30 replies to this topic

[Kaidlen Shan]

Colonel Kaidlen Shan paced within her new office, as she reviewed files of the membership of the newly instated Royal Guard. There were so many new faces within the ranks of the Guard. Too many new faces. She wondered what had happened to the members of the Guard that she had trained with, before the High Prince had left for five years. Many of them had vanished during Layha's tenure as Empress. Not that it was Layha's fault. Kaidlen had been aquainted with the Hapan woman for a long time now, and knew that she was not behind what had eventually happened. Well, she was planning to fix that. Those members of the old Royal Guard that she could find would be invited back to join the new Guard. It was the least that she could do for those people who should have never been replaced like they were. Unfortunantly, it was not a task that Kaidlen could delegate to someone else, even though it should not fall on the new Commandant's shoulders. None of the new Guard members knew any of the older members, so it was left to Kaidlen to search for them. However, she would not be searching alone. The Colonel wanted to test and learn more about Koru Tav, the new Captain of the Guard, and essentually her second in command. If they were going to be working together, eack of them needed to be able to rely and trust completely the other.
"Aislyn, when Captain Tav arrives, show him right in. Except for him, no one else please, excluding His Majesty, who is always free to see me whenever he wishes." Kaidlen ordered, after activating her comm. "If Princess Auri shows up looking for me, let me know. I'll come out to talk with her. I'm not really expecting her to search me out today though."
"Yes Colonel Shan. I'll see to it." Aislyn's voice replied.
The Colonel deactivated the comm, and went over to where a holopic rested. It was an image of her as a child, with her 'father'. With a smile, she turned it off, hiding the image it displayed. The holopic really should be in her apartment, not her office, but Kaidlen felt it was safer there than anywhere else. Sitting down, she pulled out a datapad and started listing names on it while she waited.

[Koru Tav]

Captain Tav started his last lap on the track as his datapad told him that he had a new message. I didn't even notice it go off Curious, he slowed to a fast walk and skimmed the message then stopped as he noticed he had received it 15 minutes prior. Crud, why now? he muttered as he jogged to the refreshers to get cleaned up.

Within 5 minutes he was cleaned up, dressed in his uniform, and walking briskly down the corridor to CO. "I wonder what she wants. I'm not due for another few hours. Come to think of it, I don't even know what to expect from her even though we talked some during the whole suprise gift for the Admiral. Boy I'm an idiot," He pushed those thoughts aside as he rounded the corner and saw Aisyln, "Oh well, what's the worst she can do for being a tad late"

He gave his thanks to Aidyln as she let him in as soon as he got there. "That was fast" He thought as he walked into the room and noticed her looking at her datapad. "You wanted to see me, K..." As soon as the first syllable was out of his mouth he caught himself and corrected his near mistake, "...Sir?" "Stupid habits"

[Kaidlen Shan]

"Hello Captain." The Colonel replied, looking up from the datapad. "We have a mission ahead of us. We need to find the members of the old Royal Guard that were quietly replaced while the High Prince was gone. That attempt made on the life of Prince James and members of the his family and the upper levels of government should not have occured at all. We need to discover who all are still alive, what condition their health is, and if they're willing to return provided if they are able. Here is a list of names of those members that I personally know."
Kaidlen handed Tav the datapad in her hand.

[Koru Tav]

Koru listened intently as Colonel Shan gave her explanation. He was somewhat suprised when she told him about the old personnel of the now old royal guard that were replaced. He then figured it shouldn't be suprising. He would have switched the old in with new personnel that were loyal to him if he were staging a coup. He unconsiously rolled his right shoulder when he thought back to the coup.

"I agree with you on the part that the coup shouldn't of happened." he said as she held out the datapad.

He took the datapad and took a moment to scan the names. He didn't recognize any of them off the top of his head as he was just brought into the former RG weeks prior. He looked up from the datapad as he recalled what Shan had said," You mentioned two things. One, that they were quietly replaced and two, that you mentioned 'still alive', and 'condition of health'; do you think that some of them were forced out of their positions? Or is it just 'cause of old age?

