Jurdan stood in the back room of Big Daddies on Imperium’s island base. The Imperial Forces here had not yet succumb to the will of Fallax. Shortly after the death of his brother, Delak, Jurdan had escaped the city and fled to more familiar territory. Delak had been murdered right in front of him...
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Jurdan stood in the back room of Big Daddies on Imperium’s island base. The Imperial Forces here had not yet succumb to the will of Fallax. Shortly after the death of his brother, Delak, Jurdan had escaped the city and fled to more familiar territory. Delak had been murdered right in front of him and then he had been forced to drag his body into the city streets as a warning for any would be userpers.
The Isle of Dleacht was secure from all attacks but Jurdan knew from his talks with Lexiconus that they would have to leave there soon. The only hope for Scholae was to win back the loyalty of the troops stationed in Ohmen. Fallax had corrupted them against the Sith forces of Scholae early on so it would be tough but not undoable to win them back. They just need to show Fallax was a weakened entity who would soon be gone.
Jurdan had made his way to Delak’s quarters. They were now his. Delak had accumulated many things to show his past significance as an Admiral in the Imperial Navy, as well as his time as Prince of Corulag. The weight on his hip had changed a bit now that he carried Delak’s lightsaber Shiny and Chrome. He held the saber in his hand feeling it's smooth surfaces in his palm. It was cold to the touch but somehow familiar. There was a beep at his comm unit.
“Jurdan, get to the landing pad on the double.” It was Lexiconus, the Quaestor of House Imperium. He was clearly in a hurry, something must be wrong. Without a moment's hesitation he was off and running for the pad. He made it as quickly as he could and the shuttle was lifting off just as he arrived. He had to jump through the open landing ramp to make the trip.
“No time to waste. We have incoming fighters.” Lexic shouted.
Fighters were clearly visible in the distance and they were moving in fast. They headed straight for Imperium HQ and started strafing the buildings. Jurdan watched as the main building exploded in a rain of fire. He couldn't believe it was gone like that. Thankfully they had gotten away in time to avoid the fighters. Their trip had begun and they were on their way to a meeting with some of the heads of the military willing to talk.
Hours after the destruction of Imperium base Jurdan and Lexic had been meeting with leaders of the military. Some were very receptive to the Sith control of the military as it was before. Some were hesitant. Lexic decided it was time to show his ace up his sleeve. He brandished a holoemitter and activated it. With a blue and white flicker the image that spring to life was that of Xen. His body and face were becoming disfigured and distorted because of Fallax’s control of his body. The sight of the horrible being made them cringe. Had this really once been their Emperor. He would definitely need his mask if he were to survive the ordeal.
Jurdan and Lexic left the meeting feeling good that they had won so many members to their side. The final battle would soon begin and it would lead to the deaths of many brave souls.
Landon Cruise history has a turbulent past, but it was that past that brought him to become the man he is today. Much of his life was spent bouncing from space station to space stations where his mother frequently flew missions in order to provide for him. As many other children his age were sp...
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Landon Cruise history has a turbulent past, but it was that past that brought him to become the man he is today. Much of his life was spent bouncing from space station to space stations where his mother frequently flew missions in order to provide for him. As many other children his age were spending time in schools or combat schools, Landon was learning the black world of smuggling, gambling, and piloting. By the time he reached his 16th Birthday he was already heralded as one of the best pilots when it came to smuggler work. His mother would soon pass away in a terrible chase in which Landon vowed revenge against the pilots who killed her. It was at this point he was approached by a Admiral of the Emperor's Hammer. His name was Jacob Van Nowak. Through Landon's rage, Jacob Van Nowak's Force powers were able to sense his location. Unknown at the time to Landon, Jacob Van Nowak would end up being his long lost half brother born to Dala Cruise and sold to an Imperial family at birth. Their connection to the Force was unusually strong and it was at this point Jacob recruited him into the TIE Corps.
