Log:Jedi Order: Corellian Emergency

The Jedi investigate a distress signal

OOC Date: February 24, 2022
Location: Corellia
Participants: Jax Greystorm, Aryn Cortess, Ax, Nora Frayus, Yuun, Zandra naMuriel, Corto, Vega, Qutha Buvu Pah, Chani Tahn

Summary + RP Rating

RP Rating: PG-13 (Violence)

After intercepting a distress signal from a former member of the Jedi Order, a strike team is sent out to investigate. What they discover has some of the more seasoned members of the Jedi Order troubled. Ill omens on the wind.

Log

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[ Jax Greystorm (Jax) | 20:14:38 ]

By the time Jax could assemble a team of jedi get, get the ships loaded, and everyone on their way; night had set long ago by the time the team arrives local time. The coordinates had been for a farm house several clicks outside of Cornet City.

Jax was sitting in the pilot seat of his Helix interceptor. <<We're coming up on the coronates of a farmstead owned by Elias and Mignin Cometburn. This appear to be the most likely source of the distress call. If you've been with the order for long you are all aware that a member of the order was a Corellian named Elyrch Cometburn. He had left the order a while back. Please be prepared for anything. May the Force Be with us.>>

Upon arrival the farm house and the several barns around it weren't livable structures. The house was a burnt out pit that was still smoldering and the two barns had collapsed in on themselves. Jax circled the barn yard. <<Sensor sweps show there's somebody alive down there. I'm going in for a landing.>>

[ Aryn Cortess (AC) | 20:18:56 ]

Aryn is settled in a seat aboard the Painted Guardian, straps fastened to keep her from going all over the interior when the ship moves. When news of their pending landing sound, she begins to prep herself for departure, staying quiet while the pilots sort out what's below and relay how that effects their mission.

[ Ax (A) | 20:19:09 ]

Aboard the Black Sands, Ax is following not far behind the Painted Guardian. The VCX-100 was loaded with whatever gear and allies that wanted the ride. <<"Copy that, Jax. We'll hover above until you give the word, making sure we can give you cover from the sky.">>

Leaning back a bit, "Probably not necessary, but if someone wants to climb into the quad-laser, I wouldn't complain," the Echani says as he hits the switch to power up the weapons of the freighter and engage the shields. One never knew what dangers lurked on Corellia.

[ Nora Frayus (Nora) | 20:23:15 ]

<<"May the force be with us.">> Says Jax Greystorm.

"Quite," Nora says beneath her breath. She's looking out the viewport towards the surface of Corellia as Jax's Helix Interceptor glides in for a landing. Though she's currently standing near a viewport towards the fore portion of the ship, just outside the cockpit, she's soon on the move to the aft, where the landing ramp will be extended when the ship touches down. She doesn't sit, electing instead to tuck herself up against a wall and hug her arm around a handle to brace herself for touch-down. A small viewport in front of her lets her watch their approach toward the ground as bland, unremarkable farmland transforms into something with texture and detail the nearer they get to it.

[ Yuun (Yun) | 20:25:06 ]

Piloting the Phoenix Rising, which is a Raven Courier, the freighter flies in behind the Black Sands. The Phoenix isn't too close but it seems as the pilot is getting better which is Yuun. Listening to the comm chatter, <<"I hope we're able to help. Copy that.">> Knowing he's not combat ready for ship combat, Yuun begins prepping to land. Maneuvering to land, though he waits for the Helix to land first.

[ Zandra naMuriel (Zan) | 20:26:48 ]

Zan is with Ax on the Black Sands, but she laughs at that comment. "You don't want me there, I don't think. if it's not fixed, I can't shoot it. Something on the list I haven't got to yet." She is settled in, letting Ax deal with all the piloting chores, but as Jax comes across with the info, she reaches to the Force, meditating briefly, and then repeats, << May the Force be with us. >> A grin at Ax, and then she says, "C'mon, let's go see what the heck is going on, shall we?" She has her saber, one hand resting on it, and collects an over the shoulder bag with a few simple supplies in it. << This doesn't look good. >>

[ Corto (Ct) | 20:28:52 ]

They say that a welcome can be worn like a doormat left out for a decade. It was coming to that point for the Drifter, who was slowly migrating from Wherever I May Roam to The Thing That Would Not Leave. When the plan came in that the Helix would be landing, Corto had elected to board that vessel and bear the indignity of ducking to get through the smaller bulkhead frames. These things happened when you were two heads taller than the average Jedi.

"Say a man named Cometburn rode with you, and got out. Good for him," was the quiet rumble-drawl from the Feeorin, standing (stooping) at the back of the cockpit behind Nora and Jax and recapping events to which he was not privy. "Nothin' wrong with going your own way. Best make sure his family gets the chance to do the same."

