The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[Shenmue654]

Keshin stares at Illim rather gratefully and says, "....thanks. Terenia dislikes me. We tried to kill her on the Galaxy's Edge Space Bar on her sister's orders. Nearly killed the captain too, who for reasons unknown to me chose to save her life." The full weight of the actual event then hits him. It was more than that to them. A rebel died that night, too---and many other people were severely injured.  "....if it helps, I maintain that that was one of the worst decisions we've ever made."

<Th' way I remember, you were the only one makin' any choice there. I just did it.>

<I didn't hear you objecting at the time.>

<I'm used to you havin' more sense.>

<.....>

"But never mind. How is the rebellion holding up?" Keshin says a bit more quietly, with more tact and respect. "....I've heard that there was an unexpected death."

[Terenia]

"Ah...no, it will not cause an issue," Keslin says, unconsciously flexing his trembling fingers. "The division was between myself and Reven, none of the others. I recruited my rebellion from scratch, and most never even met Reven until he and I decided to unite our groups. They look to me because I am the only person they have ever looked to." He hitches a shoulder, deliberately not answering Ossanlin's final question.

[Estelore]

Enorryma heard Ossanlin's hooves on the bridge floor before her stalk-eyes swiveled toward him. Until the rest of the morning crew arrived, her whole attention was going to be divided across the first level consoles.

<Captain on deck!> she called to the bridge in general, snapping a smart tail-salute to Ossanlin. <<Sir, the previous shift said that we are ahead of schedule due to favourable Z-space vortices.>>

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods.  <Very well, I won't press you on the matter further right now.>  He gestures around the bridge.  <This is the control-deck.  You saw it yesterday, but I doubt you had much time to look around.  Feel free to use the Auxiliary Console to research any non-secured information that might interest you.  You can also watch the ship's telemetry and operations if you so desire, though there isn't much to watch in Z-Space.>

Ossanlin shifts his main eyes to Enorryma as she announces him, according to procedure.  He returns her tail-salute.  <Thank you Prince Commander, that is welcome news.  What is our updated estimated time of arrival?>  He trots up to his station and brings up the console's holographic display, running through his routine morning checklist.

Esarvit trots onto the bridge, tail-saluting before descending one of the ramps and walking up to the Sensors station, bringing up the console's holographic display.

[Estelore]

<<I am updating your console with the revised course and arrival time now.>>

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods.  <Thank you, Enorryma.>  He pulls up the appropriate display.  <I see...approximately 16:23.  Have you noted any abnormalities or faults with the Tyrennian or her operation?>

[Estelore]

<I have not, up to this point. Z-Space has been abnormally... normal... lately, so until we encounter some more anomalous vortices, it will be difficult to detect any as-yet undetected aberrations in her handling and systems.>

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods.  <Very good.  Systems appear to be within standard specifications.>  Ossanlin brushes his fingers over the light-touch console's surface, bringing up the personnel manifest, checking for priority one officer reports before turning a stalk eye on Serid.  <<Command Warrior, what has your staff reported regarding the security-priority rebels?>>

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Aetheas finally spots Claxter when he yells, and turns to trot towards the Command-Warrior. He'd surpass Claxter's skill soon enough, and until then, he may as well learn what useful things his 'superior' did know.

<Uneventful,> Aetheas said in response to Claxter's question. He stretches, <I believe I could do with some training. Did you have a specific for me today, or did you wish for me to choose the subject again?>

[Chad32]

<An aristh finds himself working on the bridge of a dome ship that isn't even standard issue, and he says it's uneventful.> Claxter couldn't help laughing. It felt good, actually. <Thanks Aetheas. I needed a good laugh.>

<So, training. I have an idea for tail fighting. Since your tail favors your right side, I have considered a fighting style that keeps your enemy on that side. Strafing around if necessary, but making sure the opponent remains on your best side. If you like the idea, we can try that for this session.>

[KitsuneMarie]

Illim raises his eyebrows at Keshin and gives a brief, humorless laugh. "Well, you won't be trying to kill anyone here, least of all Terenia, yeah? And... we're not doing so hot, but at least we're out of that damned prison." He sizes him up as they continue making their way to his and Myitt's new quarters, glancing back at Terenia once. "You holding up alright?"


Serid raises his own tail in salute to Ossanlin. <<Good morning, sir,>> he murmurs privately. <<All are accounted for and causing no trouble at this time. I might suggest their leaders implement a routine for them before long, however, as it may help stabilize their more... unstable members.>>

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

<<Good, that is welcome news.>>  Ossanlin sweeps the display over a few pages and checks over the Z-Drive's wave-synchronization.  <<That is an excellent suggestion.  I believe that Keslin would agree with you.  He has inquired about work duties for some of his people...I have told him that their assistance would be welcome under the proper circumstances.  If you are confident that we have enough security staff to keep eyes on those as well, perhaps we might continue forward with that idea.>>

[Shenmue654]

Keshin glances over Illim with a cursory interest. He knew from some combination of secondhand gossip and encounters with Myitt that Illim was a fairly important Yeerk to both his old..."friend" and the rebellion. Yet truth be told, Keshin knew almost nothing about him. He looked like a quiet, unassuming and tired intellectual. This look about him was even present despite his peculiarities and the harrowing circumstances they had suffered through.

"Anything would be better than that prison," said Keshin in an emphatic tone that showed that he sympathized. "We got caught up in the mess ourselves. It wasn't our intention to trouble your group at all." This wasn't strictly true---Keshin and Joanne had come to scavenge what remained of what he thought was a battle between the Rebels and the Empire. Yet the white lie was better than that truth.

Keshin glances at Myitt's door, a quieter look crossing through his eyes. "She's been in there a long time, hasn't she? They. Myitt and Tara."

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Aetheas frowns, trying to understand what Claxter finds so funny. The Command-Warrior has a sense of humor that Aetheas finds difficult to follow. Maybe it's a remnant of the 'bar' he mentions on occasion.

At Claxter's suggestion, he thinks for a moment, then says, <Yes. Yes, I believe that could work.> He smiles at Claxter, <This could be fun.> He assumes a ready stance, <I am ready to begin immediately if you are.>

What he doesn't say is that he's not... entirely convinced of Claxter's ability to teach a fighting style that he's never used himself.

[Chad32]

Well, Claxter had come up with the idea, and Aetheas was willing to try. That was the easy part. The hard part was actually making it work, and it's not like he was an expert in unorthodox tail fighting styles. He wasn't even sure if there was an official right sided style. Maybe a better teacher would have looked that up before telling his student about it. No time to worry about that now.

He assumed a stance, standing at an angle, and holding his tail to the side. In a typical battle, the tail is held high with intention of bringing it over the head or shoulders to strike. The lower part of the tail would bend forwards while the upper part bends backwards to apply tension. For this session, he changed the angle of the lower part of his tail to favor striking on the right side.

He made his strike, which would stop a few inches away from Aetheas' neck, so he could attempt to parry or block it.