Revan part 2, the wanderer, Revan Options

[Lord Revan]

Thanks Mallet, I'm still debating how much colateral damage is going to be done to Tamriel. Vardenfell is pretty much razed (Seyda Neen is a bunch of rubble) and the war has moved to the mainland. This is also contemporary with the Oblivion Crisis (if only a few weeks after it's resolved).

Anyway, all I've decided on is that there will be hundred lots of rubble, craters, giants swaths left by crashing capital ships, and a few one-sided (likely) clashes between Naryyn, Honor Guard, and the native populace.

Lots of fun for you, MM

[Lord Revan]

They both strode through the winding corridors with haste. Rhys realized that the architecture was somewhat different to what she’d become accustomed to in her time with the Marhun Kar.
All surfaces were seamless, one couldn’t tell where one panel began or ended. The walls were deep lavender, the floor was a mix of many hues of blue that had a curious affect on one if he or she paused to inspect it.

The dim illumination was courtesy of the violet bands that were located wherever the floor met wall and wall met ceiling. The light was obvious, but it was also illusive at the same time, hard to describe.
It was as like the razor edge between pure light and pure darkness, the point of twilight. No shadows were cast yet there was still light. Finally, Rhys just stopped thinking about it.

Darhun said nothing, an oddity, though he was much like Revan, Darhun was silent in a different way. When Revan was silent he was usually deep in contemplation, or in private thought with himself but Darhun was less introverted.
He spoke his mind more often and to find him quiet, especially among people he knew well, was disconcerting. Darhun stopped beside another pedestal, he activated it swiftly with a practiced hand.

A three-dimensional representation of Nirm rotated in between them. As Rhys watched, Darhun tapped the miniature island of Vardenfell. The image blurred and the island replaced the sphere.
The southern coast faced Rhys, and her eyes widened as the changes in it hit her. Seyda Neen was a cluster of cracked stone and burning wood, in the remains of the paved street were all the villagers.

Many were half-eaten, mud crabs and cliff racers moved about the image picking apart pieces of meat from the dead citizens. Rhys finally turned her gaze to Vivec, to her further horror the great city was in ruins.
The many cantons were half-sunk, many lacked their tops. All sorts of debris and objects bobbed on the surface. Slaughterfish swarmed around the flooded cantons, bones littered the bottom of the lake.

More bodies littered the stairs leading to the Temple of Vivec, but some were those of fallen honor guards. Still, the sight of their fallen foes didn’t compare to the amount of priests and guards.

Impaled by pillars, displayed like trophies were the ordinators, two on every level, one on each side of the stair way. Flocks of cliff racers were perched nearby, pecking uselessly against their armor.
Rhys’ vision blurred as hot tears ran down her face, she’d talked with those people before, gotten to know them. To see them left to be picked apart by animals was devastating.

“They didn’t deserve this…..” She thought through the anguish. “Not a single one of them..... No one knew they were in danger, no one knew they would die....”
Rhys shut her eyes tightly, balling her hands into fists. “They weren’t even buried.” She whispered hoarsely, Rhys shuddered.

She’d felt the Honor Guard’s thoughts, they would not stop short of massacring everyone one Nirm. “But this....” This couldn’t be justified, nothing could justify the mass murder of an entire planet.
Subconsciously, she knew that Darhun was leading her somewhere, but she didn’t open her eyes. Her shuddering grew worse, it felt as though claws were tearing into her brain.

Naryyn were all tied, when one died everyone felt it. When ten die it feels like a bucket of ice cold water was splashed in your face. This was different, this was worse, like everyone who’d died was clawing, desperately trying not to fall into the void and all those grasping fingers were digging into you skull.

Xaries....

“Bring the probe closer,” He asked again. The fiery form of Severin stood on the opposite side of the tactical map display.
The Ascendant crossed his arms, and repeated. “If we move it closer it will certainly be detected.”

Xaries argued, “It’s already closer than anything I could ever have at my disposal, and we need to know what’s happening down there.”

Severin shook the ornate headpiece he had for a head. “You don’t understand commander, that probe is powered by the Hurso itself. You’re sensors may be unable to detect it, but once it gets close enough, the Ascendants and warriors will sense its presence.”

Xaries sighed, this was going nowhere, Norik had landed, he’d seen that. The High Naryyn commander wouldn’t put it past his zealous brother to treat the natives any better than the honor guards.
“What can we do? We’re almost blind, Norik has reinforcements, and the Honor Guards aren’t waiting for us to settle our differences.”

“Do?” Severin echoed, “Isn’t it obvious?” Xaries arched an eyebrow and shook his head. The Ascendant gave a sigh, clutching his “forehead” wearily. “We infiltrate their ranks and broker a truce.”

Xaries appeared unimpressed, “Do you truly believe it will be that simple?”
Severin dimmed his eyes and shook his head, “Of course not. But it is or only viable option, not to mention it is or specialty.”

“How will your troops succeed where your probe failed?” Severin’s armor pieces shuddered in unison and his crackling voice thrummed through Xaries’ mind, not too unlike laughter.
“How did that youngling evade all your soldiers in Valenwood?” Xaries was momentarily caught of guard, in the recent events he’d forgotten about Revan. Before he could reply the portal entrance to the bridge buzzed and a female Iso Naryyn strode through.

Unlike her kin, who wore clothing of infinite blackness, she wore an outfit made from many crisscrossing garments of black and silver. Another distinguishing factor was her vivid raven hair, from the women Xaries had seen it was customary for female hair to be bound into a knot or series of knots, which she wore unbound and flowed to her waist.

This woman exuded charisma and experience, and involuntarily, Xaries stepped out of her way as she approached. Like Rhys, the woman wore a sash to obscure the lower half of her face.

