Vatali Unsettled: Difference between revisions

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{{Eras|nor}}
{{Battle
|name=Vatali Unsettled
|conflict=[[Quorahi|Various Quorahi tribes]] made aggressive pushes to expand upon their power and create a new planetary government on [[Kiast]], leading to violent uprisings
|date=[[30 ABY to 39 ABY|37 to 38 ABY]]
|place=[[Kiast]], [[Kiast System]]
|result=*Ongoing
|next=
|prev=
|conc=
|side1=* [[House Sunrider]]
* [[Vatali Empire]]
|side2=* [[Quorahi|United Tribes/Quorahi Nation]]
* [[Vauzem Dominion|Vauzem Dominion Remnants]]
|commanders1=
* [[Revak Kur]] <small>(as [[Quaestor]])</small>
* [[Tistito Kingang]] <small>(as [[Aedile]], resigned)</small>
* Yuki Suoh <small>(as [[Aedile]])</small>
* [[Vatali_Empire#Kaltani_Anasaye|Kaltani Anasaye]] <small>(Vatali Empress)</small>
* Admaro Jalan <small>(Mayor of Foothold, post-defection)</small>
|commanders2=
* Admaro Jalan <small>(Mayor of Foothold, defected)</small>
* Vaharian <small>([[StarWars:Gand/Legends|Gand]] Representative)</small>
* Mar Rahanis <small>(Mayor of Cainstead)</small>
* Vorvo Tulrik <small>(Mayor of an unknown settlement)</small>
* Terrin Arcturus <small>(Former Dominion Commodore)</small>
|forces1=
* [[Vatali Royal Guard]]
* [[House_Sunrider#Joint_Task_Force_-_Sunrider|JTF Sunrider]]
|forces2=
* Various Quorahi fleets
* Dominion forces
|casual1=
*Teron Dest
*Argen Anasaye
*Hundreds of Royal Guardsmen
*Several Vatali Nobles
|casual2=
*Arcturus
*Quorahi Nation Council
*Hundreds of Dominion troops
*Hundreds of Quorahi
}}


[[File:Unity Banner - Agate.jpg]]
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/12gw3SU624yS5pmeIPKZ4DfcHuDjzGoY7/view|'''The United Tribes'''] was a revolutionary action that took place in 37 ABY and continued for several years. This began with a large number of major [[Quorahi]] tribes unifying under a single power and attempted to claim total authority over [[Kiast]]. A series of violent skirmishes and power plays saw [[House Sunrider]] and [[Clan Odan-Urr]] drawn into a series of intelligence gathering and peacekeeping actions, each time trying to moderate and limit casualties.


'''Foothold settlement'''
The uprising was later revealed to have been co-opted by [[Vauzem Dominion]] remnants under the command of Commodore Terrin Arcturus, who used it as an opportunity to pursue a personal agenda and claim power for himself. Secretly connected to the [[StarWars:The Force/Legends|Force]] and armed with a lightsaber, Arcturus was nevertheless killed during the final assault against the palace while his warship was overrun by Odanite troops. This broke the back of the attack, and brought the uprising to a swift if not bloodless conclusion.


'''Kiast'''
Despite its brief length and limited battles, the Uprising brought about major change for the Kiast system. Several nobles were killed in the fighting, including members close to the royal family. Furthermore, it was soon revealed that Empress Kaltani's daughter was Force-sensitive; a fact that she had been previously desperate to keep hidden from the Jedi, but was now open to seeing her trained. In the most ironic turn of all, despite their defeat, the Quorahi saw an improvement in their social status thanks to the signing of the Foothold Concordant, and allowed their newly founded nation to exist under Vatali rule.


'''37 ABY'''
==  Conflict Details  ==


Foothold was typical of the lowermost settlements on Kiast. Nestled in the uppermost peaks of
=== Conspiracies ===
the mountain range, it hung just above the rolling steel clouds of toxic gasses. The dull glow of
an atmospheric shield surrounded the range, its energies catching the late moonlight. Built with
practicality and need over any desire for an aesthetically pleasing design, its blocky grey
structures had been seemingly hammered into the mountain itself. Towers of rusting metal,
repurposed ships, and disc-like landing platforms circled the peaks, some displaying old
iconography or new declarations in thinning paint. Most were supported in place by a network of
durasteel struts and repulsorlift engines, each working to prevent the township from tumbling
down the slopes and into the blue clouds which covered much of Kiast’s surface. A web
of bridges and walkway rings linked each building, with some rising and falling to let airships
pass between them.


The Sentinel Network had learned of a possible meeting of Quorahi leaders, largely those dissatisfied with the nobility. With nothing definitive known of their actions and most of their agents offworld, the duty of finding and recording information from the meeting had been left to whoever was left to execute the mission with anything they had on hand. Tarvitz, Sirra, Essik and Rhan had all arrived separately. Essik had spoken with Foothold’s de-facto mayor - a balding zeltron by the name of Jalan - who he had helped to resolve a series of murders the year earlier, using it to guess the man’s disposition and possible involvement. Some information gathering and telepathic scans had helped the group to discover that the meeting was likely to take place on Foothold itself, and had eventually pinned down the exact starting date.
In the wake of the conflict between the Empire and the Dominion, various Quorahi groups were bidding for additional power and representation within the Kiast System. Talk of such actions had emerged and gone silent for years on end with little true push for total independence, but the pressure of the war changed things. Seemingly caught between two great powers, with no means to speak for themselves or fight back, it had been enough to create a series of meetings between a number of major tribes. Foothold, Cainstead, the Gand colonies, and several others, participated in these gatherings over time. Definitive proof of this was only gathered during mid 37 ABY, when a face to face gathering between various mayors, leaders, and representatives, took place in Foothold's outlying districts.


