[IMPERIAL KNIGHT MISSION] Crimson Sepulcher

[Paloma Orrin]

TAIKAHA HILLS, 07:00 LOCAL TIMEDANTOOINE, OUTER RIM TERRITORIES​

As far as Imperial territories went, there were worse places to hide than Dantooine. On looks alone it was far superior to any of the industrialized worlds, with clean air, more space, and less of the frazzling noise pollution that came with living in or near the city. Dantooine was certainly a developed world, and it had its own answers to what it thought city living might be, but the central hub of Garang couldn't hold a candle to Anaxes or Bastion in terms of traffic, size, or frustration. Despite its location near the heart of the Empire's expansion, it was a good place to lay low; and with a small pocket of allies in the Hills, safety - for the moment - was more or less guaranteed, though not for long.

Glancing out across the ianthine grassland, Paloma watched as a small herd of iriaz galloped around a bilba tree, their green hides shimmering in the early morning light. Though the prison had been quiet, its silence only punctuated by errant screams at odd hours of the night, life on the farm was genuinely peaceful. She had no intention of staying, but there was a part of her that wondered whether or not it might be best to simply cut ties with her past and settle down somewhere remote, not unlike what their hosts had done. Former Knights themselves, they distanced themselves from the group well before the attempt on the former Dark Lord's life, and instead turned to a simpler life. One of raising and slaughtering livestock for profit, capitalizing on the galaxy's taste for 'ethically-sourced' and 'free range' protein.

The man at her side, small and gruff and nearing his seventy third year, had never been a part of the Imperial Knights. But he knew of their struggle - of what they had endured, and what they hoped to achieve - from his eldest daughter, the woman who graciously offered Paloma and her escaped comrades a place to stay. They stood on the porch in silence, drinking from mismatched mugs, before the man finally cleared his voice to speak.

"So." Upsher's voice matched his hands: weathered, gnarled, and thick from a life spent working the land.

"Hm?"

"You think they'll come?" There was a healthy dose of skepticism in the man's voice. He was a realist, through and through. Even when Paloma smiled, subtly self-assured that rescue would soon appear, his cynicism remained unmoved.

"I do, yeah."

"Isn't that kind of --"

Cutting him off, the woman interjected a laugh, playfully trying to guess his next words.

"Naive? Hopeful?" She'd been called worse, surely. But Paloma was something of an idealist - even if life was hard, she always tried to see the best in people.

"Selfish." He didn't roll his eyes, but the impatience was clear in Upsher's dry, flat tone. There was something mildly paternal about it, the way he looked at her and so deftly took the wind from her sails, that Paloma couldn't help the way her smile immediately fell.

"I -- I don't.."

"Making your friends come all the way out here - its dangerous. What happens if they get intercepted? Ain't like you've got ships of your own."

There was no denying the man was right. Pausing, Paloma let out a breath she hadn't consciously held in, sighing as she gave a short shake of her head. The smile, smaller this time, returned.

"Yeah. But they won't."

"How you so sure?" Squinting, the farmer peered up at the redhead, his wrinkled face twisted up with doubt.

"I just -- I just am. Something's telling me to have hope. Maybe the Force? I don't know." Flustered but not ready to back down from her optimism, Paloma turned to the half-full mug of espcaf in her hands, shaking her head at the blurry, darkened reflection that greeted her. The two Knights sleeping in the basement were her responsibility, now. Their safety, their survival, was paramount. But endangering the lives of Rebel soldiers.. was it worth it? Was she really acting out of selfishness, out of fear?

It was too late for second guessing. The transmission had been sent, their rescue was confirmed. All they had left to do now was wait.

"But they'll come. I know they will." Turning on her heel, Paloma moved back inside the farmhouse to refill her mug, blinking away the first hint of frustrated, terrified tears that threatened to shatter her relentless optimism.

@Calixis @Livu @Bronitarian​

 

[Laika Bayne]

The trip to Dantooine was quiet and uneventful with everything... simply going right so far. While she wasn't sure what her superior thought about this strange occurrence, she naturally took it as a bad omen. It was always calm before the storm. Not to mention they had coordinates, an idea of where to go, and they actually knew who and how many people they were looking for. While having more data might make others feel confident, it just made her on edge. More data for them meant more chances of the enemy getting a hold of the information as well. Granted, it wasn't just the mission that was weighing her down.

