Rise Up!

[Jacob Tagger]

This thread is based on the events of:
From Tactical Badger to Tactful Badger
News of The Worlds
It is an immediate consequence of the events of News of The Worlds.

The familiar visage of Nastia Vant once again filled vidscreens and displays the galaxy across. It was an emergency broadcast. The kind that was only seen in the event of major news. There was an edge to Nastia as she gazed into the cameras. Her eyes were puffy and her hair not quite perfect. She began speaking without giving the customary greeting.

"Empress Lyanna Drast has murdered Jacob Tagger in cold blood," she said.

"It is the most disgusting attempt at silencing the independent press that we have ever seen. Lyanna Drast announced during an interview, after a series of questions that she did not want to answer, that Jacob Tagger was a suspected traitor and claimed to have him arrested. The camera feeds were cut immediately after that but Jacob was wise to her game.

"He had opened a direct comm line to myself and from that we were given the details of what happened. We will show you now."

The scene cut to a shot of Jacob and the Empress, seated across from eachother on a typical set for an interview. Jacob was asking some very difficult questions about how Lyanna intended to keep her worlds loyal when the Imperial Republica government asked for their support of their forces but offered nothing in response.

Worlds, he said, would come to realize that there were other options out there; new powers were rising in the galaxy. Powers and people free from the tyranny of Sith dynasties. He gave examples and named names. Through it all Lyanna watched impassively. When Jacob finished, she stood and the fateful exchange began.

"Not supporting the Imperial Government and Armed Forces is not treason. But colluding with the enemy is, Mr. Tagger.

"As is not sharing information on the movement and activities of enemy forces. We have heard vague rumours and the like from Contruum. Nothing about Umbara and Gizer. Bandomeer we didn't really hear much about either... only that you had left Imperial Space headed in that direction."

"I am not a citizen of your Empire. Freedom lies in being bold. When someone is denied the right to live the life they believe in, they have no choice but to become an outlaw."

"Jacob Tagger, you are under arrest as a suspected traitor."

The cameras cut to black there, but the audio continued. It was oddly muffled as though being recorded from behind some cloth...as indeed it had been. Jacob had used his comm from within his pocket to record his final moments.

The iconic sound of a lightsaber snapping to live was heard. It droned through the air and the hissed and sputtered as it connected with flesh. Jacob's voice could be heard crying out in pain just as two rifle shots could be heard. After that there was dreadful silence. The scene slowly faded back to Nastia. She had tears in her eyes but her voice was strong.

"You have just heard murder." Nastia declared. "We do not apologize for this. Our mission has always been to provide the galaxy and public with what they need to know to be able to make informed choices. Jacob was a champion of that. He sought to make sure that accountability was kept at all costs and today he paid the ultimate price for his beliefs.

"We at The Holo News Network wish to echo that sentiment. What you have just seen and heard is exactly what we strive to prevent. The Empress murdered my friend and colleague so that she might escape accountability; her accusations of treason a false attempt to conceal her own horrible intent."

Nastia looked off camera for a moment and her expression changed to one of anxiety and intensity.

"Our time on air is running short," she said. "We do not know when we will be able to return to the air following this broadcast but before we go, from all of us at The Holo News Network we want to address the galaxy as a whole."

She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them, her anxiety was gone and there was only raw emotion left. She believed reverently in what she was about to say. She was pushing what time she had before she had to flee to the very end.

"Citizens of the Empire, beings of the galaxy far and wide. We urge you to rise up. Fight. Win! Take back the freedom that is yours by right of birth. Our numbers are vast and our minds are our own. We must use them to carry the fight forward. Liberty is on the horizon my friends.

"We may be at a dark hour now but the selfless acts of not only Jacob, but countless others like him, will carry us forward. All of us must do our part. We cannot be silenced. We must not be silenced! We have started our part by showing you what the Empire is at its core.

"Tyranny and oppression are its legs; twisted power and death its hands. The Empress has shown her weakness today. You know now what she is. Do not let her take from you or your children what she has from Jacob and so many others."

She looked off screen, nodded and then turned back to the camera.

"Our time is up. I do not know when I will be able to broadcast again. So for now, The Holo News Network bids you goodnight and goodbye."

 

[Ner Giza]

Ner'Giza sat in The Tempest Hunter as her astromech completed yet another upgrade to the ship. She was watching the HoloNet News when suddenly she called out to her droid. "Hey Nine-nine. Your girl friend is on." 99 was at her side nearly before the Twi'lek finished speaking because he was jacked into the feeds on a regular basis. Such was the dedication he had to his fandom. She grinned and said, "See? I told you she was not killed for treason...", her words trailed off as the broadcast continued and somehow just the audio feed made it seem that much more heinous.

Her droid was becoming steadily more anxious by the moment, the sight of Nastia's usually impeccable mien full of emotion, her hair a mess, her voice faltering as she relayed the information for all the Galaxy to hear. The news anchor's repeated glances off screen only made it worse and by the end of the broadcast 99 was literally hopping mad. Nera laid her hand upon his dome and said, "Try not to fret, Nine-nine. She's a smart woman, I am sure she will be just fine..."