Xaries averted his gaze, the power of her eyes alone was disconcerting. The sudden confusion was replaced by the cool urgency of the situation. The High Naryyn watched as Severin and the woman bowed to one another.

“Greetings Matriarch, unfortunately we have been unable to contact the rest of the Matriarchy, but Lord Arastus has been awaiting contact with you.” The Ascendant greeted her formally, no reverently.

So this is the leader of the Marhun Kar.... Xaries felt a moment of irony, after serving beneath the Patriarchs all his life it was still odd to find a female in absolute command of thousands.

The real-time images from the recon probe were replaced by a life sized hologram of a middle-aged Iso Naryyn in what Xaries could only guess was sapphire armor.
“Matriarch, it is a relief to have located you and your charges. As you already know, we are discussing our next plan of action.” The warrior -Arastus- said.

“The Marhun Kar are grateful for your arrival, and will gladly stand beside you and yours in this conflict.” She replied sincerely. Xaries contemplated how empathetic the Matriarch seemed compared to the brooding councilmen that lead his people.

As if catching his thoughts, the Matriarch turned to him at that moment. “Tell me, Commander, what is your standpoint in this matter?” Xaries felt cornered in an odd way, she was simply asking for his opinion, but she made him feel tense like the council could, but worse.

Xaries did what he felt was best, he told the absolute truth. “The envoy from the council that is among the forces held up in the capital is my brother, ma’am.” He spoke in a frank tone, “However, he is not the same person I called my brother fifty years ago. That man believed in his own way, but now he is a zealot of the council. I hope that if there ever is a later after this, he may finally become what he once was, but right now I do not hold to the same tenets that he does; my troops and I will fight alongside your kin!”

The Matriarch remained silent, studying him intently as if seeing the basic pieces that made the man he was. Then she nodded, but there was something else there, more than mere validation of trust......

Norik.....

The guards had given up blocking their passage and formed a defensive semi-circle around a being that looked disturbingly like High Naryyn. Well, how ironic, this planet has not one but two races that look almost identical to us.

Six armored troopers held their weapons at the ready. The golden-skinned being stepped forward and made what Norik could assume were demands. As was standard protocol when interacting with lesser races that did not speak Naryyn, Norik accessed the alien’s mind.

It was long ago noted by the ancient ones that all sentient races thought in the same “language” and thus they were able to communicate with any intelligent life they came into contact with.

Focusing on the being’s thoughts, Norik replied. “We High Naryyn have no interest in conquering your planet, we are here because our foes are here. Should your subjects cooperate, our time here shall be short.”

Norik narrowed his eyes, “However if you or your lesser get in our way then there will be dire consequences for treachery!” Before the alien could reply, all the Naryyn, troopers, their commander, and envoy marched out back into the city.

This post has been edited by Lord Revan: Apr 15 2007, 11:01 PM

[Lord Revan]

Norik.....

The guards had given up blocking their passage and formed a defensive semi-circle around a being that looked disturbingly like High Naryyn. Well, how ironic, this planet has not one but two races that look almost identical to us.

Six armored troopers held their weapons at the ready. The golden-skinned being stepped forward and made what Norik could assume were demands. As was standard protocol when interacting with lesser races that did not speak Naryyn, Norik accessed the alien’s mind.

It was long ago noted by the ancient ones that all sentient races thought in the same “language” and thus they were able to communicate with any intelligent life they came into contact with.

Focusing on the being’s thoughts, Norik replied. “We High Naryyn have no interest in conquering your planet, we are here because our foes are here. Should your subjects cooperate, our time here shall be short.”

Norik narrowed his eyes, “However if you or your lesser get in our way then there will be dire consequences for treachery!” Before the alien could reply, all the Naryyn, troopers, their commander, and envoy marched out back into the city.


As their commanders passed all troopers moved to follow. Around the coasts of the lake more dropships landed, depositing soldiers to capture the many ruins that dotted the region.
As the parade of brightly clad beings strode through Talos Plaza many natives gathered to watch fearfully. They generally received a faceless stare or the twitching of a firearm.
No one dared to stand within five feet of the individuals.

Norik looked over the civilians, all were humanoid, but some had scaly skin or furry hides. Curious, normally worlds only allow for one form of species to evolve effectively, not every evolutionary path.
Looking to Ankrus, Norik noticed the officer was gone! Pausing to look around the area, Norik spotted his senior officer conversing in the weird native tongue with one of the spectators.
Norik was about to interrupt the dialog when, thinking better of it, he ordered half of the thirty-plus guards to stay with Ankrus. Taking the others with him, Norik continued along the bridge.
The Dominance and Hunter hovered to the right, fifty feet above the shoreline beneath them. Transports cycled between the ground and the two cruisers’ hanger bays.
Two battalions stood spaced evenly in perfect arrangements, weapons pointed to the sky. Fifteen Swift interceptors swooped down in a flying wing formation from the grey sheet of oppressive clouds.
With a thundering sonic boom, the squadron whooshed out of sight, searching for enemy threats and generally furthering the awe of the natives. Three man fire teams patrolled the roadways, gazing warily at any of the indigenous folk they passed.
Despite the ease of their arrival Norik felt strangely unsatisfied with the situation. Some foreboding feeling just nagged at him that ruined the triumph of the moment.....

Arastus.....

Privately he thanked the Ancient Ones for deigning to guide his forces to allies. High Naryyn, in the flesh, he doesn’t seem particularly haughty or aloof.... Of course having not made contact in eons, it’s natural not to have an accurate portrayal of our brethren.
Arastus was also very pleased to have found the Matriarch of the lost (formerly, anyway) Marhun Kar. Had time been more permitting, he would have spent time discussing what had transpired before now, but time wasn’t a plentiful resource.

