Dramatis Personae:
Maximilian Kylon; patriot (Human male)
Rhys Kylon; scoundrel (Human male)
Locke Quey; businessman (Human male)
Dana Viendan; aristocrat (Human female)
Hefa Anentry; schemer (Human female)
Jardan Meq; Jedi Master (Miraluka male)
Xingmaen Zlyn; Jedi Padawan (Kaleesh male)
Chapter 1: The Militarists
Pouertan Prime, Mid Rim - 22 BBY
1 day before the Battle of Geonosis
". . . We are one nation! We have one leader! We are one species! We are civilization! The first, last, and only line of defense against the primitive, savage chaos that now threatens our great nation! And we are its defenders! We are the defenders of the Republic!" -Excerpt of Kaine Loxen's speech while on Pouertan Prime.
Maximilian Kylon clapped along with the rest after Kaine Loxen finished his speech. It was relieving to see that some people were not willing to sit idly while secessionist scum threatened to destroy the Republic and split the galaxy in two. Even better, Loxen accepted the truth nobody dared speak aloud: aliens couldn't be trusted to lead the Republic in this time of crisis. Not only were aliens spearheading the Separatist movement, but they had also proven themselves time and time again to be inferior to Humans, technologically, biologically, and culturally. While the early Galactic Republic had created and spread civilization across the galaxy, aliens always seemed to be there to impede their progress. There was a reason why so many alien worlds were so primitive, and many more wouldn't be a spacefaring civilization without the Republic's Humans to assist them. Ranulph Tarkin, Republic war hero of the Stark Hyperspace War, and the founder of the Militarist movement knew this. Over the years though, the Militarists garnered alien support, and the Humanocentric ideology of the movement was eroded. Likely, the aliens would just stand in the way of the Republic's progress again.
The Militarist Movement had been started by Ranulph Tarkin from Eriadu years ago. With the Republic's Judicial Forces decaying, and a new surge of piracy and lawlessness sweeping the Outer Rim, Tarkin had decided that the time had come to put an end to trouble, and he formed the Militarists in order to rebuild the Republic Navy and Republic Army. It was also a Humanocentrist movement, seeking to remove the alien deadweight from important Republic matters. Now however, aliens themselves were part of the Militarists, and with the recent Separatist Crisis, the movement had gathered much more support.
"Breaking news!" Maximilian turned around in his wooden seat, creaking as it did so, to see a woman in the HoloNet news. "There has been an attempted coup on the planet of Dressel, near Bothan Space! A secessionist movement that had gained traction in the last weeks has finally struck against the legitimate Dresselian government! Details are still coming in, but many believe this to be instigated by the Separatist Movement and believe it to be a part of the larger, ongoing Separatist Crisis." The observer sighed.
Two years ago, tensions within the Republic reached a boiling point, as Count Dooku, former member of the Jedi Order, united the large, predatory corporations, and the aliens to form a so-called "Confederacy of Independent Systems". The Republic had been powerless to stop it. The government was weakened by decades of Senate corruption, decay in the Judicial Forces, and the ever more relevant fallibility of the Jedi. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine had worked tirelessly to restore the Republic to what it once was, but it was a difficult task.
Maximilian had joined the Judicial Forces four years ago. He was determined not to be some random nobody in the galaxy and neither did he like current affairs. He was faced with two options: accept the current state of things or accept the responsibility to change them. Maximilian chose the latter. Being an individual of poor economic resources, Maximilian was forced to join the mediocre Judicial Academy on Coruscant, rather than the prestigious Anaxes War College.
The training at the Judicial Academy was severely lacking. It was rushed, incomplete, and outdated. The Judicial Department itself was corrupt. The officers were more interested in the benefits of belonging to the Judicial Department and in making a quick profit rather than restoring order and protecting the people. Maximilian had reported more than a few members for corruption, and almost never was punishment issued. Recently, Maximilian had taken it upon himself to correct the actions of his crew members. Despite most of the crew taking his actions as comical relief, Maximilian soon put them in their place, and after three years the crew of his Carrack-class cruiser could at least pass as soldiers in what once had been the most powerful fleet ever assembled in the galaxy.