This had all led to Sirra - the only member of their group with any real skill in stealth and a
Having received word of these meetings, Odan-Urr dispatched [[Essik Lyccane]], [[Ka Tarvitz]], [[Nikora Rhan]], and [[Sirra]] to investigate the talk. Using the latter's infiltration skills and telepathic talent, the group was able to spy on the meeting and detail the words exchanged between the various groups. The meeting itself had served as a final push to hammer out key details, but it was not without some dissent. All present there wanted greater representation and control, but the means in which they were to achieve this was constantly disputed. Some, such as Jalan of Foothold, saw an armed uprising or aggressive push as inviting disaster or even open war. Mar Rahanis of Cainstead was more open to such acts, believing that the Vatali's reliance upon them for resources gave them the upper hand. This was an opinion shared by Vaharian, who saw war as a necessary evil and was inevitable, while Vorvo Tulrik served as a voice of moderation but ultimately had decided that the revolution was needed.
strong telepathic connection - to infiltrate and spy on the meeting; then to broadcast any
information she gained back to Rhan Nikora. Rhan was noting these down rapidly in what
seemed to be a raw stream of consciousness, bereft of structure and only vaguely coherent. .
Every word was what Sirra was picking up from the building and those within, emphasizing
emotions, thoughts and details that her senses that she could pick up. It hardly helped that the
girl was extremely reliant upon her telepathic abilities for communication; to the point of being
illiterate and inarticulate when it came to anything beyond the most basic of terms.


[[File:Unity Banner - Agate.jpg|200px|left]] Much of the meeting was stonewalled between various views on how to continue forward. Even with the difficulties that war might pose, the leaders present gave their agreement to the formation a loose linked alliance under the following laws:


“The moment this is done,” Rhan said through gritted teeth, “I’m going to pay for that girl to get
*Technological recoveries and salvage is to be shared equally among townships, dependant of size and necessity.
some damn lessons in Basic.
*Conflicts which require blood are to be settled by duels between chosen champions, either in person or by airship rather than full scale wars.
*Militia forces will stand as they are, but a yearly tithe will see airships and warriors leased to a broader grand army.
*Resources are to be split equally between city-states, and nomad fleets will no longer be barred from one another’s territories.
*City-states will be permitted to continue governorship, but wider judicial and planetary decisions will become the jurisdiction of a unifying council.


Tarvitz suppressed a smirk at that comment. “Is she inside?”
With this established, it fully cemented their alliance. Viewing this as a potential threat, or at the very least a major shift within planetary power, the Odanite group withdrew from the settlement and returned to the clan's headquarters. News of this outcome was brought before Empress Kaltani by [[Revak Kur]], [[Tistito Kingang]], and Essik, with each trying to impress upon the Empress of the threat this might pose. However, as similar short-term alliances had been made by the Quorahi in past centuries, the Empress viewed this as being a fleeting issue that would likely resolve itself. Wishing to focus instead upon rebuilding her powerbase following the Dominion's loss, she asked that the Jedi only monitor the situation but offered no means to directly counter it.


“Almost,” Rhan managed, the words she noted covering sounds as much as internal thoughts.
With a clear risk of civil war at play, Sunrider's leadership opted to work alongside the [[Sentinel Network]] in pinpointing risks and means to undermine their fighting power.


“They had a few guards on the roof. Now she’s inside.”
=== Preemptive Strikes & Alliances ===


Getting inside the building had proven far more difficult than Sirra could have predicted. Initially
During the following days, Odan-Urr's various efforts concentrated upon undermining the organization overall. An agent was dispatched to Cainstead and activated a seismic charge within its mines, destroying them but without killing any of the workers. This temporarily cut off the city-state from their greatest economic strength, stalling any ambitions at waging wars or supporting allied airship fleets in battle. A further success was met in a simultaneous mission to Foothold, swaying Jalan into switching sides and covertly supporting the ruling government.
hoping that the cold night air would keep the guards from straying too far from their posts, she
had been surprised to find several waiting on the rooftop. Worse still, one of which had been
carrying a remote scanner, covering the surrounding area, which had easily seen through the
cloak Sirra had projected over herself. It had only been thanks to sheer fortune that she had
escaped capture, as the guard and uttered a few dark comments and slapped the machine,
mistaking its readings for a malfunction.


Carefully edging her way about the roof, and keeping her distance from the remaining sentries,
Brought before a private audience with Revak, Jalan was able to speak openly with the Jedi. He voiced frustrations with both how the group had managed events leading up to that point, and with the methods of the Jedi themselves, but saw allying with them as an act in the name of a greater good. While he neither liked or trusted those he was dealing with, Jalan at least understood that talking was the easiest path to avoiding war and its horrors. Through their discussions, he was swayed into opening up secret talks between them in order to help remove the more violent elements within the Quorahi, and hopefully ensure it benefitted from a more benevolent rule.
Sirra had kept to the edges of the roof. Dilapidated and weakened by rust, its surface was at risk
of caving in at various points. It had taken Sirra some time to find somewhere which could both
sustain her weight and had a hole large enough to permit her entry. On its northernmost corner,
the metal had given away entirely, exposing a stacked pile of crates within to the elements.
Spending a moment judging distance and tugging the thermal cloak close to her body, she
dropped through the hole and caught onto the edge of the roof. Swinging inward, she eased
herself down atop of the uppermost crate and dropped prone.


Sirra waited a few moments, listening and half expecting to hear the shriek of alarms, or even
In a further push to speed matters along, Jalan spoke directly with the Empress, further emphasizing details that the Jedi had passed onto her. The two were on cordial terms, but Jalan was forced to continually emphasise the threat that the Quorahi posed during their talks. Each also voiced a number of reservations when it came to the Jedi, but neither were openly hostile toward the group. As Jalan left, without having gained any true ground, [[Agate|Agate Gua’lara]] quietly transmitted the talk to an outside source. Agate had been serving the Empress in a supporting role, but had been willing to record and detail such conversations in case they led to a greater threat.
the thoughts of surprised guards within. Instead there was nothing.