[ Vega (Veg) | 20:30:44 ]

Vega's not got time to hop in her fighter so she caught a ride with whoever else was heading that way, which seemed to be most of the Jedi that she knew. The white haired woman has her hair plaited back into a braid and her black robes are a little ruffled given the hour and probably being caught off guard with the alert. She doesn't have a lot to say, instead she chooses calm and quiet before they land and get into the thick of things.

[ Qutha Buvu Pah (Qutha) | 20:31:11 ]

Unfamiliar with the name, first or surname really, Qutha would be leaning forward if he weren't strapped in - so he just has his hands folded in his lap, eyes closed and breathing evenly. No need to let himself concern or worry... Well as usual. Brow knit and working to keep himself in the present; mindful of the force and its messages.

He'd likely look serene too - if it weren't for the fact that his body periodically jerks or twitches in the direction lights if they flash bright enough or strike him. Nastic responses he has, regardless of it being sun or artificial.

[ Chani Tahn (Chani) | 20:32:26 ]

"It's horrible." The burnt out husks of buildings reduced to little more than framework and foundations have scarred earth around them. What was once lush, green farmland looks like a small war had been waged on the property. Chani views it from the port of one of the incoming ships. The tip of her nose hovers milimeters from it, and the subtle touch of her breath curling back to tickle against her own skin causes the occasional movement of loose, dark tresses teasing against her face. "There was this droid on Geonosis. It looks like it could have done something like this. I hope we don't run into another one of those things." She speaks to no one particular. Maybe herself. Her attention turns towards their exit point. If someone is alive down there, it's imperative they find someone to aid them as quickly as possible, and that means locating them as fast as possible.

[ Jax Greystorm (Jax) | 20:47:33 ]

The Painted Guardian sits down with an effortless ease of a pilot that's been flying a ship for way too long. Jax looks to Corto as he's addressed, "Yes. I'm form Corellian too. I don't know any other Cometburns. This is more than likely his kin calling for help."

Jax reached down grabbing a comlink that was keyed into the same frequency as the ships. He makes his way to the cargohold, "Aryn, you were closer to Elrych than me. Do you want to take the lead in approaching people?"

Jax says giving the other knight a chance to answer before lowering the ramp of his ship. As the ramp starts to lower, there's the sound of a blaster rifle discharging. Those with ears for such thing would know it's more of the hunting variety than the military variety. The blaster bolt aimed at Qutha or his direction misses scouring the bulk head of Jax's ship behind the padawan.

A female voice calls out from somewhere in the darkness, "If you're scavengers get out of here! Tell your fleet of ships to leave. The jedi are on their way."

[ Aryn Cortess (AC) | 20:56:13 ]

"Elrych was a friend, yes. Perhaps they will remember some of us.." Aryn doesn't sound like she's convinced they will, but the words of doubt were spoken more in hopeful reassurance than actual doubt. A brief nod of her head confirms she's happy to take the lead for their approach.

When the ramp descends, Aryn steps down it, a sudden gust from hydraulic steam releasing married with the wind of Corellia takes her cape to one side, allowing her hood to fall back and reveal bright blonde hair.

When they are challenged on approach, Aryn calls back but her voice is lost on the wind a moment. When it dies down, she attempts again.

"We /ARE/ the Jedi, my friend. May we come closer so we do not have to yell across such distance? We would like to help!!"

[ Ax (A) | 20:57:00 ]

Ax sets the Sands down gently, once the shooting has been tracked to a scared woman protecting her property. Even before it touches earth, the ramp is lowering into place, a bit of dust being kicked up by the ship's repulsors. "Thanks for flying Wayward Air, please return your seats to their upright positions and make sure you have your blasters and lightsabers with you upon departure from the ship."

With the ship landed, Ax leaves the pilot's seat. "Buster, keep the ship ready to launch at a moments notice," he tells his BB-series droid. "You don't want to go out there, you might get eaten by a sand panther or something." And with that, Ax is walking down the ramp to join the others."

[ Nora Frayus (Nora) | 21:02:14 ]

When the Helix Interceptor touches down and that landing ramp is extended, Nora is already waiting at the aft of the ship to depart. There are light thunking sounds of her boot's heels against the durasteel as she descends, her ice blue eyes turning up towards the devastation of the farmlands surrounding her. The rich, red scarf around her neck is pulled up to obscure her pink hair just in time for a blaster bolt to rip through the air towards Qutha. Nora could feel it before she saw it -- a sudden shivering of strings in her head. She steps lightly and away from it, watching it pwang harmlessly (to people, at least, maybe less so Jax's ship) into the hull of the ship she'd arrived in.

Though separated from Aryn as far as the two ships had landed apart, she's still able to hear the woman call out to the other that had shot them. She sighs dramatically and places both hands on her hips. Diplomacy is normally a strength of Lady Nora's. Maybe less so when she's been shot at.

"Yes, and -do- please consider putting that rifle down. You are going to hurt somebody with all that... clumsy shooting," she says, waving a hand dismissively.

DIPLOMACY!

