Jin Song
Member
Posts: 196 
Affiliation: First Order- Fiora Delvardus
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Post by Jin Song on Apr 20, 2024 9:13:21 GMT -8
At some point she had passed out. The poison compounding her ordeal on Coruscant since the moment she arrived, still left her feeling weak and tired. Even when she was jostled awake by a spot of turbulence. Jin slowly sat up and took in her surroundings. She wasn't restrained or contained it seemed. Not that she could stage a mutiny over this living ship. She didn't even know what anything was, assuming she was on a 'bed.' It was a relief to wake and not be in excruciating pain though. Gingerly she pushed herself up and onto her feet. She took a look around again and nearly fell as another turbulence pocked shook that creature she now stood inside of. Jin then noticed the wizened and old being that had helped her. She gave it a nod in thanks before cautiously moving about the ship. Eventually arriving at what passed for a cockpit, Jin surveyed what was happening. She still hated the Vong who had taken her, but the rage and anger had dulled somewhat, now it was less of a desire to kill, and more she wouldn't go out of her way to save him if a bus were heading straight for him. But here she was with her life in his clawed hands, she just hoped they would make it in one piece as she stood and watched the pilot at work.
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 439
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Nem Yin on Apr 20, 2024 11:19:00 GMT -8
"Finally awake, eh, infidel?" Hissed a whisper thin voice through the gills of his rebreather, the gnulliths starfish shaped exterior concealing the snide smile hidden beneath. It was not a normal means of expression for a Yuuzhan Vong, but Nem had been operating in infidel space for a long time. He'd picked up a few of their habits and eccentricities along the way. His head turned back towards the swirling view splayed out in front of him, reasserting his hold on the spokes of the nautical wheel style controls, like a modern reimagining of the Flying Dutchman told by salt water drinking Mon Calamari sailors. Bio-circuits connected the interface to the dovin basal array, allowing the Intendant to manipulate the forces of gravity to some degree, which he used to help ease the yorik-vec's passage through darkspace. "Good. You'll want to be conscious for this next leg of the trip. I know a shortcut through the Deep Core that will shave a day off our journey, though the roads a bit rougher than what I'm sure you're used to." He snorted.
Rough was one way to put it. This particular hyperspace tunnel was not entirely stable. A groan echoed through the Bleeding Orifice's inner compartments as the coral deck beneath their feet began to lightly vibrate. The Executor tilted the coral encrusted wheel to the right, visibly exerting a degree of effort as the rudder tentacles resisted him. He stared over his shoulder as he fought with the controls, attempting to gauge the Tribune Knight's mood.
"Oh, don't be so sore about this. You put up a good fight..." He considered that statement, then shrugged as he completed it. "...for an infidel, but I've been at this a long time. A long long time, Jin. Long before you were even a tiny tadpole in your Pappies scrote sack. That's how your species reproduces, correct? Regardless, you were outclassed from the start." He took his right hand off the wheel and raised his index finger towards the vein strewn ceiling. "That aside, you can take solace in the fact that you were beaten by not just any run of the mill Yuuzhan Vong, but by perhaps the greatest. We're far enough from the prying eyes and ears of Octavian's agents to allow for a proper introduction." His hand went back to the wheel and began to turn it to the left, overwhelming the inertial dampening beast as the floor briefly tilted on its axis, then slowly leveled out. "The names not Uzas. That was a lie. I tell those quite a lot, actually. The truth is I don't really have a name, not anymore. It was mine once, but now its more often worn by others. You can call me Nem, Nem of Domain Yin. The late Emperor Nicademus raised me to the mostly advisory position of First Prefect, though he was all too happy to utilize my forces as his own private mercenary army. An arrangement that actually worked out for us quite well..." His forehead dipped and he grew silent, then shook his head and continued. "...while he was alive. These days it could definitely be going better."