Now that they were planet side she couldn't help but let out a sigh and frown. "Not much has changed..." she muttered, mostly to herself as her eyes scanned the area. The familiarity of her surroundings should be comforting for one visiting home after years of being away... but not for her. Laika never expected her boots to touch Dantooine soil again. It felt like ages since she had left home and she wasn't entirely sure how to feel about being back. For now she took solace in the fact that the chances of meeting someone who remembers her, or even once knew her, were slim. It's a big planet after all and so much of it was rural.

At the moment they were just outside of the landing ports, the sky open and clear above them as they walked on the metallic paths leading away from it. She turned her head towards her superior. "We should probably keep a low profile."

 

[Jahairal Val Kharon]

"You have been here before?" Jahairal asked as he glanced back towards Laika, dressed in simple traveling clothes of a tan head-wrap, cloak, and simple beige fatigues he wore when not on duty. His choice in clothing would normally have been in armor, weapons fully loaded and ready. This however, was not a planet for that. An non-humanoid might raise some brows, but an armored up and armed non-humanoid wearing a skull mask, would have illicit a lot more then that; More then likely a response of the shooting variety.

And so Jahairal felt uneasy, being so naked without his bone mask, hoping the scars on his face did not draw as much attention as he thought they would. Looking around outside of the spaceport, Jahairal could not help but agree as he slung the traveling bag over his shoulder that carried his supplies, his weapons holstered behind his back. "That is a good idea...It is being a very good idea..." He said as he looked around at the rather sparsely populated and rural landscape.

This place was nice. Jahairal always liked the less industrial, more natural planets. And this was no exception. He took in a breath of the fresh air, a sense of calm on his face as he looked to the others.

"Keep your senses open. They are being a better tool then most, for the telling of danger..." Jahairal warned as he continued to advance along the metal pathways, "Now...let us be going. We possess many ways to go, before we reach the countryside..." The coordinates showed the knights being away from the city center, in the farmlands instead. To Jahairal, the sooner they meet up with these knights, the better they'd be at coordinating a proper escape for the group.

 

[Laika Bayne]

"Yeah. Raised here." She said quietly in response to Jahairal's question.

As a native, Laika didn't stand out as much as he did. Like him, she also didn't wear her armor and instead wore an old worn-in grey shirt and fatigues with a brown leather jacket and belt. A backpack was strapped to her back and a leather pouch hung off of the left side of her belt. She was used to traveling with a lot more gear and the lack of the familiar weight was strangely uncomfortable.

She nodded to his warning and continued on. "Do mind the wildlife while we're here. Some creatures can be dangerous." And with that she continued on alongside him.

Soon the metal pathway ended and transitioned into a dirt trail that lead out into the rolling fields and hills. Small farmsteads and the strange Blba trees broke up the monotony of grass that surrounded them. The further they walked, the less defined the trail became and fewer buildings could be seen. At one point a Brith flew high overhead, distracting her as she tilted her head to look up at it. Brith were one of the few things she missed about Dantooine. The sight of it 'swimming' through the sky made a smile form on her face and melted away some of the nervous edge that she'd had since landing. Yes, admittedly, this was rather peaceful.

 

[Jahairal Val Kharon]

"I do not fear creatures. If you give them respect, they respect you..." Jahairal said simply as he continued to walk along with Laika, enjoying the sights as the two made their way onto the dirt trails. "That is much better..." Jahairal said with a faint smile, enjoying the feeling of nature at his feet instead of the metal. The dirt crunching beneath his steps bringing him a calm sense to this entire trip.

Looking up to the Brith, Jahairal could not help but look at the majestic creature in awe as it flew overhead, "This world...it has a good beauty to it..." Jahairal said as he looked back to the path ahead, "That the empire has not spoiled it is a blessing...do you miss it?" Jahairal asked as he glanced to his fellow knight.

 

[Laika Bayne]

That was a healthy view on things, she thought. Leave them be and they will leave you be in return. The only problem is that it left you off guard if something was to actually happen. At least that was her opinion.