Raised voices could be heard echoing throughout the broad warehouse interior, emanating from a makeshift table which had been assembled in the far corner. She could see them now, one among them in particular was yelling, his face red and spittle flying from beneath a bushy mustache as he bellowed at another individual sitting on the far end from him.
While these talks were taking place, the Quorahi had been seeking new allies. At an undisclosed location, its leaders met with Commodore Arcturus. A former officer in the now fragmented Dominion military services, Arcturus had offered his services to the Quorahi both as a military advisor and in open battles. He keenly understood that the Quorahi were ill-prepared for any true war, even with the preparations that they had made, and he used this as leverage in their negotiations. He volunteered his troops for their defence and to train their militias into stronger fighting units, but also offered the benefit of a potential spy network. He quickly proved this by revealing that he had learned of Jalan's private meeting with the Empress, and had eye-witnesses within her inner circle.  


___
This proof of the benefit of the Dominion's alliance was enough to sway them into accepting his support, and formally declared the formation of the Quorahi Nation.


“... And I tell you that this is the height of stupidity!”
=== Fort Tanisad ===


Jalan had been yelling for some time now. As the current leader of Foothold, and its position of
In its opening move, the forces of the Quorahi Nation targeted Fort Tanisad. A key part of the planet's defences, it had gone unsupplied and undermanned following the war with the Dominion. With resources stretched thin, only a limited garrison had been left to guard its walls while their ships operated on limited fuel. It was one of several potential weaknesses, and because of this fact a number of Odanite agents had been dispatched to investigate its status. Shortly after their arrival, the fort's sensors detected a massive fleet of incoming Quorahi airships. Any and all responses were quickly hindered by internal sabotage. Multiple fighters exploded on their launchpads, while the fort's blast doors slammed shut at once, isolating its troops and preventing a coordinated response. Worse still, the base's droids turned hostile, attempting to kill those that had escaped the trap and its command staff drew guns on their comrades.
importance as a larger settlement, he had been granted the right to speak in full with their
meeting. Only now, he was objecting to much of what was being put forward. Heavy-set and
balding, the zeltron’s orange complexion was showing the first signs of age, but his successful
tenure as an airship captain had earned him some degree of respect. That was quickly being
put to the test.


“Vaharian respects Jalan’s position, and she appreciates how difficult such a move must seem,
Nevertheless, what should have been a total loss was salvaged in a series of retaliatory efforts. As one Jedi led the remaining fighters in a delaying action against the enemy fleet, those inside sought to overcome the sabotage. Releasing the blast doors and disabling a number of the droids, they were able to push back against the traitors and take back a portion of the base. Yet even with this success, it was clear that their position could not be held. Gathering those left, the Odanites attempted to scuttle the base's supplies and then withdraw with as many of its garrison as possible. Though the Quorahi had taken greater losses and the base had suffered severe damage, it was nevertheless taken intact by their forces.
one of the gand sitting at the far end of the table said, her words punctuated by this hiss of
ammonia passing through her respirator. “Yet surely you must see how necessary such a move is?”


“The hell I do, what you are outlining is open war!”
=== The Uprising ===


“It’s nothing of the sort!” another spoke up. A dark-skinned kyuzo, Mar Rahanis of Cainstead,
With the capture of Fort Tanisad, the Vatali leadership were forced to finally acknowledge that they were facing a real threat to their power. In a conclave within the Voraskel Palace, the leaders each great house gathered and debated as to what could be done against the assault. Empress Kaltani, quickly forcing the bickering groups into silence, heard each voice in turn as House Ghalor offered its full support while House Etlina's leader questioned the Empress' decision to bring her daughter, Anaya, into the meeting. After the arrival of Revak Kur, serving as a military advisor and representative of the Jedi, the group swiftly began to pinpoint Quorahi movements and how the previous Fort was overwhelmed. Quickly identifying Arcturus' likely involvement and the support of Dominion remnant group, they were able to consider the general size and disposition of the force. While far from the largest military presence that the clan had faced, Arcturus' navy was well suited to guerilla warfare and moving in support of a larger but poorly armed group like the Quorahi.
interrupted. He had been silent for much of the meeting thus far, but at Jalan’s latest outburst
his hand dropped to the table, silencing the zeltron with the noise.  


“War certainly, but not a direct one. This would keep the nobility busy and make them far more reliant upon us to sustain their way of life. We would have the upper hand at last, and it would force them to alter the terms of our agreement.
[[File:Vatali-City.jpg|250px|right]] The Empress continued to cite the possibility that they could avoid war, still desiring to prevent a second conflict so soon after the Dominion threat had seemingly been ended for good. At the same time, Jalan arrived to protest his innocence, and revealing that he had been isolated from further decisions by the Quorahi Nation. Rather than judging him personally, the Empress offered Anaya the opportunity to judge the truth within his words. This was intended as a test of the girl's skills as a future leader, but it revealed something more to Revak. Her ability to see the truth in Jalan's words stemmed from more than just good perception and judgment, as Anaya retained a strong connection to the Force. In private, the Empress revealed that this had come from her father. She had kept this fact hidden from the Jedi to prevent her being taken by the Order, believing that the Jedi would see her turned into an instrument of destruction. With more pressing matters at hand, Revak decided to focus on the impending battle, but voiced a desire to speak of this matter in detail following the conflict's conclusion.


Rahanis had been one of the first to back an agreement of unification, but largely for his
settlement’s own benefit. Whereas Vaharian’s gand-dominated settlement - the name of which
was unpronounceable to most species - thrived in the lower reaches of the planet and Foothold
had managed to maintain its lofty heights, Cainstead was in a constant battle to remain stable
on its mountain. Greater unification among the tribes meant greater support for his town’s
precarious position given its extensive mining networks for nova crystals.


“And if they refuse?” another voice spoke up in the deep booming tones of a kel dor. “Would you
The palace was fortified throughout the day as the Vatali prepared for the worst, and by night they were confronted by a massive attack. Vast numbers of TIE Interceptors and Bomber variants assaulted the city, leveling buildings and overrunning anything put in their path. Before long troops were deployed throughout its districts, forcing the defenders into a slow retreat as they were overwhelmed. Arcturus personally led one offensive, breaching the palace's walls and killing one of her advisors, Teron Dest, by calling upon the Force. Revealing a crimson lightsaber, Arcturus ordered his troops to hunt for the Empress' hiding place. He just as swiftly killed Argen Anasaye, the Empress' husband, despite the latter attempting to kill him via a telekinetic assault, and took Vosen Anasaye hostage. With the Vatali capital burning, two members of the Empress' powerbase dead, and another member of her bloodline held captive, the battle was rapidly turning in the Dominion's favour.
truly back an aggressive response, or harsher actions?”


