Jerax was sitting at his desk on the Hyperion, going over the dossiers of the new transfers to his unit. He fiddled with the ring on his left hand, still getting used to something being on the finger. She was off on a run to some planet he had forgotten, a short run for some supplies. It was an unorthodox proposal in his mind. He was the one who was proposed to, though it changed little in his mind. The two of them were tied together, or soon to be, for the rest of their lives, how ever long they would be.

As the hours ticked by, the documentation Jerax was working seemed to increase in size rather than shrink. He was contemplating the thought of turning in for the night, his personal comm buzzed on his desk. Checking to see if it was his Vyen’a only to find a foreign number. He set it aside, sleep came first, and if it was truly urgent, they would call again. Unsurprisingly the comm rang again from the same caller. Deciding that he would entertain the person on the other end, he answered, “Hello?”

“I know it’s late, but is that any way greet your mother?”

“Mom, you’re-“

“Alive? I thought you would have more faith in your parents?”

“Well, you guys went off the grid for a while,” Jerax replies, relief filling his voice. “I assumed the worst.”

“I thought I taught you better than to assume anything. You know your father and I can handle ourselves. We did give the Imps one heck of a going away present.” Taryn states, mirth in her voice.

“That’s good. Wait, what do you mean, ‘going away present?’”

“A story for another time, Jerax. Just know the Imps didn’t get away for tracking dirt on my floors.”

“Um, okay. So how is-” Jerax stops at a cry on the other end of the line.

“Taryn, who is it you’re talking to?” came a gruff, distant, voice.

“Hendrik, it’s your son.”

“Jerax? Let me see the comm” Hendrik stated as he seemed to approach the comm.

“Uh uh uh, you’ll get it when I’m done speaking with Jerax. Until then, the end tables need to be refinished.” 

“Yes, dear,” replies Hendrik.

“What did the imperials do to the house?” asks Jerax.

“Oh not much dear, just wanted an excuse to get the tables recolored. So, how are you and the lovely young lady?” Taryn inquired.

“Uh… I need the family ring.”

There is a brief pause before Taryn exclaims, “Hendrik! Stop working on the end tables, I need you to go clean my ring.”

A muffled voice replies, “Why?!”

“You’re getting a daughter-in-law.”

“Who? Vyen’a? Put it on speaker. I want to talk with Jerax.”

“You can speak with him once you… okay, fine. I better be able to use it as a mirror once you’re done.”

“Deal. Hey Jerax, so you’re going to propose to Vyen’a?” asked Hendrik.

“Um… well, she already proposed.”

“So she proposed to you?” came Jerax’s father.

“Yeah. She drug me to the side, got on a knee and proposed. Gave me a ring, too.”

“That’s fantastic. When are you coming to get the ring?” inquired Taryn.

“When I can. I know you’re busy cleaning up there. Don’t need you to worry about housing us and rebuilding.”

“Nonsense! Your father could always use an extra hand on the house. When you get here, I’ll speak with Vyen’a about getting everything ready while you and your father go about restoring the arch and chairs for the wedding .”

“Mom! We’re not going to get married that soon. We’re just wanting to do this one bit for now. Once we can breathe again, we’ll think about tying the knot.”

“Alright dear, just don’t keep me waiting. You two have your father-son talk. I’m going to inventory the fine dishware. You get here soon, Jerax.”

“Don’t worry about it too much son, your mother just wants you and Vyen’a to have a nice family like we do.” 

Jerax sighs, “I understand. It can be a bit much sometimes.”

Hendrik chuckles, “She does it with love. Now how are you lately? They keeping you busy?”

“Too busy. You should see the paperwork they have doing right now.”

“Fighting paperwork? Could be worse, could be a captain and fighting paperwork.” Hendrik remarks with a chuckle.

“Ugh, don’t remind me. Hopefully they’ll get me out of this tin can and onto a place where I can do something other than wield the mighty pen.”

“Stuck on a cruiser? And you said the Navy life isn’t for you.”

“Got to get to the battlefield somewhere. So, how did the family lands fare?”

“Better than the rest of Coronet,” Hendrik states. “Most of the damage was a few blaster burns here and there.”

“I guess the Imps made a visit? I saw what was left of Coronet during my deployment.”

“They walked in, but they didn’t walk out. So you heeded my advice?”

“I never disobey a direct order, especially from you.”