“The exultation of our meeting can only be ruined by the circumstances of our present plight.” He spoke to his fellow leaders and Severin. “From what we have seen, the Athryst are set on murdering all life around us including ourselves.”

Xaries and the Matriarch both appeared surprised, the former more so than the latter. “You know of these creatures?” The High Naryyn said, confused.

Severin inclined his head, regarding the commander beside him. “We only have heard from another, Lord Vhas’ description of the raided lands is identical to the remains of the Dunmeri city of Vivec. Fallen opponents held for display on their own weapons.”
Xaries was stunned into silence, but his bitter thoughts were so powerful they were obvious. All those centuries of “servitude”, the councilors were blind to have trusted such foul creatures with so much of our strengths and weaknesses.

Finally, the silence ended, and all parties began discussing possible moves against the Rogue Fleet, and although to a lesser extent, how to broker a truce with the newly arrived High Naryyn armada.
After about three hours of debate, Severin called for another meeting of this purpose tomorrow. After Arastus agreed the remaining leaders conceded, although Arastus was the military leader of his fleet, his Ascendant advisor was very much the decision maker due to his great experience.

Xaries....

As the hologram of Lord Arastus vanished, Severin dismissed them. He and the Matriarch made their way wordlessly through countless hallways, until finally both paused at the sudden chorus of reptilian hissing and clicking claws on metal.
Perhaps against his better judgment, he approached the corner. As he neared the noise quieted to an eerie silence. Xaries continued until he could peer around the turn.....

He came face to snout with a large reptilian predator. The raptor opened its maw, lowering its head and hissing at him. The single purple antenna on its head brightened and stretched to its full length.
Xaries glanced past it any saw the entire room was filled with such creatures. All were staring at him. Unbidden, the commander backed away, the nearest animal maintained the same distance as before, and some of the others were also striding forward.

As the creatures herded him back the way he’d come, they paused. Xaries realized that the Matriarch was beside him, the creatures were ignoring him now. Xaries “heard” muffled sentences and unintelligible chatter.
Finally, the raptors backed down, turning back to their chamber. The Matriarch instructed, “It would be best for you and your troops to avoid this area. They mean no harm, but neither do they accept strangers into their territory.”

“You mean you can understand them?” He asked, finding the concept of understanding such creatures alien.
The Matriarch arched an eyebrow, thoroughly amused. “Such are my clan’s blessings, and do not speak of them like common animals; lest you wish become ill-favored in their graces.”

“I must go, time is short.” She said, dismissing herself. Xaries watched her go. So, there is more diversity amongst us than appearance or allegiance.....

Kartah.....

This isn’t what I had in mind. She thought for the hundredth time since being picked up by the Iso Naryyn frigate. The break, there was no problem she had with that, but the Iso Naryyn were just so..... different.
In the few hours since the contact between them, the two groups didn’t mesh in the way Kartah would have preferred. Both groups maintained a three meter buffer zone whenever possible.

To make matters worse, for the sergeant in particular, it turned out she was the ranking officer of a unit of twenty-three. Kartah knew that the problems wouldn’t end until there was an intervention.
There wasn’t any hostility whatsoever, the problem that neither side tried to bridge the gap. Every so often Kartah would turn to see an Iso Naryyn watching her and an irritating sensation would occasionally assail her head.

Sergeant Kartah had no idea how to approach this problem, she had a hunch that her opposites were used to an ease to communicating and socializing with newcomers, but they hadn’t worked up the motivation to shake their hands yet.

Her subordinates remained in groups at all times, wary of the Iso Naryyn. The standoff was driving Kartah to the edge of her senses. As the CO of her troops she had to be the authority, but she also had to be the one who took responsibility for their well-being.
Unfortunately, these Naryyn weren’t the Marhun Kar, or Revan and Rhys, they seemed to keep their distance, melting away if anyone grew too near. This is like trying to grab solid wax with a plasmathrower blazing on each hand!

The sergeant found herself storming down the corridors, trying in vain to locate the bridge and end this. She found no instructions or diagrams of the ship or any help on part of the being who build and controlled this accursed ship.
Suddenly, Kartah reeled as another –as she would learn later- telepathic massage raked her brain.

Moments later the sergeant was thrown off her feet and slammed into the armored wall.....

[The Metal Mallet]

You definitely depict the uneasiness between the new alliances very well. Hopefully they begin to sort things out between their differences.

[Lord Revan]

Here's an update to sate everyone's hunger until Friday.
---------

The Sergeant stumbled down the hallway, the shield door slid open and the hanger bay was revealed. Great, I will never find the bridge at this rate! That wasn’t the important thing though, nothing had hit her when she’d been thrown into the wall, aside from the wall.

That meant evasive maneuvers and..... The sun of Nirm was suddenly eclipsed and the familiar burnished gold of synthesized metal appeared. Three dropships flew through the energy shields that kept the bay pressurized.

Kartah stepped back, her immediate guess was that the honor guards had somehow detected the stealth ship and were preparing to board. However the armored figures that came out of the transports were thankfully not twelve foot tall homicides brandishing huge staffs.

Three squads of marines moved fluidly into a perimeter defense maneuver. Against her better judgment, Kartah let the relief of seeing allies that she holstered her rifle and removed her helmet.....
The nearest marine tackled her, and both collided with another wall. Kartah was stunned, partly due to the shock of being knocked down by someone with times five increased strength, but mostly due to being attacked by a friendly.

The marine kept her pinned, normally she could have worked her way out, but the soldier had appropriate leverage. The others formed a “slaughter crescent” an offensive semi-circle where the target was surrounded on a full 180 degree angle.
An individual without a helmet, wearing an orange sash across his shoulders and chest, pushed his way through the formation. The sergeant bristled, only veterans with their psionic abilities bore sashes of rank.

