EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei had stepped through the portal to make sure that Marod arrived safely, though she kept it open so that she could return just as quickly. She did end up responding to Marod, though it was with a wide grin. "We do lead such interesting lives, do we not?" She laughed before stepping back through the portal, closing it behind her.

---

It was just a few days before the clan was ready for their feast. To ensure they had ample space, they had set up for the event in one of the clearings just outside the walls of the city. There had been a time in the past where there might have been some danger in gathering everyone outside the protection of the walls, but all of the dangers of the cavern had been driven back far from the city years ago. Now, few would think twice about allowing even their children to go outside the walls unsupervised. They had chefs experimenting with small quantities of the dragon's meat for a few days to make sure they would have something worth presenting to the clan, so everything seemed to be ready.

After a knock on her door, Meesei stepped halfway into Sabine's room and leaned up against the door frame. Sabine did not have any defined responsibilities for the day, and she was not going to have to give any sort of public speech if she did not choose to, but it was true that she was going to be receiving a great deal of public praise for her actions. Meesei knew that she was not the kind of person to seek that kind of attention, so she wanted to be supportive all the same. "Do you think you are ready for today?" Meesei asked.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei nodded. "Indeed, we all have much to prepare for. Marod, Lunise, we can simply stay here and I can create the portals to bring you back."

With the meeting at its end, the council, and the members of Meesei's pack in attendance, started to file out of the room as Meesei began to open a portal straight to the same room from which they had left in the White-Gold Tower the day before. She decided that she would allow Marod to walk through first, in the event that the room was occupied.

As Meesei was forming the portal, she did make a few comments towards the pair. "Even if we do not all have the same...ideas for what needs to be done, I can say that I do appreciate that you are willing to work towards a compromise. I know that you two are ultimately not the ones making all of the decisions, and I doubt your superiors will appreciate everything you have to say. Hopefully, the compromise we found will be enough that they will accept it. And if Saras is correct in his predictions, you both may be spending some time among us. Should that be the case, I shall do what I can to help make the transition easier. We are actually having a feast in a few days, something to help raise morale among our people in preparation for the information we will eventually need to reveal to them. Such a gathering might be beneficial for you to attend, should you finish your deliberations with your superiors in time. It could give you some insight into what we are like that is not easy to convey in words. Besides which, I doubt you will have another opportunity to dine on a dragon." She remarked just as she finished opening up her portal.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

There is still that feast to do.

Star Wars - Lawless Galaxy

The timing of events were going to be as exact as they could make it. Communication across the galaxy, even within the same sector, was not instant, so there was going to be some variance. Perhaps a few minutes, maybe half an hour, but that would be acceptable. As long as it all happened quickly enough that the word could not spread between systems, it would serve its intended purpose.

A Twi’lek sat behind his desk, staring into the screen in front of him at the button that would send his message to start it all. His slicers had already infected every vulnerable system they could find with the virus that would allow his message to be heard. It would not be perfect, as there were some places with good enough security to have stopped his slicers, but it would be good enough. So many businesses in Hutt space were not well enough off to worry about such things, after all. In truth, he was not worried about the plan actually succeeding, but rather the effects of that success. This was a major step, and one from which there was no turning back.

Across several major systems in Hutt Space, the message was sent. In the streets, cantinas, any place that the public gathered, about half of the holographic screens in view suddenly turned black. After a few moments, the advertisements, sports games, or whatever else they might have been showing were replaced with the image of a blue Twi’lek. It was a face that many in the public would have become at least somewhat familiar with, the face that had become known as Cinder.

“My people, today is a day of destiny. On this day, I come with a message. It is a message that has already been spread among the oppressed and the suffering, among the people who have needed our help the most. Now, it is a message that I intend to bring to light among all of this sector’s people. My message today is that the faith that has been given to us by the people has not been misplaced. For as long as any alive today can remember, this sector has been under the tyranny of corruption. The rest of the galaxy thinks of Hutt space as being lawless, but as any born here would know, the law here is simply what they would call ‘crime.’ The iron grip that they have held with their power has squeezed the life, and the hope, out of the good men and women who just want to live their lives in peace. The rest of the galaxy, whether at the height of the Republic, or the Empire, was content to ignore them. But we are not. We are the Believers, and we are the ones who dare to fight. Where we see the decadence and decay the Hutts have wrought upon their worlds, we are not content merely to survive. We do not intend to accept their rule just because they have convinced us that it is the only option. We believe in another choice. We believe that no one should be forced to serve them, and we believe that it is within our power to fix that. I have spent many years fighting them, have poured my sweat and blood into resistance. And in that, I learned something…”

On the screens, the Twi’lek leaned in, his face becoming more clear in the darkened room. “They bleed too.”

