Log:Carida: Poison the Well

Poison the Well

OOC Date: August 2 2020
Location: Carida
Participants: New Republic, Jedi Order, Reliquary Knights of Ren: Ben Solo, Jax Greystorm, Kuolo, Sebek, Syrus, Shivan, Kare Kun Oozlevort, Imani, Rey, Finn, and Malik Ren as GM

The short story: Polluting a water supply is a felony violation of the Clean Water Act.

The long story:

[Malik Ren]

This is a desolate place. The desert stretches for hundreds and hundreds of kilometers here, wind-scoured and barren in the way that deserts are -- it looks like nothing is here at all, but sharp and patient eyes will spot signs of life perfectly suited to an otherwise hostile place. If one takes the time to look, of course... and right now, no one has time to look.

The Reservoir stands out like a stark jewel, blue and vast, a natural oasis that over time has been herded by sentient hands into a tamed and useful water supply. This precious water is monitored, controlled, restricted and let forth by an industrial looking water treatment plant, a collection of ugly but utilitarian buildings and equipment that isn't here to look good, it's just here to perform according to its functions. This is the only water source for many, many kilometers in any direction, and it has fueled a city built on manufacturing and industry.

Unfortunately for the desert city, this industry has exclusively supplied the Republic, and now, they're in the crosshairs of the Order.

A war machine crawls across the landscape, a tank mounted with heavy turbolasers for air defense, stormtroopers within, and most alarmingly, huge tanks of toxic material heading straight for the reservoir. Even one tank of this crippling pollutant would be enough to cause problems, but they came prepared for overkill.

Republic Intelligence has received word of this terrible plan-in-action, and dispatched what personnel they can to help -- but everyone is stretched thin, here and elsewhere. The Order did not leave this in the hands of mundane allies only, and the dark figures of their sorcerous allies can be seen stalking along with the tanker, protecting it against any defense that may show itself.

It is just before dawn, and Republic Troopers led by a human Major, Majure, shift uneasily as they take position by the gates of the reservoir facility.

One worker of the facility, Environmental Officer Homa'a Okkla, has stayed out of spite and righteous indignation. He may not understand the gravity of the situation, but he has a clipboard and a hold out pistol, and a safety helmet made to fit his lekku.

"This is a serious violation," E.Officer Okkla frowns. "They're looking at a 10,000 credit per day fine, minimum."

[Ben Solo]

"They could afford it but I don't believe that they intend to pay the fee." Ben Solo has been spending a lot of time on Carida these last few weeks, showing his face far more publicly than ever before since his return from the Force. And now he's here, responding to an alert that something Very Bad was closing in on the facility, one of the only sources if not the only source of fresh water for miles and miles. The people in this area of Carida depended heavily on it, and without it, there would be deaths, now and later.

His black jacket is warm and heavy, and a glance is spared towards the pinkening skyline, then the approaching war machine. The jacket stays on as he pulls the silver cylinder from his belt, sliding it down off the rail-clip fastened behind his hip. "I don't recommend trying to collect." Walking past the Republic troops to stand in front of them, he takes a long look at the dark figures skulking along beside the machine and lights the saber in his hand, the fiery blade crackling to life to sputter and spark in a line of bright flame white-hot at its core.

[Jax Greystorm]

Jax stood next to Ben as the Environmental Officer brought up the fine. The Corellian jedi doesn't know what's stranger being back in the robes or standing next to Ben. So for the moment he decides to ignore all that and focus on the matter at hand, "The good ol' Republic Clean Waters act. 10,000 credits per day per incident." Then at the Enviornmental officers look of shock, "I payed attention to legal classes at the Corsec Academy, one day. He's right I wouldn't try to collect. If you like I can mention it to them?" Then looking to Ben, "But how about we just try to prevent instead of avenge?"

He reaches into his cloak and produces a lightsaber. Though impressive cause it's a lightsaber and most everyone but this grows doesn't see them on average. It's huming blue blade is of the common variety and he drops in a stance and finds his place in the force readying himself.

[Kuolo]

The fur-lined hood had been abandoned since their time in the frozen part of Carida's surface. Instead, Kuolo had returned to the simple mask-and-robes from before, and the twisting white linen that covers his arms from hand to shoulder. Abandoned, for the moment, had been the second of Kuolo's lightsabers; the one he built shortly after joining Ben on his crusade against the realms. Shivan had been handed that saber, to blood herself with on a field of battle. Kuolo, instead, preferred the heft and weight of Anuesana's ebony saber. Even under the hot sun, it would be cool to the touch, but that wasn't important yet. He prefered dawn--The shadows around them stretched further and would aid him more directly in their objectives.

[Sebek]

Sebek was pissed.

It had been nearly a week since he'd been absolutely bodied on the ice caps of Carida, and he'd spent that time angrily convalescing in a bacta tank. The red matched his mood, you see. Some maniac with a yellow blade had hit him faster than he could see and yeeted him almost into orbit which to be honest was not a fun way to end a merry day of murder and mayhem. He sat cross-legged in the walker, helmet off, armoured up with brand new chest plates (his other ones were in a horrific state of disrepair) and basically seethed.

The Stormtroopers occasionally looked at him funny.

"Find for me the blade of gold, slay its wielder, ever bold." The worst thing for Sebek was known he owed a defeat, but having no idea to WHOM he owed it. This wasn't a simple matter of pointing and yelling 'HE WHO DANCES' or some thing. Now he had to find the gold-wielder and it I R K E D him.

[Syrus]

Astride a speeder and, for the first time in a while, wearing his helmet replete with its flanged jaw, Syrus rides along with the tanker, eyes fixed on the oasis before them. A shame that the Force has willed such a beautiful place poisoned. But far be it from him to buck against what the Force has decreed. He rides on, his hand unclipping the hilt from his belt and flicking the activation switch, sparking it to life.

[Shivan]

There's a new addition to the Sith from the looks of it. Shivan is diminuitive figure in a black robe with crimson sash and a black mask. All that can be seen is her glowing yellow eyes. The lightsaber that she'd been handed was taken quietly and held in hand. She's off near Kuolo and waiting patiently for things to begin.

