A year has passed and the New Allinace Transcendence Organization, otherwise called N.A.T.O. has secured most of the Omniverse for order, peace, protection, and stability. The Conglomerate Sith Alliance Triumvirate, also called C.S.A.T. is heavily a...
Akar Kesh, a striking no matter how many times one had seen it. The tall butte on which it sat rose hundreds of meters from the sea, isolated and majestic. Water, pumped to the rock formation's highest layers by ancient engineering, fell in steady curtains down its side and back to the sea. On the flat top, eight tall rectangular monoliths sat arranged around a shallow pool. It was a place of symmetry and grace, and many counted the Temple of Balance as the most holy of the Je'daii centers on Tython.
Tython's last Tho Yor hung above Akar Kesh as if to accentuate the point. The massive ark, eight triangular sides arranged as a double-pyramid of black stone, hovered in the air through powers unknown. Over ten thousand years ago, eight other Tho Yor had converged on Tython from different corners of the galaxy, bearing with them pilgrims from dozens of planets and species that could touch the Force. These pilgrims became Je'daii, and for ten thousand years the Tho Yor had hung above their temples, silent and inscrutable, the most prominent of Tython's many mysteries.
After ten thousand years, that had finally changed.
As she stood beside the shallow pool that topped Akar Kesh, Lanoree Brock, Je'daii Ranger, had a hard time drawing her attention from the Tho Yor's reflection in the still water. With effort, she forced her eyes off the double-pyramid and onto the semicircle of Je'daii Masters who stood around her and her companions.
"The experiments we've run have all been successful. The test-flights have shown our Je'daii pilots are capable of controlling the craft," said the man beside her. "There's no reason to delay the mission any further. We should depart as soon as the ship has been stocked for a long-term journey."
Tave, the Noghri combat master of Stav Kesh, said, "A long-term mission, Master Quan-Jang? Let us be honest with each other. The journey you propose is almost certainly one-way."
"That's possible," Quan-Jang admitted. "But I am not proposing this mission. I'm ready to carry it out, personally. All I need is your blessing."
The middle-aged human- dark-skinned, bald, with black lenses over his eyes- was the temple master of Anil Kesh, center of Je'daii scientific research. Since the defeat of the Rakatan invaders a year ago and the flight of all but one Tho Yor to Furies Gate, outermost planet of the Tythan system, Quan-Jang had led efforts to understand and repair Rakatan technology gathered from their crashed starships. And after a year of experimentation, one Rakata gunship had finally been made operable. With that technology they stood able to do what no Je'daii had done in ten thousand years: breach lightspeed and explore the galaxy beyond.
And Lanoree Brock was set to go with them.
From his tone Quan-Jang made it clear he intended to do whatever was necessary to begin the journey, and soon. Lanoree understood his urgency. The war within the Rakata had fundamentally changed the Je'daii. In addition to opening to the door to the wider galaxy it had opened doors in themselves, not all good. Many Je'daii, led by war hero Daegen Lok, were convinced they needed to embrace the strength and passions traditionally associated with Tython's dark moon, Bogan. Others eschewed balance in the other direction, favoring the purity associated with the light moon, Ashla.
Exploration of the galaxy beyond the Tythan system was the one thing both sides agreed on, but that could change fast. Quan-Jang wanted to get the mission going before the strife among the Je'daii deepened.
Master Tave turned his small, intense eyes on the two Je'daii rangers standing besides Quan-Jang. "This mission may well take you from Tython forever. You will never see this world. You will never speak to your families. You will likely die among strangers. Have you prepared yourself for that?"
The Twi'lek on Quan-Jang's other shoulder raised his head. "Accepting risk is a part of being a Je'daii, and all of us have faced death during the invasion. Twenty-eight Je'daii have volunteered for this mission. None of us are afraid."
"This is true," said the stout Talid Master Lha-Mi, "But your motivations are particularly strong, aren't they, Hawk Ryo?"
The Twi'lek exhaled and allowed himself to look skyward. Lanoree did too. Of the nine Tho Yor that had sat above Tython for ten thousand years, three had been destroyed by the Rakata. Five had fled to Furies Gate and appeared to wait there, expecting companions to join them in a journey to the stars.
Now
151 ABY
Mobius
London
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"Secure the area!" An S.A.S. solider ordered his men setting up barricades.
The CIS forces set up defenses all over the city.
???: Is it here
???: Not yet. Wait for the right moment.
Elizabeth: *[has a single worded message sent out to her family and staff, which sees that they're ready to go within the hour]*
???: I see it. There's the truck. Go.
Joey: And this mission was authorized by the President of the United States, take what you need: but please don't dalley, because this is far too important.
Elizabeth: *[nods]* We're ready.
*[The Queen's handbag also appears slightly heavier than it usually is when she goes out]*
The truck makes it's way to a warehouse on 10th street. "You got the stuff." A person in military like gear said.
"Of course I got the stuff."
The droids get Elizabath and those with her to Albion safely, and Albion is locked down.
Joey sees the suspicious truck and readies - the Ultimatrix.
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