“What the hell is going on?” She growled, the marine wasn’t being treating her gently. The same uncomfortable sensation of mind-to-mind exchange grated her senses; actually it was worse than before, this felt like claws being scrapped across glass.

The psych spoke calmly, as if he didn’t have a bunch of marines pointing rifles at her head right now. “Sergeant, you have been found on a heretic vessel, and your memories of the past few days will be used as evidence at your court-martial.”

Kartah stopped struggling, and then snarled. “My mind is my own, get out!” She fought vainly against the marine, gaining a little space but then being slammed against the bulkhead hard enough to make her bones vibrate from the impact.

The veteran raised an eyebrow, unimpressed with her struggles. “Heretic sympathizers have no rights, Sergeant Kartah, as such you are to be summarily executed.”
He turned to the officer beside him, “Do it.” The marine moved back and the psych waved his gauntlet over Kartah’s breast plate. Kartah suddenly felt like she was bearing this entire ship on her shoulders, and she fell backwards to lie against the bulkhead.

She struggled to rise, but the truth was clear, that psych had disabled her armor and now it was a half ton of dead weight. The marines tightened up the crescent, their assault rifles clicked as the safeties went off.
Cold sweat rolled down her face, it wasn’t just fear, but the temperature control in her armor was also off-line. No.....

The psych moved back, turning to check on the other two squads, the troopers shouldered their rifles. ....This can’t be.....
Every soldier took his/her time aligning their aim, each one a faceless executioner. Kartah gasped for air, fear engulfing her conscience. ......how it ends.....

Suddenly the psych straightened, spinning around as if unable to find something that he knew was around. And every single marine stiffened...... then collapsed under the weight of their own armor.
As if containing something unholy within their depths, the darkened room’s shadows rippled around Kartah. Then Iso Naryyn slowly emerged from the shadows like they were rising from water.

All around the hanger bay troopers fell to the floor as their suits were disabled. The High Naryyn veteran reeled as he realized what was happening, the Iso Naryyn had been there all along, hidden. They were watching how he had deactivated Kartah’s armor so they could do the same with the invaders.

The shield door Kartah had passed through minutes ago opened and her men charged through weapons raised but not firing. A corporal helped Kartah out of her inert armor.
The sergeant thanked him and scooped up her assault rifle, noting how much heavier it felt without enhanced strength. Kartah turned to fix the psychic with a glare, her rifle aimed downward but the notion of blowing the man’s head off wasn’t unappealing.

Kartah glanced to her company, “collect the others, keep an eye on them.”
As her soldiers filed out, a private joked. “Don’t worry ma’am, we’ll use them for target practice if they get too rowdy!”

The sergeant grinned slightly; then she returned his attention to the veteran. “Sergeant, I hope that you don’t intend to do anything unwise with him.” One of the Iso Naryyn cautioned her.

Despite the council, Kartah’s grip on her rifle tightened, and her brain became detached from her body. No matter how much hard she envisioned blowing the psych’s brains out, her rifle couldn’t rise to tale aim.

The psych was silent, watching her with cold eyes that embodied neither malice, nor concern for another being’s suffering. Kartah doubted this man even cared what she did to him, whether it be torture or the same execution he’d nearly done to her.

She stepped closer until her face was only an inch away from his. “I am not a cold-blooded murderer like you,” She whispered. “I can’t order people to be killed just because of what they believe or what I suspect they believe. And these people are not heretics or vermin!”

Kartah slapped the psych as hard as she could, she wanted to do so much more to him, but the sergeant couldn’t do it, not without becoming something that she wasn’t.
With all the dignity she could muster, Kartah turned and walked away as the psych raised a hand to gently touch where she’d slapped him.

Her company was helping the boarders out of their armor, they took care to relieve them of their ammo though. After walking a distance along the pathways of the hanger, Kartha gasped and collapsed, shuddering.
The psychological shock of being mentally violated like she had been finally hit her full-force. As she curled into a fetal position and broke down she was thankful that there was no one close by that could she her like this.

Kartah's skull felt like the metal in it was smoldering hot. Her psionic inhibitors recoiled in response to the recent dose of telepathic exposure. She cradled her head his her hands as the side effects of nueral restriction peaked out.
Finally the pain stopped and her skull throbbed slightly, Kartah was covered in a film of sweat and her body felt worse than it ever had before. Her racing heart slowed down enough for her to catch her breath, and every cell in her body began to stablize.

[jack cloudy]

And another revelation. So now the High Narynn have their brains piled up with metal? Cool!
(Well, cool until someone takes it a bit too far and turns everyone into Borg. I'm kinda tired of those guys as baddies in Star Trek.)

[Lord Revan]

Yeah, it keeps them from using their powers, but has some nasty side-effects. Think of Kartah's position as someone being exposed to an addixtive substance and then going into withdrawl. That's what happens when one is exposed to psychic energy when they're an inhibitor.

By the way to clarify any confusion on the terms for psychics here's a list:

Psionists
Psychs
Psychokinetics (proper term for telekinetics)
Psionics

Just remember the prefix "psy" or "psi" are all similar. Yeah, I find myself musing about the plotlines for Part III and IV..... getting a little ahead of myself. I have trouble resisting the urge to give plot spoilers...... must resist!

[The Metal Mallet]

Interesting altercation between Kartah and these High Naryyn. Glad to see she survived.

[Lord Revan]

Kartah’s vision slowly returned; an Iso Naryyn woman stood before her. Her sleeveless robes were the finest silver. The woman stood silently, evaluating Kartah as though she were an item of tangible value.

