Post by Fromikeable on Jan 6, 2012 23:40:31 GMT -5
Name: Horst Stellar
Race: Human
Age: 41
Birthplace: Coruscant
Allegiance: Republic
Status: Army Officer
Rank: Major
Height/Weight: 6’2”/240 lbs.
Appearance: Immediately noticeable about Horst is his scruffiness. While some men are elegant and some are fine and clean, Horst's appearance makes you think of shaved Bantha in clothing. On his chin are numerous stubbles, and on his arms and legs are more hairs than you can shake a stick at, which do little to stand out against his tanned skin tone. His figure lacks any curves, and a small gut protrudes from his abdomen (a physical trait he has never been able to fully be rid of).
Of a larger stature, the smuggler usually appears to be larger than other humans and species of similar size. His large chin ends in a dull point, emphasizing his broad jaw. His nose has a slight dip in the center, making it look dented. He makes it a point to work out regularly (a trait that has helped him in many a situation), and as such has an impressive display of muscles on his entire physical body.
Horst usually doesn't wear nice clothing. As he has come to say, "If you're paying more for a set of clothing than for an service droid, you're out of your mind." Therefore, he usually scrapes together his outfits from whatever clothing he has not covered head to toe in grease. This usually includes simple shirts, lanky jackets, worn pants, and the occasional mechanic's jumpsuit (only if he's trying to look legitimate). Fashion incarnate he is not.
Horst also carries a small neck bag wherever he goes. It's simple; a little piece of leather sewn into pouch form with a pull-close opening hanging around his neck on any old piece of string or thin rope (sometimes even a spare wire when he really needs something). The bag is used for whatever small thing Horst essentially needs; some spare credits, ID, and the smuggler's small octagon bolt.
Personality: If there's one thing Horst uses, it's sarcasm. Whenever he finds the opportunity to do so (and the mood isn't too serious), the smuggler will always try to crack a joke at the expense of someone's wording or an un-implied subject. Beyond this snideness, Horst is usually quite neutral in his emotion, with a moderate temper open to teasing but intolerant of hazing or arrogant attitudes.
Though he may not admit it, Horst is a thrill-seeker. As necessity dictates, he plays it cool and calm, but when the he gets to relax among familiar company, his energetic side arrises. Horst can be quite enthusiastic, and is known to take up ideas and initiative with a sort of silent electricity. This ties into his life experience, meaning he has a strong thirst for duty and respect to those who he finds have earned it.
Horst is similarly very violent when angered. Horst isn't of a short temper, but prodding him enough often results in what he likes to call the direct approach; attempting to smash your skull against the nearest solid object. This anger isn't blind, however, and can be quelled just as easily as it's incited.
Whenever in good company, Horst is known for actually being incredibly kind. The smuggler has, beneath a battle-hardened and steeled exterior, been known to be very affectionate and generous to his friends. Numerous instances have seen Horst laughing healthily, sharing in good fortune, and generally being an all-around nice guy. Though this side of the smuggler is revealed to good friends, Horst has few good friends left to speak of, and so for the most part, it remains under wraps.
Above all, Horst is curious. Whenever an unidentifiable sounds echoes into his ear or an unusual sight catches his eye, Horst instinctively inquires about it. This intuition has both saved and scalped the smuggler before, and as such, Horst has made no attempt to break the habit. Horst asks about anything; odd clothes, odd ideas, odd reasons, and generally odd everything.
Ships/Vehicles: None
Equipment:
Medium Battle Armor
Heavy Blaster Repeater
Heavy Blaster Pistol
Combat Knife
Stats: (Feeble, Below Average, Average, Above Average, Superior, Legendary)
Strength - Above Average
Agility - Below Average
Intelligence - Average
Charisma - Above Average
Combat Training: (Unskilled, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master)
Republic Special Operations Training - Expert
Other Training: (Unskilled, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master)
Droid Mechanic - Expert
Starship Mechanic - Expert
General Sciences & Mechanics - Expert
General Smuggling - Adept
Planetary Tactician - Adept
Drill Sergeant - Expert
Biography:
Pre-Conception:
Draven Stellar worked the Universe as a criminal odd-jobs man. He would smuggle, shoot, shut up, and deal with anything or anyone so long as he was making a decent profit. Draven mainly carried out his business on Coruscant, and cared little for the customers he worked for. He would soon live to regret it.
As Draven carried out contracts to and fro, he began to work for one man in particular; a Mr. Tomsk Frouten. Mr. Frouten, or Fro, as he was jokingly called by Draven, had a daughter named Angela, who Draven promptly swept up off her feet. Their relationship quickly grew despite the disapproving eye of Mr. Fro and Draven's serious alcohol addiction. But nothing could hold back their brash, young love, and Angela soon fell pregnant.
Nevertheless, it spelled doom. One fateful day, as Draven returned a letter to Mr. Fro, he fell to a rain of blaster fire, ending his life. Angela knew full well the murder was a hit called out her father. Angered and shocked that her father would stoop to such a thing, that night Angela fled to the Works, desperate to keep from being noticed. There she stayed, working as clothes-washer until, a few months later, she went into labor. AS she was rushed to the hospital, she delivered her son to the world, and managed to breath two final words before her heart gave out.
"Horst Stellar."
The name became her son's.
Childhood (Birth - 12):
Horst was raised in a small, nearly-demolished orphanage on only a few credits a day. There were few other children, and the sole caretaker, who, in retrospect, Horst thought was on deathsticks, did little caring. By the time he was eight, Horst had taken to stealing to ensure he was fed everyday. Horst never learned his name, but he one day found the caretaker dead. At that point, he simply left, never really feeling at home anyway.
It was by sheer luck and a failed attempt at pick-pocketing, Horst met one Rorick "Rorry" Zelfand; a mechanic in the Works working for a crime-lord. After smacking Horst on the back of the head and retrieving his wallet, the gear-head chastised the young pickpocket on his manners, and asked if he had ever been taught any. After Horst sarcastically remarking that he was raised in an orphanage, Rorry took pity on the pipsqueak, and offered to buy him something to eat. After a brief lunch of Bantha Burgers and some soda, the two males discussed life in general. Through general chat (the majority being about the galaxy beyond, to which Horst took a severe interest), Horst and Rorry hit it off.
Horst resumed wandering the streets, and began regularly visiting Rorry at his shop in the Works. Rorry never told the young hobo much about himself, his life, or any of his affairs, but always offered Horst some food and described the build or repair he was working on, the components it involved, and the general science behind it. The duo would talk until Rorry noted the time and decided it was time to get back to work, at which point a few hours had passed. As these chats became longer and longer, Horst and Rorry found themselves enjoying each other's company more and more.
Finally, a year after the Horst had left the orphanage, Rorry proposed that the young pickpocket come live with him under the condition that he help everyday with the business. Horst naturally accepted the offer, liking the idea of of having regular meals, a soft bed, and someone to talk to everyday. Later on, he would come to realize that his acceptance of the offer would ultimately save his life.
Horst did learn something rather important shortly after his 9th birthday, however. While reorganizing Rorry's toolbox as instructed, Horst happened upon a small piece of metal that he didn't recognize. He naturally presented it to his foster-father, and Rorry chuckled, claiming it was his service badge. Obviously, the rest of the day was spent by Horst pestering Rorry about his time in the service: "Where did you serve? Did you fight the Mandalorians? What's the Mid-Rim like?" The favorite question, of course, was the much repeated "Have you ever seen a Jedi?" Rorry, half amused and half bothered, answered some questions and didn't answer others, leaving Horst to consider his foster-father more than before.
Rorry's military background was prominent in his daily routine. The old mechanic would wake at dawn and jog before lifting weights. Following this was a quick breakfast, and military-disciplined fathering to Horst. Though Rorry didn't force this lifestyle upon his apprentice, Horst slowly found himself copying Rorry's lifestyle in his own. Besides joining his foster-father in morning exercise (though to a smaller degree), Horst also adopted a great sense of discipline in numerous parts of his philosophy, personality, and general behavior. This showed through whenever someone would come into the shop "wanting a droid", as Rorry would offer up numerous pawned droids from the back, and Horst would uniformly present each and every one.
As promised, Rorry began to teach Horst everything he would ever need to know about mechanics and science. In return, Horst began to work regularly in the shop, beginning with small jobs: a loose joint here, a broken component there, and the occasional repulsor-modification (which usually entailed Rorry's help). As Stellar began to ascend levels of mechanic knowledge, he also began to slowly learn more about Rorry. By his 12th birthday (an event celebrated on the first day of the New Year since Horst didn't know the actual date), Horst knew that Rorry drank occasionally (though he had never seen him drunk), worked out every morning before work, and had deciphered that his mother had likewise died when he was young, and that his father was abusive.
Horst also began his education on his 12th birthday. When the young mechanic complained that he was too old and that he wouldn't know anyone there, Rorry chuckled, clapped his shoulder, and said that he had always regretted not going, and that Horst would thank him later (he did). Though Horst was terrible in subjects like literature and and galactic culture, he excelled in subject like math and the sciences, as he was already vaguely familiar in them. Horst also learned to be very responsible thanks to his education, as he would always have to work in the shop following the school day.
The Problem with Doose (12 - 14):
As Horst slaved away in both school and the mechanic shop throughout his first and second years, he began to become friends with a young man named Doose Guntheral. Doose was a few years older than Horst and admittedly one of the seedier characters at school, but then again, Horst would think, so were most people in the Works. After an awkward friendship at first, Doose revealed to Horst (or as he dubbed him "The Wrench") that he worked for one the Works' many gangs. He then asked Horst if he wanted to join, especially considering his potential to make bombs and other make shift weapons. When Horst claimed not to have such knowledge, Doose snorted and said he knew about "science and stuff", and that this was enough to make a bomb (he had no idea what he was talking about). Horst declined the offer, and Doose immediately became infuriated, pulling out and sticking to his friend's chest a small blaster.
Horst managed to disarm Doose, but not before he managed to slip away. The next day, Doose returned with two other gang members, who collectively beat Horst up in a small alleyway. They then offered him two choices before leaving, promising to return in one day's time; build bombs for their gang, or die. Horst, troubled, approached Rorry with his problem. The old mechanic grimly answered that this was one of many future situation that Horst would face in which self-preservation was key. "Shoot or be shot", Rorry whispered, reverting back to his military days. He then handed Horst a blaster of his own. Horst, appalled at the thought of killing, recoiled at the sight of the weapon. Rorry, however, insisted he take it, telling him not to use it for killing, but for survival. Their night was spent teaching Horst the basics of shooting; a task with Rorry sitting by his foster-son severely critiquing his technique. Horst was further frightened by his mentor's behavior; Rorry was ordinarily relaxed, in control, and generally unworried.
Armed and basically trained (however reluctantly), Horst was again approached by Doose and his cronies. After flatly rejecting their offer to work as a bomb-man, Doose tried to quickly draw on his former friend. He was stopped, however, with a swift bolt to the diaphragm by Horst, who intimidated the other gang members into leaving (more like running). Horst captured the final word of Doose when he demanded to know why a friendship had to be ended just for some stupid gang. The young man, knocking on Death's door, merely stated that Horst had meant little to him; a thought that crushed Horst's spirit.
Leaving the Works (14 - 18):
After a short investigation, the local police abandoned the murder, fearing of meddling in the ambitions of the gangs in the Works. As news spread, jobs in Rorry's shop dried up surprisingly quickly, and both he and Horst were soon living on crumbs a day. It was at this point that Rorry decided nothing else awaited him and his foster-son, and declared one morning that they were moving. When Horst asked where to, the mechanic snorted, grinned, and answered wherever they damn-well pleased: mechanics were needed everywhere, and could therefore go anywhere in search of work. He also mentioned that he had friends where they were going, and that they had offered him a job a while back (though he didn't mention if the offer was still valid. Horst hoped so). For once, Rorry seemed totally disciplined and motivated; two traits that had often alluded him.
