- " A decisive blow has been struck in the ongoing battle between the Brotherhood and the Collective. With the death of the Technocratic Guild leader known as Daggo Mouk—and the loss of Meridian Space Station—the Collective have scaled back their harassment of the Brotherhood. We harbor no illusions that Rath Oligard and his followers would ever abandon their cause to rid the Galaxy of Force Users, but their withdrawal has given the Dark Council some much needed breathing room to reinforce their hold on their respective territories. Of course, nothing is ever that simple.
The continued conflicts with the Collective—combined with meeting the material needs of the Dark Council's new home world, fleet, and personnel—has stretched the Regent's finances thin. In response, Arx Capital Exchange launched a new business venture to monetize the research, hunting, transportation, and care of rare and exotic beasts from Tooka’s to Rancor’s. While the business venture has spurred a spike in commerce in the Brotherhood's favors, creature trade and entertainment cannot provide new shipyards or consumable resources to fuel a fleet.
That's where the latest advanced scouting reports comes in to make things interesting. According to Meridian Station operators, a new faction has made its presence known in Hutt space. They call themselves the Severian Principate, an Imperial remnant group that seems to represent the opposite of the more radical ideology of the First Order or even the Collective. This group has the potential to be the trade partner and ally the Brotherhood desperately needs. They could also become yet another threat for us to face.
Like I said, nothing is ever that simple."
- ―Ness'arin Ohnaka, Director of the Inquisitorius 37 ABY
Brotherhood Rising
Summary:
With the crushing loss of Technocratic Guild leader Daggo Mouk—and the subsequent seizing of Meridian Station—the Brotherhood has forced Rath Oligard to reconsider his strategies against the Brotherhood. The mastermind behind the Collective had not predicated a demonstration of unity—frail as it might have been—between the disparate and often volatile clans and the Dark Council. Oligard realized that different strategies would be needed to accomplish his goals.
Meanwhile, with the Collective now in recession, the Brotherhood has begun to raise its head as a power to be recognized and respected within the Unknown Regions. Thanks to the resources provided by their home planet, Arx, the Dark Council continues to expand trade and commerce while establishing loose order with the Clans.
No success comes without its risks, of course. Tensions still run high between the Dark Council and the Clans, and reports indicate that there might be more than just the Collective that could be lurking in the shadows to challenge the Brotherhood...
Prelude
Summary:
- Archenskov, as the new Combat Master, takes stock of the Combat Training Center facilities.
- Nearby, at the Shadow Academy, we are introduced the Acquisitions wing where artifacts and relics brought back from expeditions are checked in for processing.
- Vera Wright, an ACE pilot who was injured in a bout with the Collective prior to the attack on Meridian, is fully recovered and back to escorting Shadow Academy agents on shipping routes. With the Collective pulled back, for now, the routes have been much safer. Members voted on a #VeraLives vs #VeraDies newspost thread and the former won out.
- Vance Kordall, previously a captive of the Collective after hunting down an artifact in the Kessel Sector, is also looking to be recovered and back on the job.
- Vera and Vance meet TC-42, a protocol droid tasked with monitoring incoming deliveries for the Shadow Academy Society.
- Vance mentions finding a rare journal belonging to Veris Hydan, a man who worked with Emperor Palpatine during the early days of the Rebellion and was obsessed with the “World beyond worlds” that could lead to such things as time travel.
- He asks to speak to Madame Curator Deandria Clery — the master archivist for the Brotherhood. Kind of like the DB’s version of Jocsta Nu.
- Vance gets rejected at the open net by Vera. Swallow sadness.
- Meanwhile,Evant and Marick are looking over reports in the Voice’s office nested within the Dark Ascent.
- Marick is “pacing”, frustrated and concerned in his own way that the Collective have been so quiet since Meridian.
- Evant says that it’s probably a good thing and recaps a bit of what happened as a result of Meridian (the last RoS).
- Meridian was handed over to the Clans, but is also serving as a Inquisitorius outpost. It was damaged, so repairs are still being worked on.
- Evant is happy that trade routes seem to be safer now, since the CEO of ACE is being slightly less annoying about profits.
- Marick notices something in the reports from Meridian. Captain Crimson, the poster mascot for the Liberation Front (Collective pillar) is meeting with an unknown third party.
- Neither Evant or Marick have heard about something called the “Sevarian Principate”.
- To be continued...
Chapter 1: The Severian Principate
Summary:
- Iden Sult, MajorDomo of the Shroud Syndicate oversees the expansion of illegal animal trade on the Godless Matron and comes across valuable data on the Collective.
- On Meridian Prime, the identity of the Severian Principate and its home within the Kastolar Sector is discussed by Qaanlug Vlux and Damien Blackadder- agents of the Arx Capital Exchange and Shroud Syndicate, respectively.
- Director Ness’arin Ohnaka gives the Inquisitorious’ seal of approval to allow ACE and Shroud merchants and traders to forge contacts and open business transactions with the Severian Principate in order to marginalize the Collective’s influence within the breakaway Imperial polity.
- The Regent and Rhent Ghosan discuss the depleting financial assets of the Brotherhood and the impact of the war with the Collective. A possible solution takes shape requiring the efforts of the Shroud Syndicate, the Arx Capital Exchange, and the Inquisitorious deep within the Severian Principate.
Interlude: Care of Creatures
Summary:
Past
- Within the Eld, the massive nature preserve within the Elos Vrai continent of Arx, poachers hunt the Arx wolves for their lucrative pelts.