[ Yuun (Yun) | 21:04:19 ]

The landing ramp lowers down onto the soft ground. The blaster rifle going off does catch his attention, and he moves down the ramp casually but showing respect as well. Moving forward and around the main landing strut which is under the nose of the ship. His hands are in his pockets as he begins making his way around to be seen.

As Yuun does this, he hears Aryn speaking up. Yuun stops where he is not approaching, he takes his hands out of his pockets and shows them palms up and that he doesn't have any weapons. He does look towards the others for a moment then back to the woman with the blaster rifle. It's been a while since he's seen Elrych and having heard that he's stepped away from the Order did upset him a bit. A rival and a friend, and now here with his kin, he hopes they're able to help their friends family.

[ Zandra naMuriel (Zan) | 21:10:14 ]

Zandra shakes her head as she comes down the ramp. Her own hood is down, allowing her violet hair to shine, obvious that. She glances over t Nora and Aryn, and chuckles, amusement lighting up her face. "Please at least give us a chance," she calls out. "If it will help we can probably prove we are who we say we are? And Elrych might have mentioned my crazy hair?" she calls out.

[ Corto (Ct) | 21:10:53 ]

Occasionally, you're numb.

Finely tuned senses should have picked up the overbearing sense of danger but they went unheard by Corto, who's only indication a blaster bolt was coming was watching an erstwhile comrade narrowly avoid being shot in the face. There was a marked absence where the normal warning signs were, and the Feeorin grumbled a near-silent curse, something about, "been outta the game too long." Time does have a habit of passing, whether you're paying attention or not, and for those for whom lifespans are measured in centuries, every second matters.

It took active effort for the hulking Feeorin, with the poncho and the wide-brimmed hat, to walk down the ramp without terrifying everybody in a fifty-mile radius. So, he busied himself by putting a cigarra in his mouth and, now that he was outdoors, making a show of lighting it. This meant that his hands were in full view, and not hiding any easily concealed/crushed blaster weaponry. "Let the Lady talk, youngling." That was his word for Nora, and though his tone was gentle he'd picked a word especially cultivated to infuriate her in much the same manner as his complete non-committal reasons for being here beyond 'I was in the neighbourhood'. "Diplomats do better here than us plain folk."

[ Vega (Veg) | 21:14:04 ]

Vega's not a diplomat, nor is she much of a talker when it comes to situations like this. She keeps her hands relaxed, not going for her lightsaber, but making sure she can get to it if there is the quick decision made to ignite it. She looks to the others as the Cometburn woman seems to be wondering if they are the real thing or not.

[ Qutha Buvu Pah (Qutha) | 21:15:23 ]

"Oh!"

Fortunate his mind was open and his instincts were with the force all the way down the ramp. He wasn't even aware of his head shifting to one side and his shoulder dipping to let the bolt go past until it was scoring up Jax's ship and his eyes were snapping open; pupils dilated.

"Bother!" one hand up to rub at the sudden kink in his neck from the herky-jerky action that instinct and the force guided him through. He keeps quiet, lips pressed tight, for a few moments while he gathers his thoughts and composure and politely ignores the fact that this woman just tried to make a canoe out of his head.

A -CANOE-

"Excuse me, ma'am. I know there's a regular do-up of folk talking to you all at once, but we'd heard t'call for help and we wagered come answer; if you'd be willing to point us in the direction of what's fussing you and we can do our ablest to render aid?"

Farmers.

[ Chani Tahn (Chani) | 21:18:20 ]

The transition from circulated air within the freighter to the atmosphere outside is not a pleasant one. Chani expects the fresh scent of hay and grass. What she gets is charred and acrid. It's cloying, and it almost makes her eyes burn. She takes to breathing through her mouth with heavier exhales that try to help clear the back of her mouth of the taste of ash. No sooner has she prepared to disembark the Painted Guardian, however, something else unpleasant transpires. Chani ducks before it happens. It's instinct rather than being in any real danger herself, since she was never the target. Her instinct is not to go for her lightsaber, but check on the Zelosian Jedi. Before she has a chance to ask, 'Are you alright?', he's calling out to try to move from target to providing aid. Chani remains hunkered down following the voice that calls out to those within Jax's ship. The last thing she wants to do is make any kind of gesture that might be considered overt and hostile, especially since she's part of the Jedi the woman claims are arriving to help.

[ Jax Greystorm (Jax) | 21:35:58 ]

There's a pause for a moment, "You're that Princess from Alderaan. I've heard you speak on the holonet. Elrych said you were a jedi." Then there's a moment recognition and crazy hair, "You're not Vhe. Wait he' mentioned something about a woman named Violet. She was an initiate. That and a fighter pilot almost as good as him. Wait there."

Jax moved to flank Qutha. "Good job on both." He says quietly. There's some mumbling back and forth and moments later a blonde woman in her mid 30s join them, "You are them. There was this ship, a disk. It came out of no where.. Elrych was here."

