Open Aid to Commenor

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Spoiler: OOC

Open to all those that wish to help distribute aid to the local populace. Thread will be DM'd by me, Hera will be present but do not expect her to solve every problem. Let's do some humanitarian aid work!

Too long had the Jedi sat by and watched the galaxy experience trouble, hardship, and pain. This was not the way that Hera intended to allow the order to operate any longer. Before being stopped, the former Supreme Chancellor set his 5th fleet onto the worlds of Tanaab and Commenor. Fire and destruction had rained down from the heavens onto the unsuspecting citizenry below, annihilating cities, crushing villages, and burning farmland. For a time, it seemed as though the galaxy had been content to turn a blind eye to the suffering of the survivors.

No more.

A small Jedi fleet consisting of one Pugio-Class Frigates and two Raider III-Class Corvettes accompanied them down to the planet's surface, filled to the brim with food, medical supplies, and building materials. Alongside them, a sizeable contingent of the Ailon Nova Guard also came bearing their ships and aid. As the ships broke through the atmosphere and approached the planet's surface, Hera's heart lept to her throat once more. Seeing Tanaab in this way had not hardened her heart, and it ached for the people down below.

Even as they set the vessels down outside a ruined city, it would be obvious to the Jedi the extent of the former chancellor's destruction. Cities, towns, villages, even farms, everything that could be burned had burned. While the planet was not uninhabitable, thank the Force, it was still delicately attempting to regrow and return to balance. It would be the task of the Jedi to assist refugees, set up farming communities, and restore what remained of the populace as quickly as possible.

From aboard the bridge of the Raider III corvette, Hera removed her blackened goggles to rub her eyes before sighing deeply and replacing them. Then, turning toward the Padawan and Knight that accompanied her, Hera smiled softly and spoke. "The people below us are desperate, ravaged, and all of them may or may not appreciate our assistance. We will do our best, and I will rely heavily on the two of you. The Ailon Nova Guard will board their starfighters and scour the planet for survivors who will accept our aid, which means batches of refugees will arrive nearly every hour as we work. It will be our job to organize our people and the survivors, administering medical aid where we can and preparing them to resettle this world.

"I have great faith in both of you."

@Stitches @HoneyMagpie

 

[Aharon Staergin]

The 5th Fleet absolutely did their job of being the best the New Republic had, the problem was they were infiltrated and thrown on the galaxy to cause chaos. They set planets aflame, scorching them to their core. Killing their land, their flora, their fauna, their people. The Killik Hive had sent turbolasers and torpedos and massive ordinance down to the surface for the only purpose of causing chaos. The death and destruction wrought throughout their rampage did not stain the hands of the New Republic crimson, their hands were absolutely coated in the gore and viscera of the innocents fallen by their naval forces.

And that is why Aharon Staergin has left Champala and has moved as much supply and manpower into this mission. Food, building supplies, medical aid, all of this and more have been brought from the New Republic to support this planet. They needed a PR win. The New Republic's credibility was crumbling after these incidents. The Senate was in shables. Aharon knew he had to appear himself to help to even get a crumb of reputation back. Which is why he decided to bring a news crew along with him, offering to show the recovery of these planets first hand.

"I believe we may be unwelcome by the people below," the Champalan spoke, his form somewhat pacing as he is filmed by his holo-communicator, "but the New Republic hopes that our aid shall be accepted by the Jedi. I am Senator Aharon Staergin, and I'd you do not mind I would also like to see if I can throw my own two hands in today to help then give a small speech to the people tonight. If I am allowed, of course." He took a seat in the command chair as he crossed his legs, his eyes looking right into where he hoped the listeners would be. And now he was to await their responce.

Spoiler: NR Aid Flotilla

1x Itinrant-class Freighter
2x EF90 Redemption-class Medical Frigate, loaded with 3x X-83 TwinTail Starfighters and 3x VCX-350 Light Freighters each
3x TC-7 Fuel Haulers
4x Wayfarer-class Medium Transports
6x Rambler-class Freighter

@Black Noise @Stitches @HoneyMagpie

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera observed the fleet of New Republic vessels that accompanied them on approach to the planet. While it was fewer men than the Ailon Nova Guard, they had a few more dedicated vessels. That would end up being a great asset Hera knew. Listening to the senator speak, Hera smiled back across the holo-communicator channel so that her face could be seen accepting Staergin's words.

