Lord Greshh

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

MEANWHILE ON DANTOOINE

Theron Shan

My eyes slowly flutter open, and a bright overhead light blinds me for a moment. It takes several seconds for my memory to catch up with me, and I realize I am in a hospital on the Dantooine mainland. There is an IV of kolto in my arm. I must have been unconscious for at least a day. Maybe more. I try to sit up, but a shooting pain goes through my abdomen, and I fall back with a groan of pain. Out in the hall, I can hear people talking. One of them is an older woman, and the other is a man speaking through a helmet microphone. I lean over to look out the open door into the hallway, and I can see a nurse (the woman) standing with her hands on her hips. She is speaking to a Republic Trooper in full armor.

Nurse: "You can't just barge in here! This is a hospital!"

Trooper: "We have reason to suspect there are fugitives hiding among your patients, ma'am. We're conducting a search of the wards. Please stand aside.

Nurse: "Fugitives? There is nobody here aside from wounded men and women! If there were fugitives here, I'd know about it!"

Trooper: "Don't interfere, ma'am. We're only doing our duty to the Republic."

Nurse: "And my duty is to protect my patients!"

Trooper: "....Very well, ma'am." He takes the end of his gun and smacks her in the head, knocking her out. "Turn this place upside down! I want those rebels found!"

I roll over, hissing with pain as I pull the kolto drip out of my arm and slide off the bed. I am weak on my feet, but I manage to swiftly sneak across the room and duck behind a cabinet. With a blink, I activate my neural implant over my eye and pull up the built in comm. "Charlie, you read me?" I whisper.

Charlamagne

I am a few levels above, in the maternity ward. I pull out my commlink when Theron buzzes. "Yeah, boss. I read you. The Pubs are swarming all over this place. It's a miracle it took them this long to get here. Glad you're finally on your feet again. We need to get the hell out of here before they find us."

Theron Shan

"Syn. Is she there too? First priority is to get here out." I try to stay quiet while also conveying the urgency of the situation. I can see out in the hall the troopers heading my way.

Charlamagne

"Right, well, that isn't going to be so easy anymore. You see... She isn't alone anymore. Know what I mean? That uhh... extra height she's been carrying?"

Theron Shan

"In Basic, Charlie. Please!"

Charlamagne

"She had the kid. They did an emergency C-section last night. Ryder must have hurt her worse than we thought. Syn's resting in her room, but the baby is in the ICU. So..."

Theron Shan

"Son of a bitch. Just... hold on. I'll be there soon."

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

HJ Twilight

I sit in my ship, now re-branded the Rancor's Den, and type in the holo frequency for Ava Cadera. It does not take long for the signal to reach it's destination, which surprises me. Usually it took at least a minute for a long distance call like this. "Ava? You read me?"

Ava Cadera

I sit in an old Mandalorian bunker, recently reclaimed after centuries of abandonment. I have my holo projector on the table, buzzing from HJ's call. With a quick poke of my finger, I answer, and a miniature image of HJ Twilight appears. "Well, look who it is. I'm gone for only a few days and you're already miss me?"

HJ Twilight

"No... Well, I mean yes, but that isn't why I called. Sucal sent Republic forces to attack us shortly after you left. He REALLY wants Korre, and isn't playing around anymore. We had to flee Dantooine, and we're now hiding out on Alderaan."

Ava Cadera

"You're on ALderaan? I'm on Onderon, just a few systems over! Or rather I'm NEXT to Onderon, on it's moon, Dxun. Clan Ordo had an old base here a few hundred years ago. We're using it as a staging ground to plan raids along the Parlemain Trade Route."

HJ Twilight

"Oh, wow. That explains why the transmission is so clear. But uhh... speaking of raids, that's kinda what I wanted to talk to you about. Like I was laying, Sucal is hot on our tail. Unless we can magic up a new necklace or something to hide Korre, he'll keep coming after us. We need something to keep him occupied until we figure something out."

