Remembrance
Dramatis Personae
New Imperium Diktat: Grand Moff Gene Rytor
War Cabinet
Minister of War: Sector Admiral Gaius Adonai (Human male from Empress Teta)
Head of Fleet Operations: Sector Admiral Stan Sanders (Human male from Eriadu)
Commander, Ground Forces: Field Marshal Rodin Kaler (Human male from Coruscant)
Commander, Logistics Support: Fleet Admiral Jann Percy (Human male from Commenor)
Commander, Jedi Operations: Grand Master Alyx Misnera (Human male from Varnus)
Commander, Special Projects: Admiral/CEO Walt Amason (Human male from Bonadan)
Executive Officer, Research and Development: CEO ‘Silverfox’K’bail (Trianii male from Brochiib)
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Chief Cast of Characters
GM Xar Kerensky (Human male from Varnus) – overall Jedi Grand Master
GM Alyx Misnera (Human male from Varnus) – acting Grand Master of Division Affairs
JM Jacob "Jinx" Skipper (Human male from Renastatia) – Deputy Grand Master
JM Mathis "Billbob" Organa (Human male from Alderaan) - Chancellor
JM Gaius Adonai (Human male from Empress Teta) – Overseer of Defense and Military Affairs
Adept Atridd Xoan (Human male from Coruscant) - Head of Special Ops
JM Kiz Thrakus (Human male from Corellia) – Kensai and Head Instructor of Combat
Adept Vynd “Delta 1” Archaron) - (Human male from Coruscant) – Warden and Academy Dean
JM Nico Flygras (Human male from Cyagar) – Former Deputy Grand Master, currently in a coma
Bren (Lasitus) (Human male from Golron VII)
Templar Nadia Ispen (Human female from Coruscant)
Crusader Rynn Mariel (Human female from Kryos)
Adept Ralagos Akala (Togorian male from Togoria)
General Maarek Stele (Human male from Kuan)
Colonel Rivian Donitz (Human male from Ziost)
Ex-Imperial Sovereign Guard Kir Kanos (aka. Jac Railler) (Human male from Coruscant)
Cozeeke (CO-ZK Multipurpose Droid belonging to Jac Railler)
Icis Novitaar (Human/Ka’jeat Traveler from Kajarn)
Angol Moa - Oldest of the Travelers
Moa Gault - Father of Icis Novitaar.
Noa Rintor (Traveler as Human male) – Traveler assigned to Epsilon Sector
Malduke (Ancient evil Traveler sealed in Galbagos Nebula)
Jedi Adept Kurt (Former Jedi Warden – now AD agent)
Dr. Erim Vannik (Human male from Varnus)
Rydon Kerensky (Human male from Varnus)
Illiana Nakotov (Human female from Varnus)
Ret. Diktat/Sector Admiral Arfann Dogar (Canoid male from Canis)
Fleet Admiral S’cill Shokfer (Bothan male from Bothawui)
Fleet Admiral Caramon Majere (Human male from Coruscant)
Quat (Human male from Coruscant) – Aide to Diktat Rytor
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The Warlords (Shok’Thola)
Altima (Humanoid male from Had Abbadon - Supreme Warlord)Former name: Elan Mossin
Sado (Human male from Tython)
Zalaria (Elerian female from Merinama)
Kronos (Human male from Ondos)Former name:Thule Vionin
Asellus (Human female from Notron) Former name: Onrai
Raftina (Crinn female Queen Mother)
Akargan (Human male from G’rho)
Velius (Human male from Kashi)Former name: Jarthanis (Guardians of the Breath)
Strife (Human male from Palawa)Former name: Kijiras (Chatos Academy Paladins)
Elidibsatianouka (Duinougwuin male from The Graveyard of the Dragons)
Calvernic (Human male from AD galaxy)
Queklain (Alien in Human male Rofel’s body)
Nimrod (Elerian male from Merinama – deceased)
Mordachus (Human male from AD galaxy – deceased)
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Active Altarin'Dakor Characters
Naguis'Vox'Donn (Human male, COM of the Grand Crusader)
Naguis'Vox'Donn (Human male, COM of the Cataclysm)
Naguis'Vox'Donn (Human male, COM of the Ascendancy)
Naguis’Dakor Alona (Jedicon female under Strife)
Naguis’Dakor Chele (Jedicon female under Stife)
Naguis’Dakor Moyabi (Jedicon male under Akargan)
