Rise from the Ashes : Quence Sector

[Cayle Briggs]

== Quence Sector ==
== Susevfi Sector ==
== Suarbi 7/5 ==

The Avarice dropped out of hyperspace just outside the asteroid belt that surrounded Susevfi Sector. The white dagger shape of the Star Destroyer shown brightly against the dark vacuum of space. On the bridge, the main holo was updating the details of the scans the sensors were collecting.

Susevfi was a red gas giant that had 13 moons who orbited the planet. An asteroid belt circled the planet. The area as eerily quiet and nothing manmade moved in the system.

From beneath the Avarice, a squadron of TIE Recon Fighters dropped from the main hangar bay. They split up in six pairs and broke for their assigned patrol vectors. As their sensors scanned their assigned areas, the holo updated that information.

At the back of the bridge, Captain Bortras stood quietly with Moff Briggs. They were of the same age and had attended the Military <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://www.sw-fans.net/forum/ /><st1:PlaceName w:st=Carida</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st=" /><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Academy</st1:PlaceType> together. Because of their last names, they actually bunked in the same quarters for their entire stay, becoming great friends. It was indeed possible that they would have commanded Star Destroyers in the same Sector Group had Cayle not taken the position of Moff. Now, Bortras actually worked for Cayle, but Cayle was careful about flaunting… unless they were rip roaring drunk and cutting each other down.

While both had agreed that a deep scan and survey of the Susevfi System was necessary, they both had very different reasons to do so. Three years prior, the traitor Inquisitor Tear had led his revolt through the Empire and had come to Susevfi. It appeared that a group of force users known as the Jensaarai had hidden out here since the time of the Clone Wars. They obviously had something that Tear wanted and he ended destroying their colony on Suarbi 7/5.

Bortras wanted to patrol the area to make sure there were no further incursions by the Independents. Even though most of the sectors they held were over on the <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Hydian Way</st1:address></st1:Street>, they still held the Arkania Sector and Geonosis, which was just a stones throw away, galactically speaking.

Cayle on the other hand, has a very different and very personal reason to search the area. From what he learned after the attacks was that the Jensaarai were very adept at hiding and usually used the force to defend their living. They were rumored to used Dark Side Magic. The thought that ran through Cayle’s mind was this…”They could train me.” To this end he had designed his career to get to this point, Moff of the Quence Sector so that he could search out the Jensaarai.

Even though the area was reported as totally destroyed, Cayle didn’t believe it. Even with all the effort the Emperor put into killing off the Jedi, he wasn’t able to achieve that goal. These Jensaarai were adept at hiding so the likelihood of some of them remaining was very high in Cayle’s mind. He would search them out and offer them protection in return for being trained by them.

Anxious, both men waited for any reports to come back from the Recon Squadron.

[Cayle Briggs]

What seemed like an hour passed as the recon flight made their rounds. During that time the Avarice moved into orbit around the moon Suarbi. The moments seem to drag out to eternity. The bridge was getting quiet as everyone waited for a report… anything. Cayle began to bounce on the heels of he feet… something he did when he was nervous or anxious.

Then reports began to filter in. The Communications Officer patched them through to Commander Bortras who relayed them to Cayle. They all said the same thing. No signs of life beyond a burned out hole in the ground where the Jensaarai fortress used to be. The fighters, having completed two rounds of scans joined back up and headed back to the Avarice, wagging their wings before ducking down under the Star Destroyer and heading for their berths. Still Cayle just knew something was down there… something important.

“Commander, please launch an Assault Shuttle with a recon team down to the surface. I want them to check out the area and track their movements.”

Bortras looked like he was going to object, but he merely nodded and gave the order. Minutes later an Assault Shuttle with a 2 squads of Scout Troopers were heading down to the surface. Now the waiting game was back on.

“Moff Briggs, would you be more comfortable back in my wardroom? I could have refreshments arranged.”

Cayle shook his head. “Not yet Commander. I want to see what the teams come up with.” So still, despite the Commander’s feelings that they were not going to find anything, they both remained on the bridge, waiting for any news to be reported back.

[Cayle Briggs]

Minutes seemed like hours… hours seemed like days. Finally, the voice of one of the Squad Leaders came back. It was mechanical and dry… the equipment taking all the humanity and emotion out of the voice.

“Captain, we have a bit of a situation down here.”

Cayle leaned down and pushed the communication button. “What type of situation, trooper?”

The trooper hesitated, as if he was only going to respond to Captain Bortras, but then spoke. “Inquisitors, sir. They have a base down here.”

Excitement and dread moved through Cayle’s body. If they had a base down on the planet, then they would know what happened to the Jensaarai. But if they had a base down on the planet, then they probably wouldn’t want anyone else to know what happened to the Jensaarai. And why didn’t he know about the base?

The Inquisitors were a creepy bunch. When they looked at you, it was like they looked right through you into your mind, reading your deepest darkest secrets. Inwardly, Cayle shivered.