Kartah stared back at the woman; her unbound hair was that same color as her clothing, though with a hint of viridian. Her crimson eyes had an all-knowing look to them, like they could see things that others were blind to.
However, the woman’s eyes looked upon her dispassionately like she believed Kartah was worth little yet still something.

“Your time has yet to come, but when it does, our fates will be intertwined.” The woman spoke as if giving a sermon. “Your life and many more are pivotal in the new covenant, as well as the struggle that must herald its coming.”

An odd smile spread across the prophet-woman’s lips as she bent down to whisper in Kartah’s ear. “Your existance will ensure the survival of the few that gather together. Despite your common upbringing, you are entitled to a rare fate, Kartah of the High Naryyn.”

Before Kartah could begin to form a reply, the woman disappeared, gone like a wraith with the wind. The sergeant stood shakily, still shaken by the event of her implants stabilizing.
“Who are you?” She whispered to empty air, and no answering voice came.

Picked up her assault rifle, Kartah marched back to where her XO and three Iso Naryyn were discussing the recent turn of events. “Ma’am,” The corporal nodded to her as she approached.

No one was worried about saluting or standing at attention at the moment. Besides, that could cause an enemy crosshair to find itself on a superior’s head in a nanosecond.

Kartah returned the nod, “report.”
Her XO shook his head, “According to these guys.” He pointed at the Iso Naryyn standing beside them. “The ship that had those dropships got lucky and caught them with their pants down.”

Their dark-skinned counterparts seemed puzzled at the corporal’s colorful terminology. Kartah asked, “What is the status of that ship?” Everyone stumbled as the frigate banked and rapidly descended.

“Apparently; hunting us. I don’t know why it had to be a destroyer, but they’ve got more firepower than this ship and its fighter contingents.” The second in command muttered as he pulled himself to his feet.

“Do we have anyway to get in the destroyer?” The Master Gunnery Sergeant asked.
“Nothing that we could pilot..... unless you’re willing to take the passenger seat.” Kartah looked at the Iso Naryyn. Sure they were annoying to the point of madness due to their elusiveness, but I think I can place the lives of my men in the hands of these people.

“Alright, uh....” Kartah realized she had no official way to label the Iso Naryyn besides “heretics.” She shook her head, telling herself that complete accuracy didn’t matter. “Captain, we need to take out that ship, or at least nuetralize the threat it poses.”

The Naryyn she’d referred to as captain raised an eyebrow but didn’t bring up the obvious confusion she’d stirred up. “So what do you plan to do Sergeant?”

Kartah couldn’t help but smile slightly, “We are going to board them this time......”

Rhys.....

After an hour, Rhys didn’t know what had taken place leading up to when Darhun brought her with him to meet up with his family. She found herself sipping a cup of lashquire- a tasty concoction that had a rejuvenating quality to it.

Darhun was sitting beside his wife. Iso Naryyn had an intricate take on relationships. In plain terms, matrimony as Rhys had grown up knowing it was not a matter of oaths (which were often broken anyway).

Both Darhun and Sylien told her that courtship often lasted longer than a year. In this way unhappy relationships were less common. Ahtre’Mehrah were bound strictly, both had to take their oaths very seriously.
However, as she and Revan were both brought up amongst races that lived shorter lives, such bonding seemed impractical. Rhys could see that it was real though; Sylien and Darhun were a perfect example.

One of Darhun’s sons, Rayth, sat by the wall eating a loaf of bread marinated with a spicy seasoning. Darhun’s other son, Wayn, was wandering about the ship.
Rhys was still somewhat surprised that Darhun, who looked only a couple years older than Revan, had children at Rhys’ age. Finally, Rhys got up and opened the shield door.

Though the initial shock of the Honor Guard’s brutality was no longer plaguing her thoughts, Rhys still felt sick inside. Revan has to be nearby, and company will do both of us some good.

She closed her eyes and followed the faint pull courtesy of her bond with Revan.

[Lord Revan]

Revan opened his eyes, and beheld the same murky gray that often illustrated the sky in his dreams. Still the knowledge that this was not total reality did not dishearten him from finding out what was going on.

He got up and glanced around the surrounding area. The ground was littered with the bones of the deceased; some had a shape familiar to him while others were completely alien.
As the wind blew past his face, Revan realized that his helmet was missing. Looking down he was relieved to find that the rest of his armor was still on him.

Picking his way through the clutter of bones, spines, and other obstacles, Revan turned to find himself staring down at a beautiful landscape of crystalline spires and the enthralling presence of psychic energy in unimaginable quantity and quality.

He closed his eyes and let the shear majesty of the crystals wash over him. Revan’s temples throbbed in response to the immense source of power around him.
His eyes still shut, Revan moved through the forest of spires, guided by the psychic resonance of the crystals alone. The crystals’ psionic patterns melded together, creating something akin to wading a vast sea of life force.

On some unknown cue, his eyes flashed open, and before him, between two spires, floated a suit of armor. Revan studied the armor closely; it had a metal tint as stark as the sky above him.
Electric-blue veins of energy pathways ran from the backpack to the different limbs, not too unlike those of the High Naryyn armor. The helmet was streamlined, with a clear visor shaped like the one on his own.

Circling around to see its back, Revan noted two curious, vaguely fin-like structures that sprouted from each side of the armor’s backpack, below each shoulder.
The twin structures were about a meter and a half in length. The ends pulsed weakly as psionic energy discharged from them at eight second intervals.

Continuing his circle until he reached his former position at the front of the armor, Revan whispered reverently. “What is this? Who made it?” A faint whisper that could have been the wind reached his ears.
Revan spun, but found no one behind him, then a woman strode out from behind one of the many crystalline stalagmites.

She walked with a grace he’d found rare, even in Rhys. For the oddest reason Revan couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew this person. The woman studied him with her red eyes.

