Homefront

After the the departure of the Zoiji family from the known galaxy, the Confederacy came under attack. Remnants of the Unified Counter-Treason Initiative, disbanded after the fall of the Republic and Sith Empire had become domestic terrorists. Using salvaged hardware and whatever they could steal, the Initiative had joined the Inheritors in exchange for having their influence restored. Their intimate knowledge of Confederate worlds made them a difficult for Revan, Darth Vowrawn, Darth Malgus, Count Dooku, General Grievous and Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Zoiji's regents…

Midday, in the center of Coruscant…

Revan stood crouched behind the shell of a crashed land speeder , a squad of four soldiers huddled behind him. About ten feet ahead, eight massive assault tanks lumbered into view: fifteen tons of steel and heavy ordinance that could easily decimate an enemy if caught in the open. Thankfully, these weren't any ordinary soldiers.

"On my mark, plan the charges, then run for cover," Revan said to them in a low whisper. The four soldiers nodded silently as the seconds ticked away.

Three…

Two…

One!

"NOW!" Revan shouted. 

In a flash, the soldiers ran forward, the ash-grey color of their armor hiding their advance. In a matter of seconds the tanks were half covered in demolition charges, their receivers flashing crimson. Just as they had taken cover behind a withered streetlight, the charges went off with a resounding BOOM! The tanks were enveloped in a storm of fire, reducing each to rubble once the dust had settled. Unfortunately, their display of guerrilla warfare had not gone unnoticed. Groups of soldiers ran to the scene, attempting to drive the attackers back with a hail of blaster fire. Revan and his men stood their ground, with the soldiers firing from what little cover remained while he charged ahead. Using the Force, he augmented his speed, gliding past his attackers while he sliced, dismembered and decapitated each in turn. However, his advance was cut short by a group of battle droids, the pale yellow color of their plating prominent in the morning sun. Suddenly, and without warning, a red skinned man clad in elaborate robes leaped in front of Revan. Instead of brandishing a lightsaber, he raised his hands upward, making violet lightning billow from the sky. The droids tried to resist, but short-circuited one by one.

What a strange time this is, Revan thought to himself. First we were adversaries, now we're trusted allies.

That much was true. This was the latest of many victories they had achieved together, and there was a flicker of goodness in Vowrawn. He would never admit how much but there was a sense of compassion that tempered his calculations and plans, something Revan had come to admire.

 As the last fell, the figure, Darth Vowrawn turned to Revan.

"My heavens, that was exhilarating!" he said in a elegant, well mannered voice.

Letting out a light chuckle, Revan replied,

"Thanks Vowrawn, but send me some advance warning next time."

Smiling, Vowrawn said,

"Ah, but what's warfare without a little theatricality and flair?"

As he spoke, dozens of HK units, some 50's and 51's entered and began patrolling the streets, killing Initiative and Inheritor alike.

"That's true," Revan said, "because the fight is far from over."

"Not to worry, my friend," Vowrawn replied, "because while our enemies may be one step ahead of us, I am fifty ahead. And sooner or later we can crush this rebellion."

"I just hope Obi-Wan and the others are having as good luck as we are," Revan wondered…

Revan

Darth Vowrawn

   

Joy Amidst A Storm of Sorrow

In no short time, the Zoiji family became active participants within the rebel cause. The "Hearth Brotherhood", as they were called, inhabited a massive cave complex that lay beneath the forest itself. While ideal in terms of stealth, it made gathering supplies and provisions year-round particularly difficult. Thankfully, the powers of the Zoiji made a profound difference, as they could predict wildlife movements before they even happened and gather herbs and roots faster than ever before. Instead of a great many followers going hungry and dying of illness, all of their number survived the season. As the Brotherhood and the rest of his family danced, sang and feasted in celebration, Orono pulled out a tome he had retrieved from the Cadfael. Completely blank and the color of flashing green, he pulled out a quill with azure ink and began to write,

The Eternia Biographica

On the first page he began with these solemn words,

"Vi veri universum vivus vici (By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe)"

With that, he began to recount everything he had seen and done within a hundred millennia of life. He would finish his chapter, and have his family follow in turn until the story of an ageless dynasty was complete... 

Night Terrors

After the rescue of Korgo, Orono took his granddaughter, Viquina out into the galaxy and expand her knowledge of the Unknown Regions.

