Displaced Hero (Chapters 24-28)
Added 2024-02-22 14:03:06 +0000 UTCAlright! Time for another chunk of Can One Displaced Hero Save the Galaxy? I'm fairly pleased with how it turned out, much to my own surprise. I knew from basically day one that the entire Ossus arc was going to be the absolute worst to get right. Too many things all happening at once, even before I decided to add Mei to the mix. Trying to get it all to flow, without feeling forced or railroaded, was always going to be one of the most difficult parts of the entire work. I think I managed it. Fairly well, at least. I'm very relieved to be through the worst of it. The next few releases will hopefully see a return to more of a mission format, with teams going out to get things done. At least for an update or three.
As for this release, it's just barely shy of 13k words, so a nice big chunk of content. It also gives the first peak of just where the story is going, how the Infinity Engine is going to be used in the long run, and how Aayla's issues with the Jedi Order are going to get resolved. It only hints at most of that, but the clever among you will likely start getting the general shape of things figured out.
It also, for those that are into it, contains a pretty sizable lemon ;-). It's marked, of course, so that it can be skipped by those uninterested in such. For those that are...well, it's basically all of Chapter 26, amounting to a couple of thousand words. It's something of a major milestone for Izuku and Aayla, so I spent the time to do it right.
As always, the story is attached here in both PDF and Epub formats. And I'll be updating the Master Files in the pinned post shortly. The new image for the post, by the by, is pretty obviously AI generated. It felt like the old one wasn't quite fitting any longer, since Aayla's restraints are gone. I'm planning to make Displaced Hero the next stop with custom art...though we've seen that my attempts at that aren't exactly fantastic. Not horrific, but I'm hardly going to be taking art commissions anytime soon ;-).
P.S. Check the comments for a bit of a spoilery Author's Note about something in the last chapter. After you read the release, of course. Or before, I guess, if you don't care about spoilers.
Comments
In theory, yes. Though few worlds could likely afford to build something like that. I saw a REALLY clever solution recently in a fic, where someone built a Heavy Cruiser that was armed within the legal limits (mostly point defense and some light anti-starfighter), but then it had four frigates that ATTACHED to it that were armed-to-the-teeth. The frigates would have been a violation...except they didn't have hyperdrives. They attached to the Cruiser for hyper trips. It impressed me quite a lot since it was a 100% in-universe solution that wouldn't be that hard to pull off. It likely won't be needed for Displaced Hero, because of my plans going forward. But I certainly took note of that particular idea ;-).
Novus Peregrine
2024-03-01 08:59:17 +0000 UTCSo... a mobile asteroid (moon? For a laugh?) base big enough to carry a fleet of capital and support ships all extremely heavily armed and none with independent hyperdrive registered as an independent "planet" and the fleet being its "local defense fleet" would piss people off but technically be defendable under what little is known about the restrictions? ... may not fit for this story, but still now I really want to see something like that in a Star Wars fic at some point. May work better though in a broader crossover with some other IP that has a different FTL mechanic that could be borrowed instead to further "subvert" the restriction without having to go full Original Content for the FTL alternative.
Keht Jelicho
2024-03-01 03:26:04 +0000 UTCYeah, like I said, lots of oblique references to the restrictions in various source materials. But none of them are explicit, at least that I can find. The most consistent general idea in all the references that I can find is that ships over a certain size, even those in use by planetary militaries, were restricted in how heavily armed they could be if they had a hyperdrive. Local defense ships WITHOUT hyperdrives weren't restricted. Just anything that could hyperjump. Hence relatively weakly armed capital ships. Even the Trade Federation's Defense Fleet, prior to the Separatist Movement, was mostly made up of corvettes, gunboats, and frigates. And the Core Worlds were unhappy about even how many of those the TDF had.
