freedomliveson

You never see it coming[Freedomliveson/The Elvenqueen]

No no, I think having the Qyaari help the group.

*snaps fingers*

GOT IT

So, the reason why those not aligned with Manus are suffering from a lack of resources is because, as you pointed out, Manus and Soto have been diverting resources away from those who haven't sided with them. Maybe taking back a few supply caches could help turn the tide favor-wise?

You never see it coming[Freedomliveson/The Elvenqueen]

So we need to collaborate once more on where to go from here, seeing as just like our Council, I'm a bit stuck.

I have a couple of ideas:

-The Qyaari could offer to share resources and even grant the network access to Alliance/Qyaari resources on worlds with a strong Alliance presence. That way the heads of this network could maintain a "hands-off" approach to politics while gaining the resources they desperately need.

-The Qyaari could send a delegation to meet with Malu's contacts in attempts to try and tease the Faceless out of hiding once more. With the Faceless out of hiding and attacking leading members, it could convince those who are not aligned with Manus to join their cause.

What do you think?

You never see it coming[Freedomliveson/The Elvenqueen]

Yerbol had some experience with munitions, but that was a while ago...not to mention that he was more on the side of throwing explosives at enemies rather than disarming them. Instead of fumbling with detonators and blowing themselves up, Yerbol and Voldon erected barriers around each of the party members. Just in case something DID occur, the shields would do whatever they could to protect those enveloped in it from the worst of the blast. Thankfully with some daft maneuvering by both Sho and Ari, the bombs were disarmed and a galactic incident of epic proportions was avoided. After convening with their pilot, who professed that she would be able to get the ship up and running in a few minutes, Yerbol thought aloud to the Elder:
"It's hard to believe that Manus could have predicted that we would land on Kashyyk."
"The timing of his attack was perfect. He had it charted out down to the millisecond." Voldon briefly watched Aria walk away from their ship before turning to the other Champion and stating bluntly:
"I'll need you both absolutely focused on finding Manus and bringing him in at whatever cost."
"I figured as much. Dare I ask about our teaching schedule? What about our students?"
"They'll have other teachers who can work with them. You both are too valuable for us to not have in the field."
"Here I thought I could retire into a life of pedagogy." The jest bounced off Voldon so hard that Yerbol could feel the lack of amusement in his gut.
"Right, so what now?"
"We head back to Zinuthra and discuss our next move. Rash and hasty decisions will result in Manus gaining the upper hand. A thought out, deliberate course of action is an absolute must when facing him."
"Yet we can't really afford to sit on our hands."
"I did NOT imply that." The Elder grabbed Yerbol's shoulder, squeezing tightly as he locked eyes with the Champion.
"Manus MUST be stopped. He WILL be stopped. No matter what we must do." Yerbol could only nod, loosening himself from Voldon's death grip and went after Aria while Voldon turned around to give instructions to both Sho and their resilient pilot.

Gently coming behind her, he could now feel the doubt swirling in her mind; well, it wasn't JUST doubt. Fear, disappointment(?), anxiety and a whole other host of emotions tumbled through their bond.
"Something's bothering you." He drew her closer to him by placing his arms around her waist, kissing her on the back of her head as she relayed her concerns about what she felt the Qyaari was becoming. It took a moment or two for Yerbol to digest the sentiment, in which Sho barked for them to return to the shuttle.
"A minute, please!" Yerbol retorted with a playful wave of the hand, turning his attention back to Aria while tuning out whatever jab Sho threw their way.
"What we've been through over the past year? Bracknell, Illesia, terrorists, outlaws and so on? That takes a toll on the mind. I've noticed a bit more viciousness in my swings, more...bitterness? I don't know if that's the right word, but I think you know the feeling." He sighed, placing his chin on her head as he continued:
"What we need to remember is that we walk a fine line as Qyaari now...and sometimes that might mean we deviate from that line at times. Doesn't mean we can't get straightened out." He turned her around, their foreheads gently resting against the other.
"We'll get back to Zinuthra, get through the Elders meeting and then we can go back to our quarters. We can meditate, drink tea, even watch that movie you were trying to convince me to watch about the Wookie and the...Twi'lek?" A soft chuckle.
"And if you keep having doubts, we've got MOUNDS of teachings from Renso and other Sith that we could go through to help us better understand how to 'balance'." The shuttle's engines roared to life, prompting a nod towards their ride home.
"Let's leave before the Wookies find out we almost blew up half the Shadowlands."