“Revan, yes, you are known to me.” She spoke fluidly, “I know your past, your present..... and your future.” The Iso Naryyn sage paced back and forth in front of him, never taking her eyes off him. The feeling of familiarity intensified.

“Here you must make a choice, and that choice shall affect all your kin.” She paused, and Revan scrutinized her, trying to recognize her. “..... The choice between life……. and death!”

Before Revan could fully comprehend her words, the numerous crystals flashed a brilliant light so pure that it was colorless. A shrill, shrieking ripped at his consciousness.
He sank to his knees, gripping his head in his hands. Suddenly the tone and light dissipated. Revan looked around, all the pillars had disintegrated. And replacing the woman was a creature of gleaming white/silver armor.

It was bipedal, taller than Revan, with broad shoulders and double-jointed legs. The being’s face was bleak, just a smooth surface. It had long, grasping fingers and a thick build.
The –whatever it was- took a step forward, raising an arm so it pointed directly at Revan. Its wrists were bulky for reasons Revan had yet to fathom.

In the blink of an eye, Revan was thrown off his feet, as if something stronger than a vargukei had punched him. He coughed and warm blood filled his mouth.
His torso was numb, Revan couldn’t feel his torso. He managed to spot several fragments of his breastplate blossoming from the center of his chest.

His vision blurred, Revan closed his eyes and strained to focus. Gritting his teeth, he tried to judge the extent of damage to his own body. Then he felt a soft tone at the edge of his perception.
“Rhys,” he breathed, a new strength filled his waning reserves. Struggling to a kneeling position, Revan noticed the armor hovering just beyond arm’s length.

Basic instinct took hold, using the last energy his body had to cling to life, Revan clasped the relic’s surface…… and everything vanished for a moment.
When everything returned, he was no longer lying on the ground dying. Confused, Revan brought his hands up to his face and found himself inside the armor he’d been clutching moments ago.

With that revelation, his mind flooded with the foreign power that had resided in this suit for so many millennia. His wounds were non-existent, and he felt invigorated.

A thudding footfall caught his attention, and Revan saw the thing that had hit, no shot, him charging closer, bringing its weapon to bare again. Just an instant before it fired, he brought his arms into a cross-guard before his chest.

A super-sonic fist pounded him, but Revan only skidded back a couple paces. Throwing his arms to his sides, he tapped into the suit’s… consciousness, for lack of a better word.
The ancient armor became an extension of his body and spirit. Its channeling fins enhanced his ability to focus his will. They flared on his back, and Revan launched off the ground.

He hung suspended by his own psionic powers for a heartbeat, taking in the new ease of the task of levitation. As the drone-thing fired once more, Revan dodged the near-invisible kinetic pulse by a hairsbreadth.

Smiling beneath the grey helm, he swooped down and struck the drone in its chest. With his new command over his psychic powers, Revan channeled his will through the gauntlets of the suit.
The result was a miniature kinetic blast to reinforce his punch. The drone was sent flying, until it dug its grip into the ground and skidded to a halt ten meters away.

Revan strode toward it, his posture now full of confidence borne from his new potential. The drone struggled to its feet; its formerly flawless chest was now splintered where his fists had struck.
“Not so tough now are you?” Revan chuckled, the drone responded loosing a tempest of plasma.

Caught somewhat off-guard, he was engulfed by the flames. Revan spread his arms instinctually, and like in the fight with the High Naryyn warrior he absorbed the plasma into himself.
The flow of super-heated destruction flexed and flowed into his hands. Revan drank deeply of the fresh energy, the drone stopped the stream when it realized its attack was having no effect.

It stood there, confused as its opponent stood clearly unharmed. Revan brought both arms across his chest again, clenching his fists tightly before his shoulders.
Ever muscle and nerve in his body pulsed and clenched as Revan concentrated. The air around the drone distorted, wavering as it came under affect of his counter-attack.

In one instant, Revan released all the energy he had absorbed and what he had from the armor. It lasted only a split second, the drone disintegrated to atoms.

Collapsing from the exertion, Revan laughed, relieved and rejoicing at his new powers. The woman’s voice entered his head again. “You’ve done well, perhaps you can turn the tide of the coming extinction…… with some help.”

As she finished the scene crumbled…..

Revan woke with a start, he found himself lying on a bed in a dimly lit room. "Are you alright?" He turned to find Rhys sitting beside him.
He was breathing hard, and managed. "I feel great, Rhys, I just had-"

"Another vision." She finished for him.
"Ye....yes, I can't begin to discribe what happened." Revan replied after catching his breath. "So, what's happened since the explosion?"

"Well," Rhys started thoughtfully, not pushing the subject of the vision. "That explosion was a shout and a wave for both the Marhun Kar and the search party. Apparently, the Matriarch had the village evacuated and the Iso Naryyn who left Nirm thousands of years ago, they came back and were looking for straglers."

She let the latter piece of information sink in before continuing. "Revan...." Rhys faltered before finding her voice again. "The honor guards, they..... they left Vvardenfell.... after razing Vivec and most of the other cities."

Rhys stopped, visibly shaking, then whispered. "They murdered everyone they found, and displayed the guards and ordinators as... as trophies..."
Revan clenched his fist, the thought of such disregard for life infuriated him. "Then they shall pay for all those deaths a hundred-fold!" He said with conviction.

His anger diminished and he whispered gently to Rhys. "We will honor those that have died; we can do no less." Revan carressed her face, delicately.
Rhys closed her eyes and slowly a smile spread across her face. "Yes, we'll have that chance, but I hope it doesn't happen too soon....."

Revan drew her close and kissed her affectionately. She moved to lie beside him, understanding what Barrik had told her. Rhys knew what she would do when this war was over..... if they lived. If that isn't motivation then what is? She thought to herself.