Hendrik chuckles, “Good man. Well I bet it’s probably late there. Hope we didn’t keep you up, son.”

“Don’t worry. I’m glad you called.”

“I’m glad to hear you’re all right. You stay safe and bring your fiancée home soon. It’ll mean less of your mother nagging me about grandchildren and more of her nagging you.”

“And the reason I want to come home is?” Jerax asks sarcasm in his voice.

“So you’re mother doesn’t go out and drag you home. You stay safe, son.”

“I will, dad.” Jerax responds before hanging up. Fatigue becoming too much, he can sleep knowing his family, current and future members, is safe.

I can’t believe it. It isn’t possible. Corellia. My home. Invaded. Corellia has been invaded and I can only sit here and do nothing as my friends and family escape to one of our safe-houses and wait.

I know my family can take care of themselves. We wouldn’t have been around for a while if we couldn’t. I just never thought I’d see the day an Imperial soldier would walk on Corellian soil and not be in cuffs. I can’t imagine what atrocities they’re committing. Coronet will be nothing but rubble by the time the Empire is finished. 

The worst part is not knowing. All communications with the planet have ceased. It’s all gone blank. I managed to get a message from my family, but I couldn’t respond. No one knows anything of what’s going on there. The whole planet could have been slagged and no one would know. I hate not knowing. I hate waiting. But that’s all I can do.

((So this and some posts coming here shortly, are a backlog of entries I haven’t posted due to various things going on. By the end of today, I should be up to date with the entries.))

Jerax begins playing his recent missed messages, distressed by the news he has heard. He goes through them all and as he is about to give-up and make a call home, a message from home appears. Jerax immediately begins playing the message.

Before him is a middle aged man in his fifties, he has a rifle over his shoulder and a pistol at his hip. He looks behind him then looks at the camera, “Son, I assume you probably have heard the news and are probably freaking out. Do not worry we’re fine. The invasion has been confined to Coronet for the moment. You know as well as I do, that the Empire won’t stop there and they’ll be marching up our front step. We’re packing what we can. Making use of that emergency stockpile we have. We got some help from some… friends you could say.”

Hendrik’s speach is interupted by the angry tirrade of a woman in the background, “And I told you not to put the grains in that container it will all fall… ugh, Hendrik, get over here and help me pick-up the mess these droids caused!”

“Taryn, I’ll help you in a minute. I’m letting Jerax know we’re okay.’ Hendrik shouts back to his wife.

“Okay, dear. Make it quick though, these droids are proving to be more trouble than they’re worth.”

“Okay honey.” The man looks back to the camera, “Okay, now son. Do not get the bright idea to come here. The place is crawling with Imperials. There are resistance forces forming in the heart of the city. Seems like much of the fighting will be focused in Coronet. We’ll be moving what we got by ‘the road’ to ‘Tyrena’. There we’ll set up until we see what will happen.  Stay safe, son. If you do get sent here, do not come looking for us. You know we can mange on our own, though if the worse happens to you, you know where to find us. I love you son. Watch your back out there.” The man finishes his speech and moves a hand to the camera shutting off the recording.

Jerax looks at the camera, a slight smile on his lips. He feels better that his family will be safe. They’re on their way to one of the bunkers the family has criss-crossing the landscape outside Coronet. He knows they’ll be safe, but he wonders who is their ‘friends’ they are brining along. Not something he can worry about now. The war is on and he’s about to be in the middle of it.

It’s feels good to be home again. No planet could ever come close to my heart like Corellia. Its a perfect balance of modern technology and nature. All the comforts and luxuries you’d find on Coruscant and still have the ability to take a hike and take in the grandeur that Mother Nature gives us. I think Vyen’a agrees with me on that. She kept asking me all sorts of question about Corellia on the drive here, though I felt she was a bit nervous about visiting my childhood home and my parents. I tried to quell any doubts or fears she had. I mean, my mother just took a shine to her the moment she met her. That probably had to do with the fact that Vyen’a thrashed my high school fling earlier. Mom never liked her when I dated her in high school, the fact that she showed up when I arrived with Vy, didn’t help her. Mom was so nice to Vy afterwards, she was so concerned for her well-being.

Dinner was nice. It was good to have a meal like the old days. I will say, now that I can compare both mom’s and Vy’s cooking, mom will have a run for her money. I was a tad embarassed though, mom did ask quite a few personal questions about the two of us. Not like they don’t know what goes on between me Vyen’a. Just having it spoken about is something I’m not quite used to.

