Castle Lands

[Jerex Talan]

These are the archaeological remains of the Killik race. Alderaans have frequently explored the ruins. It is located on the same continent as the capital city, Aldera.


Image © Ralph McQuarrie

Image © Ralph McQuarrie

[Kale Antilles]

*Having followed the ancient tunnel system beneath Aldera City, as instructed to by the mysterious red-haired Sith woman that had helped them, Senator Kale Antilles and a small group of Aldera Milita arrive in the Castle Lands. The Castle Lands were as old as Alderaan itself, and while the creators of the great hollow mounds were completely unknown, they certainly would serve their purpose to whatever rebellion Antilles had hoped to stage. Prince Organa, had mentioned using the Castle Lands as a staging ground, and he had hoped to see the Bounty Hunter that had previously aide them here with some of his own supporters. Hopefully he had not been captured already. He still could be here, Antilles thought, as the Castle Lands cover nearly one hundred square kilometers just outside of the forest. For now, they would set up camp within one of the mounds*

*Senator Antilles instructs the Aldera Militiamen to begin setting up camp within one of the smaller mounds near the western edge of the forest, this way should they be discovered by the Sith they could easily evacuate into the forest and scatter*

[Jerex Talan]

*Currently, the assassin/bounty hunter turned Republic sympathizer, Jerex Talan, is enroute to the Castle Lands with a rather beefy young human who Jerex is trying to know better. They are on their way to check in with the regular Aldera Military*

"So you've lived on Alderaan your whole life?"
"Yes, sir. My family settled here after the Sith attacked Dantooine during the Jedi War. We've run a distribution business ever since."
"Well, what education have you got?"
"Oh, about two years at the college, but I had to quit cause the war has cut into our profits. I couldn't afford it any longer."
"What were you studying?"
"I was studying to be a hyperdrive mechanic. I wanted to get on a intraplanetary shipping vessel. Learn the trade, and eventually get my own ship. Then the Sith attacked us."
"Well I'm glad to have someone like you in my misfit outfit. Cause its for you that I'm doing this. Its time I started giving back rather than taking from this galaxy. I think that's the camp up ahead."

*Jerex drives the speeder through through the beginning of the Castle Lands. He navigates along its starting edge until he reaches the line where the civilians are streaming into the safety of the Killik Mounds. They were quite impressive as well as a slightly disgusting picturesque creation. Almost like a giant...*

"Sir, that's where I think we'll need to go. I see some of those people wearing the Military's insignia."

*Jerex pulls up to a stop and hops out of the speeder after taking the steering controls off of the speeder. He wasn't about to let one of these refugees steal his ride. Not after he stole it fair and square. He slowly approaches the Aldera insignia wearing troops where he announces himself*

"I'm Jerex Talan. I was given a commission as a tactical adviser by the late chancellor's brother. I'm looking for a Commander Raymus Celchu. I was told to report to him."
*The soldier eyes him up and down. He was sure that the commander could handle this man himself. If he was an assassin or spy, the commander would have the connections to figure it out; so the soldier points over his shoulder and past the line of refugees*
"Yes, he's over in that mound there. Now quit wasting my time. I've got stuff to take care of."

[Kale Antilles]

*Commander Raymus Celchu had been discussing defense and evacuation plans of the Castle Lands with Senator Antilles in what has now been designated, "Mound One" - a relatively small mound with no real exterior access - though with many tunnels underground connecting itself to the larger mounds. The interior was a wide open dome, and one of the Professors that had managed to escape the Aldera University with the Militia had theorized that this particular mound was most likely a silo of some sort, supplying food to the original occupants of the mounds. As such it was a perfect place to start setting up a command center, and several pieces of equipment had been set up.*