"Of course, you're allowed to come, though I would caution you to allow us to take the lead here. While your men are with us, they shall be under my command and direction primarily. If this is acceptable, I would be more than willing to accept your aid. Work on your speech while you assist us, save it as a closing act once we warm up the locals." 'If we're able to-' Hera thought, though she didn't voice that last suspicion.

Then, the ships finished breaking from the atmosphere and began setting down. Almost immediately, problems could be seen. A band of locals, possibly a hundred strong, had gathered around the landing pad and were shouting protests at the vessels. They were clearly destitute, barely able to keep themselves together, and many were suffering injuries that needed medical attention. However, instead of joy at the help, they came with their rage.

How could they be blamed, though? They had given their hearts and souls for hundreds of years to the republic. From their planet came generals of the old rebellion, they suffered from Operation Cinder under the Empire, and their citizens were among the first to support the New Republic after recovering. What was their reward? To be set ablaze once more by the very people sworn to protect them.

As the ramps came down, Ailon Nova Guard raised their shields to protect the Jedi Padawan, Knight, and other civilian personnel. Hera herself, however, stepped ahead of them with a hand raised. Rocks thrown her direction seemed to magically miss, though her companions would know why. Voice booming, Hera spoke, "Please! We are only here to help. The Jedi understand your anger, but we have come to heal, not rule!"

As Hera spoke, her energies flowed out from her in an attempt to calm the crowd with her Joy in the Force. It would work, but not immediately. The others would have to face the crowd's anger first too.

@HoneyMagpie @Stitches @Olwin

 

[Kedu Amihan]

Always wandering​

The only good thing that came out of not blatantly identifying himself as a Jedi was that he was spared from the masses' judging, persecuting glares and hatred. As a wandering merchant, people in need –who could spare the credits for much needed necessities – only spared him odd glances for his garb and confusion for his behavior.

He was fortunate enough to not have been on Commenor when the crazed Chancellor turned it into a literal hellscape. But despite his lack of outward identity as a Jedi the Wanderer was an ally of Light through and through. Though his feet ached to move from one place to another, the pain and death that flared through the Force could not keep the merchant from reaching out to those in need with pale, clawed hands.

One long, slender ear twitched at the sudden surge of rage that swept past him, directing a pair of ocean eyes towards the general direction of the landing bay. Ivory hands stilled from bandaging a child's wounded arm, trimmed claws painted violet gently scraping against stark gauze. Initially deaf to the world around and beyond him, his focus commanded by the quietly sobbing child in front of him, the Wanderer blinked, one hand lifting to carefully pat the boy's head. He didn't need to speak to assure the young one that he need not worry, the thought spoken by a warm gaze and a soft smile. At the nod the merchant received, the Wanderer rose from his perch beside the child and his parent, heels of wooden sandals clacking as he turned to face the direction of the landing bay where a couple of ships had landed, ramps lowering as their sentient cargo began to disembark.

And right ahead of the angry crowd that numbered a hundred strong.

The Jedi weren't welcomed as easily as they once were, and despite not having a hand in the ravaging of their home it was understandable why the citizens felt the anger they displayed.

Glancing back at the child and the large, locked wooden box that sat by the young one's father, the Wanderer spoke for the first time that day,

"I will not ask for payment, save for you looking after my wares for a bit."

Without waiting for either of the two to reply, the Wanderer strode forward. The merchant stood out from the crowd, with his outlandish traditional garb and towering height made all the more absurd by his one tooth geta. The half-Annfyn blocked out the crowd's anger, but he made no outright move to dissuade them from attacking. Instead, he reached out through the Force, attempting to bolster the calm that flowed from the red-haired woman. The gathered citizens' anger was strong, but their rage would not be enough to feed their strength for much longer – not when despair and confusion and the plea for help flowed stronger than it.

A woman bumped onto the Wanderer, hands raised to strike at the group of Jedi. A clawed hand gently wrapped around her thin wrist. With tears in her eyes, she looked up at the grey-haired merchant who shook his head to dissuade her from continuing to throw the rock she held.