Landon Cruise started out his career in the TIE Corps under Dempsey. He was a quick learner and quickly rose up the piloting ranks. Through his time there he would go on to earn some of the highest merit medals in under a years time. After a short stay in Delta Squadron under Dempsey, Landon commanded his own Squadron named Alpha Squadron. This Squadron would ultimately make a name for itself by placing 1st overall in many competitions month after month, and leading all other Squadrons on it's ship in the annual Raise the Flag tournament. For Landon's commitment he would attain the rank of Major in under 9 months in the TIE Corps. His final achievement would be the earning the title of Top Gun which was held for nearly a decade by Brucmack. Towards the end of his career Landon started to her rumors that his rise to the top was threatening some in other fronts. It wouldn't be long before he would be attacked in an Imperial Space port while surrounded by other pilots. All in told Landon Cruise, Jacob Van Nowak, Drake Starfire, and Chrome were able to make it out of TIE Corps space and jump to the safety of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood Space.
Once in DJB space, Landon would end up seeking refuge in Arcona under the guidance of Mark Schueler. The other pilots were taking time to gather their thoughts before officially joining the DJB. It was at this time Landon made several small contributions to Arcona. In the end Landon would find out that Mark Schueler was apart of the Emperor's Hammer Command Staff and his paranoia led him to believe Mark was trying to capture him in order to return Landon for his sentence from leaving the TIE Corps. It was at this time Landon abandoned the DJB and fled to the outer rim with his other buddies.
A year later an old pilot named Delak that once flew with Landon suggested Clan Scholae Palatinae. His brother also stated he had once held a spot with this Clan and they all decided to offer themselves to fighting with this Clan. Once there, the Emperor asked Landon what it was he expected to get from his stay in the Brotherhood. Landon response was "To dive deeper into the Force. My whole life I have been a pilot with a strong connection to the Force, but I have never been able to fully explore the possibilities that might exist to me".
He made the long trip to the outer skirts of Clan Scholar Palatinae space where he would end up answering a beacon call that he thought was sent by Delak. Once Landon made it to the landing coordinates on Judecca he ended up realizing that it was a transit by Emperor’s Hammer hidden agents. Delak had been captured by Force sensitives and Landon’s ability to find him would hang on whether Scholar palatine would trust him and accept him into their Clan.
It would take three days before Landon would fine the hidden agents in a cave off the outskirts of town. Once there he utilized everything in his body to defeat the agents. Many blows were dealt this day, but in the end Landon would emerge victorious over them. Delak was happy to be free from these grasp of the Emperor’s Hammer and finally took Landon to the Imperial Palace of Clan Scholae Palatinae.
The Emperor smiled and told him he was in just the right place. From that moment on, Landon devoted his life to the Empire.
Story of Landon Cruise’s ride to the light side.
Judecca
Edge of the outpost
Krennel and Cruise ran to the back of a crumbled outpost. Tired and worn from the hours of battling against Fallax’s new control over the Imperial military the pair ducked down from the laser fire. Lasers felt like they were coming by the thousands flying over their heads as they sat down behind the crumbling building that once housed the very troops who were firing at them. Cruise looked towards Krennel and nodded in his direction. Cruise didn’t have to say anything to Krennel, because Krennel could see what he meant with the nod through the Gray Jedi’s eyes. After all they were fighting against a force that just weeks earlier was loyal to them. Now under a corrupt Emperor who was so easily blinded by the power of the Dark side that he could lose sight of the staying true to the loyal members who helped him protect his Clan even when the times were tough. Krennel didn’t have to understand the nod in Cruise’s eyes to see the resignation. After all this was the same man who had slowly descended from the Dark side and venturing into the Gray side of the Force. He brought unconventional tactics while in the summit that some approved of in the Clan and others didn’t quickly became enemies with the man. Either way he knew it was over. Landon Cruise was done with the Dark side haunting the Clan and reaching out for something loyal, of peace, and more aligned with helping balance the Force.
Suddenly off in the distance the sound of footsteps could be heard running up to their position. As Krennel jumps on the defensive and draws his lightsaber, Cruise sits there slowly meditating with his eyes closed.
