This page is dedicated to the Arcona Clan-Wide Competition known as Operation: Sojourn.
Main Fiction
Prelude
Estle City
Arcona Citadel
Throne Room
Marick Arconae stood on the dais of the Serpentine Throne, translucent blue flames flickering behind him, the room’s overhead lighting preventing a silhouette from forming over his shoulders. Looking down in front of him, a young woman stood before him. She was undeniably beautiful, with auburn hair cropped at an angle that was shorter at the nape of the neck and fell in fuller strands around her face. The curves of her body were subtle, but there was no mistaking her pedigree.
Marick found himself hating her.
“You are of course welcome to continue your studies here, Verse Theris,” The Shadow Lord spoke, his stoic face guarding his thoughts like a mask.
“Thank you again for your kindness, my lord,” Verse said with a soft smile and a polite bow. There was a subtle lilt to her tone, one that mimicked the Consul’s perfectly. Hapan.
Marick on the dais before the Serpentine Throne
It spoke to Marick’s self control that he kept any signs of anger clear of his face. He watched the woman exit and waited until the large double doors swung closed with a resounding thump. The Consul’s cool blue eyes shifted to regard the lone figure remaining in front of him. One of his oldest and trusted friends, Invictus. The Chiss shifted his feet uneasily and coughed into his hand. His crimson eyes met his Consul’s and the two simply stared at each other.
“So, what do you think?” Invictus asked, shattering the silence that had filled the room.
“No,” Marick said firmly. “No matter what she says, you cannot trust her. She is using you.”
Invictus frowned at that. “How do you figure?”
“It is simply their way, Invictus,” Marick replied, voice growing icy.
“Just because you-” Invictus started to say, but quickly bit back his words. He noted the look in his old friend’s eyes and realized he was crossing a dangerous line. The two had won a War together and made names for themselves. They had established Qel-Droma as premier house in not just the Clan, but the Brotherhood. The Chiss knew that Marick could become a different person when confronted with his past or the women that shared his heritage
“As you say. I will keep an eye on her, sir,” Invictus bowed.
Marick’s eyes seemed to lose their sudden edge. He hated when the few he held close used honorifics with him, and realized that he was being harsh on one of the few people he trusted with his life.
“Just be careful,” The Shadow Lord said, stepping off the dais to join Invictus. From the shadows lining the corners of the room, two large Cythraul appeared, padding obediently to their masters sides and following them out of the throne room. One was white as snow and the other black as midnight: Kira and Ktah.
-=x=-
Estle City
Arcona Citadel
Footfalls echoed as Marick and Invictus moved casually through the corridors of the Citadel. There was something comforting about walking the halls again. They had been away a long time. It was good to be home. Legorii greeted his Consul and handed him a datapad that highlighted a set of concerns he had observed from the local populace. At the Anzat's heels was his own Cythraul, Zymaal. The trio continued to walk and talked of plans to help Arcona begin preparations for the next Brotherhood campaign. Their wolves fell into line, trailing like shadows.
They talked of the newly formed Battle Teams and how they were performing. The members of the Arcona Summit had remained strong despite the conclusion on Ziost. Andrelious grumbled as he always did in the Cantina after enough drinks, and Troutrooper had asked to be allowed some time to himself away from everything. The Dark Jedi Master had certainly earned it.
Marick couldn’t help but think that perhaps things could start to run smoothly for once.
The trio’s discussion was interrupted as a string of Mandalorian-swearing filled the corridor. Following close on the heels of the cursing was Teroch Erinos, a rare look of worry on his face. In his arms, he carried the limp form of a large black wolf. His Cythraul, Kote.
“Move, di’kut!” he yelled, shoving past Invictus. The Force fueled the Adept’s muscles as he raced towards the medbay. Marick and Legorii exchanged a curious glance. Legorii started to say something but paused as the sudden sound of whimpering filled the hallway.
Marick froze. He turned to see Kira’s legs give out, sending her falling onto her side with a whine. The Consul was at her side in the blink of an eye, cradling her head in his lap.
“No!” Marick yelled, quickly pressing his hand against the white wolf’s chest. It still rose up and down, but it was faint. They had to get them to the medical bay.
Off to the side, Invictus appeared to have already hefted Ktah up into his arms. The midnight-black wolf had collapsed as well. Surprisingly, Zymmal was fine, his ears flat at the sight of his older siblings falling.
-=x=-
Some of the other aides in the medbay scurried by, carrying various syringes and blankets, but most stayed well-clear as their Lord Consul practically paced next to the pallet of cushions his loyal partner now rested on in lieu of a bed. The sense of foreboding that radiated from the Hapan was palpable even to those without the Force.
“Explain to me what is going on.” The Consul said tightly, voice harder than durasteel. The Miraluka kneeling next to his Cythraul sighed and stood up.