“Copy that Trooper. I will be down in a few moments to meet with them. Have your squad prepare for my arrival, but continue to have the other squad search the perimeter of the area for anything unusual. Briggs out.”

As the communiqué cut off, Cayle turned to halt the protest that Bortras was already working towards.

“It’s better for us to know what they are doing here and what they want than to let them stay here unsupervised.”

Captain Bortras opened his mouth and then shut it. “Very well, Moff. But if you aren’t back in 2 hours, then I’ll blast the entire area and slag the planet.”

Cayle smiled and patted his friend on the shoulder. “You have my full support. Prepare a shuttle down to the planet.”

Cayle turned and left the bridge, making his way to the turbolift that would take him down to the officer’s hangar. By the time he had arrived a shuttle with an honor guard of 4 stormtroopers were waiting at the base of the ramp. The shuttle was already prepped and ready for departure. Cayle ascended the ramp a lot with the stormtroopers and the shuttle lifted cleanly off the deck and moved out over the opening and lowered down into space. As it drifted down into the atmosphere, it angled in toward the base the Inquistors had set up.

In his mind, Cayle wondered what he was going to do against the Inquisitors if they proved hostile. He also went through a few calming techniques and worked on closing off his mind to any probing they would do. Again he wished fervently that they would find a Jensaarai to train him in the Force.

Cayle found it ironic that while he waited for the scouts to report in felt like days, the trip down to the surface for him was like seconds. So he was a bit surprised when the wings began to fold up and it came to a gentle landing on the landing pad. Slapping the button that released his restraints, he made his way to the ramp. While it descended, the stormtroopers took up their position, two in front and two behind him. As one they descended the ramp.

Outside, the ground was firm and the air was light and crisp. At the bottom of the ramp was the Squad Leaders with his men. Just at the edge of the landing pad was what Cayle assumed to be one of the Inquisitors.

Walking casually over to him, he stopped in front of the being.

“I am Cayle Briggs, Moff of the Quence Sector. And you are?”

[Cayle Briggs]

A human female stepped up to address the Moff.

"I am Shayda Ilumos. How can I help you, Moff Briggs."

Her voice was silky smooth and it immediately put Cayle on guard. He had heard that tone before. Certain women would use it to endear them towards the males of their species. It was also a given that she would try to use her power of persuasion to get Cayle to do what she wanted. Even now, he could feel a gentle probing of his mind.

This was a dangerous game that Cayle was playing. If he forced her out of his mind, then it would reveal him to be a Force User. Most Inquisitors were very wary of force users not under their control. However, he couldn't let them know his true objective. Slowly he began to move her probe to a section of his mind, away from his true thoughts. He filled the area with lustful thoughts for her... she was pretty, and with his daily tedium schedules and then with his favorite actress. Then he covered that up with a list of food and far out, exaggerated information he had heard on Inquisitors.

"I'm the Moff for the Quence Sector and as such I travel around to the planets under my control and visit with them. There was no permanent inhabitants listed for this planet, but a colony was said to have existed here and freighter traffic has come here every so often, so I thought I would check it out. What are you doing here?"

[Cayle Briggs]

Shayda pulled her mind probe back from teh Moff. There was a garble of information there... most of it useless. He didn't seemed to know why they were here, and that was a good thing. Still, there was something about him that seemed weird. She couldn't get a read on the rest of him... he had a pretty strong will and mind. She would follow up on it at a later time.

"We are not to the command chain of the military. As such, our presence here is none of your concern. Just know that we are here, doing the Empire's work. That is all you need to know." Casually she locked eyes with the Moff, using the force to subtly prod him back to his ship. She was surprised when he didn't move.

"You do not determine what I need to know, Shayda", an air of menace filling his voice. "I am also doing the work of the Empire. Now that I know you are here, I will log it dutifully and continue on with my rounds to the other planets." This is where he dropped the menace and his voice became as smooth and silky has hers was.

"If you are bored and would like to visit me on Elshandruu Pica, please send me a message and I'll arrange for the best room at my private resort."

Before she could answer, Briggs flicked a glance at his Squad Leaders and then turned around. He walked up the ramp and back to his seat. The squad leaders signaled their men to return to the Assault Shuttle and both craft lifted off, bound for the Avarice. As the ships returned, Briggs tried to find reasons that the Inquisition would choose to have a base on this planet. The reasoning escaped him unless... there might be a possibility that the jensaarai still existed. His heart beat quickened at the thought that they may have survived. He would just have to find them before the Inquisitors.

By the time he arrived back at the ship, he had a plan. Entering the bridge, Commander Bortras looked over at him. "What did they want?" Bortras was his usual blunt self.

"They wouldn't say, but I think I want to keep an eye on them. Before we leave, launch whatever probe droids you have and set them to passive scan. I want them to move through the asteroid field around the moon. And I think I'll take that refreshment in your Wardroom now."

Commander Bortras smiled and nodded and then went about gathering up his men and launching the probe droids. Then he joined Moff Briggs in his wardroom as the Avarice jumped to hyperspace.