Open Raxus Where The Sun Never Sets - Imperial Victory Celebrations

[The Storyteller]

[Ooc information: open to all Imperial characters regardless of rank or branch. Socialize, mourn, strategize- feel free to do whatever your character would do in the aftermath of Ossus!]

Ossus had proven that the Empire had been the one and only force that had managed to take on Darth Raze and end his reign of terror once and for all. The whole galaxy was looking at the Empire as a Galactical hero, given that even if the costs for killing the Wraith through and Orbital Strike were high, countless lives were saved on the long run.

There were obviously two sides of the medal - pride and grief did not only run in Imperial soldiers, knights, agents or diplomats, who had been present, who had somehow made it out alive - but it was perceivable throughout the whole Imperial sphere of influence and even beyond its borders.

Despite the terrible losses, festivities in the capital had commenced. There was a military parade, and the capital was slowly filling up.

@alltheimperials

 

[Kalique Baize]

Even if days had passed, Kalique still had mixed feelings. Many around seemed to have overcome the grief and seemed much more joyful because of it, but Kalique was still torn. It had been a massive victory, yet many great men and women were missing already - their sacrifices wouldn't be forgotten, yet they all had to look forward.

The atmosphere within the headquarters had been weird. Varyn's absence was noticeable, yet the Empire obviously wasn't standing still. Raze had posed a massive threat to all of them, and he was now the past, yet something new could be brewing on the horizon soon enough.

Kalique tried her best to appear somewhat cheerful, but her mind was occupied. Many things had to be restructured, decided, planned, organized and she didn't really get a lot of sleep, but she was oddly used to it. She was looking forward to some more lighthearted conversation and was trying to spot her Squires within the crowd, but for now her gaze fell on someone else.

Altair had been much closer with Varyn than she had been, and the pain still ran deep within her, so she didn't even want to imagine what he had gone through. She approached him in her formal uniform and the smile on her lips grew somewhat more genuine before she politely inclined her head - they were surrounded by several high ranking officers after all, so she kept it formal for now.

"How are you holding up?" she asked him gently, her voice sympathetic, not posing a rhetorical question, but she really wanted to check in on him and it seemed like he had just finished a few conversations, so for now they were left to it.

@Sreeya

 

[Merian Sere]

“Was it 8 beats after or—”

“Shut up. It’s almost time.”

“We’ll look like fools!”

“Shut up! Eyes forward. I’ll say when.”

That did it. The young knight looked ahead, at attention, ready to march. Perhaps that was all he’d wanted, someone to do the counting for him, but Merian could tell he was still trying to keep track of the music played by the band and broadcasted all over the capital along with the parade.

Sixteen beats after the regiment before you, not eight. It’s not complicated.

The fact was these parades were much less rehearsed than Merian would have thought. Especially on short notice like this, thrown together after an unlikely attack and an unlikelier victory. But as long as they looked stoic and marched in quick time, no one would notice that one division was nineteen meters behind the preceding one instead of twenty. Not that it stopped Merian from stressing over it.

Looking around calmed her down. Her knights were gorgeous, reaching handily the high standard they were held to. Shining armors, hair trimmed or groomed, lightsabers cleaned. Today, the parade ended with them.

The Imperial Knights would march in their trademark crimson armor, that was inevitable, but where normally they paraded with the matching helmet for appearances’ sake, today they showed their faces to the world. A white half-cape draped their left shoulder and side in sign of mourning. And where every regiment, battalion, flight group and squad in the entire parade followed behind their commanding officer, the knights would march on their own, a silent tribute to the fallen Lord Commander.

Hence the confusion.

“Twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen. Now.”

As one, the detachment of knights joined the parade. Four ranks of five, each step in unison. Cheers erupted when they first appeared, only to hush as the crowds realized something was off, the altered uniforms, the solemn look. Solemn and humbled and alone.

The parade ended in silence. Though she looked only straight ahead, Merian imagined those who remained, on the sidelines, giving one last salute.

 

[Alistair Blagden]

theme​

Standing in the sidelines amidst his fellow Diplomatic Corps members, Alistair adjusted his badge to be picture-perfect. While he personally believed the Empire could stand to improve its fashion sense in their uniforms, he would not be the one to bend the rules today. Especially not on a day like this.

At attention for the procession to pass, Alistair could not help but think on how the Empire would declare this a major victory. While it truly was a feat to defeat the Galaxy's greatest threat, losing not one but two of their highest-ranking military officers was a steep price to pay. But in war, a toll must be paid - and they were certainly at war. Not just the Empire against the Jedi or the Sith...nothing that simple. This was a war of civilization against anarchy. Of peace against strife. A war we will fight for many years to come, he surmised.