“Marick, I ought to remind you I’m not a specialist on animals, but calm down, please, and I will explain as best I can.” Atyiru insisted gently. Marick gathered himself, stilling, and gave her a sharp nod.
The medic took a deep breath. “Simply put, from what I can tell, these three are ill because they’ve been exposed to a germ their bodies recognize as harmful. This germ is present in Kilvin and their mother’s system, but it is normal to their bodies. For the other Cythraul, they’ve now been exposed to the germ, but are not sick, though their systems are producing antibodies. The difference is that Kira, Kote, and Ktah already had these antibodies in their systems, and so the germ activated, so to speak, when they were exposed. It’s a bit like an allergy. The first time, you aren’t affected, your body merely pays attention to the allergen; but the second time, the body recognizes it, decides it doesn’t like it, and attacks.”
She waved her hand over the three wolf-like creatures, now painlessly sedated, in her medbay. “My best guess is that the germ came from Hapes. It would make sense considering Kilvin’s normal processing of it. It’s normal to him and where he grew up. The other Cythraul were never exposed because they were born in Feruligade. But that ‘first time’ that set Kira and her littermates up for exposure, without the environmental desensitization of being raised on Hapes, is highly possible, considering they could have contacted it from their parents. I’m further guessing that this hasn’t happened earlier because you were away from Hapes long enough for the germ to not be living on you any longer. One of our new Hapan recruits, however, could have easily been a vector.” Atyiru held up a hand, sensing the spike in Marick’s anger. “Not that she’s to blame.”
“And what does all that mean for them?” Marick asked, quiet, cold, and loathing. Atyiru handed him a datapad with medical scans even his computer-like mind had difficulty deciphering.
“Essentially, it’s an acute degenerative disease. Their bodies are attacking themselves, and quickly. Fortunately, it is not an isolated incident. It seems this has happened to other creatures traveling the Hapes Cluster, largely entertaining animals, things for court, I’m sure you’re familiar with. The point is, there’s a medicine for it, but it’s only produced on Hapes. Their problem, their monopoly, really. There’s also a vaccine, something we can give to the other Cythraul, who are now as much of a time bomb as the first litter previously was.” The medic cursed softly. “I’ll do what I can to keep them stable and comfortable, but we don’t have the knowledge, depth, or resources to develop something else. They’re going to need that medication from Hapes.”
Marick paled, and looked over at Deimos, who stood between Ktah and Invictus taking a sample of blood. The white-haired Arkanian knew more about creatures of the Galaxy than most, but he had commented in previous dialogues that the Cythraul were unlike anything he had encountered before.
“What she speaks is true, sir. With the proper ingredients, I am confident, however, that I could produce the antidote.”
Marick nodded slightly, his eyes growing distant. At his side, Teroch hadn’t moved from Kote. The Cythraul was the last gift his father had given him. It was all he had left of him. Yet for all of his skill and power, he was helpless. Invictus did a better job of containing himself, silently staring at Ktah.
“So, what are we waiting for?” Teroch said, eyes dark beneath the long strands of his hair.
A silence filled the medbay. The rest of the Summit had gathered, standing off to the wings. The younger Cythraul had been sent away. All eyes seemed to settle on Marick as he shifted his focus towards Kira. She looked immaculate with her sleek white fur blending with the pillow she rested on. Cracks were forming in his impassive mask. He knew that he couldn’t leave. Not now. Things were moving on multiple levels on the Dark Council and the Brotherhood was expanding and Arcona was at its forefront. It would be wrong to take resources away from the home front. On top that, going back would also mean facing them...
Kira whimpered and opened her eyes halfway, looking up at Marick. Through their connection in the Force he could read what she was saying. She did not want him to risk anything for her. Something inside the Consul cracked.
Strategos was the first to step forward, placing a hand on Marick’s shoulder. “Marick,” he said in a soft tone. “We just returned from a year of war. We can’t afford to go running off and risking an operation into unscouted territory just to save your wolf-”
Dark energy flooded the room in a sudden torrent around the Consul. Marick moved like quicksilver, extending the hidden blade in his right bracer and leveling the metal tip against Strategos’ neck. The Elder Arconae didn’t blink and just stared back into the Hapan’s eyes.
Marick’s anger dissipated as quickly as it had appeared. He moved away from Strategos and walked over to stand in front of the Summit. He met eyes with each of them. From the youthful face of Kanis to the calculating eyes of Timeros. Each of them would follow him no matter what he chose. Thus was the mantle of responsibility that the Consul bore.
“Ready the Invicta,” Marick said calmly, falling into the practiced visage of the leader of Arcona. He had perfected it over the past year of war, and he let himself drop into the zen-like state he had come to rely so heavily on. This was where he was best, under fire. He was no politician, but he knew how to coordinate his team.
