Kenari is a fairly obscure planet that few had ever heard of. The planet was long abandoned after being labeled as toxic due to an Imperial Mining Incident, which is why the Covenant was able to remain hidden as long as it has. The Planet's only inhabitants are the native tribes that live simple, nomadic lifestyles compared to the rest of the known galaxy. Kenari is most notably the homeworld of Cassian Andor.

The Covenant remains hidden amongst the planet's abandoned mines, within a canyon that had fortunately kept it from sight from would-be thieves and looters.Tunnels from the nearby mines act as shortcuts to the fallen ship. The upper hull of the Covenant* has been breached, granting easy access for those with the means, or willpower, to do so. Rainfall has dulled and rusted the surface of the ship, making certain walkways flimsy and dangerous to travel.

With few venturing out due to the danger. Members of Clan Plagueis and Clan Taldryan have been tasked with infiltrating the abandoned Venator to retrieve a most vital artefact that was codenamed: The Ark.

However, what stands in the way are members of the opposing Clan. The ship and the area around it have been designated as a free-fire zone by both the Taldryan Supreme Chancellor and Plagueis Dread Lord, with those entering it doing so at their own risk, as a work around to the non-aggression pact signed by both leaders in the Canto Bight Accords. This makes The Covenant a hostile battleground, both inside and out. Although it has certainly seen better days, The Covenant is a true testament to the might of a Republic from over half a century ago.

Mid-Rim

Kenari System

Jungle of Kenari, 41 ABY

Kul shifted his back as it rested against the trunk of a sturdy tree in a section of Kenari jungle. He let one leg swing freely and gazed down upon a gathering of Plagueian personnel as they descended upon the wreckage of The Covenant. The minions of both Clans Plagueis and Taldrya skittered amongst the underbrush on opposite sides of the wreck like so many insects in search of a meal. They tore at the vessel’s outer hull to make their assorted entryways, the teams working in tandem and yet separate. Hence the entire point of this venture into the rusted bowels of the wrecked Venator-class warship below his perch. The heads of both clans had waved a supposed “Ark” as a prize worth contention, but Kul had never been one to find interest in relics. However, producing the artifact buried within the vessel and giving it to his Dread Lord was certainly a good way to garner some goodwill. As much goodwill as a Sith lord could give, that is.

The Zabrak shifted again, but this time dropped from his perch to land on a still somewhat stable portion of the vessel’s cracked carapace. One side was practically sheared off from the original impact when it crashed into the old mining site, but the two clan’s attempts to cut inside and find the quickest route to the prize were slowed by the collapsed mine shaft walls. As a former slave Kul did not miss the days of menial labor as he toiled beneath the lash of his now adopted Clan, so he was more than happy to let someone else cut their way in before he ventured inside. He stood off from the main collection of teams as their cutters worked diligently, but something on his peripheral caught his attention. Towards part of the mine’s outer wall where the warship fit snug a human male inspected a portion of the intersected stone and steel. Looking around briefly he suddenly vanished above what appeared to be a makeshift entry into a section of escape pods.

Hm. Someone’s clever.

His interest piqued, Kul cloaked himself in a veil of the Force before he walked over to the section himself. The cacophony of tools covered the taps of his boots on the metal, but Kul remained cloaked until he dropped through a hole torn by the jagged cliffside. The fall was at least two Zabrak high and it was impossible to silence the dull thud of his feet against the metallic floor. The shorn ceiling had fortunately been connected to the escape pod bays, which in turn exited out into the main travel halls. This was an excellent headstart.

“Who’s there?”

The man Kul followed had emerged from a side room, an ASN Courier droid floating alongside his head. A light beamed from its face and grazed the section Kul was standing in, the light causing his cloak to shimmer in the shadows of the wreckage. The man pulled out a cylindrical hilt, and with a dull hum a purple blade sprang from its tip. Even though visibility was still dimmed, Kul could recognize the generic design of the Shadow Academy’s lightsaber and novitiate robes, relegated to more recent students. Most notably, the man’s face had a look of age about it even though his features were still what might be described as youthful. As a warrior himself, Kul could recognize the gaze of someone who had seen a fair share of combat. His Force cloak dissipated, and his eyes reflected the glow of the saber beneath his hood.

“Rank and name, Novitiate,” the Zabrak demanded gruffly.

The man seemed to be aware that it was most likely Plagueians in the area so soon into the search, but a glance at Kul’s waist buckle etched with the clan’s symbol confirmed it. Still, his posture remained rigid. His instincts honed during years of military service were practically screaming. He did not bother reaching out to sense this Zabrak’s purpose, the air was practically thick from the pressure of the Dark Side. He knew he should get away from this person, even if they were technically a comrade. For the time being, though, he slowly lowered his saber.