[Kaidlen Shan]

"I believe that most of them were forced out of their positions. Those members of the Guard that reached the point where they were unable to physically meet the requirements of the job usually were transfered to different positions that they capable of filling with ease." Kaidlen answered. "Even though I'm new to this position, due to certain classified information concerning myself, I had a lot of contact with the original Guard. A lot of them trained me in my various combat skills. As for being alive and in good health, I'm fairly positive that those who refused to go quietly either killed, or just barely managed to escape with their lives."
The Colonel frowned at that statement.
"We need to find out what happened to them, no matter if they're still living or deceased. I owe it to them." Shan sighed. "Oh, one thing- do you have any issues with working with Nohgri?"

[Koru Tav]

Nohgri? Koru thought about the familar word for a split second as his mind wandered back to the coup. "No not at all. I've never really worked with Nohgri at all unless you count the short instance at the beginning of the coup. To be honest," Koru started to absentmindently fiddle with his wrist-chrono, "I don't really know much about them either. But as I said, I don't mind at all." He already guessed that they were going to work with the Nohgri from the question but he asked anyway as he crossed his arms,"Why do you ask?"

[Kaidlen Shan]

"Mainly out of curiousity. You'll have to work with them a lot, since you're the Captain of the Guard. Also, you'll be seeing a lot of a friend of mine, Neehmai. She's my liason with those who are on the High Prince's staff." Kaidlen answered. "I would suggest training with them some, when you get the chance to do so. They're excellent fighters It's a good way to keep your skills sharp."

[Koru Tav]

Koru rubbed his chin as he gave it some thought,"I'll keep that in mind. It might even be somewhat enjoyable." The captain then turned back to the matter at hand,"Is there anything else I should know?"

[Kaidlen Shan]

"Yeah. Some of these people that we're looking for might resent you, at first. After all, you were one of the new people brought in to replace them. It shouldn't last for very long, since you did prove your loyalty to the High Prince when the attempted coup took place." Kaidlen warned Koru in a gentle tone. "Neehmai won't let any of them attempt to harm you. Now, do you know anything about using an electrostaff?"
The Colonel grabbed up on of the staffs that were resting in a corner of her office, and gave it a spin.
"It's an ancient weapon, dates back to the days of the Clone Wars. It's capable fo standing up to a lightsaber in combat, one of the few things that can."

[Koru Tav]

"I'll get shot at because I'm the new guy? I was only here for several weeks before the coup...but your right that the resentment won't last long. But I've got that strange feeling that it's going to be tough to convince some of them."

"Neehmai won't let any of them attempt to harm you. Now, do you know anything about using an electrostaff?"The Colonel grabbed up on of the staffs that were resting in a corner of her office, and gave it a spin. "It's an ancient weapon, dates back to the days of the Clone Wars. It's capable fo standing up to a lightsaber in combat, one of the few things that can."

Tav looked at the electostaff,"I vaguely remember hearing about it when I was a kid, along with the stories of lightsabers and Jedi,"Koru answered. The Colonel tossed the staff to Koru. Koru caught it with his right hand and looked at the staff for a moment. It almost looked like an ordinary silver metal staff, but Koru knew that it would put a hurting on someone who knew how to use it.

Koru switched the staff to his left hand and spun it twice to get a feel for it. "It's lighter than it looks. Impressive," the Captain said somewhat suprised,"As for using it, I had some lessons with a regular staff. It shouldn't be too hard to learn the electrostaff."Koru held the staff out to the Colonel.

[Kaidlen Shan]

"Let me show you something." Kaidlen stated, not taking the staff back. Instead she showed him a couple of switches, and watched as both ends activated with a purple looking energy field that surrounded each end.
"I decided on this, instead of remaining with the traditional forcepike, because I think that the electrostaff is a far superior weapon, and because it is capable of withstanding a lightsaber. Also, I wanted to move away from symbols that would remind people of the old guard." The Colonel explained, as she showed Koru how activate the weapon. She then took a couple of steps back. "Show me what you know, please."
She reached around behind her, and pulled a silver cylinder from behind her back, holding it in her hand.
"As for the old guard, you might get a blaster pulled on you, but no one should fire it. At least, not initially. Once we have everyone gathered, and they learn about your connection to those that tried to pull the coup, then we might have an issue or two. And yeah, it might be tough to convince some of them. Those who won't or can't accept you, won't be remaining."

