Star Wars: Shattered Galaxy

[ultrachicken]

Rana strained to pry her eyelids open. Consciousness did not greet her well, the sudden sensation of cold and the dull ache of perpetual hunger no longer numbed by sleep. The strange woman from earlier had decided to interrupt her slumber. Initially, the drowsy Duros was irritated, as was understandable. Her eyes fixated upon the human, and she processed the woman's words slowly. As she did this, she clenched her fist around her new coins to make sure they were still there, but did not bother to count them. Who would bother to steal only some of my credits?

Rana scrambled to her feet sluggishly. She did not wish to abandon her comfortable position on the ground, but she did not enjoy facing strangers from a position of inferiority. Although, based on her social status, inferiority was always a given.

"I hope what you're offering isn't a quick death on the station," she replied with a combination of bitterness and earnest gallows humor meant to lighten the situation. Her right hand hovered near her knife in the event that this was what the stranger truly had to offer.

 

[socialtangent]

Lucen Kass made his way past the identification checkpoint with no problem. Roth's counterfeit ID worked like a charm, as always. The Bothan splicer's handiwork was impressive to behold, he had to admit. It was immaculate and nearly flawless; more than enough to pass a cursory inspection and scan at anything but a high-security zone. There was no question why Kass had chosen Roth to work for him on the Screaming Mynock. On the thought of his ship, Kass reached up to his ear and activated his personal commlink to contact his crew.

"Jett, you read me?"

"Loud and clear, boss" was his Human copilot's curt reply.

"Are we secure?"

A brief pause. "We are now, Captain. What's your status?"

"I've made it past the checkpoint in one piece," Kass said once he made sure he was out of earshot. "Be sure to give Roth my complements".

"Right. Will do, Captain".

"I'm en route to the pre-arranged spot so we can do some business. Here's hoping our client isn't fooling with us. Kass out".

Kass deactivated the commlink and headed out, blending in with the crowd of Graveyard Station. An Iridonian wasn't an unusual sight around these parts, so he didn't attract much attention to himself. His distinctive light body armor was easily covered by an outer layer of clothing as to not attract any looks as well. Bracing himself against the strangely still coldness of the station's air, Kass moved forward through the crowd of poor and destitute. He ignored the multiple beggars making their desperate pleas for credits as he walked by.

However, he was not here to perform great works of charity, especially not on a run-down station like this. Kass's destination was a nearby cantina, where he was to meet their newest client. Their client was a Human male who only made himself known as "Horatio". This man had contacted the Screaming Mynock with the promise of a good paying job, although he was somewhat vague on the details. Horatio explained that he would much rather discuss the details of the job in person.

Kass's experience told him that this was fishy, but he really didn't have a choice. This was the only real job offer that the Mynock had been given in weeks, and the ship was in need of some dire repairs and a resupply. At this point, he was willing to do something a little out of his comfort zone if it meant some much-needed credits to help keep the Mynock spaceworthy.

 

[UnusualStranger]

Marcus shifted, trying to get comfortable in the hanger as he waited for someone to pick up his particular haul of parts he had brought. If the temperature was any indicator, the station obviously needed every part he had, which would mean a decent amount of credits, but he wasn't here to rob the station in the slightest, as it seemed that everyone else had already done that. While he was a bit of an opportunist, he wasn't about to be grouped in with several other salvagers he saw trying to sell of broken pieces of junk for a ridiculous price.

Just can't find decent work or parts these days. Give a guy a suit and a damn plasma cutter and he'll think he is the most fantastic salvager ever. Bastards, every single one of them.

Slowly shaking his head, Marcus could already tell this was some form of mistake coming here. He could feel the emotions of so many around him it was very unsettling. Fear, pain, exhaustion, greed, hate, hopelessness, all rolled up into a neat blanket which seemed to cover the entire station. It wasn't helped by the fact that there used to be a peaceful planet here long ago that was simply obliterated to be made an example of.....

Shaking his head once more and blinking once to try and shake the unsettling thoughts and atmosphere, now wishing that he hadn't had come here to sell these parts. While it was quite easy to make a killing selling them, the atmosphere and general lawlessness that tended to run about wasn't welcome, and nearly wasn't worth it.