“Calm down Krennel, they are with us.” Cruise said still sitting there patiently with his eyes closed. Within seconds Corm Wagglehorn and Alara Deathbane came around the corner.
“How did you know?” Krennel asked looking at Cruise in disbelief. “The Dark side can cloud even the strongest of minds as you can see what has happened with our Emperor.” Cruise said as he nodded towards Corm and Alara.
“So what is the game plan against Fallax now that they have our Forces? I have tried different avenues with Alara and I still think there is a strong shot we can attack them head on in order to reach Fallax. The military might should be loyal to Kell if we can find him and defeat Fallax. New Dawn will fall hard.” Alara said.
“Yes I agree. Last thing I heard before the transmissions died was Kell was close to the Imperial Palace, but that was hours ago. I have a location grid to his last known coordinates so we can make our jump there. The four of us can easily manage a Platoon of troopers if attacked. Any more and we will have to make a break for it.” Corm explained.
“He isn’t listening. Look at him.” Krennel said pointing at Cruise who was staring up into the sky as if looking for something further from all the chaos and corruption that had ravaged the Clan through the past.
“What are you talking about Krennel?” Alara said confused.
Corm began to walk towards Cruise and put his hand on his shoulder as if beginning to understand what was happening. “I think I always knew this day would come. You always were struggling with the Dark side. You Force sensitives are very different than myself in your balance of the Force, but I respect your decision if this is what you’re doing. You’re a good man Cruise and if it weren’t for my love of credits and battle, I would be with you. The Imperials pay too well for the time being and I love all the battles they like to muster up.” Corm said as Cruise embraces his fist in a deep arm shake.
“Corm, no words are needed my friend. You will always be great where ever you are. This is a journey I must take.” Cruise responded after giving a warrior like handshake.
Alara moved towards Cruise looking upset, but somewhat at peace at the same time. Her missions with Cruise in the past have been few and far between due to their differences in Houses, but the man had always been around at the Imperial Palace gatherings offering any insight that may be needed if she required it. The two of them while on different ends of the Force spectrum had similar tragedies happen in their life. The Force bond between them was strong and they both felt it, but never wanted to address it due to their own loyalties at the time to their respective houses.
“So this is it? Where will you go? What is your purpose if you leave your home?” Alara said to Cruise with a concerned look.
“I don’t know. Something is pulling me in a certain direction. Rumor is the Jedi made it off their planet after the Grand Master came after them and are evading in a Fleet. My path has always been in struggle with the Dark side that encompassed the Clan. I'm tired of all this corruption, malice, darkness, and chaos. My heart yearns for peace and that cannot be found here. My place is not with the Dark Side any longer. A stirring has begun inside my soul from the Force. I thought I could deal with the minor incidents here and there, but the Emperor is corrupted as you have seen when New Dawn easily used it to their advantage. My house leader is a puppet at his feet and will wait at nothing to take the throne when he gets the chance undermine the Sith. The Dark side tends to control those based on the greed for power. They will step over everyone in their path to it no matter what that person has done for them.” Cruise responded with great ease.
“I know. I always felt your connection there, but never wanted to believe it.” Alara said while hugging Cruise in understanding what the fallen Imperial Knight had said.
Cruise walked over to Krennel and almost instinctively they both snapped to and embraced each other’s right arms while pounding their fist into each other’s chest plates as the metal of their armor pierced the air.
“You will always be my brother. Your loyalty is without fault even if you do not approve of my path. Continue to harness your energy to walk the path that is in your destiny. Know regardless of what part of the Force your on that I am here for you brother.” Cruise responded as he let go and headed off into the heat of the laser fire being shot in their direction.
“How will you get off planet with the hangar and star fighters under Fallax’s control?” Alara yelled out.
Cruise looked back and smiled.
“I hear there are some legends waiting for me in a stolen ship by the name of Chrome. I’m going to go find out if it’s true.” Cruise responded as he lifted his fist in the air and ignited his blue light saber that gave off an alluring aura that instantly hit them and sent chills through their skin. They knew he was gone to the light side.