[Kare Kun]

The Ace Pilot had been feeling alot better, in fact she had been more than a week with out having to be in combat. Unfortunately, given how dire everything was, that wouldn't last. The woman of wheat-colored hair and dusky skin would find herself out next to the plant. Her eyes looking over the older buildings that were of a more utilitarian use. A soft exhale as her hands came to wrap around her stomach, under her chest. Her eyes seemed to scan every bit of the various structures, as if trying to parse out what they specifically did. Her lips stayed just a hint open, deep in her thoughts. Her eyes move past the building to the sun as it just barely peeks out.

Kare is pulled out of her Reverise as the speaking begins, her eyes falling on the block cloaked figure. A frown, her jaw barely moving in a bit of disdain. She kept her mouth closed, ofcourse - there was no need to have that discussion. A dip of her head as he moves infront of of them - because ofcourse he would. Whether a good guy or bad guy, Ben always infront - wasn't he.

The feautres of the pilot soften seeing Jax, though who he is talking to doesn't help. She looks back out to the oncoming threat of death and moved slowly to hunker down behind a barricade. She would stay semi close to the Force Users - let them get into melee and then shoot those who got in range.. Like any good non-force user would.

[Oozlevort]

Oozlevort the regionally-famous Gand Findsman is standing on top of the war machine as it rumbles toward the desert reservoir. He is clad in a new black version of his normal Findsman robe. It is very hot, so his ID10 seeker droid is holding an umbrella to stave off heat exhaustion. "Why black? Oozlevort cannot be expected to perform optimally in this heat. The solar radiation is absorbed by black surfaces." He checks the bulky ammo box of his stun net launcher. Or as he calls it, the JEDI WRANGLER.

[Imani]

It has only been about a week since Imani's encounter with a shotgun, but she is much improved since then. She's is outfitted in that ominous dark armor and simple helmet, the shades working well to keep her obscured in the low light, also astride a speeder that barrels her toward the intended target for their plan.

[Rey Skywalker]

Rey had left several hours ago, traveled away with a convoy of indigenous sentients that needed help repairing water filtration systems at their own small village. These same locals had claimed their village was 'not very far away', she'd only planned on being away two hours, but two hours had turned into four, then five.

Finally though, from over one of the sand dunes, a massive junker landspeeder rumbles up and over, rolling quite quickly, and looking like it's about shake to pieces while doing it! It's engine wash sending waves of sand out behind it, all while an odd musical beat competes with the speeder's rumbling propulsion systems!

The junker landspeeder is filled with members of that local tribe of sentients. They're all 9 feet tall with long furry necks that stick up out of metal holes in their landspeeder's roof, the wind whipping the fur of their necks about. With small round heads, all wearing goggles over their black round eyes, the aliens are sweeping their goggled eyes this way and that, all squaking in their native language!

Their landspeeder is covered in many different colored fabric blankets that wave in the winds as it zips closer and closer to the Republic line. It's the landspeeder that Rey had left on! When it arrives, the alien creatures all raise their hands and chant loudly, triumphantly, for their 'timely' return. All while their weird music beats on and on from within the speeder...

From the back, Rey drop off of the landspeeder, wearing her hood up, and a light tan poncho over her shoulders, she thanks the aliens for bringing her back to her people, and sends them off with a wave as she starts to jog now toward the Republic forces!

"Just in time..." Rey mutters as she arrives, adjusting the satchel around her torso by its single strap, whilst reaching for her own saber beneath the waving fabric of the dusty poncho she's wearing.

Behind her, the janky junky landspeeder of strange aliens starts to pull away, high-tailing it in the opposite direction of any conflict that might be about to start... All while playing some odd music at a very high volume that echoes across the rolling sandy hills!

[Malik Ren]

Environmental officer Homa'a Okkla looks between Ben Solo and Jax Greystorm and frowns. He frowns! He opens his mouth at Ben, closes it again, listens to Jax, and then huffs a breath in exhale. "I think you should mention it to them," he insists. "You've read the Clean Waters Act, you know what a serious violation this is!"

The Order doesn't seem to care that it's a Serious Violation. They know what they're about, and the tanker moves slowly, but unstoppably, toward the assembled Republic and Jedi defenders. As it draws closer, the night bristles with the glint of dawn-light on drawn weapons, the morning half-light glows with the sharp, bright scars of lightsabers in many colors.

The war-machine sounds louder up close, causing some of the Republic troopers to quail, and even the Environmental Officer takes a step back. "Steady!" Major Majure encourages the troops, "Steady..... OPEN FIRE!"

[Ben Solo]

While the Environmental Officer drones on about the Clean Waters Act, Ben has tuned the unelected official out, done debating the matter. His focus is ahead, on the approaching figures. He doesn't need to reach out with the Force to know that these are his old cadre of students. He doesn't need to know anything else. Jax is saying something about vengeance, but the words are vague and fuzzy in his ears.

"I'm taking them /now./" Without any further preamble, he takes off at a run, sprinting towards the machine and the others around it. A red blade held by a masked individual draws him in, and Ben's first swing, a powerful chop as he rushes past, nearly reaches its target before the next two are hurtled in right behind it with the customary lack of reservation he usually fights with.

[Malik Ren]

Perhaps because he is distracted by Kuolo, the secondary threat is less expected -- but it comes nonetheless, a first blow that serves as an ugly close call, and then a hammer of fast blows in a style so like Ben's own, from a quick, slight man in a mask so like the one he used to wear. The one Kylo used to wear. Fast thinking and sharp, unfettered power will save Ben Solo from the worst of it, but there is fury in this opponent, in what used to be just a lost aristocrat he picked up on Nar Shaddaa.

This is something else, now.

"Ren chose another," Malik's vocoded voice hisses. "And I'll do everything you failed."

[Jax Greystorm]

Jax looks to Kare and gives her a small smile. He doesn't quite know what to say. He nods back to the Enviromental Officer. "Sure, Sure. I'll mention it. Look back up operators and engineers have arrived with Rey." Then Ben takes off running across the desert toward them to engage Malik Ren. Jax smiles, "Still not use to this." Then Jax takes off on a run following the former Ren now Ben. He moves to engage Syrus his sabers flashing out in a bunch of flashy lights hitting air and doing nothing but looking pretty. "Syrus. Malik. There's a concerned Environmental Officer up there with a clip board. He wants you to know that you're potentially violating the Republic's Clean Water Act. That carries a 10000 credit per day per incident fine plus potential imprisonment."

