The Misdirection (Open)

The Bellator-class star battlecruiser Litany of Justice and its escort battle group flew through hyperspace on their way to an Imperial planet showing signs on unrest. It was best to dismantle unrest quickly, before it could set in. To best do that, the Grand Moff chose to travel in person. Akio was the type to lead by example by nature, and a personal presence would let him understand the situation better should more... drastic solutions be required.

"Sir, ten minutes until normal space," the ship's captain said walking up beside the Grand Moff. 

"Very good. Begin readying my shuttle. I wish to visit Planetary Supervisor Tak swiftly."

"Yes sir, I shall relay the orders immediately."

As the captain walked away, Akio turned back to the holoscreens showing the battle group's readiness. It was unlikely this much fire power would be required, but he knew well the effect such a naval presence would instill on the location population. That too was simply another tool available to serve the Emperor.

The battle group exited hyperspace at the expected, and the change to the surrounding traffic was immediate. Shipping and transport ships immediate began serving to stay out of the path of the Imperial warships. Undoubtedly part of it was fear, but mostly the size of the Imperial ships dwarfed even the largest transport. The warships were unlikely to change their path and in a collision, it was obvious which ship would fly away and which would be destroyed.

"Captain Verren, please inform the planetary governor of my arrival. I leave command of the ships to you."

"Yes Sir," Captain Verren replied before she turned to the com office.

Once the governor's platitudes were finished, Akio left the bridge and took the turbolift to the hangar. The shuttle ride was short enough, but protocols dictated a proper escort. Two squadrons of TIE Interceptors flanked the shuttle as they pushed through the planet's atmosphere. To not seem overtly threatening to an already unsteady populace, the fighters flew in perfect ceremonial maneuvers as if this was simply an unannounced parade.

On the ground was a secretary waiting to bring the Grand Moff to the governor's building. Not coming himself could have been seen as an insult, but that would have to wait. Getting into the readied motorcade, Akio and his stormtrooper guard began making their way through the city.

The malcontent among the populace seemed to be far worse than the last reports had indicated. If things were left as they were there would undoubtedly soon be riots in the streets, and that was clearly unacceptable. "Have Captain Verren ready the ground forces for deployment. Perhaps some AT-STs in the more populated areas will calm things down."

His chief of staff nodded then began speaking quietly into his comlink. It was a heavy-handed maneuver, but fear was a powerful motivator. Better to hold a weapon and never use it than let people forget you had it. 

"Deploy the AT-ATs as well, and order the stormtroopers to do sweeps of the more heavily populated areas. Arrest anyone starting conflict regardless of which side they are on, lethal force is prohibited for now. The last thing we need is a martyr setting off a full-fledged movement."

For Amnell the day had been relatively normal, relatively. Normal was always relative for her. For her, it had started with visiting a physician. The news was the same as always, terminal illness, but all considered she was healthy for now, healthy enough to last a decade, maybe more if she was lucky and genetically blessed. The same news she had heard a thousand times by now. It just didn't quite hold power over her like it once had, just a distraction from her life now, just words. And the only sign that her day had been anything but normal was a couple of nasty bruises on her arm left from the lab tests.

After that, she'd returned to work. She'd caught onto the nervous, fearful tension in the air as she had returned to her small shop but didn't give it much more attention than that. So far she'd been mostly oblivious to the conflict that was begining, and maybe this was a good thing.

Her task today was working on an R2 unit. One that had a rather pesky attitude problem, and of course the owner had requested that she not wipe it's memory banks. And when it decided to be a jerk, the brat zapped her hand and took off out the door of the shop and raced down the street.

There was little she could do but dart after it. That alone took all her energy just to try and keep up with the demon droid. "Stop you freaking droid! STOP!" She shouted as she ran trying to catch it with a datapad in hand trying so hard to reign in control of the wayward droid like a mad woman all while running. This was not a wise move, for her or anyone for that matter.

As luck would have it, the little droid zipped directly in front of the motorcade of the Grand Moff. There might have been a few choice words mumbled as she suddenly became aware of the Imperial presence that had now arrived on the world. She was just a couple of meters behind the little droid at this point, unfortunately it didn't seem this was likely to end well, for her or the droid. And maybe being totally oblivious of the situation on this world, was not such good a thing after all. So much for her normal day. 

What a bunch of jerks...

The motorcade, the AT-ST's, the whole thing reeked of Imperial bravado, that the only way they could do to show they were in power was by bringing all of their toys out and trying to scare the populace.

