ROAR 1: Chapter 1 “The Arrival”

## JOURNEY OF ROAR-1

Main OCs: Priestess Faera Sigyn & Huntress Ziyal Moya,

NPCs: K-0R9, SH3-1LA, Nova Midosea

Pets: Gwenwyn

Equipped: the staff of Darth Skyllan, the dragonsnake Talisman (\*both locked in the stasis chamber of ROAR 1)

Prologue summary:

Faera and Ziyal, two of the Je'daii's strongest Sorceresses, are tasked to intercept the enemy transport carrying Dark Matter to fuel a super weapon that could destroy Tython.

The plan goes sideways, the Sith Sorcerers aboard try to fold space around the transport. But as they do so, a damaged Je'daii fighter collides with the transport, causing the Dark Matter to ignite. The disastrous incident creates a tear through the fabric of space, pulling everyone in, including Roar-1.

Start journey:

Location: uncharted

Ship status: coms down

Company: unknown not responsive

~\*~

CHAPTER ONE: THE ARRIVAL

GM: Game Master Yoda

Music: https://youtu.be/EdMX8tiDwjA Outer Space, black hole.

Date: 1259 BBY

// Uncharted space, D-9 The unknown regions, somewhere near the Csilla System //

Unknown space… the very name of that seemingly endless stretch of uncharted galaxy evokes the mind to unimaginable untold dangers and vast stretches of maddening nothingness. Enough to sow fear into even the bravest space captain, or to make the most desperte pirate on the run from the Republic question their ever venturing willingly into its relm.

Yet it was here, just a few thousand kilometres between a matter crushing black hole and a dying red dwarf star that an anomaly of the like that had seldom occurred in all of galactic history suddenly appeared. A swirling electric vortex of light…a wound in the force and a tear in the very fabric of space and also in time itself appeared in a split second and then from it, among many small pieces of space battle debris ejects a ship.. small, old… and bearing the markings of a now long forgotten lineage of Cathar Royalty and painted on its hull, a single name..ROAR-1.

Aboard Roar 1 were the Je'daiis’ most powerful magic wielders. A young white furred Trianii Priestess Faera Sigyn from the planet Cathar and a silver eyed Sephi Nightsister, Huntress Ziyal Moya from Dathomir.

Accompanying them was the KX series security droid/pilot K-0R9, the Hulking black custom security droid SH3-1LA and GrandMaster Bathor’s personal head of security… the mysterious female Cyborrean Nova Midosea.

Behind them and as quickly as it had come, the swirling electric wormhole anomaly once fully expanded, suddenly and immediately closes back in on itself and disappears forever. Leaving the T-class cruiser and its inhabitants floating in the silent darkness of uncharted space, oblivious to where or when they have emerged. And already the gravity of the nearby black hole begins to draw them in towards their doom...

~\*~

As the small ship and the rest of the ejected debris are dragged towards the black hole, Roar-1's sensors pick up a gravity well on the other side of the dark sinkhole.. a small planetary mass, shrouded in perpetual night and another nearby starship of unknown origins.

The small personal cruiser's hyperdrive and communications array seemingly both now destroyed due to the strong magnetic currents while travelling through the wormhole, Roar-1 and their unlikely crew must now come up with a way to avoid the black hole and possibly find out who or what it is that is here with them in the middle of nowhere.

Our journey starts here….

* + - *

"Vital signs are stabilising… heart rate back up to 122 bpm. Breathing also stabilised." Said the three eyed Cyborrean woman who lent over her. Nova's voice was almost as robotic as her cybernetic arms that were currently examining the Priestesses' feline body as she lay on the floor of ROAR-1's passenger seating area behind the pilot's chair.

Her whole body hurt and head felt like a bantha had been sitting on it. She couldn't remember anything after the blast... Nothing except for the enormous wormhole that was created.. the bright lights…the countdown just moments before the impact of the damaged fighter with the transport…and then the intense feeling of the dark side surrounding her.. pressing itself against her aura of light with its cold and undignified presence. Resisting it was as easy as focusing as to mindfully block the hatred and murderous thoughts from her subconscious.

A technique she had been taught by a fellow wandering nomad years prior, an old Whiphid with a limp and a broken left tusk, they never exchanged names but he seemed to insist on showing her this most basic technique over a shared evening campfire. In the morning she woke up to find him gone.. She had never forgotten his advice and had trained herself over many months to try and master it, for use in times such as this.

It wasn’t the first time she had been forced to protect herself against such things. Through her travels across the Galaxy in search for Jedi and lightside Force knowledge she had occasionally stumbled across a decaying cesspool of darkside energy. A forgotten ritualistic blood altar, a crumbling long lost sith temple.. even once she had found an abandoned mud hut where a Sith warrior had recently lived. Dozens of faded pictures of a strange Togruta woman wearing a scorpion bracelet littered the floor of the inside as well as messages of devotion to her. But the stench…it was insufferable, like someone had died and been left to rot in the heat, even altering the environment to create a strong breeze inside as she searched the place wasn’t enough to protect her feline senses from being assaulted. It was this that caused her to abandon the site much earlier than she would have liked and continue on her way, but not before setting the place on fire and burning it to the ground so as not to infect any wandering innocents that happen by.

“I don’t mean to alarm you, but we are being dragged into a black hole.” Said K0R9 over his shoulder from the pilots seat. “What..?!” replied Faera who tried to sit up, but it was too soon, her head started to spin and the red flashing proximity and low fuel warning lights that flooded the cockpit made her feel faint. Nova reacts quickly and catches Faera from collapsing to the floor again..

[[ Communications are malfunctioning, hyperdrive has been severely damaged and fuel reserves are at 26%. Local sensors are picking up a gravity well on the other side of the black hole as well as an unidentified craft. Navigation system seems to have picked up a malfunction too. It’s asking to be re-calibrated. We could try to slingshot around the black hole and hope to be caught in the gravity well on the other side to keep us from being consumed, but we would exhaust almost all our remaining fuel reserves. Judging by our current rate of speed I calculate we have exactly 3 minutes and 19 seconds before we are swallowed. Standing by for orders.. ]] said K0R9.

“I don’t know!!… I've never flown a ship before, remember.. Ziyal? Ziyal?” called out Faera from the floor, trying to roll onto her side and force herself up.

* + - * +

Beep!.. beep!.. beep!\* Alarms were ringing. Twitch.. twitch.. twitch, something was tickling. Her pointed ears move in refkex. Ziyal opens her eyes and blinks a couple of times. Again, something tickles her ear, making it twitch. Slowly, with a grunt, she lifts her head of the dashboard and sees Gwenwyn looking up at her. With a faint smile she looks down at the colourful snake but then feels something trickling down her face. Carefully she reaches for her forehead. 'Ouch', it stings, it feels warm, it's sticky and when she lowered her hand again to look at it she sees blood. Ziyal is hurt.

'What happened?' She wonders, looking over Gwenwyn at the front window and sees her own reflection; red streaks all over her face from blood that trickeld down from the wound on her head. But beyond her reflection, through the window she notices the Vortex is gone, everything seems to be gone, the battle and Tython.

Looking to the left, Ziyal sees K-0R9 is still sitting behind her helm. His scomplink connected to the ship. She can hear his robotic voice, but its muffled so she shakes her head, shaking off the daze, trying to focus. "What happened?" She asks softly, her head still hurting. We seemed to have traveled through a wormhole the droid replied with his cold voice like it was something that happened every day. "A wormhole?, what.. wait… where are we?" Confused she reaches for the Navcom, trying to see their current location. Unknown the droid replies as his scomplink is spinning in the socket. "Unknown, what do you mean?" Ziyal presses a few buttons on the navigational computer.

Behind her, Nova is taking care of Faera who seemed to be in a worse state than she. Ziyal glances over her shoulder and see the white furred Trianii slowly moving. Turning back to the droid she says "We have to call for help", there is panic in her voice. Impossible… comms are down Korg replies next to her. "Kriff!" She exclaims frustrated and leans towards the navcom again, trying to figure out why it isn't working. A red notification kept flashing in the corner of the screen, asking for a system recalibration.

“I don’t mean to alarm you, but we are being dragged into a black hole.” she hears Korg say. Busy with the Navcom, Ziyal responds "Yeah I know" but when she hears Faera's shocked reply she realizes she wasn't paying attention.

Shocked she looks up "Wait… What!?" and she sees what K-0R9 was referring to.