[Kuolo]

Kuolo could sense Solo's blade. He'd spent an age training beside it, studying it, ever content with learning what he could and preparing for the day it would turn against him. Ben couldn't take his life on Kaas, and he wouldn't do it today, either.

"Always you lack -grace-," Kuolo spits as Solo drew close. Kuolo's faster, more agile stance drew Ben's attack apart, leading Ben behind him as Kuolo 'steps through' the attack. The lightsaber hilt drops into Kuolo's offhand, stretched behind himself, to block a second shot, and circle a third attempt away from Kuolo's body. He kept walking.

The lightsaber remains in Kuolo's left hand as it draws back in front of him, hovering in front of the the eerie porcelain mask. The ancient Sith sigil seems to glow beneath the blade's radiant glow, as the eyelets of Kuolo's mask level on Rey in a kind of sword salute. Something, then, wells from within Kuolo. It was an ancient kind of evil, festering and growing, lashing out at Rey. It was as though the Darkside itself was rising against her, blanketing her connection to the Force. It would sever her entirely, if not for the sheer will Rey possessed to overcome such darkness. To the others, though, it was as though a sudden dark beacon shot out around them, drawing forth every bit of darkness Kuolo could muster to shunt Rey out of existence. If only it had worked.

[Sebek]

The Falleen's helmet was pulled on to his head and he stood from his meditative position. There was a horrible sound as Tei Tenga burst into life and, seething with anger, Sebek joined the battle atop the walker. There, where fire fought fire, where He Who Leads battled He Who Failed, there was the conflict. Lacking the normal boasts and braggadocio that fuelled him, Sebek joined the fray. Where He Who Leads pushed, Sebek feinted. Where He Who Leads dodged, Sebek went in swinging. This opponent was talented, and no strikes landed, but with the grim silence of one who was really, really, really far beyond pissed off, the Falleen persevered.

[Syrus]

"This is the will of the Cosmic Force. It does not recognize your fines, fool," Syrus says, hefting his blade high and bringing it down heavily atop Jax's thrice in quick succession, as if he's just trying to brute force his way through the smaller man's defense.

[Shivan]

Shivan's glowing eyes follow the start of the mayhem for the moment and there is a moment taken to breathe in before she takes off running towards the Republic Troopers. She's not going for any of the others that are wielding lightsabers, there are other enemies on the field and well...others seem to be engaging anyways. She ignites the lightsaber she was loaned and gives a war cry in Sith before she turns slightly and then brings the lightsaber around in a wide arc to hit a few foes.

[Kare Kun]

The Savior of the last operation's arrival - doesn't go with out note either. Kare's eyes study the form of Rey a moment. Another brief smile, though she stays with in her own thoughts. She wasn't necessarily apart of that group. They had their own clique. A soft exhale as she leans back and see's Ben making his way in, only to realy be sliced up. A slight smirk coming to her features - even if it was bad for them. She continued to survey the ruinous battle that was happening. It was going like it always had, they would engage and everything would go to hell. Those who were force users would begin devestating on the battle field.

She began to slowly make her way around the battle - trying to stay out of everyone's way. She wanted to ensure she could pick and choose her targets. It wouldn't take long until two familiar figures would come up - Sebek would be the first. Her head dipping to the right. She could try to take a pass at him. Nah.. Not today, and then a rather well known figure. Someone that looked very familiar. This would be it, the woman slowly moving forward at a crawls space. Her weapon coming up.

"..Come on.. Let's play..."

Boom.

[Imani]

Imani is quick to dive straight into the fray, speeder barely coming to a stop before she's off of it with a naked weapon in her hand. She hadn't yet selected a target when she heard the familiar sound of a shotgun, which is enough to make her cringe and then whip around to face Kare Kun. Her face isn't visible, but her body language certainly denotes a certain amount of YOU in it before she charges for the shotgun wielding woman. The first slash misses, but the second lands, and before she can quip, or pun, there's a glowing weapon slicing through the air toward her. Rather than try to block she dives out of the way, moving deftly to avoid grievous injury.

[Rey Skywalker]

A look is given back to Finn, from Rey, and she nods softly to him. "Be careful." She warns him again in their relationship.

But with the movement beside, and in front of her, Rey watches Ben rush forward! She draws her own saber up. "Ben! Wait!" She shouts after him before starting then to rush at the others in his wake. She slips in to the fighting and ignites her blade with a snap-hiss, the golden beam growling like a haunting spirit! She leaps over debris in the sand and rushes toward Malik after he engaged with Ben.

Her saber swipes begin with agile and relentless speed!

[Finn]

Finn had arrived on the same junky transport as Rey and had spent the ride deep in thought. He'd spent much of his training wearing the jacket Poe had given him, foregoing the robes the other Jedi preferred. But then it had been damaged, and he'd been forced to give it up. In that same moment he'd realised he hadn't been serious enough. He'd lost many things but begun to focus on strengthening himself through that loss.

As he disembarks the transport, the very homemade-looking lightsaber at his belt comes to his hand. He can't help but grin a little at Rey's sober warning, raising his eyebrows and kissing the air in her direction. But then he focuses, his eyes scan the battlefield and the fight that has begun in earnest. He wears the robes of a Jedi now, and the green blade in his hand hums threateningly. It's at that same moment he spots the familiar face of Kare, and a much less friendly but all to familiar enemy in Imani. The fresh scars on his arms and neck still burn as he lunges forward. He says nothing, swinging the blade through the air in a much more practiced form even if they do miss.

[Oozlevort]

Oozlevort hops off the rumbling toxic tank and starts to surge forward, but stays well behind anyone with a glowing red lightsword. "Let Oozlevort see..." He aims the bulky pistol-rifle at one of the so-called Jedi and fires! A large man-sized net expands from the grenade that soars out of the weapon's barrel, already buzzing with electrical stunning energy. It goes right for Jax Greystorm but falls short, sitting on the ground and going BZZZZZZZZZT as it crackles and hisses. "Blast this infernal contraption," Oozlevort exclaims as he attempts to reload.

[Malik Ren]

The battle is joined, furiously and already violent, with blood striking bright on the sand! Several republic troopers fall screaming to Shivan's blade, and over the sound of the battle, Major Majure yells, "Hold your ground! Fire! Hold your ground!!" They shoot at several enemies, but the shots go wild, reckless, and even Majure's own rifle cannot score any blood.