“If pressed, of course,” Rahanis said, as if this was plainly obvious to all involved. “What does
Yet in his moment of triumph, Arcturus found himself confronted by a far more capable combatant: [[Raziel]]. Engaging the Commodore before he could recover from the previous engagement, the Jensaarai Defender brought him low in a swift but vicious engagement that devastated much of the surrounding area.  
maintaining the status quo offer us? We toil away down here, we are given limited support
off-world, room to expand or the benefits that the nobility take for granted. The Vatali Empire
has grown fat on our work, I say we are owed some of those benefits.


Pinching the bridge of his nose, Jalan looked from one face to the next. Most shared this same
With the death of the strategist at the head of the attack, momentum from the assault began to unravel. As the Vatali aligned forces rallied and began pushing the attacks back Arcturus' ship, the ''Storm'', attempted to flee the system. This was ended by an attack via several strike team of Zanothi Nightblade and [[Elyon de Neverse]], who were able to bring it under Odanite control with few casualties. Discovering a number of relics on the vessel and hinting at Arcturus' wider efforts following Operation Vanguard, the two were able to quickly log several items of interest for later study as the remainder of the boarding teams took control of the ship.
viewpoint, and the few that opposed it were remaining relatively silent. The more cautious
among them, particularly the kel dor - Vorvo Tulrik - were avoiding picking sides, but seemed to
be content to let those pushing for change to win. Most, it seemed, were interested in unity in
order to better support their townships and improve their lives than fully succeed from the
Empire. Yet that hardly improved what was being pushed for in their meeting.


“And we are certain that the nobles know nothing of this?” Tulrik asked, “Before we push for any
Shortly after this boarding action, the ''Storm's'' weapons were turned on the attacking ground troops and supporting ships. With little substantial orbital support save for the sole vessel, this swiftly disrupted their planned operations. Even with its limited firepower, the ''Storm'' was able to cut through various supporting corvettes and dropships, before firing on the ground forces beneath them. Attacked on two fronts now, and with [[Tython Squadron]] entering the battle, increasingly uncoordinated Quorahi were driven back one step at a time.
agreement, I simply wish to be certain that we will not be found out until the time is right.


“We made certain of that,” Rahanis agreed, gesturing in the general direction of where the vast
Small fire teams led by [[A'lora Kituri]] and [[Celevon Edraven|Celevon Werd'la]] swiftly moved from holding the line to actively hunting targets, as the enemy ground troops found themselves cut off and unable to maintain a united front against the renewed assault. With the back of the attacking Quorahi broken, the push back against their forces quickly turned into an outright rout. Within hours, the Vatali flag was flying over the city once more.
air armada they assembled had disappeared off to, “The airships will hold the attention of their
spies for some time. If they do not, there are six meeting places that they are likely to pick out
over this one. Trust me, Tulrik, the Vatali will look here last.


“Vaharian is sorry but, getting back to the matter at hand,” the gand interrupted, “Vaharian
=== The Foothold Concordant ===
wishes to make certain that all are agreed upon at least a number of basic agreements for any
unification. We are all in favour of this, and whatever follows should at least be decided upon
once this is settled.”


There was a general murmur of agreement from all but one individual, a sephi who seemed
In the weeks that followed, mopping-up operations saw a large number of arrests within the Quorahi populace. Wherever possible soldiers were taken alive, while those that resisted were pacified in increasingly isolated pockets of resistance. Royal Guardsmen stormed the warehouse that had been converted into a makeshift Council Chambers for the Quorahi Nation's leaders. Most were executed for their actions thanks to the overwhelming evidence placed against them, save for Jalan thanks to his previous actions.
increasingly bored of the proceedings. Jalan, for this part, seemed to appreciate that they were
backing away from the topic at hand, even if it was a simple reprieve rather than a true solution.


“Very well,” Tulrik spoke up. “Of those that we have discussed thus far:
Even with the blood spilled between them, the Empress permitted for Jalan to plead his case for leniency. As the Empress publically spoke with him, the surrounding crowds voiced hostility against any accusations. Jalan nevertheless pointed out that, while Arcturus was the guiding force behind them, the individual tribes were nevertheless able to operate as a single unified entity with more effectiveness than ever before.


Technological recoveries and salvage is to be shared equally among townships, dependant of
While bitterness was clear among all involved, and the Empress was sorely tempted to outright dissolve the nation, an accord was eventually reached. The Quorahi Nation would endure as before, but it would exist under Vatali rule, and with the nobility retaining judicial oversight for any future alterations to the Nation's own laws. Furthermore, it was to be fully disarmed, with its existing military assets removed to prevent further civil wars in the future. Yet the previous outlines were accepted, and while the Vatali were granted ownership of the Quorahi salvage, new rules were drafted to more evenly support the tribes in expanding their holdings.
size and necessity.


Conflicts which require blood are to be settled by duels between chosen champions, either in
Although few were joyful at the Empress' offer, it was soon accepted and termed the Foothold Concordant. With further representatives being selected among the people and additional rulings to decide upon, the matter was far from over. However, it offered the opportunity for far more peace and stability than the world had seen over the past several years.
person or by airship rather than full scale wars.


Militia forces will stand as they are, but a yearly tithe will see airships and warriors leased to a
{{Start box}}
broader grand army.
{{Succession box
|title=House Sunrider Events
|years= [[37 ABY|37-38 ABY]]
|after= [[Scars You Don't See]]
|before= N/A
}}
{{End box}}


Resources are to be split equally between city states, and nomad fleets will no longer be barred
[[Category:Events]] [[Category:Odan-Urr events]][[Category:House Sunrider]]
from one another’s territories.
 