"Maybe I should just take some of these damn parts and find the damn temperature systems myself to get them fixed. Damn cold around here...." Marcus said, mostly to himself, some to see if someone from the station would show up, pay him for these parts, and let him get to searching for another job to get him far away from here.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

The woman laughed. Not in a sinister way, though, she sounded genuinely amused. "A quick death would be preferable to what you're facing, wouldn't it? But no, that's not what I'm offering. And the knife would do you little good, I'm afraid." The woman allowed her robe to slip aside, showing a silver cylinder that would be familiar to anyone who had seen a cheap holodrama or knew anything of history.

"My name is Vasera Delphan, I'm here to tell you about your destiny." She held out her hand to the Duros girl. "Come with me. I have a great many things to show you."

 

[ultrachicken]

Rana was dumbstruck. Her mind failed to conjure a witty response as usual, instead replaced by emptiness as she stared at the lightsaber. She remembered hearing tales of the Jedi during her meager education back on her homeworld; peerless warriors with indomitable will, the ultimate heroes. She also knew that they had disappeared.

While a joke did not float to the top of her thoughts, paranoid pondering of Delphan's ulterior motives did. Why would a Jedi be interested in me? Have I done something wrong? How do I know that this woman is even telling the truth? Is she trying to lure me somewhere that I can be mugged?

After almost ten seconds of blank silence, Rana decided to go with the stranger. She found it unlikely that she would be robbed, considering how little credits she had, and if this was simply a sociopath out for a fresh kill, so be it. The Duros was certain that she could handle herself, and if not, perhaps the quick death would be preferable to the painful, drawn out existence offered by the graveyard station.

Rana extended the dirt-caked arm that she would normally have used to clutch a knife, a great gesture of trust according to most, but for her, this was more of an act of resignation.

"Okay," Rana blankly replied.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

Vasera lead Rana into the main section of the station, taking a turbolift out of the docking arm. As she walked down the long corridors, she talked quietly.

"I know this probably comes as a surprise to you, but time is running short, so I'll give you the short version. You have the power to become a Jedi. I know, you haven't had any experiences or signs of special abilities. Trust me, the power is there. The galaxy is in turmoil. Places like Graveyard station are everywhere, and the Jedi Order is gone. If it's ever going to be rebuilt, it'll be a new generation of Jedi - people like you, and the others of the kind on this station."

She stopped at a viewport. "You don't believe me...look out there." She indicated a rock, drifting on it's orbit. "Focus on that asteroid. Quiet your mind...listen. Do you feel it? Do you feel the horror, the pain, the devastation? I've felt it ever since I came here. None of the rest of these people feel it, but I think you've sensed the horror this place has seen since even before I came here, somewhere in the back of your mind. Am I wrong?"

 

[Smagmuck_]

Joseph Knaake had just gotten off duty. He made sure the safety of his PBT-82C was on so he wouldn't end up shooting himself in the foot. He kept his weapon on a Single Point Sling, which was draped around his body. Ready to be aimed and fired at any moment. His helmet had become stifling so he removed it, looking at his own helmet he held in his palms, it reminded him of ancient armor worn by something called the "Republic". The biggest tip off was the near exact same "T" shaped visor on the helmet. He'd have to look into it more. He quickly tucked it under his arm as he continued walking to his bunk.

His PBT-82C clunked against his waist as it hung from the Single Point Sling. Joseph hated wearing his armor off duty, especially in a place where very few liked him or the PURK in general. Anyone who was with the PURK military generally stayed with others of their kind. Joseph didn't mind, so long as he was able to evade a couple of randy twi'leks. Even in the relative safety of his bunk room, he still felt as if something was off. Ever since he had been stationed here a couple of cycles ago, there was that particular feeling that something or someone was lingering. It was a faint feel, but he knew it was there. It was probably just jitters from being in a semi-hostile station.

Joseph rounded the corner just in time to catch something flying at him from the corner of his eye. His training kicked in and he moved his head several inches back to avoid the incoming object. It passed right in front of his face and splattered against the wall. It was a fruit of some kind, his gloved hand instinctively went for his Blaster Carbine, but he stopped himself as the person who through it was just a refugee child. He let his hand fall and he continued on his way, swearing under his breath.