@Black Noise @HoneyMagpie @Stitches @Olwin

 

[Aharon Staergin]

"Why of course, my manpower is yours and my supplies are to be delivered to where you feel they are best needed after touchdown. We shall send you a manifest of all of our ships..." he paused for a moment, his head turned to see one of the officers in deck to send him a hand signal, "about now. We are touching down less than a click away from your landing zone, so we shall send whatever forces you require promptly." Aharon cut off the call after the Jedi responce, nodding towards her as the transition was shut off.

The Itinerant Freighter was the first of the New Republic craft to set down in their designated area, and soon after the bulk of those vessels under order of the Senators landing close by. The Wayfarers were an exception. They slowed down enough to drop their cargo pods off right beside eachother a few hundred meters away from their designated landing zone, before flying to land in their proper places. The reason why was clear when EK4 Stevedor Droids along side WED Treadwell Droids and a few Mark IV Architech Droids stepped out from the cargo containers when their loading ramps flopped down. It seemed that the droids were there to help construct temporary housing, as those droids began to construct buildings from both the supplies inside the cargo containers as well as the containers themselves.

The Ramblers were painted full white, which was quite different than the rest of the flotilla. They landed near the major civilian pockets on that face of the planet, their doors opening to reveal a mix of droid and biological medical crews ushering in the most injured cases they could find. Other medical staff would stay on the ground, offering service to those in critical cases who would not survive transit. A large field hospital tent would be set up to bring those major cases, which would not be enough for long but would atleast still be better than nothing.

Aharon was escorted out of the Itinerant Freighter by two IG-100 droids. He was there on the ground, datapad on hand and elegant yet formal purple (atleast what to him counts as) work clothes. Datapad in hand, he orchestrated the construction of the temporary structures in the region followed by returning back to his ship to reconnect with the Jedi.

@Black Noise @HoneyMagpie @Stitches

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera bristled at the response of the senator, 'after touchdown' he had said. The New Republic offered their aid, but not without first stating that they would do as they wished first. 'Deferment to their own rules, then to anyone else,' thought Hera Albion. But these were thought had before Hera's own vessels had set down.

The Jedi had already landed, the New Republic already landed and begun to unload, and things were not going well. The rage swelling through the crowd could almost be heard separated from the surging shouts and banging of thrown rocks. Some of the citizens had stopped throwing rocks, however, and had begun to search for weapons.

Hera attempted to calm the crowd through the Force, even felt the aid of another Jedi; though as to who this other being was Hera could not yet pinpoint. Their attempts were in vain. The crowd radiated with the fear, anxiety, and sheer rage that only a savaged and destitute populace could muster. While Hera had been thankful at first that they seemed to just be an angry mob, her hope to calm them began to sway further away as a newcomer emerged from the crowd.

A man, no taller than a meter and a half, stood up upon the shoulders of a Type-II Loadlifter Droid with some kind of device held in his hand. "When will the New Republic be held accountable for its crimes!?" He shouted, and immediately Hera knew the device was more than just an amplifier of some kind. She could feel the rage of the crowds growing not just here, but across the entire sector they found themselves in. Everywhere the New Republic sent drop-pods, and the location they attempted to set down themselves, the voice of this dissenter was being transmitted.

Hera's team's crowd, more than a hundred strong, were in a frenzy of shouting and had begun to throw more and more objects their way. Worse still, where the New Republic had chosen to set their vessels down, more than two hundred refugees had begun to gather with their rage and whatever weapons they could find. Once more, Hera attempted to calm the crowds, "We know you're angry, the Jedi Order understands! We cannot change the past, but we can move toward a brighter, safer future!" And, once more, she drew upon the Force to attempt to calm the mobs. Her own voice transmitted on all open frequencies.

But the whole situation was on the verge of breaking down into violence. While the mob made up the majority of opinions, there were still those that needed and wanted help. However, no matter where help was sent, there were men and women of the mob that prevented anyone from receiving it. Until the mob was calmed, nothing could proceed. If any droids or people attempted to build shelters, distribute medical supplies, or even unload the vessels, they would be attacked

Then, the first step toward breakdown came as the man shouted over the transmitter once more, "If our protectors will not be held accountable by their peers, then WE WILL JUDGE THEM OURSELVES!" And at that, a man in the raging crowd, a little less than a click away from the protection of the Jedi, fired at the Senator with a blaster rifle.