Her eyes widened, panic inside her was rising as she heard the droid giving a full report on their situation. 'Comms down, Hyperdrive damaged, Navcom malfunction, low on fuel and a kriffing blackhole pulling them in!'

Standing by for orders the KX-series security droid said calmly.

Bewildered, the young Sephi stared through the front window. She had no idea what to do in a situation like this, she never even had proper pilot training. Her heart was racing in her chest, her breath quickened from the sheer panic. Seeing the black hole triggered her fear, yhe bleakness triggered hr claustrophobia and made her dizzy. They would be crushed, they would suffocate..

Hearing her name being called, Ziyal was brought back to the present. "I don't know either!" She yelled in panic and glanced at the droid who seem to be the only one who knew what he was doing. "We don't have much choice do we?. fuel is the last thing we need to worry about now. I'd rather live, so just do it!... if we make it we can figure out what to do for fuel." The Sephi suggested with tears in her eyes..

* + - * +

[[ GM: the ship performs a drastic acceleration to slingshot around the black hole and towards the gravity well. Dice Roll 10 sided. 1= unsuccessful and the crew is pulled into the black hole.  2=9= successful in slingshotting but expelling almost all the rest of the fuel reserves.  10= successful and maintains majority of the the fuel. ]]

Faera clumsily got to her feet and pushing Nova away with her left hand, swaying and stumbling as she tried desperately to get to the cockpit. “Do it… do what she says…” she said to K0R9 as though she was scarcely holding back from throwing up and placing both hands on the back of K0R9’s seat. The Sephi’s bloodied face looked back at her in the reflection of the small personal cruiser's frontward facing viewport.The white skinned Trianii gripped the old leather chair, digging her claws into the worn apparel, and silently prayed to the serpentine mountain god for their survival.

[[ GM update- K0R9 understanding the directives suddenly jolted the ship to the right and accelerated hard as he tried to break free from the black holes intense pull. Roar1, the over 4,000 year old Cathar royal cruiser, surprisingly responded in kind. And although shuddering violently during the manoeuvre held together just long enough to escape the pull of certain death and end up in the magnetic neutrality of the Chiss created gravity well on the opposite side of the hole. Next to them was a large starship of unknown origin or make, unresponsive and seemingly also caught in the stillness of the gravity well. In the far off distance was a planet, black, barron unknown on any navigation system. Roar 1’s fuel reserves are now down to just 7%]]

* + - * +

Heart pounding in her chest, Ziyal looked through the front porthole at the black hole. It was an intimidating sight to see making shivers go down her spine. The thought of being swallowed by it filled Ziyal with fear. When she suddenly felt the back of ner seat move, she let out a soft gasp. But in the reflection on the window she saw it was Faera now standing behind her, tightly holding onto the backrest. From the look in Triannii's eyes, Ziyal knew she was just as frightened as she was.

Without further ado, the KX-series security droid followed orders and panned the old cruiser to the right. Ziyal's eyes widened as they turned closer towards the blackhole. The moment the ship began to accelerate Gwenwyn slid off the dashboard onto the Sephi's lap. Immediately the colorful snake wrapped itself around Ziyal's arm.

In fear Ziyal's nails dug into the leather armrests as she felt herself being pressed into her seat. Frightened, she closed her eyes and prayed to the winged goddess. Meanwhile, Roar-1 shuddered violently as the droid performed the maneuver he had suggested. In reality it only took moments but it felt like an eternity.

[The maneuver was successful] K-0R9 said calmly as the ship stopped trembling. Slowly Ziyal opened her eyes and glanced through the window. With relief she sighed and let go of the armrest as she sat up straight to have a better look. Gwenwyn now also unwrapped herself of her arm and lifted her head as well to have a look.

[However, fuel is down to 7%] the droid continued and turned its dead eyes to her. Ziyal glanced back at him, still panting from the stress, wondering what they should do.

She turned her gaze to the ship's sensors and navigational computer; "we are not alone. There seems to be a large vessel closeby, also stuck in this… ehm… whatever this is" [gravity well] the droid corrected. "Yes, that's the word… maybe they have some fuel to spare" Ziyal let out a nervous chuckle. Nova, who had been quiet during the maneuver, now stepped forward and "I can see a planet in the distance" she said. "You are right" the Sephi replied and checked the sensors "Long range sensors also picked up on that planet.. but no details.. guess we have to get closer"

turning in her seat, ziyal looked at the others. They had two options, both would come with risks. "So what will we do?" She asked as she tried her best to compose herself and focus on their situation. "Fuel is low, no Hyperdrive, no comms, we don't even know where we are.." she paused for a moment to think.. "I suggest we'd take a closer look at that ship, might have fuel, might have parts we need for repairs.. might even have travel logs that could tell us where we are.. but I'm not the boss. So… what do you think?"

* + - * +

As K0R9 pulled the ship hard right through the manoeuvre, trying to slingshot them using the black hole’s gravitational pull and into what seemed to be their only hope for survival Faera couldn’t help but glance to Ziyals face through the reflection in the forward facing viewport. The Silver haired woman seemed scared, her eyes closed and face bloodied, her pet snake wrapped around her arm.. It was then that Priestess Faera, the light of Cathar.. champion of all that was good and decent found herself for the very first time questioning if there was some kind of light inside this beautiful yet dark Nightsister of Dathomir. She seemed for the first time, almost vulnerable.

Guurrrhhhhh!\* Faera suddenly hunches over as her stomach finally betrays her, the white furred girl still clutching the leather backrest vomiting onto the floor behind Ziyals seat.. ROAR-1 begins to calm and Ziyal, K0R9 and Nova begin discussing their options.. after a few moments Faera looks up, still feeling the nauseous result of the wormhole.. it was true what the sensors had picked up.. a ship was indeed present, floating silent and still as it sat idle in the field K0R9 had just described as a “gravity well”. A term that was unknown to her and Ziyal too by the sound of it.

Behind them was the black hole, it’s all consuming all powerful density swallowing even the very light from the only and obviously dying star in the system but now seemingly it’s deadly pull no longer a threat to them. Although their daring escape had come at a heavy price. In the far distance, Faeras feline eyes could faintly makeout the silhouette of a planet the long range sensor readouts had picked up.. although Faera was in no state to try and use her force powers to sense any life that may be residing there. The force protection bubble she had summoned around ROAR1 at the point of contact during the final moments of the battle over Sunspot had almost completely drained her. Surprisingly though, Nova had picked up on this planet also even from this range, and the Priestess wondered what else their Cyborrean friend was capable of?

“K0R9, what exactly is a gravity well?” Faera asked with a weak voice and through panted breaths, she would need to know before agreeing to docking with the strange starship or try to head to the dark planet in the distance. Although it really didn’t seem like they had much of a choice at this stage given their low fuel situation.

[[ A gravity well is an engineered piece of machinery that is designed to create a localised field of any-gravity. The created anti-gravity field resists other external gravitational pulls to anything inside of it including itself. It is normally utilised in stabilising long term and usually unmanned listening and observation posts as well as long range security sensor outposts to ensure they don’t risk being taken off course by the lure of external gravitational pulls via surrounding masses such as planets, asteroids, suns and black holes. The Gravity well itself was often cloaked and utilised by many nomadic species such as but not limited to...…]] “ok… thank you K0R9, that will do.” Interrupted Faera and stopping the KX series droids history lesson on the subject. “So… whatever this thing is, it was put here for a reason..” She said thinking to herself out loud..

“Ziyal, I think you're right.. If we are going to have any chance of getting ourselves out of here I agree we should start with the ship.” She announced, nodding at the Sephi through the reflection of the viewport. “And hopefully whoever is on it, if anyone.. they have a refresher as well as some fuel.” She added with a half grin. I think we could both use a freshen up don’t you.?” She said rhetorically, wiping her mouth and whiskers with her sleeve.. “K0R9, take us in for docking.” Faera announced turning and gingerly walking towards where her staff now lay on the floor, something told her she would need it.

* + - * +

[[ GM: K0R9 responded immediately and began manoeuvring ROAR-1 towards the unknown vessel in preparation for docking. Within minutes the smaller cruiser was positioned and ready to open the airlock with the intent to board the much larger starship, who was still yet to move position or indicate any sign of life aboard. With Nova Midosea, K0R9, SH3-1LA all aboard ROAR1 it would be up to Ziyal and Faera to decide who would accompany them in exploring the vessel and with ROAR-1 scanners now returning a still breathable air within, possibly making contact with whoever was inside. ]]

* + - * +

Before answering Ziyal's question, the white furred feline asked the droid what a gravity well was. The corner of her lips curled up ever so slightly, relieved she wasn't the only one who didnt have a clue what it was.