So, packing up the shop in total of 13 cargo crates, the duo of mechanics boarded an out-bound ship to the mystery planet. Rorry told Horst that he could fall asleep; the journey would only take a few hours. Horst, however, stayed awake, and came to learn from idle chatter amongst other travelers that he was going to settle in Corellia; the ship-building capital of the Core Worlds, and (depending on who you listened to) the Republic. When Horst asked about what sort of ties Rorry had to Corellia, his foster-father waved the question away, saying that all that was important was that the planet had served him well, and that he knew its society and people.
As soon as the ship landed on the industrious planet, Rorry set Horst to work unloading their possessions. As soon as Horst had removed the 13th crate, Rorry reappeared along with a man he called Pat, who he introduced as his brother-in-arms. The three men loaded the crates onto Pat's ship (the job again mainly fell to Horst), and flew to Pat's place; a battered tenement he owned near a rather large dry-dock. After settling in, Rorry set up the mechanic shop on the first floor, and officially reinstated his business.
Corellia quickly suited Horst more than the Works ever had. He liked the Corellians; they were smart people, but they knew what they stood for. As Horst re-enrolled in school, he slowly began to make new connections, and by his 15th birthday, the young mechanic felt like a regular person. "The Wrench", as he was again called (however this time without fear of attack or hazing), quickly fell into a romance with a young woman named Glaudia Thoyt, and spent his days studying, laughing, and tinkering.
Rorry likewise seemed more at home on Corellia. Horst soon learned that he and Pat had served together in the military, and that they had indeed fought the Mandalorians (albeit towards the end of the war). When Horst would inquire about their service, Rorry would grunt, and Pat would reminisce about the time in the Republic Army. "We were the best enlistees out there," Pat would chuckle, "the 1,156th Infantry Division, 4th Battalion, 'Wrecking' Squad. If you needed something to go boom," Pat would lean in and smile at this point, almost like he'd rehearse the very line before bed, "you'd call us."
And so, throughout his teenage years, Horst listened in silent awe as Pat would tell war stories ever night over dinner. From the tales Pat told and the splendor with which he told them, Horst imagined adventure greater than that of any other life. Rorry would often nod as Pat spun these yearns, and would occasionally add a part here or help Pat remember a snipet there, but otherwise remained quiet. To make sure his foster-son had the right idea, though, Rorry would always be sure to mention who he knew that died on any mission mentioned by Pat. It was a constant damper, to be sure, but a necessary one.
Alas, the good years reached an impass when a bounty suddenly appeared for Horst charging him with triple homicide. As detectives from CorSec began to scan the neighborhood, Pat quickly and silently put out word to the neighborhood that Horst was innocent. The majority of people, knowing Horst personally, helped the young mechanic by pointing the detectives in the wrong direction. After a month, the authorities caught wind of further suspects back in the Works, and promptly abandoned their pursuit. They vanished, and peace returned.
Meeting Mr. Important (18):
Horst graduated from school shortly after his 18th birthday thanks to full enrollment in summer schools and a couple of classed bypassed thanks to his natural talent in arithmetic and the sciences. His romance with Glaudia ended as she moved to Alderaan for further studying, and Rorry, becoming significantly older, slowly handed over the reigns of the shop to his foster-son. By that point, Horst was fully educated in both general knowledge and mechanics. He was fully capable of running the shop by himself, and furthermore completing every order the shop received. This meant he could do everything from reprogram a security droid to fix a crashed speeder to tune up a hyperdrive (although, despite being in the Blue Sector of Coronet, surprisingly few came in). It was at this point that Horst met a man calling himself Mr. Important.
Mr. Important had come into the shop claiming his droid was in need of repairs. As Horst tinkered with it, he uncovered its model number; it was an assassin droid. When Horst asked Mr. Important if he was aware of this, the shady man activated the droid, and Horst owed his life to his managing to accidentally screw up the droid's targeting systems. As Rorry appeared to investigate, the haywire droid slammed into his throat. He died shortly before Mr. Important ran out of the shop, and Horst managed to tackle and deactivate the malfunctioning droid.
Horst had retrieved, from Rorry's cold, dead hand, a small lug-nut the mechanic had been carrying at his time of death. Deciding it would be his memento of his foster-father, Horst began to carry it everywhere he went. A few days later, after a short memorial "service" (Horst was the only one there), the young mechanic was approached by a man working for someone named Mr. Frouten. The man gave his condolences, and then revealed that Rorry had done a lot of work for Mr. Frouten. Horst spat at this man, claiming he could just as well have employed Mr. Important, and furthermore claimed that Rorry had never had connections to the Underground. The agent scoffed and chuckled silently before handing Horst a business card and leaving.
Vagabond in Officer School (18 - 21):
Horst felt lost with Rorry's death. His entire life had encompassed the old mechanic, and with him gone, Horst wasn't quite sure where his place in life was. The shop, though natural to Horst, simply didn't comfort him when he knew that every morning, he would wake up there alone. So, packing a basic set of tools and Rorry's lug-nut, Horst handed the shop over to Pat, who still owned the building, and spent the next month or so wandering Corellia, looking for a purpose.
Stopping at a bar with the last of his credits, Horst happened upon a man named Giog Hayman. Giog was a Republic soldier on leave and visiting his home planet, and was also obviously drunk. Horst's own drinking, coupled with his sadness, instigated a fight with Giog, in which both men exchanged black eyes, broken arms, and numerous bruises. After sobering up and visiting the nearest hospital, Horst sought out and apologized to Giog, who waved it away as though it happened regularly (which Horst began to suspect it did). After exchanging their condolences, Giog asked Horst if he'd care to stay the night, and Horst accepted.
Giog spent the entire night recounting stories from his experience in the military, and likewise recounting how his father had left his mother, him, and his sister on the streets. As the night turned into another day, and the day turned into a week, Horst simply heard story after story of Giog's experiences, displays of courage and heroism, and general valor. As Giog told him story after story, Horst was reminded ever more of his dinners with Pat and Rorry, and how both his foster-father, uncle, and newfound friend all reveled in their experience. When Horst asked Giog why he had joined the military, the man had answered very plainly that he felt it was where he needed to be.
After 3 weeks of hospitality, Giog's leave came to an end, and he was obligated to return to the Army. Seeing him off, Horst visited the Corellian military command for the first time. Both curious and needing to know if he was still wanted, Horst inquired at the public office next door if his case was still open (under a false name, of course). Thankfully, he learned that the case had been closed a year before, as Doose's two cronies had come clean after a drug-run-gone-wrong.After saying his goodbyes to Giog, Horst was still offered residence at Giog's which he again accepted. After a month of considering his motivation, all the advice ever given to him by Rorry, and the lifestyle enlistment would bring, Horst confidently signed on for officer candidacy school.
The first problem was the price; Horst had little money left after his wandering, and officer's school was expensive. To address this, Horst made a deal with the dean; he would personally maintain the schools electronics and fix or modify any sort of mechanic that so needed it. This meant that after a day full of studying, Horst would often slave the night away fixing broken blasters, repairing he school's fleet of training vehicles, and generally tinkering with everything on-campus that moved.
The second problem was Horst's reputation. Initially, Horst was completely unremarkable; he was a loner off of the streets who seconded as a mechanical janitor, and this did not give him high standing among the preppier kids enrolled. He was therefore suffered to regular pranks and a terrible reputation of poverty, both of which he burdened until graduation.
Despite a total lack of rest (a couple hours here and there throughout the day), Horst performed quite well in his classes, and received adequate marks. He also began to introduce himself to military technology as he repaired and maintained the training equipment. Overall, his fours years whooshed by, and he didn't stop to realize so until he was being handed his diploma.
From the Acklay's Foot to the Acklay's Maw (21 - 27):
With a full 3 years of officer training in hand, Horst eagerly enlisted in the Republic Army. His first four years saw him quickly ascending the ranks of the military. Every unit he was assigned to gave him a reputation for his size, his strength (obtained over years of training), and his kind heart. Obtaining position as a Captain for his 25th birthday, Horst gained command of an underperforming battalion known as the Acklay's Foot (thus named because they demolished everything they touched). The battalion was known for its squalor, disorganization, and general amateurism in the field of battle, and it was Horst's job to whip them into shape.
The task was momentous for Horst. Never having been much of a people person, it took Horst a year just to gain the trust of his battalion, and another to gain their respect. The only way to do this, he found, was to show the men that he wasn't a pushy authority figure; he was a soldier, and intended to work like one. Whenever the Acklay's Foot was brought to in as civil riot control or tasked with any kind of dirty work, Horst handled his management duties first, and then grabbed a gun and assisted his men with his own two hands (despite numerous protests and regularly breaking protocol). As Horst came to experience the life along side his soldiers, so too did he learn to hold dear his men.
During his time in the service, Horst likewise never abandoned his love of machines and technology. Whenever he had a moment to breath or a task that could be multi-tasked, he would spend his time down in the hangars with his technicians, watching, advising, and teaching them as they showed him the inner-workings of the Republic's weapons, vehicles, and war machines. This process was usually enough to alleviate any stress the Captain mechanic had, and developed his reputation. When he left the Acklay's Foot, he was affectionately called Captain Wrench.
During this time with the Acklay's Foot, Horst likewise developed a deep liking for heavy weapons. He was of course trained proficiently in most tools of warfare, but the captain found the warm growl of a laser repeater more his style than a pistol or a rifle. As such, using his position, Horst requisitioned one SR-65 Slugthrower for himself; a weapon he would hold for his military carrier.
As Horst's second year with the Acklay's Foot ticked by, the battalion, inspired by their big-brother leader and trained and drilled to a far better degree, began to shape up considerably. By the end of this second year, Horst looked on proudly as the squad's nickname changed to the Acklay's Maw, their reputation for terrible soldiering being replaced by a reputation for incredible duty and endurance; a trait heavily prioritized by Captain Wrench.
With a somewhat sour twist of fate, however, just as the battalion started becoming a truly well-known force, Horst was approached by his CO, who claimed he was being transferred. When Horst demanded to know where, the CO merely shook his head, and replied that he didn't know. After a hasty set of goodbye's, Horst gathered his possessions and was brought before a familiar face.
Horst "The Wrecking Wrench" Stellar (27 - 36):
Horst was brought before none other than Giog. After a short welcome and a little chit-chat, Giog explained his position flatly; he needed a new man for his Special Operations battalion, and Horst fit the bill perfectly. Horst was amazed, and when he asked why he was being selected, Giog further elaborated two points: Firstly, Horst had gained quite a reputation with both his battle field prowess and reorganizing of the Acklay's Maw; feats not unnoticed by the Generals. Horst was also known to be somewhat of a mechanic; a crucial position on Giog's battalion that needed filling. Horst was reluctant to let his own battalion go, but Giog eventually convinced him to let his men go, claiming that they'd remember his instruction forever. With this promotion to Spec Ops, Horst was ranked as a Major.
Horst was swiftly introduced to the battalion, known as Giog's Rancors, before being put to the test mechanically. His first mission with the Rancors was simple; they were to infiltrate a rebel-controlled village, locate three VIP POW's, improvise transportation (Horst suspected this wasn't really necessary, but was included to test him), and extricate them to a safe zone.
Giog, being the battalion's commanding officer, led the troops quietly as they infiltrated the village. He then split Horst off with a few men to secure transportation. Horst sneaked over to the hangar, and scrapped together an improvised tank, using spare parts he could find and a broken down transport. As he fired it the repulsors, Giog returned with both the POW's and the attention of the bandits. As the men sprinted aboard, Horst and Giog suppressed the bandits with gunfire, and before they could react, the mission was accomplished, and they were out of the town.
Horst found missions like these to be regular occurrences. They usually differed between hunting criminal organizations, fighting more rebels and bandits, and generally keeping peace that civil forces couldn't handle. This also meant a large involvement in the Republic Navy, as the battalion was usually flying with them through the vast spaces between their spaces. This meant that Horst had ample time to learn more about military vessels; in his spare time, he would tinker with the fighters, inspect the freighters, and hang out on the bridge and learn about the AI and commanding large vessels.
