Vjun Orbit

[Swirling Force]

[Kom'rk Vhon]

*A Mandalorian Shaadlar-type troopship ascends from the surface and enters the upper atmosphere. It continues into orbit, then sends a signal out to an unknown destination*

*Suddenly a massive portion of space begins to distort and twist, the stars becoming blurry and then a huge vessel becomes visible as a blueish shimmering effect wraps around it's hull. As dthe magnificent vessel decloaks, it becomes apparent that it is a Kandosii-type dreadnaught, the Iviin'yc Parjai, one of the largest capital ships in the Mandalorian fleet, and one of it's many command ships*

*The Shaadlar skims across the Parjai's underbelly for nearly a full minute before reaching the drop bay. The doors slide open and the troopship rises up into the frame of the Parjai. The doors close and seal, and the ship banks to port as it breaks from orbit. Once out of the planet's gravity well it jumps into hyperspace bound for Dxun*

[Kom'rk Vhon]

(Full post here)

*The Parjai drops out of hyperspace and enters into a standard orbit around Vjun*

[Kom'rk Vhon]

(Full post here)

*Having received a tip on Fett's location, the Parjai veers out of Vjun's orbit and jumps into hyperspace bound for the Galactic South Outer Rim region surrounding Mustafar, but not before leaving behind a small contingent of Death Watch troops aboard a Dropship*

[Zhar Lestin]

*The Republic shuttle carrying a trio of Jedi exits hyperspace in the planet's lonely orbit. In the cockpit, Zhar notices that the space wasn't entirely empty: there was a small ship, Mandalorian by the looks of it, on the edge of the sensor range. He provides a simple commentary to Chris and Jean, the other two Jedi with him.*

"We had a small security breach involving Mandalorians a while back. I'm tempted to keep our distance. Neither of us were expecting the other."

*Zhar doesn't hesitate in taking the ship in to the upper atmosphere.*

[Darth Sjena]

*The Sith fleet under the command of Darth Sjena and commanded by the Interdictor-class Cruiser Bandon's Wrath drops out of hyperspace and into orbit around the green gassy planet of Vjun. The fleet is composed of 2 Centurion-class Battlecruisers, 7 Interdictor-class Cruisers and 3 Derriphan-class Battleships. A few moments later the second part of the fleet (5 more Interdictors and 2 more Derriphans) jump out of hyperspace, having come from the Unknown Regions with a secret package, and join Sjena's fleet. A shuttle from one of the new arrivals exits a hangar and heads over to Bandon's Wrath.*

*On the bridge stands Darth Sjena alongside Colonel Theran Mon Halan of Imperial Intelligence and Captain Julian Esert *

"Hail Vhon aboard the Parjai."

*The captain turns to his comm officer and the officer just shakes his head and shrugs at the Captain*

"He is not here, my lady."

*Sjena resists the urge to lash out. In her younger days she would not have hesitated to unleash a barrage of Force Lightning just because something had not gone as planned. But she had matured in recent years, and throwing a tantrum would do little good. She was in command now, and she acted it. Calm, cool and charismatic. This was what was required of her to be an effective leader.*

"You're certain? Run a quadrant scan for rouge transponder signals and have Science search for any gravitational anomalies."

*She knew the Mandalorians had cloaking technology equipped on many of their vessels. But the vessels would still distort real space time and cast a gravity well - even if faint. It was a detailed scan, and one that often took time to conduct, but if Vhon was hiding - she would find him. She didn't trust the Mandalorian Commander, and she knew he didn't trust her. But for the time being they were allies if for no other reason then their equal hatred of the Jedi. Finally an officer below the catwalk speaks up*

"Mistress, picking up two transponder signatures. One is coming from a vessel in geosynchronous orbit over the eastern hemisphere of the planet. It matches that of a small Mandalorian dropship. The other one is on the surface and is broadcasting a Republic signature."

*The revelation of the Republic ship catches Sjena off guard*

"A Republic vessel? Interesting.... I wonder what could they be doing here?"