Listening to K-0R9 as he began to explain, the Sephi glanced outside. She never liked space travel, it was cold and dark and being stuck inside a metal shell for to long often triggered her claustrophobia. She missed fresh air, she missed the warmth of the sun and wind in her hair. But here she was, trapped inside ship with barely any fuel to get home and failing systems.

"So it's manmade" Ziyal said, pretending she understood but even after the explanation of the security droid she wasn't sure if she fully understood the concept of this 'gravity well'. It didn't really matter but what did, was the decision that had to made. She was glad to hear that Faera agreed with her suggestion to board the other vessels stuck inside the gravity well. "Excellent" she said and smiled at the Trianii through the reflection of of the windshield.

"Nova.. You stay with the ship, be ready for a quick get away" Ziyal said as she got up. Nova nodded in acknowledgement. "and Korg, after docking, you're coming with us and bring a weapon, I'm sure Master Terrogate has some blaster rifles aboard" She added as she stepped over the vomit on the floor. Having the droid coming along would safe them a lot of trouble. With his scomplink he could easily connect to any computer, but the security droid was also build to fight and do heavy lifting. [Affirmative] K-0R9 said as he manouvered the cruiser closer to the mysterious vessel. "Before leaving the Harpy, I believe, Master Terrogate mentioned another droid. A Sheila?" Ziyal looked at the others. [Correct, SH3-1LA, Master Terrogate's custom made security droid is currently in the cargo hold on standby] the droid replied without looking at her.

"Good, maybe we should that one aswell… Just in case." She said with a soft, slightly nervous chuckle. Meanwhile the docking clamps secured themselves with a loud thud. After a deep breath Ziyal looked at Faera, "are you ready?" she asked friendly as she checked her own gear. Her lightsabers were clasped on her beld, he Nightsister daggers sheathed on her thigh and her Tollere knife secured in her boot. Unlike normal, she decided to leave her bow behind as it wouldn't be of much use in close quarters. "If you are, we better get going." Ziyal said and left the cockpit.

* + - * +

[[ GM entry: before long the 4 unlikely companions of Ziyal, Faera, K0R9 now equipped with a heavy repeating blaster rifle and SH3-1LA stand at the open entrance into the strange ship. The lights are on, but set to low power casting the place in an even low light. It’s eerily quiet, with only the white noise of the ships air scrubbers to be heard. The corridor they find themselves in runs both to the left and to the right of them with closed blast doors on each end. ]]

(\*dice roll\* 1: light model hand blaster pistol. 2: heavy repeating blaster rifle. 3: ancient Cathar war staff. 4: Thermal detonator. 5: ion blaster rifle. ROLLED = 2)

* + - * + -

“Well this isn’t at all spooky” mumbles Faera sarcastically under her breath before looking left and then right down the empty corridor. “Can you sense anything?” She asks Ziyal in little more than a whisper, her clawed hands gripping her long golden staff in a defensive stance. The white furred feline Priestess sniffs the air and pricks up her ears hoping to hear or catch a scent of anything that may indicate more of the situation.

* + - * + -

Shivers went down the Sephi's spine as she gazed down the dimly lit corridor. She heard Faera mumbling about 'it not being spooky at all', and couldn't help but smile at the feline's sarcasm. "I guess there's no welcome wagon" Ziyal responded in kind and stepped into the corridor.

Both ends were sealed off with blast doors, there was no sign of life thus far. Ziyal shook her head at Faera's question, she didn't sense anything, not yet anyway. "Lets go this way" she suggested pointing to the left and approached the closed blast door. As she cautiously moved towards it she began to whisper the words of a Dathomirian spell. A spell that would enhance her hearing so much she might be able to see what was on the other side of that door by painting a picture from the sounds emanating from the other side. A soft green mist appeared out of nowhere and swirled around her until it disappeared into her ears.

"Korg.. Sheila? Do your sensors pick up anything?  *she asked as she stopped in front of the closed door. Her pointed ears twitched softly as she began to listen..*

Abilities used: Ears of the Chiroptix spell 3

* + - * +

[[ GM UPDATE: \*SH3-1LA leans forwards, her large jet black frame a shadowy mass in the lowlight of the corridor except for her 2 neon blue eyes shining brightly as they scanned the area. She looked left, then right down the corridors and then down at herself. “Affirmative Ziyal Moya. My scanners detect 2 organic life forms, both female. One feline and the other of near human descent. I also detected a KX series security droid and another of unknown make and model.” She said in her robotic female voice as she began to move her huge frame closer to the two females. “None of which seem a direct threat to our mission”. She added, coming to a halt. \*K0R-9 just looked at SHE-1LA as she gave her report, tilting his head to the side as she spoke. Possibly confused, or in disbelief the large droid had actually just reported the members of their own party including herself. “My apologies Master Ziyal, but it seems my sensors too can not penetrate the blast doors and as such are also confined to our immediate vicinity. The purple and gold accented droid quickly scans the corridor using several different visual and thermal readout sensors. “I have, however, detected a SCOM link on the right side of the corridor. If it’s operational we could use it to open the doors.” \*Faera’s ears hear nothing but her nose picks up a faint scent of oil.” \*Ziyal uses Ears of the Chiroptix spell (3) and through its mystical power an image is created in her mind of a droid. The clinking of its feet and several solid plates painted the image of an armoured droid with 3 legs. The whirring and spinning of servos and blaster barrel chains indicated it was also heavily armed. She could sense there was more than one, but no more than four. ]]

* + - * +

Faera just looked at Sheila and shook her head as the huge droid gave her report.. “\*poor things a few mushrooms short of a circle.” She thought to herself. “All I could smell was a hint of oil”.. the Light of Cathar said, her whiskers still twitching. That SCOM link thing sounds good. Probably should know what we’re walking into though. Ziyal? Did you get anything with that spell?” Even speaking the words sounded weird.. spells were normally a darkside ability, designed to hurt and to punish the living. This one however… seemed different to those she had read about.

* + - * +

Slow, with a raised eyebrow, the Sephi turned her head and stared at the massive droid. But immediately she noticed she wasn't the only one who was in shock by the large droid's report. "Thank you Sheila" Ziyal responded sarcastically and rolled her eyes.

She turned towards Faera, who told her she only picked up the scent of oil. "That's probably Sheila's" Ziyal responded with a chuckle and then focused on her enhanced senses. "There is someone on the other side of that door" she said as the image formed in her mind. "A droid… wait.. no… droids…. There's more.. and they seem to be armed" she said.

Ziyal looked at K-0R9, "ok Korg, try that scomplink." Then she looked at Faera "weapons ready" she said and turned towards the door. Ziyal grabbed both her lightsabers of her belt and ignited them. Taking a defensive stance she waited for the doors to open.

* + - * +

[[ GM UPDATE :

[“You are most welcome Ziyal Moya”] said Sheila brightly. Clearly happy to have been of value to the mission. [“If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask.”]

Korg responded in the affirmative and moved to the far end of the corridor, extending his probe and linking into the ships scomplink port. His hands were free and he held his heavy repeating blaster rifle.

In a few short moments the heavy blast door opened revealing a open room guarded by \*two\* heavy battle droids standing just behind the opening door. Before the doors could fully open both the droids activated their energy shields and began firing at the intruders.

(( extra combat note: Ziyal will respond on behalf of herself and Sheila, Faera will respond on behalf of herself and Korg, ))  ]]

* + - * +

Faera used her feline reflexes and raised her golden staff in front of her pressing out with what returned strength she could muster, attempting to create a force barrier in order to deflect the incoming blaster fire. She was an elemental specialist, but up here in the confines of a lifeless ship’s narrow corridor her range of  powers would surly be limited. “There’s two of them! And they have energy shields!!” She yelled to the group.

K0R9 being the other side of hall and furthest from the door retracted his linkup and moved closer, aiming his heavy blaster ready to take a shot as soon as a clear shot was available. it seems their shields power are evenly spread but dissipate on the metallic floor. the security droid said, possibly identifying a weakness in the droids defence.

