Song of Two Houses' Legacy

[Dmitri]

During the Hutt Wars, Cinnagar had been lost to the Republic and the planet's royalty. The Hutts tainted it with their filth. However, while their homeworld was lost, their hope and culture was not. Empress Cape Es Cade had worked to aid in restoring Cinnagar to its rightful ownership. Eventually her two sons would return to Cinnagar, restoring its sovereignty.

However, both sons desired power. The elder felt emperorship belonged to him, being the oldest. The younger brother felt he was smarter and more charismatic, feeling he was better qualified. The two conflicted on leadership. The younger brother's charisma and cunning allowed him to outmaneuver the elder, gaining power. The elder forged a branch family, becoming the first of the lower Houses of Cinnagar. It was named the House of Weiss.

Since then, the Es Cade main branch stayed in power for a majority of history. On a few occasions the House of Weiss gained stewardship or emperorship, though generally until the Es Cade main branch could produce a child and let them grow to the necessary age.

Cane Es Cade was the newest edition to the House of Es Cade. He was only a prince, his mother Cake Es Cade the true majesty of the planet. Instead, he served as the planet's representative as Senator, along with directing CRADLE. The Cinnagaran Research and Development Lunar Executive had been constructed years ago, remaining in Es Cade control. There had been some appeasement to the House of Weiss, with one of the Cradles named Weiss' Cradle. However, the Es Cades controlled that one too.

Since its construction, only one or two Cradles ever left at a time. Now, there were plans to have all Cradles leave. It was why Cane Es Cade was meeting with two other individuals at the Es Cade Palace. He knew the Jedi Councilor, Ashara Vashee, by reputation. The Nautolan he was introduced as Shi-Gel-Hu. They were organizing the evacuation of Empress Teta, or at least the military forces and Jedi. So far the New Sith Imperium had shown to little threat to the natural populations of conquered planets, though a warning had been issued to Empress Teta.

So far, evacuations had been going well. Three of the Cradles were ready to go. A fourth was being loaded with Jedi, soldiers, and any volunteers. The fifth wouldn't be needed for transportation, though would depart with the rest; ironically it was Weiss' Cradle.

Cane read a report in front of him. "General Barrel reports that his troops are all on board." Cane looked up at Ashara. "How about the Jedi?"

 

[Master Maverick]

"Well enough. The Archives are being copied and deleted as we speak. There are only a score of Jedi remaining and they will accompany me on my gunship. Potential loss of life is minimal." she answered in beat the situation demanded. "When the data is wiped then we will be ready to leave. Is CRADLE set for hyperspace?"

Feelings would not penetrate the Togruta. She was there and doing her tasks as required. Any extraneous thought was rejected as her mind reeled in the duties required with the evacuation of a Temple and whatever aid she was able to give with the city itself. There would be plenty of time for that later, in any event.

Luckily the Sith had yet to show up. It was nice to have the evacuation go so smoothly. She was not about to breath a sigh of relief, though, until they were well away from the planet. For now there was still plenty to discuss with the Senator before they would part ways.

"I wish you to know that I am grateful that you are offering your services towards our goal. It certainly would have been much more difficult." She, of course, meant that he didn't need to agree to her wishes. That he could have just waited for the Sith to arrive and surrender, allowing a smooth transition of authority over the planet. She wasn't completely sure of the man's allegiences either, which put her a bit on edge. It had been some time since she dealt with non-Jedi in such a capacity in quite some time. Longer, still, with a Senator. She held no ill will towards politicians, but all knew the stories and the tendencies such individuals tended to play for whatever reason.

 

[Dmitri]

Cane Es Cade was pleased how quickly the data transfer was going. He would had preferred it to have been completed by now, but no reason to rush. He didn't want anything left for the Sith. The prince was thankful that the data was all that was needed for completion in order to leave.

"Three are ready to go immediately," Cane reported. "Sir Up says he'll have Newton's Cradle ready within the hour." He nodded respectfully at Ashara's comment. "I'm glad I can do what I can. Many Senators have cowarded when the Sith arrive, hoping to keep their power. Imbeciles! I may be a Senator, but I am a prince. I rule, by I serve my people. Those politicians are not doing well for their constituents by cowardly brown-nosing with the Imperium. Their incompetence is only helping the Sith. The Jedi must survive for the Sith to be defeated." He truly felt that way. The Jedi had defeated the Sith time after time. Even the famous Empress Teta had had Jedi assistance. "CRADLE was initially designed by Empress Cape Es Cade in hopes of helping the Jedi. I don't plan to change that legacy. May it serve you well."