[ Jax Greystorm (Jax) | 21:36:00 ]

There's a pause for a moment, "You're that Princess from Alderaan. I've heard you speak on the holonet. Elrych said you were a jedi." Then there's a moment recognition and crazy hair, "You're not Vhe. Wait he' mentioned something about a woman named Violet. She was an initiate. That and a fighter pilot almost as good as him. Wait there."

Jax moved to flank Qutha. "Good job on both." He says quietly. There's some mumbling back and forth and moments later a blonde woman in her mid 30s join them, "You are them. There was this ship, a disk. It came out of no where.. Elrych was here."

[ Ax (A) | 21:45:59 ]

Ax is staggered as the force projects images in his head. "Dammit," he mutters under his breath. "More Droidatines or Palparoids or whatever they are, I think," he says in a lower tone of voice to those near him, trying not to let it carry too far towards the family.

Ax sighs, looking about, his hand pulling his saber from his side and snapping the hilt to full extension, though without igniting the dual blades.

[ Nora Frayus (Nora) | 21:48:01 ]

This is becoming annoyingly routine. Nora's eyes roll into her skull far back enough that they might just round the horn and come up from the bottom. She doesn't say anything to being called a youngling. At least 'young' is in the title, even if it is a touch... condescending. It's the 'plain' comment that gets a soft 'tsk' of her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "I am beginning to think that you are following me," she huffs, and then wordlessly begins to stride towards where Aryn and the other jedi are beginning to gather. Her sword on her hip, dagger on her thigh, and -somehow- someone managed to convince her to carry that dreadful stun saber here as well.

When she steps a little closer, she pauses for a moment. The sounds in her head screech to a brief crescendo that sees her experience a... vision. It's sudden, arresting, and unlike anything she's ever felt before. Most names she doesn't recognize... Cometburn, Elrych, Sebek. But Palpatine? That one she recognizes.

She exhales as it fades from her. Having been briefly frozen mid-step, Nora looks over her shoulder towards Corto, who she only assumes is still following her, and closes the rest of the distance to stand silently beside the others.

She doesn't make mention of her vision. Not yet. But she does let her hand idly drift across her torso to rest on the grip of her sword, grasping at it for comfort.

[ Yuun (Yun) | 21:54:28 ]

Standing there waiting, Yuun smiles a little until he feels a little dizzy and he holds his hand up against the strut of his ship. His head lowered and his right hand holding his head. He's not had this happen to him before, honestly Yuun doesn't know what's going on and he stumbles against the strut and he stays there. He sees what plays out in his mind, watching and taking in everything in. This isn't good from what he can tell and after a few moments, Yuun comes back to himself.

Standing there breathing a little hard, he is able to compose himself, he doesn't speak up at all, though as he starts to come back to himself. Once he's stable, he starts to scan the area, he feels for the family and this only causes him to want to find Elrych and see what help they can offer to him and his family. Moving from the strut, Yuun makes his way over to Ax adn the others.

[ Zandra naMuriel (Zan) | 21:55:21 ]

Zandra smiles politely as she nears. "Yes, that's me. Elrych was here?" A glance at Aryn who pretty much asked the questions that Zan would, and she goes quiet, then thinks - "Was it you who called us?" No visions here, though Zan does give Ax a look at his comment. The hackles at the back of her neck are raising, without danger sense needed. A breath, and she runs through a meditation exercise to calm herself. "And could you please tell us what happened here?" She adds that in, hoping that the calm tone she's using will bring calm to what she suspects will be a difficult story to tell.

[ Corto (Ct) | 21:56:50 ]

The Force is a strange thing, both a tool and a will of its own. And like most things with a will, it rewarded context. To the old man who'd been alone for so long, the lack of camaraderie with his current associates meant whatever they had picked up went unnoticed by him. It was only when the veteran-looking feller commented about droids and a long-dead (supposedly) Emperor, and others reacting strangely, that he figured something was up. Nora's comment went without reply, a footnote in what might become a very big problem.

Not all in this galaxy was universal. Painting everything with the same brush made for a boring rendition. For a true picture, the appropriate pigment was context. It was, as the old saying went, for kings. Corto stared at a metaphorical blank canvas with only the name Palpatine providing clarity, but that was all he needed.

"If there's somethin' bad comin'," he rumble-drawled, looking sidelong towards the blonde Alderaanian lady who the Feeorin deemed in charge, the one named Aryn Cortess, "we need to get the non-fighters outta here."

[ Qutha Buvu Pah (Qutha) | 22:02:15 ]

A small nod to Jax at his comment, eyes still on the woman - unawares of what may be replaying in the past but at Nora's approach he does take the time to offer her a small nod before attention swings back around towards Aryn and her asked question. Opting not to speak again and plucking at his robes some - uncomfortable in them as ever and likely wishing he was back in trousers, button down, canvas jacket and boots.

Looking to Corto at the last at the mention of getting the non-fighters out, "I can help escort them out - I'm not much in a fight, sad to say." though he isn't a poor hand with a saber. Even if it's a stun-saber.