During the longer trips, Horst would also get to spare and train with Giog. The two had quickly restored their close ties, and were soon the chummiest of friends. As such, they would often challenge each other to friendly competition, seeing who could wrestle who to the ground first, or who could shoot the tightest group of shots at the firing range. Horst came to know the Rancor's well, but Giog was always and undoubtedly his best friend.
As the years passed, Horst's reputation for size increased. The first factor was his strength; it had grown considerably. Horst had exercised Rorry's habit of working out every morning before he joined the military, and with the needs of his Spec Ops assignments and a new found purpose, Horst pushed himself to his muscular limits weekly, soon displaying bulging muscles across his body. This, combined with his large stature, made him a known brute among his peers.
Second, Horst was well-known for his hospitality. Despite an otherwise strong and unwelcoming appearance, Horst was extremely kind to those he was comfortable with, and developed a reputation among his squad mates as a the "family father." Whenever someone was angry, sad, or generally yearning to talk (or as the case may be, shout), they would seek out Horst. No one was quite sure how Horst managed to keep up such spirits despite the horrors around him, but whenever someone had a conversation with him, they always felt better. Of course, Horst would readily tear to shreds anyone who felt the need to be his enemy, meaning he was a devil to adversaries and a saint to allies.
Horst served with Giog's Rancors for a whopping 9 years, and he felt right at home. As he settled among his own squad mates, he would regularly check on the Ackaly's Maw, who had thankfully retained their training and were still among the most respected enlisted personnel of their time. This smooth sailing was ill-fated.
Losing Lt. Giog (36):
Horst and the Rancor's were eventually dispatched to the planet of Toprawa in an effort to stop a particularly meddlesome group of pirates. The plan was simple; search the sector, locate the pirates with help from the Navy, board the enemy ships, and secure both prisoners and proof of their crimes. To Horst, it seemed fairly routine.
Giog, the battalion, and Horst set out to locate the pirates immediately. After reaching the coordinates of the last known attack, the battalion, composed of 3 armed cruisers, began to search in formation. As they rounded a star, they were ambushed by a collection of 5 pirate vessels. The battle that ensued went poorly, and midway through Giog's cruiser sustained heavy damage. Giog, in a last-ditch move, called for his crew to board the pirate's. The boarding was overseen by Horst, who made it a point to ram the damaged ship into the pirates.
As soon as the battalion entered the enemy cruiser, they were immediately attacked from two directions. The squad of men was initially overwhelmed, but smart tactics and a good deal of work on Horst's part, saw them navigating the ship through the maintenance work-ways. Eventually, the squad reached the bow of the ship, where they engaged the pirates right outside the bridge. During the fighting, Horst grimaced as he watched both friend and foe fall to their opponent.
The pirates, never diminishing in number so it seemed, slowly began to drive the battalion back. As the engagement slowly moved towards the stern, Horst began to wonder why an entire battalion of Special Operations soldiers couldn't handle a group of pirates. The answer became clear soon enough; a Dark Jedi was in ranks with the pirates, and was butchering the Republic Forces by the dozens. This began Horst's disliking of Force-wielders, as he thought this man wielded the powers of gods, and yet sold them out for his own gain.
Eventually, the battalion was barricaded into the engine rooms at the stern of the ship. It was at this moment that Giog made a pivotal decision to save what men were left, and escape in the pods in the room. Before leaving, however, Horst had an idea. Promptly using his tools (which he always carried), Horst began to alter the engines with a detonator. At the button's push, the engines would draw upon every drop of energy possible, and overload, causing bad news for anyone on board.
Horst naturally entrusted this detonator to Giog, and made him swear to save himself before blowing the ship. Giog grunted as the barricade fell. As the Dark Jedi led the pirates into the Republic ranks, Giog shoved Horst into the nearest escape pod. As he himself tried to leap in, the Dark Jedi slammed into his body, sending him to the floor. As the door to the pod began to close, Horst held it open, and tried desperately to aid his friend. His arms gave out, however, and as the pod rocketed away from the pirate ship, Horst barely saw a lightsaber come crashing down before the entire ship exploded.
Horst was retrieved 3 weeks later from a desolate part of Yavin 4. He had survived the brutal three weeks thanks to his training under Giog; a thought that made him ever sadder. Upon his return to Toprawa, the survivors of his battalion re-dubbed him "The Wrecking Wrench" in honor of his attempt to save Giog (a feat seen by few, but told to many), as well as his surprising efficiency with his SR-65 (which he had lost in the battle). He appreciated the men's condolences, but ultimately decided his time in the service was over.
To Mandalore (36):
Before Horst departed, he was invited back to Correlia to hear the last will and testament of Giog Hayman. Although seeking to find a new beginning as quickly as possible, Horst felt obligated to go as a duty to Giog. Upon his arrival to his second home, Horst mourned with Giog's family, and wept freely.
Finally, Giog's will was read. Last among its articles was a letter addressed to Horst (written a year before Giog's death). Horst opened it to find a short note sprawled out in Giog's handwriting:
Horst,
Go to Mandalore. Visit Norg Bral. Ask for Sharpie.
I'll see ya on the other side, eh?
-Giog
Following the funeral was additional bad news, as Horst was arrested by MP's the following day. Obviously emotional, his demands to know why were met with a stoic notice from one of the Republic generals that had commanded the Rancors. In efforts to investigate the mission and what exactly had happened, the brass had found Horst personally responsible for the explosion that had wiped out the ship, charging him with sabotage of the mission, mutiny, betrayal of the Republic, and crimes against the military and the Republic at large. Labeled as a traitor, he was due to appear before the joint chiefs in a military tribunal in a week's time for his trial, giving him plenty to think about as he was led back to his barracks in handcuffs.
And so Horst returned to his base on Correlia, bound. He stayed there for three days to say goodbye and to plan his escape, plotting out what he would need; a revolver Giog had held in favor, a new blaster repeater, and a hyper-space-worthy ship. Late the following night, Horst offically deserted the Republic army and escaped his incarceration thanks to the help of a few "overwhelmed" friends and fellow Rancors, a fair bit of luck, and years of special operations training, letting him race past the base's fortifications and MP's and begin a two month trek to Mandalore.
The trip itself was rather uneventful. Horst ran out of both money and food, meaning he needed to make quick money. This was the start of his smuggling carrier; he took up small jobs that could fit in his stolen transport and that happened to be in his general direction. Each smuggling run brought him closer to Mandalore, and paid him aside from the few instances when he was caught. In these instances, his pay went to bail.
When Horst arrived at Mandalore, he was stopped at the border due both to a large bounty on his head. The border guards thus attempted to apprehend him (for legal reasons or not, Horst never discovered). But a couple of hot-stuff, haughty border bums weren't about to stop the mechanic. So, waiting for the border guards to let their guard down, Horst raced past their ships, beginning a short chase. It ultimately ended in Horst crashing into the outskirts of Keldabe. Before he was arrested, he wrecked his ship and a small shop.
"Trouble already? You haven't been here five minutes..." (36 - 38)
Horst appeared before the Mandolorian court, and was charged with Class 3 Endangerment and Unauthorized Entry to Mandalorian Space (both capital offenses). He was fined a total of 250,000 credits, and additional 100,000 credit were to go to the shop-keeper for damages. When Horst heard his punishments, he immediately appealed.
As part of his appeal, Horst was allowed to contact anyone planet-side. When asked, Horst hesitated, as he didn't know if Sharpie's real name was indeed Sharpie. Having little option, Horst requested the Mandalorian (hoping to what Forces may be that he was still on the planet). Upon hearing the name, the judge laughed, and asked if he was serious, to which the mechanic replied he was.
The following day, the Triad commenced his appeal, and a man in a snazzy outfit stood before Horst. When he asked who he was, the man told him to sit down, shut up, and let him talk. Unfortunately, the talking he mentioned was in Mando'a, and Horst's following of the trial was slim to none. After an hour of negotiation, the Triad uttered something in an overwhelmingly authoritative manner, and the appeal was over.
The snazzy man approached Horst with an incredibly friendly attitude; like they had known each other for years. "You're in trouble already? Boy o' boy, Giog; who did you send me." When Horst again asked who he was, the man replied that he was Sharpie. Mr. Srungle Kolaw Sharpieulanguyori (Horst decided Sharpie was a name for the better). Horst then asked why he seemed so friendly, and Sharpie, over lunch, explained that he and Giog were very old friends, and that the last time they had met, Giog had told him that if a man calling him by his nickname whom he had never met before ever approached him (the manner of which had never been clear), that he should open him with open arms. Horst likewise revealed his connection to Goig, and showed the Mandalorian his letter.
Sharpie cried silently for half an hour over Giog's death. He admitted that he should have kept in touch better, and that Giog had practically been his brother. Horst comforted the man, but eventually joined his tears to the pool. Both men wept for a while, and then, to cheer each other up, shared their stories of Giog. As Horst and Sharpie swapped tales of frivolity, Horst found a deep liking of the businessman, and began to enjoy his company.
The two spent the day touring the city of Keldabe, where the court was located. As the day passed on, Sharpie began to reveal himself. He used to live in Norg Bral, but then became employed by MandalMotors, and now headed up the factory outside of Keldabe. He also unveiled something Horst never would have guessed; that he and Giog were, in their younger years, cooperative smugglers.
As the day ended, Sharpie offered Horst residence at his own home, to which Horst agreed (having no where to go). The following day, Sharpie offered to take Horst to work with him, to which the mechanic again agreed. The mechanic quickly found a place on the factory floor managing the engineers and helping where help was needed. This went on for days, and then weeks, and then months.
The Business Card (38):
As Horst became more and more resigned to his normal life, he found himself looking more and more at the business card given to him by the man at Rorry's funeral. Horst hadn't taken the offer too seriously at the time, but as the idea sank in, Horst began to consider it more and more. On the one hand, he had been moving and shifting his entire life, from orphanage to mechanic to soldier to mechanic again. On the other hand, he had gained a good life in the last year; he had a secure job, a good friend, and a nice life overall. Did he want to give it up?
He never got to choose.
One day at work, Horst was on break when he was again approached by a man in dark attire. After a moment of idle chit-chat, the man put a gun to Horst's head, and led him to a ship landed near the factory. Horst attempted to disarm him, but his skills were rusty, and man ended up shooting him in the thigh and giving him an injection. Horst immediately lost consciousness.
Upon awaking, Horst rose to find a small collection of metal pieces in front of him. He was in a small, lit room with nothing but a handle-less door to note. Near the pieces was a note;
Fix it.
Horst, seeing no other possible course of action, assembled the pieces into a blaster. As soon as he finished, the door opened, and the man in dark attire reappeared. Horst immediately tried to strike him, and this time succeeded in knocking him aside. As the mechanic sprinted out of the room, he was tackled by two guards, and was pinned to the ground. After a short dragging, he was thrown before a small easy-chair. Upon it resided a stout man with wrinkles, liver spots, and an enormous Afro. He introduced himself as Mr. Sigmund Frouten.
Frouten casually asked the mechanic if he had the business card from years back. Horst spat in his direction telling him to eat dirt, and the old boss commanded the guards to beat the smuggler. After attaining multiple injuries, Horst summoned the card out of his small leather neck pouch, and threw it at the crime lord.
Frouten then offered Horst an ultimatum; work for him now, or die later. "I'm tired of waiting for my mechanic, Mr. Stellar." Horst again refused bluntly, and was beaten before he was returned to his room. He stayed there for a period of time he couldn't measure, and was kept hungry.
Horst was again summoned before Mr. Fro, and again given an ultimatum. He again refused, and was again thrown into his room. The process was repeated time after time until the point where Horst had grown a healthy beard. After the 9th of 10th time (Horst couldn't say for sure), the ultimatum came to fruition. After again denying Mr. Fro's offer, the crime lord stood and pointed an elegantly-marked revolver to the smuggler's face. This time, his voice was stone cold: "Work. Or. Die."
