Fiction Gallery

Objective 1: "A ruse is a terrible asset to waste."

Hilgrif took a second look at the long range scans on his pad that his pilot droid captain was feeding the info to while also sending the same info to Shroud who was beside him. Hilgrif scans mostly show the city of Kar Alabrek was still running in similar conditions that the history files said of the place from when Marka Ragnos was here except for the cathedral and some minor dark sites look like they had tape sealing the locations off. Hilgrif sent a copy of the reading off to his boss. Hilgrif then went to check the rest of the ship while Shroud keep an eye on the scans after a few minutes there was a beep from his encrypted com hilgrif gave it a quick answer and heard one of the aids of the summit say in a commanding voice “ The Quaestor and his staff has asked you to create a diversion while they send in a team to take the cathedral they will be there in about an hour”. Hilgrif then gave a quick but firm reply “I understand ”. Hilgrif then turned off his com device and thought for a minute then spoke to Shroud in calm voice “give me a list of remote systems on Kar Alabrek after that help me to see if any of the staff was a bit lazy on change any of the old codes” Hilgrif then started with the main systems but doubt any of them would work on them but it's better to be safe. After trying the main systems Shroud sent him a list of sub systems and they both got to work checking them. After about 20 minutes they found they had access to the gardening systems,emergency lights, and suprisingling the backup power systems for the com towers .Hilgrif gave a small smile when he found that last one . Hilgrif then set up a few programs to the devices he had found. Hilgrif set up the gardening systems to spray out ends water mist in the air thirty secs after he sets off the emergency lights to flash at a quick pace and this would all start as he use all the power in the backup systems in the com towers to hopefully overload the towers and shut down the coms for a short time. Hilgrif then turned on his com and spoke “distraction is ready send message when ready to deploy it”. Hilgrif received a quick reply back with just a simple affermitve then Hilgrif went back to recheck all the coding while Shroud silently kept looking for any more devices they could use for the distraction, after ten minutes later he received a quick message to start the distraction so Hilgrif went and activated it. He watched in relive as the datepad should the comms towers were fried then according to the read out he was getting it should all be working hilgrif hope it would keep busy while the team got in place

Manually added by Warlord Bentre Kairn'tel Sadow

Though art a frozen wasteland, Devoid of hope and full of Snow, To not be here again would have been grand, This is a place none should wish to go.

The last I was here I nearly died for her, But as I look upon it now and see what lies before me, My hand upon my great beast which gently purrs, I wonder what I was thinking and as I return a multi-amputee.

This is not what I'd call home, No that is not what i'd call this place, This is nothing more than a shell of crack and twisted bone, A land I'd rather forget a land full of disgrace.

However as long as my family fights to protect her and care, I will stand for now and do my share.

I stepped out of the ship beside The Shroud I turned and look at the lay of the land I see in the distant the signs of clouds streaks of light though the clouds that hit the sand

the lights made the ice world have a slight glow the land of ice had domes in the distance the dome of protection kept warmth below the dome of the city would persistence

we will capture that dome of the city we will attack them that took are homeland we will show the invaders no pity we will make all the invaders disband

let are domes of are citys greet us home we have returned to are world and to home

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18wOJS_4rVZFAla0fN-IIgclaaDSyhouCuYe9wgNX1O0

"Well at first I ordered Arden a bottle of Whyren's Reserve, but it mysteriously failed to make it through an Alisoan customs check.  When I went to go retrieve the so-called 'contraband' with my di Plagia security clearance, the locker was empty aside from a note that read 'No double-gifting, Mr. Three-Inches-Taller'.  I sighed in exasperation, defeated by the quicker action and higher authority of the Consul and went to scour the streets of Aliso City in search of a replacement gift. Uncertain of what a former cop with a financing fetish would really want in a birthday present, I figured I'd just roam from shop to shop until something suitable caught my eye.

My first instinct was to meander about the Market District.  After a few hours of perusing the menagerie of wares being hawked, I concluded that Arden didn't need a cheap replica of a fancy chronometer or any of a number of overpriced fashion accessories. He definitely wasn't going to be pleased with a pair of Sedrian seal-skin boots. My search continued. The second area I checked Landsdown Docks, due to the plethora of stores that saturated the spaceport. Frequented by travelers and tourists, I felt like I was bound to find something amidst the many gift shops.  