"And if we're fighting droids..." he lifts the handle of said saber up, "This won't do much." chagrinned.

[ Chani Tahn (Chani) | 22:06:54 ]

"Sentinel Prime happened. Or, at least, something from its ship happened." Her voice is distant and her gaze trained towards the horizon like she sees something there. It's a telltale tone and look for her, so often displayed when in communion with the Force. By her statement alone, she reveals she's seen something that's already come to pass. Chani wanders closer to the collapsed, charred beams of what might have been a shed once. Smouldering embers at its core still put off heat, but the smoke coming from it is grey in the night. It's not actively burning anymore. "We should find this other Jedi, and fast. If Sentinel Prime captures him.." She trails off. She doesn't need to give voice to what some already know. No pleasant fate awaits a Force adept in the clutches of Palpatine's contingent droids.

[ Jax Greystorm (Jax) | 22:12:34 ]

Mignin looked at Aryn astonished, "How did you know?" She seems a bit shocked and doesn't hear Ax say the words Palpadroid. "That's the problem, your highness. I watched, from a peak hole. Elrych fought Palpatine or this thing with is face. It had four of them laser swords. He was holding his own but it didn't tire. Then it just ate him. Whole. Then took his ship and left. Broke orbit."

Jax goes to make a comment but stands there quietly. His hand going to his saber.

The quiet of the night is broken up by the a sound that's a combination of clicks and binary and sounding disturbing. Then a series of red blaster bolts from different areas around the farm yard seem to concentrate on Jax and Aryn.

[ Aryn Cortess (AC) | 22:31:18 ]

"Our friend here (Corto) is right. If trouble is to come, we must get our companions to safety--" As if on cue, all hell breaks loose.

Aryn produces her hand forward, calling the lightsaber hilt from her belt to her hand in the blink of an eye. The curved, white-gold hilt snaps to life, and the blonde bats down several of the bolts intended for her (or directed in her direction). The bolts are not redirected, just smacked into the ground which pocks up around her in sprays of dust and dirt.

"Stay near, Lady Nora," Aryn says to her childhood friend, stepping closer to her and trying to make sense of the attack. Wielding a humming lightsaber about, Aryn has some notion of where one attacker approaches. She swings out, two missing strokes cutting by gracefully, before Aryn twists in place and cuts through the plasteel armor of some officer. The sapphire blue blade passes through with ease, bursting out the other side in a cloud of plasteel dust and environment suit that embers in a flutter of ash. The cut is not a deep one, but it's effective enough to render the attacker incapable of attacking anymore.

Aryn casually brings her weapon back, taking a wide stance with the blue length of her sword held out to her side. "Defend our friends and hold your ground. We know not their numbers or how long they intend to persist!"

[ Ax (A) | 22:33:26 ]

When shots ring out, Ax is a blur of motion. The double blades of his saber ignite just as he launches towards the second group of shooters. Muted silver blades leave a grey streak as the Echani, his speed and agility fueled heavily by the force is spinning the twin blades of his saber staff into the enemy combatants.

A master in the hybrid fighting form of Jar'kai, Ax is in constant motion, and always on the offensive, using pressuring constant attacks to keep his opponents from getting easy shots at him, the phrik alloy hinged-hilt saber staff as much a weapon as the twin energy blades it produces. The only odd thing, Ax's eyes were closed, relying on the force to see his enemy without the use of his eyes.

[ Nora Frayus (Nora) | 22:37:25 ]

Nora Frayus' head is still reeling from that sudden, arresting vision. It had taken her by surprise, and has left her feeling... uneasy. What -was- that vision, anyway? Did the others see it too? It all felt so real, but dream-like as well. Perhaps it's that residual connection to the force -- the still skittering sound of strings in her skull -- that makes her sense something else. A different sense, like metal. Almost a smell, but something she feels in her skin rather than her sinuses.

In a fluid motion, she draws her blade and turns her back towards Aryn. There's a whirr of that blue blade past her, but Aryn is deft with it. Lady Nora is in no danger. Her own blade -- shining metal -- is a primitive thing.

But it is very, very sharp. That first cut carves through a soft spot of armor and digs into skin. There's a yell and a rush of blood around it, but the trooper is able to successfully fend off the next two violent strikes that are meant to cut them down.

They stagger back, and Nora bends her elbow towards her chest, point out towards the Lieutenant she'd wounded.

"I am with you," she says back to Aryn.

"It would be wise for you to surrender and lie down," she says to the one she'd wounded.

[ Yuun (Yun) | 22:39:48 ]

Oh yeah, just as soon as Yuun stops near Jax, shots ring out and Yuun tumbles back and away from Jax. Completing a back roll and getting to his feet, Yuun glances around him. Focusing on the force as he sees the blaster bolts coming in. Taking a slow breath and collecting himself, Yuun rises to his feet and as he does, he wasn't quick to grab his saber, he focuses on where the shots are coming from for the time being.