The building where the meeting had taken place was a fairly small wooden structure constructed next to a cantina and functioning as a replacement for a cellar. The building was old, primitive, and damp, with the wooden floor creaking loudly every time someone took a step. There were several wooden tables and chairs in the building, and a HoloNet screen hanged from the ceiling. The people present in the meeting numbered no more than thirty mostly men, exactly four women, and all Humans. Noticeably, there were no native Pouertans, as anti-Republic sentiment ran deep in the fools' world.
"Well, well, if it isn't Lieutenant Kylon," called out the horse voice of Vickens, another Militarist, popping Kylon's thought bubble concerning current affairs. Kylon turned around in his seat again to face him. Vickens was a little older and brawnier than Kylon himself, but the latter was taller. Vickens was a Militarist who Kylon had crossed paths with on previous Militarist gatherings. He had also quit the Judicial Forces in order to devote himself fully to the movement, a path Kylon had briefly entertained before opting against it.
"Hello, Vickens," Kylon greeted.
He let out a low chuckle. "Me and the other guys just came back from chasing some pirates down the Corellian Trade Spine," he said, gesturing to a group of people drinking. "Heard you took down some yourself by boarding them. Risky."
"Yeah, we chased them all the way from Reytha until we finally caught up with them here. I know we're way off the zone but," Maximilian shrugged. "We just had to catch them I suppose."
Vickens nodded in approval. "Not too shabby, not too shabby. First fight?"
"Yeah, actually," the other replied.
"Scared, were you?"
He scratched the back of his head. "I guess."
"Uh-huh, first battle's always the hardest. Trust me on that." After a bit of a silence Vickens asked, "So why are you still here?"
Maximilian sighed. "Envoy sustained some damage so we set down to fix it. That was a month ago though. Been stuck ever since."
Vickens chuckled. "Pretty nice place to get stuck in. If you can get past the people's toxicity. And the thieves. And the Human-sized fish killers."
Maximilian simply nodded in agreement, saying "Yeah," in a near whisper.
"Well, gotta go," the older man's hoarse voice rising. "Supposed to meet up with my guys in a bit. See ya 'round."
Kaine Loxen had spoken about terminating the operations of a pirate group based on Pouertan Prime. The band was hiding in a nearby warehouse, convenient as the only spaceport was located in the Pouertan City, and a ride to any other islands had to be made by sea vessel.
"Alright people," Kaine Loxen started, grabbing the attention of the few people who hadn't yet exited the building, "as you already know, we're here to shut down some smugglers that have been operating out of Pouertan City for some time." Loxen exhibited a map and started outlined the plan. There were 7 people in the Militarist team: 5 would break into the warehouse to stop the criminals while two others would remain outside, stopping any who might decide to escape. "And yes, we do count with the authorization of the Pouertan government; this won't be a repeat of Druckenwell."
Maximilian reflected that he didn't know much about Kaine Loxen. The man apparently hailed from Abregado-Rae, a planet plagued by smugglers and corruption. He had heard something had happened on Loxen's home town, but he didn't stick around the Militarists long enough to get the full story. He did know that Loxen had never joined the Judicial Department, however. Kylon would have to be on his guard in case Loxen's leadership skill was less than his ability to deliver rousing speeches.
After Loxen was done detailing his plan, Kylon took a DLT-20A rifle and put on a gray combat suit; the soldier had learned early on his days in Pouertan that wearing the Judicial uniform was practically an invitation for a brawl.
Exiting the building, Maximilain found Rhys Kylon, his estranged brother who he was older than by a year. They'd only known themselves since a few years back, leading to a disparage in personality similar to that of rival brothers, though Maximilian attempted to not fight with Rhys, if only for the sake of his father.
"Hiya," Rhys greeted casually. "You guys are really loud, wanted to tell you to keep it down, some people next doors would like to drunkenly brawl in peace."
The older brother cracked a half-smile. "We were leaving anyway. What are you doing here, anyway?"
"Locke's business. Also seemed convenient to check up on the stranded one. And who's this 'we'?"