 

[Master Maverick]

A deep bow of the head was offered toward the Senator for the act, but more for the meaning behind it. Hopefully he would still feel the same in the future.

"We have what few fighters we have in with planet security. When they arrive we will only be able to hold them off for, perhaps, a score of minutes before they overrun our position. That is, of course, given that reinforcements do not yet arrive from Tython..." Her seers had anticipated such an event, but things were changing so quickly and the Darkness swallowed virtually all their visions into nothingness. Either way, this was no time to take anything too lightly. Anything was possible at this point.

"A few Knights have reported they are in their positions and most bunkers have been readied for the invasion." Her heart skipped a beat and her eyes fell towards the floor, a feeling of despair clear in the air. "My heart breaks for those unable to escape." Only on Saleucami, had she heard, that Sith had slaughtered civilians for nothing more than sport. She didn't know much about Brentaal or Alsakan, but could only assume the worst at this point. Even in their reinforced bunkers, planet security could only hold off for so long, even with the Jedi. "All of these Jedi have pledged to stay until the planet is secure or they become one with the Force." Her voice broke in the slightest way, but the senator would pick up on it quite easily. She would have no shame, though. These were her friends, her colleagues. She had lived with them for the last several months, many of them very closely. They were all great Jedi and she would be sure to remember each and every name and record it so they might not be forgotten.

Ashara winced. Her hand moved towards her forehead and temple, pain clear on her face.

"They are here..." Her voice indicated an omen that would come true within moments.

On cue, voices sounded out over the comm systems of frantic reports that the Sith fleet had, indeed, arrived. "Lumyn, bring my gunship around to the courtyard." Her fingers had moved their way around to her ear and she spoke to a Jed through this, giving instructions.

"Are you sure you will not join me? I can promise your safety, Representative."

 

[Dmitri]

A diplomatic barge swept through the cloudy skies of Empress Teta, gliding towards a hangar. It was registered as the Administrator, belonging to Senator Brendan Rhea. The ship had been granted permission to land though up in space Sir Up at CRADLE had recommended the Senator turn back. After all, according to Sir Up, they were in the process of evacuation.

Aboard the Administrator, Geist Weiss couldn't help but be amused. He had established the Brendan Rhea months ago. Many people disliked Senators and other politicians that they immediately labeled him negatively, distracting them from inquiring what planet he's from.

The Administrator was a ship he had obtained months ago too. It had been the result of a business transaction with Commander Barrel at the space station Father's Dream. It had been stolen 'by pirates'. All it needed was new registration using a template formulated by the ship's original registration code and codes obtained from diplomatic vessels impounded at Saleucami and other planets. During his hack at the Sage Halls, he had planted the ship's registration into the accepted list of ships with permission to land near the Sage Halls or Es Cade Palace.

Geist was concerned with landing in the forest hangar surrounding the Sage Halls. Lain Derisma had hacked into Ubiqtorate. He did not know what information had been stolen. The mission focused on planting a registered ship to Sage Halls. He had done the one near Es Cade Palace as a back-up, originally so he'd have an escape route during Operation Homecoming, the first raid on the Sage Halls months ago. He didn't use it, making it available for usage now.

The illusionist remained in the cockpit as the Administrator landed. He was accompanied by Sith Crusader Xanthus. He had heard of the man from three individuals. The first was CAIN Director Arch'elie'lia, who spoke highly of the Chiss Intern. His student had praised him too, though he could label that as teacher-student relationship. Then there was STARS. Xanthus had been chosen to serve as Iluzija. The spoke words, if STARS was working properly.

"I'll leave the Sage Halls to you," said Weiss. He left it without saying that he would deal with the Es Cade Palace personally. House Es Cade was about to unleash its swan song. House Weiss would reclaim the throne. Exiting the ship along with everyone else, he departed from Xanthus' crew. He instead was accompanied by a few Stormtroopers, a couple Sith, and a group of Sinners. The last part were his specifications. He wanted his own people on the ground and who better than people brainwashed into servitude?