So no. While the Empire would claim their total victory, Alistair knew better. He would not cheer. This wasn't the end; it was just the beginning.

 

[Altair Din]

He was the last one standing.

One by one, he watched his old friends from the Sith Empire die or fade away. He waited for the day he would receive news of Vahliri’s death. His life had become nothing but death and despair. If it weren’t for Zara, he would never have recovered from the constant downward spirals.

Cairo, Wodan, Aadya, Celeste, Ashla, now Varyn. And so many other names.

His thoughts went to General Dram, the man that had once defected and returned. Would he have lived if he never came back? Altair swallowed the lump in his throat, entirely detached from the ceremonies and cheers. His thoughts lingered back to when he and Cairo were teenagers and the worst they had to worry about was keeping their flash on as they took a picture of Darth Raze.

He would have given anything to return to those days.

Kalique’s words broke him out of his thoughts. He was adorned in his formal, black uniform, cutting a commanding presence with his proud horns and large stature. Altair did not blame himself for not being there when Raze showed up. He had carried enough guilt over the years. Now, he was numbed to the pain.

“I am alive,” He said simply. The words sounded simple, but had so much weight. He was perhaps one of the handful of survivors from the golden years of the Imperial Sith in recent memory. Altair feared Raze just like anyone else in the galaxy, but what had been the price of killing him? There was no Emperor, Max and Varyn were gone. There was a massive power vacuum in the Empire, and he had his own thoughts of retirement to grapple with.

@LadyRen

 

[Adrian Quill]

The battle was over; now it was the Peacekeeper's job to make sure stability was restored. They had managed to stop most of the looting that always occurred after these sorts of things; criminals always tried to take advantage of the vulnerable, and there were not many people who hadn't been affected at all here on Ossus. Adrian had seen video footage of the creatures sweeping through the streets; it sent chills down his spine.

Adrian had picked up the parade detail as an extra shift. As ranks of Soldiers, Knights, and Officials passed by the end of the parade, he scanned the crowd, looking for any suspicious or out of the ordinary.

He hadn't known anyone who had fallen here but knew the Peacekeepers had not been immune. Local forces had tried to hold the best they could, but they were Law Enforcement officers, not soldiers; they didn't have the tools to repel attackers of any kind, much less actual monsters.

The cheering crowd grew silent as the last of the Imperial Knights walked by. It set Adrian off as he continued to look for signs of danger. There was nothing; people looked on with respect, paying dues to the fallen heroes of the Empire.

The parade ended in silence, the crowd slowly breaking the silence.

 

[Spurius Livius Gaetulicus]

He was just a squire, and a completely inexperienced one at that. He nearly bungled the attempted rescue at the hospital during the events days ago. The fear of fighting Raze's abominations still wracked the squire every moment he closed his eyes.

He got lucky, luckier than most that day. His face was void of emotion as he marched at the rear of the Knights column. Most would likely not even know his name, nor his face. He never got the opportunity to meet the Lord Commander, only hearing of his sacrifice post battle. Having witnessed the most absolute form of sacrifice for his people from a distance that day. Spurius counted his blessings as he mindlessly followed the other knights ahead of him in the parade.

His armor polished, his blade hilt gleaming, and a bacta bandage on his cheek covering some damage from the day. This was not a celebration for him - but a stark reminder of what challenges he might face one day.

Spurius took his leave of the formation as the parade came to the end of the route. Taking note of the knight who sported a badge of mourning and marched alone. She must have been close to the Lord Commander. With Spurius not knowing what words would even do for the ranking officer he simply flanked her for a moment before speaking from behind her right side "Ma'am, I owe the Lord Commander my life for he and the General's actions. I did not get the chance to meet him..." Spurius paused for a moment, putting a hand on his cheek before continuing "For whatever it may be worth Ma'am - I am sorry for your loss." (@Volene) Spurius finished, before stepping off towards the sidewalk taking stock of the other's who chose to linger and scanning over the crowd.

Always feeling like the abominations lurked just beyond sight. He would clench his saber hilt hard, gritting his teeth in a mix of shame and fear.

 

[Cairo Kisufi]

Raze. In many ways, he symbolized the most potent evils of the Sith Empire: The wanton violence, the cruelty, the desire for absolute dominance and rule through fear. And yet, for a few who had lived at the Sith Empire at a certain moment, the figure represented something...different. Not nostalgia, but perhaps a longing for a familiar time, when the galaxy's heroes and villains were so cleanly cut that the charismatic supervillain that was Raze could attract a fan base.