His right hand comes down and around to his lower back and he unclips his lightsaber from his belt. He didn't need to issue orders as he sees some already moving and some of their enemies already down. He nods his head and prepares to enter the fight.

[ Zandra naMuriel (Zan) | 22:44:13 ]

Zandra tries to find where the enemies are, but can't quite manage to figure out where they are. Her hand goes to her waist and her lightsaber is drawn, both blades extended. Her blade might be a little brighter colourwise than many, but it's surely just as deadly. She for the moment takes a guard position by the noncombatants - Elrych's family. "Stay behind us," she suggests. "And keep an eye out to the back in case there are more."

[ Corto (Ct) | 22:44:55 ]

There is merit in subtlety. A gentle push or a quiet suggestion can be all it takes to knock down the stereotypical lothdominoes and achieve a far greater outcome than merely swinging one's metaphorical weight around. But occasionally, say, when under fire from Imperial remnants with lightsabers flashing, it isn't quite enough. You need to be bold, and flashy, and as direct as nonhumanely possible to get your point across. Not everyone here was a fighter, and no one was more keenly aware of that than the Drifter.

Sometimes, power is an act of style.

With all the weight of a thrown sledgehammer, Corto let loose the loudest booming order that his Feeorin voicebox would allow. It sounded like gravel had been thrown into a woodchipper and carried a demand that only begat survival. "IF YOU AREN'T FIGHTING, GET BEHIND ME!" He then lifted a meaty tree-trunk leg and slammed it into the ground in a wider stance, knees bent. His arms held out to the side as though to lift something extremely heavy even for him, and his mind went quiet as it applied grip. The still wind gripped him, setting his poncho aflutter and the cigarra in his mouth shrank from mostly-full to a stub and embers as he breathed in the entirety of the noxious tabac.

In one sharp smoky exhale and a twitch of the hands, the ground behind him exploded.

The manipulation of earth is often bound by having to affect each dirt molecule in turn, a challenge only the most powerful can do so without exhaustion. But sometimes the Force was like a card game. You could play by the rules, or you could cheat a little. A few little explosions of telekinetic will under the ground would send up a dramatic wall of dirt and dust, not great for cover, but excellent for obscurity and concealment. His task done, the drifter stepped backwards into invisibility, his cloaked form hidden by the wall of his own making. It wouldn't protect from blasters, but it'd let people run and hide unmolested, and that was the goal. There could be more Stormtroopers. There could always be more.

[ Qutha Buvu Pah (Qutha) | 22:46:48 ]

"Dag-blastit..." Incoming fire puts Qutha's head down, fortunate he had drawn his stunsaber off his hip - flicking the switch to make the blade whisper into existence and he is moving with the others, "Out of my consarnid mind..." following Aryn's lead - having been closer to her.

It's all instincts now, reaching out with his feelings to let the force guide his actions into the field, such as it word, "Join the Jedi..." one leg in front of the other - focusing too much on his sight at first - too focused to let the force move his vision through other ranges. "Figure out what it is I am."

Sliding across grass and briefly entering a passable soresu form - ready for blaster fire when the first of his jabbing swings takes an injured trooper in the side, sending ionized energy surging through armor and into their body - drawing a grunt, "Runnin' into gunfights with a dad-raddid laser sword..." twisting into a feinting turn to sweep the energy blade across one shoulder and to the belly, sending the trooper tp the ground convulsing, but a live.

"Mama'd go upside my head if she saw me now." breathing hard, looking to Aryn, Nora, then towards Ax with his cheeks flushed green and his hair stuck to his forehead, looking down at the trooper sinking into unconsciousness, "Bless yer heart."

Light - wasn't he standing over there a moment ago?

[ Chani Tahn (Chani) | 22:46:54 ]

Blaster fire erupts across the homestead. Lightsabers activate. Stormtroopers start dying as Jedi go on the offensive and leave the woman who shot at them without any direct cover. Chani strides across the grass and slips her right hand into the dark brown robe that sweeps around her legs with every step. The plain metal cylinder of her lightsaber comes with it when it retreats, though Chani's thumb remains resting against the activation stud without applying the necessary pressure to trigger the power activating. "Please, stay mostly behind me. If you'd like to shoot back, I'll guard you." Given her proclivity to shoot first and ask questions second, Chani hedges a bet towards a proactive mindset rather than one ready to just run for the hills. The stance she takes up doesn't look very defensive. Her arms are down. Her gaze is trained towards where the blaster fire is coming out of the darkness. There's a calmness to her that doesn't quite fit with the hectic franticism of combat. She positions herself in defense of the Cometburn woman, ready to defend her at a moment's notice from errant fire or whatever threat might present itself as a danger to the woman's -- or her own -- life.