Ava Cadera

Leans forward, more interested in the new direction of the conversation. "Ah, and you were hoping the Mandalorians can provide the means to keep him occupied? You know, we haven't been sitting on our hands. We've been smashing outposts all across the Outer Rim, raiding supply ships, and over all causing all sorts of trouble. Yet all Sucal cares about is that girl and her baby! It's a bit insulting, to be honest."

HJ Twilight

"That's why you gotta make him care. I have a plan, but it's a bit nuts. You have to rally all the clans to converge on Coruscant and... basically stage an invasion. Draw all of the Republic military back to defend the capital, and that will give us a chance to operate safely under Sucal's nose."

Ava Cadera

Stares at HJ's tiny hologram for a few moments. "You want me to what? Attack Coruscant?! The heart of the Republic? That's suicidal! You know how many defenses that place has on the ground alone, let alone all the ships docked there, and all the other ships scattered across the galaxy that will come running as soon as we even try to get close enough to attack?" Slowly breaks into a wide smile. "I love it! A head to head clash against the Republic, everything I have against everything they have! It will be battle song about for ages to come!"

HJ Twilight

Chuckles, not sure if she is joking or not. "I like the confidence, but remember this is just a distraction. Do NOT get yourself killed over this, alright? If the tide turns bad, retreat. Forget honor and glory, just get the hell out if you see things aren't going well."

Ava Cadera

I make an annoyed face. "I know how to conduct warfare, HJ. I was born for it." Leans back in my chair. "I'll call the Clan Chiefs together for a War Council. We'll figure out a strategy that will both keep our guys alive, while also drawing the battle out for as long as possible so you can your team can get done what you need to get done. And if the plan changes, you know how to reach me."

HJ Twilight

Smiles big. "Thanks, Cyar'ika. I really appreciate this. I'll see you when this is all over and I'll... I'll think of something to make this all worth it."

Ava Cadera

"You'd better. After everything I've done for you..." I mutter to myself as I reach to end the call, but then I catch myself. "Oh, wait! Before I go, I should tell you... we found something very interesting here on Dxun. Have you ever heard of Freedon Nadd?"

HJ Twilight

"Uhh, yeah. I think my grandfather's mentioned him. Wasn't he one of the ancient Sith Lords?"

Ava Cadera

"And an ancient King of Onderon. The royal bloodline is directly descended from him. His tomb is here on the moon. Some of the Ordo scouts were checking it out a few weeks back and they came across something. You might want to have a look." I pick up the holo projector and carry it over to the other side of the bunker, where an old fashioned iron cage sits. Inside are two emaciated figures, lying weakly against the bars. They are Twi'leks, their red skin so pale, it looks almost pink. Kneeling down, I rattle the cage, causing the two Twi'leks to jolt awake. "Hey! Prisoners! Look who I have here on the holo!"

Cosen Greshh

I look at the hologram through blurry eyes. "Ehh... HJ?"

END OF SCENE

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Armond Organa

"I look forward to it." With a nod goodbye, I end the holo transmission. With everything I have just learned still swirling around in my brain, I sit down at my desk and look out the window at the sprawling mountain range. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for; to finally prove Jorg Sucal was plotting something behind the Senate's back. If I could have only found this out before Alderaan left the Republic... but perhaps it isn't too late to make things right.

END OF SCENE

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Armond Organa

I make a concerned face. "You're working with the Killiks? Those insects have been steadily encroaching on Organa land for years, despite our many efforts to dive them off. I must confess, I do not much like the idea of trusting them, even if they claim to have valuable information. But, if you believe that is the best course of action, I will not argue. I shall be at this briefing you mentioned. If I can help in any way to bring Sucal to justice, I will gladly do so."

