Leo Gorgano Tritum
Active member
The Fall of Pelagon
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155ABY
The day of the signing ceremony
Ceremonial chambers, House Pelagia Citadel
Capital city of Pelagar, Pelagon
Pelagon system, Tapani sector
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155ABY
The day of the signing ceremony
Ceremonial chambers, House Pelagia Citadel
Capital city of Pelagar, Pelagon
Pelagon system, Tapani sector
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The next day came quickly. And from the wee hours of the morning there was already a crowd beginning to form within the outer courtyard of the citadel. Although the spectators within the walls were hopeful and full of cheer in anticipation of the peace treaty, outside the walls were an entirely opposite crowd altogether.
As the luxury landspeeders entered through the gates, jeering and yells of anger accompanied by placards from Pelagonian citizens protesting against the treaty crowded around the gate's entrance welcomed them. But they were soon drowned out by the more joyous ones within.
The crowd burst into cheer when the Mecettian high lord and Aaric exited the vehicle and briefly waved to them. The rest of the contingent followed suit up the grand stairs and we're ushered into the treaty room: an enclosed area with a high ceiling and no windows save for one high up so as to provide some sunlight.
Half of the supporting contingent with Darth Baleros in disguise stayed outside the room and milled about while a squad of black-armored Pelagian House guards kept a keen eye on every one of them as best as they could.
Within the room, at the center towards the end of the room was a table where the treaty sat and two chairs behind it. The faux high lord went to sit on one of it while Aaric and the rest of the delgation took their seats towards the sides.
Then all they had to do was wait for their counterparts to arrive.
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While the men within waited, Mecrosa Order agents outside of the citadel and in other parts of the city were busy planting thermal detonators in high traffic areas and many more were carried around by agents within the crowd.
All of them were linked to a trigger hidden within Aaric's pocket. The trigger would also activate the hyperspace beacon hidden inside the consular-class cruiser.
Soon, everything was in position and the message was relayed to Aaric's comlink hidden inside his ear canal.
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Theme music:
Treaty Signing - Kingsglaive (Final Fantasy XV)
Aaric's expression never changed when he received the update. He simply turned his head slightly towards the fake Aldercapt and gave a simple nod. The disguised Mecrosa agent returned it and continued his act.
Soon, the doors to the room opened and High Lord Regis' and his entourage entered the treaty room. To Aaric's not so pleasant surprise, Elena was part of the counterpart contingent and took her seat right opposite her would-be husband.
Aaric's hands gripped the armrest a little tighter than he would have been aware of. Elena's presence complicated things to a worrisome degree. If all hell broke loose, he would have a hard time keeping his honor-bound promise to keep Elena alive, much less unharmed.
The knight and the Pelagian High Lord's eyes met and through that brief moment Aaric knew there was no way they could somehow dissuade Elena to leave the room for her own safety.
For once in Aaric's life, he didn't have a plan for such a contingency. He would have to wing it and hope for the best.
"Forgive my delay," Regis apologized. "a little unforeseen trouble."
"Nothing too vexing I hope." Aldercapt replied.
"Just a small bout of cold feet. Nothing more."
"I'm sure it is nothing, Lord Regis. Perhaps city-wide shields and castle gates do not elicit a sense of safety to just about everyone all of the time."
"No matter. I'm sure once this treaty is signed we can all rest easy knowing peace is but just beyond the horizon."
"Impressive. You are a paragon of kingly composure! But I must ask... how can you be so sure?"
"Because I sincerely believe that House Mecetti will honor this agreement. We are all Tapanians are we not? Unity is strength after all. Conflict will only open ourselves up to outside influences. Isn't peace through strength a prize worthy of reaching?"
"Mmhm. That sounds like a very fine prize indeed."
A few more minutes of silence graced the treaty room until one of Regis' advisor strode over and whispered in his ear. The Pelagian responded with an almost inaudible grunt and stood up, with Aldercapt following suit.
"Have you finally found your confidence, Lord Regis?" Aldercapt enquired as both men stepped up towards the table.
"I have, Lord Aldercapt." Regis responded with a small smile. "I feel assured that this treaty will come about a new beginning."
"Joyous news. I am relieved to hear it."
One of the advisors strode forward and placed the treaty document on the table before them.
"Tell me..." Regis continued. "how heavy a sentence does the crime of theft carry in Mecettian lands?"
The faux Aldercapt raised a brow at the question but answered without hesitation, raising a finger. "Among the heaviest. Although there is one exception."
"And what is that?"
"A curious old law I still permit on the fringe systems: A thief who escapes his captor can no longer be held to account for his crime."