Horst chose work.
Working for Mr. Fro (38 - 39):
Horst was put to work immediately. As soon as he was released, Horst was shaved by a guard and given an unidentifiable gruel to consume. Following that, he was led aboard a starship and delivered to a private hangar somewhere he didn't recognize. He was shown about the hangar, and familiarized with the numerous ships it contained. He was then forced into a bedroom and left for 6 hours to sleep.
The following morning (if it was morning; Horst had lost all concept of day and night), the guards returned, and set him about the numerous ships. Horst noted that some ships had changed; the previous day, another ship had sat here, while another sat there. The guards, he also learned, had absolutely no knowledge of ship repair. He figured this out when, upon inspecting a yacht that needed some regular maintenance, he claimed that it needed a total tune-up, to which the guards merely nodded and demanded to know how long it would take (to which Horst again lied, saying it would take a year). After a round of diagnostics, Horst set about to repairing the ships while secretly sabotaging each one and collecting components for his own purposes. After some time, the guards led him back to his room, he was fed, and then ordered to rest.
As time slipped by, Horst fell into this cycle. Besides a simple jumpsuit, Horst was given nothing to wear aside from a complete tool belt. The guards that watched him would change every week or so (by his estimation), and his meal changed from one slop to another every month. The ships constantly changed, and those that suffered particularly important sabotages by the mechanic were regular projects. Horst accumulated numerous small parts over his repairs, and every once in a while managed to hide a larger piece of starship whenever the guards weren't paying particular attention. As his collection of pieces grew, Horst began to fashion a small dagger of sorts, which was charged with electricity thanks to a small battery he had managed to swindle. This weapon was concealed in Horst's underwear, as the guards would search his room daily and would likewise watch him change for all but the most intimate of transitions.
This process went on for a complete year (or so Horst learned later).
Freedom, thy name is Night-Watch (39 - 40):
One unremarkable day, Horst's workload was unusually slow. There were only 5 ships to service, and the first 4 had been a breeze. The fifth ship was personal freighter that looked slightly worn. The ship was near the hangar doors, and the guards claimed that the pilots had brought it in saying that the AI was broken. Horst entered the ship and, upon giving it a full inspection, discovered the pilot was an idiot; the ship had no AI. Aside from this fictional problem, however, the ship was in prime condition, and completely space-worthy. Horst saw this as an opportunity, and acted on it.
Returning to his room, Horst passed the hangar door controls, which were always guarded when he was out of his room. Upon his arrival to his living quarters, Horst promptly distracted the guards, and stabbed them both, allowing the blade to electrocute the second watchman to death. Taking up one of their blasters, Horst promptly dispatched the guard by the controls, and opened the hangar bay, seeing rays of sunshine for the first time in months. As additional guards began swarming toward his position, Horst grabbed a wrench from his belt, used it to clamp the blaster's trigger, and threw it at his captors. Stunned, the guards stopped long enough for the escaping mechanic to board the freighter, named the Overlord via a decal on the side, and zoom out of the hangar.
Upon his escape, Horst learned that Mr. Fro had been keeping him at the Kuat Dock Yards, and that the hangar he was working in appeared as a commercial ship shop. With this knowledge in mind, Horst utilized what skills he had to disappear. As soon as he had ensured that he could travel without undue suspicion, Horst made for Mandalore, hoping to what powers may be that Sharpie was okay.
Horst flew to Sharpie's home, and was met by surprised gun-point by his friend. When asked how Giog liked his drinks, Horst detailed the correct response, and was greeted with open arms. Sharpie demanded to know where Horst had been kept, and likewise shared that there had been an attempt on his life. Horst, therefore, decided that he should leave so as to not endanger his final friend. Sharpei protested, but agreed, and asked if he could do anything to make Horst's life a tad easier. Horst merely requested that Sharpie try (most likely in vain, being a Mandalorian) to see if anything could be done so as to make the Republic forget his desertion charges. Sharpie scratched his head, and see if he could call in a few favors. Horst then left Mandalore indefinitely.
Horst, no longer have an objective in life, began to travel the galaxy as a smuggler. Whenever he happened on someone looking for mercenary work, Horst would agree on the condition that it would not be for anything more than defense (a policy which made these jobs few and far between). Horst would occasionally meet someone from the military, and would always ask him if they had ever heard of "The Wrecking Wrench." A few had, a few hadn't, and a few merely knew the name, but it was enough for Horst to see if he was still being charged with desertion and also enough to help him remember a better time. Horst missed his military days, but found his life bearable thanks to the constant companionship of mechanics.
Spearpoint (40 - 41):
Horst continued to smuggle for about a year, feeling more and more lost with every waking day. He former purposes were dead, and he didn't even have the luxury of talking about them. As the jobs passed by and the credits rolled in and out, Horst trudged through a sad rut.
That's when Horst met Ethan Moreill.
Horst, looking for work one night in a cantina on Nal Hutta, met the "Hunter with a Conscious" after being lured to the man at the offer of a steady job. Initially amused by the thought of independently striking at the Sith, Horst gave the offer more and more thought until he decided it was the direction his life needed. Horst accompanied Ethan, being a member of the merc's pirate crew.
The crew's ambitions quickly spread throughout the galaxy, and soon Ethan was swamped with scum of all kinds wanting to lash out at the Sith without being in the Republic. Horst, by this point dedicated to the cause, assisted his new friend, and became a founding member of Spearpoint. The Corellian immediately settled into a leadership role as recruitment skyrocketed, giving him plenty to do. Ultimately he became somewhat of a drill sergeant, running every recruit, be them hardened fringer or rookie greenhorn, through brutal training regimes in the harsh jungles of Oatara, the faction's base of operations. The training was designed more as team-building than combat training, and while it garnered him a reputation of harshness, it just as well created the desired effect of comradery.
Spearpoint went on to hit a sizable number of Sith military targets, including a Sith supply station in Sith space as well as numerous supply ships, small military installations, and even a few small, lonesome naval ships, mostly done to capture and repurpose them for the faction's use. Horst didn't find quite the same heart-strumming sentiment in Spearpoint as he had in the Republic, but nevertheless, the faction had made him happy to a degree, giving him purpose once more.
So it was made that much harder for him when Spearpoint failed. Moreill was announced dead one fateful day during a small scouting mission, and the rest of Spearpoint's leadership failed to quite pick up the slack of the man who had gathered them. Horst tried desperately to keep the organization together, however the pirating group was more of a business than an army, and even with what Horst knew about commanding troops, he knew little about how to command an entire army. The organization quickly crumbled around him, and by the time the Corellian accepted the death of his new cause, he was the last one out.
So, setting as many explosives as he could to the facilities Spearpoint had been using, Horst drank away what little money he had left in a nearby town, Waypoint, before hitting a long-range detonator and wandering drunkenly onto one of the faction's ships that he had decided to keep; a modified freight entitled the Phoenix Cage. Sinking into a depression far more crushing than the one that had followed Giog's death, the Corellian proceeded to slink slowly back into smuggling, finding the practice even more boring, meaningless, and stupid than he had the first time.
Reinstatement(41 - ):
Given the harsher depression, it came as little surprise to the smuggler that he woke up one evening with copious amounts of soreness, pain, and wounds in a cell on a bounty hunter’s ship. The previous night had seen him more drunk than he’d been in years, and the result had him being identified and captured by the small gang of opportunists. For what little it was worth, they treated him professionally (mostly out of respect for his ability), but even still, the ex-soldier gnashed, snarled, and growled at them more like a caged beast than a dignified man in defeat.
When they landed at the nearest Republic base and he was turned in for his bounty, however, his rage became far, far more quiet.
He was immediately transported back to Coruscant aboard a ship reminiscent of those that had flown him around with the Rancors. For the first time in ages, Stellar was absolutely silent, barely responding to questions asked or topics breached. The only thing he seemed willing to discuss was the service of his captors; by the time he had reached Coruscant, he could paraphrase the service records of most of the soldiers in charge of the brig, who he had actually struck up idle conversation with whenever they’d brought him a meal or checked on him.
And so he waited. A military court pended his case for weeks while he sat about, mulling his options, as he wasted his time with old books on tactics, military history, and mechanics; for a deserter, he seemed just jovial enough to his captors to warrant them finding whatever reading material he asked for. Seeing as how he had never technically been discharged, the entire affair was considered purely a military matter, excluding publicity or the normal judicial channels. Rather, the main charge was treason of the highest degree, with a defection to the Mandalorians and desertion. The latter was worthy of jail time in and of itself, but with the first being the main topic of the trial, Horst became relatively resigned to the idea of more… dramatic punishment.
So his shock was palpable when his attorney suggested to the courts that rather than being punished, he should be made to resume his service. His military record minus the desertion was admittedly impeccable, and while there was some debate about his physical ability (not from him, from others), his tactical capacity didn’t seem to disagreed upon. The trial continued for months, with numerous officials, councils, and opinions being weighed in the matter. By the time that news reached the planet that Taris had been besieged by rakghouls and the Sith, tones shifted from idle “what if’s” to more serious “could we’s”.
When news hit of the Sith continuing their push to surrounding planets, a decision was made. Horst Stellar would be acquitted of all charges pending further investigation by the military, and was officially reinstated as a Major in the Republic Army. He was to resume command immediately under strict supervision and review of Republic Intelligence “until such a time as his loyalty was no longer under deliberation.”
It wasn’t until they handed him his pins and his new battalion, the Republic’s 309th Battalion 27th “Hammerhead” Marines, that he believed them.
Roleplay Sample:
Horst slumped over the bar, trying not to throw up. That third Bantha Buster was one too many, the smuggler thought. Gotta try to focus on something else.
Earlier Horst had chatted with three guys from the Republic's 2,096th Infantry Division. They were on leave for some hard partying in the nicer parts of Duat, but were stopping at the spaceport bar first. Horst, in his typical routine, had asked them if they had heard of "The Wrecking Wrench." These guys had, and Horst got to relive his involvement in the Battle of Swinger's Hill on Farrfin (which, of course, was exaggerated). As Horst bought the guys another round of drinks, they had asked what he did for a living. Horst sighed heavily at this question, and told them he was nobody; just a guy handy with a wrench and a gun. They didn't ask any further.
Horst disliked having to lie about his past. It had been years since he deserted, yet despite the stories he heard about himself, no one was sure what had befallen him. Some claimed he was serving with a top secret military project. Others just claimed he died on that pirate ship with Giog. Still others claimed (somewhat correctly) that he had retired, and was still on Correlia. Between the uncertainty and the fact that his desertion was never mentioned, Horst was unsure if his head still had a price on it. So, the mechanic was forced to live in absolute secrecy.
That sort of life was hard, sure, but it was bearable thanks to "wrenching." Whenever Horst got a job to fix a repulsor or reset a converter, his mind cleared of worry, and for a brief time, the galaxy was nothing more than electrical currents, circuits, turbines, and all other matter of mechanics. For Horst, picking up a welding laser or a simple wrench was akin to entering an other dimension; one that lacked all the crap in the normal one.
Before the military guys had left, one of them claimed the smuggler looked familiar. When he pressed the question, Horst decided to let heave a little info, and declared he had once been a soldier in the Acklay's Maw (again, not a total lie). The inquiring soldier slapped him on the shoulder, and said he admired him for his battalion's awesome skills. Again lying through his teeth, Horst nodded a gentle thanks, and claimed he left after his enlistment was up. The soldier payed for the drinks before say, "You guys are the real deal. I'd give anything to know what The Wrench taught you guys. Truth be told, I'd give anything just to meet the guy."
And so here was Horst, drowning his sorrows in the great drink, wallowing in self-pity, and generally trying to forget that he had ever had a past beyond odd-jobs and being a unimportant no-one. Some men sought to forget their pasts because they were meaningless. Horst sought to forget his because it meant something.