“Slavis. Hevan Slavis. Journeyman of House Tyranus.”

Kul bobbed his head in affirmation before he continued. “And who is your master?”

“Master? I assume you mean the mentorship programs for new inductees into the clan? I was placed under the Quaestor directly.”

Hevan could see the Zabrak’s eyes narrowed at the mention of the Quaestor. It was quickly replaced by a smirk.

“You’re one of Varick’s then?” A hand rose to his cheek, scratching a nonexistent itch. “I didn’t realize he had taken a new apprentice. How fortunate.”

Kul extended a finger towards Hevan. “You will guide me to the Ark. I have a feeling you know where to look. The merc was always good at using his information channels, to stay ahead."

Hevan responded by shaking his head. “I have been directed by the Quaestor himself to find the Ark and bring it to him, with no deviation to those orders, and you do not appear to be here as support for that mission. I do not recognize you, though you bear the crest of the clan.”

"Who I am doesn't matter. Only strength matters in Plagueis, Journeyman. Remember that." Kul's right hand grasped the longer of two hilts from his belt and the crimson blade burst forth. "But today I will have you SUBMIT!"

Kul swung his saber in a downward arc, which sparked as Hevan's rose to meet it and they collided. Hevan was not a small man by any means, and the speed at which Kul's saber drove him down to one knee surprised him. The Zabrak growled, the disappointment written across his face.

"Such weakness. To be expected from one trained at the hands of Varick. He's never even touched the Dark, much less wielded its power. If you want to reach your full potential…then pay attention." The Zabrak highlighted the statement by driving a sharp forward kick into Hevan's midsection. The Human was thrown back several meters before sliding to a stop on the slick metal floor.

Hevan spat on the ground, pulling his hilt from where it lay to him, igniting it and moving into a defensive stance. "Lower your weapons Journeyman, and I shall spare you." Kul hissed at the human, igniting his other blade and walking towards the winded human.

Hevan panted, his blade shaking, "The Questor has given me permission to use lethal force, if it is required of me. Let me pass in peace, and you shall not leave this place with less limbs than before."

"Don't be a fool Journeyman, you can still see the next sunrise if you take me to the ark"

"You Ventress types are all the same, you truly cannot see the bigger picture"

"We bring glory, not blood to the clan, but if you do not lead me to the Ark, I shall bring your blood to the clan. Drop your weapons."

In response, Hevan lowered his blade and bent to place it on the ground, before igniting his arm-mounted flame projector, filling the corridor with fire, then cutting a hole in the floor and dropping through it.

The Zabrak grunted in pain and annoyance, picking himself up from the floor, patting out the small fires that singed his flesh and clothes, his life only being saved by his sudden drop the the cold metal floor. He dropped into the still glowing hole, entering one of the old maintenance shafts that run the length of the crashed vessel. He ignited his blades once again, dropping to one knee and studying the durasteel floor, his ears perking up, intently listening for the slightest sound. He stood up, before turning and edging down the corridor, his eyes slowly adjusting to the pitch darkness of the rusting metal corridor.

As he made his way down the corridor, in the dim crimson light, he saw a small line just above his foot. He stopped short of his next step, before crouching and feeling a thin line stretched across the corridor, feeling up the line into a small crack in one of the many pipes that line the walls of the tunnel. He carefully pushed his hand into the pipe, feeling the still-warm metal of a flame projector, before a blinding light caused him to drop to the ground, a loud ringing in his ears. He instinctively reactivated his sabers, bringing them up to his face just in time to block the purple blade, pushing the human back with a counterattack, before rolling up and attacking furiously, the less skilled human just being able to block the attacks, pushed back and frantically trying to escape. His eyes darted around, but this temporary distraction allowed the Zabrak to slash at his arm, missing for the most part, but cutting into the flame projector, causing the weapon to spew its flames uncontrollably. Both combatants fell backwards, Hevan pointing the broken machine upwards into the roof, melting parts of the rusted grates and pipes that were above them. As hot metal dripped down, Hevan tore off the projector, throwing it away and running into the dark, as the ceiling fell, the path littered with pipe, cable, wire and twisted metal.

Kur rolled over, picking himself up and growling in frustration. He ignited his saber, cutting into the larger parts of metal that littered the floor and following the human, the projector hissing and cutting out behind him. The Zabrak, rounded a corner into the ancient engine room of the hulking ship, he saw the human climb a ladder up to the higher levels, before he screamed in rage and frustration. "Journeyman! You can only hide for so long!" He ran after the human, scrambling up the ladder after him, the ladder shaking and occasionally buckling, as he saw the journeyman clamber through the small hatch in the floor of the command deck.

He followed, reaching it and pulling himself up, seemingly fading once again into to the ladder, seeing that the human had run to the end of the pier that ran, across the pit into the reactor, and he was cutting through one of the ancient, broken doors that sealed the room.