"A warning to the victim!" Regis turned to his counterpart and nodded in understanding. "Never show weakness, lest your forego the hand of justice."
"Oh no, my fellow high lord... Far from it." Aldercapt replied, slowly turning to meet Regis' gaze.
Aaric, fingering the trigger device in his pocket. Locked gazes with his wife-to-be and smirked. Elena responded with a confused look before a sudden realization graced her features.
"It is a warning to the hand of justice itself... never to loose its grip."
Before Regis' neice could sound a warning , Aaric pressed the trigger and all hell broke loose.
*BOOM*
*BOOM BOOM BOOM*
Explosions wracked the entire city as the thermal detonators were triggered, causing chaos, mayhem and bloodshed. But neither of all areas were worst hit as the outer compound of the citadel.
The cheering crowd who were watching the ceremony being screened live on a holo-board were reduced to a mass of screaming, bloody hordes attempting to run to safety; stampeding on each other as they bottlenecked the only exit.
No one cared to see what was going on in the ceremony even as the holocam continued screening the events that was transpiring.
Over the city, ships bearing the House Mecetti colors jumped out from hyperspace and appeared right above the energy shield.
With the shield generator still in operation, the ships had no choice but to wait until Knight Aaric and his Master Baleros to deactivate it. Still it did not deter the Mecettian fleet from opening up their initial salvo to try and break through the barrier of plasma.
At the top of the citadel, outside the entrance of the city's shield generator. The Pelagia House Guard captain sprung into action with his men; drawing their weapons and taking defensive positions around the area.
"Unit One, Secure the area outside the treaty room!" He ordered through his comlink. "Unit Two, stand your ground!"
"It seems the Mecettian's have finally made their move, captain." A grizzled, bearded man commented. His hand reaching for his belt and pulling out his lightsaber and activating it's shining green blade. "Not to worry. This time, you have the support of the Jedi at your side. I just hope my Padawan is alright. I can feel the dark side's presence more strongly now. This may be the work of the Sith."
"We'll need all the help we can get Master Therix." The captain replied. "If the Sith Empire is really behind this and they think they can get away with it, they'll be sorely mistaken!"
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The moment the sounds of explosions reached the treaty room. Aldercapt grinned evilly as he reached from under his robe and pulled out a blaster pistol.
Regis and the supporting contingents on both sides drew their own weapons; swords, blasters and the like. Pointing them at each other but not dating to make the first move as the entire room turned into a tense standoff.
Aaric had his sword, Alba Leonis, out and ready to spill blood. But Elena has yet to draw her own. Her expression conveyed outrage but also hesitation. What could she possibly need to stay her hand for?
"I knew House Mecetti might try something underhanded." Regis growled. "But I wouldn't think you might do something this overt."
"You underestimated us, Regis. Like the Jedi, time seems to make you complacent one way or another." The faux Aldercapt scoffed. "Don't think we were not aware of your secretly re-arming military. The time is nigh to knock House Pelagia down a few pegs. Permanently."
"House Pelagia and it's people will not serve you!" Regis declared.
"Nor you." His counterpart sneered. "Once I have taken complete control of this accursed house and your wretched planet."
Elena seethed. "The Tapani Grand Council will not stand for this!"
The older man chuckled. "Silly girl. They won't stand for anything these days. They're just like the Federation: a collection of corruptible bureaucrats willing to bend over backwards for credits! The number of representatives on our payroll will ensure the council can do nothing but throw a hissy fit."
"That is if you survive." Regis stated. "I've locked you in here with us. Your men outside the room won't help you."
"They're not supposed to come in and help us." The fake Aldercapt shrugged. "They have another objective to complete elsewhere in the citadel."
Regis furrowed his brows before coming to a stunning realization and exclaimed in horror. "The shield generator!"
"Yes." The Necetian High Lord grinned. "And we're not locked in here with you. You're locked in here... With him."
Aaric leapt into action and sped himself up with the force to careen straight towards Lord Regis, fully intending to strike down the high lord with a fully electrified Alba Leonis.
"NO!"
*SNAP-HISS*Bzzzt-krrraaaaakk!*
Instead of metal finding flesh, Aaric's sword was blocked by the most surprising thing imaginable: a bright blue lightsaber blade held on by none other than his fiance Elena Paddox.
Aaric widened his now-golden eyes in surprise. His supposed wife-to-be was a Jedi!
"So... The power of the Jedi returns to aid House Pelagia in its most dire need." Aaric sneered. "No matter, you are out of time!"
"For you I'll make some!" Elena countered.
"We'll see about that." The knight smirked. "OPEN FIRE!"
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