Race: Human
Age: 41
Birthplace: Coruscant
Allegiance: Republic
Status: Army Officer
Rank: Major
Height/Weight: 6’2”/240 lbs.
Appearance: Immediately noticeable about Horst is his scruffiness. While some men are elegant and some are fine and clean, Horst's appearance makes you think of shaved Bantha in clothing. On his chin are numerous stubbles, and on his arms and legs are more hairs than you can shake a stick at, which do little to stand out against his tanned skin tone. His figure lacks any curves, and a small gut protrudes from his abdomen (a physical trait he has never been able to fully be rid of).
Of a larger stature, the smuggler usually appears to be larger than other humans and species of similar size. His large chin ends in a dull point, emphasizing his broad jaw. His nose has a slight dip in the center, making it look dented. He makes it a point to work out regularly (a trait that has helped him in many a situation), and as such has an impressive display of muscles on his entire physical body.
Horst usually doesn't wear nice clothing. As he has come to say, "If you're paying more for a set of clothing than for an service droid, you're out of your mind." Therefore, he usually scrapes together his outfits from whatever clothing he has not covered head to toe in grease. This usually includes simple shirts, lanky jackets, worn pants, and the occasional mechanic's jumpsuit (only if he's trying to look legitimate). Fashion incarnate he is not.
Horst also carries a small neck bag wherever he goes. It's simple; a little piece of leather sewn into pouch form with a pull-close opening hanging around his neck on any old piece of string or thin rope (sometimes even a spare wire when he really needs something). The bag is used for whatever small thing Horst essentially needs; some spare credits, ID, and the smuggler's small octagon bolt.
Personality: If there's one thing Horst uses, it's sarcasm. Whenever he finds the opportunity to do so (and the mood isn't too serious), the smuggler will always try to crack a joke at the expense of someone's wording or an un-implied subject. Beyond this snideness, Horst is usually quite neutral in his emotion, with a moderate temper open to teasing but intolerant of hazing or arrogant attitudes.
Though he may not admit it, Horst is a thrill-seeker. As necessity dictates, he plays it cool and calm, but when the he gets to relax among familiar company, his energetic side arrises. Horst can be quite enthusiastic, and is known to take up ideas and initiative with a sort of silent electricity. This ties into his life experience, meaning he has a strong thirst for duty and respect to those who he finds have earned it.
Horst is similarly very violent when angered. Horst isn't of a short temper, but prodding him enough often results in what he likes to call the direct approach; attempting to smash your skull against the nearest solid object. This anger isn't blind, however, and can be quelled just as easily as it's incited.
Whenever in good company, Horst is known for actually being incredibly kind. The smuggler has, beneath a battle-hardened and steeled exterior, been known to be very affectionate and generous to his friends. Numerous instances have seen Horst laughing healthily, sharing in good fortune, and generally being an all-around nice guy. Though this side of the smuggler is revealed to good friends, Horst has few good friends left to speak of, and so for the most part, it remains under wraps.
Above all, Horst is curious. Whenever an unidentifiable sounds echoes into his ear or an unusual sight catches his eye, Horst instinctively inquires about it. This intuition has both saved and scalped the smuggler before, and as such, Horst has made no attempt to break the habit. Horst asks about anything; odd clothes, odd ideas, odd reasons, and generally odd everything.
Ships/Vehicles: None
Equipment:
Medium Battle Armor
Heavy Blaster Repeater
Heavy Blaster Pistol
Combat Knife
Stats: (Feeble, Below Average, Average, Above Average, Superior, Legendary)
Strength - Above Average
Agility - Below Average
Intelligence - Average
Charisma - Above Average
Combat Training: (Unskilled, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master)
Republic Special Operations Training - Expert
Other Training: (Unskilled, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master)
Droid Mechanic - Expert
Starship Mechanic - Expert
General Sciences & Mechanics - Expert
General Smuggling - Adept
Planetary Tactician - Adept
Drill Sergeant - Expert
Biography:
Pre-Conception:
Draven Stellar worked the Universe as a criminal odd-jobs man. He would smuggle, shoot, shut up, and deal with anything or anyone so long as he was making a decent profit. Draven mainly carried out his business on Coruscant, and cared little for the customers he worked for. He would soon live to regret it.
As Draven carried out contracts to and fro, he began to work for one man in particular; a Mr. Tomsk Frouten. Mr. Frouten, or Fro, as he was jokingly called by Draven, had a daughter named Angela, who Draven promptly swept up off her feet. Their relationship quickly grew despite the disapproving eye of Mr. Fro and Draven's serious alcohol addiction. But nothing could hold back their brash, young love, and Angela soon fell pregnant.
Nevertheless, it spelled doom. One fateful day, as Draven returned a letter to Mr. Fro, he fell to a rain of blaster fire, ending his life. Angela knew full well the murder was a hit called out her father. Angered and shocked that her father would stoop to such a thing, that night Angela fled to the Works, desperate to keep from being noticed. There she stayed, working as clothes-washer until, a few months later, she went into labor. AS she was rushed to the hospital, she delivered her son to the world, and managed to breath two final words before her heart gave out.
"Horst Stellar."
The name became her son's.
Childhood (Birth - 12):
Horst was raised in a small, nearly-demolished orphanage on only a few credits a day. There were few other children, and the sole caretaker, who, in retrospect, Horst thought was on deathsticks, did little caring. By the time he was eight, Horst had taken to stealing to ensure he was fed everyday. Horst never learned his name, but he one day found the caretaker dead. At that point, he simply left, never really feeling at home anyway.
It was by sheer luck and a failed attempt at pick-pocketing, Horst met one Rorick "Rorry" Zelfand; a mechanic in the Works working for a crime-lord. After smacking Horst on the back of the head and retrieving his wallet, the gear-head chastised the young pickpocket on his manners, and asked if he had ever been taught any. After Horst sarcastically remarking that he was raised in an orphanage, Rorry took pity on the pipsqueak, and offered to buy him something to eat. After a brief lunch of Bantha Burgers and some soda, the two males discussed life in general. Through general chat (the majority being about the galaxy beyond, to which Horst took a severe interest), Horst and Rorry hit it off.
Horst resumed wandering the streets, and began regularly visiting Rorry at his shop in the Works. Rorry never told the young hobo much about himself, his life, or any of his affairs, but always offered Horst some food and described the build or repair he was working on, the components it involved, and the general science behind it. The duo would talk until Rorry noted the time and decided it was time to get back to work, at which point a few hours had passed. As these chats became longer and longer, Horst and Rorry found themselves enjoying each other's company more and more.
Finally, a year after the Horst had left the orphanage, Rorry proposed that the young pickpocket come live with him under the condition that he help everyday with the business. Horst naturally accepted the offer, liking the idea of of having regular meals, a soft bed, and someone to talk to everyday. Later on, he would come to realize that his acceptance of the offer would ultimately save his life.
Horst did learn something rather important shortly after his 9th birthday, however. While reorganizing Rorry's toolbox as instructed, Horst happened upon a small piece of metal that he didn't recognize. He naturally presented it to his foster-father, and Rorry chuckled, claiming it was his service badge. Obviously, the rest of the day was spent by Horst pestering Rorry about his time in the service: "Where did you serve? Did you fight the Mandalorians? What's the Mid-Rim like?" The favorite question, of course, was the much repeated "Have you ever seen a Jedi?" Rorry, half amused and half bothered, answered some questions and didn't answer others, leaving Horst to consider his foster-father more than before.
Rorry's military background was prominent in his daily routine. The old mechanic would wake at dawn and jog before lifting weights. Following this was a quick breakfast, and military-disciplined fathering to Horst. Though Rorry didn't force this lifestyle upon his apprentice, Horst slowly found himself copying Rorry's lifestyle in his own. Besides joining his foster-father in morning exercise (though to a smaller degree), Horst also adopted a great sense of discipline in numerous parts of his philosophy, personality, and general behavior. This showed through whenever someone would come into the shop "wanting a droid", as Rorry would offer up numerous pawned droids from the back, and Horst would uniformly present each and every one.
As promised, Rorry began to teach Horst everything he would ever need to know about mechanics and science. In return, Horst began to work regularly in the shop, beginning with small jobs: a loose joint here, a broken component there, and the occasional repulsor-modification (which usually entailed Rorry's help). As Stellar began to ascend levels of mechanic knowledge, he also began to slowly learn more about Rorry. By his 12th birthday (an event celebrated on the first day of the New Year since Horst didn't know the actual date), Horst knew that Rorry drank occasionally (though he had never seen him drunk), worked out every morning before work, and had deciphered that his mother had likewise died when he was young, and that his father was abusive.
Horst also began his education on his 12th birthday. When the young mechanic complained that he was too old and that he wouldn't know anyone there, Rorry chuckled, clapped his shoulder, and said that he had always regretted not going, and that Horst would thank him later (he did). Though Horst was terrible in subjects like literature and and galactic culture, he excelled in subject like math and the sciences, as he was already vaguely familiar in them. Horst also learned to be very responsible thanks to his education, as he would always have to work in the shop following the school day.
The Problem with Doose (12 - 14):
As Horst slaved away in both school and the mechanic shop throughout his first and second years, he began to become friends with a young man named Doose Guntheral. Doose was a few years older than Horst and admittedly one of the seedier characters at school, but then again, Horst would think, so were most people in the Works. After an awkward friendship at first, Doose revealed to Horst (or as he dubbed him "The Wrench") that he worked for one the Works' many gangs. He then asked Horst if he wanted to join, especially considering his potential to make bombs and other make shift weapons. When Horst claimed not to have such knowledge, Doose snorted and said he knew about "science and stuff", and that this was enough to make a bomb (he had no idea what he was talking about). Horst declined the offer, and Doose immediately became infuriated, pulling out and sticking to his friend's chest a small blaster.
Horst managed to disarm Doose, but not before he managed to slip away. The next day, Doose returned with two other gang members, who collectively beat Horst up in a small alleyway. They then offered him two choices before leaving, promising to return in one day's time; build bombs for their gang, or die. Horst, troubled, approached Rorry with his problem. The old mechanic grimly answered that this was one of many future situation that Horst would face in which self-preservation was key. "Shoot or be shot", Rorry whispered, reverting back to his military days. He then handed Horst a blaster of his own. Horst, appalled at the thought of killing, recoiled at the sight of the weapon. Rorry, however, insisted he take it, telling him not to use it for killing, but for survival. Their night was spent teaching Horst the basics of shooting; a task with Rorry sitting by his foster-son severely critiquing his technique. Horst was further frightened by his mentor's behavior; Rorry was ordinarily relaxed, in control, and generally unworried.
Armed and basically trained (however reluctantly), Horst was again approached by Doose and his cronies. After flatly rejecting their offer to work as a bomb-man, Doose tried to quickly draw on his former friend. He was stopped, however, with a swift bolt to the diaphragm by Horst, who intimidated the other gang members into leaving (more like running). Horst captured the final word of Doose when he demanded to know why a friendship had to be ended just for some stupid gang. The young man, knocking on Death's door, merely stated that Horst had meant little to him; a thought that crushed Horst's spirit.
Leaving the Works (14 - 18):
After a short investigation, the local police abandoned the murder, fearing of meddling in the ambitions of the gangs in the Works. As news spread, jobs in Rorry's shop dried up surprisingly quickly, and both he and Horst were soon living on crumbs a day. It was at this point that Rorry decided nothing else awaited him and his foster-son, and declared one morning that they were moving. When Horst asked where to, the mechanic snorted, grinned, and answered wherever they damn-well pleased: mechanics were needed everywhere, and could therefore go anywhere in search of work. He also mentioned that he had friends where they were going, and that they had offered him a job a while back (though he didn't mention if the offer was still valid. Horst hoped so). For once, Rorry seemed totally disciplined and motivated; two traits that had often alluded him.