<spoiler=Armor cosmetics>Paint Scheme
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100225174017/starwars/images/3/37/Utapaushadowtrooper.jpg
Actual Look
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20061222000605/starwars/images/thumb/a/a5/RC_copy.jpg/250px-RC_copy.jpg
PURK Emblem
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080305080704/starwars/images/thumb/0/0d/KDY.svg/576px-KDY.svg.png

 

[blaze96]

Prenlarr made it back to the repair bay in time to be given new orders.

"Pren, you have a new assignment. We've been getting some unusual power readings in one of the level 5 'guest' areas. Security did a check and confirmed nobody was draining power so it falls to us to figure it out and get them back within normal limits. Should be fairly routine but I've already sent in a few others to try and find where the power drain is coming from on the level.

Also, when you get back, try and work on getting a more accurate remote diagnostic program set up. I know you're good at that sort of thing and I'm getting sick of having to divert teams to general areas because we can't get a better location on where we are bleeding power." His human boss ordered him.

"Yes sir." Was his reply as he immediately turned and walked back out of the bay after grabbing a small toolbox off a table. Often it was only the most important areas that had any kind of repair supplies of their own, so if he wanted something on level five he needed to bring it himself.

Another mystery so soon, I almost wish it wasn't as routine as it seems. I'll have to remember to get started on upgrading the existing diagnostic program when I get back. I doubt it will do me any good since I can only use the outdated, and currently, patchwork diagnostic systems we have anyway. At least one interesting challenge will come out of today, how to get better diagnostics without actually upgrading the system.

 

[CounterAttack]

As Rec continued to gently push, weave and slip through the crowded hallways and overfilled turbolifts of Graveyard Station, he felt something lightly brush against his mind, almost as if a feather had brushed against his bare skin. The sensation was familiar, and yet not: each time he experienced this, it felt different. Infinitesimal hints of other consciousnesses flitted in and out of Rec's head on rare occasions, almost randomly. Emotions and feelings that weren't his own, names and faces that were a blur whenever he tried to remember them... it was worse when he was asleep and his mind was open to dreams. And the dreams were never peaceful.

The hunter passed a soldier of the PURK military on his way to his quarters; Rec had nothing against any of the galaxy's military forces and he didn't want to start a feud now. As the two passed one another, Rec experienced another hit of that strange feeling. Only this one was much stronger, almost as if... as if it had come from the PURK trooper himself. The trooper's name and face flashed into his mind, as if it were from an old memory; almost as if he could see the man with eyes instead of a Force aura. Joseph Knaake. Oddly, the thoughts stayed with Rec instead of just vanishing into the recesses of his mind.

Externally, Rec flinched, accidentally brushing up against Joseph and moving out of the man's way with a quiet apology, so as not to cause a problem. The trooper's aura was much more potent than any of the beggars, merchants and lowlifes he had seen in the past few weeks... it was strange that he should come across someone with that kind of connection to the Force. Perhaps he was Force-sensitive like himself, or one of the fabled Jedi. Returning to his quarters could wait until he found out more about this person, who had continued down the hall as Rec processed this new development.

With that in mind, Rec performed a quick about-face and proceeded to carefully follow the PURK trooper, doubtful that he would notice. As a game hunter, the Miraluka was proficient in tracking, and following someone through a crowd was no different.

 

[Smagmuck_]

Joseph noticed something. He quickly donned his PURK trooper helmet and activated the motion sensor. It was useless, with the high amount of traffic. he was an idiot to use it. He though for a second, trying to remember the assailant following him. No eyes, the man following him had no eyes. He quickly keyed the controls and searched for any sentient species that lacked eyes. Only one showed up on the results.

Miraluka...

Joseph keyed the word and a flurry of information came up on his Heads Up Display (HUD). Specifically that Miraluka didn't need their eyes and instead used Force Sight. Among other thing. He quickly sped read through the information before he finally came to the conclusion that the Miraluka that was following him was not hostile in nature. He took his helmet off. The entire search lasted no longer then a few seconds. With that information he decided against any hostile action. But, he did not take well to being followed and that needed to stop. He looked around his surroundings. Nothing he could slip into to evade the Miraluka. He opted for the tried and true verbal front, he opted to fight with words instead of his PBT-82C at his side. He stopped turned around leaned against the wall, waiting for the Miraluka to catch up.