But he wasn't listening in the least. Speeding away he hooked himself up to the ship and numerous things began to happen. The gankplank withdrew, the engines kicked on, and he gave his commands. She had never seen him in such a state before and it was more than a little alarming. "Easy now. What do you think you can do about it? Her fate has probably already been...." A series of expletives from the droid shut her up and she sighed. "Very well, you're the captain of this mission. Just where do you suppose she might be?", she asked while moving toward the cockpit.

It was insane to say the least but at the same time 99 was important enough for her to go on this wild goose chase. Looking at the control panel she realized that the droid has already laid in coordinates for a jump to hyper space. From the cargo area Ji Hu peeked his head out and said in Huttese, "Peee jeejee mo bai ateema Cappy?" . The man refused to speak basic as he considered it a soft language for soft people.

Ner'Giza hooked her thumb over her shoulder toward 99 and said, "We are off to aid Sir White Knight there in rescuing a damsel in distress.", she quipped. "You and the rest of the Quilting Bee make ready for combat just in case. If things turn sour we won't have time for equipment failures."

It was madness, it was pure insanity; it was just like her to help a friend no matter how unwise that might be.

//exit thread

@Lucid

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn Rask's lightsaber buzzed back and forth, catching the practice saber of a sparring droid as the news program began to run. Breaking news usually wasn't all that breaking, but it at least caused the Sith to hold up his hand, flicking it as the Force tugged at the droid control panel. The entire sequence of the duel went on pause, and the assassin paused, looking up at the monitor even as his saber still buzzed in his hand.

The galaxy was falling ever deeper down the rabbit hole, and Varyn wondered how much longer they would be able to hold on. The Imperial Republica was complacent, and when asked about it, murdered those who asked. This Drast proved to only have a new set of problems from what the last one had. The Empires were weaker when they were split, and the time for this civil war to boil had come to an end... no matter which side won.

Rebellions had already begun, the Sith's former attack dogs were on the loose, and half the Empire was up in arms against the other. The petty squabbling needed to end. Varyn felt an abnormal anger rise in him, though he wasn't sure what it was directed at. The complacency? The inadequacy of the Imperial Republica? Its rampant fear of taking any action or the fact that it was so bogged down with bureaucracy that it couldn't even protect its own worlds?

It was time for the behemoth to fall.​

 

[Sabrina K]

Sabrina was back on Serenno, in her mum and dad's house. Sure it was not a manor, that she wanted. Though the bed was nicer, than the one on Korriban. She just been lectured about the dangers of Korriban, and what was she thinking. They did not know, she was getting stronger in the force. She made some friends, and she did wonder if @Razir TaResh has come to see the sand here. She was watching the news, trying to get up to date with the galactic news. Then a special report came in, from the core worlds. She listened intently with her cup of tea. The broadcast made her grin, she hated the Imperial Republica. It seems they might be having problems, that made her day. Sure she been lectured, and her brothers had freedom to kill for the Empire, she will be doing that soon enough. Though if they lecture her again, they might be her first victims. She was hoping for war, a chance to prove her name, and the wealth that came with it. Though it would be easier, to fight against a divided nation. She did ponder, how the empire might take advantage of this. As there must be a way of doing so, as the House of Drast now has more enemies than before.

 

[Hugo Ion]

Inside his private chambers on Al'doleem, Commander Hugo Ion sat behind a desk. It was proving to be another long night of reviewing reports, casualty lists, and messages from the council members on his data pad. Rubbing his temple with the left index finger, Ion muttered. “Necessary as this its still a pain at times.” For a moment the Duros smiled, imaging Tiberius Rainer, his deceased captain and mentor would say.

‘Suck it up Blueberry, or I’ll haunt your dumbass.’

Snickering, Hugo thought to himself. The old man would do so too if it was possible. Rainer was hardly the nicest soul by any means but the man was a great leader. To Ion’s point of view, it’s a crime shame he did not live see the Alliance coming into its own. Then without warning an emergency holo board-cast popped on his datapad.

The commander raised an eyebrow as he watched the famous Nastia Vant’s message played for all the galaxy to see. Jacob Tagger murdered by the Sith... It wasn’t exactly a surprise to Hugo at all. He was more shocked it didn’t happened any sooner given the nature of the dark side worshippers. Nonetheless, he grimaced hearing of the lightsaber igniting and the reporter’s pained cry followed by blaster shots.

Death dosen’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints. Hugo Ion reminded himself. Still it did not lessen his contempt for all Sith, Imperial Republica and Old Empire alike. Their system of absolute rule over others and obsession for the dark side is a poison that will slowly but surely destroy the galaxy if left unchecked. Tagger’s death and the open call to reovlt by Nastia was further proof of this belief

The fact members of the Holo Net News Network were willing to condemn themselves to publicly reveal what happened impressed him. As far as the Durosian had been concerned, the media people were a bunch of Imperial puppets and self centered opportunists. Perhaps he misjudged some of them Ion quietly considered. Pulling out his commlink Hugo made a call.

“Dynur have you just watched the news? Good, you already recorded it. I want as many of our members to see this soon as possible.”

Once acknowledged the rebel leader shut off the commlink, turning around and got up from the seat. There he looked out into the open window, viewing the shadows above the jungle below. Despite the sight in front of him, Hugo said out loud.

“The dawn will come.”