This all just got real for Environmental Officer Homa'a Okkla, and the Twi'lek environmental inspector watches with his mouth agape as the brave troopers are mercilessly cut down. He knew them. Sort of. He gave them water bottles when they arrived, and read the Clean Water Act to them! "No. No!" he gasps, and then holds out his weapon, and fires at Shivan! "No, stop! This is a felony violation! You should TURN AROUND!"

The war machine is not turning around, but it is also not able to pass through a thicket of Jedi and their allies. It is stopped, for now, while the forces fight viciously.

[Ben Solo]

As he swings wide of the mark, a pricking of the hairs on his neck has Ben suddenly lunging aside. The red blade wicks through the air, singeing his jacket as it grazes past. Backpedaling as fast as he can, his hand reaches out towards the offending saber, pushing against its energy intently through his connection to the Force. The blade nearly halts in mid-air, the crimson is almost peeled back away unevenly from the white core, but he can't hold it forever.

Gouged in the ribs by the cauterizing heat, Ben stumbles backward, his jacket smoking. A deep frown creases his features, eyes pulling up from his new injury towards the two masked men, one very familiar and one almost anachronistic in its otherness. There is no time to suss out the new lay of the land he's forced to reckon with, because a third red-bladed lightsaber is coming at him. A few steps backward and a hard bat away with his own fend that off for now.

A hand lingers against his side, balls into a fist as his frown deepens further, and lifts to pound into the wound, but the gesture stops short when a flash of yellow intervenes between him and Malik, lowering again with a quick exhalation. "Ren never chose me," he spits derisively at Malik. "I chose myself."

Diverging from Rey, he whirls back in towards Kuolo, recognizing the lightsaber and the feel of the other man if not the outfit and whatever voice processing effects in play. The fiery weapon sizzles through empty air, cracking against its opposite. What he lacks in grace is made up for in other ways, sometimes. This is not one of those times.

[Malik Ren]

Malik is distracted by the onslaught of a sudden golden blade that requires serious attention! He cannot find any purchase on its wielder, nor yet she for him. But it's to Ben that his attention seems focused, and to the now-wounded Ben that his words are directed. "Yes, you chose. And what masterwork you did with it, didn't you? You created shades that will stalk you the rest of your days, /Kylo/, and we will repay your failure in blood. Yours. Your friends'. You did this. YOU did this, all of this, and you will never atone for it."

[Jax Greystorm]

"Do you not care about the living force? The death of the life that this lake holds and it substains will leave a hole in the force! Syrus please choose another way. If you want to fight us. Fight us. Think of the force." He dances around attacks and dodges a stun net fired by the Gand with a quick turn. Then he flashes his saber around to strike first at Syrus missing and then theres a flip of his blade guard and goes to strike this time nearly connecting.

[Kuolo]

"How convenient," Kuolo says, as he turns to give chase to the escaping Rey. She had friends to protect--He should have assumed it. She was always drawn to whomever sought out her charges. The red lightsaber blade of Anuesana's is brought to bear nearly as soon as Kuolo turns, defending against Solo. "To kill everyone that trusted you, and call it self-discovery," Kuolo speaks the words with the same emptiness he always drew on when facing Ben. He fought passion with ... nothingness. He refused to give Ben purchase on his soul, on his actions, or to provide an opening.

Kuolo favored chasing after Rey--She was the dominant factor here. But, Ben's insistance presented a difficulty in chosing targets. He would risk too much to pass Ben in chasing The Girl, and so, Anuesana's saber is turned on Ben instead.

[Sebek]

It was around about the time that Sebek broke off from what was rapidly becoming a threeway (sometimes it's not ok) and copped a blaster bolt to the BRAND NEW TORSO PLATE for his trouble. There was a faint hiss of fury from the mask of the Falleen before he turned and found the one person nearby that was shooting, but not at him. She was familiar. She was from the icecaps. She would do. Gritting his teeth, embracing the pain, digging deep into the anger which fueled him, he decided to sort this out. There was one wide swing overhead before he found himself face to face with She Who Plans.

"Found you," he oozed.

The next saber strike was one Sebek didn't even look at. Just quick, efficent, moving on. He'd achieved some level of revenge, and turned to face the face on all of the Most Wanted posters, the General with the Jacket, the one bathed in green light. "You fall next, He Who Falls." No hissing. No roaring. No yelling. Just gritted teeth and thickly-accented promises. Whatever the golden blade had done to him had rocked him hard. The wielder was here. She was on the list. But first, the chaff.

[Syrus]

"You preaching to me of the Force is like a child preaching to Horst Mbasi of impressionist paintings," Syrus say, just narrowly avoiding a stab from Jax's saber. "You are a fine combatant, but what you don't know of the Force could feel the great libraries of Teta," he remarks, clashing blades with the man once more.

[Shivan]

Shivan tries to deflect the bolt from the Major that is sent her way, but, something distracts her and it slams into her. It staggers the Sith, but, she regains her footing, digging the heels of her boots into the ground and standing it as she grunts in pain. But she doesn't retreat, not yet. The saber lashes out, trying to hit, but everyone has learned the 'AVOID THE GLOWING THING' trick by now.

[Kare Kun]

As the shot misses, there's a palpable pause as the woman turns around. She nods her head, "I think we can both agree mistakes have been made.." As the first attack comes, she moves to the right - easily ducking out of the way. She brings up her weapon to attack Imani when the next pops her in the shoulder and the shock hits her back - the woman stumbles backwards and shakes her head, as she tries to just absorb the hit.

There's a soft growl as she starts to circle Imani, "You know.. The Last time someone shocked me - we were both wearing bikinis.. I think its about time we see whats beneath that armor.." She moves forward to attack, but is surprised when Finn makes his attack. There's a pause as it fails to connect, but the pilot uses the distraction to duck right - trying to get as close as possible and shoot the woman at point blank range.

Ofcourse as she, again, moves to attack - bringing her weapon up - she feels her back get sliced. Her eyes widening - the pain registering as the armor breaks. Her eyes stay on Imani, ".....I'd hide behind one of them too...." She then crumples to the ground - not to be heard from again for this battle.

