The Rebel Faction

Trandosha: Sewers of Hsskhor

Rissonik was pacing, worried about Lissuss’ kids and what possible fall-out could happen with Hyossk’s demise. His pacing had an effect on the other Separatists in the room, who tried their best not to stare at the Sha’tor of the K’Satikur Clan as he wore a trench into the floor.

The sound of footsteps approaching finally made him stop his pacing and he stared at the door, looking anxious. Then one of the warriors he had sent out to look for the kids entered, who immediately showed his respect by crossing his hands over his chest in the Clan gesture.

“Any luck finding her?” Rissonik asked, his voice tense.

“Yes Sha’tor. We successfully located both her and Kysh.” The warrior reported. “However both were critically injured and myself, my partner and one other took them to the closest hospital for treatment. My partner is staying with them to ensure they are given proper care.”

“Any idea if they’ll live?”

“I did not stay long enough to get a diagnosis Sha’tor, though from my view point, Kysh has a better chance of pulling through. We do not know what happened to them. Initially we thought it was the Akisi that was with them when we found them but…”

“Wait…an Akisi?” Rissonik said raising a brow. “This wouldn’t happen to be the same one that warned us about the Sovereign would it?”

“She did make that claim Sha’tor, thus now I fully believe her. Though how she learned our Clan Dialect is something to be questioned…”

Rissonik narrowed his eyes. “She knows the Clan Dialect you say? That is something that needs to be addressed. Do you know where she is?”

“Right here.” Asri, whom had waited just outside the door per the warrior’s request, said as she stepped into the room. Several people took a step back from her and more then a couple warriors drew their weapons. She gazed at such warriors steely with arms folded, daring them to attack.

“Stand down.” Rissonik commanded. “She’s helped us before and thus an alley.” After the warriors had complied, albeit reluctantly, he said. “It’s a surprise to see you again so soon miss. I thought you would be busy hunting Besk rather then saving children.”

Asri chuckled. “Besk is no longer an issue, for anyone. I have succeeded in my task.”

Rissonik’s jaw gaped opened in astonishment. “You must be a very lucky lady indeed to do so, considering that ones reputation.”

Asri bowed, smiling from ear hole to ear hole. “Luck, patience, and the know how to use a situation to one’s greatest advantage is what enabled me to succeed Sha’tor Rissonik. Besk is now a rotting corpse in an alley.”

“Even then, you did not escape the fight without injury.” Rissonik said, noting the bruises and the now ruined control panel for the cloaking device. “Still, you have done everyone a service: countless people thank you.
“There is however a matter of importance to me and the rest of my Clan that needs to be resolved with you madam.” Rissonik said, turning serious. “My warrior told me you spoke to him in the dialect of Clan, that of which is sacred to us and only members are allowed to speak. I must know how you came to know it.”

“Simple enough to answer Sha’tor.” Asri said. “My father was of this Clan and it was he who taught me.”

“Not an acceptable answer I am afraid. Being born to a member of the Clan is not reason enough to be taught the dialect.”

“Then allow me to elaborate. My father is a ‘former’ member who left the Clan when you took control of it and no longer respected the Clan for want it is. He taught me and my sister to spite the Clan, thinking a mere female such as myself knowing the language would be a smear on the Clan’s reputation. Not one of his ‘brighter’ ideas, which was unusual for him.”

“There were a number of members that left when I took over.” Rissonik said calmly. “Tell me who he is and I’ll ensure the proper punishment is dealt, former member or not.”

Asri chuckled again, but before Rissonik could demand what was so funny she said. “I’m afraid I have already taken care of that problem for you. You see…as much as it pains me to admit, Besk was my father.”

Space Above Trandosha: Bloodfang

“Sir, the Wookiee’s are complying with our request and appreciate what we are doing. According to sensors they are forming a secondary line behind ours with their own Capital ships, with the transports right behind them.”

“To further protect the injured.” Tiosk mused, nodding in acceptance. By now all of the Trandoshan ships had formed their line, their bows pointing in the direction the Wookiee fleet are predicted to arrive. Tiosk could already smell and taste the tension.