[jack cloudy]

Hmm, neat armour. I wonder if it will show up outside the vision as well. Would be awesome.

[Lord Revan]

Unfortunately, not yet, but Revan will get that armor later on...... years after this is over. Think of the armor as the future..... and the past if you want to.

[The Metal Mallet]

That vision was pretty cool and wonderfully described. For a drone to be able to use kinectic powers (is that was that punching thing was?) is unique. I certainly hope to see how that vision pans out in the future.

[Lord Revan]

It won't really be relevent until part IV, unfortunately for you all, fortunately for my characters. I'll let it slip that those things are relevant to the Naryyn (not the subspecies) and will play an important role in IV.

Yes, the punching attack was possible only with telekinetic powers..... or should I say powers that species with psychokinetic powers can radiate. Well, I'll be working on another update...... soon.

[Lord Revan]

Back to the High Naryyn.......
-----------

“Enemy located; all forces move to engage.” The Halcyon, a Hvy. Destroyer, pushed forward. Three brilliant flashes of light struck her hull, its shields blazed as the charged particle blasts were halted and dispersed.

Satith stood on the Armet’s bridge, “Full stop hard to starboard!” He diverted his attention from the fighting to watch his crew furiously work their stations.
The Armet spun 180 degrees to give the enemy the benefit of half its firepower. The admiral closed his eyes and marshalling his thoughts before ordering. “Arm torpedo tubes A through F, prepare to fire at 9 o’clock at 110 degrees high. Overcharge port particle cannons by 200% and fire on my mark!”

The three senior officers at the weapons’ stations hunched over their consoles, together they were typing so quickly it sounded akin to the clatter of automatic weapon’s fire.
On the port side, six torpedoes left their tubes. Normally using deep-space weapons like these would be ill-advised as they were not meant to be used in an environment with wind, humidity, airborne fauna, and the like.

Satith, however, wasn’t trying to hit the enemy; the missiles arced, their thrusters losing the clash with Nirm’s gravity. The Rogue vessels noticed the threat and changed priorities to blast the warheads out of the sky.
This meant there were fewer cannons aimed at the High Naryyn ships. The Halcyon and three frigates slipped through the Rogue blockade.

“Mark, overcharge!” The bridge dimmed considerably, there was a noticeable dip as the Armet lost altitude. On the faint holographic tactical map, a smear of volatile energy flew toward the Rogue fleet.
The blast, powered by 78% of the Armet’s primary power, washed over the three target carriers. The sky around the ships shone with every visible color as the shields of the three vessels collapsed beneath the attack.

While the Armet switched to auxiliary power, its bow plunged downward. Satith rooted himself to the floor; everyone else was strapped to their chairs.

Lights all around the bridge steadily grew brightly, and Satith nodded to the officers at navigation. The hull shook, and the engines of the Armet rumbled as the cruiser fought to slow its descent.

The confined view of green fields and ice-capped mountains inched closer and closer. “4000 meters, Admiral, engine thrust at 80%, and our speed is 50 mps and dropping.”
“Maximum burn for fifteen seconds, level out!” The background roar intensified and everyone, Satith included, had difficulty remaining in an erect position as the mighty vessel reversed its plunge and moved to right itself.

As the Armet steadied itself, the metallic voice of its AI chimed in. “Four renegade carriers and eight frigates are down. The Nova Cradle and the Stalker are suffering critical damage and are pulling out. Three of our frigates are down as well; the Halcyon and its escorts are pushing deeper into enemy territory to recon the renegades’ activities.”

Satith turned his attention of the Tac-Map; the Rogues were Retreating back to their territory. “Well, not a bad first engagement, keep me posted.”

He turned to his second-in-command, “Have the rest of the ships link up where the Cradle and Stalker have landed.”
The officer nodded, “Aye, sir.”

Adm. Satith consulted his personal computer pad, the device spoke. “Activity in the North-Central area of the Continent sugge-“
The construct paused, “Ah, yes, activity in Skyrim indicates that the Honor Guards are choosing a spot to use for something. As to what their really up to, one can only surmise.”

Raising an eyebrow, Satith asked. When was this place suddenly called Skyrim?”
The AI replied casually, “Since the natives colonized it, Admiral.”

“How did you get that Intel?”
“The commander of the cruiser Dominance, Commander Ankrus, has been gathering such knowledge from the natives.” Satith recalled the commander, mistakenly; he’d confused the man for the typical pet of the council.

“Send a recommendation for a promotion to Talament Station.” In all honesty, Satith had not even considered the indigenous people to be assets. That was sloppy, they’ve lived here all their lives, that’s the best Intel anyone could ask for!

“Also, tell Ankrus to devote half his telepaths to gaining intelligence; we’d be fools to discard such an advantage.” The small pinpoint of light that was the Armet’s AI construct vanished as it went about its tasks.

With it absent, Satith allowed for a small grin. “We need more commanders like Ankrus; they cover the typical shortfalls of common leading men….”

Kartah…

The Iso Naryyn worked with cohesion that matched some of the best units in the navy, few spoke to one another as they worked, and in which cases they barely breathed their words.

The elegant Iso Naryyn fighters bobbed as their pilots climbed aboard and disengaged them from their berths. They had few sharp angles, every new angle was a flowing change.
As the pilots started them up, purple/white running lights burst to life, and the squadron moved with no obvious propulsion systems.

Kartah wondered how these craft would fare against the Swift interceptors that the enemy would no doubt employ to stop them. Turning back to her troops, she nodded to them, and they dispersed.

All gathered in groups of nine at each available Iso Naryyn dropship. Kartah herself, moved to the lead transport. This one was unique, it held in its embrace a salvaged APC that would play a part in the assault.

