Witnesses of Despair, a Fall of an Era

[GABA]

OoC: This thread is open to everyone and anyone who would like to post a response to the Grand Master's death which was broadcasted across the galaxy. This thread is not meant for members to come in and beat up, maim, or kill other members.

Picture credited to artist Nitwhit​

The Holonet was buzzing with news reports as the Sith Imperium and the Mandalorians pushed through the core, but their attention diverted to a new signal that was being broadcasted. The Coruscanti monitors not damaged by battle flickered to life, revealing the Dark Lord with the Grand Master pinned to the Senate pod column. HoloNet feeds paused their stories; bringing the event to the attention of trillions across the galaxy.

The Dark Lord’s words were heard clearly over the speakers as he shouted and tormented the Jedi Grand Master. The elder Jedi's agonizing screams could be heard in between Vereor's words, each line spoken weighing heavier and heavier on the galaxy. Any promises of hope seemed futile, a valiant effort for those that would give it, but not worth the risks. Only days before the Sith arrived on Coruscant did the Chief of State lead the Jedi Grand Master out of the temple, arrested on the accusation of treason as he proposed the Order pull their support from the Alliance and go into hiding themselves. The Chief of State, Bastele, had made his announcement, having asked citizens to leave the Order to their affairs.

Grand Master Vainikainen’s body was pinned, limp as Vereor would make his final blow to the elder Jedi. His fist tearing through flesh and organs as he erupted the Jedi’s body with Sith lightning, the sparks dancing violently about their bodies. The Barabel removed his fist, taking with him the charcoal pieces of flesh and spine, the Grand Master's blood shinned against the flicking lights of the Senate Hall. He grinned, allowing the holocams to catch his display as the attack would be more than enough to prove fatal for the man.

The Jedi Grand Master, Sigur Vainikainen, was dead.

__________
​

Coruscant, Jedi Temple

The front gates of the Jedi Temple still raged with battle. Sliding down the temple wall with assistance from her grappling hook, Jedi Master Ebberla Daw rejoined her brethren in battle after narrowly escape the archives. She holstered her pistol and her lightsaber snapped to her palm, igniting on command as she as easily picked out by enemy forces. She pulled on the Force, refueling her energy to push through, to help her brethren and her to survive the onslaught, but something felt amiss. The Sith were not going to let her have a moment to explore her senses, she knew it would have to wait, or so she thought.

The wave turbulent and painful as it pulsed through the Force. It washed over her, drawing the very air from her lungs forcing herself to pause in order to catch her breath. Her eyes darted around, looking for the source, but just as fast as it came, it was gone and surely she wasn’t the only one that felt it. She looked back at the Sith Crusader she was fighting and he smiled as he clearly knew something that she did not. He pointed his blade at her chest, “Did you feel that Jedi?” he hissed, “Your Grand Master is dead, darkness has fallen. You have lost, Jedi.”

“Until the stars and moons have faded, then no darkness has truly fallen.” The Jedi emitted a telekinetic blast at the Sith, sending him stumbling backwards. She didn’t doubt his words that it was the Grand Master’s death she had felt nor did she want to admit Coruscant was lost, but there was a time and place to mourn and as she looked out onto the battle it was certainly not now. She felt a pull in the Force as she engaged enemy forcces, the pull calling and beckoning her to carry onward, to carry hope, to carry the light, to see what the future could bring. “Onwards.”

 

[TAC]

Jedi Master Larik Novan stood behind the pilot's seat of the Sundance Maiden, surrounded by several Jedi Knights and Padawans. He had been fighting almost non-stop the entire day, seeking to defend the Galactic Alliance Command Center. He had been one of the last off, his ex-Padawan Jedi Knight Loogo Vsil rescuing the Corellian and several others with him.

Loogo was now at the helm. Having already dodged the defense of the Imperial Blockade, the small Jedi vessel was preparing to depart Coruscant for a final time, their destination headed far into the reaches of space. The battle had been lost, although a small piece of hope still clung to the Jedi. They had each other, a Master to lead them, and a need to withdrawn, lick their wounds, and consider exactly who they were as members of the Jedi Order and as citizens of the galaxy.

Something unforeseen was in store, however- at least for the most senior Jedi onboard the Sundance Maiden. The numbers correctly being brought up from the NavBoard, the ship prepared to jump to hyperspace. At the same time, however, a wave of destruction hit Master Novan. The man gasped, falling forward onto the back of Loogo's seat. Unable to support himself, the man crumpled to the ground, on his hands and knees. The man had been totally open to the Force, seeking the presence of other Jedi through the Force, to let them know he was alive and so he knew who also made it.