"Uh, people," Maximilian replied vaguely.
"People who?"
"Militarists."
"Hah, good luck with that. I've heard Pouertan prisons are better arrangements than your average house."
"Yeah sure, just don't be surprised when I swoop in on Coruscant commanding a Mandator."
Rhys let out a laugh. "Keep dreaming, buddy, keep dreaming. I'll see you around."
Rhys had a witty sense of humor. That at least, was a quality that both brothers were proud of sharing.
Kylon eventually caught up with Loxen and three other men in front of the warehouse. The warehouse looked to have been originally made up of wood but had since been reinforced. It also appeared that the humidity and lack of maintenance had worn down the building. A common enough fate among Pouertan structures.
"Everyone ready?" Loxen asked. "Readies" all around. A Militarist soldier took his heavy rifle and blasted the door to bits. All five men charged inside.
The warehouse looked larger on the inside than on the outside. The wilderness had taken a much more visible toll inside, with moss-covered cracks on the walls and ceiling, water dripping from the ceiling, and puddles, dirt, and mud scattered on the floor. There were several stacks of crates inside, and a Weequay and Rodian were managing one. They were both dressed in the combat suit you'd expect a pirate to wear with blaster pistols strapped to their hips. On the left of the large room there was a door leading outside, while on the back of the room there were stairs leading to some catwalks above.
As soon as Loxen barged in the room, he shouted "Freeze! Drop your weapons!" The two aliens simply said something in their own language, but before they could draw their blasters, the Militarists killed them in a barrage of laser fire. Kylon made a mental note to remember the Militarists' "shoot first, ask questions later" policy.
A Caxen, short, blue, amphibious alien fish native to the seas of Pouertan Prime appeared in the catwalks above. This struck Kylon as odd, considering that the Caxen were highly xenophobic and unreasonable, with a distaste of technology to go with it. They were like the Tusken Raiders of Pouertan Prime. This made them both aggressive and despicable. They were also known to kidnap Pouertans from the minor islands who wandered too close to the shore, then they would either cook them alive on the surface or be drowned on the way to the Caxens' sea floor cities. To make matters even stranger, the Caxen was a cyborg, with implants on both arms and legs, and several on the face, and armed with an E-5 blaster rifle.
Two more pirates emerged from the leftmost door, a Human and a Twi'lek. Kylon was the first to react, diving quickly for cover, then shooting the Twi'Lek twice in the chest. Another Militarist moved in to kill the Human. The cyborg Caxen unloaded his weapon on a Militarist, killing him. Kylon turned around to shoot the Caxen above him. The fish's corpse dropped from the catwalk and hit the ground hard.
It appeared that had been all the smugglers present and the sentries outside had reported no one trying to escape. The group of six inside split up: one would guard the entrance, two would inspect the crates, Loxen and another would inspect the cargo freighter in the makeshift hangar on the roof, and Kylon would inspect the computer in the next room.
Kylon searched the damp, dirty, and humid warehouse. Stray blaster bolts from the firefight had pierced several holes into the wooden walls. He kept on walking, until he found the computer he was looking for and turned it on. Kylon searched through some files and quickly found what he was looking for. Apparently, the Trade Federation owned an outpost in some out-of-the-way island, and was paying freelance pirates to smuggle them Caxen, and to be secretive about it. He copied the information to his datapad and went to the larger room.
Once Kylon returned to the larger room, Loxen was talking with the others, so Kylon waited his turn. While he waited, he noticed that the crates the others had opened had prosthetic parts inside. That, and the information now in his possession would explain the cyborg Caxen he had killed earlier.
"What'd you find?" Loxen asked Kylon after he was done talking.
"The Trade Federation has a remote outpost on this world," Kylon explained. "Smugglers and poachers are being paid to transport them Caxen and prosthetic body parts. It's my interpretation that they're turning Caxen into cyborgs." Kylon proposed, pointing at the dead fish.
"Well, good work Kylon," Loxen congratulated. "I'll assemble a team so we can go investigate by midnight. You'll be here, I assume?"
"Probably, unfortunately."