After another few hours of ducking into seedy mercantiles and finding nothing of interest, I was starting to feel like I wouldn't be able to get Arden a gift he would actually like.  It was only then that a semi-brilliant idea popped into my head: stocks. I went to the Mobus Combine and analysed the lists, looking for some shares he might be interested in. I spotted one that seemed ideal, Tingel Arm Armaments.  Remembering that he'd worked in the Corporate Sector where this company was headquartered, it seemed like a good gift. I bought five shares and called it a day."

It would seem in the bustle of the coming holiday and missions as of late, some tasks of mine have fallen by the wayside. First and foremost, the purchase of a gift for one of the Lords of Plagueis, the former Dread Lord Arden Karn di Plagia. Although I am not a personal friend of Karn, it would only be proper to get him something in celebration of his birthday. The unfortunate truth is, now that I am out of time, I cannot devote the proper level of consideration towards an appropriate gift. My only recourse would be to ask for some advice from those that now him better. As I rush towards the Anchorage's communication center, I consider those that may be close to Arden Karn. Perhaps the current Dread Lord, formerly his Wrath? Contacting the man's personal retinue is also likely to bring about a tangible answer. Which gives me another idea entirely. I've got plenty to do and, while I'd rather not risk the possible loss of face, I should take advantage of the resources available to me. Instead of contacting someone associated with Karn, I'll get in touch with Seibas and have him take care of things for me. He's proved he is capable enough to handle something so simple, and it will save me any shame that comes from asking for assistance in such a trivial matter with those who see things from the outside. Should Seibas disappoint me, he knows the consequences. With that off my chest, I can get back to more important things.

‘An old soldier drinks, but for what reason? Is it celebratory, have them been awarded a high honor, or has something from their past come to haunt them? What have they done to cause such a sadness, or was it something that happened to someone they loved? If the latter, what can be done to fix the trauma?’

Zodac dropped his head and sighed, closing his eyes as he began thinking. He closed his journal, on the bridge of absolutely falling apart, and leaned back in his seat. He raised his arm for the bill, then walked up to the room he managed to bargain for the night. What felt like a looming illness fell upon him, either from the alcohol of the night or from the hangover of yesterday. Either way, he needed the rest. A long day awaited him, and he needed to muster all the strength he possibly could.

As he settled for bed, he placed a slugthrower on the nightstand beside his bed, within arm’s reach, and allowed one to rest on the bed. However, he didn’t bother removing his gear to sleep. At least, not anything beside his helmet, which rested at the feet of the squeaking bed. Zodac hesitated as he reached to turn off the light, quickly deciding to receed his hand. His back rested against the wall as he stared at the door, almost expecting something, or someone, to walk through and attack. The bounty on his head surely contributed to his paranoia and insomnia, the previous nights being even more rough as he's noticed someone following him for the last two days. If there was a good as time as ever to claim the bounty, it would be now.

Within the blink of an eye, blackness. Zodac was sure it was time, the bounty hunter coming to stake his claim. The door to the room carefully slide open, and when movement was spotted, Zodac unleashed a flurry of slugs, but no avail. Whatever was moving, it didn’t even bother slowing down. Instinctively reaching for his other firearm, he felt a sudden chill run down his spine. As he gazed upwards to the person approaching, he did not find it to be a bounty hunter. Instead, a familiar woman with a young face. “Viera…?” He whispered to himself, frozen.

“Zodac,” the voice responded, condescendingly, “what has become of you? Is this what your life has become? Running, hiding, scraping by with your thoughts dwelling on the past? Can you not move on?”

“I know you aren’t real.” Zodac responded. “You, I don’t know what you are. An illusion, or something, but you aren’t real.” His voice shook only momentarily, but he stood firm. “Now, leave me. I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow.”

“I hope I'm real enough to get through that thick skull of yours. How can you live this kind of life? You seem to be more of a dead man walking than anything else.”