City states will be permitted to continue governorship, but wider judicial and planetary decisions
will become the jurisdiction of a unifying council.”
 
A chorus of ayes met each statement. Each was bold, but some seemed uncertain of the final
point. Certain definitions and the fine details had yet to be hammered out. Even as the leaders
of townships, cities and nomad fleets, each person at the table was all too aware of just how
such definitions could be stretched and loopholes abused. Sacrificing autonomy and personal
authority was something which could be all too easily turned into personal conquest.
 
“Then that’s at least clear,” Rahanis said, sounding somewhat more placated by this than
Jalan’s outright refusal previously. “If we can agree to at least these basic terms by the time
dawn rises, we can press ahead with our plans. But all of you know as well as I that the Vatali
will respond harshly to this, especially when we push for independence.”
 
“If we push for independence,” Jalan interrupted, glaring at Rahanis. “Kiast cannot stand alone,
even with all of our resources, and isolating ourselves from the rest of the galaxy would be
tantamount to suicide. I am not willing to starve my people out of petty pride, and I would hope
the same of you.”
 
“And I am not so blind as to ignore how the Vatali might respond,” Rahanis continued, one hand
balling into a fist at Jalan’s verbal jab. “They will not sacrifice control willingly, and they have
been mobilised for war for several years now, with their forces bolstered by a new influx of
troops. Whatever you might think of the Jedi, they are now a house of the Empire, and bound to
the Empress’ wishes.”
 
Rahanis remained silent, allowing that last point to fully sink in. Each person at the table knew of
the Jedi and their abilities. For decades they had been considered a myth more than anything
else, with abilities which seemed like they belonged in a fable more than reality.
 
“I still say that this is too much,” Jalan eventually spoke up, shaking his head. “The Jedi are
peacekeepers before all else, if Vatali did push to subjugate us with violence they would oppose
it.”
 
“As has been stated before, the Jedi of Clan Odan-Urr are now beholden to the Empress and
her will,” Tulrik said, “that will certainly influence their decisions. Even if it did not, for
peacekeepers they have fought more wars in recent memory than I would expect of any group
that values nonviolence. Several of our wars were caused by their simple presence.”
 
“Please, consider this to be a worst case response,” Vaharian said, directly to Jalan this time,
“We will only be responding with violence if the Vatali seek to control us through force, nothing
more. Until that moment, we will not press for any further actions.”
 
The discussions went on for some time after this, as points were traded back and forth, with
some objecting or raising their thoughts on the risks or implications of each decision. As the talks continued, moving onto matters of supply, trade routes and stockpiling resources, none noticed the footprints mysteriously appearing in the warehouse floor, leading back to the crates stacked on the far end of the building. The momentary bleep of a motion sensor detecting a possible new arrival was all that hinted of Sirra’s departure, as she exited the building and disappeared off into Foothold’s night cloaked streets.
 
Written by Essik Lyccane
____________________________________________________________________________
 
 
 
'''Throne Room'''
 
'''Voraskel Palace'''
 
'''Kaist'''
 
'''37 ABY'''
 
 
Amongst the ornate etchings of the throne sat the leader of the Vatali Empire. Empress Kaltani Anasaye. This Sephi woman was born from a royal bloodline that can be traced back to the formation of civilization on Kaist. Respected and loved by her people, the Empress has a firm yet caring hand in matters concerning her people. 
 
Cousin and close advisor to the Empress, a Sephi male named Teron Dest, walked the long carpeted path of the grand throne room to bring news of the Jedi visitors that are waiting to meet with her. He approached her throne and bowed before speaking.
 
 
“Your Highness, the Jedi bring news of a meeting of the Tribes.”
 
“A meeting? What are they trying to do this time?”
 
“Not sure, your Highness. Should I send them in?”
 
“Please, do.”
 
Teron waved to the armed guards standing near the heavy durasteel doors. They nodded in unison before pulling the doors open.
 
This was the first time the three Jedi have had an audience with the Empress. Though familiar with their customs and edicate, they were still a little nervous as the newly formed alliance between the Vatali Empire and Odan-Urr was still in its infancy. Revak Kur choked down his nerves and pressed forward with Essik Lyccane and Tisto Kingang following behind.
 
The Jedi stopped before the throne and as is customary, bowed before addressing the Empress.
 
“Greetings Jedi, what news do you bring of this meeting?”
 
Revak lifted his head, “Your Highness, we have seen that the Quorahi have begun uniting under one banner.”
 
The Empress shifted in her seat. “They have done this from time to time. Their terms begin to break down shortly after they are discussed. Why should I be concerned?”
 
Essik cleared his throat, “Apologies, but after the attempt on your life by the Dominion, and the current hostility in the area, we are concerned that another attempt will be made. We wish to prevent another insurgency.”
 
“I understand your concerns Jedi, but unless you have solid proof that these United Tribes are a threat, I wish to not be bothered by news this insignificant.”
 
Tisto clenched his fist trying to suppress the anger that was building inside him.
 
“Revak, Essik and myself wouldn't bring this to your attention unless we felt it posed a significant threat to you and your people.”
 
“You are new to our system and our ways of life here Jedi. I am grateful to you for helping with the Dominion but understand that I will not force a war with the Tribes on my people. We are still trying to rebuild.”
 
Tisto began to speak but Revak nudged him slightly… “Understood your highness. We will continue to monitor the situation and report back to you if the situation changes. Thank you for your time.”
 
The Jedi bowed once more before leaving the throne room.
 
Once outside, the aggravation Tisto pushed down came to the surface.
 
“Does she not see that this is a problem? Essik, your spies mentioned an open rebellion but it's ‘Insignificant!’”
 