But this was a moment worthy of celebration, at least to a certain Morellian. Because of Altair's coup d'etat, the violent Sith had been purged from a position of galactic power and prestige. And because of the hard-fought sacrifices of the Imperial military, the scourge that was Raze had been finally put down. It was a dream Cairo Kisufi had not thought possible during his time as a Sith, an idea too impossible to even imagine. Once, on Ithor, he felt he had an inkling of the kind of character the Sith represented. Violent, psychopathic murderers. Where Altair stayed and fought, Cairo had absconded.

Perhaps fate had other plans. Covered in a hooded jacket, Cairo stood in the heart of the crowd inside a parked food cart. Images, projected on skyscrapers across the city, showed pictures of the vanquished soldiers. Mothers cried for sons, fathers for daughters, and children for parents. The war had cost them all so much.

An image of the Grand Marshal - now the most important figure in the Empire - flashed to the city's screens, as the loyal Imperial crowd erupted into cheers. Cairo tilted a stick of fried takoyaki balls towards the massive telescreens, prosthetic hand quickly curling into a fist for bumping.

"Y'all really fucking did it, bro." He took a bite of the squid snack, munching thoughtfully as hungry travelers approached his cart. He thought of all he had left - all he had ran from - to escape the shame he felt as a Sith. His shame as a coward followed him always. It had been years, now, since Zakuul, the misadventures on Dromuund Kaas, the parties, the missions, the triumphs, the tragedies. He knew nothing of what happened to Ashla, to Vahliri, to Zana, or even to Altair outside of what the holonet showed. He had missed so much. He missed his friend constantly. And, there would be so, so many he would never see again.

But, today was not solely for Cairo's melancholic reflection into his past. The Empire had cast a light on entire galaxy. With discipline, valor, and self-sacrifice, they had defeated the galaxy's great evil. They had built a new Order, a new source of deliverance in a cold, unfeeling galaxy. That alone was worthy of celebration.

 

[Guinevere Delevigne]

The consequences and potential fall out from the Battle of Ossus had yet to fully materialise as far as Guinevere was concerned. If the news was indeed true and the villain properly rid of the galaxy, then it was a joyous occasion to celebrate. But the Overseer wasn't trained to trust the news, quite the opposite actually, considering she sometimes played a role in writing it.

What she relied upon was facts, and the evidence was limited. She wanted a body, some kind of verified proof that the deed was done, and this was an impossibility. Granted, she didn't believe for a second that any normal person could have survived the reported strike that rained hell-fire upon the planet's surface.

But the phantom was never predictable, and how could they be sure that this hadn't been part of some grand, elaborate scheme? At least, according to some, it was possible.

Approaching some familiar faces in a bright and crispy white uniform, Guin nodded to both Kalique and Altair when they caught her eye. @LadyRen @Sreeya

 

[Kalique Baize]

The pain inside her just intensified as he gave her his grave answer. There was a lot hidden inside these simple words, after all, she knew only a glimpse of what he had risked and lost during his career and she knew there was much more. She looked up at him, letting the silence lingered that followed and exhaled slowly.

The Empire was in a tight spot and they knew it. Despite the Victory, there was chaos and uncertainty still all around. Maybe from the outside, there was one last threat to deal with, but with the Emperor, the Lord Commander, an important General gone, there were countless questions left to answer.

"And you're still standing here" her words, just like his, were simple, but the implications were grave. There was pride in her words, admiration, gratitude. She knew he had considered retirement...only recently she had been heavily confronted with it again when Jon had decided to take the leap. She didn't even sense grief in him, there was nothing but numbness and she didn't blame him.

The serious moment partly faded as she saw someone approach in her periphery. She didn't need to turn her head to identify the known, now dressed in spotless white frame and the familiar presence that accompanied her. As they were left to themselves, she greeted her with a lighter "Hey, Guin" as she met her gaze.

@Sreeya

 

[Cairo Kisufi]

Slowly, the takoyaki cart wandered its way around the outskirts of the celebration, slowly but surely snaking its way into the military procession. Free snacks for soldiers has a way of greasing the wheels, and while the security apparatus was present, even the guards wanted to believe in the best intentions of the site's attendants. From a distance, he spotted the distinctive Tiefling - his large horns and the distance between him and the crowd surefire giveaways.