Now what’s bugging me is I know my mom is going to have a heart-to-heart with her tomorow. I expected it. Mom would want to get know Vyen’a and have a nice chat. I feel so sorry for Vy. She wants to be the perfect girl so baddly and prove herself to my parents. I want to be there with her, but mom would never have it. Now what tipped me off is when dad asked me last night to help him work on the house and our land. Not that I haven’t helped before, but when I’m a guest and on leave with Vy, he wouldn’t ask me to do so unless mom told him to do so. I hope it goes well, otherwise it would ruin the rest of the day and the whole trip.

I hate Jedi. I don’t really, but I want to strangle the whole lot of them tonight. Mere hours ago we were going out to investigate some campsite. We brought along a group of Jedi from the Marran with us. Worst idea ever. There is something about holocrons that make jedi go bonkers. I mean, we already established the camp was rigged with traps. We nearly stepped on one on our way in. Then some Jedi gets a bug up her butt and runs head-long into the camp and opens some crate. She’s damn lucky it wasn’t rigged to explode. Then one of my guys, PFC Cortair, goes insane and runs into the camp as well. Some weird ass shit happens and he goes unconciouss. I’m not even going to continue. The complete idiocy of some people. A crate is open and it explodes. I swear…

I need a break. I need to get away. I’m putting in for some leave. I’m going back to Corellia for a few days with Vyen’a and relax. I need it. She needs it. Some semblance of normality. It will be nice to go home and not be there to just discuss business.

((Short one to cap off Operation Hammer Dawn. There will be another entry today on a more recent RP occurence for Jerax.))

“Teral here.”

“Hey dad, it’s Jerax.”

“Hey son, how are you doing?” Jerax’s father asked.

Jerax puased slightly before continuing, “All is fine on my end.”

“Now son, I know you better than just about anyone. What is -really- going on,” his father chastised.

Jerax sighed before continuing, “We had a little incident on Tatooine yesterday.”

“An incident?” Jerax’s father questioned, “And who is ‘we’?”

“‘We’ is some of my Platoon and the incident involves that woman I spoke to you about a couple weeks ago,” Jerax responded.

“I see. Did you get her out of there?”

“Yeah, we did.”

“Mhmm, so how many got hurt? You know I can check the medical records if you lie to me,” Jerax’s father responded sternly.

“Just a couple of my men. Jedi were a little worse for wear, but their healers worked on them,” Jerax responded meekly.

“Jedi? You fought Sith didn’t you?” his father questioned harshly.

“Yeah, dad, we did.”

There is a brief pause before Jerax’s father responds, “Are you okay? I don’t want to scare your mother when I tell her about this.”

“I’m fine, just a grazing wound.”

“Okay. I’m not going to find out that you’re in a hospital bed right now am I?”

“No, dad, I am fine. The sith just barely hit me,” Jerax realizing what he just says tries to reassure his father, “It isn’t that bad. I am fine. You don’t need to worry.”

“I know, but I’m not the one you are going to have to reassure.”

“You really are going to tell her?” Jerax asked.

“Yes, son, I am going to tell her. You better prepare a good explanation when she calls you,” his father stated. “Now there is something else on your mind. Spit it out.”

“That’s it, just wanted to let you-” Jerax was then interupted by his father.

“Stop. Jerax, I may not have the powers your mother possesses, but I can tell when you’re lying. Now what else is on your mind?” his father interupted.

Jerax sighs. “I have a problem with… I am concerned about…” Jerax fumbles before replying, “Did mom ever want to leave you?”

“Jerax, did Vyen’a threaten to leave you?”

“No.” Jerax pauses, “I know it was wrong of me, but I snooped around in her stuff last night-“

“I hope you weren’t caught,” his father intereupted.

“No, I wasn’t. I saw a holo video of her time in the med bay while I was home talking with you. She’s regretting being with me. She thinks she is being weak. She thinks -I- am going to leave her,” Jerax explains to his father.

“I see. And are you going to leave her?” his father asks.

“Really? No. Never. Not at all.” Jerax assures his father.

“Okay, then you need to speak with her, and soon. Let her know you never plan on leaving her. Women, like Vyen’a and your mother, have tough exteriors, yet they are fragile on the inside. They need a sense of trust and stability. You have to get past that exterior and reassure her that you’ll be there. If all that you’ve told me is true, then you need to be very careful. And be honest. If she even thinks you went through her things, you have to be up front about it. There will be hell to pay, but it’s better than what will come to you if you lie to her. She needs that trust. Don’t -ever- break that trust.” Jerax’s father lectures.

