he would likely win. However, against even those odds, it was still a fine ship.

"Okay, you have me convinced," Mandalore admitted. "What do you want precisely?"

"First your name," Elladan asked as the transmission re-continued. "I doubt you actually went by mandalore before you met me."

He shrugged. "Won't make much of a difference. I go by Mynock Ordo."

"Mynock Ordo? Any relation to Canderous Ordo?"

"Direct descedant," he said, smirking, as he rmeoved his helment. Mynock was middle-aged, with short brown hair and several gray strands, and a beard beginning to grow out. His eyes were brown. "Next?"

The chiss continued. "We need military support, but not directly. Currently, my small fleet is spread a bit thin. I need your forces to pirate the areas between here and Mandalore, and help keep the peace under the guise of expansion."

"Simple enough. We were planning on harrassing Onderon anyway."

"Not today," the commander requested. "Brings us to number two; we need access to construct mines and warehouses on Dxun for resources. We'll provide everything needed for construction and transport, but we want a Mandalorian escort."

"Sounds like you thought this through."

"I have, actually. It's not like I have much else to do."

The mandalorian nodded. He had enough experience being a tactian. "Anything else?"

"Clearance to the systems of Dxun, Mandalore, and other holdings, and some minor intel work. We need a bit more defense, and I think that our stealth's about to run out on us. We might need not just information, but extra ships as well."

"Whatever you need. Now my terms." The Mandalorian leant back, resting against the cold metal wall behind him. The move revealed a large blaster rifle at his side. "Any conquests you make, you give us the right to assist in colonization and garrison. We'll help maintain defenses, and secure hubs. We get access to some of your more.... ilicet dealings as well."

"Such as?"

"A list of your bounty hunters and smugglers. Stuff like that. We need to know who to look out for in our intel."

Elladan nodded. "All granted.We'll even throw in several thousand credits to use as you see fit. Will that be all?"

"Absolutely. We're getting everything we need, and same for you. Do we have an accord?"

The chiss's eyes gleamed. "You have my word."

"Then it's settled." The Madalorian suddenly stood up. "I'll assume you'll be planet-side within the next hour. I'll await you there."

At that point, Vaan arrived, seemingly looking for his sister. Unfortunately, the jig was up.

"Alright, I admit it," Ashe said. "But that was when I was working with Fel," she added. "Krayt kicked Vaan and myself out of his new Empire."