As he approached, the gulf in time seemed to evaporate with every step. One step, he was on the beach - the last time they had spoken - celebrating Altair's birthday. Another step, and he was on a party bus on G'wenee, celebrating a raucous carnival with a full roster of drugged-up acolytes. Another step, and he was crashing a ship into the surface of Zakuul. One more step, and he was at the underbelly of Dromuund Kaas, hand cauterized by his own lightsaber. Stump bumping. Cairo extended and contracted his robotic fingers, laughing about that moment. Where had the years gone? What kind of existence had hiding so long brought him? It was empty. And to not seize this opportunity that fate had chosen would leave his life equally empty, staring at a half of a mask he was always too afraid to wear.

No, this was finally Cairo's chance to cast himself out into the light. To stand tall and confront a problem, to challenge it head on. This was the trait he had always admired most in Altair - his unflinching resolve. Even when he made stupid decisions, of which there were plenty, he was always able to see them through. Such foresight had led him to the heights of galactic power, where he was now the closest thing to a leader in one of the most powerful blocs in the Galaxy. They had joked about it, once. What they would do if they were in charge. When, Altair always corrected. When they were in charge.

But from the melancholic look Cairo read on Altair's face as his cart approached, it seemed like this worldly power hadn't satisfied him. Cairo empathized. Running away from his responsibilities only made him realize, far too late, that the Acolytes, the Padawans, the community he had built around him were the closest things he had to a family. He wanted it back.

Cairo smirked as he parked his cart, taking a string of fried octopus balls with him. He weaved through the crowd of soldiers and civilian mourners, gently-yet-directly approaching the Tiefling marshal. He cleared his throat, distinctively, uniquely, in the familiar way that only he did, before announcing himself. Years of hiding, of running, shattered in a sentence.

"Yo, bro." His voice was as light & airy as the day he had left. "Can I interest you in some family-recipe fried snacks?"

@Sreeya

 

[Jonathen Baize]

He passed by a stormtrooper with a smudge on his armor but managed to stifle the reprimand that naturally came to his lips. He was a civilian now but had come to Ossus as a volunteer. He had spent the previous days handing out food, water, and medical supplies.

It was a time of celebration but also mourning; he could think of no better way to honor those lost than by doing what so many other Imperial Civilians were doing: serving each other.

For the first time in over a decade, he watched one of these military parades from the sidelines. It was an odd feeling, but it filled him with Imperial Pride all the same. His thoughts drifted to the fallen General and the first time they had met. It was only for a few minutes, right before they charged the Cathedral District on Charros. It had been a hard-fought victory. With no air support, they had to buy every step of the assault with the blood of soldiers. He knew the General understood the cost of victory, and Jon never doubted for a second the man hadn't always been willing to pay that price himself every time he had asked soldiers to do so as well.

Jon's attention was pulled back to the parade when the crowd grew silent as the white-capped Imperial Knights passed by. Soldiers and veterans, including Jon, saluted as they passed. There had been a time when he had held a deep distrust of the Imperial Knights and their place in the Empire. The Sith had left scars on them all, wounds that had not healed quickly. But as so many Knights proved time and time again, they were not the Sith; his opinions had changed. He had grown a deep respect for their Order and members. The Lord Commander had been a shining example of that and deserved all of the honor he was being given today.

He had only noticed one familiar face in the parade, an Imperial Knight he had only worked with briefly. He gave Merian (@Volene) a subtle nod as she passed.

"Long live the Empire." he mouthed as he released the salute.

 

[Altair Din]

Altair tilted his head to regard Kalique (@LadyRen ). She was in the same position as him in a lot of ways. She was single handedly driving the Imperial Knights for some time. A part of him felt a pang of guilt at his own choices. He was technically a Force user and could have transferred to that branch. He had been a former Sith. Why did he, unlike the others, get a different choice? None of that mattered now. He gave a polite nod to Guienvere (@Xorism )when she arrived.

It was then that a few of his soldiers stiffened and attempted to block someone from approaching. Without even thinking, Altair raised a palm to have them stand down. They parted ways to allow the figure through. Even before setting eyes on the other man, he felt a pulse in the Force he hadn’t in a very long time. In over a decade.

He gazed into those eyes. Those tired eyes that were older, but glinted with life from a time centuries away. The world around him melted away to the old parties, the quiet discussions of Vahliri or Ashla, the anxieties over the Sith Order. He was transported to lying on a roof, high as a kite as he passed a blunt back and forth between them. He remembered trying to explain that a Miraluka being interested meant they were in it for the inner beauty.

He remembered the bad things too - the nights where he curled up crying thinking about his losses. Altair never felt that sting of betrayal, not from Cairo, it was always a deep hurt that left no words, just a gaping hole that never healed. He felt that hurt over and over again with every loss in his life, but this one ached differently. They had the galaxy to conquer together, they had the dreams, they had the stubbornness. They were joined at the hip. No one mentioned Altair without also mentioning Cairo. In the end, Altair had to stand alone.