So, packing up the shop in total of 13 cargo crates, the duo of mechanics boarded an out-bound ship to the mystery planet. Rorry told Horst that he could fall asleep; the journey would only take a few hours. Horst, however, stayed awake, and came to learn from idle chatter amongst other travelers that he was going to settle in Corellia; the ship-building capital of the Core Worlds, and (depending on who you listened to) the Republic. When Horst asked about what sort of ties Rorry had to Corellia, his foster-father waved the question away, saying that all that was important was that the planet had served him well, and that he knew its society and people.
As soon as the ship landed on the industrious planet, Rorry set Horst to work unloading their possessions. As soon as Horst had removed the 13th crate, Rorry reappeared along with a man he called Pat, who he introduced as his brother-in-arms. The three men loaded the crates onto Pat's ship (the job again mainly fell to Horst), and flew to Pat's place; a battered tenement he owned near a rather large dry-dock. After settling in, Rorry set up the mechanic shop on the first floor, and officially reinstated his business.
Corellia quickly suited Horst more than the Works ever had. He liked the Corellians; they were smart people, but they knew what they stood for. As Horst re-enrolled in school, he slowly began to make new connections, and by his 15th birthday, the young mechanic felt like a regular person. "The Wrench", as he was again called (however this time without fear of attack or hazing), quickly fell into a romance with a young woman named Glaudia Thoyt, and spent his days studying, laughing, and tinkering.
Rorry likewise seemed more at home on Corellia. Horst soon learned that he and Pat had served together in the military, and that they had indeed fought the Mandalorians (albeit towards the end of the war). When Horst would inquire about their service, Rorry would grunt, and Pat would reminisce about the time in the Republic Army. "We were the best enlistees out there," Pat would chuckle, "the 1,156th Infantry Division, 4th Battalion, 'Wrecking' Squad. If you needed something to go boom," Pat would lean in and smile at this point, almost like he'd rehearse the very line before bed, "you'd call us."
And so, throughout his teenage years, Horst listened in silent awe as Pat would tell war stories ever night over dinner. From the tales Pat told and the splendor with which he told them, Horst imagined adventure greater than that of any other life. Rorry would often nod as Pat spun these yearns, and would occasionally add a part here or help Pat remember a snipet there, but otherwise remained quiet. To make sure his foster-son had the right idea, though, Rorry would always be sure to mention who he knew that died on any mission mentioned by Pat. It was a constant damper, to be sure, but a necessary one.
Alas, the good years reached an impass when a bounty suddenly appeared for Horst charging him with triple homicide. As detectives from CorSec began to scan the neighborhood, Pat quickly and silently put out word to the neighborhood that Horst was innocent. The majority of people, knowing Horst personally, helped the young mechanic by pointing the detectives in the wrong direction. After a month, the authorities caught wind of further suspects back in the Works, and promptly abandoned their pursuit. They vanished, and peace returned.
Meeting Mr. Important (18):
Horst graduated from school shortly after his 18th birthday thanks to full enrollment in summer schools and a couple of classed bypassed thanks to his natural talent in arithmetic and the sciences. His romance with Glaudia ended as she moved to Alderaan for further studying, and Rorry, becoming significantly older, slowly handed over the reigns of the shop to his foster-son. By that point, Horst was fully educated in both general knowledge and mechanics. He was fully capable of running the shop by himself, and furthermore completing every order the shop received. This meant he could do everything from reprogram a security droid to fix a crashed speeder to tune up a hyperdrive (although, despite being in the Blue Sector of Coronet, surprisingly few came in). It was at this point that Horst met a man calling himself Mr. Important.
Mr. Important had come into the shop claiming his droid was in need of repairs. As Horst tinkered with it, he uncovered its model number; it was an assassin droid. When Horst asked Mr. Important if he was aware of this, the shady man activated the droid, and Horst owed his life to his managing to accidentally screw up the droid's targeting systems. As Rorry appeared to investigate, the haywire droid slammed into his throat. He died shortly before Mr. Important ran out of the shop, and Horst managed to tackle and deactivate the malfunctioning droid.
Horst had retrieved, from Rorry's cold, dead hand, a small lug-nut the mechanic had been carrying at his time of death. Deciding it would be his memento of his foster-father, Horst began to carry it everywhere he went. A few days later, after a short memorial "service" (Horst was the only one there), the young mechanic was approached by a man working for someone named Mr. Frouten. The man gave his condolences, and then revealed that Rorry had done a lot of work for Mr. Frouten. Horst spat at this man, claiming he could just as well have employed Mr. Important, and furthermore claimed that Rorry had never had connections to the Underground. The agent scoffed and chuckled silently before handing Horst a business card and leaving.
Vagabond in Officer School (18 - 21):
Horst felt lost with Rorry's death. His entire life had encompassed the old mechanic, and with him gone, Horst wasn't quite sure where his place in life was. The shop, though natural to Horst, simply didn't comfort him when he knew that every morning, he would wake up there alone. So, packing a basic set of tools and Rorry's lug-nut, Horst handed the shop over to Pat, who still owned the building, and spent the next month or so wandering Corellia, looking for a purpose.
Stopping at a bar with the last of his credits, Horst happened upon a man named Giog Hayman. Giog was a Republic soldier on leave and visiting his home planet, and was also obviously drunk. Horst's own drinking, coupled with his sadness, instigated a fight with Giog, in which both men exchanged black eyes, broken arms, and numerous bruises. After sobering up and visiting the nearest hospital, Horst sought out and apologized to Giog, who waved it away as though it happened regularly (which Horst began to suspect it did). After exchanging their condolences, Giog asked Horst if he'd care to stay the night, and Horst accepted.
Giog spent the entire night recounting stories from his experience in the military, and likewise recounting how his father had left his mother, him, and his sister on the streets. As the night turned into another day, and the day turned into a week, Horst simply heard story after story of Giog's experiences, displays of courage and heroism, and general valor. As Giog told him story after story, Horst was reminded ever more of his dinners with Pat and Rorry, and how both his foster-father, uncle, and newfound friend all reveled in their experience. When Horst asked Giog why he had joined the military, the man had answered very plainly that he felt it was where he needed to be.
After 3 weeks of hospitality, Giog's leave came to an end, and he was obligated to return to the Army. Seeing him off, Horst visited the Corellian military command for the first time. Both curious and needing to know if he was still wanted, Horst inquired at the public office next door if his case was still open (under a false name, of course). Thankfully, he learned that the case had been closed a year before, as Doose's two cronies had come clean after a drug-run-gone-wrong.After saying his goodbyes to Giog, Horst was still offered residence at Giog's which he again accepted. After a month of considering his motivation, all the advice ever given to him by Rorry, and the lifestyle enlistment would bring, Horst confidently signed on for officer candidacy school.
The first problem was the price; Horst had little money left after his wandering, and officer's school was expensive. To address this, Horst made a deal with the dean; he would personally maintain the schools electronics and fix or modify any sort of mechanic that so needed it. This meant that after a day full of studying, Horst would often slave the night away fixing broken blasters, repairing he school's fleet of training vehicles, and generally tinkering with everything on-campus that moved.
The second problem was Horst's reputation. Initially, Horst was completely unremarkable; he was a loner off of the streets who seconded as a mechanical janitor, and this did not give him high standing among the preppier kids enrolled. He was therefore suffered to regular pranks and a terrible reputation of poverty, both of which he burdened until graduation.
Despite a total lack of rest (a couple hours here and there throughout the day), Horst performed quite well in his classes, and received adequate marks. He also began to introduce himself to military technology as he repaired and maintained the training equipment. Overall, his fours years whooshed by, and he didn't stop to realize so until he was being handed his diploma.
From the Acklay's Foot to the Acklay's Maw (21 - 27):
With a full 3 years of officer training in hand, Horst eagerly enlisted in the Republic Army. His first four years saw him quickly ascending the ranks of the military. Every unit he was assigned to gave him a reputation for his size, his strength (obtained over years of training), and his kind heart. Obtaining position as a Captain for his 25th birthday, Horst gained command of an underperforming battalion known as the Acklay's Foot (thus named because they demolished everything they touched). The battalion was known for its squalor, disorganization, and general amateurism in the field of battle, and it was Horst's job to whip them into shape.
The task was momentous for Horst. Never having been much of a people person, it took Horst a year just to gain the trust of his battalion, and another to gain their respect. The only way to do this, he found, was to show the men that he wasn't a pushy authority figure; he was a soldier, and intended to work like one. Whenever the Acklay's Foot was brought to in as civil riot control or tasked with any kind of dirty work, Horst handled his management duties first, and then grabbed a gun and assisted his men with his own two hands (despite numerous protests and regularly breaking protocol). As Horst came to experience the life along side his soldiers, so too did he learn to hold dear his men.
During his time in the service, Horst likewise never abandoned his love of machines and technology. Whenever he had a moment to breath or a task that could be multi-tasked, he would spend his time down in the hangars with his technicians, watching, advising, and teaching them as they showed him the inner-workings of the Republic's weapons, vehicles, and war machines. This process was usually enough to alleviate any stress the Captain mechanic had, and developed his reputation. When he left the Acklay's Foot, he was affectionately called Captain Wrench.
During this time with the Acklay's Foot, Horst likewise developed a deep liking for heavy weapons. He was of course trained proficiently in most tools of warfare, but the captain found the warm growl of a laser repeater more his style than a pistol or a rifle. As such, using his position, Horst requisitioned one SR-65 Slugthrower for himself; a weapon he would hold for his military carrier.
As Horst's second year with the Acklay's Foot ticked by, the battalion, inspired by their big-brother leader and trained and drilled to a far better degree, began to shape up considerably. By the end of this second year, Horst looked on proudly as the squad's nickname changed to the Acklay's Maw, their reputation for terrible soldiering being replaced by a reputation for incredible duty and endurance; a trait heavily prioritized by Captain Wrench.
With a somewhat sour twist of fate, however, just as the battalion started becoming a truly well-known force, Horst was approached by his CO, who claimed he was being transferred. When Horst demanded to know where, the CO merely shook his head, and replied that he didn't know. After a hasty set of goodbye's, Horst gathered his possessions and was brought before a familiar face.
Horst "The Wrecking Wrench" Stellar (27 - 36):
Horst was brought before none other than Giog. After a short welcome and a little chit-chat, Giog explained his position flatly; he needed a new man for his Special Operations battalion, and Horst fit the bill perfectly. Horst was amazed, and when he asked why he was being selected, Giog further elaborated two points: Firstly, Horst had gained quite a reputation with both his battle field prowess and reorganizing of the Acklay's Maw; feats not unnoticed by the Generals. Horst was also known to be somewhat of a mechanic; a crucial position on Giog's battalion that needed filling. Horst was reluctant to let his own battalion go, but Giog eventually convinced him to let his men go, claiming that they'd remember his instruction forever. With this promotion to Spec Ops, Horst was ranked as a Major.
Horst was swiftly introduced to the battalion, known as Giog's Rancors, before being put to the test mechanically. His first mission with the Rancors was simple; they were to infiltrate a rebel-controlled village, locate three VIP POW's, improvise transportation (Horst suspected this wasn't really necessary, but was included to test him), and extricate them to a safe zone.
Giog, being the battalion's commanding officer, led the troops quietly as they infiltrated the village. He then split Horst off with a few men to secure transportation. Horst sneaked over to the hangar, and scrapped together an improvised tank, using spare parts he could find and a broken down transport. As he fired it the repulsors, Giog returned with both the POW's and the attention of the bandits. As the men sprinted aboard, Horst and Giog suppressed the bandits with gunfire, and before they could react, the mission was accomplished, and they were out of the town.
Horst found missions like these to be regular occurrences. They usually differed between hunting criminal organizations, fighting more rebels and bandits, and generally keeping peace that civil forces couldn't handle. This also meant a large involvement in the Republic Navy, as the battalion was usually flying with them through the vast spaces between their spaces. This meant that Horst had ample time to learn more about military vessels; in his spare time, he would tinker with the fighters, inspect the freighters, and hang out on the bridge and learn about the AI and commanding large vessels.
