Lianna's Open Orbit

"Where do you want me to go?" She tried to remember every detail about him in this moment; the smell of him, the feel of his armor, the rough of his cheek and the beating of his heart. She thought about all the stuff she had been looking through in regards to her training, her eyes slipping down to the duffle of holocrons. "What about Naboo? There used to be a neutral center of learning there. Maybe someone there can help me while I'm hiding."

"I love you too, dad. Please come home. Don't leave me alone. I'm not ready for it." She didn't speak Mando'a to him, her basic stilted and broken by her sobs. She tried to calm herself as she sank down on her bed. "I'll keep it on me all the time. Call me when you're safe."

Taung gave final instructions to his captains and generals, specifically to the captain of his Star Monitor.

"Your ship is to survive the battle unseen, and undetected, that is your highest order. There are two outcomes to this battle. I will set up a banking account with this number. If someone claims that I am dead, and I am dead, it will remain empty. If I am alive I will place 11 credits in it for a standard week. If this hasnt happened within a week, you are to take all the technology and scientists related to any projects, and leave with them. If it happens, bring them back, and tell my daughter. If that happens, someday I will return. Tell no one."

The captain had been with him since the beginning, and trusted Taung's instructions, even if he didnt quite understand them. With that Taung headed for the Orar, and the ships and army set off for Kuat.

*Work continued on the Hand of Fate. It took a few days to get the specialty parts in, but the client was very specifc in this matter. Engineers and crews worked around the clock to construct and frame out the Immobilizer.*
Cruiser Progress: 25%

*A heavily modified YT 2400 Freighter drops out of hyperspace. The cabin held two humans inside. Makhai in the pilot seat looked about and quickly spotted the newly completed Immobilzier 418. He grinned and quickly altered the freighter's course to be on a heading to dock in the bay area for the large cruiser.*

There she is, the Hand of Fate. Immobilizer's are sorely underappreciated in their ability to lock down areas and targets.

*Makhai remarked aloud. The Freighter signalled for landing and was soon granted clearance for Makhai to inspect the new cruiser.

The freighter glided in and he set to work, switching on the droids aboard the ship.*

Get the rest of the droids in the cargo hold and get them over to the system consoles for programming.

*Makhai remarked to a handful of droids.*

Roger Roger

*They remarked and began unloading several dozen pods. Siener Fleet representatives met Makhai and handed him a datapad of the specs and performance tests. Makhai quickly scanned through the reports as droids were busy bustling around to make ready for Makhai's new ship and to get the droids programmed with the ships system and information.*

Excellent, well done.

*He remarked to the representatives who had met him in the bay area.*

*Makhai's energy and excitement was palpable. Though the ship was a cruiser, not a large battleship, the Hand of Fate was still something that brought certain level of joy and excitement to the apprentice.*

We will get her underway in a few hours. We will stop and pick up supplies then bring her back to the others stocked and ready to aid in the efforts.

*He remarked to Lady Tyrana as she joined him. It was not her responsibility or duty to aid him or the ship so he did not ask her to any of it. He moved between several control panelts near the ship and watched as the droids were being programmed with the new ship functions. He was occassionally adding lines of codes and programs to the droids as the process was occuring.*

It is only a small detour and we will be underway soon.

*Makhai turned from the console to look at Tyrana as she was inquiring about their stopover. Emerald Eyes gleamed with excitement at the ship before them and the anticipation of the cruiser being put into orbit and action in a few hours.*

We will be on our way soon. Once the cruiser is ready and the droids we brought programmed with the sequences and operations for this specific ship, then I will send it to get get supplies while you and I return. I would send you in the freighter back now, but Master is very particular and if I bring it back with even a scratch, well lets just say for every gash on the freighter, I will receive 10 in return, and after hearing about your last ship...I don't much trust you with one either.

*He remarked and turned to key in a few more sequences in the command console to the droids as they waited just outside the hull of the cruiser.*

It will only be another few hours and then we will be on our way.

*A Seiner Fleet Systems Rep came up and had some things for Makhai. he turned and took the datapad and finished the transfer of funds to pay for the remainder of the cruiser's construction. He then returned to the console and tried to make some conversation to at least help pass the time for Tyrana.*

So how did you meet up wtih Big Brother anyway? He's usually very reclusive.

*Makhai listened to Tyrana start talking about Phantom. Her tone was very indicative of her fondness of the Dark Lord, reinforcing what she had blatantly stated about him being her favorite, but then her tone seemed softer as she started talking about her past. This caused Makhai to stutter his movements slightly as it caught him off guard. She was telling him about her past? Opening up even? Makhai looked at the console for another second while he wondered if this was a ploy or if she was truly being genuine.

Makhai’s fingers stopped their typing and he shifted to look at her directly as she continued on the story. Makhai watched her body language and listened intently to her story. Meanwhile the download continued and his mind raced. The story fit with her demeanor and psyche. Makhai breathed in deeply as she spoke further about meeting Phantom. It was then that he realized about how long he truly had been gone and how much he had missed with the group. Makhai had just assumed that they would accept him in their ranks, but years had passed and they now shared stories like this to help forge their bonds. It was then that Makhai realized that in the venture, he was the outsider still, but he behaved like and insider and he cursed himself for the general assumptions he had been making.*

I cannot imagine what that must have been like for you.

*It was then too that Makhai realized he had long taken his privilege for granted.*

As noted back with the others, my parents were both sith that fought alongside them. My father along with Stormro commanded the naval forces. They were a team that turned the tides of many battles. My mother was always found at the front of strike teams. She led many assaults and fights that helped break many enemy lines. My parents were in lead positions of the New Sith Order and the Kashyyyk Academy. They first met, following a battle on Telos IV. They were part of the ground assault, but somehow in the pull back, both of my parents got left behind. They fought together for mutual survival. They fought off five Jedi, a grandmaster, two masters, and two knights until the others could get back to them.

*Makhai’s eyes hazed a bit as he reciprocated her story with one of his own.*

After that they became battle partners and more. Several years later, I was born. Ferinus delivered me and upon my birth I was blessed by over a dozen of my parents’ friends with Alchemy and Magic. Things were going well for several months, until a captured Jedi was turned. My parents had been instrumental in helping turn the Jedi and for their part in his capture he took vengeance upon them and killed me in my crib while I slept. This event started a rift between my parents that several months later resulted in their divorce.

*Makhai remained steadfast in keeping his emotions in check for the next part.*

The magic and alchemy that imbued me sent me to the void. It was there that I spent many years until I was able to break free of its clutches. With my escape came several fun tricks that had been bestowed upon me by my parents’ brothers and sisters. Most notably…I am a Flowwalker.

After my escape from the void, Ver’metus found me on Kashyyyk and took me as his apprentice. I have been working with him and learning from him. My training has been very mission oriented with acquiring this and that, or targeted learning. Due to the eclectic talents of my parents we have been trying various affinities to determine my role in this group.

*Makhai remarked now too showing a hint of unease at stating himself that his role and destiny are far from determined and something he would need to prove and train up to.*