He screamed at Hevan to surrender, causing the human to activate to his projector and igniting his blade as the Zabrak ran closer, releasing a burst of flame that soon died down, the canister hissing and only letting a few short licks of flame exit. Hevan cursed at the prospect of fighting the Zabrak, exhausted and tired, but still unholstering his pistol, frantically shooting out at the approaching son of Dathomir, before, once again, their blades met again, wielded in fury and rage.

The human fell back onto one knee by the force of the Zabrak's attacks, his arm growing more tired with every attack, frantically unlocking

Kul hammered his main saber down again and again, his eyes engulfed with flames of his own. Rage was an intoxicating drug. One in which the Zabrak was more than willing to partake. With each resounding blow Hevan's defense was forced away until his blade was swept to the side by Kul's shoto saber. His center exposed, Hevan watched as Kul lowered his main saber to hover just above the Journeyman's shoulder.

Kul glared while his own shoulders rose and fell with his labored breaths. Just like with any other drug, reliance on the Force took its hefty toll.

I should have expected him to run. Only thing Varick’s trainees seem to be good at.

"Alright, Journeyman. You're done. Relinquish you're weapons and let's get this done with."

Hevan hesitated for a moment, but finally deactivated his saber and let it clatter to the floor beside him.

"Very good. Now the blaster."

His fingers still wrapped around the hilt of his DL-44, Hevan gently moved his hand outward to place the weapon off to his other side. He watched as Kul's gaze focused on the movement. The blaster was mere inches from the ground when Hevan made his move.

With a flick of his wrist Hevan pointed the blaster's barrel upward at Kul before pulling the trigger. The Zabrak was prepared and managed to deflect the bolts away that came for his chest, but retreated a few steps under the onslaught. Reaching out his once-free right hand, Hevan revealed a device and pointed it away from either of them. The mechanism released with a flick of his finger and the tri-bladed head of a grappling hook soared off into the distance. Kul, focused on protecting himself, roared in anger as he watched the hook catch hold above a lower walkway used for mechanical access several meters below and Hevan slid off the main bridge to land in a rolling heap below.

Kul judged the distance, but while his amplified body could withstand the jump he did not like the idea of free-falling down while he received fire. He watched as Hevan made his way around the walkway and managed to squeeze through the mechanical door that was jammed halfway open at the end. The Zabrak scanned for a possible connected route before he decided against an uncertainty and jumped down, his legs amplified to withstand the shock.

The impact of the floor sent Kul sprawling, his knees buckling from the floor, the drop was further than he had expected, a loud clang echoing out as he picked himself up. He collected himself, before slowly walking towards the door, igniting his blades and stabbing them into the jammed door. After a while, he stepped through the still glowing hole in the door, holding his blades ready for a fight, but nothing came. He ran through empty control decks and corridors, hunting for the human that eluded him. He stopped to catch his breath at a junction, before noticing a sleek probe hovering down the corridor from him. He ran after it as it turned and sped away, beeping frantically, the Zabrak running through jammed doors with still warm holes neatly through them, jumping over fallen debris and ancient technology as he followed the droid. Running into the large hangar, he sighted the droid hovering above a fallen LAAT, seeing it turn to look at him, then dropping behind the gunship. As he readied himself to pursue, he heard a slight cough, soon followed by a click.

"Drop the weapons. Eyes forward and slowly place them on the floor."

"Journeyman I presume? I don't think so-"

He started to turn, and upon doing so, a bolt of energy flew only inches above his head, searing and burning the skin underneath.

"I said drop it, next one won't be for fun."

The Zabrak slowly lowered his hands to his blades, then dropping to the floor in a lighting movement, a shot going off somewhere above his head, as he once again ignited his blades, pulling them in front of himself, narrowly avoiding a second shot at his face. He rolled to the side, picking himself up in one smooth motion, and charging at Hevan. He screamed in rage, slashing and hacking at the human, the human just being able to evade the blows, running and falling back from the Zabrak. Hevan shouted something inaudible to the hangar, as he fell back to the large doors that sealed the hangar, moving to a small opening in the doors, out above the open air and sky. Within seconds, Kul was knocked on the back of the head, the probe droid flying to Hevan's aid.

"You've backed yourself into a corner Journeyman, you've lost your weapon, surrender."

"If I were to yield, what would I be? A coward, traitor and fool. I can return to find it whenever I want, but you- you will never find the ark."

With that, the human spat at the Zabrak, grabbing onto the side fins of the droid, and stepping back into the air. Leaping at the falling human, Kul saw the human rapidly descending towards the ash plains that stretched out across the crash site, his droid pulling him through the air. He reached out with the force, attempting to grab the falling human, only seeing him land and disappear into the crowd of agents from both clans.