During the longer trips, Horst would also get to spare and train with Giog. The two had quickly restored their close ties, and were soon the chummiest of friends. As such, they would often challenge each other to friendly competition, seeing who could wrestle who to the ground first, or who could shoot the tightest group of shots at the firing range. Horst came to know the Rancor's well, but Giog was always and undoubtedly his best friend.
As the years passed, Horst's reputation for size increased. The first factor was his strength; it had grown considerably. Horst had exercised Rorry's habit of working out every morning before he joined the military, and with the needs of his Spec Ops assignments and a new found purpose, Horst pushed himself to his muscular limits weekly, soon displaying bulging muscles across his body. This, combined with his large stature, made him a known brute among his peers.
Second, Horst was well-known for his hospitality. Despite an otherwise strong and unwelcoming appearance, Horst was extremely kind to those he was comfortable with, and developed a reputation among his squad mates as a the "family father." Whenever someone was angry, sad, or generally yearning to talk (or as the case may be, shout), they would seek out Horst. No one was quite sure how Horst managed to keep up such spirits despite the horrors around him, but whenever someone had a conversation with him, they always felt better. Of course, Horst would readily tear to shreds anyone who felt the need to be his enemy, meaning he was a devil to adversaries and a saint to allies.
Horst served with Giog's Rancors for a whopping 9 years, and he felt right at home. As he settled among his own squad mates, he would regularly check on the Ackaly's Maw, who had thankfully retained their training and were still among the most respected enlisted personnel of their time. This smooth sailing was ill-fated.
Losing Lt. Giog (36):
Horst and the Rancor's were eventually dispatched to the planet of Toprawa in an effort to stop a particularly meddlesome group of pirates. The plan was simple; search the sector, locate the pirates with help from the Navy, board the enemy ships, and secure both prisoners and proof of their crimes. To Horst, it seemed fairly routine.
Giog, the battalion, and Horst set out to locate the pirates immediately. After reaching the coordinates of the last known attack, the battalion, composed of 3 armed cruisers, began to search in formation. As they rounded a star, they were ambushed by a collection of 5 pirate vessels. The battle that ensued went poorly, and midway through Giog's cruiser sustained heavy damage. Giog, in a last-ditch move, called for his crew to board the pirate's. The boarding was overseen by Horst, who made it a point to ram the damaged ship into the pirates.
As soon as the battalion entered the enemy cruiser, they were immediately attacked from two directions. The squad of men was initially overwhelmed, but smart tactics and a good deal of work on Horst's part, saw them navigating the ship through the maintenance work-ways. Eventually, the squad reached the bow of the ship, where they engaged the pirates right outside the bridge. During the fighting, Horst grimaced as he watched both friend and foe fall to their opponent.
The pirates, never diminishing in number so it seemed, slowly began to drive the battalion back. As the engagement slowly moved towards the stern, Horst began to wonder why an entire battalion of Special Operations soldiers couldn't handle a group of pirates. The answer became clear soon enough; a Dark Jedi was in ranks with the pirates, and was butchering the Republic Forces by the dozens. This began Horst's disliking of Force-wielders, as he thought this man wielded the powers of gods, and yet sold them out for his own gain.
Eventually, the battalion was barricaded into the engine rooms at the stern of the ship. It was at this moment that Giog made a pivotal decision to save what men were left, and escape in the pods in the room. Before leaving, however, Horst had an idea. Promptly using his tools (which he always carried), Horst began to alter the engines with a detonator. At the button's push, the engines would draw upon every drop of energy possible, and overload, causing bad news for anyone on board.
Horst naturally entrusted this detonator to Giog, and made him swear to save himself before blowing the ship. Giog grunted as the barricade fell. As the Dark Jedi led the pirates into the Republic ranks, Giog shoved Horst into the nearest escape pod. As he himself tried to leap in, the Dark Jedi slammed into his body, sending him to the floor. As the door to the pod began to close, Horst held it open, and tried desperately to aid his friend. His arms gave out, however, and as the pod rocketed away from the pirate ship, Horst barely saw a lightsaber come crashing down before the entire ship exploded.
Horst was retrieved 3 weeks later from a desolate part of Yavin 4. He had survived the brutal three weeks thanks to his training under Giog; a thought that made him ever sadder. Upon his return to Toprawa, the survivors of his battalion re-dubbed him "The Wrecking Wrench" in honor of his attempt to save Giog (a feat seen by few, but told to many), as well as his surprising efficiency with his SR-65 (which he had lost in the battle). He appreciated the men's condolences, but ultimately decided his time in the service was over.
To Mandalore (36):
Before Horst departed, he was invited back to Correlia to hear the last will and testament of Giog Hayman. Although seeking to find a new beginning as quickly as possible, Horst felt obligated to go as a duty to Giog. Upon his arrival to his second home, Horst mourned with Giog's family, and wept freely.
Finally, Giog's will was read. Last among its articles was a letter addressed to Horst (written a year before Giog's death). Horst opened it to find a short note sprawled out in Giog's handwriting:
Horst,
Go to Mandalore. Visit Norg Bral. Ask for Sharpie.
I'll see ya on the other side, eh?
-Giog
Following the funeral was additional bad news, as Horst was arrested by MP's the following day. Obviously emotional, his demands to know why were met with a stoic notice from one of the Republic generals that had commanded the Rancors. In efforts to investigate the mission and what exactly had happened, the brass had found Horst personally responsible for the explosion that had wiped out the ship, charging him with sabotage of the mission, mutiny, betrayal of the Republic, and crimes against the military and the Republic at large. Labeled as a traitor, he was due to appear before the joint chiefs in a military tribunal in a week's time for his trial, giving him plenty to think about as he was led back to his barracks in handcuffs.
And so Horst returned to his base on Correlia, bound. He stayed there for three days to say goodbye and to plan his escape, plotting out what he would need; a revolver Giog had held in favor, a new blaster repeater, and a hyper-space-worthy ship. Late the following night, Horst offically deserted the Republic army and escaped his incarceration thanks to the help of a few "overwhelmed" friends and fellow Rancors, a fair bit of luck, and years of special operations training, letting him race past the base's fortifications and MP's and begin a two month trek to Mandalore.
The trip itself was rather uneventful. Horst ran out of both money and food, meaning he needed to make quick money. This was the start of his smuggling carrier; he took up small jobs that could fit in his stolen transport and that happened to be in his general direction. Each smuggling run brought him closer to Mandalore, and paid him aside from the few instances when he was caught. In these instances, his pay went to bail.
When Horst arrived at Mandalore, he was stopped at the border due both to a large bounty on his head. The border guards thus attempted to apprehend him (for legal reasons or not, Horst never discovered). But a couple of hot-stuff, haughty border bums weren't about to stop the mechanic. So, waiting for the border guards to let their guard down, Horst raced past their ships, beginning a short chase. It ultimately ended in Horst crashing into the outskirts of Keldabe. Before he was arrested, he wrecked his ship and a small shop.
"Trouble already? You haven't been here five minutes..." (36 - 38)
Horst appeared before the Mandolorian court, and was charged with Class 3 Endangerment and Unauthorized Entry to Mandalorian Space (both capital offenses). He was fined a total of 250,000 credits, and additional 100,000 credit were to go to the shop-keeper for damages. When Horst heard his punishments, he immediately appealed.
As part of his appeal, Horst was allowed to contact anyone planet-side. When asked, Horst hesitated, as he didn't know if Sharpie's real name was indeed Sharpie. Having little option, Horst requested the Mandalorian (hoping to what Forces may be that he was still on the planet). Upon hearing the name, the judge laughed, and asked if he was serious, to which the mechanic replied he was.
The following day, the Triad commenced his appeal, and a man in a snazzy outfit stood before Horst. When he asked who he was, the man told him to sit down, shut up, and let him talk. Unfortunately, the talking he mentioned was in Mando'a, and Horst's following of the trial was slim to none. After an hour of negotiation, the Triad uttered something in an overwhelmingly authoritative manner, and the appeal was over.
The snazzy man approached Horst with an incredibly friendly attitude; like they had known each other for years. "You're in trouble already? Boy o' boy, Giog; who did you send me." When Horst again asked who he was, the man replied that he was Sharpie. Mr. Srungle Kolaw Sharpieulanguyori (Horst decided Sharpie was a name for the better). Horst then asked why he seemed so friendly, and Sharpie, over lunch, explained that he and Giog were very old friends, and that the last time they had met, Giog had told him that if a man calling him by his nickname whom he had never met before ever approached him (the manner of which had never been clear), that he should open him with open arms. Horst likewise revealed his connection to Goig, and showed the Mandalorian his letter.
Sharpie cried silently for half an hour over Giog's death. He admitted that he should have kept in touch better, and that Giog had practically been his brother. Horst comforted the man, but eventually joined his tears to the pool. Both men wept for a while, and then, to cheer each other up, shared their stories of Giog. As Horst and Sharpie swapped tales of frivolity, Horst found a deep liking of the businessman, and began to enjoy his company.
The two spent the day touring the city of Keldabe, where the court was located. As the day passed on, Sharpie began to reveal himself. He used to live in Norg Bral, but then became employed by MandalMotors, and now headed up the factory outside of Keldabe. He also unveiled something Horst never would have guessed; that he and Giog were, in their younger years, cooperative smugglers.
As the day ended, Sharpie offered Horst residence at his own home, to which Horst agreed (having no where to go). The following day, Sharpie offered to take Horst to work with him, to which the mechanic again agreed. The mechanic quickly found a place on the factory floor managing the engineers and helping where help was needed. This went on for days, and then weeks, and then months.
The Business Card (38):
As Horst became more and more resigned to his normal life, he found himself looking more and more at the business card given to him by the man at Rorry's funeral. Horst hadn't taken the offer too seriously at the time, but as the idea sank in, Horst began to consider it more and more. On the one hand, he had been moving and shifting his entire life, from orphanage to mechanic to soldier to mechanic again. On the other hand, he had gained a good life in the last year; he had a secure job, a good friend, and a nice life overall. Did he want to give it up?
He never got to choose.
One day at work, Horst was on break when he was again approached by a man in dark attire. After a moment of idle chit-chat, the man put a gun to Horst's head, and led him to a ship landed near the factory. Horst attempted to disarm him, but his skills were rusty, and man ended up shooting him in the thigh and giving him an injection. Horst immediately lost consciousness.
Upon awaking, Horst rose to find a small collection of metal pieces in front of him. He was in a small, lit room with nothing but a handle-less door to note. Near the pieces was a note;
Fix it.
Horst, seeing no other possible course of action, assembled the pieces into a blaster. As soon as he finished, the door opened, and the man in dark attire reappeared. Horst immediately tried to strike him, and this time succeeded in knocking him aside. As the mechanic sprinted out of the room, he was tackled by two guards, and was pinned to the ground. After a short dragging, he was thrown before a small easy-chair. Upon it resided a stout man with wrinkles, liver spots, and an enormous Afro. He introduced himself as Mr. Sigmund Frouten.
Frouten casually asked the mechanic if he had the business card from years back. Horst spat in his direction telling him to eat dirt, and the old boss commanded the guards to beat the smuggler. After attaining multiple injuries, Horst summoned the card out of his small leather neck pouch, and threw it at the crime lord.
Frouten then offered Horst an ultimatum; work for him now, or die later. "I'm tired of waiting for my mechanic, Mr. Stellar." Horst again refused bluntly, and was beaten before he was returned to his room. He stayed there for a period of time he couldn't measure, and was kept hungry.
Horst was again summoned before Mr. Fro, and again given an ultimatum. He again refused, and was again thrown into his room. The process was repeated time after time until the point where Horst had grown a healthy beard. After the 9th of 10th time (Horst couldn't say for sure), the ultimatum came to fruition. After again denying Mr. Fro's offer, the crime lord stood and pointed an elegantly-marked revolver to the smuggler's face. This time, his voice was stone cold: "Work. Or. Die."