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Jin Song
Member
Posts: 196
Affiliation: First Order- Fiora Delvardus
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Post by Jin Song on Apr 20, 2024 12:39:56 GMT -8
Jin was getting sick of being called "infidel." Especially by Nem, he had a way with saying it that made it seem like it should rhyme with "Scum." She watched him coldly as he went on and on, first about their fight, and then about himself. So he was one of those spies. Then ones that would throw enough half truths mixed with half lies to make you question which way was up by the time they were done talking... if they ever got done talking. Jin turned her gaze out toward the gaze through what she could only guess was this thing she rode in's eye. Seeing the swirl of space wheel past her put her a bit more at ease, though not by much. Jin decided she would engage in this conversation, if nothing else than to learn more about her captor... or at least pass the time. Nicademus was a better man than I ever gave him credit for. If he hadn't worn a crown on his head and conquered my home, I may have even liked him. She sighed. I had high hopes for the future his children would build. But it seems like someone had something else in mind. Her eyes looked down at him. We infidels used to chart hyperspace lanes with our connection to the Force. If you want, I can be of some assistance. As little as she wanted to help Nem, if that was even the name he went by, she want to get back to Fiora even more, so a little pride could be swallowed to ease that journey.
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 439
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Nem Yin on Apr 20, 2024 18:43:19 GMT -8
"You don't know the half of it." He said before gritting his teeth and pulling hard the other way, causing the ship to appear to list to port if what they were seeing through the window was any indication. A hard crack rang through the interior even as the rear bucked as though it had collided with something, despite still traveling through hyperspace. Those signature swirling blue bands appeared off kilter, like a spinning top that had begun to wobble. "Neither do I for that matter, but someone stood to gain from this civil war, and I know it wasn't me given just how terrible things have gone so far for my people. I'd sorely like to get to the bottom of this whole orchestrated plot and plant my coufee in their chest; however, without knowing their identity and location, the only prudent course of action is to stop what they intend. None of this had been random. Someone wants Octavian and Fiora to go to war, and they are clever. I've worked for clandestine organizations before and the resources required to position the right people, to put this whole terrible event into motion...it would be an immense undertaking." Years ago, Nem's services were acquired by a secret group known only as the Organization, whose mission was the systematic elimination of all Force sensitives in the galaxy. They had mostly been interested in the information his intelligence network could provide, but he'd be lying if he said he'd never hunted down a few targets for them. It was the sort of work members of his Domain were uniquely suited for. He shook his head. "It's late in the game and they're already several steps ahead while those of us driven to know the truth are trying to play catchup."Long spindly digits thrummed on the uneven surface of the yoke as Nem peered out into the stellar abyss. Crushing gravity and intense radiation had the ominous effect of turning the usual swirling blue bands of hyperspace a nightmarish dark red. His crooked teeth parted in a wild grin as he faced down the forces of nature, riding out the worst they could throw at him. Appearing from an adjoining chamber, the decrepit reptilian manservant of the Executor appeared with a pair of bladder-flasks, essentially a bulbous sack full of liquid not so dissimilar from an animal skin, save that this receptacle was still alive. The Intendant took one hand off the wheel and pried the gnullith from his face with a wet tear, then slapped it against his side like a slab of meat. With the same hand he took one of the bladder-flasks and stroked the narrow end with his thumb, causing it to form a seam from which to pour. He raised the container and let the liquid contained within flow into his open mouth. It didn't run quite like water, their was a slight viscosity to it, and the hue was more of a bright amber colour. That's because it wasn't water. Smacking his lips after imbibing half a flasks worth of narcotic sparkbee honey, Nem dragged the back of his hand across his mouth, wiping away any clinging residue. By this point Scab had moved to Jin's side, offering her the other container, its eyes focused on the floor.But Nem wasn't done rambling. "That's why what we are doing is so important. If we can prevent the final battle from happening, and sit all the key players down together, we can begin to piece this conspiracy together and discover the real traitors at the root of all this. That only happens if you can convince Fiora to stand down. Once the battle for Coruscant is through, Octavian will be coming for his sister with a vengeance. The Ren must stand down or this won't just be a battle for one world, it will be a war for all of them. Peace and an end to this conflict, or a war that will drag on for years and cost trillions of lives, what would you prefer? The choice is clear." His breath reeked of honey as he spoke at her. "I may be a bastard, Jin, but I understand something about duty. I knelt before Octavian at the coronation, like all the others, but before that I pledged my loyalty to his father who honoured his oath to my people. I swore to protect his Empire from those that would destroy it, to be his hidden blade..." His knuckles cracked and he looked over his shoulder at her. "They call you Tribune Knight. Well, I am a knight as well. In the untamed regions of Wild Space, they know me as the Crab Knight of Adumar. I fought His enemies, I kept my oath. I would just like to kindly remind you of yours before we reach our destination."As for her offer... That he couldn't refuse. Nem had many dealings with Force sensitive individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds over the years and had learned the value of their special powers. Not only did he pride himself on never underestimating them, he also was often surprised when their abilities couldn't achieve some action or goal. Plus besides the fact that the ship was fighting him, the sparkbee honey had gone straight to his head. Better to let someone else fly for a while. He turned around and stepped aside, gesturing from Jin to the controls."Alright, infidel." He grinned snidely. "Let's see what you can do. Take the wheel."