As Larik stood open and vulnerable to the Force, however, the death of the Grand Master- a man who had easily earned the respect of the Corellian Jedi- slammed into him. It was a great disturbance within the force, the crushing of hope within the Corellian's mind, and he quickly confined himself to the walls of his mind. Still, however, as he sat there his head was ringing, the finals cries of Sigur Vainikainen echoing. Larik waved off help or concern, quite sure the others hadn't felt the man's death as his attuned senses had.

"I am fine," he replied to their protests. "There was simply a disturbance in the force. Fear not." Helping himself to his feet, Master Novan gave a small smile to those that had come to aid him. The Jedi on the ship were now his responsibility. Dependents. And with the death of the Grand Master, the Order was not only scattered, but now shattered. "I need some time," the man said, waving off further argument and going to a vacant room- of which there were few- onboard the ship.

But what's next?

 

[Sleven]

Undisclosed planet, temporary Fallanassi village

Blood and soot covered Caleb from head to feet as he pitted himself against some of the Imperium’s finest. Absorbed in the pandemonium of combat, his mind and body were a carefully channeled storm of serenity and rage, matching the duality of the chaos around him. Yet, for just a moment, something wasn’t quite right. An audible shift in the Force had managed to pierce the palpable air of death clouding everything but his contiguous senses.

The Grand Master was dead.

To the galaxy that meant more than just the loss of a man’s life. Like many of his predecessors, Sigur was the face of the Jedi Order, the first being that came to mind when one thought of a Jedi. He was not just a leader, but a symbol and the embodiment of their Order. His actions were seen to represent all Jedi, as his death would be seen to represent the Order’s end.

As the Sith offensive closed in around him, Caleb couldn’t help but to think he would soon share the same fate. Perhaps Sigur would be there to greet him in the Netherworld of the Force as he had been there to accept Caleb into the Jedi Order.

Flashes of light and torrents of sound flooded his senses, bringing his attention back to the onslaught before him. As he thwarted numerous blows from Sith and Imperial soldiers alike to buy the Fallanassi more time, Caleb fell back into the trance of combat…

 

[Silver Cutlass]

Space over Coruscant, Star Dreadnought "Sentinel"


The battle continued to rage over Coruscant. Starfighters were shot down, capital ships took poundings, it was one hell of a clash in the skies over the capitol. Admiral Myra Elysar was the one woman in charge of holding the Sith back, keeping the full-force of their invasion army from touching down on Triple Zero. So far, it had been a grueling engagement. While many troopships were shot down, many also made it through. Thankfully, her crew aboard the Valiant-class Dreadnought Sentinel had yet to give up, and were fighting with everything they had.

Peering with evil eyes at the Sith fleet, Myra was soon forced to a stumble as the bridge shook for a second. One she regained her balance, Myra yelled out "What the hell was that?" to know one in general. A young Twi'lek at a computer terminal called back to her. "Seismic charge, ma'am. Impacted close to the base of the control tower. Shields knocked down by 9.3 percent. Hull integrity is holding at 94 percent." Yes, this had to be Grand Admiral Stark commanding that Sith fleet. From reports she read, seismic charges loaded onto TIE Bombers were starting to become a penchant of his.

"Designate a fighter squadron to cover the Sentinel. As long as this ship is afloat, we still have a chance. Any word on the evac cruisers planet-side?" She asked. That was the whole reason the Fifth Fleet was holding the line: to give all evacuation ships cover to escape. A Zeltron female approached her from behind. "Three ships, the Space Grinder, Null and Void, and the Sundance Maiden have made it off Coruscant, still waiting for the primary evac cruisers to be loaded. Also, you might want to check the HoloNet Channels, ma'am." The young girl remarked, going back to her duties.

Myra raised an eyebrow at that last comment. She was busy coordinating a fleet, she didn't have time to listen to reports of destruction on the ground. Sighing, Myra took her comlink and quickly found a HoloNet channel, and what she heard was not good. "Yes, I have confirmed reports that Jedi Grand Master Sigur Vainikainen is dead. He was killed during the Battle of Coruscant, at the Senate building by a Sith Lord." That was all she needed to hear. For a moment, she closed her eyes and tuned out everything else, giving the dead Jedi Grand Master the moment of silence he deserved.