And perhaps that's what they were going to do when a young woman ran out into the middle of the motorcade, trying to stop a droid who was unfortunately crushed. Seeing Akio point at her, troopers came to her, grabbing and pushing back to the Grand Moff.

Well, this is going to get interesting...

As he looked back for a second, he noticed another face in the crowd, one he hadn't seen in several years. Looking at Ronin Wendigo, they caught eyes for a second and Mak waved a finger at him, pointing at what he was about to do. Smiling, he kept the finger up and pointed at the troopers, discreetly sending them flying back with the help of the Force.

"Awww fuck!" She yelled as her repair project had instantly been turned into scrap metal, thanks to an AT-ST. "Not my day, not my circus, and not my damn monkeys!" She grumbled to herself as she assessed the situation.

With the troopers approaching, Amnell swallowed hard and took about six steps back, planting her feet firmly on the curb to stay the feth out of the way. All the while she was hoping for the situation just to blow over with ease. After all, she hadn't done anything wrong, right?

Of course, she didn't get to finish that thought before all hell broke loose. To her all she saw was the pair of men go flying, for reasons she couldn't immediately explain. It took her a second to come to the natural conclusion. Though it was quite possible that someone else might come to an entirely different conclusion. Frantically she looked around to find the source of the disturbance. It wasn't her; she knew that. She was positive of that fact. So that left some renegade force user about, which didn't make her happy in the least. That was always a bad thing. Fucking troublemakers! She grumbled internally.

You know, there are times in life that make you reconsider every last decision that brought you to the very situation that you are presently in. This definitely counted as one of those times. Amnell found herself pondering every last moment that led her to be on this street, at this moment, in front of an Imperial motorcade.

I'm so screwed. She thought to herself, as the urge to flee rose up within her. As out of breath and worn as she was from chasing the damn droid, she knew an attempt to escape would be short lived. Still, she glanced about once more trying to find the source of trouble, taking several more steps backward while she debated her odds. She finally spotted the familiar Jedi that she had once seen in a bar. She brought a hand to her forehead and rubbed it briefly. I really must have pissed off some god somewhere along the way. Because there is no way in hell, I can be THIS unlucky! This just didn't seem possible, or real. Oh, but unfortunately it was very real, and she was likely to discover how terrible her luck truly was.

What had started as a minor mishap that would have been solved with a simple repayment of the squished droid's cost quickly turned into a complete mess. The stormtroopers sent to escort the young lady to Akio so he could repay her were suddenly pushed away by what could only be the Force. He had seen the Force used many times before so he did not believe the girl had done it by her reaction, but the implications could still not be ignored.

"Arrest her!" he ordered. "Prepare for combat, there is at least one Force user around here. Have the battle group begin Order 921. I want the mobile garrisons around side the city ASAP, and the ground forces blocking all exits. No one leaves this city, and no one leaves this planet. It is officially locked down."

Stormtroopers ran to grab the girl and make it back to the motorcade, their guns were raised and set to stun. The AT-STs began to move making a perimeter with the other armored vehicles. Stormtroopers and scout troopers scanned the area looking for any Force users. Unexpectedly a few of the civilians in the crowd were thrown into the motorcade's path. One was instantly crushed by an AT-ST while another was struck by an armored air car. 

The rest, thankfully, survived. However, they and the rest of the civilians of the crowd began to panic. Soon a tide of people were pushing away from the street desperately trying to escape whoever had attacked the Imperials.

Her reaction could be summed up in one single word; one rather high pitched squeaky word escaped her lips after she heard the order to arrest her. "Wuuuuuuuut?!" For a moment she stood there dumbfounded, as everything felt like it was happening in slow motion around her. She struggled to grasp even a single thought or word while fear and panic consumed her mind.

Hearing the words in her mind might have caused her to panic a touch more. Amnell wasn't accustomed to force users or their talents. All she knew was hearing voices was a bad thing for humans. It was unnatural! Had she identified the source, it was unlikely to have made her feel better about the situation. Force users were not folks she liked at all. Nevermind how unnerving it was to hear someone speak inside your mind.