[ Jax Greystorm (Jax) | 22:59:10 ]

The force warns Jax of the incoming spray of blaster fire and he quickly dodges it. His saber lighting in his hand like a blue blade. He moves forward towards the Fire team that had attacked him. His actions in concert with Ax and Vega taking out most of the team. As the other jedi move to protect Elrych's kin there's dust in the air that picks up or to help take out the team attacking Aryn. There is another sound of clicks and the black armored stormtroopers that are standing are gone. The jedi senses not able to track these troopers. Then moments later they've relocated and opening fire. They seem to be focusing their fire trying to overwhelm their targets.

[ Aryn Cortess (AC) | 23:18:58 ]

Witnessing the good folk being safeguarded and obscured by a clever use of telekinesis, Aryn sets her mind to their task which is dealing with these troopers. A hail of blaster fire rains in again, and Aryn puts herself in the path of it to protect Nora. More of the bolts are smacked away from her and to the ground. Then Aryn trudges forward looking for the foes responsible. Her enthusiasm is there, but her foe is far more skilled than they let on and it isn't helping that her visual acuity was effected by something they used!

All three strikes render nothing productive, but Aryn calls out to her companions for help. "There are but few left in number. Help me lower that further.. for our friends!"

[ Ax (A) | 23:19:49 ]

Still a blur of motion, Ax moves towards the next biggest threat, his eyes still closed as he cuts down two more troopers and striking at a third though barely missing. The Echani's movements were fierce, but his mind was calm and he said nothing, didn't even grunt as he struck at the enemy.

[ Nora Frayus (Nora) | 23:22:43 ]

Nora's eyes narrow for a moment as she sees those troopers fade from sight. In that instant, Nora tries to chase that feeling that she'd sensed before. That smell she'd felt across her skin -- the metal of their armor, or the sweat on their skin. But it's like trying to grasp at a thread to pull that she just can't quite find. The note she plays is off tune, and she loses them in the dark. It doesn't last. Soon enough, strings skitter on the inside of her skull and she twirls away from Aryn after a volley of blaster bolts are slung in her direction. It's three quick steps towards them. Like a waltz, really.

Step two three, mind the footwork.

Her first strike clangs off of armor, but it was enough to send the trooper reeling. Her second is a downward carve that sees her draw that blade back around and through. It plunges into their belly and sticks there, but it isn't enough to fall the trooper.

They grasp at Nora's hand and pull her tighter, pained sounds bubbling from their throat as Nora attempts to rip her sword free. If not out the way it came, then through.

She gives a rough grunt as she pushes her weight down on that handle in an attempt to run it through, and the trooper howls out in pain. An easy mark for Yuun.

[ Yuun (Yun) | 23:28:33 ]

Seeing some dust particles and feeling the force around him, Yuun keeps his eyes forward, not seeing as the Stormtroopers reposition themselves. It's at this moment, he's warned of an incoming attack and spinning in the direction of the assault. Yuun's electric blue blade snaps into existence and with a motion that is all to familiar, the dark skinned Jedi Knight begins deflecting the shots into the ground or away from him. When the Leader of the Stormtroopers fire, Yuun is a split second too late to deflect the shot, so he turns his left side towards it and brings his blade down to take some of the impact as he is hit and sent staggering back a few steps.

Pain laces his features, that hurt! ALOT! Though soon the pain begins to fade, Yuun is one with the Force, it was time....is all that came to mind as he quickly rushes forward. Charging into the incoming blaster fire, Yuun leaps up and over the two Lieutenants. Blue blade flashing, as he spins in towards the wounded trooper, impaling the trooper in the chest. Yuun winces slightly as he too is injured, but he felt the life fade for his opponent, he then quickly backhand slashes through the second Lieutenant, ending his fight. He brings his blade up into a mid-guard. "Go with the Force." he says giving the fallen troopers a respectful bow of his head.

[ Zandra naMuriel (Zan) | 23:30:57 ]

Standing in the dust from the earth that's been whirled up to protect the noncombatants, Zandra's hair and lightsaber might well be the only thing visible. She reaches out with the force, searching for signs of life and then she says, "I don't sense anything else out there. Not alive anyway." Well, the droids might not qualify as alive, truthfully. She glances over at Chani, and nods briefly, glad to see that she has a partner here guarding the innocent. Okay, it's Elrych's family, but still. "Is everyone alright?" she calls out, once the battle seems to be settled down to nothing. She wrinkles her nose, stepping out of the dust.

[ Corto (Ct) | 23:31:08 ]

A cloaked figure concealed in dust is only so protected. Concealment does not equal cover. And when the backlight of blaster fire reveals a silhouette, sometimes not even that. A bloom of red without deviation was slightly too lately recognized as heading straight at him, and Corto could do little but wince until a white beam returned it to sender. "Well I'll be a Kowakian's uncle..." was the dissonant serenity of the rumbledrawl brought on by shock and surprise, framed by the vestiges of the cigarra smoke plume he was still emitting.

It was only a moment, then he was back into it. The sounds continued and then stopped, so Corto listened. The still wind whispered in his ear, speaking of safety and truth, the eyes and ears he always kept in reserve. Good. Letting out a sigh of relief, he moved his hand gently to entice some of that wind to clear his barricade, but wind was a harder mistress to coax than earth. Very well.