[Koru Tav]

(OOC: 1st death week is over with, my paper is done, I'm actually somewhat awake, and I'm posting my post. Oh, I have no clue what to make of the cylinder that you pulled out)

Koru deactivated the electrostaff and looked at the various switches again. He pressed the "on" switch and noticeed the purple tendrils of elecricity shrouding the ends of the staff. He switch it on and off once more to be sure he had the hang of how to turn the power off and on. He turned the power back off and then held the the staff in combat ready postition. He twirled his staff twice and began to strike at an imaginary opponent. He struck from the left and brought a faster more powerful blow from the right. He swung his staff in a variety off ways putting in a few kicks here or there using the basics and inermingling some of his own style.. The demonstration wasn't anything spectacular.

"And how do you think they'll react when you tell them the connection? Do you honestly think it'll come to a firefight? He asked once he was finished.

Edited by Koru Tav, 21 March 2009 - 08:52 PM.

[Kaidlen Shan]

"I don't think it will. The few that might decide to fire on you, I plan on handling myself. They should give you the benefit of the doubt though." Kaidlen answered, as she watched Tav studying the new weapon. Then she smiled and hit a switch on the cylinder in her hand. A nearly invisible beam of light extended forth with a snap-hiss. "Besides which, when we tell them, I'm hoping to have His Majesty on hand to address them."

[Koru Tav]

(OOC: I feel stupid)

Koru slightly smirked when he heard the snap-hiss of the lightsaber puntuate Shan's previous statment. This was only the second time he had seen a lightsaber, but this time it was an up-close view. One of the most dangerous weapons in existence that had become myth and legend. One of which some feared. "I guess I shouldn't be suprised", he thought as the lightsaber revealed what the Colonel abilities could be.

He absentmindedly fiddled with the electrostaff as he wondered how his was going to carry his bow and his electrostaff at the same time as he let Shan finish,"Sounds like a plan. Is anyone else coming on this little trip...besides the Noghri?"

[Kaidlen Shan]

"No. Just the three of us. We're rather shorthanded to pull anyone else away from their current duties for this." Kaidlen answered, swinging her blade around a bit. "If you'll reactivate that staff, I'll show you why I chose it over the more traditional Forcepikes that the past Royal Guards used."
The Colonel paused, before allowing a slightly sinister looking grin to spread across her face.
"By the way, you have just been given top level classified information. It's not widespread knowledge that I can use one of these."
She waited for Koru to reactivate the staff in his hands.

[Koru Tav]

Koru laughed and then said with a grin,"Don't worry, my lips are sealed." He suppressed another chuckle,"I don't feel like getting another limb chopped off anyway. I have my suspicions, but I'm sure you can do more than just use that." He finished with a gesture indicating her lightsaber.

Koru activated the staff and spun it twice,"Alright, show me why."

Edited by Koru Tav, 30 March 2009 - 11:27 AM.

[Kaidlen Shan]

(OOC: I did some posing of Koru in order to facilitate the combat. But only to get them started.)

"You are correct. I have been well trained." Kaidlen grinned. "Now come at me with the staff."
The Colonel watched as the Captain spun the staff some more, stepping forward to attack. She brought her lightsaber up, and took a controlled swing at the oncoming weapon. Contact was made, and sparks flew briefly before the pair stepped back to size one another up.

[Koru Tav]

(OOC: No problem. Do what you have to)

The Captian grunted silently as the lightsaber came humming down onto the electified part of the staff. Sparks flew and he was somewhat suprised as sparks were the only thing that flew. He half expected to see a part of his staff on the floor from the swipe of the saber. "So there's more to this weapon than meets the eye, it has the power to block a lightsaber blade," Koru thought as he swung twice more, both times ending in noise and sparks.