“And do you think I dont know that? How can I move on, from anything, when the damn government is trying to capture me? How, please, tell me, because I’ve been searching for an answer since Jakku!” He cried out, his gun waving around in his hand. “Do you think I like being miserable, looking over my shoulder every waking moment, just to make it through the day, do you?” His eyes began to water.

“I haven’t seen you do anything to try and help yourself. Not since Jakku. Not ever. How can you expect to move on when you can’t forgive yourself for anything you’ve ever done? It hurts me to see you like this. You know I love you. But Zodac… This is not you. You're not the man I remember.” The entity sat beside the old man, and ran her hand along his scarred, bearded cheek. “There is still time to change. You have to find it. You must, if you ever want to see me again.”

Zodac, with a shaky breath, looking at the woman in her eyes. Despite what she had to say, he only repeated a phrase. “You aren’t real. Leave me.” He closed his eyes as he repeated, and after a minute, he opened them. The lights were on, but the holes from his slug thrower were ever present on the doors and walls. The touch from the woman felt real as well, but he shook his head. He wiped his face and eyes, loaded his firearm, then stared at the door. He was in for another long, sleepless night.

Fallout: An Empire Changing Battlelord Ric "Tater" Hunter (Sith) / QUA / House Imperium of Clan Scholae Palatinae Pin 3160

XS Stock Light Freighter “Holdout” - Outer Rim

Malodin’Blade, Chiss loyalist and partner of Battlelord Ric Hunter, sat behind the controls of the old freighter and kept her on a return course to Seraph. The war had ended but the two members of Scholae Palatinae had missed most of it. They had urgent business to attend to and it had kept them away during most of the fighting. Mal knew that some things had happened but the details were a bit unclear. Ric had been in his cabin on the holonet almost the entire trip back from Dantooine. He knew that major things had happened and knew that Ric would fill him in once he finished.
The cockpit door opened and Ric stepped through. He took his seat and let out a loud sigh. He looked tired.
“So what news from home, Boss?” Mal asked.
“I don’t even know where to begin. Things have changed. I’m not sure of all the details but once I get there, we’ll know much more. I tried to reach Kiera and she was busy on an assignment. Which means that Shadow has asked her to do something. I couldn’t reach Shadow directly. All the calls I have made to the Quaestors office have bounced back. I even tried to check the backlog of Aedile messages with no luck. It seems the war left the clan in a weird way,” Ric leaned back and rubbed his eyes.

Mal had seen him like this before. It had been when he started the hunt for Alex Malone, the rogue Jedi with a large bounty on his head. Mal had worried then that it was going to become an obsession and after recent events, it just might have. Mal knew that they had left at the start of the war because of a tip they had received about Malone and Rics stubbornness had led him to follow it. This time it had almost paid off, they had closed on Malone but once more he had slipped through their fingers.

A Few hours Later - Seraph

The freighter touched down at Imperiums small landing pad. Ric dropped the hatch and made his way to the building as Malodin finished securing the ship and getting it refueled and ready to go again if needed. With the recent upheavals in the Clan, Ric wasn’t sure what kind of situation he was walking into. He took the turbolift to his office and let himself inside. The first thing he saw was the light on his com unit was flashing so he sat and began to read. The first thing he saw was a death warrant for Empress Elincia Rei. It seemed that during the War she had betrayed Scholae and become a target for Imperial retribution. Part of Ric was surprised but another part of him really wasn’t. The Empress had always had a very good way of making sure that she preserved herself and if the opportunity arose, he could see her turning traitor if it was in her best interest. He knew there had to be more to the story though and he would find out later what it was. The next message was for him to report to the ISN Retribution as soon as he returned. This message was sent from Shadow and was marked urgent. His Quaestor was on the Retribution? Now that was a strange development. Maybe she was helping the new Emperor settle in to his or her job. He would find out soon enough. Ric brought up the shuttle schedule and logged a flight to take him to the Scholae Palatinae flagship. He hoped to finally find out everything that had gone on in his absence. Ric sent a short message to Mal and warned him if he didn’t return that he was to get Keira and Major Harkness and flee the system. He had seen purges before when a new ruler came to power in the clan and didn’t want to be caught in one if he could avoid it. Ric changed out of his armor and settled took a quick shower. He dressed in his robes and attached his dual lightsabers to his belt. Once he was ready, he left for the hanger and whatever waited for him.