 

[ultrachicken]

Rana did as she was asked. She focused all her thoughts on the lone asteroid drifting through the empty vacuum of space. She felt a hollow tingling in the back of her skull, a disturbing sensation. However, the alien nature of this feeling escaped Rana's comprehension, and its meaning was lost on her.

The Duros lost her focus and drifted off into her memories of the horrors of the graveyard station. She remembered her mother's mangled arm lying on the ground, festering, with maggots pouring out of its veins. The stench of death had been unbearable, and what made it worse was that Rana knew she would be next. She realized that, since that moment, she bad merely been biding her time until either death or fortune took her from the station.

"It doesn't exactly take a sixth sense to realize that this station is overflowing with scum," she muttered.

The woman's claim that Rana was destined to become a Jedi seemed unlikely; perhaps the Jedis' grip on the force had waned over the centuries.

"You are right to think that I don't believe you, but nowhere's safer than with a friendly Jedi. I will come with you, but these others you're looking for had better be either gullible or desperate, because you're not going to convince anyone otherwise," Rana proclaimed.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

"I'm not talking about the people here...although sensing the misery on this station isn't too difficult. Nevermind. It doesn't matter."

Vasera smiled faintly, although she didn't look happy. "Fortunately, the others are all here on this station...and no one comes to the Graveyard unless they're desperate."

Her eyes suddenly snapped open. "Oh, no..."

Even to the untrained potentials, a sense of dread seemed to wash over the station. "They're coming...we don't have much time...stick close to me, I need to get to the command and control deck. They have to be warned."

She started to turn away, then looked back at the viewport. A faint flicker appeared in space, then a small craft appeared only a few kilometers away. It was shuttle-sized, but it was bizarre, looking insectoid and covered in spines and protrusions.

"They're already here."

Vasera threw her cloak aside and suddenly the relatively normal woman was no longer there, replaced with a warrior from legends, beyond mere mortals. "We're almost out of time."

In space, hails were going to the strange warship, to no response, until it landed on the side of the station and began carving into the hull. Alarms began going off.

"This is Commander Kodesh. The station is under attack by unknown parties. Please remain calm and head for your safety areas. Thank you."

Across the station, the panic began.

 

[easternflame]

Spoiler: Character sheet

Name: Grioon Tahgraian
Age:24
Gender: Male
Species: Human
Homeworld: Corellia
Profession: Runaway from the colony of Corellia. Previously a trainee pilot.
Skills: A trainee pilot in the small forces that protected Corellia. Knows his way around a rifle, fit.
Possessions: A laser rifle that is standard for a pilot in the armed forces of Corellia.
Appearance: 6'1, Bald, 170 pounds, brown eyes
Personality:He is brave and has a thing for lost causes, the reason why he joined the army in Corellia. He knows when to back down and when to fight but sometimes forgets who he's dealing with and often, situations get out of hand with him.
Personal History: He was born and raised in the colony of Corellia, at age 23 he had to flee the colony due the attacks at the colony that had held on for years after the downfall of the republic.
He boarded a cargo ship along with another 10,000 colonists. The cargo ship went to directly to Graveyard Station where Grioon's story is about to unfold.

PrinceOfShapeir I've changed it and I hope you like it, let me know so I can start RolePlaying or not.

 

[UnusualStranger]

As Marcus was finally getting his scrap taken care of, a sudden feeling of.....dread, was all he could put on it. It was then that the announcement sounded off, and Marcus knew that his time at this station was done. Quickly finishing the deal with the customer he had, he simply grabbed the credits which he was sure was a few hundred less than he wanted, and got to moving to get out of the huge crowds as best as he could.

So much for finding some quick work to get off this station. Damn. Need to get to the docks, and find a way the hell out of here. If construction is anything as close as it looks, a small firefight could blow this station out of the sky.