Force barrier 3

* + - * +

IC: Ziyal Moya

With her magenta lightsabers ignited and ready, the Sephi kept her eyes and ears focused on the door. She kept hearing movement on the other side and prepared herself mentally for battle and raising her own Force defences.

As instructed, K-0R9 unlocked the heavy blast door and now they saw what was really waiting for them. Two large battle droids raised their shields and opened fire at them. She began to swing her lightsabers, deflecting the incoming blaster fire back at the droids. However their shields were holding.

[There are two droids firing at us Ziyal Moya] SH3-1LA said. "We know Sheila!. Maybe try to do something about it!" She sneered at the large droid as she kept deflecting the incoming fire with gracious swings of her lightsabers.

The Huntress had no experience with droids, she had no idea to take down artificial prey. "Their shields are holding..  Does anyone have any ideas?" She asked the others as she began to move towards the left, circling the droids.

Abilities used:

~ Force barrier 2

* + - * +

[[ GM UPDATE: both female force users force barriers work successfully deflecting the blaster bolts but will not hold forever. The droids show no sign of letting up. Slowly they advance on the group in the hallway. One of the droids drops his shield and transforms into a ball of armoured metal, rolling forwards at top speed down the center of the hall past Ziyal and SH31LA. ]]

* + - * +

The Sephi sees the droid coming and tries to jump away before it hits her. "Well, anyone? I don't know anything about droids" she yells to the others mid jump

Then suddenly Sheila speaks up. ["It seems these droids are an early model of the destroyer droids used by the Trade Federation when they invaded Naboo"] Ziyal keeps her barrier up, trying

Due to its speed the droid nearly hits the Huntress. "Ok, but how do we take them down Sheila!" She responds in panic as she lands behind the droid.

["The shields deflect high velocity attacks. But are ineffective against slow and stationary objects.. an Electromagnetic Pulse grenade would be effective if rolled under them"] SH3-1LA explained. "I don't have grenades… Do any of you?"

["Oh.. and they are blind from behind"] the massive jet black droid adds. "Excellent… so I need to get inside that shield from behind" Ziyal Reponds and tries to think of a way to achieve that.. but then she realizes they drop their shields when they start rolling..

"I have an idea… Sheila get behind me.. I will try to lure it…  When it rolls this way, I will jump and you torpedo punt that bastard against the wall!" ["Affirmative Master Ziyal"] the droid responds and moves behind her.

* + - * +

“Do I look like either a droid expert or someone who would carry around grenades!?” Called out Faera sarcastically over the noise of blaster fire as she held her golden staff in front of her, shielding herself from the incoming barrage. It seemed that Ziyal had quickly planned for herself and Sheila to take out the closet droid that had turned into a rolling ball and had charged up the corridor.

It would be up to the Priestess and Zorg to eliminate the one slowly advancing towards the doorway from the room beyond.

The feline thought about what information Korg and Sheila had given her already, trying to come up with a plan.. then suddenly it hit her. With Korg still on the complete other side of the hallway, he was still way too far away to shoot at her target without risking accidently hitting herself or Ziyal, but she had another idea. “KORG! I need you to link back into the Scomplink. When I give you the signal I want you to close the blast door again..”

She waited for Korg to signal the affirmative and begin his return towards the Scomplink before she lowered her defences and broke cover from her force barrier.

Using her natural feline reflexes and agility Faera bounded forwards zig zagging, jumping, turning mid air and spinning to avoid the incoming droid's heavy blaster fire.

Once she was close enough, she would draw on the power of the force and via telekinesis attempt to Force Pull the droid, drawing it towards her. Aiming at releasing the heavily armoured robotic guardian on the very opening of the corridor's reinforced blast door. If successful, once the droid found itself pulled into the doorway she would shout out to Korg to shut the blast doors, hopefully crushing the droid between the thick durasteel blast door and the metal floor.

Force Powers used

Telekinesis: Push/Pull 3

Non force abilities used

Jump: 3

Balance: 3

[[ GM UPDATE: The rolling droid passed Ziyal then Sheila. The huntress successfully jumping out of its way in time to escape being bowled over. Once passed the droid suddenly turned and changed back to its original state again now only five metres from Ziyal and Sheila’s position but facing the both front on. Firing up its shields it quickly shoots (\*die roll) \*3 blaster bolts at (\*die roll) \*the Sephi, whose lightsabers seemed to be drawing its fire. Behind them, Faera spun and dodged the incoming blaster fire on the way to being close enough to the droid, within moments she was in striking distance to use her force pull. (\*die roll, ( -1 to force power from fatigue ) \*succeeded ) as she drew on the power of the force she noticed she was still weakened, her connection to the natural force still recovering from the fatigue of placing a force shield around ROAR-1. Luckily the force flowing through her was still enough to jerk the droid towards her, stopping directly over the blast door opening. ]]

* + - * +

Faera, the Trianii Priestess of Cathar grit her teeth as she pulled on her remaining energy reserves, willing herself onwards towards the danger despite her still being quite fatigued from the battle of Tython. Adrenaline was surging through her system, keeping her mind and muscles sharp and she wondered perhaps that and some small amount of luck were the only things that allowed her to remain unharmed so far.

A feline quick and agile leaping twist to the right, followed up by a diving reverse somersault to the left saw two heavy blaster shots skim past her without so much as a burnt tail hair. Another five well timed evasive but forward manoeuvres and she quickly found herself standing semi crouched, still in the corridor, but within striking distance of the heavy droid. Raising her right hand, her palm facing forwards towards the shielded droid, she pressed outwards with her mind and the awesome power of the force, using a telekinetic force pull technique, seeking to surround it like a huge invisible hand.

Although it was not as strong as she had been hoping for, at the optimum moment Faera closed her right hand into a fist and pulled it sharply into her chest. The heavy plated droid jerked forwards an entire six meters towards her, shields still raised. The priestess relaxed her tightly held fist at the exact moment she intended, dropping the force power and positioning the droid directly onto the currently fully opened heavy blast door opening.

“NOW KORG!!” She yelled, her voice as loud as she could make it and raising her golden staff into the air above her head and taking a big step backwards, getting herself a bit more distance from the soon to be expected closing blast door.

* + - * +

IC: K0R9

As soon as K0R9 had inserted his linkup and confirmed blast door access to the main access corridor system code: H5003, he quickly switched his robotic eyes and locked his targeting sensors directly on the Priestess Faera Sigyn as he was instructed. It certainly wasn't as easy as it sounded as one of the strange security droids turned into a kind of ball and rolled itself quickly down the corridor causing Sheila to move into the space between himself and Faera cutting off his line of sight.

“SH3-1LA! If you would be so kind as to adjust your relative spatial proximity to somewhere less obstructing to my own primary directive. May I suggest directly outside of the airlock!”K0R9 said impatiently. Shelia didn’t respond to him but kept her focus solely on her own assignment.

In just a few moments after Korgs friendly suggestion Ziyal commanded the large jet black brute to move behind her, allowing K0R9 to once again spot the Priestess. His visuals picked her up positioned in a half crouch and then there it was.. the signaling of her priestess staff accompanied by her verbal affirmation for him to do his part.

It took approximately 2.374 galactic standard seconds for the Grandmasters personal security droid to engage the scomplink again. The circular terminal linkup turning a full anti-clockwise rotation, three quarters clockwise, and finally reversing another half rotation...The action activating the emergency shutdown of the currently open H5003 blast doors and overriding the ships restrictive object obstruction security protocols. All with the intention of crushing the armed and armoured security droid between the heavy durasteel blast door and the solid metal floor.

* + - * +

The Sephi had successfully dodged the rolling droid however she also began to feel tired. "Behind me, Sheila" she repeated as she kept her eyes on the droid. It unfolded and raised its shields once more, shooting several blaster bolts in her direction. Despite her fatigue, she smoothly spinned her lightsabers, deflecting the bolts.

"Come on piece of scrap" she sneered, frustrated that the droid wasn't doing what she was hoping for.

As instructed SH3-1LA moved behind the huntress ["I am in position Ziyal"] it stated the obvious. ["Ready to torpedo punt that piece of scrap against the wall"] the large droid added with its cold emotionless voice..

"Good.. now I have to lure it" Ziyal said, mostly to herself as she wasn't sure how to do it. "But how?... eh…" the droid kept his shields up and shooting. Then she realized the droids had only been shooting at Ziyal and Feara and not at Sheila or Korg. Were they drawn to sentient lifeforms? To body heat or was it more simple than that, and they were drawn to their weapons?