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Jin Song
Member
Posts: 196
Affiliation: First Order- Fiora Delvardus
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Post by Jin Song on Apr 20, 2024 20:35:04 GMT -8
Jin stood by and listened to what was said, her eyes were busy watching his hands movements on the beasts controls, or the Vong equivalent of such things. She couldn't help but let out a single chuckle and a small smile as she realized how similar the two of them were. If it had been any other situation, any other approach from either of them, they could have been strong friends. But now they were uneasy allies. Between their agreement that someone else was behind the whole affair, and their desire to stop it as peacefully as possible, Jin knew that they were at least both working towards the same goal. Though, she reminded herself, he is a spy and practiced lier, so who's to say how much was true. That's why I left her side in the first place. I was in the meeting where she was briefed by Harnan and Silas about the deaths of the Royals of Empress Teta. Harnan and Silas both said all evidence pointed toward Octavian and Brock... I didn't believe it... How could I? I knew Brock wasn't the biggest fan of the Ren, but he and Octavian were like Fiora's family, why would they seek to destroy her? So I left to try and find a peaceful solution before Harnan and SIlas could convince Fiora to go to war. She politely declined the offering of a drink, especially after seeing the contents. But I didn't get the chance. By the time I arrived to the capital the Palace was already fallen and I was over run. By the time I escaped my prison, it was too late to stop anything. Roland offered to smuggle me off world but I couldn't leave. I had to fight alongside the Knights... By this time she had slipped into the pilots position. Tentatively gripping the yoke and trying to decipher the controls. You know, I more meant I would focus on using my Precognitive abilities, not pilot, but if you insist... She slowly began to get acquainted with how the creature operated, gently steering, focusing on what lay in the vastness of space, trying to identify pockets of danger or resistance before they got to this void she felt like she was flying. I had thought by staying with him, I would show that their didn't need to be hostility between our factions... I felt like I had a better chance convincing Octavian to seek peace than try and wrestle against Harnan and Silas' influence...
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 439
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Nem Yin on Apr 21, 2024 9:57:55 GMT -8
"You were played." He said with certainty. "Harnan and Silas, or whoever is pulling their strings, they told you exactly what they wanted you to hear in order to separate you from the Princess. The moment your voice of reason was absent to serve as a counter to their war-mongering, they used their influence to set Fiora on her current path. They might still have been playing you if I hadn't intercepted you in Galactic City. Think about it. What would have happened if you had reached Octavian? Even if he would have listened, the Imperial loyalists under his command can't afford to wait after taking Coruscant. Every day delayed is another the Ren have to strengthen their current position. Octavian will never have a better opportunity to attack. And if he didn't listen, at best you might have placed a sliver of doubt in his mind about his sister, enough to cause him to hesitate at an opportune moment. Either way the Ren benefit." While he didn't have the details, it was possible even the Tribune Knight's prison break had been a part of the conspirators plan. There were layers to this, layers upon layers, and Nem didn't know if he was still outside the jogan fruit or somewhere beneath the peel.
"So, we divide and conquer, beat them at their own game. When we arrive at Empress Teta, we make ourselves known in a very public way, so they can't just make you disappear again before word reaches the Empress' ear. You focus on getting Fiora alone and do whatever it takes to get her to see reason, while I do what I can to keep Harnan and her other generals occupied by offering them something they'll have no choice but to consider." He sneered arrogantly. "Me. While I'm sure Harnan is as eager as I to continue the duel we started in the bowels of the Thanatos, he won't be blind to the tactical gains an alliance with the Praetorite Vong would offer the Ren, especially given how entrenched our forces are in the loyalist camp. When Octavian makes his move, my people will be perfectly positioned to cut off the loyalist retreat, effectively sandwiching them between the Ren and the Yuuzhan Vong. Even if they don't trust me, and for good reason, it's not an offer they will be able to ignore without at least some consideration." It was a risk. He'd be walking right into the Voxyn's den, but, this bissop wouldn't be doing it along. Jin's mission was no less precarious, especially given just how ruthless the other players had proven themselves to be. They'd both benefit from keeping one hand on their blade at all times.