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Armond Organa

“You are right, of course. Not everyone on Alderaan agreed with my proposal to leave the Republic. The Queen only agreed because she too feared the Chancellor was becoming a tyrant. And believe me, she’s fought her share of tyrants in her time. House Thul and House Ulgo are still paying reparations for their actions during the war. They claim to have reformed, but I suspect that if given the opportunity, they would not hesitate to sell the throne out to Sucal if they believed it would get them a better deal.”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Armond Organa

My eyes widen in surprise. “Wait, Jorg Sucal is called Darth Trayus? So then... that means he’s a Sith Lord?” Pauses for a few moments to process this news, then balls a fist and slams the holo projector. “That treacherous bastard! I knew something was wrong even before he started attacking his own people. How he threw the Twilights under the bus for the actions of the Revolution, I didn’t believe it for a moment. But by the moonless sky, I never would have imagined he was a Sith! Especially considering he’s spent most of his career trying to exterminate them. Does anyone else know about this?”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Armond Organa

After a long pause, Lord Armond Organa answers. “Zar’kun Je’and. I did not expect you to return to Alderaan after all these years. I’ve heard reports that you and your allies are criminals now. Do you think that hiding behind Organa hospitality will make you untouchable by the Republic? I know first had how little Sucal cares for our customs. We are still rebuilding after he bombed our castle. If he finds out you are here, do you think he will hesitate to try it again, especially now that we are no longer citizens of the Republic?”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

HJ Twilight

"Trust me, Jerus. I want Ava to come out of this alive more than anyone. I'll make sure she understands that honor and glory aren't the goal here. She's smart enough to know not to get herself killed over a pointless battle... I hope." I stand. "I'll see if I can reach her from my ship, which still needs a name, by the way. Gotta work on that."

Korré

"You carry your Rancor around it that ship, right? So, how about something like... the Rancor's Den?"

HJ Twilight

"Hmm... " I bob my head from side to side, considering the name. "Simple. Straight to the point. I like it."

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Korré

I touch the small scar on my throat. "If only Ryder hand't... I mean, if only the necklace hadn't been destroyed. Chancellor Sucal thought we were dead up until then." Frowns. "He'll be coming for me and my son again soon."

HJ Twilight

"Don't worry. Grandpa's gonna make sure your safe, and we're all here too!" I turn to Jerus. "But you're right. We need a distraction. If Sucal can see where the baby is at all times, then we need something that will make him turn his head long enough for Korré to slip back into hiding. It'll have to be something big though..." I rub my hands together and wrack my brain. After a few moments, it hits me. "Ava!"

Korré

"Your Mandalorian friend?"

HJ Twilight

"Yeah! She's been harassing Republic bases along the Outer Rim for a while. Been purposely drawing the bulk of the navy away so we could operate in peace. But now we need her to hit something bigger. Much, much bigger." I give Jerus a grim look. "This is crazy, but what if she hit Coruscant. Took all the clans and just hit the capital with everything she's got. She could literally pin Sucal down in his own office, giving us the time we need to get Korré safe and formulate a real plan to stop him."

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

HJ Twilight

Not long later, I return to the base. Huntess enjoyed a nice walk around her new home, and took in the surrounding landscape. Hopefully she doesn't wonder far and cause trouble. On Dantooine, she had a seculded island to herself. Here, so such luck. I may have to keep her chained up for a while.

I walk into the living area of the base, where chairs and couches are. Sitting alone (well, mostly. Hank isn't far away) is Korré, cradling her belly. I give her a wave. "Hey! How did the trip over go? No complications, I hope."

Korré

Caught by surprise, I look up. "Oh, HJ. You startled me. Yes, everything went fine. Baby is quiet, which is good... I think. Xanthippe is in treatment. The base's medical droids are fixing up the wounds I couldn't help with a med kit and kolto."

HJ Twilight

"Yeah, sorry about that. Grandpa can get a little... carried away sometimes." I sit down in a chair across from here.

Korré

"Well, knowing Xan, she probably had it coming." I realize what I've just said and cover my mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry! What a horrible thing to say! I don't know what came over me!"