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(6.21) Family Woes
(6.21) Family Woes
Paraiso
Zall’s Family Estate
Colonies World of Byssi
August 16th, 1937
Rose smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Her dress was a light yellow with small pink flowers along the lower part of the skirt. A very light blue sash was tied gently in to a bow in the center of her lower back. The dress wasn’t hers but it fit nearly perfectly. She moved backwards a bit so that her full figure was shown in the reflection. She slowly spun as she extended her arms outward and watched herself. She had never thought of herself looking this way, but here she was. Her hair was done up nicely and her make-up reflected the hour she put in to the effort. She had spent almost an hour making sure her outfit matched perfectly. All of this was made possible thanks to Xan Zall youngest sister, Mariella Zall. It was Mariella’s dress and room that she was borrowing now. Last nights time spent at the ball, allowed Rose to meet Governor, Varlo Vanda. He is the highest Reich officer currently on Byssi, the homeworld of the Zall family.
It was a desperate mission for Xan to uncover what happened to his family after the Reich/Dorin invasion of the Free World Council space. It had been almost two months since the invasion and Xan had not heard from his family. The pain of not knowing seemed to have been eating at him. As the events continued to build, Xan had no choice but to find answers as to the fate of his family. After a short conversation with the party, Xan was able to get their support and to follow him to his homeworld. The mission was going to be dangerous but it had to be done. Master Angel Heartman, Azgardian General Birgr Heartman, Master Visst and Rose Sheridan each choose to follow Xan without hesitation through the gates of hell. They took the Cloak ship and crossed enemy lines and headed for Byssi. On arrival to the Colonies world, they found what they had expected. Hostile warships in orbit, a very large number of Dorin troops on the world below, and a smaller number of Reich troops centered on the three largest cities. One of those cities happened to be the location of Xan’s home.
The Tenth Hoplite Division had hit byssi hard and fast shortly after the fall of Jagga-Two. Right to their combat philosophies, the Reich unit hit the defenders with so much speed that they were soon overran. At the same time, the world leadership, Xan’s family, had been captured at their estate by a crack strike team. By the end of the first week, the major combat for the planet had all but been fought. Nearly three quarters of the defending units had been destroyed out right, captured or disbanded in face of high losses. Those few units that survived the opening hours of the invasion fled in to the northern mountains. The 2nd Panzer Haar took over for the Tenth Hoplite, which had to move on to its next target. The 2nd Panzer Haar pushed forward and drove the retreating defenders deeper in to the mountains. The following weeks saw the combined effort of the two Reich units smashing the defenders as they continued to flee northward. The reality of the situation became all to clear for the defenders once the Reich dropped troops near the arctic circle cutting off their further retreat. They couldn’t turn south and they couldn’t retreat any further. The Reich had their pray trapped between to larger, more mobile forces. The defenders were not willing to surrender, so they prepared for one last final battle. That night, the defenders prepared themselves for their last moments in this life. It was long night for most as they prepared for their own deaths and dug their own graves. With the coming morning came a shock!
With the final battle set for the morning of August 5th, there was no question of what would happen when the trapped defenders saw the morning sun. Fate however had a surprise for the defenders of Byssi. During the night, the 2nd Panzer Haar had completely withdrawn from the area. The withdrawal of the 2nd Panzer Haar had thrown the defenders in to confusion. Both the Southern and the Northern elements of the Haar had simply vanished from the field of battle without a trace. The defenders spent the entire remaining day waiting for an attack that never came. By nightfall, the leaders of the defenders grateful for their luck fled the area. They would live to continue to resist the Reich’s occupation of their world. It wasn’t long till the Dorins sent units up in to the Mountains to try to finish the job the Reich started. However the defenders fought back and found the Dorins were not on the same level as the Reich in terms of equipment and training. The defenders were able to quickly bounce back. Though they had to tread carefully if not to attract the attention of the 2nd Panzer Haar. It was unclear to the defenders if the 2nd Panzer Haar was still on world or not.
Here is how things were as Xan returned home. The party landed not far from his family estate and walked in under the cloak of darkness towards Xan’s home. The estate was lit up and the number of Reich guards told the party that the Reich had taken over Xan’s home. It was a painful pill to swallow for Xan to see Reich soldiers on patrol walking along his family’s estate. There was some type of gathering going on in the East wing’s Ballroom. This was Xan’s childhood home and so he knew how to get in to the estate undetected. The party used an old set of tunnels that were once used to smuggle runaway slaves to freedom before slavery was outlawed. Xan found a strange sense of karma that these tunnels now were being used to smuggle him home. It was clear that the Reich had not detected the tunnels and that they could serve the party for this mission. Once they reached the main building of the Estate, it was Xan that moved first through the last door. He led the party right in to a storeroom that was located just off of the kitchen. In the kitchen, the party found a few servants that had worked for Xan’s family. The Reich occupiers were employing the servants now. Xan was able to find out that Reich soldiers largely captured his family intact here at the estate. They also learned of the large ball going on in the ballroom.