[Oozlevort]

Oozlevort finally manages to cock the massive pistol/rifle hybrid stun net launcher. He aims at a different target - Finn - and pulls the trigger with his three-fingered Gand hand. But alas the net grenade deploys prematurely again and loses velocity, tumbling onto the ground. It goes BZZZZZZZZZT in the sand until its power cell begins to run out. But if anyone steps on it, WATCH OUT.

[Imani]

Imani hit the ground at a roll in order to avoid the attack from Finn, but she's nimble and back on her feet in no time. "You again?" she asks the be-robed Jedi. She keeps back as Sebek takes a swing at him, and then charges in at the Finn. "I will gladly show you my face," she asides to Kare as her chain-whip cuts through the air right for Finn, hitting with a brutal force. "You only needs surrender yourself, and we can have a face to face conversation." She hasn't any idea whether or not Kare can hear her in her present state, but the words are relayed anyway as she brings the weapon back around for a second hit to Finn.

[Rey Skywalker]

Rey tries to keep Ben in her peripheral vision as they duel with the likes of Kuolo and Malik. She keeps her gaze primarily focused on that of Malik though, moving to defend herselfe from any incoming attacks, stay light on her feet and dash back with counter strikes to Malik. She isn't, however, offering much verbal back and forth as she keeps mostly focused on her fighting in this moment.

She sweeps herself around across the sandy floor and offers small twirls to her lightsaber between attacking motions to attempt to build up momentum for her following attacks!

[Finn]

Before Finn can raise his blade again, he turns his attention to Kare. His eyes widen as Sebek and his lightsaber strike her down, and he brings his own blade up to only narrowly drive aside the strike meant for him. His attention diverted; Imani's whip strikes home. It wraps about one robed arm, his fingers tensing as the shock compels him to drop his weapon and the blade extinguishes itself. The next strike wraps about his middle, the shock passing through him and causing him to cry out in pain. Bloodied and burnt, he topples to the sand and rolls several meters down the dune.

[Malik Ren]

Poor Republic troopers -- they avoid the further wrath of Shivan, and two even strike hits on Sebek and Syrus! But Syrus seems to brush off their fire like it's nothing at all and Sebek sharply whisks that plasma 'return to sender' with an unexpected skill that drops a shocked trooper. He dies with surprise on his face.

"I'm not -- This isn't -- I'm not brave enough for this," Environmental Officer Homa'a Okkla quails even as he fires into the fray! But Major Majure has sensed another hand with a gun, and seems unwilling to let him leave. "You stay your ground and fire! You're sworn to protect this water! CLEAN WATER ACT," Majure reminds him, and Okkla remains, though he seems terrified. "It would be so pretty," he whispers of the clashing sabers in all colors, "If it wasn't all so awful."

[Ben Solo]

It's hard to argue with Malik, partially because it's difficult to fight full-speed for very long without running out of extra air and partially because he's not really wrong. "I know." The agreement is quiet, not yelled back, and which part of it he's agreeing with isn't specified, maybe all of it. Verbal lashings continue to rain on him between the physical, and the fist balls again.

It thuds into his wound. The orange fire licking his saber leans red.

With sudden rage, he strikes out hard again, and frown sprawled across his pale face twists into a snarl. The swings are the big, reckless strokes of a lumberjack set on felling a tree, but the third is on its mark, and the tall, powerful man is pulling on the same fear and fury he's used so many times before.

[Malik Ren]

"Knowing was never your failure, Kylo." Malik's short on breath too, but the words are an angry ache. "What you do with what you know, what you fail to do, this is where all of the cracks begin to show."

[Jax Greystorm]

Jax parries the twin blades of Syrus as he strikes, "Thanks. YOu're right I'm not the scholar. My knowledge of lore of the force isn't what it should be. I've been busy doing the will of the force. protecting life." Jax spins around and brings his saber up in upward strike before the blade before the plasma blade flips around in a quick snape of the wrist to disarm Syrus.

Then Jax turns to chase after Imani seeing her as a danger striking down Kare and Finn. He strikes out at Imani and a flicker of recognition crosses his face as he recognizes her dodge, "You're a serious martial arts. Emperors black bones."

[Kuolo]

The onslaught from Ben was starting to draw on, and Kuolo's abilities were starting to wane. His luck might run out if he wasn't careful. "You're losing more than you're taking," Kuolo says, icily, "Net loss in the battle. It's over, old friend." The saber blade arcs to keep Ben from gaining any ground on him, but one well-placed strike does find purchase, cutting through a liner in his robes. This causes the upper portion to tear away, revealing a form-fitting white liner over his chest, and the white-linen wraps. "Yield Carida. We'll even let you leave," He adds, "Or, we will continue to kill every single person standing beneath a Republic flag."

[Sebek]

With the fall of the green blade, that was two down. Seething Sebek turned to the battle and-

The Force screamed, Tei Tenga jerked, red met red, and a trooper died. He didn't even turn his head.

The Falleen was about to join She Who Slaughters in engaging He Who Whiffs right as that soldier who had shot Sebek shot her. The blue blade would have to wait. With a howl, Sebek leaped from the conjoined twirling of sabers into the Republic lines. Now Sebek was the front line! "Die!" he screamed, his rage finally hitting that breaking point where it started bubbling out. "Die!" The second swing went through barricades, this commander was nimble. "DIE, HE WHO DIES!" And there we go, the third dodge was less effective and shaved off some glorious gluteus maximus for a future Satunda slow roast. That's what it was best for.

Sebek had a /chart/.

[Shivan]

Shivan is not one of the heavy hitters, but she is watching the field when the blaster bolts fly and when she's not trying to get shot again. The pint sized, glowing eyed woman takes off when there is an opening, going for the Major who is seemingly keeping things running. She misses with the first swing of the lightsaber, but she drops into a crouch and thrusts it forward, impaling the man on the blade and then rises as she looks to his eyes, "I've delivered payment on your fine." she whispers. Then she withdraws the saber, glowing eyes looking over to Homa'a, "Did you say something about a fine? If not then I would scurry away quickly." the masked woman states as she approaches slowly. The answer better be NO or she might start swinging again.

[Syrus]

Getting shot in the back in the middle of a lightsaber duel is enough to thrill anyone off their game. This is the case for Syrus as he lends too much concentration towards absorbing the effects of the blaster fire, and not enough to the more immediate threat. Syrus is struck down, left to lie back in the sand with more time to ruminate on how this war is a waste of his time.