Revak tried to calm his Aedile’s frustration, “Tisto, the Empress has a point. Though the Empire is strong, her people have been through a lot…”
 
Tisto interrupted, “But there is a threat here. How can we sit idly by…”
 
“Who said we will sit idly by? We can’t interfere in their affairs, but we can look after ourselves which in turn looks after them. Essik, I need you and the Sentinel Network to maintain a close watch on the Tribes. Get me all the information you can about the key players and their tribes. I will put Striketeam Ooroo on high alert on VSD Sunrider and inform Commander Silvon to have Tython Squadron ready. Tisto do you still have contact with the Knights of Urr?”
 
“They are already standing by,” Tisto said with a smirk.
 
“Good. They will take care of immediate threats the Tribes pose to us in the system… I sense that things are going to get a lot worse.”
 
___
 
'''Palace Private Chambers'''
 
'''Voraskel Palace'''
 
'''Kaist'''
 
'''37 ABY'''
 
 
Empress Kaltani pressed against her forehead to relieve the throbbing pain that made it feel as if her skull was about to split open. Hearing news of the tribes unsettled her, but if like all the other times they had tried to unite, this wouldn’t be of any threat. Still, her guards were on alert.
 
Her alliance with the Jedi was still uneasy. Many of her advisers questioned the Jedi and their motivations. She herself still harbored some distrust for them. She heard the stories of what many Force wielders have done to other words. Bringing with them unimaginable horrors and destruction so the Empress kept them at a distance. Could they be manifesting a threat inorder to overthrow her? Could they be trying to gain strength and support to use their alliance for their own benefit? These questions she mulled over almost daily, looking for any signs of the Jedi’s bad intentions. She cared for her people like a mother cares for her children. She hated seeing them struggle. All she wanted for them was peace and prosperity. Little comfort could she offer though. All she could do was her best at protecting them. 
 
For now though, Kaltani retired to her private quarters. Surrounded by the softness of fine fabrics and the various greenery that made the room feel more like a garden, she had this room decorated to remind her of her favorite place to play as a child. A place she could forget the days troubles and lose herself in its beauty. In the far corner next to a large fountain she found her bed. She sat listening to the flowing water. It calmed her mind almost instantly.
 
“Mom, you’re back!”
Anaya, her only daughter ran over and jumped onto the bed next to her mother, excited to see her after a long day of schooling. The 12 year old was the oldest heir to the throne and would one day have to contend with the troubles of running an empire. For now though, she kept her out of the throne room to focus on her education. The child was smart. Excelling in all areas of learning, she found the more physical lessons of fighting and wartime tactics of particular interest. 
 
“Anaya, where is your brother?” 
 
“I don’t know.”
 
Kaltani also had one son, Vosen, who was eight. Rugged and energetic, he always found a way to get himself in trouble. Unlike his sister, he cared less for his schooling and more about getting out and exploring Kaist. He showed no signs of wanting to rule an empire and found a new adventure everyday.
 
“Can you find him? It’s time for dinner.”
 
Kaltani walked into the small dining room that was attached to her quarters. While the palace had a large dining hall for large events or to host important quests, she performed the more intimate and family orientated setting that only a small dining table could provide. Her husband, Argen was setting down the last plate for his family. Kaltani shook her head.
 
“Why do you insist on serving us? I pay people for that.” She said jokingly.
 
“You worry about the Empire, let me worry about how dinner makes it to the table.” He replied with a smirk.
 
He walked over and held his wife tightly. He could feel the stress of the day still flowing through her body. More heat radiating off of her like Besh and Aurek combined. He knew that a good meal with her family would help her let go of the world she had placed on her shoulders.
 
As the family ate, the children told stories of their day. Kaltani took a minute to look at each one of them. A warming sense of pride radiated from her core. She thought to herself… “My children will one day rule. I must protect them. I must give them a strong empire to inherit.”
 
[[Category:Events]] [[Category:Odan-Urr events]]

Latest revision as of 21:32, 15 March 2022

New Order era.
Vatali Unsettled
Information
Conflict: Various Quorahi tribes made aggressive pushes to expand upon their power and create a new planetary government on Kiast, leading to violent uprisings
Date: 37 to 38 ABY
Location: Kiast, Kiast System
Combatants


Commanders
  • Admaro Jalan (Mayor of Foothold, defected)
  • Vaharian (Gand Representative)
  • Mar Rahanis (Mayor of Cainstead)
  • Vorvo Tulrik (Mayor of an unknown settlement)
  • Terrin Arcturus (Former Dominion Commodore)


Strength
  • Various Quorahi fleets
  • Dominion forces


Casualties
  • Teron Dest
  • Argen Anasaye
  • Hundreds of Royal Guardsmen
  • Several Vatali Nobles
  • Arcturus
  • Quorahi Nation Council
  • Hundreds of Dominion troops
  • Hundreds of Quorahi


[ Source ]

The United Tribes was a revolutionary action that took place in 37 ABY and continued for several years. This began with a large number of major Quorahi tribes unifying under a single power and attempted to claim total authority over Kiast. A series of violent skirmishes and power plays saw House Sunrider and Clan Odan-Urr drawn into a series of intelligence gathering and peacekeeping actions, each time trying to moderate and limit casualties.

The uprising was later revealed to have been co-opted by Vauzem Dominion remnants under the command of Commodore Terrin Arcturus, who used it as an opportunity to pursue a personal agenda and claim power for himself. Secretly connected to the Force and armed with a lightsaber, Arcturus was nevertheless killed during the final assault against the palace while his warship was overrun by Odanite troops. This broke the back of the attack, and brought the uprising to a swift if not bloodless conclusion.

Despite its brief length and limited battles, the Uprising brought about major change for the Kiast system. Several nobles were killed in the fighting, including members close to the royal family. Furthermore, it was soon revealed that Empress Kaltani's daughter was Force-sensitive; a fact that she had been previously desperate to keep hidden from the Jedi, but was now open to seeing her trained. In the most ironic turn of all, despite their defeat, the Quorahi saw an improvement in their social status thanks to the signing of the Foothold Concordant, and allowed their newly founded nation to exist under Vatali rule.