[Kaidlen Shan]

Kaidlen grinned, allowing her elongated canines to show.
"Nice benefit, isn't it. And with the electrostaffs being resistant to lightsaber blades, it makes it the far better choice as the standard weapon of the Royal Guard than the traditional Forcepikes."

[Koru Tav]

"Yeah, it's a great advantage." Koru laughed lightly ,"though I don't think I would last long in a lightsaber duel anyways".

The captain noticed her teeth and grinned as well. Though Kaidlen wasn't human, it didn't bother him at all. The teeth, the sound of voice, and the markings on the face were had no effect on Koru's judgement. Part of the reason was living in the same area as Jaylen. The other part, he didn't judge anyone by the way they looked like or by their species. He personally thought it was somewhat neat and...fascinating. Needless to say, he was going to enjoy getting to know her and working with her on this particular mission.

"Anything else that I should know about...sir...or ma'am...whatever you prefer?" Koru added as he shut the staff off and gave it one more look. Looks like I'm going to have to find another way to carry my bow.

[Kaidlen Shan]

"Either works for me. Whichever you're most comfortable with." Kaidlen answered. "As for being in a lightsaber duel, that's one thing I can help you with. As for anything else, I really don't know as yet. We'll have to find out as we go. I'm new to this job, and to the Royal Guard, even if I was associated with them in the past. I actually wasn't part of them. I was actually part of the military."

[Koru Tav]

"Really? I thought that you were more of a Royal Guard than a military member with how much you hang around with the High Prince. Interesting. I'm sure you already know, but I just joined the Royal Guard. So...I probably know just as much as you do." Koru pause as he wondered how much Kaidlen actually knew. "But that'a the fun of it I guess." Koru grinned.

Koru thought of something else that he should say, but pushed it to the side for now.

[Kaidlen Shan]

"I was the High Prince's military aide. He's known me practically all of my life, at least what I can remember of it." Kaidlen answered. She grinned. "He made sure that I got excellent training, which included being taken in by the former Guard for them to train me, at least in combat. So, it looks like we're both in for a learning experience."

[Koru Tav]

"I didn't realize that you were that close to Stratus...I mean the High Prince. I was mostly taught by my parents and learned what I could during my other jobs before I got in with the Imperial Republic." He gave a soft sigh. "Great teachers..." Koru trailed off at the memories.

[Kaidlen Shan]

"His Majesty, along with Eric Jackson, was the one who rescued me from the pile of rubble that I had been buried in. I had no clue as to who I was or where I originally came from. He gave me my name, and a safe place to grow up. He even taught me how to speak Basic, since I was unable to speak a language that anyone could understand or even translate."

[Koru Tav]

"Wow. He seems like he does that for everyone: you, Auri,...alot different than some in the IR" Koru frowned in thought for a millisecond,"Wait, back up. How'd he teach you Basic if no one could understand you?"

[Kaidlen Shan]

"How does anyone begin to learn a new language to start with?" Kaidlen grinned. "He showed me different things and told me what the word was for them. At least, that was part of it. The other way is kind of hard to explain."

[Koru Tav]

"Then don't worry about it. I didn't mean to pry. I think I may understand what you mean if I applied it to a different area." Koru glanced casually around the room searching for something to say and then let out a small chuckle and shook his head,"Sorry, I'm still getting used to this whole conversation stuff. I've gotten better, but I still need to work on it some. I have to ask before I forget though, when do you think we'll head out?"

[Kaidlen Shan]

"Within the week, if things go right. At the moment, I have someone going over the database to see if possible location for some of the Guard can be located. Afterall, we really don't need to be wandering around everywhere to see if we can locate them. It helps to have a starting point."

[Koru Tav]

"This is true. I remember several times that I started something without a starting point. Not very successful. How has the database search come so far? Will this person need any help searching?"

[Kaidlen Shan]

"No. He's pretty good at what he does." Kaidlen answered. "If he can't find it, then it means that it hasn't been entered as yet or it's been erased."