Sister of the Eye of Palpatine (From Tython to Trouble)

[Dragon Fae]

The armor felt foreign beneath her robes. There were very few opportunities the young Initiate had to wear such armor while in the safety and confines of the Jedi Temple on Tython. She pulled her robes around her body closely, unused to the coldness and mind too scattered to focus upon calling upon the Force for assistance in warming her blood. Shivering in the cold, she followed the Jedi Master, blinking away the snow that was falling into her face. Why would anyone choose this planet to build a shipyard? Was it not rough on the equipment flying through such extreme temperatures? Master Talohn had already told them that the scans had come back negative, but that did little to ease the tiny prickling at the base of her neck. Someone or Something was here.

Making it up the last few steps, she looked over the precipice to the shipyard laying just over the ridge. They were finally here, the resting place of the plans for the Sister to the Eye of Palpatine. Crouching down low, she tried to rub warmth back in her body as she waited for the others to make the climb. Was she truly ready for this? Her confidence was beginning to dwindle.

 

[StormWolf]

The cold wholly unaffected the Cathar as he trudged through the near-whiteout weather. His fast metabolism, dense body structure, and his fur gave Rhonun a distinct advantage over his human counterparts in regards to the weather. On top of that, Rhonun applied his power of Will, the same will that allows him to ignore crippling pain, and chose to simply ignore the climates attempt to break his spirit. While the Battlemaster took point, Rhonun brought up the rear, that way the two Padawans remained safely in his field of vision, and could not be flanked without the warnings of Rhonun's enhanced senses.

Reaching the top of the ridge with his companions, Rhonun crouched low, his robe snapping in the wild currents of the wind. Snow and frost had caked on to the Cathar's fur, facial hair, and mane at this point, serving as a completely accidental form of camouflage, still, he paid no mind to the bitterness of the weather and focused on the shipyard in the distance.

"Something feels very wrong..." Rhonun muttered lowly, his words escaping his mouth in a fog that quickly got lost in the wind. "Not a single guard or sentry to protect the plans of a weapon that can eradicate the entire population of a planet... We are either too late or someone has set a trap for us..." Rhonun spoke aloud as he scanned the entrances, exits, and catwalks. He could see no one and he could feel no one through the Force at this distance. Still, there was that gut feeling that invisible strings were being pulled, that they were being made as puppets in something sinister.

"Master Talohn, if this is indeed a trap, permit me to spring it by approaching the entrance. I can draw their attention while you and the Padawans make your way in via the maintenance shaft on the far right side, nestled against the glacial ridge. From there you should be able to make your way in, or if I require assistance, flank any aggressors from the rear. I would go through the shaft with you, but judging by the diameter, I would not fit passed my shoulders." Rhonun looked over to the Battlemaster and locked eyes with the man. Rhonun's plan was sound, if not idiotic, but he found that it was the plans that bordered on the downright stupid that worked the best. The more intricate a plan got, the more delicate it became. The minute one thing goes wrong, it shatters. With this plan, there was much room for error, but even more room for improvisation, a much better trait to have that a meticulous plan that collapses once one guard decides to have a longer recaf break outside of their rotation schedule.

 

[Sirocco]

The feeling of dread could be felt from Meph as he seemed to doubt herself, something she had to fight for all of them but was one happy to help. Having successfully used the force to warm himself, he would teach it to Meph while he helped her keep warm “here Meph, let me help you” Roy said as he walked over and kneeled down to wrap his arms and body around her to add his heat to hers and keep her warm. Concentrating the force around her, Roy called on the force to further enchase the slow but steady rise of heat in her body “calm your mind, call on the force so that it can envelope you in wonderful warmth. The force is our ally in this frigid time “Roy whispered into her ear as he used body and mind to help her fight it. Rohnun’s plan was sound sense he did not fit but it would have to be more of a distraction if something happened to keep their presence a secret until necessary. It would also be wise to keep a mental link to each other so that they could converse telepathically as much as possible. But for now, Roy’s priority was into keeping poor Meph nice and warm while also applying the force to sooth her mind with empathy.

 

[Rev]

9-X moved with the precision of a droid, its interface taking in the environment before a routed plan took over. It was a top of the line droid for its time, built on an off-world planet with the design to hold, hide, and store information. Once the droid had something within it, it'd take one hell of a splicer or hacker to get its contents. A far off 'businessman' no doubt had put thousands into the durasteel can, and soon it would hold the plans that had fallen into their hands.. Sold to the highest bidder.

The droid would finally make its way off the skywalk and onto a lift designed for the astromech droid and any of its counterparts. Once housed within the elevator would seal before going into motion, the platform slowly descending the tens of feet to meet factory floor. At the base of the lift stood two men, they appeared as ordinary as any of the workers within the facility only their eyes scanned the room much more frequently than anyone should care to mind. As they awaited the droid to beep at them they couldn't help but stare at a group of workers that had collected near a stripped Kuat drive.

"When do I get PAID!?!"

"You'll get paid, when the job is done. For the last time, Azat, now get back to work!"

The man would shake his head in frustration before grabbing a plasma torch and mask then getting back into line. Grimacing as he looked up at the job before him he couldn't help but curse outward, hoping to draw more attention from their overseers. Though as it always had, there would be no reaction, only the cold stare of their power-driven minds. Flipping the mask down he'd start the torch and begin the process of welding again, truly wondering if he'd get paid.

Outside four men stood, two of them exchanging the pleasure of a deathstick while the other two stared out into the cold wasteland. One of the men would take a long final pull off the stick as the other attempted to light a cigarra in the chilled wind. Finally getting it lit he'd drive his fist into the air in triumph before taking a hit of his own and leaning against the wall.

"Think they'll be done today?"

The group would laugh and all shake their heads as they peered over their shoulders. One of the men would whisper something to the others which would bring them all to a nod before huddling a little closer. The air was getting colder by the minute, why they were watching out over an abandoned waste none of them understood. They'd been here for almost two months and hadn't so much as had a visitor, today didn't look to be any different.

 

[Damien Nightblade]

The group of Jedi moved as swiftly as they could manage over the precipice before descending again on its opposite side. Were it not for their winter gear they would have stuck out like a lightsaber in the darkness amongst the large white banks of snow.

The decent was substantially slower than the climb up was. However a slight misstep dislodged the Battlemaster from his secure positioning and foothold within the side of the terrain and gravity turned against him. Although startled he made sure he uttered not a single sound as he rushed towards the planets surface, his brief free fall being disrupted by some oddly positioned snow caps and rocks as he bounced into some and off of others as his journey down the precipice they had just conquered transcended from gentle climb down, to snow slide.

 

[Dragon Fae]

Roy's warmth behind her did help drive the cold chill of their surroundings away. The slow rise in her body temperature and from his nearness caused her shivering to lessen. Her eyes closed briefly as she listened to his coaching and tried to follow his advice. She smiled as the Force responded to her gentle call. A new shiver ran the length of her body, but this time it was not because of the cold, biting wind. "Thank you," she whispered to him, turning her head toward him.

Master Talohn, whose mind was wholly upon the mission, kept his eyes upon their target, leading them ever onward. As he began his descent, Meph followed along with the others. All was going well until the Battlemaster lost his footing.

Meph gasped as Master Talohn slipped and rolled down the precipice. She tried to go after him, doing her best not to lose her footing and provide a second victim to the treacherous slope. Her footing faltered a couple of times, sending her sliding down the mountain a little before she was able to regain some sense of footing. Her eyes were not upon the others, it was focused on only one person.

Master! Are you alright?, she cried out to his mind.

(Sorry for the short post. :) )