Aftermath Session XV

[baronsamedi]

Right, so, big battle coming up. Hoped to avoid it, but eh. Honestly, it does not bother me too much my anxiousness is…better…then it was just a few hours ago.

We pulled out of hyperspace and there were two signals that could be where to take the genetic samples. One was a corvette of some form in orbit, the other a small science outpost at the southern pole on world. Jek, wisely it would turn out, elected to go to the outpost.

When we arrived on Caamas, I was, um, not thrilled about the whole thing. I decided to take the high road and hide in my room. It was not the best plan I have ever had but it worked for a while. I was, honestly, terrified of seeing other Ithorians. I still am, a little, but not as bad.

Uh, to keep the record, Jek, Khayall, Namri, Greegan, Sigma, Aya and Sheela went out to the outpost. They met an Ithorian named Sassawa Danwu and a Kaminoan named Veyas Oria. Greegan and Sigma managed to get lost apparently, and Aya saw an old friend named Sian Lai she went to speak with. In time, they finished their tour, Sheela got bored and wandered off, and Khayall decided to come fetch me.

Elili is a sweetheart. She sat up and talked to me, trying to make me feel better. She does not understand, though. She does not understand how painful it is to see everyone you have ever known die. To have everyone like you be erased. It makes it painful to see others, so much like those you had seen before yet not. Elili is not callous, of course. She has not experienced what I have. I hope she never does. If you are reading this and I have been killed, and you hurt her, I will rise from my grave and beat you until you are dead.

Elili will make a wonderful wife for someone, if she ever meets someone good enough to deserve her. I am not sure there is anyone that good though.

So, uh, right. Eventually Khayall came in to talk to me. I did not see Elili leave but I was kinda distracted. Khayall was…caring but firm. He understood why I was upset, but he pointed something out I had not thought of. These Ithorians deserved to know what happened to the Forest Song, and the fallen of the Forest Song deserved to have their story told. I really could not argue with that, you know? He and I left the Sunrise together to speak with them.

I met Sassawa just inside one of the buildings. I had…not seen an Ithorian woman in awhile, and I felt very very uncomfortable. Sassawa is very pretty. I know I shook a little, but Khayall put his hand firmly on my shoulder to reassure me. We exchanged a few pleasantries. I introduced myself, and explained my position. She introduced herself, and told me these Ithorians were from the Oracle, a Herdship I had heard of but not really…well…I don’t think I had direct experiences with anyone there, hard to say. I am pretty sure I would have remembered Sassawa though. She took me to meet two others, a pair of brothers; Khayall, satisfied that I would be OK, let me go on.

The brothers were Kamu and Morrow Umrood. Kamu was very tall, my own height actually, but very thin. They both perked up when Sassawa told them I was from the Forest Song. I told them what I knew. I told them of the Inexorable shooting us down, though I did not actually name Yanab-Uru. I mentioned being found by Jek, Khayall, and Whistler on the ship. Morrow especially seemed angered by this, but Kamu and Sassawa did their best to reassure him this was in the past and that battle was over. I told them of how my herd benefited from what they found on this ship, and how I was able to help them with the food supply. Sassawa spoke of the Mother Jungle looking out for me, of me being special. I’d like to believe that. I lost my parents, wife, sons…everyone. Why would I survive? They counseled me to take my survival as much of a blessing as I could.

I remember when it hit planet, being mostly unconscious, and hearing Khayall say he found one of us who was alive. I remember feeling some small joy in my heart and wondering who they found that had lived. So weird, I never in my delirious state thought it was me. I saw Aya first, in the infirmary, but Khayall was the fist voice I heard. How appropriate, then, that he went with me there I guess. I had never considered that connection before.

I will have to do something nice for Khayall for bringing me there.

We were trying to meditate, to see if they could bring me back in tune with my nature, when Khayall returned. He gestured me over and warned me a shuttle with some scruffy looking types had landed. I asked him about Zoë as I only had my sidearm (no need to show up to speak with my long lost kin with a sniper rifle, right?) He said not to worry now, but that I should get back to the ship before dark. I agreed and went back and warned Sassawa, Kamu, and Morrow what I had been told. I spent a few hours trying to meditate then returned, a bit worried, to the Sunrise, after they told me to consider going to the next Meet to tell the Forest Song’s story.

As it turned out Jek had invited the group’s captain, Selek Dantalion over there for a drink with his officers. Selek was a tough, no-nonsense-looking guy, head of a small merc company called the Derelicts. Most of the group met them inside…We kept the clones hidden, Elili stayed in the kitchen at Jek’s very wise suggestion, and Aya apparently stayed in the outpost.

They had several officers. The “Master at Arms,” which is apparently my counterpart on their team, was an impressively powerful looking Devaronian man named Gershan Debaal. They also had a sniper who seemed to get along well with Sheela, a Nikto lady named Keiza Deza'an. We talked for awhile before I caught Jek’s (and maybe Khayall’s) angle; getting the Derelicts drunk so we could discover their plans. I was not drinking alcohol, so I did not notice as fast, but apparently the Herd’s drinks were lighter on alcohol, the Derelicts' heavier.

They were there to take over the scientists' outpost for themselves and to steal and sell their equipment. They must have been scoping the place out first. Jek and Khayall were quite skilled at driving the conversation. Jek was noncommittal but seemed sympathetic, but in time they left to return to their shuttle; apparently they had a corvette, the Dereliction, above, though that may or may not have been the ship we saw…the Empire has one up there as well, if a corrupt one.

Anyway, we huddled. Everyone agreed selling these scientists up the river was bad. Khayall pointed out we might be being watched, so we sent just him out to warn the others, him being the sneakiest. We also sent Tau to plant a tracker on their shuttle.

Honestly, from what I heard on the comm., Veyas and Sassawa took it as well as they could. Khayall calmly gave them their options. While Jek and Khayall’s preferred idea was to pretend to fall in with them then turn on them when they tried to steal equipment, that was nipped in the bud when their shuttle abruptly left…they must have gotten wind something was up. The scientists did not know what to do, they did have a few options, including blasters on a couple landspeeders and a few personal blasters, but not much. They did have good knowledge of the lay of the land.

Khayall elected not to mention the Jedi and Jedi in training just yet.

We are outnumbered probably about 4 to 1 with the clones. We can’t really just chase them off, as they will likely be back. This is probably going to be a war of annihilation. We are in a big crater with a number of greenhouses, computer facilities etc but nothing really defensible. The air on much of Caamas is dangerous, if less so here. It will be interesting.

We must get prepared. I just heard Sigma and Tau talking to some Caamasi’s R5 unit. R5s seem like good droids, I may have to get one. Anyway, Sigma is planning some tactical droid thing, and seems sassier then usual. Jek is conferring with the scientist leaders to make plans, Khayall by his side.

Me, I’m getting Zoë ready for the dance.