[Imani]

There is another lightsaber swinging at her, and Imani is again quick to get out of the way, while she lacks those preternatural reflexes, years of training have instilled quick reactions and a decent ability to avoid injury. Most of the time. "Yes-" She had only just begin speaking when Major Majure fixes her in his sights, and fires. It's a shock to the Knight, she isn't prepared for it, the force of the blast sending her stumbling back half a dozen paces before she regains some semblance of balance. There's an audible cry of pain that follows, she makes no effort to hide it, it hurts, but she hefts her chain-whip and retakes that distance between she and Jax, trying her best to hit him. Trying, but failing.

[Rey Skywalker]

Rey rushes past Malik, blocking off more of his onslaught of attacks with quick flashes of their saber blades connecting. She spares a look in the direction that she 'felt' Finn. He was in trouble, he needed her help...

Rey's vision returns then to the two dark robed warriors that she's clashing with, she moves back toward Ben this time and as he pushes at Kuolo she moves in to take her shots at the mysterious Sith!

Quick strikes, one after another!

[Malik Ren]

Major Majure! The bravest of them all! Shooter of Sith and Sith-alikes! In command, brave and true to the end... too good for this galaxy. He is cut down by the Knights of Ren, leaving only Environmental Officer Homa'a Okkla and the remaining Republic Troopers to help the Jedi defend the reservoir from the poison! But something seems to have been fired in Okkla at the sight of Majure's fall, perhaps something he didn't know he had in him. Something related to an understanding no one like him leaves here alive, maybe. He clutches his clipboard like chest armor and raises his gun at Shivan. "You can't POISON WATER," he informs her, setting his jaw! "This is felony pollution, MA'AM, and you are acting against the LAW and you are NOT the law, and what even is wrong with you, anyway??" He shoots!! And then has to duck as the bolt sails back. Aiee!

[Ben Solo]

The temptation to let the hate flow freer than ever is stark in his mind, almost overpowering, but when Rey steps in next to him to fight together, Ben takes a deep breath, tempering his anger. He shakes his head at the white-robed figure. "No. You'd kill them no matter what I do. If not now, later. I know. It's what I would do."

When he moves it's with certainty, conviction, less of the unbridled rage. The orange blade wings in, his feet carrying him around his opponent, and again the blades clash, flash, spark and sizzle before the third snaps in more quickly than any before, taking the opening Rey's likely provided him.

[Malik Ren]

Making absolutely no progress against Ben and Rey -- nothing save the clashing of blades, sparks flying as the pure fire colors meet tainted blood red -- Malik ducks away from the pair and slashes at a new target instead! A near miss that almost proves grievous, and then a hit that's only slightly less so. "You were fools to come here," Malik says coldly, "All of you, fools."

[Jax Greystorm]

Jax gets the brunt of the Ren against him, He wasn't expecting that his head whipping away at the last moment as he turns just in time for the villain to catch him in the torso. Jax falls to his feet coughing blood. Then struggles to his feet, "We may be fools, but we can't let you kills these people. Destroy this ecosystem." He says taking a savage and sloppy attacks at Malik. He's not giving an inch. "10000 credits per day per incident, Malik."

[Kuolo]

"That's the difference between us," Kuolo says, trying to keep up with Ben's incensed attacks, "I never needed lies to win." Of course, Ben was stronger in his connection with the Force. He would finally find enough of a chance to nearly end his former student. The blow is taken across the chest, sending bits of singed flesh and vaporized blood-steam upward, staining Kuolo's mask black. The charred wound was visible across Kuolo's chest as a jagged burn, beneath charred cloth now heat-fused against his chest. Removing that would hurt, too.

There's a moment of panic inside of Kuolo's head, facing the two strongest Force users he had known, to the meter of outclassing Luke, even. Had he grown too cocky? Perhaps. Luke would say so. But a chilling voice answered the question in a different way. Malik left you to the both of them. He could see it wasn't true, if he wanted to. Malik was still fighting. The darkness in his very core, however, was something beyond reason. A faltering step carries Kuolo backwards, before nimble feet carry him into a low roll that leads to him sliding beneath the shadow of the tanker. Defensively, as if welcoming the form of their Lord, the shadows begin to bend around Kuolo's body. In a flash, his body is gone.

[Sebek]

With the fall of the major, that left the chaff. Sebek was good with chaff. Really good at culling it. A wide swing took out the last few soldiers remaining, and the Falleen left nothing to waste. Embracing the pounding in his torso from the blaster bolt wound, feeding from it, he flooded himself with the darkness that had befallen him and roared back into the battle. "Yes! YES!" Sebek was back, ladies and gentlemen. God help us all! "Fall before the might of our pride, JEEDAI!" Blue! Red joined blue, there was a clash, and then suddenly the sabers disengaged.

WHUNK.

That was the sound of Tei Tenga's deceptively solid pommel, flanged like a crushing instrument, slamming into the skull of a blue lightsaber wielding Jeedai. "Fall, He Who Falls. Seek me to collect your owed defeat." There was a vwoom of a twirled saber, and then, on to the next.

[Shivan]

"I hear you talking...I really do..." Shivan raises a hand and waves it dismissively at Okkla. The lightsaber is brought up to eye level, letting it reflect in his eyes for the moment, "I told you to skitter and you did not. We will not give another chance." she points out. With that, the blade flashes out in a quick one-two rapid fire of hits...but neither of them land. Maybe it was the clipboard? That damn piece of flimsy office equipment was going to be his saving grace!

[Imani]

Imani may not know much, but when she sees an ominously hued lightsaber aimed for Jax, she knows to move. She scrambles away as quickly as her injured body will carry her, head turning to survey those still alive. Those still on their feet. The man issuing the fines is next on her list, but his newfound resolve to fight gets the better of the first swing, and her chain-whip only hits air where this determined man once was. He'll get the joy of hearing the cry that comes of trying to continue fighting while so hurt, and it does hurt, but Imani hasn't the good sense to stop when the going gets painful, and so she tries again. Once again, Okkla is a ghost and her attack hits nothing but air. She might almost admire him if he weren't charging them all so much money.

[Rey Skywalker]

Rey detaches from Kuolo as Ben rushes back in to land a blow upon the man, she spins out of the way of both of them, then leaps toward the two attackers surrounding Jax... sadly too late to defend Jax, she lands near to where they are though and swipes her saber from right to left toward Sebek, narrowly avoiding a very serious blow to the disciple of Ren's teachings!