- The huntress Neta’var Vask teaches a painful lesson to two poachers, as the Voice and Regent look on, delivering the last remaining pair of Cythraul within the galaxy to her care. A deal is made – the Eld will remain a protected preserve and a breeding ground for the Cythraul.
Present
- The Corrino Research Laboratory is completed on Uskil, Arx. The vast complex is serving its purpose as a menagerie for the study, training, and breeding of multitudes of exotic, valuable, and rare creatures.
- Nearby, in the Colosseum the inaugural games pitting ferocious beasts against each other to entertain the denizens of Arx ensue. The years of effort and investment for the Arx Capital Exchange has finally provided dividends as ticket sales to watch the violent blood sport skyrockets.
Chapter 2: Shifting Gears
Summary:
- Dacien (Bubba), Howlader, Selika, join Seraphol for a drink on the Shadow Academy platform orbiting Arx, discussing the addition of Clan Vizsla to the Brotherhood’s ranks.
- Dacien is optimistic, Selika has her doubts, and Howie is annoyed he has to learn new names and do more paperwork.
- Meanwhile, Evant has been called to the Throne Room to meet with the Grand Master...in private.
- Grand Master Telaris tells Evant that Morgan is being sent away on a top secret mission of importance to the Brotherhood. This leaves him with needing a right-hand man.
- Evant is offered Deputy Grand Master. At first he is shocked, having been content with Regent, but then agrees on the spot.
- Evant is told that he leaves right away with a group of representatives from each of the Clans to go on a diplomatic meeting with The Severian Principate
- Evant sasses the GM and throws shade at Morgan running off. Telaris is not amused and dismissed Evant to go get to work.
- In the Mid Rim sector of Kastolar, we get our first look at The Severian Principate's headquarters on the planet *Sirmium*.
- It’s an oceanic world with a flat landing platform that lowers into a secret underwater Imperial mansion.
- We are introduced to the Triumvirate of The Severian Principate
- They talk amongst each other, and we get an idea of how the three think of/respect one another. Adlez, Twi’lek, is the older, wisened one. Vairya, Human, is younger and more cheerfully optimistic. Kamlin, Mirilan, is more reserved and pragmatic.
- All three women have earned their place atop this organization and should not be trifled with.
- Aemilius Crassus, Pwimtar Takrid, Harvey Daley are the three emissaries chosen to represent the Severian Principate in meeting with the Brotherhood.
- Aemilius is a Munn, Pwimtar a Quarren, and Harvey a human. #diversity
- The Triumvirate gives a briefing on what they know of the Brotherhood. Keep in mind, this is their perspective of what *they* know of *us*. They do not know the finer details of the DC’s relation with each unit or the drama’s therein.
- The Principate assumes that Morgan Sorrenn is going to be the Deputy Grand Master that they are meeting.
- Little do they know that instead of a Pirate Queen, they are getting Darth Logistics (Evant).
- Meanwhile, back on Arx, Atra is told by Telaris that he is now in charge of all the clubs finances, trade, and commerce as the new Regent.
- Telaris reveals that Dracryis has also stepped down as Fist. That said, one does not simply walk away from that kind of role/responsibility. Telaris makes him a Praetor to keep an eye on him.
- The new Fist is revealed to Alaris Jinn.
- Alaris is met by Voice Marick Tyris. The two exchange polite nods.
- Alaris is to report to Lena Rhell (head of the Navy) and Damon Nix (head of the ground forces and personnel) to get caught up to speed on being Fist.
- Marick apparently does not seem to appreciate Turbolift shafts.
- Alaris is ready to play the game of thrones.
Epilogue
Summary:
- Kerwin Drake & Gwendolyn "Sparks" tinker with the mysterious crystal shards within the Technocratic Guild Foundry on Elizabeth-II within the Cor'neria System.
- Gwendolyn "Sparks" educates Drake on the history of the shards - fragments of a sentient AI core - and the Collective's goal of uploading this neuro net into all Technocratic Guild members.
- The Collective's plan is revealed - to create an army and fleet that can coordinate remotely, be immune to Jedi mind tricks, and have enhanced reaction time and speed - in order to pursue the goal of eradicating the Force users.
- Drake muses on being appointed interim Guildmaster of the Technocatic Guild and his mission of collecting the remaining shard fragments.
- Rath Oligard meets with his advisors within the Grand Study of his estate on Nei'kapo within the Cor'neria System.
- Ghaffa Ordam, Field Commander of Capital Enterprise reveals the Collective has infiltrated the meeting between the Severian Principate and the Dark Jedi Brotherhood while the Lyra-3 sector of the Principate holds one of the missing shards.
- Rath Oligard orders the diplomatic summit between the Principate and Dark Jedi Brotherhood ends in failure and the shard is to be recovered.
- Sul Pahlee, Captain of the Collective's Flagship cautions that the meeting is on the edge of Hutt Space and since the Principate is a member of the New Republic it is a military powerhouse.
- It is determined that Varryn Antillus, Chancellor of Capital Enterprises will meet with the Principate to present the Collective's case and undermine the negotiations between the Dark Jedi Brotherhood and the Principate.
- Above Nar Shaddaa, the machinations of the Collective's Project Indigo is revealed. Dark Jedi Brotherhood prisoners have been converted to pilots and operatives for the Collective. Secretly disguised Collective ships enter orbit flying the insignia and appearance of Iron Navy vessels and launch their plan.