[Firestorm] - Darkblade & Shirai Dupar

As the time of our assault on the Dominion world of Agua’tah draws near, you and a partner - among other teams - have been assigned the task of destroying hydroponics facilities on the world’s surface. This will disrupt their food supply and distract them from our main assault.

However, we have a secondary objective, for your eyes only…

With the Grand Master’s recent campaign against undesirables and Jedi, the clan has suffered from the vocalness of Jedi sympathizers in our ranks and we now believe that the Inquisitorious has sent agents into our ranks in order to search for them. We cannot overstate the danger this puts Sadow in.

We suspect that your partner may be a Jedi sympathizer or loyal to the Inquisitorious. You are to discover the truth and confront them, if necessary.

This is a joint fiction competition. Members will sign up individually via the google form at this location and be paired randomly with another member. Each pairing will have their own Discourse thread made by one of the competition organizers. Each individual member must make at least two posts. Judging criteria will follow the Fiction Grading Rubric, but also take into consideration the flow of the story between posts. The rubric remains the same, but we will consider this factor when looking at realism and story.

Each pair will place together, so 1st place will be two members, 2nd place will be two members, etc.

Additional Rules:

• Each post must contain a minimum of 250 words
• No back to back posting by the same member

This competition will run for the entirety of the event, from March 10th-31st.

Good luck!

Shuttle
Agua’tah System
High Orbit

The feeling was back. The feeling of oncoming death. Every time he rode into battle, he still got butterflies. It was ecstatic. The giant Wookie was made for battle, he just hoped everyone else on the shuttle was built for it as well. Garbed in full battle armor custom made for his large size, he was every bit intimidating to the soldiers and fellow Dark Jedi on the transport shuttle.

Beside him was Darkblade the new Quaestor of Shar Dakhan. The Quaestor Emeritus and current Quaestor were on there way to take on the Dominion. Shirai Dupar was familiar with everyone but he never had the chance to fight beside Darkblade. It was time to see what the Mystic Dark Jedi could do in person. The pilot warned them that they were incoming to the target within 20 minutes.

The shuttle shuddered as it flew threw the atmosphere. Shirai looked over to Darkblade and through his tough Wookie accent said, “Eager to sate your blade Quaestor.”

“I will be once the decide to make this shuttle bearable to ride in.”

The large Wookie nodded as he barely fit in the shuttle along with everyone else. “I can echo that concern.” A large growl emitted from him that made the soliders sitting across shuffle uncomfortably.

“However I don’t plan on taking prisoners. I was never the capture type.”

“Lets put that skill to good use then Shirai. There will be no survivors here,” Darkblade said with a menacing glance.

Shuttle
Agua’tah System
High Orbit
34 ABY

“Sir, we are approaching the LZ, prepare for touchdown.” the pilot said as he maneuvered the shuttle near a small patch of trees.

“You’ll be about two clicks from the intended target. We will rendezvous here once you give the signal.” the pilot stated as they touched down.

Shirai Dupar was the first out of the shuttle, his bowcaster resting on his back as the Wookie stretched out and let out a low growl. The almost seven foot tall Savant was intimidating and impressive at the same time. As the Anzat strode out of the shuttle behind him, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for anyone the Wookie would come across. The animalistic temper of their race was well known across the Galaxy, and rightfully they were feared for this reason. Shirai Dupar was no different, and qualified in every aspect of this image they had for themselves.

Darkblade and Shirai were followed by a small detachment of the 1st Dark Light Company. These six soldiers were highly trained, and familiar with Darkblade’s command. Their brief interaction during a protection mission of the Wookie colony on Sepros had created a bond that Darkblade felt comfortable with. Also having familiarity with Wookies, it seemed like the only logical choice to bring them along.

The Anzat turned to address the soldiers.

“Form a perimeter and send two scouts ahead to make sure we aren’t walking into any ambush here. Map out the area and our target. Meet us back here before midnight, we will strike during the night under cover of darkness.”

The Seeker watched as the squad broke down into two teams and headed off to proceed with the given orders.

“This will give us some time to rest, stretch out and prepare for the assault on the hydroponics facilities.” the Anzat said as he spoke to Shirai. Walking towards a tree stump, Darkblade sat down on it, crossed his legs and looked at the Wookie.

“I do hope I can trust you, being a Gray Jedi and all.” the Seeker said. Carefully hiding his own alignment, making it hard for the Wookie to figure out where his loyalties would lie if he bothered to search through the Force.

Cha’kota
Agua’tah System
High Orbit

The Quaestor had questioned his allegiance after he had turned to the way of the Grey Jedi. The Sith had poisoned his mind, led him down damning paths. His body had become an instrument to an old Anzat Krath Elder in his time in Plagueis. His distrust of the Dark Jedi and Sith stemmed for their sudden betrayals to their closet allies. All in the name of the code. This was why he was not to sure what to say. Shirai looked at Darkblade with his large black eyes and replied, “You can trust me. This House, no, this clan is my family now. Its my tree away from home.”

Shirai could sense nothing in that would give him hints about Darkblade in the Force. He’s hiding something from me. There was someone he was supposed to be keeping an eye out. Who however, remains to be seen. It was highly suspicious that he could not sense his Force alignment. Noteworthy.

“Good. We need all our heads together to erase the Dominion from this system.”

“Aye. We need a purge. Let us begin.”

“We leave at night.”

They walked with a singular purpose. Boots hitting the heavy terrain in the fold of night. Scouts had confirmed key points to snub before they made their strike on the facilities. They would be hit at the same time with the added power of Jedi’s behind them. The soldiers led the way to the spots they needed to be at pointed out on the map.

Darkblade would oversee the battle. Shirai would of course be the front man on the lines leading the forces into battle. As a true Juggernaut would. Now there was only one thing to wait for.

“On your command Quaestor.” Shirai said to Darkblade standing beside him and the rest of the soldiers before they took on the facility.

Cha’kota
Assualt on hydroponics facility
Agua’tah System

“Begin the attack.” Darkblade said as he stood shoulder to arm with Shirai Dupar. The Wookie growled and led the assault down the hill as the soldiers of the 1st Dark Light Company followed behind him.

All around him the Anzat could feel that their progress so far was going well, reports coming in from the other strike teams that had scouted ahead came in positive. The first fifteen seconds went well, the Seeker already envisioning the laurels he would receive for this mission.

Suddenly, loud explosions and the screams of troops filled his comlink as he heard bursts of chatter. The Dark Side reached out to Darkblade, enveloping his body and caressing him. It whispered sweet and seductive words, confusing the Anzat and halting his reaction to the trap that had been sprung. Instantly he knew his scouts had been killed, and the trap had yet to be sprung on the troops the Wookie was leading down the hill.

“HALT YOUR ADVANCE!!” Darkblade shouted, his voice augmented by the Force in order to reach through to the charging unit.

Immediately they stopped their advance, Shirai turning towards his Quaestor. Without a second thought the Wookie started to run back up the hill to escape whatever trap had been set in the open field before them. Slightly out of breath the Gray Jedi turned a questioning eye towards Darkblade.

“Someone has betrayed us, and told the enemy of our plans. We have a leak in our small group and we need to find out who it is. My first guess would be you, Gray Jedi. You seem like somone loyal to Pravus and willing to exterminate any undesirables, even if they are your Quaestor.” Darklade spoke coldly to the Wookie before him.