Alright, time to pay those things back for murdering Xarkum… However, the recollection of her former friend did not make her feel better in the least.
Kartah looked back at the Naryyn who readied themselves for the coming attack mournfully. Shaking her head, the Sergeant berated herself. What am I thinking of course there will be more casualties, but I’m the only one without armor!

“Sergeant?” One of the Iso Naryyn warriors asked through a familiar but still different armor than those of the Marhun Kar. Their armor was a lighter version, made in just the same fashion for centuries.
These Naryyn however wore had better made sets, less unarmored areas while having the same freedom of movement. “I’m ready, let’s get started.”

[mplantinga]

I just read this story from part 1 all the way through to this latest post. I must admit that I'm quite captivated, and am very much looking forward to reading more as it comes. The mix of futuristic technology and close quarters fighting is quite creative.

[Lord Revan]

here's a shortie and let's put a face to the enemy.
--------

As Kartah sat down on one of the seats inside the dropship, she noticed the alien forms among them. They were squat, in some cases, hunchback, creatures in complete battle armor.

They were about 5’6, their sinuous limbs looked to weak for melee combat, but their double jointed legs allowed them great mobility. When the aliens moved they were always partially crouched, their movements darting and reminiscent to avian birds of prey.

Each carried either a carbine or what Kartah assumed was a sniper rifle. Their weapons only reinforced their weakness in hand-to-hand combat.
I hope we don’t have to baby-sit these things in the confined spaces of that destroyer…. She thought to herself, the avians sat towards the aft section where there were seats that better suited them.

Once the transport was fully occupied the vessel swayed as if touched by the wind. Then it crawled through the shielding that divided the hanger from the outside.

No going back now Kartah thought as the Iso Naryyn frigate disappeared into the mist that obscured the entire area. The transport split away from the other ships and went on its own scouting path.

Mist….

Five sleek, flying-crescent craft flew through the haze. The only sound in the oppressive depths was the soft thrum of their kinetic drives.

Just out of sight, a mechanical observer watched the fighters as they slid past. It was not detected by their sensors because it was not moving and the abundance of moisture made thermal scanning pointless.
The pilots did not sense its presence because it had no conscience to give it away. The probe, and many like it, gave the whereabouts of the Naryyn to the interceptors on stand by.

Ankrus

Most of the citizens of Tamriel he’d spoken to were sensible enough. Several were nervous, but all that was to be expected, they were still reeling from the shock of having superior beings come down from the very heavens.

Many were perfectly willing to divulge information to Ankrus, and his aide was dutifully spreading the Intel to the rest of the force. A smile came to the commander’s face, once you break through language barriers information becomes easier to obtain.

“Sir,” Ankrus turned to his Lt. Com. “Yes, what is it?”

The officer read the new orders. “Adm. Satith wants have of the veteran psionists to be put into intelligence gathering.”

Commander Ankrus nodded; to the psychs around him he relayed the orders from command. As the veterans dispersed throughout the city, Ankrus allowed himself a moment to take in the vista of the countryside.

Who knows when we’ll get a look of this place again without having a crosshair in the middle of our vision…. He thought solemnly.

Central Skyrim

Renegade ships moved around their new territory like bees at their hive. Ground troops were blasting trenches and laying the land for fortifications to be placed.

Flocks of Swifts and dropships filled the sky, and the snow was patrolled by hundreds of Plys’Iea Warriors. Standing on a platform above all the activity was a giant among giants.
Its head was four and a half feet long as opposed to the normal three feet. From its back nine exo-sensory appendages jutted out, they hung limply, relaxed.

This one was a War Leader, an individual who had slain more creatures than had ever lived or died on this continent. She, yes a female had garnered the most coveted position of her people, allowed her mind to wander back when she had first killed.

It had happened countless years ago, on the homeworld of her people. Before they had unlocked the secret of space travel, they had been simple then, primitive… The War Chief’s sensor appendages lifted and bobbed gently as the wind of now and then blew past her.

There was a time before she’d garnered respect, when she’d been nothing more than a means of reproduction. Something alien had come to their world.
Something not of flesh and blood, it had been clad in gray body armor. At first her people had approached the being tentatively, but when it casually destroyed many brothers and sisters, she and her kind rose up to fight it.

It had taken months, thousands died at the hands of the invader. Thousands of martyrs, none of them even touching the faceless one. Her fists clenched and a blood thirsty roar started in her chest before she separated memory from reality.

Creeping through places made forbidden long ago, she had found the abomination that had murdered her kin. For reasons she had never justified, the being had been unprepared.
Her blood had run smoldering hot with bloodlust; she had found the being without its armor. Clarity faded at this point, she could not remember how she had killed the mass murderer, but it had happened.

The War Chief turned her elongated head skyward, that creature. It had been Naryyn, and from that race came the High and Dark Naryyn.
These children would face the same fate as the warrior in the swamps….

This post has been edited by Lord Revan: May 9 2007, 02:30 AM

[jack cloudy]

That female being at the end was interesting. An honour guard?

Whatever it is, it shows that the Narynn aren't innocent. (No surprise.) It also gives a reason to oppose the descendants. I personally consider hitting someone for what his ancestors did stupid, but it has happened plenty of times in the real world so why not here?

[The Metal Mallet]

So it seems the Narynn's enemy is one fuelled by revenge. This can't bode well for them, especially if this War Leader has gotten some experience in killing since the event described in her memory.

Good work in establishing her hate for the Narynn.

[Lord Revan]

I've updated the Archives with a brief summary of known information about the Plys'Iea. Yeah, revenge is bittersweet. I'm not going to name any connections, but the warrior in the War Chief's memories has a deeper connection to what is going on than has been stated already.