These questions didn't really matter, she was still being shot at and her plan wasn't working. Ziyal backed away, closer to Sheila. "Be ready" she said, hoping the Droidika would fold and start rolling again ["I'm ready"]

* + - * +

[ GM UPDATE:

Faera & K0R9 (\*die roll result = partial success)

Priestess Faeras' plan would seem to have worked as K0R9 successfully engaged the blast doors. The large heavy durasteel slab dropped quickly from the opening above, crushing down on top of the droid positioned underneath it in the doorway although the final result was not exactly as she had anticipated.

On contact with the fast dropping door above, the droidika’s shields immediately overload, its three legs collapse under it pinning it to the ground and what could be described as its head was crushed violently downwards back into its torso. But even the weight of the door was not enough to crush it completely flat.

Instead, the crushed droid sparked, its broken gears clunked and its twisted metal body groaned while its many servo motors tried desperately to fight against its constrained situation and failing critical systems. Its onboard targeting system completely inoperative and weapons systems seconds from shutdown the security droid managed to shoot one final blind volley of heavy blaster fire into the corridor.

( \*damage die roll ) total of 6 final blind shots fired (20 sided die)

4-Faera hit, 10-SH3-1LA hit, 13-Ziyal hit, 17 K0R9 hit, 20-Droideka hit, Remaining numbers- shot misses any of the party.

Results

Shot 1- rolled 2 miss

Shot 2- rolled 20 Droideka hit

Shot 3- rolled 7 miss

Shot 4- rolled 7 miss

Shot 5- rolled 6 miss

Shot 6- rolled 12 miss

One of the stray blaster bolts looked like it would hit the Huntress in the back but narrowly missed her right shoulder, missing by less than an inch. Fortunately the close call was the only one of the droids blind shots to come close to an enemy target. In fact, the only shot to find a mark strikes impotently against the 2nd Droidika’s active energy shield and instantly dissipates. It would seem the force is truly with our hero’s today.

* + - * +

Ziyal & SH3-1LA (\*die roll result = success)

Ziyal deflects the incoming blaster fire and backs away, trying to draw the Droideka into rolling towards her again. More blaster fire behind her and a stray blaster bolt flies past her left side, hitting the droid flush. Its energy shield crackled for a moment, the droid halting in its tracks recalibrating its shields optimal energy distribution but otherwise no damage was done.

Another blaster shot whistles by, this time barely missing Ziyals right shoulder by merely a few centimetres before sailing off into the distance and finally striking harmlessly against the closed blast door on the other end of the darkened corridor.

The Droideka facing her, possibly reacting to the incoming blaster fire or the extra distance between its target once more shuts its shields down and folds its limbs inside itself, transforming again into a ball of thick armour plating then once again rolling itself directly at Ziyal.

* + - * +

IC: Ziyal Moya

Slowly the Huntress had backed away, hoping that the droid would come rolling. But before anything like that happened she heard the noise coming from the other side of the corridor, where the white furred priestess successfully positioned the other droideka under the blast door. The sound of metal grinding and sparks echoed down the corridor as the door crushed the droid. 'One down' Ziyal thought without looking, so it surprised her when she heard shots being fired still.

One blaster bolt hit the other Droideka, but unfortunately it caused no damage at all "Kriffing piece of scrap metal!" Ziyal said through grinded teeth. But then finally the Droideka drops his shield and rolls up.

"Yes… get ready Sheila, hit that ball!" She said as she watched the droid come her way. ["I'm ready"] the large droid said. The Droideka came speeding her way, at the last moment Ziyal Jumped aside, screaming "Now!" As Ziyal rolled and jumped back onto her feet, SH3-1LA kicked the incoming ball, sending it back against the wall. With its shields down, Ziyal hoped it would shatter on impact.

* + - * +

[[ GM: Ziyal & SH3-1LA - (Successful) As Ziyal rolls to the side the mighty SH3-1LA plants her two large arms against the metallic floor of the corridor and uses them as supports to simultaneously both lift and swing her shorter stubby hind legs forwards at the incoming balled up Droidika. The sound of metal on metal impact was like that of two freighter trains crashing to each other at high speed. The sheer force of Sheila’s near four tonnes of laminasteel coated durasteel was too much for the droidika to withstand and the security droid was sent flying sideways against the wall of the corridor at force, totally shattering and twisting its metal internal skeleton. The security droid seemed to sit a meter up the side of the corridor wall for a second before it dropped with a metallic sounding thud. Still rolled in a ball however, despite it’s metal plating sitting much looser it seemed as though the heavily armoured droid was going to attempt to stand up and continue the fight. But that threat was short lived as one by one it’s armour plating quickly fell off its damaged frame and in moments it was nothing more than a heap of buzzing scrap on the floor. ]]

* + - * +

Surprised by the sudden volley of blaster fire from the semi crushed droidika Faera desperately lunged sideways and rolled in an effort to avoid the incoming fire. Six shots in total before the droids weapons systems finally shut down but not before several loud metal sounds came from behind her, and then a crash followed soon after by a light sizzling and buzzing noise. The Trianii turned to see Sheila and Ziyal standing nearby, unharmed and with a smashed heap of heavy security droid now crumpled against the wall near them.

“well that was close..I hope there aren’t any more.” said Faera, picking herself up off the floor groggily and removing a blackened silver dagger with aqua engravings from a thigh sheath that was hidden just out of view under the split in her gown. “ She walked over to the half crushed, still sparking and buzzing droidika jammed between the floor and the blast door and on finding an exposed lume of central wiring in its upper skeleton she finished it off with one forceful cut.

The instantly droid shut down its remaining systems, leaving it nothing more than a large, crumpled, smoking metallic doorstop. “Korg! can you open the door again please?!” She shouted out across the corridor. Korg didn’t verbally respond but a few seconds later the heavy blast door reopened. Allowing the now crushed droidika to fall lazily to the ground and revealing the large open room behind it. “Ziyal, you ok?” She asked, taking stock of the situation. She hadn’t forgotten that the dark woman had also just been in the midst of a firefight and although at first looked to be physically ok she wanted to be sure.

* + - * +

Ziyal used the momentum of the rolling motion to get onto her feet at one. Her silver eyes shimmered in the lighting as she watched SH3-1LA perform the kick. Eyes wide, she made a little jump of joy when the Droideka crashed into the ball. "And she scores!!.. 6 points for Sheila!" The Sephi exclaims.

For a moment, when the droid had dropped to the floor it moved and at once Ziyal stopped jumping and took a defensive stance. But to her relief the shattered droid dropped onto the floor once more. "Well done Sheila" The Sephi said. ["Thank you Ziyal, I shall keep score from now on…. 6 points for us.. how much points do the others have?"] Ziyal raised her eyebrows in surprise. Then she leaned towards the droid and raised her hand to shield her mouth from Faera and Korg "Just one" she whispered with a wink as the Trianii walked over to the crushed droid to put it out of his misery.

"We are just fine" Ziyal responded as she walked over to join Faera. "Sheila did a wonderful job" she added as she glimpsed at the black droid who raised its big hand and gave them a thumbs up. "I must say that your plan was really good as well. Well done" she said as she kicked the crushed droid on the floor to see if it was really dead. "I hope there aren't any more but we should be prepared to come across more of those metal balls… now let's see if we can find anything useful." Ziyal said and was ready to continue their investigation

* + - * +

“Well done everyone I'd say.” Priestess Faera said with a satisfied smile. As Korg approached the group once more. She sheathed her blade and nodded to Ziyal in agreement. “Looked like that room was clear. Let’s get going.” She added, placing the butt of her staff on the floor she led the way through the opened blast door and past the destroyed droid, using her golden staff like a walking stick as she went.

* + - * +

[[ GM UPDATE: past the blast door the corridor opened up into a large open briefing or command room of some kind. The room was roughly twenty metres square with just the one other exit located on the wall to the right of them. There were no desks or chairs however around the edges like other command rooms but built into the walls were many display screens. None save for one seemed operational. The exception was a larger display and was central to the northernmost wall mounted quite high and roughly three metres long and high. Unlike all the other screens which were off, this one seemed to be on standby with low glowing light and a single flashing green dot at the base of the terminal following three displayed letters that read S.I.R. A large table was central to the room with a holoprojection table in the middle, oddly there was only one singular high back chair positioned next to it. On the chair was the only thing inside the room that held any kind of identification of the ship's origins. A strange emblem embroidered into the seats leather high back. Other than that the room was empty and once again silent save for the same constant dull whitenoise of the air scrubbers. ]]

* + - * +

IC: Huntress ZIyal Moya

Without hesitation, Ziyal followed the white furred priestess, but unlike her she kept her lightsabers in her hand. 'You never know what is lurking around the corner' she thought to herself as she stepped into a large room.