"Hm?" She glanced over and nodded to him. "Sometimes." Laika said with some hesitation. "After traveling so long it's easy to forget about places. Even home." She said in response to his question, watching as the Brith gently skimmed through the sky further and further away from them. "Dantooine is out of the way and the empire probably needs it for it's farmlands. I'd say those are the only reasons why it's left relatively alone."

 

[Jahairal Val Kharon]

"Perhaps you are right. Home is something important to keep within ones heart. You should be enjoying this while you can, Laika Bayne..." He said as he looked away from her, continuing down the path as he gave one last remark on it, "There are some who can never go back home..." He didn't feel like elaborating much on that afterwards, never liking to discuss his past often, especially not while they were on a mission.

"We need to head forward once more. The knights might..." Jahairal stopped a moment in his tracks, turning on his heels as he looked behind himself, staring down what looked to be the empty path behind them. He'd thought he'd felt something just then, a rustle from the grasses around them catching his attention as well. As he watched, a few Iriaz came leaping out, the deer like creatures crossing the road quickly to head into the tall grass beyond.

"...It is best we are kept on guard...Something may not be correct here...." Jahairal said uncertainly. He was sure he'd felt something for a split second, a sense of danger or flash of fear, even a bit of a cold spot. He couldn't be sure what was his imagination and what was actually something he sensed in the force. Either way, he was hesitant to brush it off purely as just a startled Iriaz.

 

[Laika Bayne]

Laika could swear she detected a hint of melancholy in his voice as he spoke of home. It wasn't her place to pry. So instead she kept her mouth shut and feet moving at his direction... at least until he stopped abruptly as the Iriaz jumped from out of the grass.

"Odd. Wonder what scared them...?" she asked, her voice low. Her eyes followed the running Iriaz before she turned her head to give a quick glance towards where they'd emerged from. "Aside from wildlife, normally the only things that would..." She caught herself and paused to correct herself before continuing, "Well, -should- be out this far are farmers or hunters." She narrowed her eyes in thought and rested her hand on the pouch attached to her belt. She did keep moving, however, and now she seemed much more alert to her surroundings.

 

[Jahairal Val Kharon]

The two moved further along, an occasional rustle through the leaves or some movement from the corner of their eyes evident, though nothing actually malicious could be felt through the force. Perhaps it was simply their minds playing tricks on them over the dangers inherent in coming this close to sith territory, or perhaps there was something out there. As the two continued on their way along the path, more and more farmlands and farmsteads became visible around them.

When the tall grass ended and opened up to a more managed and tilled region, acres of agriculture lands around, Jahairal could not help but smile at the sight. This was a community, one wo livved off the land, and one who jahairal had a soft spot for. He felt the same feeling as before of being watched, and glancing behind himself, Jahairal caught a glimpse of a lizard like tail slip its way back into the grass as he looked to Laika.

"Are there lizards of unusual size common here?" He asked curiously, before walking along the dirt path and away from the grass they'd just left from. They passed some shared acres, going back to a more and more spread out area as their path led them to one farm in particular, on the outskirts of the others.

"This...this is where the coordinates are being from." Jahairal said with a blink of his eyes, looking towards the farm as he examined it, "It...it is very plain...I admit I was expecting it to be...not so." He said, not sure how to put it in words. It looked like all the others, and Jahairal was unsure if this was the right spot or not.

 

[Paloma Orrin]

It hadn't taken an immense amount of effort to rouse her fellow Knights. Despite their idyllic surroundings, it seemed as though no one slept especially well while under the threat of an Imperial attack, doubly so when the fate of innocent - or at least unaffiliated - lives would no doubt suffer if the Sith found their hideout. One at a time, the trio enjoyed a warm shower and a filling meal, prepared by the family's patriarch with apparent care, before suiting up to face the day. Like her associates, Paloma had been relieved of her lightsaber when the Sith imprisoned her; unlike the men who stood by her side, hers had not been returned with the rest of her belongings. To be out in the galaxy unarmed felt strange, and it would be a lie to say the lack of anything to defend herself with hadn't put her on edge. Their mission was a dangerous one, but perhaps the Force favored them and their cause enough to let them slip out of the Empire's grasp undetected, just this once. She wasn't a leader, not officially, but Paloma knew it was better to appear confident and calm than it was to worry about whether or not she would be useless in a firefight, and so she did her best to push the concerns from her mind.