Horst chose work.
Working for Mr. Fro (38 - 39):
Horst was put to work immediately. As soon as he was released, Horst was shaved by a guard and given an unidentifiable gruel to consume. Following that, he was led aboard a starship and delivered to a private hangar somewhere he didn't recognize. He was shown about the hangar, and familiarized with the numerous ships it contained. He was then forced into a bedroom and left for 6 hours to sleep.
The following morning (if it was morning; Horst had lost all concept of day and night), the guards returned, and set him about the numerous ships. Horst noted that some ships had changed; the previous day, another ship had sat here, while another sat there. The guards, he also learned, had absolutely no knowledge of ship repair. He figured this out when, upon inspecting a yacht that needed some regular maintenance, he claimed that it needed a total tune-up, to which the guards merely nodded and demanded to know how long it would take (to which Horst again lied, saying it would take a year). After a round of diagnostics, Horst set about to repairing the ships while secretly sabotaging each one and collecting components for his own purposes. After some time, the guards led him back to his room, he was fed, and then ordered to rest.
As time slipped by, Horst fell into this cycle. Besides a simple jumpsuit, Horst was given nothing to wear aside from a complete tool belt. The guards that watched him would change every week or so (by his estimation), and his meal changed from one slop to another every month. The ships constantly changed, and those that suffered particularly important sabotages by the mechanic were regular projects. Horst accumulated numerous small parts over his repairs, and every once in a while managed to hide a larger piece of starship whenever the guards weren't paying particular attention. As his collection of pieces grew, Horst began to fashion a small dagger of sorts, which was charged with electricity thanks to a small battery he had managed to swindle. This weapon was concealed in Horst's underwear, as the guards would search his room daily and would likewise watch him change for all but the most intimate of transitions.
This process went on for a complete year (or so Horst learned later).
Freedom, thy name is Night-Watch (39 - 40):
One unremarkable day, Horst's workload was unusually slow. There were only 5 ships to service, and the first 4 had been a breeze. The fifth ship was personal freighter that looked slightly worn. The ship was near the hangar doors, and the guards claimed that the pilots had brought it in saying that the AI was broken. Horst entered the ship and, upon giving it a full inspection, discovered the pilot was an idiot; the ship had no AI. Aside from this fictional problem, however, the ship was in prime condition, and completely space-worthy. Horst saw this as an opportunity, and acted on it.
Returning to his room, Horst passed the hangar door controls, which were always guarded when he was out of his room. Upon his arrival to his living quarters, Horst promptly distracted the guards, and stabbed them both, allowing the blade to electrocute the second watchman to death. Taking up one of their blasters, Horst promptly dispatched the guard by the controls, and opened the hangar bay, seeing rays of sunshine for the first time in months. As additional guards began swarming toward his position, Horst grabbed a wrench from his belt, used it to clamp the blaster's trigger, and threw it at his captors. Stunned, the guards stopped long enough for the escaping mechanic to board the freighter, named the Overlord via a decal on the side, and zoom out of the hangar.
Upon his escape, Horst learned that Mr. Fro had been keeping him at the Kuat Dock Yards, and that the hangar he was working in appeared as a commercial ship shop. With this knowledge in mind, Horst utilized what skills he had to disappear. As soon as he had ensured that he could travel without undue suspicion, Horst made for Mandalore, hoping to what powers may be that Sharpie was okay.
Horst flew to Sharpie's home, and was met by surprised gun-point by his friend. When asked how Giog liked his drinks, Horst detailed the correct response, and was greeted with open arms. Sharpie demanded to know where Horst had been kept, and likewise shared that there had been an attempt on his life. Horst, therefore, decided that he should leave so as to not endanger his final friend. Sharpei protested, but agreed, and asked if he could do anything to make Horst's life a tad easier. Horst merely requested that Sharpie try (most likely in vain, being a Mandalorian) to see if anything could be done so as to make the Republic forget his desertion charges. Sharpie scratched his head, and see if he could call in a few favors. Horst then left Mandalore indefinitely.
Horst, no longer have an objective in life, began to travel the galaxy as a smuggler. Whenever he happened on someone looking for mercenary work, Horst would agree on the condition that it would not be for anything more than defense (a policy which made these jobs few and far between). Horst would occasionally meet someone from the military, and would always ask him if they had ever heard of "The Wrecking Wrench." A few had, a few hadn't, and a few merely knew the name, but it was enough for Horst to see if he was still being charged with desertion and also enough to help him remember a better time. Horst missed his military days, but found his life bearable thanks to the constant companionship of mechanics.
Spearpoint (40 - 41):
Horst continued to smuggle for about a year, feeling more and more lost with every waking day. He former purposes were dead, and he didn't even have the luxury of talking about them. As the jobs passed by and the credits rolled in and out, Horst trudged through a sad rut.
That's when Horst met Ethan Moreill.
Horst, looking for work one night in a cantina on Nal Hutta, met the "Hunter with a Conscious" after being lured to the man at the offer of a steady job. Initially amused by the thought of independently striking at the Sith, Horst gave the offer more and more thought until he decided it was the direction his life needed. Horst accompanied Ethan, being a member of the merc's pirate crew.
The crew's ambitions quickly spread throughout the galaxy, and soon Ethan was swamped with scum of all kinds wanting to lash out at the Sith without being in the Republic. Horst, by this point dedicated to the cause, assisted his new friend, and became a founding member of Spearpoint. The Corellian immediately settled into a leadership role as recruitment skyrocketed, giving him plenty to do. Ultimately he became somewhat of a drill sergeant, running every recruit, be them hardened fringer or rookie greenhorn, through brutal training regimes in the harsh jungles of Oatara, the faction's base of operations. The training was designed more as team-building than combat training, and while it garnered him a reputation of harshness, it just as well created the desired effect of comradery.
Spearpoint went on to hit a sizable number of Sith military targets, including a Sith supply station in Sith space as well as numerous supply ships, small military installations, and even a few small, lonesome naval ships, mostly done to capture and repurpose them for the faction's use. Horst didn't find quite the same heart-strumming sentiment in Spearpoint as he had in the Republic, but nevertheless, the faction had made him happy to a degree, giving him purpose once more.
So it was made that much harder for him when Spearpoint failed. Moreill was announced dead one fateful day during a small scouting mission, and the rest of Spearpoint's leadership failed to quite pick up the slack of the man who had gathered them. Horst tried desperately to keep the organization together, however the pirating group was more of a business than an army, and even with what Horst knew about commanding troops, he knew little about how to command an entire army. The organization quickly crumbled around him, and by the time the Corellian accepted the death of his new cause, he was the last one out.
So, setting as many explosives as he could to the facilities Spearpoint had been using, Horst drank away what little money he had left in a nearby town, Waypoint, before hitting a long-range detonator and wandering drunkenly onto one of the faction's ships that he had decided to keep; a modified freight entitled the Phoenix Cage. Sinking into a depression far more crushing than the one that had followed Giog's death, the Corellian proceeded to slink slowly back into smuggling, finding the practice even more boring, meaningless, and stupid than he had the first time.
Reinstatement(41 - ):
Given the harsher depression, it came as little surprise to the smuggler that he woke up one evening with copious amounts of soreness, pain, and wounds in a cell on a bounty hunter’s ship. The previous night had seen him more drunk than he’d been in years, and the result had him being identified and captured by the small gang of opportunists. For what little it was worth, they treated him professionally (mostly out of respect for his ability), but even still, the ex-soldier gnashed, snarled, and growled at them more like a caged beast than a dignified man in defeat.
When they landed at the nearest Republic base and he was turned in for his bounty, however, his rage became far, far more quiet.
He was immediately transported back to Coruscant aboard a ship reminiscent of those that had flown him around with the Rancors. For the first time in ages, Stellar was absolutely silent, barely responding to questions asked or topics breached. The only thing he seemed willing to discuss was the service of his captors; by the time he had reached Coruscant, he could paraphrase the service records of most of the soldiers in charge of the brig, who he had actually struck up idle conversation with whenever they’d brought him a meal or checked on him.
And so he waited. A military court pended his case for weeks while he sat about, mulling his options, as he wasted his time with old books on tactics, military history, and mechanics; for a deserter, he seemed just jovial enough to his captors to warrant them finding whatever reading material he asked for. Seeing as how he had never technically been discharged, the entire affair was considered purely a military matter, excluding publicity or the normal judicial channels. Rather, the main charge was treason of the highest degree, with a defection to the Mandalorians and desertion. The latter was worthy of jail time in and of itself, but with the first being the main topic of the trial, Horst became relatively resigned to the idea of more… dramatic punishment.
So his shock was palpable when his attorney suggested to the courts that rather than being punished, he should be made to resume his service. His military record minus the desertion was admittedly impeccable, and while there was some debate about his physical ability (not from him, from others), his tactical capacity didn’t seem to disagreed upon. The trial continued for months, with numerous officials, councils, and opinions being weighed in the matter. By the time that news reached the planet that Taris had been besieged by rakghouls and the Sith, tones shifted from idle “what if’s” to more serious “could we’s”.
When news hit of the Sith continuing their push to surrounding planets, a decision was made. Horst Stellar would be acquitted of all charges pending further investigation by the military, and was officially reinstated as a Major in the Republic Army. He was to resume command immediately under strict supervision and review of Republic Intelligence “until such a time as his loyalty was no longer under deliberation.”
It wasn’t until they handed him his pins and his new battalion, the Republic’s 309th Battalion 27th “Hammerhead” Marines, that he believed them.
Roleplay Sample:
Horst slumped over the bar, trying not to throw up. That third Bantha Buster was one too many, the smuggler thought. Gotta try to focus on something else.
Earlier Horst had chatted with three guys from the Republic's 2,096th Infantry Division. They were on leave for some hard partying in the nicer parts of Duat, but were stopping at the spaceport bar first. Horst, in his typical routine, had asked them if they had heard of "The Wrecking Wrench." These guys had, and Horst got to relive his involvement in the Battle of Swinger's Hill on Farrfin (which, of course, was exaggerated). As Horst bought the guys another round of drinks, they had asked what he did for a living. Horst sighed heavily at this question, and told them he was nobody; just a guy handy with a wrench and a gun. They didn't ask any further.
Horst disliked having to lie about his past. It had been years since he deserted, yet despite the stories he heard about himself, no one was sure what had befallen him. Some claimed he was serving with a top secret military project. Others just claimed he died on that pirate ship with Giog. Still others claimed (somewhat correctly) that he had retired, and was still on Correlia. Between the uncertainty and the fact that his desertion was never mentioned, Horst was unsure if his head still had a price on it. So, the mechanic was forced to live in absolute secrecy.
That sort of life was hard, sure, but it was bearable thanks to "wrenching." Whenever Horst got a job to fix a repulsor or reset a converter, his mind cleared of worry, and for a brief time, the galaxy was nothing more than electrical currents, circuits, turbines, and all other matter of mechanics. For Horst, picking up a welding laser or a simple wrench was akin to entering an other dimension; one that lacked all the crap in the normal one.
Before the military guys had left, one of them claimed the smuggler looked familiar. When he pressed the question, Horst decided to let heave a little info, and declared he had once been a soldier in the Acklay's Maw (again, not a total lie). The inquiring soldier slapped him on the shoulder, and said he admired him for his battalion's awesome skills. Again lying through his teeth, Horst nodded a gentle thanks, and claimed he left after his enlistment was up. The soldier payed for the drinks before say, "You guys are the real deal. I'd give anything to know what The Wrench taught you guys. Truth be told, I'd give anything just to meet the guy."
And so here was Horst, drowning his sorrows in the great drink, wallowing in self-pity, and generally trying to forget that he had ever had a past beyond odd-jobs and being a unimportant no-one. Some men sought to forget their pasts because they were meaningless. Horst sought to forget his because it meant something.
After all, plenty of conversations can happen over lunch, their mutual liking could have been anything from the food they ate to a particularly nice speeder they saw fly past.