Now having to deal with feeling the panic of everyone swell up to remarkable levels, Marcus got moving, doing his best to keep from being swept up in all the different races of people, now simply hoping that he could find a way out of here before the new guests decided to give him a few scorch marks for souvenirs. As he made his way through the main section to the docking area, he noted....a woman. She almost seemed to glow as she stood there among the crowds. While Marcus could claim no experience, he knew it the second he saw it.

A Jedi. Here. Alive. In public.

 

[ultrachicken]

"What? Who is 'They?' And why are they attacking?" Rana exclaimed in terror, gripping her knife tightly, though she knew it would do little good.

The young Duros watched as hordes of panicked civilians sprinted past, attempting to burrow deeper into the station where a hull breach could not reach them so easily. She realized that if it weren't for Vasera, she would probably be doing the same thing.

Rana suddenly felt naked in her tattered rags ? at least more than usual. She wasn't normally called on to be in a live fire zone, and she knew that in her current state, a single stray blast would turn her to ash. What made it worse was that the only weapon she had on her was a knife.

"What's the plan?" she asked the Jedi hysterically, "Am I supposed to stick with you and hope I don't get blown to pieces, or cower in that corner over there?"

Rana then noticed that a small crowd fleeing people had slowed their pace and were staring at the warrior that stood in the docking bay. They had not stopped entirely, as that would be suicidal, but instead were distracted as they took flight. Being so close to the center of attention gave Rana a kind of false sense of importance that made her glow with pride. It was the closest to being important that she had been in a very long time.

 

[Smagmuck_]

Joseph felt a wave of dread wash over him. He attempted to ignore it, but he just couldn't. It was too strong. He stayed there thinking what could possibly cause this feeling. He tried to think of something to keep busy so the feeling to disperse. It didn't.

Suddenly, alarms began to clang around the station. On a space station, alarms didn't go off unless they had a damn good reason to. He took his helmet and donned it, keying the locking collar sealing his suit in the event of a station blow out. He looked to his left and saw a squad of PURK troopers running somewhere.

"Trooper! We got a hostile entity trying to board! Let's get a move on!"

"Alright! I'm coming with!" He replied back, he unfolded his PBT-82C's stock and began to give a dead sprint to catch up with the squad. They easily cleared a way through the crowd of panicking refugees and civilians. Joseph flicked the safety off of his blaster and shouldered the weapon as the squad rounded a corner into a lifeless hallway. There were only two people, two females of species Joseph couldn't recall. One of them was wearing robes of some kind... He was perplexed.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

"You! Trooper!" Vasera spun on her heel. "Contact the commander of this station and order them to the escape pods. You can't fight this enemy, not with what you have now...wait, you too. Sithspawn." The Jedi unhooked her lightsaber and thumbed the activation switch, a shining blue blade leaping from it with a snap-hiss.

"I am Jedi Knight Vasera Delphan. The forces trying to board this station are agents of the Sith. You will barely slow them down."

 

[Smagmuck_]

Joseph's brain locked up for a few seconds. Trying to comprehend what she had just said.

A Jedi? I thought they were extinct? Sith? What the hell is going on here?

"I don't have that kind of power, ma'am." Joseph said. "But, you will need to get to an escape craft. We can handle things here." He somehow felt as if her was lying to her. He didn't know. Hell, he wasn't even the ranking man here. One of the trooper's, from the markings on his left shoulder was a Sergeant, grabbed the Jedi's arm and attempted to escort her out of the area. It was probably a vain attempt but the Sergeant didn't know that.

 

[socialtangent]

Kass was seated at a poorly-maintained cantina dubbed Kyo's, just outside the main section of the station. Sitting on the table in front of him was a half-consumed glass of Corellian whiskey. Nowhere near enough to get someone as hardy as an Iridonian intoxicated, but it was enough to leave a comfortable buzz. He contemplated taking another sip of his drink when a male Human dressed in the clothing of a common worker approached him. A hunch told him that he was definitely more affluent than his attire suggested. This man seemed to be a bit...uncomfortable in his outfit. Skin more accustomed to silk and finer fabrics than the rough abrasive rags of a commoner.

Clearing his throat, the man spoke. "Do you know anyone who's handy with a hydrospanner? I need some repairs done on a repulsorlift dolly".