The Sephi stopped in her tracks and gazed around the square room. Puzzled that there was only one chair and desk at the center of the room. After a moment or two she continued walking, approaching the chair. "Look, there's some kind of sigil" she said as she pointed to the emblem that was embroidered onto the chair. Tilting her head she curiously looks at the sigil, wondering what it stands for. "It doesn't look like Sith or Empire.. but I have a feeling I've seen it before.. or something like it" she says and looks up at where the others are. "What do you think?" She asks Faera and then sees K-0R9

"Korg, do you know anything about insignia?" She asks knowing he wasn't an ordinary security droid. ["Grand Master Bathor had equipped me with SyntheTech AA-1 VerboBrains and a TranLang III communications module. I should be able to identify most sigils around the galaxy."] the droid responds. "Can you tell us what this one stands for?" She asks. ["Ofcourse"] the droid said coldly and approached her. The large droid stopped next to her and glanced at the emblem. ["That is and old sigil of the Republic.."] the droid says.. "the old Republic?" ["indeed"]

* + - * +

Faera walked into the square room and was surprised to see it sparse of more droids, people, information or even clues as to what sort of vessel this was, or even its purpose. For such an open room that was a central point in the vessel there was almost nothing to say it had been used recently at all save for a single chair.

After seeing the chair, the only thing she saw that pointed to any evidence of sentient life aboard she could only assume that despite its size, the starship was designed to house only a small crew. Faera raised her head and noticed the many terminals and screens that lined the walls. All seemed to be non-functional at a glance except for one. The largest seemed to glow in a low light and was hung centrally on the other side of the room. There were digital letters on it that read S.I.R.

"Look, there's some kind of sigil" Said Ziyal cutting into the silence and approached the holo table and chair in the centre of the room, instantly turning Faeras attention towards the silver haired woman.

"It doesn't look like Sith, or Empire.. but I have a feeling I've seen it before.. or something like it" the Huntress said and looked up at where she and the two droids had stood. "What do you think?" She asked the Trianii “I’ve no idea.. but just the look of it seems familiar to me as well.” said Faera as she stepped forwards to have a closer look. She didn’t recognise it exactly as she gently brushed her hand across the chairs leather although something about it did indeed seem very familiar. Stylistically, she noticed, the symbol resembled an old Jedi insignia she had seen in her travels before arriving at Tython.

Before the Priestess could voice her experience, Korg, in response to Ziyals request, moved up next to her and also took a turn examining the emblem. Faera decided to remain silent for the moment, wanting to see if he could provide an answer to the problem. Sheila however, remained stationary at the door they had just entered through and stayed silent, surveying the room.

["That is and old sigil of the Republic.."] Korg said almost immediately.. "the old Republic?" Replied Ziyal with surprise. ["indeed"] Korg replied.

Faera looked up at the Droid and cast a confused look at the Sephi, confused as to what Korg had just announced. “You mean… the old, old Republic?” Faera repeated, just for clarification she had heard him correctly and it wasn’t her mind playing tricks on her. [“indeed”] repeated Korg perfectly mimicking his previous response. [“This symbol was used as the official emblem of the Galactic Republic from its inception up until around 1,100 years before the battle of Yavin. Or if you prefer masters Ziyal and Faera, the year 35,353 Tho Yor Arrival. Hence, the definition as being labeled old.”]

Faera swallowed and scratched behind her right ear which she sometimes did when faced with confusing problems. “Ziyal.. What would a ship over twelve hundred years old be doing out here? And how in the Mountain's God's name is it still operational?” She said slowly, trying to understand it.

* + - * +

[ GM UPDATE ]

Suddenly almost as in response to the conversation, the large screen on the North wall activated. Throwing a bright white glow across the room before quickly dulling off, scrambling with static and then finally refocusing into the picture of a males face cast in the terminal's electronic green hue. It didn’t say anything, but was saluting and looking forwards expectantly, as if waiting to be spoken to.

Next to the males face was the SIR initials again, but this time the full words spelled out “System Integration Regularity”

* + - * +

IC: Ziyal Moya

It seemed Faera was just as surprised as Ziyal when Korg stated the sigil was from the old Republic. "That's very old" she said and looked around "but they did a great job at its maintenance. This ship looks brand new" she noted in astonishment.

Ziyal looked over at the white furred feline as she stood there scratching behind her ear. "I have no idea. It's definitely strange" she said as she walked towards the only screen that seemed to have power.

Just before she reached It, the screen flickered on. For a moment Ziyal froze and just stared at the image that had popped up. Not sure if it was a recording or live. "Is he…. Looking at us?" She whispered to her furry friend as she looked at the man's eyes and swore he was looking at them..

"Hello?" Ziyal eventually said and waved at the screen. "Can you hear us?... who are you?..."

* + - * +

“Ummm… I’m not quite sure…” Faera whispered back to the Sephi as she too looked up to the male face that was now on the screen. Ziyal was the first to speak and the Trianii girl held her breath but kept her senses alert waiting for any response it may have.

* + - * +

[[ IC: S.I.R “That’s hello Sir if you don’t mind. I’ll not have proper decorum ignored on the Captain's ship thank you. No matter if he is aboard or not.” Said SIR. The computerised but clearly human voice was somewhat irritated to have been addressed improperly. The face frowned, looked down at Ziyal and lowered its hand. Then as if flicking a switch the screen flickers briefly once, and the voice changed tone from annoyed to that of a friendly and helpful assistant. The face as well had changed from a scowl into a bright smile. “However, I must say It is nice to have someone to speak to other than mousers and security droids, they can get so boring after a while.” SIR cleared his throat and raised his chin proudly. “Yes, forgive me of course, the proper introductions. In answer to your first question, yes. Yes, I can hear you. And in the answer to your second question, I am SIR. System Integration Regularity. My function is pilot, navigator, security, ship's log… basically I AM this starship, The Truth Hunters’, very brain and lifeforce.” SIR kept his chin up, speaking with pride and as one with superior prestige or station. ]]

* + - * +

Faera looked at Ziyal then back to the screen, SIR’s face had not changed and once again seemed to be waiting to be addressed. “So, you're an Artificial intelligence then? Like a droid?” Asked the Priestess.

* + - * +

[[ IC: S.I.R “A term I find highly offensive, madam. But I suppose not one that is entirely inaccurate.”SIR replied. Now, may I ask who you are? ]]

* + - * +

IC: Huntress Ziyal Moya

With a raised eyebrow, Ziyal tilted her head, not sure what to make of the strange male on the screen. She stepped a little closer, examining the screen as it continued to speak to them.

But when she noticed SIR looking at her, waiting for a response, she stepped back and cleared her throat. "I am Ziyal Moya, Huntress of Misty Falls.. this" she pointed at her white furred companion "is Priestess Faera Sygn and that's Korg and Sheila" she added and pointed at the two droids.

For a moment she paused, not sure if she should be honest about why they were there. As SIR had mentioned, he was the ship, he controlled every system including the door locks and life support. He could kill them if he wanted to.. No, Ziyal thought it best to be cautious. "We don't exactly know where 'here' is" she said with a furrowed brow, "we don't even know how we got here… your long range sensor might have picked up on the portal that we came through" she added and glanced at Feara for a moment. "Our ship is damaged and we have no fuel, we came on board hoping to find help and supplies."

* + - * +

Faera listened to Ziyal as she spoke. Clearly this SIR ship AI was a bit touchy when it came to manners. Lucky the Priestess had spent several years in service inside the royal Palace on Cathar and knew how to act when trying to impress. Smiling, she grabbed the side of her blue gown nearest her knee and did a polite courtesy when it was her turn to be introduced. Her white fluffy tail swishing lightly behind her.

* + - * +

IC: SIR

The Truth Hunters AI interface listened to Ziyal introduce her group and his eyes flicked around as she spoke, looking at each of them as though analyzing each one during the introduction. Proudly he lifted his chin up as Priestess Faera showed him the due respect he deserved as the one in charge of the vessel. He held that pose for some time, unblinking and looking down his nose at them both as the Huntress explained their situation.