Geist had used illusions to mask himself as a nerdy-looking politician. His group was cloaked with invisibility. The illusionist had a clear path to the Es Cade Palace until he reached the foyer, where he was stopped by an elderly man. He knew the man from his childhood. It was Sir Barrel, one of Empress Cake Es Cade's knights. He was a stickler of protocol. Immediately he was talking on his radio. "Sir Loyne, we have a visitor..." He didn't finish, though. Geist pressed on the man's mind, manipulating it soothingly. The old man struggled a bit, but turned over. "Senator Rhea is here. He has access to meet with the prince."

Sir Loyne responded with a little static. "Roger. Make it quick. He's leaving in an hour. I'm taking care of Her Majesty myself."

Geist wasn't pleased with this. The Imperium's intel hadn't shown this. While Sir Up had let it slip there was evacuations in place, there had been no indication the empress was leaving with them. What were the Sith assassins doing? They should have caught this, he thought.

Geist corralled three Sinners and a Sith named Yleba'rr'elia, a Chiss Intern, to locate Empress Cake Es Cade. They would contact other Sith assassins in the area to assist them. Geist let Sir Barrel finish his conversation with Sir Loyne. Once it was over, Geist grabbed Barrel's head with the Force and twisted. The elder man's long life was extinguished with a sinister snap. One less person knew of his true appearance. One down. Nine to go.

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Cane nodded in agreement lamentably. "I shall do all I can to insure their safety. I will not forsake the people of this planet. Let us hope they do not meet the Force so soon."

Ashara winced, surprising Cane. He hoped she was all right. He was about to inquire if a servant should bring something when she predicted the arrival of the Sith. Part of him was surprised and the other half disbelieving. However, his doubt quickly faded. Not because Sir Loyne soon commed in about engaging a Chiss and some Sith, but his belief in the Jedi. They had not faltered his faith yet, and he would stay with them to the end.

As Ashara prepared to leave, she inquired if Cane would not come with her. He shook his head solemnly. "Our meeting was kept off the books. No one except the Jedi know you're here." The prince briskly walked over to a wall. He pushed in a tile. With a little creaking, a secret passage was heralded with a moving wall. "Go. I'll hold them off. The Jedi must continue, and they need their leadership. We saw what happened in the beginning of the war with an unstable leadership in the Jedi. You must survive. Go!" Cane grabbed Ashara's and Shi-Gel-Hu's glasses and tossed them into the trash.

Shi-Gel-Hu grabbed Ashara's arm and urged her to the secret passage. "The Senator is right. I don't like it, but you need to escape. We must go."

 

[Master Maverick]

Wide eyes watched the situation unfold in front of her very eyes.

It was happening.

"My Prince, you mustn't!" She tugged her arm away from the Naotolan, but his grip remained firm, her attempt rather weak. "It is you who must survive. You would be one of the few trustworthy members of Congress left!" It was clear her pleas would fall on deaf ears, and she relented. "The Force is with you," she bid him farewell with a solemn vow.

She wished there was something she could give him in order to help him in any way possible. As a Jedi, though, she had nothing to offer. The items on her belt would do nothing and she most certainly couldn't part with her lightsaber. That and it was unlikely the man even knew how to wield one properly. If that were the case then it was far more dangerous in his hands than if he were not to possess it at all.

"I will look for you!" She promised this as she turned to follow Shi-Gel into the passage. Her bare feet slapped unnaturally loud within the enclosed space. Her breath panting, but not out of being tired. It was out of anxiety, fear and the rush of being in battle. The fear would subside in time, but her adrenaline was climbing to heights she had rarely experienced before.

The earpiece sounded out with the words of Lumyn, stating they were nearly there. "We need to get to the courtyard!" She whispered loudly, her voice echoing profusely and making the Togruta wince in mock pain, but also surprise and annoyance in herself.

When they had exited the passageway into some random hall on the other side of the palace, she looked around, utterly lost. "Do you know where to go?" She kept her voice hushed as a deadly silence seemed to fill her ears. She looked up towards the high ceilings, the sun shining through windows high in the rafters. She remembered what general direction to go, but didn't want to run into any obstacles and get mixed up. Her dark eyes found Shi-Gel to hear his answer. If he was unsure, then she would take the left down the upper levels, the walkway that looked down to a large hall below.