ISN Retribution - Seraph Orbit

The shuttle landed on the hanger deck without incident. Ric could feel something in the air, some sort of current that he couldn’t quite pin down. It was a cross between excitement and fear. It was mildly unsettling to be totally honest.
He checked in with the deck officer to log his arrival and was told to report to the Emperors shipboard throne room. Ric made his way to the turbolifts and within a few moments entered the Royal Deck area of the ship. As he approached the throne room, the two Royal Guards blocked his path.
“I was summoned,” Ric said, handing over his identification. They scanned him with the palm mounted sensors and without a word stepped aside to let him pass. The doors to the throne room swished open and Ric entered quietly. He approached the throne and knelt before it. It the shadows, the figure sitting on the throne motioned him forward. Ric stood and approached the darkened throne.
Ric couldn’t conceal the shock on his face as he recognized Shadow Nighthunter. His Quaestor had become Empress. 
“My Empress, what shall you have of me?” Ric said as he bowed his head.
“What I have always needed of you. Service and loyalty,” Shadow replied.
“As always, whatever is needed,” Ric felt a bit more at ease now. 
“I do have a job for you. I need to to take the Quaestor position in Imperium. Now more than ever, especially after the recent events in the war, we need to be aware of all threats, both from within and without,” Shadow continued. “We need to rebuild Imperial Intelligence and to watch all.”
Ric had spent years with the Intelligence Division while he had served the remnant. He was sure he could fulfil this task. 

“Anything for the Empire, my Empress,” Ric replied. He seemed to have a lot of work cut out for him but at least he was secure and not in danger of being purged. “Now go and begin your work,” Shadow dismissed him with a wave of her hand. Ric bowed and turned to leave. “I know you’ve got this,” She said as he neared the door. “I won’t fail you,” Ric said as he exited the chamber.

Ric looked over the after action reports from the war and was shocked to see some of the things that had happened. He wished he had been here for it but knew that there was really nothing that he could have done to prevent most of the damage that had been done. All he could do was to move forward and build his network up. “Let's do this,” Ric said aloud to his empty office.

Major Hector Ricmore Clan Vizsla Immobilizer-418 Class Heavy Cruiser Zsoldos System, Wild Space

A lone figure walked through the hallway, a jaunty tune spilling from his lips. The tune was interrupted by the sharp Clack! Clack! Of armored footsteps. He moved at a steady pace, in no rush to arrive at his destination despite his jovial mood. The crew members of the ship granted him a respectful berth, in part due to his rank, but mostly due to his reputation for being an eccentric if effective officer.

Hector Ricmore, Major of the Iron Legion, was quite pleased. His commission and battlefield promotion had allowed him to afford a new ship, the new A Wing variant currently being utilized by the Resistance in their fight against the First Order. Having a newer vessel was quite exciting for the Pilot, after utilizing an ancient YT-1300 and dealing with the temperamental prototype of the TIE Advanced V1.

The Zygerrian could not help but break out into a smirk as he gazed upon his vessel. 7.68 meters long, with a central cockpit within the long wedge shape. 1 laser canon was attached to each side, with a pair of missile launchers completing the armament. Painted metallic black, with purple stripes and sigils, the A Wing was both aesthetically pleasing and an impressive ship.

Hector settled into the cockpit of the vessel and began his preflight checks. He was pleased to note that the weapons were operational, engine functioning as normal, and the navigational computer had already been set for his trip to Arx. Turning on his on board comm unit he contacted the Immoblizer’s bridge. “Bridge control this is the Lament, are we clear for the test flight?” The comm unit crackled in response. “You are clear, Godspeed Lament.”

The hangar doors opened wide, allowing the A wing to swiftly exit the capital ship. Hector activated the hyperdrive, the blackness of space replaced by rushing stars. Reaching down the Zygerrian grabbed his data pad, opening his chronometer and setting an alarm for when he would arrive. Trusting in his hyperdrive to get him to his destination he settled down to sleep.