“We’re going to Milnar,” the Consul stated. There was reluctance on more than one of the Summit member’s faces, and Kordath mumbled something under his breath. He received a sharp elbow from Cethgus, who bluntly broke out.
“No, we are not going to war over a few dogs,” The Quaestor said loud enough for all gathered to hear. “We are going to help save members of Arcona. We are one Clan, one family.”
Teroch and Kote
The blue-skinned Battleteam leader attempted to sink into his own robes, eyes glued to his feet. Marick did not yell, or even seem to address the comment. Instead, he continued. “I will not force any of you to follow me. However, the Hapes cluster holds many other treasures we could leverage to help recoup some of our losses from the Crusade. This is also a perfect way to see how strong we’ve truly become. For once, we fight not for a distant Grand Master sitting idle on his throne. As Cethgus said, we fight for Arcona, and those who all call it home. And rest assured, we will not sending the entire Fleet. This needs to be done quietly, but effectively.”
The Summit saluted in unison, fists moving to their chest’s above their hearts. They would all follow him, of course. Even if it was grudgingly. For Marick had not talked his way to Consul, or plotted or made moves in the shadows to do so. Marick Arconae had rose to his station by sheer work ethic and passion. He had proven both in and out of battle that he stuck to his word and not a force in the galaxy could bend his resolve otherwise.
“Assemble your teams. I will relay further instructions by secure channel, with all the intel myself and the DIA have collected on the Hapes Cluster,” the Consul finished. The Summit dropping their salutes and nods before scattering to make preparations. Legorii hanging behind without needing a cue.
“You already know what I’m going to ask, don’t you?” Marick said evenly to his Proconsul. Legorii nodded, folding his arms over his chest.
“I will stay here keep your seat warm,” the Anzat said clasping his long time partner-in-crime on the shoulder. “Go.”
Marick looked over at Kira and nodded. He returned the shoulder clasp before turning to leave, the tassels of his Shadeborn robes trailing in his wake.
-=x=-
Events
Competition Center: https://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/competitions/7487
Continuous Three Week Events
Run-On
http://forums.darkjedibrotherhood.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=7024
Each Battleteam will work as a separate team for the Run-On, but will be contained in a single thread. This means while you will be focused on your teams tasks, you also need to be conscious of what the other teams are doing.
Week One Events
Poetry
https://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/competitions/7489
Write a hymn or a chant that your Battleteam or close friends would use when getting ready for battle. Bonus points can be earned for presentation. Must be at least 3 lines long, with no limit on verse (I’m going to regret saying that *cough Atty*).
Example:
This is my rifle.
There are many like it, but this one is mine.
Without my rifle, I am nothing.
Without me, my rifle is nothing.
Graphics
https://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/competitions/7491
Create a plant that could serve as part of the cure to the Cythraul’s sickness. The image must be identifiable as a type of plant to be counted for participation.
You entry must also include the following:
- Plant Name
- Which Planet it can be found on
- A short description of the plant
Winning entry will be featured in the Main Story.
Scouting Report
https://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/competitions/7492
- "What does the scouter say?"
- ―Unknown
TEAM EVENT
Create a Scouting Report on the Hapes Cluster: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Hapes_Cluster
Your report should contain the following information:
- Description of the Hapes Cluster
At least one visual reference
Example of a Scouting Report of a Planet
Week Two Events
Forthcoming.
Week Three Events
Forthcoming.
Phase I (Week 1)
Assignments
Marick Arconae: Personally leading the Expedition Force from the ISD Invicta.
Legorii: Command of the Arcona Citadel and the day-to-day operations of the Clan.
Qel-Droma: Lead by Ernordeth and Valtiere, House Qel-Droma's main force will stay behind to help Shadow Phyle coordinating the defense of the Dajorra System with the main strength of Arcona away.
Galeres: Lead by Atyiru and Cethgus, the non-Battleteam forces of House Galares will accompany Arcona to Hapes for support.
Shadow Phyle: Security detail. Routing out and identifying insurrectionists in Estele City that have forgotten to fear the Shadesworn in Arcona's absence.
Nighthawk: Coordinate with DIA intelligence to route out a source for the cure. Take advantage of the Nighthawks systems to avoid detection.
Soulfire: Escort AGV Nighthawk, Invicta, prepared to take on any complications the Expedition Force would encounter.
Shadow Gate: Infiltrate the Swa’kata Pirates, a notorious group that would allow Arcona to establish contacts for easier extraction of the Hapes Cluster.
Dark Forge: Acting as ground reinforcements for confrontations in unfriendly system.
Arete: Weapons free. As the independent team, you are free to chose where you go. However, I think Verse would want to venture to the Hapes Cluster.