It would appear that the Reich Governor of the world has decided to use Xan’s house as the head of the Reich Government on Byssi. Xan also learned that the gathering was to celebrate a change of command between the Reich military leadership and the Dorins. There wasn’t much more information and Xan needed to learn more. They used some clothing that was stored up in the attic and a pair of personal cloaking devices to disguise Xan, Angel and Rose for the infiltration of the ball. It was there, where Rose found the outfits that she was using for her current mission. They had to get in to the ball and find out what was going on and where Xan’s family was. It was Rose that pushed the daring plan to just go as guests. There were already a large number of guests and it seemed like a good idea to attempt it. No one at the time knew what doors would be opened by this daring little plan. Angel and Xan would go to the ball using the cloaking devices to pose as Kel Dors. Angel’s understanding of the culture and her personal relationship with Daz Murl would help the pair pass themselves off. Rose on the other hand had to go as a human.
The night had given the party another treasure trove of information. They learned that the 2nd Panzer Haar was leaving the world for Alderaan. This meant that the Haar would be continuing on to Mearisa where the rest of the Reich military was massing. They also learned that there was a clear distrust and disliking between the Reich and the Dorins. The alliance that seemed so strong before was only smoke and mirrors. The Reich would maintain their ownership of the world, but the Dorins would hold a military presence on the world to ensure that the resistance does not threaten the world. The party learned that Xan’s family was being held at a military prison ran by the Reich not far from the estate. He also learned that a man by the name of Krussk was the Planetary Liaison. Xan knew Krussk, a middle aged, midlevel bureaucrat with no real future in the government. Krussk worked hand and hand with the Reich to help them bring the world under their control once the civilian and military heads were removed.
Xan learned that the Dorins loved Krussk but the Reich didn’t trust or care for the man. The Dorins loved him because he had been ensuring that their slave quota was being met each month. Krussk had come up with the idea to break Xan’s father to ensure that the resistance will crumble. The Reich tolerated the man but saw him as a traitor of his own people. For the Reich this was a crime that they could not condone. What bothered Xan the most was the fact that Krussk had Xan’s sister, Mariella, and had plans to marry her by the end of the following week. Xan knew that Krussk had been married before but his wife left him because of his drinking and abusive behavior. This nearly drove Xan to blow the mission and kill Krussk right there in the ball. But Xan held his emotions tighter and carried on his mission. Just like the rest of them did. Xan had to do something to help his people, his family and his sister. The whole situation needed more resources than they had brought with them. Even if the Cloak ship could destroy the ships in orbit, there were simply not enough crew members to liberate the world. There wasn’t enough space to evacuate the population. Xan needed a plan badly, this is where Rose came in.
After enjoying the evening with other officers, Rose met with the planetary Governor and made a strong impression on him, and on Xan for that matter. Rose smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror; she had actually made a surprising impression on herself as well. Before she was cloned, Rose had been many things. She was Jedi Knight while secretly learning to become a Sith Lord. Her lust for power had started her on that path. Her extremely strong connection to the force fueled that lust like nothing she had ever felt before. There were times where all she could think of was power. She learned how to make it stronger, how to expand what she already had, and how to protect it from those who would take it from her. She lied, cheated, and even murdered for what she lusted for. She betrayed friends, loved ones, and never thought twice about it all in the goal of her lust. It was all about the power that she had to have. And from what others told her of what she had become, she got the power that she craved so badly. In the end, she died because of that lust. It was a fact that set heavily on her mind, allot.
Now, Rose was someone else. Her connection with the Force was gone as well as that thirst for power that drove her. There were those who didn’t trust her for good reasons. She didn’t judge them for it. She felt sad over it, but she didn’t judge them. Before she was evil, she was a murder, and a betrayer. This morning however, Rose was Countess Sanna Dystra, a young noble from the Palace on Vandor III. Rose had come across a file of the Countess a few months ago during her duties for Xan. Rose loved the young woman that she read about. The two shared the same age and similar builds and Rose would like to believe that they shared similar personalities. Now Rose was pretending to be someone that she wasn’t. If she failed, Xan’s family could pay the consequences for her failure. It was one of her most dangerous roles yet. She couldn’t fail, no matter what. She wouldn’t! There was a soft knock on the door of her room. She turned towards the door while checking her watch. She had nearly twenty minutes before she was expected downstairs. “Come” she said softly. ‘Game on’ echoed in her mind.
Governor Vanda slowly opened the door and peeked in. “Did you sleep well, Lady Dystra” Governor Vanda said.
Rose smiled and nodded, “It was not what I am used to back on Vandor but it was a pleasant night considering the trip I had coming here.” Rose walked forward, “I have nearly twenty minutes before I am expected downstairs. What do I owe the pleasure?” she added.
He smiled as he walked pasted the door holding a pair of boots, “I would like to offer a change of plans. I looked at my schedule and realized I would rather spend time with you. Care to join me riding?” Rose did all she could do to hold back her shock. She had never ridden an animal before. “They still ride on Vandor, right? The Lady Riders of Vandor are well known throughout the Reich.”