Some Time Later

The shrill ringing of his alarm roused Hector Ricmore from his rest. Blinking drowsily he shut off the alarm before gazing outside his vessel, where stars continued to pass by at an alarming rate. “...What.” The Zygerrian mumbled in confusion, he should have reached Arx by now. “Are you working properly?” He questioned, inspecting his data pad. The chronometer appeared accurate and he could not seem to find any fault with the device. “The ship itself then? I swear if I bought defective junk for this price.” The Zygerrian began the process of once again inspecting his ship. Engine working fine, weapons operational, shields online. With growing horror, he looked at his nav computer. “Don’t tell me. Not this. Not the only time I let someone on my ship.”

A thorough inspection of the Nav computer proved those fears to be true. The set course for Arx had merely been a static screen programmed by a slicer, the vessel had actually been set to reach Nar Shadda. Traveling to the Outer Rim was a longer journey than moving between the two set points in Wild Space, causing the discrepancy in Hector’s alarm.

The pilot chuckled. “A sabotaged Nav computer? That’s fine. I was actually worried that we had a technician so incompetent that they could not program a Nav computer properly.” A smirk spread across his lips “This is turning into quite the adventure”

Picking up his datapad he began to sketch out a route back to Zsoldos from Nar Shaddaa. “Let’s see what happens” Hector assured himself.

A Few Days Later

Lament, Cry of the Stars dropped out of hyperspace in front of Nar Shaddaa. Debris ringed the cesspool of a planet, interspersed by the occasional vessel, no doubt up to some nefarious or criminal task.

Hector’s eyes narrowed when he saw some of these vessels approaching; an Aurore Class freighter flanked by 2 HH-87 Starhoppers. Were these ships in league with the saboteur who sliced into his ship?

His comm unit crackled to life. “Hector Ricmore of The Dark Jedi Brotherhood, you have amassed quite a bounty upon yourself. Surrender now and we will make your death quick and painless. Choosing to resist will only prolong your agony. We do hope you pick the second one, it’s been a while before my boys and I had some fun.”

Not bothering to dignify that with a response Hector pushed the A Wing full throttle towards the freighter. Pshew Pshew Pshew! The A wing fired its laser canons. “Wait for it” Hector muttered to himself as he rapidly closed the distance between himself and the enemy vessels; who currently began to return fire. The A wing dipped and dived, avoiding the oncoming blaster fire.

The distance between the ships decreased until Hector could see the pilot within the Freighter. “NOW!” He thought as he fired the proton torpedos aboard his ship, replacements to the usual missiles carried by such a vessel.

Hector pushed his flight stick forward, turning on its ion afterburner for additional speed. The Zygerrian was thrown back into his seat from the sudden acceleration, gripping his flight stick with gritted teeth as he tried to retain some semblance of control over his ship. A sudden shockwave ran through his entire ship and sent a shiver down Hector’s spine. “I’ll take that was a success then.” The Zygerrian said aloud.

He spun his vessel around to deal with the HH-87 Starhoppers. Charred wreckage filled his vision, the freighter and starhoppers reduced to slag floating through space. Hector’s jaw dropped. “Proton Torpedos alone should not have carried enough of a blast to destroy all three ships. What on earth was that?” He hadn’t yet targeted the Starhoppers so it was doubtful it was anything involving them.

“The ships nav was sabotaged, could the saboteur have gotten to the torpedo’s as well? But that makes no sense, why would a saboteur bother doing something that could increase my firepower and my chances of escaping the bounty hunters?”

That left the Freighter than. “...were the hunters carrying something unstable aboard? Did they actually expect to win an engagement while carrying something explosive?” Putting his helmet into his hand Hector gave a sigh at the sheer stupidity he had encountered.

“Hopefully Declan can help me sort this all out. I’m certain he has contacts over at the bounty office.” Hector flipped on his nav computer and set his course for Zsoldos, triple checking that the course was accurate this time. “Let’s head home Lament.”