@Forsythe Crowholde @Olwin

 

[Kedu Amihan]

The moment the wrathful crowd's will refused to be swayed, the Wanderer withdrew his attempts at once. To him there was no sense in wasting energy against a force that resisted, so he opted for the next practical thing. Leaving the woman he had stopped from throwing the rock to herself, the fanged half-Annfyn strode forward with purpose, equally uncaring to the mob that paid him no heed and who assumed that he was one of the quieter protesters.

Ocean eyes remained trained on the group of Jedi ahead, shielding his mind and heart to the growing crescendo of the people of Commenor's mixed emotions. Normally the arrival of a New Republic representative would have caught the merchant's interest, but with the current situation at hand the Wanderer only felt hints of apprehension as a man's voice floated from the crowd, rallying the others while chanting about accountability for the crimes committed to the planet and its people.

When the crowd's efforts in driving the Jedi again were renewed by that one man, the Wanderer dropped all pretenses that the red-haired woman from up ahead's efforts to calm them through the Force. Nor did the half-Annfyn assume that anything he said would change the minds of those hellbent in preventing help from reaching those who needed it the most. Still there was merit and reason in trying, and if some could open their eyes to the fact that nothing good would come out of their protesting right now then their desires and needs would be soothed and heard. If they continued with their efforts, however, then how could they receive the aid they sorely needed?

Emotions and desperation could truly blind people. Though the Wanderer thought a description far too callous and insensitive than that. Still he kept the thought to himself, not really keen on insulting the crowd as a whole.

Now, to see if common sense would prevail...

"When will the Chancellor be held accountable for his crimes?" shouted the Wanderer amid the jeers and yells of the crowd.

If anyone had a semblance of common sense despite their justified anger, then let them sway the others.

"How could you make the Chancellor pay for his crimes in the state you are in? Jedi, ISC, the Free Worlds... independent bodies and organizations who seek to give aid to you who are victims of a mad man's abuse of power. Reach for the helping hands offered to you! Rebuild! Regain your strength, as an individual and as a planet! Then you can demand justice from the man who dared trample on your lives as if you were mere insect to be crushed beneath his heel!"

The Wandered never stopped walking as he shouted, moving steadily towards the gathered Jedi. He didn't care to pause and check if anyone was beginning to heed his words, trusting fate and the Force to produce whatever outcome his words could bring. He was so focused on keeping his sensitive hearing from being butchered by the crowd's angered din that he barely heard a shot fired, fluted ears twitching upwards as he lifted his gaze in an attempt to pinpoint the source of the blaster fire.

Ah.

An ivory hand reached into the folds of his robes, clawed fingers closing around a small block of wood he was carving on his way to Commenor days ago. Drawing upon the Force, the Wanderer focused on the wind as a sudden gust swept by. With a gesture that could easily be mistaken as him joining in on the crowd as they threw rocks and other things at the assembled Jedi, he used the Force to manipulate the speed and strength of the gust in an attempt to create a wall that would block any debris hurled at his fellow Lightsiders. Perhaps his efforts would give the Councilwoman the opportunity to see the shot fired and maybe halt it's course, or maybe use the chance to trace where the shot came from in the first place. Either way the Wanderer proceeded with throwing the block as a distraction from the fact that it had been him who had turned the sweeping wind into a barrier that temporarily protected the Jedi.

@Black Noise @Olwin @HoneyMagpie @Stitches

 

[Aharon Staergin]

The bolt ran home right into Aharons shoulder, burning through his clothing and searing his flesh. He smelled a soft hint of burning cloth, followed by a heavy gust of seared fish. The pain of the blast did not hit him right away as he was falling backwards, the shock seemingly had slowed down time for the young man. It only was after his back he felt the sting throughout his body, the mix of the fall and the bolt overloading his pain receptors for a moment. It certainly was the second most painful moment in his life. His first...