"Are you alright, Admiral?" A voice asked her. Opening her eyes, Myra shook her head. "I'm fine. Have you assigned a squadron to the Sentinel yet, Lieutenant?" She asked, a stern look on her face. The Human woman nodded in the affirmative. "Harbinger Squadron has already shot down a pair of bombers." The Admiral nodded and walked forward, standing at the viewports of the bridge, watching the chaos ensue. Under her breath, she whispered "May the Force be with you, Grand Master. And pray it also be with us."

 

[Black Noise]

Temporary Military Command Center, Coruscant

High Marshall Konstantine Arkyadvich stood quietly as he and multiple other officers watched the death of Jedi Grandmaster, Sigur Vainikainen. Konstantine turned to his men once it ended, observing the faces of the military officers before him. His Stormtrooper's faces, viewable due to the fact their helmets were removed, were etched with grim expressions. The basic military officers were a mix of horror and triumph.

One officer remarked aloud.
"So that's it, we've finally won the war."
Konstantine looked over, his already hardened features turning into an almost angry expression. He questioned.
"Won? You assume that this war is won?"
Shaking his head, Konstantine turned back to the holo feed and flicked off the finished battle. Turning it to view a live feed battle camera that surveyed the field from far above, Konstantine gestures to the feed.

Smoke was everywhere, bodies strewn about while soldiers and civilians alike picked up the pieces to identity those lost. It was a 'won' field in this area, but the death and horrified faces of every man woman and child told them otherwise. Every now and then, a man could be seen pausing in shock or a woman breaking down in tears. In the nigh endless rows of bodies, lined up shoulder to shoulder, everyone knew somebody fallen.

Konstantine, his voice hard and angry, told all who stood in the room.
"This war, this horrific nightmare of death and fatherless children, it has only begun. The next ten years will not be a celebration of victory, they will be filled with revolt, murder, crime, and hatred filled orphans. There is no peace, there never will be. My brothers, our job has only begun."

Issuing orders, Konstantine began to continue the offensive. Perhaps it was all hopeless and for naught, but Konstantine was a Stormtrooper commander, and a commander did his duty no matter what he thought.

 

[TweedPawn]

Sacul

It was a dusky summer's eve. The fireflies that lifted through the forests matched the stars in the sky. Della was hidden in the fields, watching the forest from the safety of the long grasses. She loved fireflies. They were comforting to her. She knew better than to wander into the forests at night, the occasional growl of a badger reminded her of the dangers.

Della's eyes lifted to the sky where the bright moon and the constellation of Gaunerei, the trickster rabbit hero, danced together. Della swore she saw Gaunerei's bright tail flicker, a wave of darkness followed that crushed Della's spirit. She instantly understood. The Jedi had lost the war. It was over.

But, as she began to despair, she saw Gaunerei's tail flicker brightly again. Della recalled the story of that bright, shining star.

As long as that tail remains bright, rabbits will always have their tricks. Death will not prevail.

Della found comfort in the old folklore. The Jedi may have lost, but there was still hope for Sacul. Della had her tricks, she had her friends, her people. The Sith would not claim Sacul. Della would see to it.

 

[Unreliable Genius]

Coruscant
Level 913, market district

Bolts whizzed by a bloodied and bruised Rosh Q'Nath as he sprang out of his cover. One hit his shoulder before he could ignite the azure blade of his lightsaber, and he winced before executing a flourish to deflect more of the bolts back at the stormtroopers firing on him and his squadmates. The knight continued to cover them as they all retreated into a nearby building, all the adrenaline in his system focused on keeping him and his friends alive: the shot to his shoulder was merely a nuisance.

He ducked inside and spent half a moment to look at his wound: it looked worse than it really was, nothing more than a graze. Rosh called upon the energies of the Force inside of him to numb the pain, and to keep him calm. A Nautolan squadmate tossed him an assault rifle and the Miralukan took up a firing position at one of the windows.

One, shot, one kill. Over the past few months he'd really honed his marksmanship, having been stationed at the various hotspots of the Imperial invasion. It almost baffled him, really, that only a few years ago he was a kid that didn't know one end of a blaster from another, and only opted into the military because the only other alternative was prison.

War wasn't the only thing that changed him. He was a Jedi Knight, now -- another thing that he never expected himself to be. And that wasn't exactly the best thing to be at the moment. The Order as the galaxy knew it, as Rosh knew it, was finished. It was dead along with its leader.

And what about her? What if she's dead, too?

.. I .. can't feel her anymore.

The Jedi flashed back to reality. His squadmate was tugging on his shoulder.

"Last call for evac, Wiz! We're gettin' the hell outta here!" Wiz, the nickname his squadmates had given him. He was the only Jedi among them.

"Right. I'm coming!"