The code phrase. "I can hook you up with a Twi'lek named Franz. He'll get your job done," Kass replied, finishing the pre-arranged greeting. "Why don't you take a seat, Horatio?"

Horatio nodded and eased himself into a chair opposite of Kass. He interlaced the fingers of his hands and looked around before speaking. "I'm glad you decided to take up my offer, Mr. Kass," he said in a more hushed tone.

Kass nodded. "Just tell me what the cargo is, where it's going, and we'll be on our..."

Something was wrong.

"...way"

Kass could feel a cold sense of dread creep outwards from his chest, creeping through his veins. The back of his mind was telling him that something was terribly, terribly wrong. It was an instinct that was always...there, as long as he could remember. It kept him from getting killed countless times during the insurrection on Iridonia, and it was now telling him one thing.

Get down. Now.

Instantly, he dropped to the floor. Horatio had barely enough time to comprehend what Kass had just done when what felt like a massive impact rocked the entirety of Graveyard Station, throwing the patrons of the cantina to the floor and against the walls. The subsequent blaring of alarms drowned out the confused shouting and screaming. An announcement tried to clash with the cacophony of chaos, but it was mostly lost to the din.

"...Commander Kodesh...station is under attack...remain calm...safety areas"

Whatever it was, it wasn't good at all. Kass activated his commlink.

"Jett, can you tell me what in the milkin' hell just happened?"

"It was a craft of some kind, Captain, about the size of a shuttle. Just came out of nowhere and slammed into the side of the station. The design doesn't fit any known schematics. I have absolutely no idea what it is."

"Sithspit...what's the Mynock's status? Did she get hit by any debris?"

"We were nailed in the aft engine a couple times, but the deflector shields took most of the hit so we're..."

The transmission turned to static. There was something interfering with his signal. It had to be that ship...it had to be jamming communications somehow. Another complication. Kass always expected the worst out of each scenario, but not even he could foresee something like this. He didn't like it one bit. His gut told him that the situation was going to get much worse, and soon.

"Horatio, I suggest you follow me," Kass said as he drew his heavy blaster. "We can discuss business when we're not under attack".

Horatio nodded. "I...I agree. Lead the way, Mr. Kass".

With that, the two men took off, shoving their way through the chaotic crowd. Despite his considerable strength, Kass was nearly sent sprawling to the floor when he collided with an armored trooper heading the opposite way. By the time he regained his footing, he saw something that instantly took his attention from the armored man.

The unmistakable shining blade of a Jedi's lightsaber. Its wielder was a human female in a black robe who seemed to be accompanied by a female Duros. Unless what Kass was told all his life was wrong, the Jedi were supposed to have been completely eradicated. So why was there one standing right in front of him?

She had just said something about the Sith...the ancient adversaries of the Jedi. Dark warriors fueled by hatred and evil that brought untold death and destruction many times throughout the history of the galaxy. Were they still around too? If that was the case, then things here were about to get much worse, and quickly.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

"Sergeant, you will contact the commander and advise him to undertake the maximum emergency procedure."

The Sergeant suddenly let the Jedi go and nodded, then opened his comlink. Vasera turned to Rana. "You need to look for a way to escape. A ship, an escape pod, something. Take this." She reached into her robe and withdrew a peculiar dodecahedral shape of pale blue crystal, covered in etchings and markings, letters in ancient languages. "This is a Holocron, the only one I've been able to find. It can teach you what you and the others what you will need to know if I'm not able to teach you. Hold onto it, do not lose it."

She turned back to the troopers, picking one out with her eyes. "You. Don't get yourself killed."

Alarm klaxons began going off. "The outer hull has been breached in sector D-12."

D-12 was only a short distance away. They were cutting in. As Vasera looked down the corridor, she could see the light of a cutting torch burning through the metal.

"Run, Rana, I'll find you when I can." Vasera raised her lightsaber. "If you insist on being involved, cover me and try not to shoot me in the back."

Across the station, Valeric sighed as the klaxons began going off. More trouble...and this time not a problem in the water reclamation system. People around him began panicking, trying to surge up the corridor, but he felt a peculiar calm despite the sense of dread that had washed over the station.

You just need to wait. Your path will reveal itself soon.

He found his feet moving, although he didn't have the faintest idea where he was going.