Abadeer tapped his fingers on the bar, looking to the bartender.
“That drink, if you would.” Taasii wouldn’t be asking a third time. The man slid a tall glass across the wood counter. Abadeer nodded before returning to his table. Seated there was a selection of various members of House Karness ...
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Abadeer tapped his fingers on the bar, looking to the bartender.
“That drink, if you would.” Taasii wouldn’t be asking a third time. The man slid a tall glass across the wood counter. Abadeer nodded before returning to his table. Seated there was a selection of various members of House Karness Muur. Taasii sat down in his seat, looking around.
“Now, where was I? Ah right.. the shield generator.” Abadeer was trying to appear suave, taking a long draught of his drink. “Well let’s see.. so they raised the generator, and it was making troop advancement totally impossible, as well as costly. So I came up with a suitable strategy with Arden and we were able to shut them down. We had a small platoon, and I used them to full advantage. They were directed as a full frontal assault distraction. They attacked the hill well, but it wasn’t enough. Then I took myself, and a few others and took some secret routes to be able to get around the enemy.” One of the Knights from Karness Muur was nodding excitedly, he’d been drinking heavily all night.
“How’d you do it? You must’ve been so worried. I mean the shield generator was so heavily fortified!” Abadeer nodded at the praise.
“It wasn’t a mission we could leave to just anyone, but I was able to accomplish it. It took a great amount of skill and perseverance, but those rebels never stood a chance. After we got around their defense, it was a matter of just eliminating them. I mean it only took about ten minutes to move through the entire encampment. Maybe you boys could learn something. It’s all about the plan, as long as you have the skill to execute it.” Abadeer nodded sagely as some of the younger members had shocked and impressed looks on their faces. The older more experienced members just sat and rolled their eyes.
Breath…1…2…3…4…out.
Koliss kept his eyes closed, it was better than facing the anticipation that was staring him in the face. Here it was, life day celebration on Kabaira and he hadn’t so much as called or visited in three years. All those days he was doing some good in the middle of a blasted c...
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Breath…1…2…3…4…out.
Koliss kept his eyes closed, it was better than facing the anticipation that was staring him in the face. Here it was, life day celebration on Kabaira and he hadn’t so much as called or visited in three years. All those days he was doing some good in the middle of a blasted crater and he hadn’t let them know if he was still breathing. Now he found himself wondering if this whole effort would have gone to waste, if they preferred him to not come around after being so mute over these past years.
‘There’s no rethinking it now.’ The last thought of a jumbled mind as Koliss opened his eyes and surveyed the surroundings. Amazingly, it looked like his old seat had been saved; smack dabble in the middle of an ornate table with a perfect view of the low lying beach beyond the open doorway, and beyond that those beloved snow-capped mountains of his. It struck a chord of himself he thought to be long gone, and it was surprisingly more relieving than he initially imagined. The sound of approaching footsteps shook him from his nostalgia. From around a corner from where he sat, a young woman that Koliss recognized in a heartbeat. The woman froze in place for half a second, before her look of surprise transformed into a smile of joy.
“Oh, Koliss, I didn’t exp- Hey, everyone! We’ve got special guest!” Koliss tensed himself to stand and give his sister a big hug, but he remembered exactly where he was and some of the joy fled from his conscious mind; he resigned himself to simply putting on his best smile and nodding “Happy life day to you too Jorda, good to see you keeping alright.” Jorda was quickly joined by two other familiar faces. He knew their names of course, but he could never shake the habit of ‘mother’ and ‘father’ even in his youth and current temperamental lifestyle. Koliss couldn’t resist a chuckle as his sister approached and looked as if she hung onto the chair he occupied; Mother and Father approached more slowly, happiness evident, but there was also some apprehension that he could see. The last to join was the last face he could recall fondly, “Hey hey, the prodigal bleeding heart calls back! How you doing little brother?” The same brash greeting, same carefree smile; Crassus always was one to be blunt, but that’s one of the reasons why Koliss appreciated him so.