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Titan-class Battleships
New Imperium – Grand Crusader, Cataclysm, Ascendancy, Nimbus
Akargan – Overlord, Warhawk, Extinction, Exterminator
Strife – Eternity, Abyss, Oblivion, Maelstrom
Asellus – Dark Sun, Vertigo, Nightlord
Velius – Violator, Defiler, Tormentor
Calvernic – Invasion of Light
Kronos – Death Wing
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Military Personnel
Command, Task Force Crusader:
Command, Task Force Cataclysm:
Command, Task Force Ascendancy: Fleet Admiral Tam Eulicid (Human male from Rendili)
Commodore of the MC-120 Darkstar: Admiral Jingo Yatai (Human male from Coruscant)
Commodore of the ISD Stormwatch: Admiral Aaron Melvar (Human male from Bakura)
Executive, R&D Division: CEO Trident (Human male from Ammuud)
Executive, R&D Division: CEO Kasei Sarthik (Trianii male from Brochiib)
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Inferno Squadron Roster
Inferno One: Maj. Salle Darl (Human female from Kolath)
Inferno Two: Gren Pabos (Human male from Renastatia)
Inferno Five: Kikitik (Sigman male from Sigma)
Inferno Nine: Narm Greyrunner (Human Male from Abregado)
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Jedi Division Roster – 54 active members
Grand Master
GM Xar Kerensky (Human male from Varnus) – overall Jedi Grand Master
GM Alyx Misnera (Human male from Varnus) – acting Grand Master of Division Affairs
Jedi Council
JM Jacob "Jinx" Skipper (Human male from Renastatia) – Deputy Grand Master
JM Mathis "Billbob" Organa (Human male from Alderaan) - Chancellor
JM Gaius Adonai (Human male from Empress Teta) – Overseer of Defense and Military Affairs
Adept Atridd Xoan (Human male from Coruscant) - Head of Special Ops
JM Kiz Thrakus (Human male from Corellia) – Kensai and Head Instructor of Combat
Adept Vynd “Delta 1” Archaron) - (Human male from Coruscant) – Warden and Academy Dean
Former Council Members:
JM Nico Flygras (Human male from Cyagar) – Former Deputy Grand Master, currently in a coma
Adept Gui Sun Paan (Human male from Tatooine) - Head of Special Ops – (KIA at Battle of Varnus)
Other Memberrs:
Vykk Olyronn, Draken Ar’Kell, Colin Moore, Sim Zaphod, Junor Brajo, Varanus Templar, Satai Dukhat, Roger Macreed, Neres Warjan, Mrax Satai, Rilke Darcunter, Eric Donos, Aethar Daemonstar Nadia Ispen
Prologue: Aftermath
The first time he regained consciousness, it was like rising from the depths of a dark ocean, light slowly filtering down to where dark creatures resided.The light slowly grew brighter, expanding and glowing until only white light filled his vision, rippling like surface waves in front of his eyes. That light resolved into several brighter spots, occasionally broken by dark shadows that danced in front of them. Memories floated just beyond reach, refusing to come. Even thoughts appeared only briefly, quickly disappearing again,like a wisp.
Those overhead shadows became outlines of figures, people. A dark figure whose face was covered by a mask loomed above, his arms reaching downwards. Voices came to his ears, but were muffled, impossible to make out. Where am I? What’s happening? The thoughts were fleeting, ephemeral.
The vision narrowed, and gave way to darkness again.
Dreams came, the dreams of deep sleep, making no logical sense yet seeming very real. In them he was fighting against something or someone, trying to get towards a certain goal – a person, an event. In others, he was running, escaping the conspiracy of an evil, corrupt entity that only he dared resist. In his dreams he was always fighting or running, and each time, the circumstances were different, but held a strain of familiarity, like he had witnessed all this before.