“They also said to not underestimate this inbound Fleet sir.”

“I’m a bit more worried about our ships bolting outright when they see what we are up against.” Tiosk admitted. With all the things that had happened the last couple hours, everyone was jumpy. “Relay the Wookiee’s message to the BlackBlade and tell me how much time we have left.”

“Aye sir. According to sensors, ETA is….shit….right now”

Looking out the viewscreen Tiosk watched with baited breath as the fabric of space seemed to distort for a moment, then the Wookiee Fleet suddenly appeared. Tiosk nearly wet himself: he knew there was going to be a lot but not that many: the Interdictor was the icing on the cake, a very bitter tasting cake. Tiosk realized that if this had almost shocked him into an embarrassing situation he couldn’t imagine how many actual suddenly soiled pants there were in their line. Over the Fleet wide channel he heard Balik shout to hold the line as no doubt some Captains were getting ready to have their ship bolt. He knew what thoughts had to be going through those Captains heads: even with Tzhali’s fleet, if this came to blows they didn’t stand a chance.

The time of reckoning is at hand. Tiosk thought. He, Balik and Tzhali will need to use all their political know how to hold off any potential firefight for the next ten minutes so when Naosha arrived she wouldn’t be caught in a crossfire.

Tiosk had a feeling it was going to be a very long ten minutes….

This wook sounds more like one of us then a Wookiee. Tiosk thought, slightly disturbed at what he already heard. This was going to be a very difficult debate he realized, even for Naosha. This Buuwa seemed to have the mentality and bloodlust of a Trandoshan: if he was actually a Trandoshan he would use that against him, but since he was not it meant he had to walk on egg shells. That was something a Trandoshan was not very good at….

“I can assure you Honorable Admiral Buuwa.” Tiosk said calmly. “That Tzhali and his ships are not our prisoners, they can leave anytime they wish. In fact they came willingly and helped us in our hour of need and only the lowest T’Doshok would hold them against their will for their assistance.”

~In regards to becoming weak.~ Balik added. ~Do not let your pride consume you Admiral. In case you haven’t been paying attention to the recent news casts, our forces have suffered tremendous losses due to the actions of a maddened Elder Councilor, who is now deceased. What you see here…is all that’s left of our Fleet as a result of Councilor Hyossk’s idiocy. We have been brought low by our own pride and arrogance and if it can happen to us, it can happen to you.~

“Careful Admiral.” Tiosk said over a private channel. “Remember we need to prevent a firefight. This Wook may react to even the slightest perceived jest or insult with violence.” Not to mention telling him are Fleet is down to virtually nothing may be an invitation to a bloodbath… Tiosk thought, frowning.

“What goes up must come down.” Tiosk said in support of Balik’s point. “Our people have been at something of a high point ever since the Old Empire was in power. Naosha foresaw the inevitable crash that was soon to come and tried to warn the rest of the Council. They wouldn’t listen and we are as you see now: a shadow of our former selves. But from that harsh lesson we can begin anew and correct the mistakes and make up for the atrocities of our past. Tzhali is willing to give us that chance to make amends and help us take our people into a new era.”

He took a deep breath and looked at his sensor officer. “How much longer do we have until relief comes? I am already getting a headache from this…”

“5 minutes sir.”

“Wonderful….”

Trandosha: Sewers of Hsskhor

“That can’t be!” One of the warriors cried. “Besk would have killed any Akisi among his children!”

“If I had been born this way I wouldn’t be standing before you now.” Asri said calmly, folding her arms again.

“A good point madam.” Rissonik said, raising his hand to quell the agitated warrior that had spoke out. “I have a feeling your tale is a long one to explain why you look as you do now.”

Asri cast her eyes to ground, the sorrow evident in her eyes. “Indeed it is Sha’tor. I would tell it…but certain ‘facts’ within my tale I may not be able to trust we everyone present in this room. I will say this much: due to trickery of a sibling, my father saw it fit to be rid of me by selling me off as a guinea pig.”

Rissonik emitted a low growl at her words. “I knew Besk to be a bit…lacking…in certain morals, but that takes the cake.”