When her follow up attacks are blocked, Rey takes a step back, pivots her weight from one foot to the next and spins her saber up into the air to prepare for another strike!

[Malik Ren]

The last of the troopers are gone. Majure is gone. Kuolo and Kare, Syrus, they're all fallen. Imani is badly injured, Shivan and Sebek are hurting as well, and one thing is clear -- no matter who wins this, it will have come at great cost.

"You will have your rights to operate in this sector completely revoked, if you are not criminally prosecuted," Okkla informs Shivan, even as he fires a missed bolt at Imani. "Which I think you will be. Directly to jail. DIRECTLY to jail!"

[Ben Solo]

With Kuolo beaten down and faded out, Ben just shakes his head at the other man's commentary, not bothering to respond to a foe that isn't there to hear it. Dark eyes glance towards Rey, but she's moving off to fight one of the other Knights, leaving him with the man calling himself Ren. His hand feels at the wound on his side, coming away with red on his palm from where the burns have cracked.

"You can still come back from this," he tells the smaller man, circling him cautiously. "But I don't think you will." The blade leaps forward without any further hesitation, and as always the movement is focused on power over exacting precision; flaming energy, raw and untamed, alive in his hand, seeking to batter through Malik's defense.

[Malik Ren]

"Fines are only a problem if you can't afford them," Malik informs Jax, and then steps away to let the blows of another finish his ugly work. "I wouldn't expect you to understand." A moment is spent observing Okkla -- /how/ is this guy not dead yet? -- and then he steps back to the fray where, perhaps, his absence abandoned Kuolo to the blows of Rey and Ben. Was it deliberate? How many times has he said he wants to end the Sith every bit as much as these Jedi? Or did it have nothing to do with him at all?

Malik seems pretty surprised, at any rate, and his moment of 'what?!' pause at Kuolo's defeat almost costs him his head from Ben's saber. "No?" he replies, clashing sabers with his former master again. "Am I so much more a monster than you? I've never forced anyone to kill his own family. That distinction remains yours. Is this another twist of your knife, that you would both make me, and then absolve yourself of my salvation? Badly done, Ben Solo. Badly done."

[Jax Greystorm]

Jax coughs, "Well... Guess I'll just have to see if they can raise the fine." THen Crack! Sebek takes Jax out with a strike to the head. He might have as took the jedi out to the holos and dinner. Cause Jax is out, with a probably a fractured skull." The Corellian jedi hits the soft warm inviting pillow of the sand. His eyes unfocusing and for a moment he sees a blonde woman in robes standing over him with a blue saber as he drifts off. It can't be as it's Rey and she hasn't bleached her hair.

[Sebek]

There was a screaming in Sebek's soul and he raised his lightsaber to face gold. GOLD. "Behold, She Who Inherits!" was the booming declaration from the twisted snarling mask, face to face with the Paragon of the Jeedai Order. "You are owed defeat! This day it shall be given!" With a shove, he forced She Who Inherits from Tei Tenga, twirled the long-handled weapon, and went in for battle! Strike! Strike! Parry! And horrible, roaring laughter from the Falleen. "Finally we battle as warriors, Jeedai! Blood burns for blood! Show me what passes for fury amongst your misbegotten kind!" Sebek was weaker, slower, and injured. For some stupid reason, he was having a good time. He was having a GREAT time.

[Shivan]

Shivan is trying to hit Okkla, but, something is vexing the lightsaber! She growls out in frustration as she can't land a solid hit and she scoots to the side, letting Imani get in closer so that she will have better luck. Destroy the clipboard, take over the water station!

[Imani]

Imani does the unthinkable and continues a savage attack on Okkla, the impressive wielder of clipboards. This time, unlike the last, the first hit is enough to stun the man into submission. Perhaps it's because he was so impressive that, though she lifts her arm for another strike, she doesn't follow through with it. This may be a mistake, perhaps she's creating another nemesis that will haunt her later. She's getting good at that. Regardless she allows the man his life, and retreats only to find herself confronted by another lightsaber. This one is bright, and just as terrifying as all the rest, and she goes immediately into another dive that sees her only just managing to avoid grievous harm. Somehow.

[Rey Skywalker]

Rey's focuses is directly upon Sebek as he taunts her, strikes at her and she defends. The dance continues as she steps around him and ducks into a roll to dodge an attack from him, coming up again on the other foot she blocks once more before raising her saber up and...

The beam comes right down across his back as she'd slipped behind him!

With the sizzle of the saber through his body, Rey steps forward quickly to lay her shoulder in to his back to send him over on to his chest!

She lowers her blade to stare down at him. "Even the Force makes mistakes... you've proven that to me." She says to him before her senses pick up on Imani, the woman who'd harmed Finn twice now.

It isn't personal, no, of course not. It's all just business? Something like that.

The Jakkuan starts a sprint toward the woman with that weapon she remembers all too well from Snoke's throne room... Rey reaches Imani at full sprint speed, and instantly takes two quick swipes at the Ren loyalists!

[Malik Ren]

At last, poor Okkla, fighting so hard to defend the proper process! The proper procedure! People who should pay fines and go to JAIL! He fought bravely, but then again... his entire career has been about staying steadfast in the face of people who would like to see him trampled into the dirt, who want to disrespect and subvert and ignore him and his rules. He's not having it! Not from these people or any other! But even he cannot in the end withstand the blades of Imani's chain whip, and he falls. He is not dead, not yet, but he is in a grievous way, and cannot be any more aid to his allies. The clipboard falls out of his hands and clatters to the ground, where it rests nearby. The citation forms thereupon are blood-spattered.

[Ben Solo]

"When the moment came, you didn't /hesitate./" Ben's saber collides with Malik's again, sputtering and crackling, white light flickering in variable intensity as the blades stall out against each other. "I gave you a choice and you made it. You." Shoving the weapon forward, he pushes the deadlock apart, swinging in behind it again. "You knew what I was." Breathing heavily, leaking from the wound on his side, he takes a step back. "And you saw what it did to me. But here you are. Hiding behind a mask. You were never stupid, you're not a slow learner, you learned the wrong lesson." When he pushes the mess of his hair back from his forehead, some blood is left behind.