"However, if Fiora can't be dissuaded from her current path, this won't just be a ploy. It may be the best play that my people still have to make. I don't relish the prospect, but turning the tables on the loyalists and cornering them in enemy territory ought to be enough to break the back of the fleet they've assembled, effectively ending the war another way. A much bloodier way." He shrugged. "So let's hope you're very persuasive, Jin."
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Jin Song
Member
Posts: 196
Affiliation: First Order- Fiora Delvardus
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Post by Jin Song on Apr 22, 2024 18:43:47 GMT -8
It still didn't sit right with her how quickly Nem was willing to turn his back on the person he swore his loyalty to, after lecturing her about duty. But she did understand why, he had his people to worry about. Their future was his priority, and probably the only thing she had learned about him that she actually believed. Her focus mostly on piloting now, and avoiding the worst of the 'potholes' ahead, Jin gave a single nod in agreement before glancing back at the talkative Vong. I'll do my best, but I don't know how deep the Ren have sunk their hooks into her... and if you need any help with Harnan, do let me know. I want a piece of him for this.
Jin was gentle with the ship-beast that she now sat in "control" of. Mostly out of respect for the massive creature that now literally held her life in its belly, but also a slow building respect for the Vong. As she had felt on Coruscant, it was hard to forget, especially after the stories past down by the elders. Stories to be told when the lights would go out, and everyone was huddled around the single battery powered heater in the apartment common room. The horrors of the occupation had grown and morphed into proper ghost stories, even further exaggerated than the already frankly terrifying truth. She had never met someone of Nem's species and he had certainly lived up to the tales of their warrior spirit and prowess. She'd like another go, particularly when she wasn't already run down and tired.
As for making an entrance: Uh, how's the response time on this thing to come to a dead stop out of hyperspace?
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 439
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Nem Yin on Apr 24, 2024 7:43:11 GMT -8
There was clearly no love lost between Harnan and Jin. Taking his ocular implants off the view, he looked down at the Tribune Knight and exposed his crooked yellow teeth, fixed into his signature sneer. "Still itching for a fight, eh, infidel? Don't worry, you may get one. Consider what will happen if you succeed in convincing the Princess to abort this madness. The conspirators behind this plot have already proved themselves willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure this schism occurred, who knows what they will be prepared to do if Fiora stops playing her part. They may decide that she serves their purpose better as a martyr than a figurehead, in which case, she'll be in terrible danger." Wrinkled sacks of dark purple flesh pulsed beneath his glowing green eyes. "If they attempt to eliminate her before she has a chance to publicly denounce this war, it will fall to you to protect her, and possibly extract her to somewhere..." He wanted to say somewhere 'safe', but there was no such place right now. "...friendly. You are more familiar with the Knights of Ren than I. Would Fiora have enough support among them to move against her father's wishes?" Coruscant had been a boiling pot, but this? This was like walking straight into the fire.As for making an entrance: Uh, how's the response time on this thing to come to a dead stop out of hyperspace?
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Jin Song
Member
Posts: 196
Affiliation: First Order- Fiora Delvardus
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Post by Jin Song on Apr 24, 2024 8:50:00 GMT -8
Jin noted where Nem had indicated about the breaks, still somewhat only half able to pay attention to his words as she then looked back out the front view of this thing she flew. She was focusing hard on finding just the right moment to hit the breaks. Words still catching up in her mind as she prepared to pull a maneuver many would consider reckless and many more would call suicidal. But she'd seen it in the Holodocumentories about Han Solo, and how hard could that be to emulate... right? The plan was to drop out of hyperspace, right before impact with the planet, or more accurately, right inside the airspace of one of Cinnagar's major residential zones. No one would be able to deny the appearance of a Yuuzhan Vong ship, nor the Tribune Knight disembarking from it. But it would require precise timing and focus. Okay. Hang on tight- "...friendly. You are more familiar with the Knights of Ren than I. Would Fiora have enough support among them to move against her father's wishes?" WHAT!? in her sudden understanding of what Nem had just said to her.
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