Stepping out the other side of the dust wall, dirty as though he'd been rolling in the sands of Tatween, he spied the Cometburn family and those shielding them. "Pleased to meet y'all," he said to Chani Tain and the Lady Cometburn, lifting his hat in greeting, "best let's get inside, in case there's more." Politeness didn't cost anything except maybe time, and he had a mite of that to spare for the moment.

[ Qutha Buvu Pah (Qutha) | 23:32:12 ]

"Bother!"

All these troopers moving, crimson plasma darts all over and his instincts tell him it's a fantastic idea to get in the way of some of that. The tentacle headed giant being fired on first captures the plant's attention - Qutha letting him jerk and juke -towards- each flash that comes close. A natural reaction, chlorophyl pounding through his veins, but lacking in the adrenaline soaking into the fibrous tissue that make up his musculature; all of it putting him in an almost unconscious concert of action.

"Bother and blow!" a twist of the hip, half step and sweep of a backhand stops a bolt centered on Corto's chest and puts the shot directly into the codpiece of the First Order... Sith...

Enemy.

"Sorry! Oh, criminettly! Sorry!!" apologizing to the poor sot going down with blaster falling and hands between their legs. "OH... Jeeze." Nice job, Qutha. Mom would be real proud. Expression like he'd jammed a whole sugarless citrus fruit into one cheek. Man or woman behind the armor, difficult to tell by the pitch of the sound coming through the helmet vocalizer, that's just not proper fighting. Finally letting out a breath. Rich sympathy pains running through him.

If he wasn't needing to pay attention now, he'd be like to cop a squat, hands on his thighs - maybe spit in the dirt a few times. Aching just thinking of what just happened there. "Bother -and- blow..."

Even when things go quiet; there's just him and the image flash-burned into his memory to look forward to later.

[ Chani Tahn (Chani) | 23:35:12 ]

"I don't know if it's possible, but you should think about leaving," Chani remarks to the Cometburn matriarch. "Sentinel Prime is different than the First Order, and we don't know everything its after. If it came for Elrych, it might come back for other reasons, especially if he hid anything here." The fighting is over. Chani secures her lightsaber back on her belt. "I don't know why your family was attacked, but I hope we can put a stop to it happening again." Chani breathes hard through her nose, clearing it of the excess particles of dust and dirt that had been kicked up by the impressive, earth-moving display put on by one of the Jedi who she has yet to meet in any kind of fashion. She lifts a hand to brush it over her cheek, scrubbing away some of the hazy film that wants to settle onto it.

[ Jax Greystorm (Jax) | 23:42:18 ]

The Firefight is over almost as soon as it begun. It had been short and brutal. The jedi mostly unharmed only due to the force being their ally. Jax stops down to study one of the black armored stormtroopers. "I don't think their First Order or even Sith. Aren't those red? This looks more like something from the Empire with upgrades." Though Chani beats him to the suggestion of the Cometburns going to Deveron. Mignin Cometburn nods, "I think you're right miss. I be in disbelief if I hadn't seen Elrych move that fast before." Then she lets out a whistle and her family joining her. The jedi would take the Cometburns back to Deveron with them. The small family never far from Chani and Corto until they're safely out of system.

[ Ax (A) | 23:44:58 ]

Ax looks to the Jedi gathered, and then to the Cometburn family. "I think I'm going to take the Wraith up and use its sensors, start a spiral sweep of the area. These guys came from somewhere or were at least hiding out somewhere near-by. Might be able to learn something."

Ax looks to Zan. "If things go south, feel free to get the civilians onto the Sands and get them to Devaron. She's a fast ship, and I know you can handle her. I just gotta get the fighter out of her hangar. I'll meet you there if it comes to that." He figured the family would at least take some time to pack, hopefully giving him time to complete the aerial sweep before they left, if not, it was going to be a long flight in a cramped fighter.

[ Nora Frayus (Nora) | 23:53:01 ]

Yuun's lightsaber just through the chest and towards Nora, but she's easily able to tip her head out of the way. She gives one last push downward to rip that sword out of the dead man's side as gravity carries him the rest of the way to the ground. Her nose wrinkles and her face forms into a sneer, but she turns away from him towards where the others explain the situation from a point of clarity. Nora exhales softly in an attempt to steel herself, but she's unable to quite pick up all of those dissonant sounds. Her eyes tighten and she sighs, sliding her blade back into its sheath.

Her eyes open to look towards Corto before her fingertips likely tug that dark red, light-fabric scarf off of the back of her head to let it just wrap around her neck once more.

"Hmmmh," she says softly, before turning to look down towards one of the fallen troopers, carved easily in half by one of the Jedi's blades. Her hand reaches from the grip of her blade to that of the stunsaber, which still feels so odd and bulky in her palm. Silent, she turns to move back towards the ship. To think. Clear her mind. Try to meditate and make some sense of things.

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