[Malik Ren]

"What choice did I have? What choice did you give me? My death or theirs! That was your devil's bargain!" Malik and Ben have some issues to work out, here, and their sabers, failing to find any purchase on the other man, aren't granting any closure. "That was /always/ your choice, from the first! You wouldn't have let me walk away. Not on Nar Shaddaa. Not on Maridun. Never. There is nothing to learn. You taught me a dark path, you abandoned me in the middle of it, and you tell me I'm lost from the light. So this is what it is. I took everything you gave me, and it's mine now, until the end."

[Sebek]

Where there's a will, there's a Rey. In this case, right behind Sebek's back. The glorious Flowing Water cut, for all must be formless and shapeless like water. Except Sebek, he liked to beat the water into submission. It didn't work like that, unfortunately, and that was how he suddenly found himself the victim of a horrible, horrible mauling. With little more than a cough, he fell to his knees, then collapsed into the ground. Unconsciousness came quickly, before even he realised he now owed She Who Inherits TWO defeats.

[Imani]

How is Imani still alive? Even she hasn't an explanation for that question, other than being really good at diving out of the way this morning. It hurts every single time, but that pain is less than she would experience had she not done so. Then she does something that might be even more unthinkable than attacking Okkla, she takes aim at Rey. There's just no chance though, she's far too slow, by the time the chain-whip gets near to where Rey was, the woman has moved beyond its reach. There's a growl of angry, pained frustration that escapes as the second hit also fails to find purchase. This is not going to end well for her.

[Shivan]

Shivan gives a look as Imani disengages and heads for the yellow lightsaber wielder. She was still catching up on names. With that done, she goes towards the fallen form of Okkla, "I told you to leave." she states quietly. Then with a flash, the lightsaber is thrusts into the chest of the man, into the heart. "Now you can't." she murmurs. Then she is stooping to collect the fallen clipboard and papers and then heading back towards the tanker with an eye on what is left of the battle.

[Rey Skywalker]

Imani was injured already, gravely so, Rey couldn't just see it but she could sense it... She staggers her steps and dodges the swings from the growling chain whip. Her saber is held out point-toward the ground, then sweeps it back up as she avoids the last attack.

With a stutter step, Rey lunges forward to swipe at the woman... to take her moment of opportuinity to dispmtch her similarly to how she'd taken down Sebek moments before...

She doesn't know anything about Imani though, just another Ren acolyte...

The battle isn't over yet though. Rey turns and runs right past Malik and Ben, taking a chance she squares up with them and steps in to take two quick swings at him as well! But when he casts both aside she steps away again and spins her saber as she backs up a few paces... noticing another out of the edge of her vision...

[Ben Solo]

"The same choice I had." Ben shakes his head at Malik, staring him down across the short distance between them. His eyes tighten, and he steps forward again, drawing on his connection to the Force once again. They clash, and his movement carries him past the smaller man. As he passes, he twists, the tip of the blade reaching in to rake from the bottom of his spine towards the top in a long, ragged line that Finn would recognize.

Panting, he looks down at the fallen body for a moment, and feels the faint lifeforce inside, the tangled rage inside meager and small but still there. He looks at the weapon in his hand, then back at the shape of his former student, defenseless and exposed.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees one just like it, where a red saber is poking down into poor Okkla, and fuming, turns away from Malik to intervene. It's too late, clearly, but he takes a perfunctory swing at Shivan's head that comes close enough to smell the burnt ozone left in its wake.

[Malik Ren]

The attack finally slips through Malik's defense, as he makes a duck that turns his back at just the wrong time -- sliced and fallen, it happens fast, and he drops, red blade extinguishing as he falls. He hits his knees first, clumsy, then the rest. The inscrutable mask is still in place, but the flash in the Force is instantly recognizable, and for a moment, it's the same as that shock of betrayal on the bridge of the Finalizer. For a moment, he's Oran again, and the pain is the same, voiceless, felt in echos.

Why?

Why?

Why?

It is a grief he will never understand.

[Shivan]

Shivan smells the ozone from that Lightsaber swing and catches sight of the big man out of the corner of her eye, "Why is everyone a giant?!" she shrieks as she hurries away, heading for the first downed ally she can find and starting to collect them. She calls a few troopers over to see who can help out with that. She wasn't sure if they were winning or losing...but she wasn't losing her head yet. In the literal sense at least.

[Imani] The stutter step is effective, Imani is struck down. The saber cuts through her armor as though it were moving through butter, melting away to leave behind not only a gouge in this protective gear, but also in the flesh beneath. She is cut, burned from one shoulder across her back in the direction of the opposite hip. The weapon in her hands is raised one last time, but her hands no longer work properly, nor her arms, she jerks as though her limbs are catching up with the news that she's basically dead, and then the instrument used to cause so much pain slips from her fingers to hit the sand. Imani soon joins it, toppling forward face down into the sand.

[Rey Skywalker]

Rey turns to watch Ben engage with Shivan. She witnesses the woman turn to make a run for it... she lets her go. Instead, she turns to where she knew Finn and Jax were. A glance is given to the First Order's remaining military might, but without the Knights of Ren to protect what's left she knows the Republic will be able to more easily move in now.

Rey deactivates her lightsaber and moves toward her fallen allies. "Ben, come on, we have to get them out of here!" She calls back to him, rushing to Finn's side to check him over as she clips her lightsaber to the outside of her satchel hanging at her hip.

"I said be careful..." She mutters, with concern across her face for the first real friend she's ever had.

[Malik Ren]

The Lord of the Sith and the Master of the Knights of Ren have fallen, along with their dark and vicious comrades! The Tanker is largely undefended now, and if Shivan is allowed to collect her broken teammates, they will have to leave it behind. Ben and Rey, and the sacrifices of their allies, have won the day. The tanker can be captured now, its poison neutralized, its crew taken prisoner.

The only thing leaking into the reservoir now is blood, mingled in death and defeat from both sides.*

Everyone but Rey is hurt or worse, the wounded are grievously damaged on both sides, and the side of right and good has won the day... but at what cost?

Is it worth it? Would anyone here have been allowed to decide that, or do greater wheels than these grind all the little lives to ruin? There aren't any answers. Just casualties to get into bacta.

The day is dawning bright now, and tomorrow, Carida will bring everyone more of the same.

• But that's organic so it's ok.