The reunited family talked for what seemed a short while, but Koliss could see the shadows casting farther than when he started visiting with his family, still seated firmly in his old spot at the table. Jorda and Crassus spoke of some old family friends coming over to visit and said they would be going out to greet them while letting them know Koliss was around to speak to.
The old family dining room was cleared, leaving only Koliss with his parents, whose wrinkled skin and dark circles beneath their spoke to their age more than any other time he could recall.
“The other side of the core… the opposite side of the rim in fact…” His father started and the tone indicated that Koliss was not going to like the conversation. He moved quickly to head it off.
“I did not come to debate ethics or intention, I only wanted to see you all again…” He paused, trying to collect the correct way of expressing himself. “I… realize that just up and leaving was the absolutely wrong decision, I think even then I recognized that, but you also have to acknowledge that people not doing anything was the wrong way to solve the problem.”
Koliss had reused this argument before, and he could almost feel the pleading tone in his voice as he tried to justify himself. There was no response for a few seconds; the calming sounds of the rolling tide going out for the night seemed to mock him.
“We’ve worried ourselves sick you know.” Mother answered him. “All this time without a word was rough, not that we aren’t appreciative but, this just seems like… placation.” Koliss slightly froze at that, trying to find anything that might come up to explain himself.
“Just think about it Kol,” Father spoke almost with finality, “And maybe the next time we can see you, you won’t have to be so distant.” Father reached for something at the side of the chair Koliss was sat at, and in a second, the whole world was black for Koliss.
The artificial lighting of the cramped hologram room came to life, sensing the end of the call, Koliss was staring at the empty air, replaying the last image of such downcast looks as they vanished in their holographic form. He bounced back and forth between regret and appreciation of just calling his family out of the blue from so far away.
“They set up your frequency exactly in your old spot, isn’t that a gesture worth knowing; wait no, what about there at the end, they hung up on me and it was like they agreed on-.” Koliss stopped, creating an almost oppressive quiet atmosphere. Was he just talking to himself out loud?
Koliss slumped as he let out a shuddering sigh. He tried to contact them, tried to reach out, and yet it was apparently not enough. At least they were open with him, but what did his brother and sister really think? Did they agree with their parents; did they not care about what he had done?
The cloudy storm of Koliss’ mind had become a building tempest and he could feel the beginnings of a migraine crawling up his nerve endings into his occipital lobe. His eyes strained processing the various stark blue holographic images.
“Happy life day to everyone, especially to me.” He was bitter, but there was little he could do to vent his frustration. He rose slowly, and shuffled from the room. He needed a drink, badly.
The bombing started without warming. Scarlet was having lunch with her family when the first wave of planetary bombardment started, followed by an even more sadistic and methodical hit by bombers to exterminate. For the space of a few seconds, she and her husband did not even understand what was ...
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The bombing started without warming. Scarlet was having lunch with her family when the first wave of planetary bombardment started, followed by an even more sadistic and methodical hit by bombers to exterminate. For the space of a few seconds, she and her husband did not even understand what was happening. Sure they were warning of an oncoming invasion, but to face death in the face gives one a sense of reality. When the ground started to groan under the impact of bombs, when the cry of dying rent the air, and when the air itself began to get heavy from dust and debris, that is when Scarlet and her husband knew their time had come.
Quickly they grabbed their two children and emergency bags, and started running out on the main street towards the nearest designated bomb shelter.
“Is it this way?” cried Scarlet while carrying her younger kid, a bright-eyed and sweet girl of 4 years. Her air was already disheveled from dust and debris. But that’s not the worst part. Her kids were scared now. It was in their eyes.
Taking the other child, a boy of 8 along with the bags, her husband said “From the looks of the map those government guys gave, yes!” There were people around, hundreds of them. From the looks of it, all of them were running towards the emergency bomb shelter. His only fear was that it would fill up before his family could get there. To that end, he did not want help others by giving them directions to the shelter. He already lied to a few.
And that’s when it came. At first, it was only a loud shrill noise. Before they knew it, an incendiary bomb hit the street, burning away everything before it, flesh and metal.