The pain snapped him back to reality, an automatic response being a loud and blood curdling scream escaping from his lips. The IG-100 units that were around him activated their energy shields and electrostaves and stood in a phalanx formation to block shots from hitting Aharon. The cameras of the news crew did not get a good shot on the face of the victim, but what they did have a good shot of was when Aharon slowly began to rise and dust himself off with one hand. He tried to move through his guards to speak, which took a moment as the units stood ready to block any more shots.

"I said let me speak!" Aharon was not yelling at those who shot him, but the droids trying to protect him that also tried to hold him back. "Commenor, please, listen to me. While I may not know your exact pain, I have felt my entire world collapse around me at one point." It took him a moment, before slowly wiping the makeup off the side of his face. The indigo coloration gave way to the soft pinks and grey scorching that showed he went through an accident. It was not just a minor smudge, it took over a majority of half of his case. Even as they were quite far away many people could see just how badly marred half his face was. He took a moment to inhale and exhale, before turning back to the crowd. It was clear he was nervous about finally revealing this to the crowd.

"Twenty five years ago..." he thought for a moment before restarting, "When I was two my parents were delivered a package. Inside was an improvised explosive device, one that I was the one to discover. For the next sixteen years I was locked away from the world, isolated in one of my families high pent houses. My only interaction with the outside world were holovids and the droid caretakers I had. These physical wounds have healed over the decades, but the scar upon my soul has not.

"I understand that my pain is simply a small percentage of what you all may be feeling. Your families, your homes, your lives, your planet. Normalcy has not been smashed, but instead absolutely blasted away by a scatterblaster. This was done by the Fifth Fleet that was taken over by the Killik menace. And for that I am sorry." During the entire speech it seemed that he was getting emotional, but during this specific part it seemed to tip him over the edge. Tears began to run down his cheeks, a soft roll but still tears nonetheless. His voice conveyed the emotion and passion he was feeling as he tried to blanket that over the crowd to help calm them or at least see his side. And with this, he paused for another moment before resuming.

"I am sorry that we could not have seen this coming. I am sorry we could have not obliterated the Killik menace before this. But I, Aharon Staergin, swear to you that while I am senator of Champala I shall fight to give Commenor not only aid and stability, but vengence. The New Republic is neither of our enemies, it is the Killiks. They are the ones who hijacked our vessels, fire upon our own planets, and unjustifiably ruin your lives. For that I am sorry. But please, let me show you what the New Republic really wants by accepting my aid. Please, allow me and my Jedi compatriots to assist in your time of crisis." He dropped to his knees rather swiftly and clasped his hands together in a begging motion, his eyes widening and gazing over the citizens as he asked for forgiveness.

@Black Noise @HoneyMagpie @Stitches @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

The speeches of the Wanderer and the Senator, two men in different places but with similar goals, had a positive effect on the people around them. For the time being, the crowd near Hera began to calm themselves, and the Jedi set about the work of unloading and setting up shelters. For the time being, they were not accosted or attacked, but the crowd was only temporarily soothed. Due to the nature of the Wanderer's speech, their anger and frustrations still roiled inside of them.

But at least for the moment, Hera and her people were able to start the healing process.

The Senator's crowd, without the agitator clearly there and ready to work the crowd back up into a frenzy, calmed down as well. The Senator taking the blaster bolt did not necessarily ease tensions, but it did draw the eyes and ears of the people for the sentient's speech. They waited, they listened, then, they waited more. Their tensions were eased by his words, though only temporarily.

Temporary peace, however, was still leaps and bounds ahead of outright violence and mob rule. The senator was given this moment to begin unloading his droids and his aid. But the crowds were not completely calm yet. A single wrong move and everything could come crashing down. A droid stepping on the toe of a child, a man being bumped into too hard, anything could set these people off.

Hera, sensing the calming of the crowds, slipped away from her entourage for a moment. They had their orders and knew what to do. She hunted through her own crowds, looking for the agitator. Knowing how volatile the situation was, Hera knew she needed to speak to them privately.