Before he could say anything else, a Keshir came running in. “Sha’tor the Elder Council is requesting yours and Russis’ presence. Russis is already enroute with a couple of K’Satikir warriors as bodyguards.”

“I see. Sounds like I better clean up a bit: would be rude of me to arrive smelling like a sewer.” Rissonik chuckled, then looked up at Asri. “I would like for you to accompany me.”

Asri blinked in shock. “Are you sure? My presence may work against you since I highly doubt the Council will appreciate having an Akisi in their mist.”

“Your…condition…is another example of what we need to change in our society. We should not make people outcasts just because of something that is beyond their control. That type of attitude works against us overall. To prove I mean what I say, I am offering you membership to the Clan.”

There were gasps of shock and more the one look of disbelief. Asri herself was stunned: this was beyond what she ever hoped for. Humbled, she sank to her knees and bowed her head. “I don’t know what to say…” She said softly. “This is beyond what I have ever dreamed of achieving. You have shown me the kindness and respect I have never known in my life. For that…it would be an honor to be a member of your Clan.”

Rissonik reached down and lifted up her chin. “You do not need to decide now, for there will be time for that later. Right now we need to prepare for the meeting the Elder Council and though it was the Council itself that has invited us I doubt we will be greeted with open arms by all of the staff.”

“Then I would rather not give them an additional reason for them to start shooting Sha’tor.” Asri said. “But since you wish to prove a point with my presence, I will go with you. But to ensure we don’t get fired upon the moment they see me, I won’t make it easy for them to tell what I am at first.”

“And how would do that madam?” Rissonik asked, intrigued. “You’re cloaking device looks to have met a bad end.”

“Simple, I use one of the methods I used before I got the cloaking device.” With that she reached into her pack and pulled out a long black hooded cloak with sleeves that were longer then her arms. When she put it on Rissonik could see how effective that was: unless someone got right up to her you couldn’t tell what color her scales where. He nodded his approval.

“Sha’tor” The Keshir spoke up. “There is a safe house were you can wash up and change that is close to the Council building. Russis suggested meeting up there and go together for the rest of the way.”

“Safety in numbers is always a good thing.” Rissonik said with an approving nod. “We’ll go at once.”

Rissonik left the room, Asri behind him and the Keshir running off to do what ever tasks he had to do. After a few moments of silence, Rissonik said. “I don’t believe I caught your name miss, mind telling me?”

Underneath her hood, Asri smiled a pleasant smile. “It’s Asri Sha’tor.”

“Asri.” Rissonik echoed, commenting the name to memory. “You don’t yet need to call me Sha’tor you know.”

“I know. But you have earned my respect where few have, thus I call you by your title out of respect.”

“Understood. Your age make it hard to believe one so young holds such wisdom close to her heart.”

“A hard life has forced such wisdom upon me at a much earlier age then it should...” Asri replied softly.

“Then with luck and good fortunate on our side, perhaps that hard life can be changed.”

Another smile. “The first steps to that reality have already been taken.”

For once Tiosk was shocked into silence, his normally sharp and witty tongue failing him. He could only stare at the image in disbelief, the one question in his mind being a single word: how.

As his mind recovered from the shock he began working out the answer to that question. The only explanation he could think of was that this Admiral had been adopted by the Wookiees when he was a hatchling and he was using a ‘decoy’ to fool everyone, which would explain why he heard a wookiee voice rather then a T’Doshok one.

This revelation put them into even more dire straights, since he had an inkling that the Admiral hadn’t intended to reveal his true race to the whole Fleet. If he revealed that he knew the Admiral may panic and react prematurely. Then something dawned on him: this revelation could be the very break they needed to get through to this Admiral, but he had to do it himself before one of the other ship Captains gathered their wits and reacted with negativity: Naosha would have been the better T’Doshok to do this but there was no time. He was tempted himself to accuse this Admiral of betraying his ‘true’ people, but he knew that wasn’t the route to take.