Her attention was brought back into focus by the approaching troopers. Their weapons out, and aimed at her, couldn't have been more frightening. In her life, she'd never been in trouble with the law, never so much as a parking ticket. She'd managed to avoid this type of problem. The idea of being arrested forced her stomach to twist in knots. Afraid of what was about to happen to her, Amnell took a few backward steps to press her back against the wall of the building behind her. It was by no means an attempt to flee. If anything it was an attempt to avoid the stampede and riot that was just beginning. She didn't want this to happen, didn't want to be taken into custody, but to her, there were not many options. And Amnell certainly didn't understand why any of this was happening. She hadn't done anything, well, hadn't done anything save for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

She cringed hearing the lockdown order. No one was getting off the planet easily. And as much as Amnell may not have wanted to be arrested, it wasn't as if she could simply slip through the Empire's fingers. She was ill, weak, and certainly lacked the stamina to evade the men sent after her. Running was not a great option for her.

The majority of her energy had already been spent just trying to catch that blasted droid in the first place. She just didn't have it in her to attempt to escape. Moreover, there was another problem with trying to do so. Lives had already been lost. People had just died ten feet from her. She couldn't stomach the idea of more people dying, especially on her behalf. It simply was a price she wasn't willing to pay for freedom, short-lived freedom given the way the Imperials were closing off the city and planet.

And truly, she hadn't done a thing wrong. The law was going to be on her side, right? So why run? At least that is what she honestly thought. Running didn't make sense to her. So she waited against the wall, with no intentions to flee. She slowly lifted her hands to surrender, to show she wasn't a threat, that she wasn't going to resist. In that moment it finally dawned on her just how crappy her luck really was. Oh god, I am that unluck.

This was supposed to be a gravy mission, Hevana thought as her unit hurtled to the ground board their shuttle. A simple peacekeeping mission, to remind the locals how much they benefitted from being in the Empire. Easy peasy.

Then some Jedi went and karked everything up, or so the higher ups were saying. A lowly sergeant was rarely given all the ups and downs of things; when she was told to jump she jumped. When she was told to blow a Jedi to little tiny pieces, well, that's why she had a missile launcher.

As the shuttle neared the ground, her lieutenant stood by the rear door. Even as the shuttle slowed above the ground the ramp was falling and the moment the speed had decreased to a safe level the troops were bounding down the ramp and jumping to the ground a foot below.

It took seconds for the entire anti-Force user storm commando squad to hit the ground and take cover behind armored air cars, and just as quickly the shuttle was ascending back to space ready to grab the next batch of soldiers. 

Peeking around the aircar she scanned the fleeing crowd, searching her eidetic memory for anyone familiar. Suddenly, she saw someone on her "kill on site" list. Mak Manto. Pulling up her light repeater, she took a half dozen pot shots at the Jedi once the civilians were far enough away. "I have a Jedi over here!" she called to her unit.


Mak Manto,

For what had supposed to be a fairly peaceful show of force, had certainly derailed quickly. It was regrettable that lives had been lost, but the Grand Moff had more pressing issues at hand. When he heard the call that a Jedi had been discovered, he looked out and finally saw Mak. He had not seen him before in the crowd, but Mak had made himself enough of a general nuisance to make himself unforgettable to the Imperial government.

"Get me my swords," he ordered his chief-of-staff. Once the swords had been retrieved from the aircar's storage, Akio strapped the twin blades to his uniform and stepped from the car. A small wave of his hand caused the nearby soldiers to back down and not simply shoot. "I believe there is another Force user on the other side of the street, once the girl is arrested make sure they do not escape either."

The order received some of the troops moved to hunt down Ronin as calls came in from the stormtroopers he had attacked. Others kept their guns trained on the surrendering Mak. "Throw your power cells over Master Manto," Akio said with a hand on the hilt of his sword. He had no idea how many lightsabers the Jedi currently carried, but he had been spotted using as many as four in the past and was not about to take chances.

Malic ,Akio Kahoshi ,Mak Manto ,Amnell de Portiers ,Hevana Martin

And so it was that no had he'd seen the trooper dust themselves apparently rile up by his little talkback. That he began slowly rush off but not before taking note on how things seem went down in regards to Mak. Which was at best somewhat perplexing to him and had somehow indicated how much seem things had changed. Since perhaps the passing of a couple of so million it felt he'd been away. Lock in his own personal quest or sojourn...

At which time he'd ran off a few block ahead till it seem either from his slight intoxication after take few many swigs of the ale. compounded by age ... a fairly long stretch of disconnecting himself with the force. That his command of it was at best fair and not quite as it been. Or was it? Seeing as if anything Ronin had been quite the unpredictable one who for the life of him since beginning. He'd come or had been known by those that did.Never seem feel or belong to one side and constantly on the move. Till he'd met her and settled down but then again all that was in the past. As eventually, he slips off to fall back onto his old wandering ways.