 

[Dmitri]

Geist Weiss entered the room where Prince Cane Es Cade was at. He stood in the middle of the room defiantly.

"I should have known it was you, Geist," the prince spat. "House Es Cade will never bow down to House Weiss!"

Geist grinned, though Cane wouldn't be able to see it. "Not necessary."

The alchemist raised a blaster.

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Shi-Gel-Hu held the same sentiment as Ashara. He didn't want to leave Cane behind. However, the man had made sense. The Sith would be looking for the prince. If they found the prince, they would stop searching the premises, which would expose that two Jedi were inside.

As Shi-Gel-Hu exited the passage to arrive at a hallway, they heard the echo of a single gunshot from the hall. The Nautolan couldn't sense Cane anymore, though he wasn't sure if it was because of the Sith's polluting presence masking his ability to sense properly or if... if... No. He had to believe the man was alive. He had sacrificed his own safety to ensure theirs. They had to escape if they were to honor the prince's sacrifice.

Ashara demonstrated that despite being the Sage Master, she had not visited the Es Cade Palace often. Luckily Shi-Gel-Hu had been at the palace on numerous occasions. Granted it had been a few years, but hopefully not much had been changed. "I use to take Sigur here back when he was a Padawan. If memory serves, the exit is that way." He pointed North.

Shi-Gel-Hu took point. If they were to run into any enemies, he would engage them first. Ashara had to survive. Sigur needed allies and friends, especially Jedi Councilors. His student had risen so far. He would not let the Jedi fall under his student's watch.

As they passed a waiting room, they heard blasterfire in the next room. "Stay here," he requested of the Sage Master. Shi-Gel-Hu opened the door slightly. From his vantage point, he saw Empress Cake Es Cade and four knights engage six Stormtroopers and a Sith.

"It's the empress!" he exhaled loud enough for Ashara to here. He should leave. He should take Ashara to safety. However, they were only free because of Cane's sacrifice. If he could help the prince's mother, he had to try.

Shi-Gel-Hu charged out of the room and towards the attackers. He yelled a war cry not out of pride, but to startle the Stormtroopers. It worked. They paused momentarily to assess where the shout had come from. It gave him just enough time to reach the nearest soldier and slice him in half. The Nautolan stabbed the second and deflected a blaster bolt towards another Stormtrooper. The Sith advanced towards him with a falcate slash. He parried the attack, though missed his chance to kill the Sith.

 

[Master Maverick]

The loss of the Prince would have been devastating if she knew him a little better. Of course she paused, her eyes wide and her heart dropping, skipping a beat and pained at the loss. He had offered so much in order to aid the Jedi, now finally offering his life for their continuation. Her eyes searched for answers in Shi-Gel like a little girl, but she remained silent and followed, keeping as quiet as possible.

When they had stopped so the Nautolan could check on the noise, Ashara whipped her head around in order to get some bearings on their location and make sure they weren't, and wouldn't be, spotted. Then she heard that it was the Empress. What was she doing down here, seemingly unprotected and not reacting to the arrival of the enemy? Both paused, but with Shi-Gel-Hu's charge, Ashara moved in tandem with the Jedi.

By the time the Sage dislocated a jaw and broke an arm, Shi-Gel was already engaging the Sith. Ashara's blue saber screeched forth while she slammed the last stormtrooper against the wall. But that wasn't before he got a partial message out.

"We found some Je-!" The rest of the word would be determined soon enough, so now they were uncovered. That was hardly the concern of the Sage Master at this point, though.

While the Sith engaged her fellow Jedi, she focused upon the Force. Before she could do anything, though, blaster bolts flew for her. Even with closed eyes, her blade deflected them, but her concentration was broken. Time wasted, she cursed at herself.

The corridor connecting this room to another filled with more troopers with two more Sith waiting in the background like the cowards they were. Ashara's blade danced effortlessly, defending her body while the Knights did the same. She made sure she was at the helm of the defense of the Empress, mentally interacting with the Knights to suggest them to fan out.