Conflict Details

Conspiracies

In the wake of the conflict between the Empire and the Dominion, various Quorahi groups were bidding for additional power and representation within the Kiast System. Talk of such actions had emerged and gone silent for years on end with little true push for total independence, but the pressure of the war changed things. Seemingly caught between two great powers, with no means to speak for themselves or fight back, it had been enough to create a series of meetings between a number of major tribes. Foothold, Cainstead, the Gand colonies, and several others, participated in these gatherings over time. Definitive proof of this was only gathered during mid 37 ABY, when a face to face gathering between various mayors, leaders, and representatives, took place in Foothold's outlying districts.

Having received word of these meetings, Odan-Urr dispatched Essik Lyccane, Ka Tarvitz, Nikora Rhan, and Sirra to investigate the talk. Using the latter's infiltration skills and telepathic talent, the group was able to spy on the meeting and detail the words exchanged between the various groups. The meeting itself had served as a final push to hammer out key details, but it was not without some dissent. All present there wanted greater representation and control, but the means in which they were to achieve this was constantly disputed. Some, such as Jalan of Foothold, saw an armed uprising or aggressive push as inviting disaster or even open war. Mar Rahanis of Cainstead was more open to such acts, believing that the Vatali's reliance upon them for resources gave them the upper hand. This was an opinion shared by Vaharian, who saw war as a necessary evil and was inevitable, while Vorvo Tulrik served as a voice of moderation but ultimately had decided that the revolution was needed.

Much of the meeting was stonewalled between various views on how to continue forward. Even with the difficulties that war might pose, the leaders present gave their agreement to the formation a loose linked alliance under the following laws:

  • Technological recoveries and salvage is to be shared equally among townships, dependant of size and necessity.
  • Conflicts which require blood are to be settled by duels between chosen champions, either in person or by airship rather than full scale wars.
  • Militia forces will stand as they are, but a yearly tithe will see airships and warriors leased to a broader grand army.
  • Resources are to be split equally between city-states, and nomad fleets will no longer be barred from one another’s territories.
  • City-states will be permitted to continue governorship, but wider judicial and planetary decisions will become the jurisdiction of a unifying council.

With this established, it fully cemented their alliance. Viewing this as a potential threat, or at the very least a major shift within planetary power, the Odanite group withdrew from the settlement and returned to the clan's headquarters. News of this outcome was brought before Empress Kaltani by Revak Kur, Tistito Kingang, and Essik, with each trying to impress upon the Empress of the threat this might pose. However, as similar short-term alliances had been made by the Quorahi in past centuries, the Empress viewed this as being a fleeting issue that would likely resolve itself. Wishing to focus instead upon rebuilding her powerbase following the Dominion's loss, she asked that the Jedi only monitor the situation but offered no means to directly counter it.

With a clear risk of civil war at play, Sunrider's leadership opted to work alongside the Sentinel Network in pinpointing risks and means to undermine their fighting power.

Preemptive Strikes & Alliances

During the following days, Odan-Urr's various efforts concentrated upon undermining the organization overall. An agent was dispatched to Cainstead and activated a seismic charge within its mines, destroying them but without killing any of the workers. This temporarily cut off the city-state from their greatest economic strength, stalling any ambitions at waging wars or supporting allied airship fleets in battle. A further success was met in a simultaneous mission to Foothold, swaying Jalan into switching sides and covertly supporting the ruling government.

Brought before a private audience with Revak, Jalan was able to speak openly with the Jedi. He voiced frustrations with both how the group had managed events leading up to that point, and with the methods of the Jedi themselves, but saw allying with them as an act in the name of a greater good. While he neither liked or trusted those he was dealing with, Jalan at least understood that talking was the easiest path to avoiding war and its horrors. Through their discussions, he was swayed into opening up secret talks between them in order to help remove the more violent elements within the Quorahi, and hopefully ensure it benefitted from a more benevolent rule.

In a further push to speed matters along, Jalan spoke directly with the Empress, further emphasizing details that the Jedi had passed onto her. The two were on cordial terms, but Jalan was forced to continually emphasise the threat that the Quorahi posed during their talks. Each also voiced a number of reservations when it came to the Jedi, but neither were openly hostile toward the group. As Jalan left, without having gained any true ground, Agate Gua’lara quietly transmitted the talk to an outside source. Agate had been serving the Empress in a supporting role, but had been willing to record and detail such conversations in case they led to a greater threat.

While these talks were taking place, the Quorahi had been seeking new allies. At an undisclosed location, its leaders met with Commodore Arcturus. A former officer in the now fragmented Dominion military services, Arcturus had offered his services to the Quorahi both as a military advisor and in open battles. He keenly understood that the Quorahi were ill-prepared for any true war, even with the preparations that they had made, and he used this as leverage in their negotiations. He volunteered his troops for their defence and to train their militias into stronger fighting units, but also offered the benefit of a potential spy network. He quickly proved this by revealing that he had learned of Jalan's private meeting with the Empress, and had eye-witnesses within her inner circle.

This proof of the benefit of the Dominion's alliance was enough to sway them into accepting his support, and formally declared the formation of the Quorahi Nation.

Fort Tanisad

In its opening move, the forces of the Quorahi Nation targeted Fort Tanisad. A key part of the planet's defences, it had gone unsupplied and undermanned following the war with the Dominion. With resources stretched thin, only a limited garrison had been left to guard its walls while their ships operated on limited fuel. It was one of several potential weaknesses, and because of this fact a number of Odanite agents had been dispatched to investigate its status. Shortly after their arrival, the fort's sensors detected a massive fleet of incoming Quorahi airships. Any and all responses were quickly hindered by internal sabotage. Multiple fighters exploded on their launchpads, while the fort's blast doors slammed shut at once, isolating its troops and preventing a coordinated response. Worse still, the base's droids turned hostile, attempting to kill those that had escaped the trap and its command staff drew guns on their comrades.

Nevertheless, what should have been a total loss was salvaged in a series of retaliatory efforts. As one Jedi led the remaining fighters in a delaying action against the enemy fleet, those inside sought to overcome the sabotage. Releasing the blast doors and disabling a number of the droids, they were able to push back against the traitors and take back a portion of the base. Yet even with this success, it was clear that their position could not be held. Gathering those left, the Odanites attempted to scuttle the base's supplies and then withdraw with as many of its garrison as possible. Though the Quorahi had taken greater losses and the base had suffered severe damage, it was nevertheless taken intact by their forces.