And so all along the chase went for a bit thought his bemusement of befuddling the troopers. Had in a way taken hold his interest that he didn't quite cause as much loss of life as earlier. Although it did still cause quite a bit or ruckus. Weaving and ducking thru crowd as they made their way down alleyways, buildings and such. Dropping few troopers or two alongside some hapless civilian that just happens be in his way.

But as all things go starts seemed always easy although ends were at best. A tough nut to crack or be just downright unexpected. For just as he near the corner that something hit him from the side. And before he knew it everything went blank, that in the ensue darkness force within stird. Between dark and light it time could tell which will emerge this time around.

Catching the power cells, Akio passed them to another officer to lock away out of site. He had seen Force users pull their sabers to them in time of need, depriving those lightsabers of power seemed a far more efficient method to prevent their use.

"There is no need for cuffs," he said waving his hand. "They would hardly stop you from using the Force."

As they spoke a stormtrooper came up to report the capture of someone tentatively identified as Ronin Wendigo. Two find two rogue Force-users on a single Imperial world was certainly strange, but at least the matter seemed to be handled for the moment. 

"Secure him and transfer him to the holding cells on the Litany, Divert our forces to crowd control and quelling the riot," Akio ordered before turning back to Mak. "Alright Jedi, you wished to speak. Say your mind."

Malic,Akio Kahoshi,Mak Manto,Ronin Wendigo,Amnell de Portiers,Hevana Martin

It has seemed but taken a moment thought would felt to him more like an eternity. That no sooner had two the trooper caught up with him wherein one pounced to tackle him from behind and pin him down while another reach over to his side for a pair of binder cuffs. When his eyes open to reveal as if all the shade of green in his eyes ad all but bleached white. Revealing what appear to be nothing less than two perfectly shaded white orbs where his eye once was. Breathing in heavily once he then shifts his stance to roll onto one side. Pushing the one on top him barreling off hard to the side. Leaving the other somewhat stun as all he could blurt out.

"What the...."

Before he eventually got back to his feet to then retract and push his left arm hard before him. Sending the one trooper back as more approached. As he then stood bearing a sinister grin on his face while his eyelid shut and one last time. Just as more the troopers came at him. and an all-out brawl ensued. With punch and attack launched from either side ensuring thave the tide of the battle swing so wildly between the two side. That is until eventually when the lines were drawn in the sand. What could one man do in the face of insurmountable odd? As he soon was battered and bruised.....breath all but slowly becoming labored. That he finally regain his sense....opening his eyes to the sight of more coming as the first few that came before. Now lay in all manner of disarray with couple knocked out while another moan in pain.

He then slowly tries staggering in pain to his feet as behind the first wave of the regular trooper. Were what he figured the more advanced or specialized one. Who were no doubt mobilize once word got out that a force user was involved......at which time still somewhat dazed and confused by the events earlier. He tried moved back away from the place.....down what seem to be a back alley. Where he'd hope to loose them as he with whatever remaining strength or command he had of the force. Turn to push back a dumpster into their path for cover.....

It was then that under the burden of both the physical and mental strain placed upon him by the sudden shift within him. That as best he could muster at such ill opportune time was to shift the dumpster just enough that it partially block his pursuers path. And maybe stall them for moments he pushed himself to stagger back his feet. Still somewhat dazed and disoriented by the sudden outburst he'd experienced earlier.

For as much he'd tried to control the power within him as he did his best to find himself. And if anything else finds new purpose ..... thought the path ahead seem arduous and at best hard he no less tired. Though it was not without its pitfalls and dangers. Which apparently had made to have had manifested itself earlier.

He no less continued on his personal sojourn wrought with a mix of sadness, pain and such. He couldn't help slip back and on occasion try a vice her or there. Which lead him here and thru the black market he'd come across the device. Which at first seem harmless but eventually left him unhinged at times. That lead him here in the first place seek an old contact who he was looking for in the first place.

But it seems this was not to be as with his earlier outburst and now with the imperial trooper on his trail. He figured it best that he lay low and rethink his tragedy. As he tried to shake his pursuers off his trail best he could. Using whatever skills or such he could employ from his past. He then slowly staggered on as his body tried to recover from earlier strain. That he comes across an open manhole where he drops into. Trudging thru the series he began to make good on a plan to lose the pursuits troopers. While they seem to be distracted by far different catch.... and plan his next move of counter when he'd recover enough.