The next time he awoke, he felt cool air rushing into his lungs, filling him with a refreshing sense of life. He opened his eyes, but closed them again immediately; there was something touching them. Something liquid. Oddly though, his eyes weren’t burning. He opened them again, and saw a greenish blue blur all around him. He blinked, and then he could make out the tube snaking its way down to his mouth, and the glassed-in walls of the cylinder he was floating in. Blurred shapes moved around outside his tank. He was in a bacta bath. Funny, how that familiar sense reassured him. He floated there, naked except for his underpants, tried to look down at himself. His body felt numb. Fresh, life-giving air continued to flow through his nose and mouth. Probably mixed with a high dose of oxygen, too. He was being treated for his injuries.
The crash. Suddenly memories came rushing back. Kamren Thansil. The duel. And before that, Rann Wosper and Tanya Vinikoro, plunging to their deaths in the streets of Vectur. His own fighter, diving downwards, the ground rushing up to meet him, knowing this would be his final moment…
Sleep came again, but this time, the dreams were real. He relived that moment, watching Rann and Tanya die, feeling the helplessness, the anger, and the terror of knowing that he was next. The shame and denial, and the desperation. In his dreams, he yelled at them to pull out, to wake up from the trances they’d been placed in. But every time he was too late. They were gone. He had failed.
Maarek Stele awoke once more, and this time, he was in a room, lying in a relatively comfortable bed. As his eyes opened, the familiar white walls of what had to be the palace medbay greeted him, along with the smells – sanitizing liquids, freshly-washed linens and sheets, freshly scrubbed and dried air filling his nostrils with each breath. Also familiar were the sounds – the steady beeping of monitors, the more random beeps of anomalies and alerts, and the whirring of medical droids and their synthetic voices.
Two blobs at the end of the bed resolved themselves into Maarek’s legs. His feet were there, too, sticking up out from beneath the thin white sheet covering his torso and legs. Experimentally, he wiggled his toes; all ten of them were still there.
At his sides were his arms, and he raised them up to look at his hands. Still there. Ten fingers, too. So he was still in one piece. There was pain, though. In his legs, in his shoulder, and along his side. He blinked, and the rest of the medbay recovery room came into slightly better focus. Was something wrong with his eyes?
“Ah, you’re awake.”
A dark-skinned man with gray hair dressed in doctor’s garb stepped in front of the bed. Maarek recognized Doctor Erim Vannik, chief physician of the Royal Palace, immediately. He looked tired; there were dark bags under his eyes. Maarek couldn’t imagine how many injured he must have treated during the battle, and since.
“How do you feel?” Vannik asked, looking down at him.
Maarek had to swallow before he was able to speak.“I’ve been better,” he croaked. He felt like he’d been run over by a tank. His throat was dry.
“Here. There are some things we need to go over,” Vannik said, offering him a cup of water.
Maarek gingerly took the paper cup in his hand and took a careful sip. “I’m sure. How long was I out?”
“Ten days,” Vannik responded, pursing his lips together. “You were in a coma for seven of those. I wasn’t sure you were coming out.” He put his hands on his hips and gave a grim smile. “Don’t worry, the battle was won. Obvious, that, or we wouldn’t be here otherwise. Or perhaps it would be better to call it a stalemate. Anyway, we’re safe, for the time being.”
The words made no sense to Maarek’s ears. A million questions ran through his mind. “My squadron…” he began to ask.
“They’ve tried to get in here a few times, but Medbay has been on strict visitation rules. There’s still the fear of AD agents hiding somewhere inside the palace. There have been a few incidents.” He gestured to a piece of paper on the tray hanging off the side of Maarek’s bed. “They did drop that off for you.”
Reaching over, Maarek set down the cup and took the paper in hand. It was a card, full of well wishes and signed by the members of his squadron. The surviving members. He eagerly scanned the names. Salle Darl. Gren Pabos. Narm Greyrunner. Also Kikitik – he’d managed to eject safely after being shot down.