*But she shakes the thought for a moment*

"Contact the Mandalorian Dropship, I want to know where Vhon is. Keep up that gravometric scan."

*The Wrath sends out a standard comm channel request to the Mandalorian vessel left by Vhon*

[Theran Mon Halan]

*Colonel Mon Halan steps off the catwalk and pulls up an orbital image of the shuttle on the surface. The Republic shuttle. It appeared to have landed on the pad at Bast Castle - the former training grounds for the Sith cult known as the Mecrosa Order. It was a strange place for a Republic shuttle - especially now that the Mandalorians had taken control of the castle as an outpost, or so said the most recent intelligence reports. He addresses Darth Sjena.*

"Commander, permission to send down a team of shock troopers to assess and deal with the Republic vessel on the surface?"

[Darth Sjena]

*Sjena looks over at the Colonel*

"They're not going anywhere. If they try to take off now, we'll tractor them in. First we need to make sure Vhon isn't planning some sort of double-cross. We'll deal with the Republic scum on the surface soon enough, Colonel. Don't worry."

*She turns to Esert*

"Captain, keep the fleet at Yellow Alert. If Vhon is waiting cloaked, then I don't want to give him the chance to send a torpedo down our throat."

"Yes, mistress."

[Kom'rk Vhon]

*The open comm channel is accepted and the line opens up and raspy voice can be heard*

::This is Dass Gormer aboard the Mando'ade Shaadlar Troopship. My Commander instructed me to wait for your arrival - as he had to tend to issues elsewhere. I assume you wish to speak with the Commander?::

[Darth Sjena]

*Sjena runs a hand through her black hair skeptically. Vhon was a secretive man, and Sjena would not put it past him to orchestrate some sort of trap. They might be allies, but that didn't mean they couldn't turn into bitter enemies in a moments notice. In fact, Sjena expected exactly that. She tends to the comm personally and opens the channel between the Wrath and the Mandalorian vessel.*

"I do, Gormer. If your Commander has any hopes of becoming Mandalore, then he will contact me immediately. I will stay only as long as my patience permits... and I warn you that my patience with Commander Vhon runs extremely thin following his failure on Dxun to destroy Fett."

[Kom'rk Vhon]

*There is a pause on the other end of the comm. Something was being discussed amongst the crew - but the words did not make it over the channel.*

::I will contact him immediately then.::

*The comm channel is cut*

[Darth Sjena]

*Sjena pauses for a moment after the comm channel is cut. Gormer had not said whether or not Vhon was present in the system or not. Perhaps he was off dealing with Fett - she could only hope.*

"Remain at yellow alert, Captain. While we wait, Colonel Mon Halan send your men to the surface. I want to know what the Republic is doing down there."

*Secretly Sjena wonders if Vhon may be double dealing. Working with both the Empire and the Republic. That would be a very unfortunate mistake on his part, should it be the case. Unlike her Master, she would not show mercy. Vhon was a pawn and could easily be replaced if need be.*

[Theran Mon Halan]

"Of course, Mistress. I'll see to it immediately."

*The Colonel nods in response to the Sith Lord's permission to send his men down. He excuses himself from the Bridge and goes to brief the squad of Sith Shock Troopers. A half hour later, a shuttle with a team of four elite scarlet armored Troopers is launched from Bandon's Wrath and descends to Bast Castle.*

[Kom'rk Vhon]

*The Iviin'yc Parjai, once the pride of Mandalore Canderous Ordo's fleet, drops out of hyperspace over the northern pole of Vjun. It slowly drifts toward the detected Sith fleet in orbit and the Shaadlar class Dropship left behind immediately breaks from its holding pattern and rejoins with the Parjai. After the Dropship docks with the massive Mandalorian warship, a transmission opens up to the Sith flagship from the Parjai's commander, Kom'rk Vhon.*

::Mistress Sjena. My apologies for not being able to greet you personally when you arrived, but I was taking care of a few loose ends. I assume your presence here means you have something for me?::

[Darth Sjena]

*Darth Sjena had grown impatient from being forced to wait for Vhon's arrival. He had assured Sjena that he would remain on Vjun. A little over an hour after the contact with the Troopship, Captain Esert alerts Sjena of the Parjai's arrival. The young Sith woman stands from her meditative position on the center of the Wrath's bridge and joins the Captain by the comm station. As she expected Vhon finally responds. Sjena nods to Esert and he presses the open channel button for her to reply.*

"Well that depends, Vhon. Have you followed through with your end of the deal?"