“It is good to meet you ladies…” he said to the two women, totally ignoring the two droids and deliberately refusing to make eye contact with either of them. Please, although the Captain is male, allow me to change into something a bit more feminine to help put you both at ease. I'm nothing if not a good host.”  he added, then for a moment the face disappeared from the screen leaving it just as blank as they had initially found it.

“There we go….. Now. Where were we?” said the AI, reappearing suddenly and wearing what seemed to be an elaborate female wig on his head. He looked ridiculous, but his facial expressions were quite stern as he addressed the two women standing in front of him.

“Errhhmmm.. Ok.” SIR said, clearing his throat. Which was also a weird thing for an AI to be doing as technically they had no throat nor breathed any air that could cause it to become dry. “In reply to your first comment… allow me to eighteen you.“ For a moment, SIR disappeared and almost instantly an expanded Galactic map appeared on the screen with a small but brightly lit flashing yellow dot. It was obvious just by looking at the rest of the map the yellow dot was the system they were in. The AI’s voice rang out explaining the Map as it was displayed.

“You, that is to say we, are here.” the yellow dot on the screen suddenly became even brighter and flashed to a quicker rhythm.

“I'd tell you a name.. but the fact is this is still very much an uncharted region of space and no name has been allowed to this sector yet by the Galactic Republic. The closest location I can provide is, we are in the D-9 quadrant of the standard Galactic map and somewhere near the Csilla System.”

* + - * +

Faera looked closely at the map.. It seemed as though they had been transported halfway across the galaxy by that wormhole. “Ziyal… Korg… Are you getting this?” she whispered, taking a step closer to the screen and looking up to the display in visible astonishment.

* + - *

“In response to your second question, sadly no. This ship's scanners, homing beacons as well as its communications are nullified by the black hole. As long as we are on this side of it, it is impossible to communicate with the rest of the galaxy.

I too was in low power mode, and so wasn't aware of your presence until you were just some several hundred meters away from this location.

* + - *

IC: Korg

“What Masters Ziyal and Faera really want to know is, whether you are actually going to help us or not? I do suggest you agree, I would hate to put holes in your pretty, antique ship!” blurted out Korg who seemed to be lacking in patience even more than normal and clearly taking some offence to not yet being addressed. He saw Farea turn and glare at him. She clearly wasn't happy with the outburst.

* + - * +

IC: SIR

The Galactic map suddenly vanished and was replaced by an angry faced ship's AI. “Do not dare speak to me like that DROID! Or I will gladly eject you with a one way ticket into the local trash compactor unit. You know.. The large black thing between us and that sun out there! You may have seen it on your way in if you weren't so busy giving your large friend over there an oil bath.”

It was meant to be as insulting as it sounded, but Sheila who was still sitting by the door that everyone had first entered, merely turned her head at the sound of her name and waved at the wall mounted AI Screen.

“Anyway…” the face flicked back to the once again more calm look of SIR with a female wig on. “As I was about to say… Yes, I have all those things you seek aboard and would be all too happy to help you. But, I'm afraid ladies I cannot do anything until my Captain returns. You see, I've been instructed to remain here until he returns from his final expedition on the planet below.

* + - * +

From the corner of her eyes she saw Faera make a curtsy towards SIR. Ziyal raised an eyebrow, thinking it was a bit too much, but when she saw that the ship's AI seemed to respond well to it she figured maybe it was worth it. A little more awkward than the Priestess, Ziyal made a curtsy and put on a fake smile as she bowed her head. Then anxiously she waited for SIR to respond, still worried that this artificial intelligence was going to turn on them.

To her surprise it worked, the ship's AI responded positively and seemed cooperative. When he suddenly disappeared she glanced at Faera with a smile and thumbs up, feeling positive that they might get the help they need. When the AI returned on the screen she turned back and gasped, not really knowing how to respond to its ridiculous attempt to change gender. "Welcome back" Ziyal tried her best not to laugh.

Her silver eyes widened as Ziyal glanced at the galaxy map that SIR. They had traveled from the Deep Core to unknown Regions in mere minutes. "That's impossible" she whispered in disbelief, but having seen what was out there she knew that SIR wasn't lying. Faera also stood there in disbelief as the AI continued talking about the black hole.

Ziyal was curious to know why this ship was here, but before she could ask Korg coldly interrupted. Almost instantly the AI responded aggressively towards the security droid and for a moment Ziyal thought he was blasting them out of the nearest airlock.

"How long has your Captain been away? When will he return?" Ziyal asked, slightly impatient. "What kind of mission?" She added as she still was very curious to know.

* + - * +

IC: SIR

SIR’s green hued screen crackled and flickered for a moment with distortion before his eyes moved to look back at Ziyal who had just asked several questions regarding the Captain..

“The Captain departed for his final mission three galactic months, twelve days, sixteen hours and nine minutes ago. Not that you'd know it by the way this dreadful system's orbital cycle works.” he added in annoyance.

“In answer to your second question.. I can not say as the length of time each mission takes varies quite a bit. It's probably why the disciples prefer System Integration Regularities and mechanical crew over sentients. We don't seem to have that annoying flesh and blood habit of starving to death while we wait.” SIR raised his chin slightly, proud of this fact.

“Sadly.. In answer to your third question Madam, my programming restricts me from speaking directly about the Captains highly classified missions. Only of course you say that it is…. Highly classified.”  SIR again seemed to freeze after giving his answers.

* + - * +

The Trianii priestess glanced a confused look at Ziyals face when SIR mentioned the ship was only several years old and then once again when he mentioned the disciples.. She'd heard of many religious sects of course during her travels as a wanderer.. But those ranged from devout force monks living in isolation to the evil Sith Inquisition of the Empire. Jedi hunter's for the long dead Emperor Palpatine following the Clone Wars over a hundred years ago. Exactly what sect was the “Captain” belonging to? It was just one of over a dozen questions she still didn't understand about the whole situation and the fact they still had no new usable information was frustrating to say the least.

Faera was feeling Ziyals frustration also, radiating from her through the force. Then, the white haired feline suddenly had an idea and smiled softly to herself.. Perhaps they could trick this AI into indirectly revealing information of use.

“Excuse me… SIR?” purred Faera with a silver tongue and stepped backwards, lightly touching Ziyal on the arm, hinting to the Sephi of her plan. “I remember you saying you are the brains of this ship? The Heart, Soul and also… The Ships log?” she enquired, casting a momentary look to Ziyal as she spoke.”

* + - * +

IC: SIR

“That's right. Navigation, Security, diplomacy and protocol, ships log as well as several hundred more highly important and just as impressive titles including stand in Capitan...” SIR raised his chin in pomp and pride as he spoke.

* + - * +

“Well then, seeing that you ARE the Captain… For now anyway… I wonder if you would consider hiring me and my friends here.. As a temporary, additional crew to help boost your security.” she said, pointing to Korg and Sheila behind her. “Considering of course we DID just cost you several security droids of your own”. She added a wink to Ziyal.

* + - * +

IC: SIR

The AI looked down in thought for a moment contemplating the request. “Your proposal is an interesting one and It's not standard practice.. However, as I AM currently in charge of security… Consider your request approved.”

* + - * +

“Actually there is one….. one very small request before we make this official..” Added Faera, stepping forwards. “You do realise of course that Ziyal and I here are not droids… So we would need to see to recovering the Captain thus knowing his whereabouts sooner rather than later before we do actually starve…. That being said…SIR”. She paused for a moment for dramatic effect, “We humbly request to be able to view the Captain's recent Log entries in order to do so.” Faera bowed at the waist and waited for a reply. They were stuck without this SIR’s help she knew and she had to try something.. The Priestess only hoped Ziyal would forgive her for being so bold.

* + - * +

IC: SIR

Without moving and still looking down on the two women, SIR took a moment to consider the additional request. “Your request is satisfactory. Welcome to the Truth Hunter. Uploading the Captains latest logs. Please wait a moment…….” said SIR and his face disappeared from the screen as the requested captain's logs loaded up.

* + - * +

Faera stood as she heard the approval to see the logs. “Sorry..” she mouthed to Ziyal and looked forward again as the screen lit up to show a man making a personal video log.

\*\*\*\*\*

In a moment the large wall mounted screen sprang to life and showed the personal recording of a male near-human being with pierced pointed ears, a light covering of facial hair and striking blue eyes. He was dressed in a suit similar to light armour yet it still held an air of station or importance in its design. The recording was dated 22nd, 1549. As the man began to speak he quickly identified himself and the outline of his mission.