*The tunnels around Mound One were being explored and a defensive perimeter was being established both above ground and below ground. To decrease visibility from aerial surveillance, the exterior perimeter was manned by militia hiding within the larger mounds. The entrances to the underground tunnel system between the mounds had been camouflaged and all the tunnels leading into the system of mounds that the Militia would be using had been blasted to prevent anyone from wandering in via the tunnels. Three tunnels into the forest that eventually lead to Aldera City were kept as evacuation routes, and were well guarded by a squad of Militia each*



*The soldier that had told Jerex where to go, radios in that a civilian by the name of Jerex Talan was looking for Commander Celchu, and three Aldera milita come out of a tunnel entrance to speak with Jerex before letting him into the tunnels. By this point most of the non-militia refugees had been sent underground and started setting up camp in one of the larger mounds*

"Alright, that's far enough buddy. We're going to have to frisk you for weapons before we let you in. Do you have any firearms, vibroblades, knifes, grenades or any other items that could be construed as a weapon?"

[Jerex Talan]

*Jerex follows the directions given to him. He became a bit peeved when he was stopped and told to disarm. To a bounty hunter like himself, it was one of the more annoying traditions of 'Military Operating Protocols. He believed that if you couldn't subdue a threat when it walks into your nest, you probably didn't have long to live. At least that's what his experience had taught him*

"What the Force. Of course I have weapons. Who the kark do you think you're talking to? Some nut off the streets. I can give you all my tools of death, but they aren't my only weapons. Besides, if I was here to kill you, I'd have just strapped a bomb to my ride and dived it in here."

*At this, Jerex quick draws his blaster and has it pointed at the Militiaman that's stopped him*

"And if you loose a single one of my tools, I'll beat you till you look like a Gundark. Or do you think I can hold on to them?"

*Jerex smirks at the guy as he spins the blaster around to point at himself while also de-shouldering his Slavemaster Carbine. He figured this was more than likely all about a power trip. Or paranoia. The first deserved a beating in Jerex' opinion as it was a waste of time, but the latter was acceptable when tempered with logic. Everyone needed a little paranoia to stay alive, but Jerex had just openly announced himself and walked into their camp. If he was really planning something, they weren't stopping him. Just limiting his options*

[Kale Antilles]

*The first Aldera Milita officer slaps the blaster to the side and ducks the opposite way the moment Jerex draws it and point it at him, then all three militia men pounce on Jerex and pin him down to the ground. The three of them punch and kick at the stupid bounty hunter that just drew his weapon on them*

"Loosing it is gonna be the least of your problems, buddy!"

*As soon as the carbine and blaster are taken from the bounty hunter, one of the militia takes them away, while the other keeps Jerex pinned down, and the third places stun-cuffs on him*

"You're coming with us."

*The militia men lead Jerex into the tunnel entrance and through the tunnels to one of the smaller mounds on the edge of the established perimeter. Once there they throw him in a corner with the stun cuffs still on. The two Aldera militiamen that had escorted him to the holding mound remain at least ten feet away, with their blasters now trained on the captive*

"You know, had you complied and just said 'yes' and let us disarm you, this would have been a lot easier. But instead you just had to make it difficult, didn't ya?"

[Jerex Talan]

*As he's dogpiled, Jerex keep his cool. He allows everything to happen and nods to his companion to wait back at the speeder. He makes sure to observe as much as he can. Troop placements, defensive points, and which tunnels they take him. He makes sure to trip every so often to leave a mark in the dirt on the ground as well. They may start punching him in the face and could forget a turn. Then the militia throw him in a corner*

"Of course. Its only natural."

*Jerex sits there and waits for the Commander to be notified of his arrival. He ponders the odds of the commander coming here over him being dragged to the commander. Right now, he put it at 60:40*

[Jerex Talan]

*Jerex becomes bored after waiting in the cuffs for nearly a full day now. In fact, he begins to wonder where his companion has gotten off to. More to the current point, his shoulders and wrists are screaming with strain at being cuffed behind his back for over 24 hours. It seems the guards didn't care and have only uncuffed him once to allow him to answer the call of nature. Finally fed up at his treatment, Jerex begins to crawl around on the floor*

"Screw this."