At least, that was the plan..

Instead of the customary neon blue light that normally enveloped the Cadfael, bright violet took its place. The ship would not respond to any of their commands, as if possessed by some great will. All they could do was wait for their destination to be revealed...

Albios, center of the Erykin (eric-in) galaxy...

Frantic and hasty footsteps could be heard throughout the central forest. Two thieves: Virra and Ryo, were running for their lives. They had stolen six of the Vizier's Shards of Power: gemstone-like objects that could endow the user with various powers. Now something truly terrible was chasing them. Finally stopping to rest, Virra turned to her brother,

"What in oblivion were you thinking, Ryo!?"

Frustration tinging his face with red, he answered,

"What else could I have done? These are our only chance against the Vizier!"

Clenching her teeth she pointed back the way they had come,

"But now we've got a Cackler on our trail!"

"I'm not afraid of--"

Suddenly, Ryo heard an insect-like patter of footsteps and a demented, homicidal laugh that was louder than before. The creature Virra had called a 'Cackler' was getting dangerously close. Fear overtaking their frustration with each other, brother and sister bolted for the next clearing. However their pursuer revealed itself moments after. Fragments of metal had been painfully grafted into the creature's squid like body  its eyes pried open and red with rage. Where two arms should have been, vicious scalpel claws took their place. Rearing up, the Cackler went to attack, but stopped to look up at the sky. Ryo and Virra did the same and saw a wondrous sight. A large fireball spouting red light was racing towards them. As one the two rolled out and into the foliage. The Cackler, however was not as quick. With a defiant cackle, it snapped its claws in challenge just as the fireball came to rest exactly where it was standing, incinerating it completely. Silently relieved, Ryo and Virra crept out to investigate just as a hatch opened in front of them. Two individuals slowly emerged: a wizened old man with a bright grey beard and dark robed armor and a woman in sleek black and white bodysuit with dark blue eyes and raven hair that hung in front of her head like short vines. They seemed normal enough except for one thing: short shafts of metal that glowed in certain areas were strapped to their belts. Virra only looked at them from a distance until the old man turned to face her. He smiled and held out his hand,

"You can come out. There's no need to be afraid."

Cautiously, Virra stepped out of the foliage and beckoned her brother to do the same. Then she voiced the question that was on both their minds,

"Who are you?"

"I am Orono Zoiji." the man said to them. 

The woman next to him bowed slightly and said,

"And I am Viquina Zoiji."

This answered the question, but the siblings perked up when the woman known as Viquina spoke. While Orono's voice had been calm and reassuring, hers, while calm all the same, had a steely edge to it that commanded attention.

"How did you find us?" Ryo asked.

Gazing at the ship, Viquina said to them,

"Purely by accident. Our vessel brought us here on its own. Although," she said, gesturing at the creature's smoldering remains, "what exactly was attacking you?"

"A Cackler. Personal hunting dogs to the Vizier", answered Virra.

Furrowing his brow, Orono looked over the corpse and said,

"Hmmm. Crude, but effective for intimidation."

He next turned to Ryo, appraising the scarlet tattoo and cross-like scar on his face.

"Who gave you these markings, my friend?"

Slight indignation on his face, Ryo answered,

"The Vizier, our pig tyrant who thinks he's a god. He branded me a Blightspawn at birth; someone fit for nothing but slave labor and gladiatorial combat. I gained the scar when I escaped with my sister Virra. We--"

"Wait," Viquina said, perking up, I sense more of those creatures coming."

Awestruck, Virra went to ask how, but Orono held up his hand,

"No time to explain now. We need to hide."

"How?" the siblings asked in unison.

Orono did not answer, but simply snapped his fingers and enveloped the four in gold light. The Cacklers did come shortly after, but wandered frantically instead of attacking. As they left, Orono's eyes glowed in a flash of white, then returned to normal.

"What was that?", the two asked again.

"I called in the family for help," Orono answered, "Now, do you have a base where you can bring us up to speed?"

Virra simply pointed the way, and with that, they vanished into the forest...

Later that same night...

Eight other starships entered the sky and made a landing further in, each brimming with weapons, medicine and other supplies. For this situation to be resolved, it would have to be a family affair... 

Ryo

Virra