Without warning, two of the troopers crashed together violently while the Togruta ducked and turned around some shots when she finally got an opening, which only led to more of the same. Another was slammed hard against the wall, cracking his armor, while her blade found the chest of another. By that time her other hand released a pulse towards the chest of another, sending him flying up towards the wall before finding the floor. At this point, two of the Knights moved forward and started to engage the rest of the troopers. Turning to the remaining Knight, she commanded, "Get her out of here!" This was cut short by a dodge, a twisting turn while her hand sought her saber, the hilt of which slapped against her hand a moment later.

Two red blades found the stomach of one of the Knights and cut clean the head off another. They were well trained, clearly, and excited about the death they had just caused. Ashara remained as calm as possible, finding her core of peace and dwelling on that while they approached with an overconfidence. That was until they got a little close and the seemingly frail woman didn't move.

One's eyes squinted while he thought of something. "That's... the Sage Master!" He recognized her. Again she cursed mentally.

In a malestrom she charged in a fury. This was to keep them engaged and not allow them to get the word out. The one that remained silent was assaulted by an overwhelming mental attack meant to physically implode his brain. He hadn't been paying attention and the attack was successful. He crumpled to a heap on the ground while her blade finally found the remaining Sith, who batted away her slash weightlessly. This only elicited another attack at an awkward angle - where the first strike had been at his left mid-section, the second went for his right shoulder faster than he expected. A burn resulted, but the Force exploded from his body, pushing her back.

The pain coursed through his body, but he used it to strengthen his bond with the Darkness he spread. Upon her return a bright, blinding light formed in the palm of her hand, facing the Sith she was engaging. The others would, too, be blinded by it, but she hoped it would effect all equally. Her blade was at the man's neck by the time it passed, but he had already moved. His blade touched her side, burning her cloak and robes. Both swung their sabers at each other to get the other away, which worked well enough.

During the pause, though, she let loose a concentrated blast of energy towards the man. He took the brunt of it, but only slid backwards. He should have slammed against the wall, but that was far too hopeful. Even before he stopped sliding, only a moment though, she pulled on his left leg, causing him to stumble. He kept upright, though. This didn't stop her attacks. Following this was another concentration of energy towards his right knee in an attempt to break it. While she didn't break it, she did over-extend it. She was getting to him.

While he dealt with the pain initially, a piece of furniture was lifted. By the time he started to charge it had found him, but he merely cut it in half. Rage muffled out the pain he felt. She had succeeded in her plan - he was becoming unhinged. Or so she thought.

Her left hand, palm flat and facing Chaos, The Force worked upon his mind to slow him. It only partially worked. He powered through her attempt to slow and stop him. His blade arched over head in a fantastic display of strength and desperation. She dodged well enough and cut an inch deep into his side. Following this was a punch through the Force at the wound to aggravate it further. Pain coursed over the man's face now.

The whole thing had only been moments, but it felt like an eternity. Ashara didn't know the status of anyone else at this point, fully aware of only her own battle.

 

[Dmitri]

Shi-Gel-Hu was a Jedi, but he had been trained as a soldier too. He knew, unfortunately and unevitably, life had to be vanquished. Sometimes there was no time, nor option to choose the pacifistic route. That day was now, the moment nigh. Stormtroopers and Sith were arriving on the scene as he slew opponents. The numbers swung back in forth in whose was greater. The Cinnagaran Royal Guards were losing people. Shi-Gel-Hu managed to stop a couple rouge shots meant for the empress.

Ashara was amazingly holding her ground in the struggle. She batted away opponents that demonstrated easily why she was a Jedi Councilor. The Nautolan felt proud that such a woman served at Sigur's side.

Shi-Gel-Hu helped Ashara out nonetheless. With the Sith preoccupied with the Sage Master, his attention failed to notice a Nautolan's arrival. He decapitated the man in good measure. As they finished off their opponents, so did the empress' men. The Imperials and Sith had been wiped out, even if only momentarily.

"What are you doing here?" inquired Shi-Gel-Hu.

"Our escape route was compromised. We have to use another route," Empress Cake Es Cade explained.

Shi-Gel-Hu was about to inquire about what the plan was when the empress jogged to a wall and pressed down on a decorative jewel on a portrait's frame. The giant painting of the late Empress Cape Es Cade swung to reveal a secret passage. Cake and her knights headed into the passage. She stopped at the entrance. "You coming?"