*He begins by laying on his side and shimmying his cuffs past his bum, then he sits up with his cuffed hands behind his knees which are pressed against his chest, he wraps his right arm over his right knee and extends it out to the side in half an indian-style sitting stance and unwraps his hands from around his foot, then repeats with his left leg and foot. Slightly spent from the exercise, and feeling his muscles respond from the prolonged restraint, Jerex lays on his back with his hands resting on his stomach*

"Much better."

*He then hears two thumps, two grunts, all followed by two more thumps. He opens his eyes to see his companion standing over the unconscious bodies of the two guards*

"Haha. I was just wondering what you were up to."
"Well, I got tired of waiting for you so I came looking."
"Thanks..uhm..I'm sorry, I never asked you your name."
"That's alright sir. Its Bravin."

*Jerex stands as Bravin uncuffs Jerex and hands him his weapons after retrieving them from where the guards had put them*

"Well Mr Talan, I think its about time that we went ahead and finished up what you came here to do and left."
"I agree with you, but I don't want to be unkind to these men. We are technically on the same side. Even though they did just lock me up. Come on. Help me out."
"Well, then I be right back."

*Jerex begins dragging one of the guards over to the wall by the entrance where he props him up into a sitting position when Bravin returns carrying three more unconscious militia. He lightly deposits them on the floor next to the others and begins also arranging them into similar sitting positions*

"I take it you didn't come in here unescorted?"
"No sir. They wouldn't let come see you. I don't know what's going on so I decided to go ahead and come get you out."
"Hehe. Well I appreciate it. Come on. Let's go ahead and leave. I think these men can pass on our message for me."

*With that, Jerex and Bravin exit the prison chamber and make their way back to the surface along the route Bravin had entered. Once outside, they head over to the disabled speeder where Jerex reattaches the steering controls and takes off through the forest back to his encampment. Back in the cell with the five guards lies Jerex stun cuffs, the key to them and a comlink with a preset frequency on it*

[Darth Varati]

*It had taken a few months and several scouting missions of her own following leads given to her by the Sith patrols in the area, but Vima had finally done it. Or at least she thought she had. Locate the resistance stronghold. Back during the invasion she had turned on the Sith forces under her command and killed them to allow Senator Antilles and a group of the Palace Guard to escape. Thus far the resistance had kept mostly silent as they gained in number and strength and therefore had eluded the Sith. But recent patrols pointed to their base being located somewhere in the Castle Lands near the boarder to the forest. It made sense, there were ancient tunnels running between most if not all of the large mounds and they were rumored to be able to house a large number of people. Patrols had been sent through, but had turned up nothing until recent weeks. It was just a few scattered sightings, but it was enough to peak Vima's interest. Now, she just hoped that the resistance leaders would let her see Senator Antilles, so that she could prove herself to them.*

*Vima hops off her speeder bike after approaching the ancient Killik mounds from Aldera City. She was wearing a black cloak that draped over her brilliant red hair and wrapped mostly around her. She certainly looked like a Sith. It'd get the look-out's attention alright. She moves forward into the Castle Lands, reaching out with the Force. She could sense they were nearby, watching her. When she feels that she is adequately surrounded she takes off her cloak and tosses it to the ground, she then reaches down and unclips her lightsaber from her belt and tosses it on top of her cloak as well. She then raises up her hands and looks around - waiting for them to do what they needed to do. She speaks loudly, so she is sure the look-outs can hear her.*

"I've come to talk to Senator Antilles."