"I can't believe Manus has resorted to this." Matthew sat back in his chair, his expression one of grim reverence for their new enemy. The assembled Elders and Champions seemed to all wear similar expressions after Yerbol and Aria made their report. A silence permeated the chamber for a few moments before Voldon broke it:
"We'll need to focus on two areas: ensuring that our outposts and Academy are safe from potential spies that Manus has implanted(or will try to) as well as being proactive, attempting to stay ahead of him."
"From what I remember facing off against him, Manus has a contingency plan for just about any scenario, which means that we'll have to come up with a strategy he truly won't be expecting." Malu thought for a moment before suggesting:
"If we take away his base of followers, then he won't those children to throw at us. And it's not as if there's an unlimited amount of Force Users in the galaxy. Take out his network and he should be exposed."
"Malu, you mentioned that you had contacts in this greater network of Force users, right?"
"Indeed, Matthew. And if you're suggesting I reach out to them for aid, I don't know if we'd get the results we're looking for; after all, this network was created as a way of avoiding having to associate with us. Their help would GREATLY assist in our cause, though." He tapped a knee with her right fingertips.
"Shouldn't conditioning children to mindlessly fight for a cause be enough?"
"Matthew, I don't think you quite understand how willing most of these force users are to NOT get involved in affairs involving the Qyaari. The contacts I have are only contacts because I give them resources. If that dried out, they'd disappear quickly."
"Could we spin Manus into a threat to their supposed neutrality?"
"Not really...unless Manus DOES something to sabotage the network he helped build."

This was going to be a long meeting.

You never see it coming[Freedomliveson/The Elvenqueen]

Heh, right, a Mandalorian would know how to do that much better than our pair xD

SO happy to hear about you being ok. Makes me sick to look at the carnage that's going on over there, but I'm also impressed at the positive outlook so many seem to have. Humanity can be good to each other when they want, I suppose.

Good points made by Ari! Will try to have Yerbol respond...try xD

Alliances (VenusSTAR/Freedomliveson)

"Five hundred pounds? We may have metabolisms that are hundreds of times faster than humans, but I don't think I could handle THAT much of Mr.Fang's infamous General Tso's." He placed the fried chicken breasts, mashed potatoes(a Lois Lane-Kent specialty) and green beans onto two plates before using a cautious stream of heat that ejected from his eyes in order to heat the food up.
"Here. Dorm life isn't exactly the best when it comes to food and I'm fairly certain Mom would like to know that you're eating home cooked food instead of just making it." After retrieving utensils, he handed his cousin a plate before placing himself next to her. A bite of chicken later and Kara had revealed that not only had Bruce let her in on his suspicions of Lex, but also scared her. The Kryptonian chuckled, pointing at her with his fork as he spoke:
"Don't let him frighten you. That gruff exterior hides one of the most compassionate and loyal people I know. Just takes some time AND life threatening situations to see that." After another bite of food, Clark addressed the question:
"And I don't know. Bruce can be paranoid, but I can't think of a time when he's been wrong, especially when it comes to something this large in scope. I've gone up and down the city several times a night, every night for the past few months to see if Lex was plotting something and I haven't found anything on my end. Maybe he's just gotten really good at hiding whatever he's planning. Would make sense, considering that the public would demand the death penalty for him if he so much as jaywalked." Setting his food down on the coffee table a couple of feet in front of the couch, he added:
"Not to say that you couldn't figure something was wrong. Cause, you know, you do the whole 'superhero' thing too." Clark could remember the first time they met, how raw her powers were, how uncontrolled and unrefined she was. Now Kara could hold her own against anyone, sometimes even better than he could.
"Speaking of the 'superhero' thing, I wouldn't mind having a partner to fly around with tonight. Two sets of eyes on the city should help us see anything wrong." Clark then smirked.
"Unless, Miss University student, you have homework to do. I can handle a routine patrol on my own if you need to write a paper for that one class you've been complaining about almost all semester. What was it again? Government? Gender studies? The complaints have grown to the point where I forget what you're actually grousing about in the first place."