Although the transmissions were not perfectly in sync across the sector, the attacks themselves were coordinated with the local broadcasts. Each attack was different, but they were all sudden, violent, and certainly could not be ignored. Not all of the targets were exceptionally valuable, since it was, naturally, quite difficult to infiltrate the important targets, but where they could not find a strategically important target, they found something else to destroy that represented the Hutts’ power.

On Nar Shaddaa, there were multiple attacks across the moon simultaneously, one of which was particularly impactful. The Believers had infiltrated a mercenary group that had come to work exclusively for the Hutt Queen Boonatta, and had set explosives among their store of munitions. The explosion was massive, lighting up the streets around with a fiery glow. It shook surrounding buildings and sent out a deafening sound for kilometers around, reaching even the skirmish between the mercenaries, former Imperials, and the Sith. The building itself did not collapse, but it was certainly set ablaze.

Meanwhile, above the planet Vontor, a ship dropped out of hyperspace, with a significant fighter complement dropping out of hyperspace alongside it. This was where the majority of the fleet that had been sent to Kintan had originated from, which was precisely why the Believers had chosen it as their target. It was still, of course, well-protected even without the ships at Kintan, but it was just vulnerable enough to attempt their plan.

The ship was a cruiser class vessel, specifically a captured Ton-Falk-class carrier: something a fair amount larger than the Hutts might have expected from a group like the Believers. The ship wasted little time in making its intentions clear as it began to launch long-range missiles from outside the range of the shipyards’ own weapons. Although, neither the carrier nor its fighters had yet begun to advance on the shipyards.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I was not making an assignment, merely a prediction." Saras clarified, though their concerns quickly shifted after Marod's comments. In several ways, Meesei did agree with Lunise, but she avoided being so direct with Marod regarding her thoughts on it. Her expression was cold, and mostly emotionless towards Lunise.

"Regardless of what opinions Marod himself may or may not have, I am sure it is not him who would get to make that decision anyway. I am sure we all know how irrational politicians when there is some 'advantage' to be gained." She said, casting her gaze onto Marod. "Even if it means endangering their entire nation. But, I hold this position because I have never lost such a challenge, so ideally, it shall not be an issue. Although, if you can convince your superiors to send a champion or two of their own to participate in the duels, then it might pressure them to accept the results, regardless of what they may be. It is unwise for any nation to renege on their diplomatic agreements. Now, unless there are any other points to be made, I do not believe there is much more we can meaningfully discuss right now. Not without having spoke to your respective superiors. I can take you both back to them as soon as possible, if you wish." Meesei offered.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ignoring Lunise's tone, her suggestion was not actually badly received by most of the council. As organized and "civilized" as they had become, they were still lycans under the rule of Hircine. Individual strength and prowess formed the foundational structure of most packs, and it extended into their leadership. Challenges such as what Lunise described were certainly more common among them than with most other groups. Such parts of their culture were hardly a secret to their allies, so they might not have been surprised to see the slight hint of a subtle grin along with Meesei's confident response. "I am no stranger to challenges, I assure you both. That actually would have been my suggestion as well. This responsibility is one that relies upon personal combat ability, so a test of that ability should naturally lead to the best result. I do think your military leaders could be persuaded to agree to send a champion, or champions, of their own. I should think they would be quite confident in their ability to defeat some 'Argonian cult leader', as you say. And if they wish to keep any sort of diplomatic trust, then they will have to abide by the results."

Saras kept any emotional response to Lunise's suggestion close to his chest, but he had no objections to it. "I am sure this council is confident in our Champion, but regardless, we shall honor the results as well, whatever they might be. Ultimately, we all just want to defeat Vile by whatever means necessary. I can say that I am pleased to hear that our plan for a cooperative invasion is seeming more...plausible after speaking with you both. I am under no illusions that it will be easy, but it may be possible to convince your superiors to take on this endeavor. I have become familiar with the proceedings and habits of both Imperials and the Dominion in my work, and I expect that both of them will want to keep close eyes on such an important endeavor. They will want to have their eyes on every detail of preparation in the months leading up to the invasion. I do not know of any military leader that would be willing to invade Oblivion itself without having a hand in the preparation. I expect they will want to assign one or more people to represent their interests here, and given your history with us, I fully expect that those people shall be the both of you."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"The requirements are nothing particularly strange. Once it is empowered, the Axe merely needs to touch Vile, so the person wielding the axe should be the one most likely to make that happen. Mobility would be beneficial, but most of all, this champion needs to be someone who is the most likely to survive the Daedric hordes that we will have to fight to reach him. You shall have to forgive my lack of humility in this, but I believe that myself and my pack are the ones most likely to accomplish that task. However, I also believe that your generals, for both the Empire and Dominion, will trust their own people far more than myself. It will not be easy to convince them to relinquish that task to anyone else, and this is the task that can only be given to one of us." Meesei explained.