@Olwin @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Kedu Amihan]

The Senator of Champala didn't need to reopen old wounds on his person, to share a tale that obviously continued to haunt him up to this very day, but the message he intended to send was heard and received by the masses. It wasn't the first, nor would it be the last, that the Wanderer would see this kind of display, this sharing of pain and grief, but he would never turn his nose up at something as sincere as the scene that had just unfolded. It gave the Senator and the Jedi time to prove to the citizens of Commenor their sincerity to help. Though the Wanderer had no similar stories to share, he was secretly glad that his own words helped the Senator's redirect the crowd's anger, if only temporarily. But it was more than enough, this temporary stillness. He had faith that his brethren and the Senator's people would eventually succeed in fully reaching the citizens' hearts.

Ocean eyes drifted towards the red-haired Jedi as she moved away from her group. The wandering merchant could only surmise that she might be on the move to search for the instigator. He would've actively helped but even the Wanderer himself had not been able to pinpoint the perpetrator's position let alone put a face to the man's voice. But as Hera began her hunt, a calm monotone would reach her thoughts.

In private, not anywhere with prying ears: speak. If you... find the instigator, that is. Force be with... you.

The Wanderer continued forward but turned towards the direction of the Senator instead. Being an off-worlder himself, the half-Annfyn moved and interacted with others with as much care as the Jedi and the Senator's aides, refusing to escalate the situation once again. With watchful eyes through the Force he kept tabs on the people's emotions around him. Apprehension and flashes of anger remained, but the citizens of Commenor allowed the aid to continue. There was tension in the air, and the Wanderer knew that one wrong move would devolve into another violent protest and any offer of help to be completely shut down.

But how would they stand tall again if they choose to squander away these helping hands?

It didn't take him long to reach Senator Staergin. The Wanderer offered the Chagrian his hand and would carefully help the latter back up on his feet, the merchant mindful of the other man's injury.

"Senator... will you... let me see to your wound?"

@Black Noise @Olwin

 

[Aharon Staergin]

Aharon shook his head at the hand as he put up his hand. It was clear that the young man knew the cameras were still rolling and did not want to seem weak. He was standing, squaring his shoulders to be strong, showing the bolt did not phase him anymore. It was clear his limb was in pain, a giant scorch mark left from the impact, yet the Champalan did not want to recognize it. He took a moment to think on what he would say, before he took a simple breath and began.

"Why thank you, Jedi Knight," his voice was soft and quiet yet cold, his eyes just staring into the Jedi's, "but it is just a blaster bolt. There are others who require medical help more than I. We cannot show preferential treatment, the crowd is still unstable. Treat them, and I shall treat myself." His hand moved over his arm as he retreated back into the ship he landed in, the guard droids following their owner back inside.

Aharon moved directly to the medical bay inside his craft and sat on the medical bed. He put a plastic mouth guard between his jaws and gritted his teeth. There would be more pain after this. There will be much more pain. He did not want to show the people that they had hurt him. He wanted to show enough pain to get them on his side and let him do his work. The work his droids would do while he was being worked on.

@Forsythe Crowholde @Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera continued her work from mobile command centers, moving from location to location unloading food, medical supplies, pre-fab shelters, and machines to build them. Everywhere the Jedi and her people went, the people were restless and angry. Hera could not blame them, after all, but thankfully tensions had died down enough as to not riot and destroy aid supplies.

The New Republic, despite being partially responsible for Commenor's troubles, was allowed by the locals to rebuild and reestablish trust. This was thanks in no small part to the honor of the Senator from Champala and the aid he brought from his own world.

Wherever Hera went, she put out a call to arms for the people to sign up and join the Jedi's volunteer resistance against the Sith and the Killiks. However, she was refused out of hand by all who were approached. While the people of Commenor were willing to accept the aid and help of the Jedi in their efforts to rebuild, they were not willing to sacrifice what little they had left fighting for the Jedi, no matter the enemy.

Despite this, the Jedi's reputation as bringers of aid and help has been upheld. Additionally, the New Republic has begun the path of rebuilding its own image among its aligned worlds.

Spoiler: OOC tl/dr

With a final positive roll(7), the thread wraps as the crowds calm. Closing posts may still be made, but no more from me. While the people of Commenor are restless and ready to fight still, they have accepted help and will rebuild with aid from the Jedi and The New Republic. They, unfortunately, are not willing to join the Jedi in any capacity(2).

@Olwin @Forsythe Crowholde