________

"You are SO lucky I'm here already." Dick growled into the comm unit embedded in his ear, looking at the massive display that dominated this particular wall of the cave. On said monitor were a number of emails sent to and from the mayor of BludHaven that displayed communication with two well known crime bosses in the tri-state area. The dates, of course, corresponded to the days when Mayor Lavash suddenly managed to issue new campaign ads or make public appearances at country clubs far beyond a Mayor's paygrade. Dick had been working on this for several months and had finally managed to snag an encrypted harddrive from Lavash's office yesterday, deciding to drop by the cave to use Bruce's supercomputers in order to crack the encryption. This visit was SUPPOSED to be a quick entry and exit, but of course, the Man himself had to come calling with homework.
"Let me just...ok, computer's ready to receive info and could you maybe, just maybe, explain why you're in Metropolis?" It took a few seconds for Dick to remember the news reports that had been circulating the past couple of weeks, which then prompted him to add:
"Bruce, really, do you want to confront Talia about this now? Couldn't you just, I don't know, show up at the League of Shadows' lair and wait for her there instead of breaking into her fiancee's corporate headquarters? No, dumb question, you want to know now before something else bad happens, I get it." Nightwing blew out a sigh, looking up at the now blank monitor.
"You could've asked me to come out there with you. Storming Lexcorp by yourself might not be the best idea you've ever had." Fully aware that Bruce was probably scowling, looking out into the distance with grim seriousness or both, he then confirmed:
"Yes, the computer is set up to receive higher amounts of data than normal, don't worry."

You never see it coming[Freedomliveson/The Elvenqueen]

Manus turned out better than I thought! Trying to make him both parts delusional and cunning, so here's hoping I pulled it off xD

Figured that they would disarm the bombs, but let me know if you want to change that!

You never see it coming[Freedomliveson/The Elvenqueen]

"Sho makes a good point. Get as high as you can and don't fire until I give word."
"I'm staying in here, right?!" The pilot looked back at the gathering with an apprehensive smile.
"That you are. Assess damages, fix what you can from the inside and DON'T leave the shuttle unless one of us asks you to. I want to make sure the shuttle is in working order if we need to make a quick escape."
"You got it, Elder!" The shuttle door slid upward upon Voldon's slamming of a button next to the exit, the party greeted by a misty forest floor with various shades of green and beige as overtones for the foliage. Light thankfully peered in slightly from gaps in the canopy above, silvers of yellowish-silver light helping visibility dramatically. Their craft had landed in a relatively wide space flanked by a number of branching paths that led further into the wilderness, inviting any adventuring soul to have their brains torn out of their heads by looming monstrosities or fall into a trap laid by scavengers that were desperate to find their ticket out of squalor.
"Focus, Yerbol." Voldon sternly chided, feeling the Champion's drifting thoughts with agitation.
"Right, sorry. Plan?"
"They should be here momentarily. There'll be more of them than us." He motioned to the massive tree trunks surrounding the rectangular shaped clearing.
"Hide, see their numbers and then thin them out."
"Do we take them alive?"
"Manus is our primary target. The others will get in the way of that." Yerbol wanted to counter the Elder's harsh suggestion, but understood quite well from their previous encounter with these "Faceless" that they were out for blood. No need for restraint when the opponent would gladly cut your head off.

"Hide. Now." Complying with the directive, the trio of Force users scattered to different points around the clearing, Yerbol choosing a spot directly opposite the scorch marked shuttle. Sho was on her way to her own point of cover when the whine of hyperdrive engines became audible from above, then slowly grew in volume as two of the three shuttles landed parallel to each other. The same ebony colored armor with red streaks were visible as five, then six Faceless emerged from both shuttles respectively. Where was the third shuttle?

Manus must think this is a trap...or doesn't want to do the dirty work.