Some names were missing. Bast Vlagen. Rann Wosper. Tanya Vinikoro. Maarek closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the room seemed to sway a bit in front of his eyes. He suddenly felt lightheaded.
“What’s my prognosis?” he asked.
A pair of nurses passed behind Vannik, pushing a mobile bed containing another patient, clad in white sheets. Vannik shook his head after they’d passed.
“You were in bad shape. Two broken legs, a shattered bone in your upper arm, four cracked ribs and a collapsed lung. Three of your vertebrae were damaged and required surgery. All that’s healed now, or at least on the mend. It’s your head that’s giving us the biggest problem.”
Vannik gestured upwards, and Maarek followed his hand to a mirror built into the ceiling over the bed. He gave a start as his saw his reflection. He was bald! Or, at least, his head was completely shaved. A thin scar ran from the top of his head down towards the back, passing out of sight.
“You’ll find another scar about eight centimeters in length running horizontally back there,” Vannik explained. “There was a sizeable piece of transparisteel lodged into the back of your skull. Gave me a bit of trouble, digging that out.”
“Why am I getting so nauseated?” Maarek asked, feeling along the back side of his head. Sure enough, there was an obvious crease there.
The doctor didn't reply for a while. He just stood there, looking thoughtful, and his eyes held a hint of sadness that Maarek could detect.
"Well?" Maarek asked. He didn't like waiting in suspense, and from the look of Vannik, the news was bad.
Finally, Vannik blew out a long sigh and shook his head. “I don’t know how to tell you this, Maarek, so I’m just going to say it. You suffered serious brain damage from the crash. That’s why you were in a coma. Now you’re suffering from an acute kind of vertigo. Spacer’s vertigo, some call it. Your whole brain’s out of equilibrium. I operated directly on the brain to try and repair the damage, and after that didn’t work I even used an experimental new drug which I inserted directly into your cranial cavity. We’ll have to wait and see how effective that is. And by the way, I did have to shave your head for the procedure, of course. Your hair will grow back, but as a side effect from the medication I injected…” He shrugged. “Well, let’s just say you’ll probably go bald earlier than you normally would have.” He reached up and rubbed his own head, where his curled, graying hair was thinning, and had receded about a quarter of the way back along the top of his head.
Maarek shook his head, then glanced back up at his reflection again – a little too fast – the world started swimming again. “So…” he began, then waited for everything to settle again. “Are you saying this dizziness may not go away?”
“I can’t say for sure. I’ve done all I can do to treat it, and there is a medication you’ll need to take that will help you get around to at least a limited extent. With the medication, you’ll be able to walk and probably live a normal life, maybe even travel, as long as it’s on a large transport or freighter. With time, you might even be able to ride in an airspeeder. But I’m afraid that’s as far as it goes. Sooner or later you’re going to have to face it, Maarek: You’ll never fly a fighter again.”
Before he even realized it, Maarek had forced himself upright and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His mind was numb with shock. Better to tell a man he was dying and be done with it – this was worse, far worse. This couldn’t be happening. Not to Maarek Stele. He could not stop flying! He had to get out of here!
Suddenly the world swam again, far worse than before. Everything tilted, like the room had suddenly turned itself sideways. Desperately Maarek flailed about with his arms, trying to catch himself from falling. He heard a thud and felt his head bounce off the floor painfully. Suddenly he was looking up at the bed, and at Vannik, who was stepping over him, cursing loudly.
“Blasted fool! What do you think you’re doing?” Vannik’s voice rang dimly in his ears. “Nurse! Get some help over here!”
***
Personal Quarters
Royal Palace, Varnus
2040 Hours
Rynn Mariel, standing in the refresher’s shower unit, hung her head low and let the falling water pour down onto her head and down her body. The heat soaked into her skin, warming her, filling the air with a thin cloud of steam. Her dark auburn hair – now only extending down to her neck – was plastered onto her scalp and against her face, an unusual sensation. The rest of her once waist-length hair lay in a waste basket in the living room, cut away – just as a part of her had been cut away.