The Uprising

With the capture of Fort Tanisad, the Vatali leadership were forced to finally acknowledge that they were facing a real threat to their power. In a conclave within the Voraskel Palace, the leaders each great house gathered and debated as to what could be done against the assault. Empress Kaltani, quickly forcing the bickering groups into silence, heard each voice in turn as House Ghalor offered its full support while House Etlina's leader questioned the Empress' decision to bring her daughter, Anaya, into the meeting. After the arrival of Revak Kur, serving as a military advisor and representative of the Jedi, the group swiftly began to pinpoint Quorahi movements and how the previous Fort was overwhelmed. Quickly identifying Arcturus' likely involvement and the support of Dominion remnant group, they were able to consider the general size and disposition of the force. While far from the largest military presence that the clan had faced, Arcturus' navy was well suited to guerilla warfare and moving in support of a larger but poorly armed group like the Quorahi.

The Empress continued to cite the possibility that they could avoid war, still desiring to prevent a second conflict so soon after the Dominion threat had seemingly been ended for good. At the same time, Jalan arrived to protest his innocence, and revealing that he had been isolated from further decisions by the Quorahi Nation. Rather than judging him personally, the Empress offered Anaya the opportunity to judge the truth within his words. This was intended as a test of the girl's skills as a future leader, but it revealed something more to Revak. Her ability to see the truth in Jalan's words stemmed from more than just good perception and judgment, as Anaya retained a strong connection to the Force. In private, the Empress revealed that this had come from her father. She had kept this fact hidden from the Jedi to prevent her being taken by the Order, believing that the Jedi would see her turned into an instrument of destruction. With more pressing matters at hand, Revak decided to focus on the impending battle, but voiced a desire to speak of this matter in detail following the conflict's conclusion.


The palace was fortified throughout the day as the Vatali prepared for the worst, and by night they were confronted by a massive attack. Vast numbers of TIE Interceptors and Bomber variants assaulted the city, leveling buildings and overrunning anything put in their path. Before long troops were deployed throughout its districts, forcing the defenders into a slow retreat as they were overwhelmed. Arcturus personally led one offensive, breaching the palace's walls and killing one of her advisors, Teron Dest, by calling upon the Force. Revealing a crimson lightsaber, Arcturus ordered his troops to hunt for the Empress' hiding place. He just as swiftly killed Argen Anasaye, the Empress' husband, despite the latter attempting to kill him via a telekinetic assault, and took Vosen Anasaye hostage. With the Vatali capital burning, two members of the Empress' powerbase dead, and another member of her bloodline held captive, the battle was rapidly turning in the Dominion's favour.

Yet in his moment of triumph, Arcturus found himself confronted by a far more capable combatant: Raziel. Engaging the Commodore before he could recover from the previous engagement, the Jensaarai Defender brought him low in a swift but vicious engagement that devastated much of the surrounding area.

With the death of the strategist at the head of the attack, momentum from the assault began to unravel. As the Vatali aligned forces rallied and began pushing the attacks back Arcturus' ship, the Storm, attempted to flee the system. This was ended by an attack via several strike team of Zanothi Nightblade and Elyon de Neverse, who were able to bring it under Odanite control with few casualties. Discovering a number of relics on the vessel and hinting at Arcturus' wider efforts following Operation Vanguard, the two were able to quickly log several items of interest for later study as the remainder of the boarding teams took control of the ship.

Shortly after this boarding action, the Storm's weapons were turned on the attacking ground troops and supporting ships. With little substantial orbital support save for the sole vessel, this swiftly disrupted their planned operations. Even with its limited firepower, the Storm was able to cut through various supporting corvettes and dropships, before firing on the ground forces beneath them. Attacked on two fronts now, and with Tython Squadron entering the battle, increasingly uncoordinated Quorahi were driven back one step at a time.

Small fire teams led by A'lora Kituri and Celevon Werd'la swiftly moved from holding the line to actively hunting targets, as the enemy ground troops found themselves cut off and unable to maintain a united front against the renewed assault. With the back of the attacking Quorahi broken, the push back against their forces quickly turned into an outright rout. Within hours, the Vatali flag was flying over the city once more.

The Foothold Concordant

In the weeks that followed, mopping-up operations saw a large number of arrests within the Quorahi populace. Wherever possible soldiers were taken alive, while those that resisted were pacified in increasingly isolated pockets of resistance. Royal Guardsmen stormed the warehouse that had been converted into a makeshift Council Chambers for the Quorahi Nation's leaders. Most were executed for their actions thanks to the overwhelming evidence placed against them, save for Jalan thanks to his previous actions.

Even with the blood spilled between them, the Empress permitted for Jalan to plead his case for leniency. As the Empress publically spoke with him, the surrounding crowds voiced hostility against any accusations. Jalan nevertheless pointed out that, while Arcturus was the guiding force behind them, the individual tribes were nevertheless able to operate as a single unified entity with more effectiveness than ever before.

While bitterness was clear among all involved, and the Empress was sorely tempted to outright dissolve the nation, an accord was eventually reached. The Quorahi Nation would endure as before, but it would exist under Vatali rule, and with the nobility retaining judicial oversight for any future alterations to the Nation's own laws. Furthermore, it was to be fully disarmed, with its existing military assets removed to prevent further civil wars in the future. Yet the previous outlines were accepted, and while the Vatali were granted ownership of the Quorahi salvage, new rules were drafted to more evenly support the tribes in expanding their holdings.

Although few were joyful at the Empress' offer, it was soon accepted and termed the Foothold Concordant. With further representatives being selected among the people and additional rulings to decide upon, the matter was far from over. However, it offered the opportunity for far more peace and stability than the world had seen over the past several years.


N/A House Sunrider Events
37-38 ABY
Scars You Don't See