Captain's Log: August 2026

“So we have a deal?” Jon asked.

The mon calamari had bone-white skin, mottled with blue-grey patterns and an unnervingly steely gaze. He lifted the glass of clear-blue something that had taken all Jon’s experience to swallow without vomiting and took a long, serene sip.

All around the pair sat the current Board of Directors for the Daleem Shipwrights’ Guild. Various sephi, mon calamari, and humans, ranging from the well-dressed to those in oil-stained overalls.

The one at the head of the table, however, had Jon’s full attention; through whatever politicking or sense of seniority Jon wasn’t privy too, the Board has unanimously decreed him their unofficial voice for these negotiations. Whatever he decided, the others would support, come hell or high water.

Arak Curl set his glass down with a clink.

“A generous offer,” he said. “Perhaps too generous.”

Jon smiled disarmingly.

“Arak, my friend, has anyone ever told you you’re too paranoid?”

“Yes,” he said flatly.

Well. At least he was straightforward.

Jon sighed and stood up, walking around the table, addressing everyone now.

“Ladies, gentlebeings, other assorted genders,” he began. “House Sunrider has been nothing but forthright and honest in these negotiations. We have no reason to hide an ulterior motive, when the benefits to both of us are plain to see.”

He leant an elbow on the table before Curl.

“Empress Kaltani has made the Shipwright’s guild into little more than her personal factory, churning out luxury yachts on demand.”

An exaggeration, but one that hit to the heart of the ship builders’ wounded pride, and Jon could see from the way Arcach’s lips pursed that it landed its mark.

“She’s placed a leash around your throats,” he pressed, “and shackles around your wrists, placing unreasonable regulations on what you can and can’t build. What kind of leader bans the finest shipwrights in the sector from making warships without royal writ? Or bans them from doing business outside of the system?

“House Sunrider is offering you complete freedom to pursue whatever contracts you like with whatever polities you like, no questions asked.”

“Provided we serve you first,” Arach responded.

Jon shrugged as he stood up straight.

“Like I said, we’ve been honest about what we get from this deal. You’ll get no fine print out of me, my piscine friend. But the Pathfinder Fleet will benefit everyone involved; imagine the business that will flood in when everyone across the Unknown Regions sees your handiwork performing as the best fleet of ships in the galaxy.”

Arach’s fish-like eyes narrowed.

“A compelling case. And you’re certain Barad Ghalor will keep his word?”

This was the tricky part; making backroom deals with disgruntled laborers to screw over the rich and powerful was one thing; asking them to take on faith the word of a Vatali Noble House was quite another. Jon himself had reservation about wether House Ghalor would follow through when the chips were down and everything they were doing was exposed.

Jon never stopped smiling though.

“I trust Barad Ghalor to know a good opportunity when he sees it, and to grab his greedy jaws on it like a gundark. A trait we could all learn from, yeah? House Ghalor has enough credits to fund Project Pathfinder five times over; when he says he’ll pay, he’ll pay.”

Arach stood, and walked over to where Jon was. For a moment, Jon thought that was it, and reached his hadn out to take Arach’s.

“A generous offer,” he said again. “But one thing is still unaddressed.

“When Kaltani learns of this, learns we’ve broken with the Vatali to side with House Sunrider, she won’t simply accept it. She will send her navy to take these shipyards back. At blasterpoint, if she must. With war looming with Burmessia, she has no other choice.”

Jon didn’t speak right away. Instead he gently took Arach by the shoulder and guided him over to the viewport.

“Arach, look down there. What do you see?”

Arach looked down at the glittering jewel of Daleem below.

“Daleem.”

“Daleem, yes. But more than that, I see potential. I see a House full of Jedi, Mandalorians, and more who are willing to fight to see that potential fulfilled. You understand?”

Arach’s great blue eyes locked with Jon’s.

“We have your word, you'll protect us?”

“You have my word, and the word of House Sunrider.”

For a moment, silence. Then Arach reached out and took Jon’s hand.

“Then come what may. We’re with you, Baron Administrator.”

---

It's begun, ladies and gentleman. Months of build-up behind the scenes has led to this moment: the flashpoint. The Summit of House Sunrider has been conducting behind the scenes negotiations for months in dimly lit back rooms where Empress Kaltani can't see.

A dual alliance with House Ghalor and the Shiprwright's Guild stands to see us propelled to new heights; it also directly violates several laws and treaties with the Vatali, and Empress Kaltani is none-too pleased to see who are ostensibly her subjects, whom she gave governorship of Daleem to, go behind her back and take her stuff.

Now begins the conflict that will shape the future of the Kiast system, its people, and Clan Odan-Urr's place with both... if we're to have one at all.

---

The storyline progresses in this set of competitions shared with House Hoth!

Phase 1: Flashpoint

Relations between the Vatali Empire and Clan Odan-Urr have tensed, and now the Kiast System faces a flashpoint. House Sunrider has convinced the Shipwright's Guild to break with the crown and join their cause. A popular uprising has led to the Governor of Solyiat, supported by House Hoth, to declare independence. The Vatali are responding with force as Empress Kaltani seeks to maintain her power by retaking the shipyard and quashing protests in Is Brea by any means necessary. The houses of Odan-Urr must take a stand once and for all, for the moment of reckoning has arrived—and the Galaxy is watching.

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It wouldn't be a monthly report without recognition of our peers:

Reltud Silversun

• 33 Cluster of Fire
• 2 Cluster of Ice

Darth Strix:

• x9 Crescent with Emerald Star
• x4 Crescent with Topaz Star
• x2 Crescent with Quartz Star
• x12 Cluster of Fire
• x8 Cluster of Graphite

Windos

• x1 Crescent with Saphire Star
• x2 Crescent with Topaz Star
• x2 Crescent with Quartz Star
• x5 Cluster of Ice
• x8 Cluster of Graphite
  

Xantros

• x1 Crescent with Ruby Star
• x4 Crescent with Emerald Star
• x3 Crescent with Topaz Star
• x1 Crescent with Quartz Star
• x3 Cluster of Ice

Tarvitz

• x2 Crescent with Topaz Star
• x1 Crescent with Emerald Star
• x3 Crescent with Quartz Star
• x7 Cluster of Ice
• x14 Cluster of Graphite

Velira Morvane

• x2 Gold Nova
• x1 Silver Nova
• x1 Bronze Nova
• x1 Crescent with Ruby Star
• x1 Crescent with Amethyst Star
• x2 Crescent with Quartz Star
  
• x119 Cluster of Fire
• x28 Cluster of Ice
• x8 Cluster of Graphite
  

Seals

• x1 Crescent with Diamond Star
• x2 Crescent with Ruby Star
• x2 Crescent with Amethyst Star
• x1 Crescent with Emerald Star
• x1 Crescent with Quartz Star
• x73 Cluster of Fire
• x15 Cluster of Ice
• x8 Cluster of Graphite

Aurelis Phaelor

• x18 Cluster of Fire
• x3 Cluster of Ice

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In addition to the above, I want to give a special shout-out to all those who earned Sacramental Awards this month!

Tarvitz

Has earned one Amethyst Kukri!

Windos

Has earned one Amethyst Kukri!

Velira Morvane

Has earned her first Ruby Scepter!

A'lora

Has earned a Grand Cross!

Seals

Has earned an Amethyst Kukri!

Revak

Has earned a Grand Cross!

Benn Nevis

Has earned a Grand Cross!

Reltud Silversun

Has earned a Steel Cross! An Anteian Cross! And a Dark Cross!