Shi-Gel-Hu looked at Ashara. "Should we? The Sith know we're here. Master Vashee, maybe you should go with them. I'll act as decoy so they don't notice the passage."

OOC: I'm guessing Ashara would stay with Shi-Gel-Hu, since Lumyn is outside with their escape route, but you can go with Cake if you want.

 

[Master Maverick]

Ashara's blade found the chest of the other Sith that Shi-Gel had been fighting. It seemed the maneuver was planned, but it was instead the Force allowing the two to work in tandem in a way that didn't come as naturally in the Darkness of the Force.

The rush of battle sent tingles down the Togurta's limbs after the battle, finally able to feel them. The hilt of her saber was brought back to her hand, extinguished by that point, and clipped promptly upon her belt. One might normally keep it out just in case, but she hardly needed the symbol, and wanted to be able to move without hindrance.

She watched silently, keeping that way for a few moments, some that they didn't have, in order to consider the situation and make a decision.

"We will both act the decoy. I believe the Sage Master would take some attention off the Empress." She chose her words wisely as to not offend the woman. Ashara believed she would be a higher priority than the Empress simply given the fact she was one-of-a-kind and the only individual in her position, where as the Empress was but one of many rules of a planet. Of course it was a rather important planet, but the idea still remained.

Regardless, they had a rendezvous to meet. Her eyes found Hu's to watch for confirmation before she'd dart off with the Nautolan to find the courtyard and get out of there.

"Master, the Palace is being overrun!" Shi-Gel-Hu might have been able to hear this from Ashara's earpiece given how loudly it was stated. Not a moment later, stormtroopers flooded into the hallway, starting to cut them off from their destination which was now in sight. Ashara no longer needed to follow and, as such, took point.

To Shi-Gel's right, where the troopers were pouring in from, a concentrated sphere of energy was created in her hand, but did not explode until it reached its target - the middle of the files as they moved in. It wasn't devastating, but it certainly caused confusion, if not panic, within the ranks. Of course their faces were covered so their emotions were lost to her at this point.

It was then that Ashara stopped in her track. A tick in Shi-Gel-Hu's mind would let him know that he was to cover the Togruta while she took cover behind an extended beam that protruded from the wall as support for the ceiling.

The Force fluttered around the Sage while she dipped into it. Several moments passed, thousands of shots being released a the point the ceiling above them collapsed. Well, the section above the opening to the passage where they were coming from. They'd be able to get through soon enough, but now it didn't even matter as they started to race towards the pair from behind. Shots that landed near her body ripped her from the light trance, eliciting her to fling her lightsaber at them, cutting down three before it made it's way back, though two others had been slammed together at that point. Five hardly made a distance, though. While there weren't a great number of troopers as far as a planetary take-over was concerned, they clearly concentrated upon the palace. This was for obvious reasons though.

The pile of rubble Ashara had created only moments before exploded, the debris hitting troopers foolish enough not to move forward towards the Jedi. The Sith that emerged was clearly on a singular mission, not about to worry about the well-being of faceless soldiers that were useless against these Jedi anyway. The soldiers were only battered, still quite alive. The Sage again paused while she focused upon her first attack against the Darkness that approached with a sure stride, clearly not in any particular hurry at this point. Without warning he gripped his head and groaned in discomfort, but was otherwise unharmed. Her mind crush hadn't been successful. Again, she mentally cursed herself.

"You're going to regret that, shutta!" It was loud enough to hear, but not yelling. He was controlling himself well enough. He would be no match for the combined efforts of two highly-trained Jedi, however. At least, that was what she hoped. However, Shi-Gel-Hu was pinned down by the oppressive blaster fire from the troopers. Her mind touched his and she urged him to move, if he could, towards her so they might be dissuaded from shooting for fear of a stray shot finding the Sith. If not, then she'd go to him.

However, before any of that could take place, the imposing human male held his hand up, causing the plasma to cease. However, they took up their positions, pinning the Jedi down and creating an arena.

"We don't have time for this," she revealed to her partner, though he should have already known that. "I will engage his mind so you can end him." Even for the most well trained of Force Users could not battle mentally and physically at the same time. This man was clearly out-matched, even if he could better the Sage Master in psionics or the Nautolan with a blade, he couldn't best both at once. A twitch within his mind let him know that she had started, making the man cringe and stiffen in response, but he remained standing.