Meesei held her hands together on the table in front of her, her appearance distinctly serious. She believed that Lunise was confident in her abilities, even if she did not say so publicly, but it was true that Marod had never actually seen her in combat. His knowledge of her and her pack's capabilities would only come through reputation and knowledge of what they had accomplished in the war. "Although, before even speaking of your generals, would you be willing to agree to have such an important role taken on by someone other than your own? I understand that it is quite a lot to ask."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ri'vashi gave a nod to Marod. "There are many such locations in this cavern, far enough apart that the two armies would have difficulty finding one another, even if they were trying intentionally. There are rivers through the cavern, and you would have ample space to store supplies. There would be no requirement for you to leave your fortifications until it is time to go through the portal."

"I believe that these are all points that will be possible to negotiate with your superiors, with enough effort on our part. However, there is one key issue that could be more difficult." Meesei added. "Our entire plan hinges on the Rueful Axe. The empowered Axe will have to strike Vile himself. He needs only be struck once, but it does mean that the person wielding the Axe will be inherently more...central to the plan. I have no doubt that both the Empire and Dominion will want to have one of their own champions carrying out that role. But, I need to be the one to do it."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Speaking in terms of preference, I do not particularly care where our staging grounds are. However, there are practical issues to consider." Meesei replied. "First and foremost, I am sure we will need to keep this as secret as is possible. Certainly, none of us want any inkling of what is happening to be spread to Tamriel's average citizens, but we have to do something that is...inherently difficult to hide. We shall need to create a portal to Oblivion, and one large enough to transport an army. To create such a thing will be a long and difficult process, and could take months to complete. Now, perhaps either of your people do have locations that would be suitable, but as you have said, it needs to be a place in which your commanders can feel reasonably comfortable sending their troops. It is doubtful to me that either side would trust a location controlled by the other."

Saras continued on as Meesei finished speaking. "Indeed, I would recommend emphasizing our neutrality to your peers. We would stand to gain very little and lose quite a lot by betraying either of you. Most of our clans lie within your borders. If they can be convinced of our neutrality, then I do not believe there is an option that could be considered better than this place. I do not know if you were able to receive a good look at the cavern when you arrived, but it is quite...expansive. Your commanders could have any amount of space they desired to themselves, if that is helpful."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

After her private counsel with Lunise the night before, Meesei had expected Marod's question, and as such, had been mentally preparing her answer. "We all wish to do what would give us the greatest chance of success, but unfortunately, I do not believe that would serve that purpose. We do have many commanders among us who have experience in both the Legion and Dominion militaries before they were turned, so I do understand how your methodologies might lead you to desire that arrangement. However, your commanders do not have experience leading lycan forces, and there are quite a few more differences than you might expect. They are not familiar with our capabilities, or our own command structure or the type of training that they have. I am sure they are more than capable of learning, but not in the time we have. Indeed, I believe it would be the most efficient option for all of our forces to remain in the command structures that they are the most familiar, so your people would not be taking orders from any outsiders."

Being the commander of all lycan forces, Ri'vashi was naturally the member of the council with the most, and strongest opinions on the subject. "Ri'vashi agrees with the Champion. Her father was a...high-ranking Imperial in his day, and he passed everything he knew onto Ri'vashi. This one knows how to coordinate with your people..." She began as her eyes turned towards Lunise. "...and Ri'vashi lived in Elsweyr for many years after her father brought her there. She was a clan leader there, and most of her commanders were former Dominion soldiers. Ri'vashi is familiar with both of your customs, and she does not believe we should even attempt to mix your forces together."

Meesei nodded in agreement as she continued. "I would suggest planning our attack such that we keep our forces as separate as possible. Preferably such that no Dominion or Imperial soldiers even have to see each other. Once in Vile's realm, we can attack different angles, take different objectives. It is not necessary for any commanders to give up control of their own forces. The coordination only needs to happen at the very top, among us, and your highest ranking commanders. We will just need to plan our overall strategy together."