[Kale Antilles]

*The Aldera Royal guardsmen standing watch from atop the outer pillars relay the news of a lone Sith entering the Castle Lands to Mound One (a smaller central Killik mound that had been formed into the center command of the resistance). They hold off opening fire, as they do not wish to give away their positions or their presence, as perhaps the Sith didn't even know they were truly here. But this proves to be an incorrect assessment, as the Sith throws down her cloak and weapon and announces her intention to speak with the Senator.*

*Having been informed of this, Senator Kale Antilles makes his way from Mound One through the tunnels to the perimeter. One of the Royal Guardsmen nods his respect upon his arrival and briefs him of the situation*

"Senator, there's just the one Sith. She walked right up to us like she knew we were here and asked for you by name. We have to assume our presence here has been compromised. We need to start the evacuation into the forest."

*Kale frowns. They had spent months creating these mounds into makeshift homes and training grounds for the rebellion. To leave it all behind seemed like such a waste. But he has to wonder about this Sith. She had come alone. And she knew that he was still alive. Could it be the same Sith woman that had saved his life during the invasion? Or was it just another Sith trap?*

"Who is she?"

"Senator? She's a Sith. Black garb. Lightsaber. Bright red hair."

"Red hair you say?"

"Err... yes Senator."

*It certainly sounded like the same woman. And she had said at the time that she was a "friend." And he couldn't turn away from that.*

"I will speak with her."

"Senator, I really don't think that -"

"She saved my life and several of your men's lives as well. I owe her that much. Get the camp ready to evacuate just in case."

"Yes Senator."

*The Guardsman turns and rushes down the tunnel to send the word to begin evacuation preparations. Kale turns and walks over to where a ladder had been put up. He grips a hold of the rungs and pulls himself up until he reaches the top. There was a large circle metal grate over it, and he pushes up causing it to swing open. From the topside a circular portion of the grass lifts up and swings to the side as if on hinges. And then Senator Kale Antilles climbs out of the hole. He pulls himself out and stands with noble composure as he faces the Sith woman roughly fifteen meters from him.*

"Hello again. I don't suppose you'll be able to tell me who you are, this time?"

[Darth Varati]

*Vima waits for some time. She can sense the caution and panic of the sentries watching her as she expanded her senses to the area around her. But she remains in a nonthreatening posture, standing open and relatively defenseless. Several minutes go by until there is a rustle in the long grass, and a portion of the ground raises up revealing a vertical tunnel. Simple yet effective. In an age like this where technology such as holographic barriers and forcefields could easily be detected, the rebels had relied on the basic primitive systems. She admired it. From the hole climbs the familiar grizzled body of Senator Kale Antilles. She remains where she is so as to not alarm the Senator or the sentries that she knew likely had their sniper rifles locked in on her head.*

"Hello Senator. I apologize for not being able to answer all your questions during the invasion, had I the time I would have gladly done so. My name is Jedi Master Vima Sunrider."

*There it was, she hadn't said her own name in years. It had been Darth Varati for so long, and Lashowe before that. But the Sunrider name was well known - her mother had been the Grand Master of the Order following the Sith Wars, and Vima herself had begun to make a name for herself prior to the Mandalorian Wars and the Dark Wars. But all that had changed when the Council asked her to begin this long and grueling mission.*

"I have been working deep undercover within the Sith ranks for Republic Intelligence and the High Council for several years now."

*Well that explained who she was and why she was on Alderaan. But she hadn't yet breached the purpose of her visit to the Castle Lands.*

"I've done my best to keep the Sith from cracking down on your rebellion, Senator, but I'm running out of excuses. I think it's time to take back your planet."

[Kale Antilles]

*Sunrider? Well that was a name Kale had not heard in a long time, a long time. He was familiar with the Sunriders, though not personally acquainted. It had been years since anyone had heard of one. It seemed unlikely, but probable. This could all be an elaborate Sith trick, but then again there was no evidence pointing to that. Indeed, she had saved his life during the invasion, and now had come alone and peacefully. There were so few he could trust, it would be a crime to turn away clearly their most important potential allies.*

"Well, Master Sunrider, I couldn't agree with you more. I trust you have a plan? Our own strategists have been working on a way to get through the Sith defenses. But the numbers are not to our advantage."