The terror rose in her, she had forgotten that Lady Dystra was a member of the Lady Riders of Vandor. “Yes of course they still ride on Vandor. The troop preformed for the Emperor last year.” It was a truthful fact and she added another piece of fact from the report she read about Lady Dystra. “The event was held in the Emperor’s personal garden. Have you ever seen it?”
Governor Vanda shook his head, “No I have never seen the gardens of the Emperor, but I hear they are a sight truly to behold. Could you tell me about them? I can have the mounts brought to the front of the house. They are the same animals you are used to riding back on Vandor.”
Rose smiled playfully as she shifted the attention of the conversation to the way she walked. She made sure to work her hips. It was a well-learned lesson from Aralah, a young computer programmer that worked for Xan back on the Nar’shana. Aralah had a boyfriend back home and a secret lover on the Nar’shana. She also had a deep crush on Xan. She was one of many office coworkers that accepted Rose and helped her fit in. Rose had found that being a non-force user was harder than being a Sith in hiding within the Jedi Order. She would have never made it if not for the help of her coworkers like Aralah. “Make you deal. It is such a lovely day. Lets leave the animals behind and just wonder the countryside. I will tell you all I know about the Gardens.”
He smiled as he set the boots down. “Deal” he said with a nod. “I shall wait for you downstairs” he added and started to back out of the room.
There was a look in his eyes that Rose knew all too well. It was that look of love. She was not sure but she also saw pain in his eyes. “Please tell the servants to prepare us a lunch. Lets make this a day trip and a picnic.” She said with a broad smile on her face. She moved forward and stopped him at the door, “As much as I wish to talk of my home. I also want to hear more about you. How one of the Reich’s most seasoned leaders and famous instructors would end up here. Would you share this with me, My Lord, Governor?” For her, she knew it would be important to learn the human language. She made a point to master it back on the Nar’shana. She never guessed that she would have needed it like this. He nodded and she rewarded him with a soft kiss on his cheek. “I will be down shortly. I want to change my shoes.” She said closing the door behind him.
She waited till she heard him walking down the hall. She rushed over to the closet. The Governor had all of Mariella Zall belongings brought down from storage. She grabbed a pair of boots that were more suited for hiking over her current shoes. She than rushed to the dresser and took a piece of paper. She picked up a pen and started to write.
Xan, the Governor and I are going out for a hike. I need a place that I can claim that I was going to sleep at. Talk to the owners and set this up so not to blow this cover. Also, I will need clothing suitable for a Reich Noble and a few human servants. These servants will double as my bodyguards. I plan to get the Governor to train my bodyguards for our operation. How crazy is this? Remember the name I go by now. The servants must all be able to speak, read and write human. Xan, I have a plan to get your family. This can work. We just have to follow up on this.
With the letter written, Rose folded it carefully till it was a small triangle. She wrote Xan’s name on the folded paper and placed it in her palm. The invitation last night to sleep over was a surprise and an opportunity that no one dared pass up. Rose was able to sleep in Mariella’s room while the rest of the party sleep in the tunnels below the estate. She double-checked her appearance to ensure that everything was in order before leaving the room. As she saw the maid walking from a room with an arm full of bed linens Rose walked up like a Reich noble, “Excuse me, but my sheets also need to be changed. Could you please make sure you tend to this at once.” She demanded and took hold of the maid’s hand. Rose pushed the triangle in to the maid’s hand, “I expect this done before you do anything else.”
For a moment the statements confused the maid till she felt the paper in her hand. The maid didn’t look down as the paper vanished in to the folds of linen. “Yes ma’am. It will be done right away” the maid said with a slight bow. She turned and walked away with renew purpose.
Rose didn’t watch the maid walk away. Once she saw the nod, Rose turned and headed down stairs. She had a long day ahead of her. She had to make it long. She had to ensure that the Governor was tied up so that Xan can get her request done. Once she had her people in place, she would ask the Governor if her servants could use the servant quarters of the estate. She will get him to offer to better train her bodyguards. ‘So much to do before the end of the week. So much to do, with so little time.’ She thought as she worked her way down the stairs. She started to make a mental list of talking points that will keep the conversation on the Governor and not on her. She had to keep him talking so she didn’t have to risk lying to him.
Within minutes Rose and the Governor were walking down the drive and towards the city. Xan could see them through a small basement window. The look in her eyes told him once more how much she was enjoying her time with the Governor. Once more he felt that maybe she was getting too close, too fast. He saw that look in her eyes last night. It was a look he would never forget. “What is she thinking?” he asked the others as he watched her walk with the Governor. The Rose that he saw last night and now this morning was not the Rose that he was used too. He looked once more at the letter and questioned, “what is she thinking?” He knew that she knew of their limited resources. He turned from the window and motioned for the others to follow him as they retreated once more back in to the underground tunnels. There was simply too much to do. And all of it was important if they were to save his family in time. Xan would have to wait to question her motives when he had her in private once more.
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