“Okay, dad. I’ll do that.” Jerax replies in understanding.

“Good. And remember to bring that girl home with you the next time you drop by. Your mother cannot wait to meet her. So you fix up your relationship before you come by.”

“Alright, dad. Talk to you soon.”

“I’ll see you soon, Jerax. Stay safe.” Jerax’s father replied before hanging up.

((Thought I’d try something different for this one. An interesting way to give a little insight behind the character’s thoughts on current events, yet not be written down for people to read.))

Well, last night was probably one of the lowest moments for the unit. Last night was an Op on Ilum. They had us drop in behind enemy lines to eliminate some AAA battery to allow some Jedi to do something. Whatever it was, was gruesome. They all came back covered in blood. They couldn’t have done a better job if they soaked in a tub of blood. For our efforts, we lost two men and had three injured. All for some damned AAA battery on a planet no one gives a damn about. Hell, a planet I didn’t know existed until we went there. This job was for Special Forces and not an infantry unit. Then they make us go and set detpacks on the damn thing. Just have us laze the target then the cruiser in orbit unleash an orbital strike.

Poor Vy, she was there. She helped save Morgan and Private Ozakif. She takes it hard, even though she doesn’t let on or show it. She cares for them as if they were her brothers and sisters. She just holds it in, and it is taking a toll on her. Then Ozakif, the idiot, goes and insults her, then insults me. While he may not affect me, it is just words, it hurts her. And when she is suffering, he the goes and hurts her… he deserved that fist to the face. He’s a kid, but he is so damn selfish. Vy took it hard. She thinks she was in the wrong, but I know her, she doesn’t go to punches that easily. She was a nervous wreck and he pushed her.I talked with her afterwards, she was appologetic. I tried to tell her she had nothing to be sorry about. I don’t think it really sunk in.

We discussed taking a few days off together. Away from all of this. A trip to Corellia. A trip home. She seemed to brighten up after that. I then convinced her to see my parents. Hopefully they’ll stop nagging me to show Vy to them. Ever since that time I brought her up, non-stop nagging. Vy just wanted to gamble while I was visiting, saying she wasn’t a girl to bring home. Told her a little about the family and my mother… that won her over. My only fear now is the two conspiring. Now just to get a few days leave.

Again it has been a while since I wrote here. Between cleaning up diplomatic incidents and dealing with everything life has thrown at me lately, this has been very low on my list to do.

What has caused me the most headache lately has been an incident between my unit and some Imperials. I wasn’t there but apparently they were scouting a recently crashed transport belonging to the Empire. As to be expected, the Empire came out and wanted their transport. I don’t know exactly what caused it. The Empire says we fired first; my men say they had mortars dropped on their head. Either way there was a firefight and because of it, I am having to be in so many meetings with both my abassador, the Empire’s garrison commander, and then the Voss. The Sith want their personel back, but the personel they want back have asked for asylum. I am thankful that it isn’t my problem. Let the Ambassador take care of it.

Then on top of that, my Senior Sergeant has picked-up this gal. Well apparently her Sith masters aren’t to keen with her being with a Republic soldier. I don’t blame them. I am not too happy with Jerhal being with this Empire woman. Then tonight he gets into it with her Sith Masters. We had to mobilize the men just in case things went to blows or the Sith took out their lighsabers. As we are finishing up after the stand down is called and the new Sergeants get their stripes, Jerhal shows up with this girl on his arm. The men head off to the base and I grab somethings from my Voss-Ka office. I get back to Talanis and there she is. He then brings her to my office in Talanis and introduces her to me. The idiot has fallen so hard for this chick. He’s blinded by his own infatuation. The idiot is going to get himself killed or the whole unit at this rate. Thankfully he’s going off to join his old amrored cav unit. Hopefully he comes back and is over this woman. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate this woman, it’s for what she can cause to this unit that I despise her presence. If this woman wants to so desperately get away from her Sith masters and Jerhal is so set on this chick, I’ll send her to Coruscant so she can be safe and my unit won’t befall the consequnces this woman will have on our sheltering her. Hell, if she is in so much danger I’ll send her to Corellia. No one could touch her there.