“Well now…this is interesting.” Tiosk said calmly. “You call Naosha a stupid T’Doshok…but yet here you are as living proof of what she wants to happen: T’Doshok and Wookiee working together. But why you want to destroy your own people is baffling. Yes I know there’s quite a few of us that see your Wookiee friends as nothing more then animals and rugs for their floors, but there are those of us that want to change that. You are threatening to destroy the very T’Doshok that want to stop the atrocities against the Wookiees.”

He knew there was a good possibility that Buuwa purposely allied with the Wookiees to keep the war going from within. Buuwa could very well be an example of an old warrior that didn’t want the war to end for he felt he had no other purpose in life: all that’s been said so far seemed to suggest that. If that was the case, only a miracle would sway him.

“Sir. A ship just warped in just within sensor and comm. range. It’s the Gory Teeth.”

“Thank the gods.” Tiosk said. “Transmit to that ship all the transcripts of what’s been said so far as well as a brief summary of the situation. No sense for Naosha to join in this debate blind.”

“Aye sir.”

Gory Teeth

Naosha by now had decided she much preferred the Hunters Way then this ship: it was far too cramped for her tastes. When they exited warp she almost recanted that decision when she saw the stand off in front of them: A skipray had a far better chance at making it if those two factions started firing. Within moments of their arrival they got a message from the Bloodfang containing all the information she needed to be up-to-date on the situation. It was a pleasant surprise to hear that Hyossk had managed to off himself, Tzhali had returned, and Tiosk managed to acquire the alliance of the remaining T’Doshok fleet, including Vice Admiral Balik. However she found it disturbing to hear that it was a Trandoshan leading the opposing Wookiee fleet.

“Do you think Tiosk erred in what he just said?” Varcanna asked, nervously watching the Wookiee fleet for any sign of violent reaction to both Tiosk’s words and their arrival.

“He said pretty much what I would have said.” Naosha said. “Though a bit more bluntly then I would have. If he keeps this up I’ll have no choice but to give him the title of politication.”

Varcanna chuckled. “What should we do?”

“I want to see how this ‘Buuwa’ reacts first before revealing my arrival.” Naosha said. “In the mean time, move us closer to the Bloodfang, but be ready for anything.”

Gory Teeth

“Looks like he completely ignored what Tiosk said mother.” Varcanna said, unfazed by the attempt to blow them out of the sky: she was halfway expecting that.

“About as thick headed as man T’Doshok we know it seems.” Naosha said with a sigh.

“Got an incoming comm. Patching through.”

~ This is Admiral Buuwa, of the 4th Assault Fleet, what business do you have here?~ They heard the Admiral growl demandingly. ~ This is none of you're concern.~

Naosha nodded to Varcanna, who opened a broad channel so everyone could hear. “On the contrary Admiral Buuwa, it is my concern.” Naosha said smoothly. “You are threatening my allies and our people, thus I have every right to be here to try to end this peacefully.”

~You…~

Naosha smiled, though she knew he wouldn’t see it. “Yes Admiral, this is the ‘stupid Trandoshan’ you spoke of earlier. You might as well drop the deception: I already know there are really scales instead of fur in charge of your fleet.
“How ironic it is for me to discover that one of our greatest opponents to stopping our generations long blood feud with the Wookiees is a T’Doshok that working for the Wookiees themselves. What do you hope to accomplish Buuwa? You want the war to continue? If so why? What’s the point? What would you do if you succeeded in destroying your own people: join another faction so you can destroy the Wookiees in turn?
“I’ve heard of your type before Buuwa: sad individuals who only know the art of war and fear what is to become of them should that war ends. So to prevent the war from ending you join the other side to ensure any peace talks end in failure and the bloodshed continues. I know what you fear: a lack of purpose.
“If you were to succeed, what do you hope to gain by destroying your own people? You would be alone and I seriously doubt the Scorekeeper would reward you for annihilating your own people.”
Naosha paused a moment, then addressed the Wookiees themselves. “People of Kashyyyk, recently one of you Ambassadors has met with me and extended his thanks for sparing the ships that attacked us over Tissuss. The ships in question we had only disabled and allowed to retreat with very few causalities. This, along with what you see before you now, is proof there are T’Doshok that wish to end the blood feud between us, change our ways, and redeem ourselves for past atrocities.
“The politics of the galaxy are ever changing and the New Order is an ever growing threat to all that is not human. It will be only a matter of time before they set their sites on our worlds and even if we banded together our chances of keeping our freedom is low, but if we did band together we stand a chance: to fight the inevitable invasion on our own would be suicide for us both. To survive the inevitable storm we must work together.
“Change with my people will not happen overnight I admit: that is a naïve man’s dream. And I sadly admit as well that there will be those of my people that will fight tooth and nail against such change. But change won’t happen at all if we are not given the chance to try. So I ask you, which do you want? The war to continue and risk having the New Order crush us both and likely enslave us? Or learn to stand and work together, strengthening both our peoples so we can stand against those that view us as little more then dirt under their feet with strong legs beneath us?”