Poised on the back porch with an old pair of macrobinoculars against her face, the redhead scanned the horizon, eager for any signs of oncoming vessels or wandering rescue parties. She kept her attention trained towards the skies primarily, still rather unconvinced that the Empire would simply let them go, but eventually she angled her gaze toward the same hilly plains that Jahairal and Laika traversed. She didn't recognize them, not on a personal level, but they were making a beeline for the farmhouse. It wasn't exactly a tourist attraction, located so far away from the city proper, and it felt like a reasonable assumption that they were the Rebels sent to make contact. Despite the distance, she raised her arm to signal the pair closer, though it was likely an unneeded move.

"Hey!" Turning to call back into the house, she didn't fight the smile that threatened to split her face in two. "Looks like our ride's here!"

 

[Jahairal Val Kharon]

Jahairal and Laika continued to approach the farm, jahairal looking around and seeing the rather simple look to the whole thing. If there was any place to hide out from the empire, one could not pick a more unassuming location then this. The kaleesh looked back towards the house as his eyes spotted someone out on the porch, still a bit of distance away.

He held up a hand to wave at them, hoping to signal that he and Laika were friendlies as he began to approach. The last thing they needed was a misunderstanding at this time.

 

[Calixis]

Patience. It was a virtue that so few people appreciated. On this occasion however, it had paid off. His orders were simple; root out the escaped traitors, dead or alive. His superiors would have preferred the latter, but they appreciated that the circumstances were not always friendly to such a thing. At least three had been confirmed among their little group, but the Lieutenant was well aware of the dangers that Force-users such as they could prove to be against his men. He had confidence in his soldiers, and had been assigned enough that he might simply overrun any other foe, but that these three had avoided capture for this long... they knew what they were doing. Those who swung lightsabers about were deadly, that was to be certain, but he and his men had been trained to put down such slippery vermin. They bled like the rest, it just required a little more strategy- not even that, just a change in tactics.

As for patience, well, he could have just ordered his men to go from door to door, farmstead to farmstead, but that ran the risk of alerting his quarry at best, and inciting the locals at worst. Dantooine's people had lived under the benevolent rule of the Empire long enough to appreciate its banners and the armour of the Corp, but that didn't mean all were so willing to lie down and be shoved around. No, instead he had opted to wait, to deploy reconnaissance and wait for the slightest slip. What caused them to trip was... well, it was unexpected, but it was a reward for the virtue that he had practiced. Now he merely had to collect it.

"Sergeant Becks, Sergeant Claren, move in."

 

[Laika Bayne]

((Sorry for such a late response guys. Had a ton of crazy IRL things happen all at once.))


Laika didn't wave. She just continued walking down the beaten path alongside Jahairal. "Well then. Giant lizards or not, it looks like we found our farm," she stated as the person in the distance seemed to beckon them closer. Although she was quite tempted to run ahead or circle around out of old habit, Laika restrained herself. This wasn't the military - well, not really - so there was no need for her to play scout in this situation. Not unless requested at least. Not to mention there was still a chance, however small, that this wasn't the right person. Though, by now they'd made it close enough to make out the person's features. And they looked awfully happy. Good sign, that.

 

[Jahairal Val Kharon]

Jahairal made his way up the hill to the farm as he looked to the one ahead of them. As he did, he couldn't help but wonder at how easy this was so far. The imperials didn't seem to know they were here, or at the very least, didn't know where ti was they were going. As Jahairal approached the farms porch, he came to a stop in front of it, not sure how exactly he was to go about this. Covert missions like this were new to him, and he didn't know if he needed to show them he was trustworthy, or if they would know that he was an imperial knight, come to take them back to the base.

"..........Greetings." Jahairal finally said, giving a bow to the woman standing at the porch as he rose back up to look to her, "Do you...know who we are?" He asked, hoping the answer was going to be yes as he looked to Paloma Orrin. He couldn't help but feel a bit nervous now that he was here, a nagging feeling in the back of his head saying something might go wrong. He brushed it off as nerves, trusting that the others would have felt something if it was something other then his nerves.