This was rather futile, however, as the troopers would, without question, start shooting upon his death. Ashara knew that and was fully prepared to dart off, and over, the wall of bodies that blocked their way. Hopefully Shi-Gel-Hu would keep up.

 

[Dmitri]

Unfortunately, Ashara showed a bravery that reminded Shi-Gel-Hu of Sigur. A defiance against all odds. He felt a little amusement from that.

However, everything else at that time was no where close to amusing. Sith were still coming. He could even hear the desperate warning from Lumyn over Ashara's earpiece. It was loud to him; he felt sorry for Ashara's eardrums. The enemy arrived in confirmation to Lumyn. The Nautolan immediately joined the Sage Master in taking down the opponents.

A Sith arrived, one that Shi-Gel-Hu recognized from the first battle on Empress Teta. He had been fighting the man when fire from a ship struck nearby, a blast that had sent him in a coma. The man's name was Barrel Tarkin, if he recalled correctly. He always wondered what had happened to him. Apparently he survived the attack on the Sage Halls. Now he had returned, giving a chance to finish the job.

Shi-Gel-Hu wanted to finish the job too, but was preoccupied. Stormtroopers were still fighting. It was taking all of the Nautolan's prowl and skill to deflect all the blasterfire from hitting him and Ashara, who was busy fighting Barrel. They took shots at her because of their distance from Barrel. Ashara seemed to catch on to that, and through the Force urged him to get closer to Barrel. He complied, but the blasterfire ended too soon. He soon learned why. Barrel was egging them on.

Ashara had an answer to this conundrum. He gave a simple nod of acknowledgement. As Ashara locked Barrel in mental combat, Shi-Gel-Hu employed the Force in a boost of speed. As Barrel cringed from Ashara's sufferage, it was a distraction justly needed for the Nautolan to break through the Sith's defenses and stab him in the chest. He then flung his lightsaber up, nearly cutting the human in half.

With Barrel Tarkin's death, the Stormtroopers resumed their bombardment of blasterfire, figuring that Tarkin's death nulled his command. Shi-Gel-Hu followed Ashara as they jumped over rubble. From their new location, the could see the courtyard. A Stormtrooper tried to get in their way but Shi-Gel-Hu unleashed a Force Push on the man, the soldier flying into a wall with a sickening thud. He could see Lumyn's ship.

"Lumyn, how are the Jedi at the Sage Halls doing?" He asked as he climbed aboard.

 

[Master Maverick]

The lightsaber swung furiously around her body, keeping her safe from the bolts as she shifted through space at an impressive speed. There was no time to think at this point. That Sith was dead. It hardly made a difference, though. There were hundreds more to take his spot, many vying for his spot, she could only be sure. A few more troopers were bashed with Force energy and smashed with pieces of debris.

When the pair finally reached the courtyard, shots rang out from the gunship towards the entrance they had just exited. It was a lightly armed model, but more than enough to stall some soldiers from approaching. The ship was unable to completely land so as to allow for a quick get-away. They had to jump twenty feet to the opening provided, which was only simple enough for these particular Jedi.

Once aboard they were immediately met by Ashara's personal guard, Lumyn. Shi-Gel-Hu wasted no time in asking what the situation was.

"A small force has engaged the vanguard defending the Temple. I believe I saw a battalion moving towards their location. We have little time." Without missing a beat, Ashara issued her orders.

"Captian, to the Sage Halls. Quickly!" Her earpiece had been engaged, and only a moments pause before the ship was off. Shots rang out towards the gunship from the ground, but their blasters were hardly effective against the hull of the war machine.

"Lumyn, when we land, you need to make sure there are none remaining in the Temple. Bring the others with you. You're going to need to do a quick sweep of the grounds. Shi-Gel-Hu," She then turned to the Nautolan while Lumyn went off to issue the command. "Would you join them?" It was hardly a request, but there was a small pause where he might have been able to respond if she didn't give him his objective. "I need you to go to my office. I left the door open. In my desk, the top right drawer, are a datarecorder, my datapad and a holocron. I need them." She'd wait for confirmation before waving him off while she made her way to a nearby sitting room so she might rest and center herself before she would perform her task.

 

[Dmitri]

Shi-Gel-Hu nodded. "I can do that."