[Kom'rk Vhon]

::I have. Cassus Fett and the last of his loyalists from the Dxun moon have been eliminated. No Mandalorians will be coming to the aide of the Republic any time soon.::

*It was clear in Vhon's tone of voice that he was both pleased and proud of the accomplishment.*

::Shall I meet you on the surface for the exchange?::

[Darth Sjena]

*Sjena finds Vhon's offer to meet on the surface most interesting. Either he was unaware of the Republic craft that her ship had detected on the surface, or was naive enough to believe he and his Republic allies would be able to surprise and overwhelm Sjena once she landed. Vhon was many things, but naive was not one of them - and she figures that he must not be aware of the Republic craft. She found this curious, but plausible.*

"My ship has detected a Republic vessel on the surface. I have a squad of my best men dealing with it now. I suggest we make the transaction here in orbit so as to prevent any unfortunate incidents."

*It was clear in her tone that the young Sith Assassin did not entirely trust Vhon, and her final comment was more of an allusion to action she intended to take should she be betrayed. This man had already turned on his own people and killed his own superiors - she would not turn her back to him.*

"My flagship's main hangar bay is open, I shall meet you there."

[Kom'rk Vhon]

*Kom'rk is legitimately surprised by the revelation that a Republic vessel was on the surface. Vjun had never been a Republic world - in fact the Republic and Jedi had avoided it for centuries due to it's foreboding atmosphere and lengthy allegiance with Sith cultists. He wonders what they could possibly be doing on the surface. That is... if Darth Sjena was telling the truth. Him meeting her on her own vessel was a risky move. It put him at a distinct disadvantage in a precarious situation. It was clear that Sjena did not think much of him - and the feeling was returned. But for now, they needed each other. And if it meant acquiring the mask, any risk was worth it.*

::Very well. I'll depart shortly.::

*Kom'rk ends the comm transmission on his end and turns to his first Lieutenant, Jek Orade.*

"Prep a dropship. Load it with a mark seven nuclear warhead and three from your clan. If the Sith Witch doesn't fulfill her end of the bargain we'll blow her back to the dead rock she came from."

"You got it, Commander."

*Kom'rk exits the bridge as Orade sends the orders. By the time Kom'rk reaches the Launch Bay of the Parjai, the dropship is loaded and ready with three loyal Kyr'tsad of the Orade clan standing by. Upon seeing the Commander they board the ship and Kom'rk follows. The dropship launches and heads across the empty space toward the Sith Fleet and to the waiting Interdictor-class Cruiser.*

(Continued on Bandon's Wrath)

[Kom'rk Vhon]

*After the brief meetingwith Darth Sjena, the dropship returns back to the Parjai*

*Then, with the new Mandalore leading the crew, the Parjai drifts away from the green acidic planet of Vjun and jumps into hyperspace bound for Rhen Var.*

[Darth Sjena]

*Darth Sjena's flagship, Bandon's Wrath waits until the Parjai has jumped clear, and then signals the fleet to turn about. The fleet obeys, minus one Derriphan-class cruiser, and makes its way to the edge of the system. Once clear the fleet jumps into hyperspace toward Korriban.*

*The one Derriphan remains in orbit over Vjun, waiting for the return of the stirke force on the surface dealing with the Republic shuttle at Bast Castle.*

(Orders/full post here.)

[Theran Mon Halan]

Continued from here

*Colonel Mon Halan's strike team from the surface glides up into orbit and docks with the Derriphan Battlecruiser waiting in orbit. Aboard are the three captive Jedi, Zhar Lestin, Christopher Michael, and Jean Strife.*

*After docking is secure, the Derriphan breaks from orbit and jumps to hyperspace bound for Korriban.*