Naosha stepped away from the mic and rubbed her neck. “Do you have any water Varca? My throat is dry…”

Varcanna chuckled. “Been too long since you made a speech like that hasn’t it mother?” She said. “Unfortunately I don’t due to the short notice we had to get out here.”

“Well…let’s hope my voice holds out then…” Naosha said with a sigh. Varcanna nodded and they anxiously waited for a response.

Bloodfang

Tiosk tapped a claw on his cheek. “Damn she’s good.” He said with a chuckle. “Had me convinced and I am on her side.” A sigh. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if dear o’ Buuwa ignored everything thing she said like he did with me…”

“They say if someone meets an argument with silence or aggression they have lost the debate.” One of his officers said.

“If he doesn’t respond…I fear it would be the latter we will face…” Tiosk said. “Unless Naosha managed to sway the Wookiee’s themselves in that Fleet.”

Trandosha: Hsskhor safehouse

“Rissonik…” Russis said, looking relieved. “Good to see you again. The past few days have been rather stressful…”

“It’s good to see you are well Russis.” Rissonik said. “When I heard of the Marshall Law status being passed down I was worried for your safety.”

“There were some close calls I admit. But that’s all passed now: from what I hear the Council is getting ready to abolish the Marshall Law status and let our people return to their normal lives.” The younger Trandoshan sighed. “I admit I am somewhat saddened by my father’s death: a part of me was praying he would see the light. But I guess that was not to be.”

“We all were I believe. For now though, we must prepare for the future. You have your father’s position to fill and I have my lifemate’s position to fill myself.”

“You think the Council would allow that?”

“We are going to find out rather soon. First though…I need a shower…”

“We managed to get a set of your Lesser Councilmen’s cloths Sha’tor.” One of the warriors said. “It’s a bit wrinkled, but it couldn’t be helped.”

“Good…even though I hate that stinking thing I hate wearing the same nasty clothes over and over again even more…” Rissonik said as he accepted the bag that was handed to him and started to make his way to the shower. He paused when he remembered something. “Oh. My cloaked companion here is Asri. Please treat her with respect for she is here as an honored guest.”

Russis looked over at Asri, whom he hadn’t really registered as being there before and both he and the two warriors with him gasped when she draw back her hood to reveal herself. “It is an honor to meet you Russis.” Asri said, bowing her head in respect. The two warriors looked about ready to spring on her, but Rissonik’s stern look made them forget that idea.

“Why do you have…” One warrior said but Rissonik cut him off.

“I have my reasons and have no time to explain now.”

“As you wish Sha’tor…”

Gory Teeth

What...no...Riss... Naosha thought, stunned. He's as mad as Hyossk....

"Mother...what can we do?" Varcanna said, watching the ships approach their homeworld. "Mother?" Varcanna looked at Naosha, who was standing there in numb shock, unable to respond. "MOTHER!" She cried, grabbing her and shaking her. "You can't freeze up now! Snap out of it!"

Bloodfang

~Damn it...~ Balik's voice came over the line. ~They're too close to stop them...~

Tiosk slammed his fist down on the console. "Think about what you are doing!" He yelled. "If you do this, you'll be no better then us! No better then the Empire! Is that what you want!?"