Altair wanted to believe he was looking at a ghost. That it was some trick of the Sith. But no, he knew who this was. This was his brother, his other half, a part of his soul. The tiefling’s amethyst gaze softened and there was a love there that transcended anything romantic could ever touch. It was the love of family. Because Cairo was his brother, through thick and thin.

The tielfing gave a lopsided smile. And Cairo wouldn’t see that tall, regal Grand Marshal. He would see that same goofy boy with that grin in a pink tank top and baggy pants. He would see that same boy that fought with him, that almost died with him, but one that always carved out a piece of home with him when Cairo didn't have one.

There were no tears, not right then anyway. Altair kept that smile on his face, his old accent lacing right back into his speech, “Why you absconded so long, man?”

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Guinevere Delevigne]

Guin's face brightened as Kali welcomed her over, not that she expected anything else from one of her close friends normally. But neither was the situation normal, nor was what such events might mean for the Knight-Captain herself. With the Lord Commander gone, the possibility that she'd move up to fill the role had all sorts of conundrums that could potentially be raised.

But they'd all cross that bridge when it came to it.

For now, they'd simply enjoy the day as best they could, mourn their losses and the next day get back to work. "Hey, Kali" She replied in kind, taking the woman's hand. "Have you seen Rhia around? I swear I saw her chasing a feline or so earlier but nothing since. How are you coping with things?" The light chit-chat would perhaps be a nice rest from the daunting subjects, after all.

For her part, Guin had been busy undertaking an investigation into a senator that had been voided, cited as the incident in question never occurring. Without any evidence, they'd hit a dead end, but with how often that occurred it hardly phased the more seasoned officer.

Suddenly, her eyes glanced down at Kalique's hand. "Is that what I think it is??" An excited Guin appeared poised to boil over with excitement pending the answer.

@LadyRen

 

[Cairo Kisufi]

Why had he left? Where had he gone? These were the questions he asked himself almost every day. The long-lived Morellian biology kept him looking young, but Altair could always see through Cairo. Altair could see the sullenness that depleted his very spirit. He'd answer the question.

"I never knew how to come back." He averted his eyes, looking down to his muddy, common boots against the sight of Altair's fine, Imperial uniform. It reminded him of the Officer's uniform that had once been entrusted to him, on Ithor and Denon. "I didn't know how to explain it." He wouldn't explain where he'd been right now. "I'm....I'm sorry." He couldn't bear facing Altair, but he placed a hand on his shoulder as he looked away. "I never should've left, man. I should've hit you up." There was nothing that could make up for lost time. There had been so many people he had abandoned, some he would never see again. But if Altair was still alive, thriving, there was a chance there could be hope.

With a flick of the wrist, the takoyaki stick disappeared replaced by a tightly-rolled joint. Cairo's trademark smirk returned as he gestured the doobie towards the Grand Marshal. His eyes shot up, to a tall tower. The kind of place they would've sat, smoked, and played guitar for hours back on Dromuund Kaas. "Is the Grand Marshal allowed to sneak a little Marcan herb?" His eyes pleaded as his smile remained.

"I need to hear everything, bro."

@Sreeya

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique was glad that despite the crowded plaza, Guin had found them. She hadn't had any time to contact the blonde before, and there were many news she had to share. Despite what happened on Ossus and how gravely this all affected her work related life, in the personal sector, things had gone rather well, and generally seeing her dear friend again was always lightening her mood.

"I saw her this morning...not here at the parade though. I'm certain she's with the other Squires...or that" the latter hypothesis wasn't too far-fetched. Rhia loved animals of all kinds and she could see her brining home a Loth-Cat at some point for sure. A faint, genuine, however still somewhat pained smile crossed her lips before Guin asked for how she was holding up.

Her features softened a little, however more pain was setting in again. "I am...pushing through. It's all a little surreal still..." the losses, but also that the Wraith was defeated. That the Empire had killed Raze...her thoughts didn't linger on this all much longer as Guin's gaze flicked down.

Now, a much wider, genuine smile crossed her lips as she noticed, even if she had been meaning to tell her much earlier. "Well...yes! I wanted to pop by your place...then Ossus happened...but yeah, it's offcial!" about this, she was still incredibly excited and it was impossible to hide, so her intent to lighten the mood had worked.

"He's here too...I've lost sight of him for a while now, but I'm sure we'll catch him later". She extended her hand for her to examine the ring, a genuine warmth spreading through her. "I have so much to tell you, actually...we literally have plenty of catching up to do" it was good to see that she was alright, reliving even.

@Xorism