As the group of Faceless made their way to the supposedly defenseless shuttle, he heard Voldon cry out:
"NOW!" Two bolts cracked from the darkness of cover, slamming through the helmets of two of the operatives, bodies crumpling to the forest floor. Sabers crackled to life on both sides as the Qyaari leaped into action, taking advantage of their startled enemies, who were a hair too slow in responding to the assault. Yerbol dispatched of one with a simple thrust into the gut, twirling the blade so as to launch the body against one of the assault shuttles. In mere moments, the squadron was dispatched.
"Were they..." Yerbol's stomach churned in guilt as he stood over one of the bodies, removing the helmet to reveal a Chiss girl who looked maybe eighteen.
"So young. So bloody young."
"And more of them will die if we don't get to Manus now!" Voldon roared, a vehement glare cast at the bodies before looking upward.
"SHOW YOURSELF YOU COWARD!" The words reverberated across the forest, but also seemed to work, seeing as a few moments later the third shuttle descended and perched itself at the farthest end of the clearing. When the door slid open, a man with dark eyes and a shaved head smiled narrowly. His plated armor clinked as his boots landed on the ground, gaze moving from the Champions to the presiding Elder, smile growing slightly wider.
"Voldon. Champions." His voice had a silky gravity to it that seemed to invite questions about the greatness of who spoke.
"Manus, what in Force's name are you doing?! These are CHILDREN and you're manipulating them to serve your own agenda!"
"Children, yes. But they knew what the cost was for joining our cause. They will be remembered."
"FOR DYING IN VAIN?!" A vein in Voldon's neck pulsed in zealous indignation.
"No, for contributing to the rise of something greater than themselves." He motioned to the Force users haphazardly, hand limply pointing at the Champions particularly.
"Don't tell me that these two aren't serving the same purpose? Your anointed Champions stand as examples of something bigger than them. Same as these. They will fall, but others will take their place, I assure you. And soon, your philosophy will undo you."
"The Qyaari stand for what we should've been, not-"
"NO!" Spittle flew from Vo's mouth as he retorted:
"The Qyaari are EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE, Voldon! Can't you see that?! All this talk of Harmony and Balance WILL be distorted over time, turned against you. You can't preserve this so-called 'golden age' of Force enlightenment. In the end, we will be divided, always."
"And you're not contributing to that division?"
"I don't want unity, Voldon, I want freedom. They are two very different things. I want those who use the Force to give into it, to BECOME a living arm of the Force and use it however they wish."
"So anarchy?"
"Enlightenment! To think that every Force user could tap into their innate connection with the Force and use it however they wish! Free of philosophical restraints or codified law. Their identities BECOME the Force. They are Nameless. Faceless, if you will."
"Enough of this." Voldon's saber snapped to life.
"I'll give you one shot at surrendering peacefully." Manus let out a hearty chuckle, shaking his head as he responded:
"Always the stoic soldier, never thinking beyond the immediate battlefield. You didn't think I was completely ignorant of your ploy? I sensed you and your champion's Force energies the moment you all stepped on world. I wanted to see you face to face, to see how far you've fallen, to remind myself of what I'm fighting for." He gestured to the shuttles.
"The shuttles contain several pounds of explosives that could wipe out an entire city block. Trying to escape and chase me will only result not only in deforesting some of the Shadowlands, but also cause the Wookie delegation attempting to forge peace talks with the Alliance to have serious doubts about their partnership with the Qyaari. Reckless endangerment of their hallowed proving ground and all that." Manus stepped back onto his shuttle.
"The disarming mechanism isn't that difficult! Shouldn't take you too long."

Yerbol hated him already.

Alliances (VenusSTAR/Freedomliveson)

That sounds good! I've always pictured those two being more older brother/younger sister in their relationship.

You never see it coming[Freedomliveson/The Elvenqueen]

Yeah, Voldon's going to put Sho in a tree somewhere. A Mandalorian sniper comes in handy for back up xD

Alliances (VenusSTAR/Freedomliveson)

Here it is! Like I said, the intro with Bruce was written a while ago, so I included it there, but from here on out he's yours.

Also, feel free to get us going on the investigation of Lex if you wish :)