“Captains log; first entry. 6th month, Zhellday the 22nd, 1549 post Alaris Prophecies. Inquisitor Dorvo Hol of the Disciples of Light starship The Truth Hunter reporting.

My investigations into an unknown surge of darkside energy has led me to an unrecorded location outside of known space, somewhere beyond the Csilla System. Narrowly avoiding a black hole on the furthest side of the system I have discovered a single planet from where the corruption seems to be emanating. I’ve set up a gravity well to prevent the ship from being pulled into the black hole however communications back to Republic Space do not seem to be responding since our arrival. SIR has begun initial scans of the area and should have more information soon. Next report to be made at this same time in one galactic week. Hol out.”

* +

“Captains log; second entry. 6th month, Zhellday the 29th, 1549 post Alaris Prophecies. Inquisitor Dorvo Hol of the Disciples of Light starship The Truth Hunter reporting.

After a full week of scans we now have some basic system information to report. It seems the system is home to a single planet and accompanying moon but is, surprisingly, somehow inhabited. My next report will be in another standard week following a reconnaissance mission to the planet's surface in order to gain more local information. Hopefully I'll find where this dark energy is coming from. Hol out.”

System Name: Unknown

Location: Uncharted space, D-9 The unknown regions.

Sun: 1 \*Dying\*

Planets in orbit: 1

Moons: 1

Grid coordinates: D-9 (uncharted)

Planetary Orbital period: 1,384,947 standard days

Planetary Diameter: aprox 10,200 kilometers

Hours in a day: 29 galactic standard hours.

Atmosphere Type: I (breathable)

Climate: Cold to Temperate

Primary terrain: dead jungles, mostly barren wastelands, black lakes and possibly underground caverns.

Inhabitants: humanoids or near humanoids of unknown type.

“Captains log; third entry. 7th month, Zhellday the 6th, 1549 post Alaris Prophecies. Inquisitor Dorvo Hol of the Disciples of Light starship The Truth Hunter once again reporting.

Mission Log: Day one. I have just landed on a three day exhibition on the nearby planet. The surface is dead. Mostly barren rock and rotting vegetation. It seems that due to the black hole it never seems to see any direct light from the sun. If it wasn't for the faint glow of the small ring of light visible from the edges of the black hole I'd be in constant and total darkness . . Downloading pictures now”.....…“However, surprisingly even with the lack of sunlight the world has not frozen over. I assume subterranean magma lakes or the likes are still warming the planet from below its crust. I've encountered no sentient beings yet and the force seems to be masking their location. I feel a darkness here unlike anything I've encountered, it's highly possible a force nexus is present somewhere nearby. I’ll report back with more tomorrow.”

~…~

“Mission Log: Day two. Over my travels I encountered abandoned habitats built in close proximity to each other indicating there were once civilised inhabitants living here, however they are long gone and there is no sign of life anywhere. Further investigation did bear fruit however, as despite the age and lack of technology there are some remaining artworks inside one of the buildings that has hinted to more information about the planet. It seems the world was known to the locals as Erebus, the moon was called Nyx and the sun was named Baldur. There are what look to be words etched on the wall in a mural-like feature that may provide more information but I can't make them out. I'll need to get SIR to decipher them when I return to the Truth Hunter. One more thing… The artwork depicts Erebus as being a lush green world, nothing like what I'm seeing. Hoping I can get more information as I continue to search. I'll report back again tomorrow. Hol out.

~…~

“Mission Log: Day three. After two days without seeing a soul I finally located a civilian camp. The population seemed very primitive and near human in appearance. Marking the camp's location on the map now for further study’... Taking up a position far enough away to not be noticed via macrobinoculars I observed the local sentients for several hours. They seemed agitated. Constantly on edge and several mounted patrols both left and entered the compound over that time. I estimate their numbers to be somewhere in the hundreds although as to whether or not there are similar colonies nearby is unknown.. Perhaps the patrols are hunting parties? It's doubtful they are aware of my presence however I decided it best not tempt fate and to return from the expedition for SIR to run further diagnostics.

As per standard practice I avoided returning to the shuttle via the same route in case of being tracked. It was then, as I walked the edge of a dark lake that bordered a vast forest of dying trees I saw at a distance a small child. A Human girl dressed in tatters. She was dirty, half starved and she was waving at me. Almost like she was warning me of something. I began to approach her but as I got closer she turned and ran off into the trees, moments later a patrol came by and I hid as not to be seen. She did not return from the trees after the patrol left yet I have a feeling the force nexus may be close by. Hol out.”

* + - * +

“Captains log; fourth entry. 7th month, Zhellday the 13th, 1549 post Alaris Prophecies. Inquisitor Dorvo Hol reporting from back aboard The Truth Hunter.

It's been a week since I embarked on my mission planetside and the memory of the girl haunts my dreams yet her image seems to change each night. One night she has Horns and her face bears tattoos. Next she appears with pointed ears, silver hair and eyes.. The next night she still appears to me as a white furred feline and then last night her skin was a greenish blue colour. I'm certain that it's the force speaking to me..but even through meditation I'm unsure as to the meaning behind her presence and even more confused as to the change in her appearance… I shall ponder the meaning behind this more...

On a different note, I'm pleased to announce that SIR was finally able to decipher and solve the mystery of the scripture I found inside the structure. It's an unusual mixture of old galactic basic and a scarcely seen tongue from a nomadic people known as the Chiss. The scripture tells of the following story..

It seems that close to two thousand years ago the planet Erebus was first discovered and settled by a colonisation transport of Chiss and their workforce of human slaves in the unknown regions, this small planet was lush, untouched and teeming with life. A dream come true for its new nomadic inhabitants due the fact that the traditional seasons did not seem to occur on Erebus because of the planet's unusually slow orbital rotation of its only sun, Baldur. Every day was perfectly mild with only the usual regular rain patterns strongly encouraging rapid flora and fauna growth. The small planet quickly became the sought after foothold that could act as a foundation staging ground for further Chiss expansion into the unknown regions.

About five hundred galactic standard years after first being settled, a small black hole was first discovered on the other side of its sun Baldur feeding off the sun's solar flares. The Chiss Ascendancy, realising that one day the planet and most likely Baldur itself would likely be swallowed entirely by the black hole, reluctantly decided to evacuate their newly settled paradise and leave Erebus and it's only moon, Nyx, to their fates. Many left… but somewhat surprisingly, many Chiss and also humans, mainly the descendants of the original colonies, stubbornly refused to leave their paradise. Denying the orders to return to space and remaining by their own choice, refusing to let the problems of future generations force them back into nomadic space travel.

And so they remained as the greater Chiss population evacuated, leaving them cut off from the rest of the galaxy and in isolation on their beautiful and evergreen homeworld.

Over the following seven hundred years or so, the planet Erebus slowly followed its orbital path around Baldur and began to move behind the light consuming black hole. The planet's orbital rotation of Baldur slowly but naturally separated itself from its only external light and heat source. Slowly, but inevitably the shadow of the black hole gradually covered the tropical surface in constant darkness yet the planet's air and temperature remained livable.

Some of the Chiss inhabitants retreated underground to live in the planet's extensive cavernous systems, warmed by the planet's magma core; they believed a hidden subterranean paradise existed underground, one that mirrored the planet's original beauty above with clear lakes and greenery. Even animals. These people would come to be known as The Ch'ittocasi vucum. The mural mentioned this several times and SIR has now translated this to mean “people of the Dark” in Cheunh, the native tongue of the Chiss.

Others, who refused to believe the world was doomed remained above ground, mostly Humans, now believing the dying light of Baldur being eclipsed by the growing black hole was actually a battle of the gods above. Punishing them for not dedicating their lives to them. These humans decided to migrate across the planet, keeping their mobile cities in the light of the ever shrinking Baldur as they fed off the planet's remaining resources and prayed to the heavens. They were now known as The Rot'sim'i vucum which loosely translates to “Surface people*.*

That is where the mural story ended. However I'm certain there's much more to what's going on down there. I've begun preparations for another venture down inside the next week. There are still so many questions unanswered, the least of which is regarding the abnormal concentration of darkside energy present. I cannot go back to the order without definite answers on what we are dealing with. I leave in two days and will make my report on my return, I just hope this isn’t what I think it is. Hol out.”

[ End of Chapter 1 ]