Novus Peregrine
2024-03-01 03:12:49 +0000 UTCAll sounds interesting, except the bit about nothing specific existing for the armament restrictions (I think I actually only remember them coming up in relation to naboo's fighters and their not having hyperdrives, and similarly the pre-clone war jedi fighter/personal ships needing to use the external hyper drive/ring thing maybe. And not sure if that was from reading novelization or a reference book
Keht Jelicho
2024-02-29 13:30:25 +0000 UTCThe restrictions...are a lot of question marks, to be honest. I've read a fair bit of Star Wars fanfiction that references their existence. Likewise, I've found plenty of canon and EU references to demilitarization laws being attached to the Ruusan Reformation, along with references to rules about how heavily armed a ship in civilian hands can be. But, despite my digging, I've yet to find actual indications of what the specific limits were. If these other authors found something I didn't, I'd dearly like to know where they got the information. In example, the information entries for the Mandator-class Star Dreadnaught (one of the only such classes in service before the Clone Wars) explicitly state that Ruusan Reformation regulations limited its speed and armament. Making it far less of a serious Dreadnaught than it should have been. Yet, I can't find exact limits for those restrictions. There is a single source book that I need to try and track down if I can, that might have information in it, but I sort of doubt it... As it is, it makes enough sense that I've adopted it into Displaced hero, using the points that a lot of the other major fics use. It DOES neatly serve the explain a lot about the lack of heavy capital ships in the pre-clone wars era. As well as the Trade Federation focus on Starfighter swarms, which are presumably one of the ways 'around' the rules. Unless I find a better description of the rules, however, I'm stuck trying to decide on the limits myself. Which...does mean that, yes, I've got some ideas about other works around that Mei will eventually be suggesting. Including the idea of a kinetic weapon as you suggested ;-). As for Anash...the truth was that my original plan was to have her only appear the one time. With them then shying away from Esseles out of fear of being tracked. Originally, I was planning to send the group to Corellia for their second ship purchase. It was only when Vimesenthusiast reminded me of Tholme's existence and his relation to Qunlin/Aayla that I shifted gears a bit. Tholme offers far too good a solution to Aayla's issues with the Jedi Order and the fact she's still just a padawan. Which meant that I suddenly WANTED them to be tracked down much earlier than I'd expected. The easiest way to accomplish that was to have them backtrack to somewhere they'd already been...and Anash's shipyard was the perfect option, since I was already planning for them to get that second ship for Celeste... So, she showed up again, but since it was a change of plans I hadn't fully thought through the idea of continuing to use her. I might have hit on the idea even without your suggestion, since she's honestly probably the best OC I've introduced so far. But your comment sparked the thought, for sure. I'll need to think through how exactly I want to use her. I have several ideas now that you've put the general thought in my brain. Such as using her as one of the places to employee/train freed slaves, resulting in more contact and her business expanding. Which could in turn, turn into more... It's a new set of thoughts, though. I'll have to consider how best to use her.
Novus Peregrine
2024-02-28 06:28:33 +0000 UTCAlso, glad to put the idea about Anash in your head, I honestly thought you were hinting at it with the way she has expressed a desire to do more but has been held back by the reality of the market to sell, that combined with how well she and Mei have really hit it off and how she Izuku and Aayla generally all got along anyways. Sure I was thinking it might take a while more, and may even come from trouble finding her (whether it's of her own making or trouble finding its way to her in pursuit of them being beside the point) leading to her needing to leave or Izuku/etc rescuing her, or finding her and offering her a place afterwards or something. Though her just getting recruited works fine too, extra drama is not a necessity by any means. I just thought your comments about their precautions on where they landed and her comments about acquiring some of her stock could have been/could be turned into foreshadowing for something happening leading to her becoming a part of the "third faction"
Keht Jelicho
2024-02-28 03:41:18 +0000 UTCI was more wondering if the restrictions to armaments had loopholes (beyond the whole "staying outside republic space means republic restrictions don't apply" one) such as the Mass Effect Treaty of Farixen did on its restrictions. If the armament restrictions say no turbolasers and the base has rail guns five kilometers long capable of cracking a moon would that technically still be legal? Heck if the base just had really REALLY good shields and engines and lots of "point defense" weapons and mainly focused on ramming what would that do. Or if it was a carrier and had hundreds of thousands of fighters and the like that if I remember correctly can be legally equipped with Very heavy ordinance if they don't have a hyperdrive, but the carrier would allow that to be bypassed. Throw in ion canons and/or hyperdrive disruptors to drag out/keep opponents from escaping, and maybe some kind of wide spectrum jammer to prevent signals being sent to slave collars/implants.
Keht Jelicho
2024-02-28 03:29:14 +0000 UTCI actually hadn't considered the idea of them recruiting Anash...but now that I have, I won't say it's not tempting ;-). As for the armament restrictions. As I understand it, they applied to anything with a hyperdrive. So if the mobile base could move between systems, it would be included. I don't think there was any real limit on plantery defense systems, though. Also, sorry for the delay in response. I actually read this the day you posted the comment, but was on my phone when I did and....forgot to reply when I got back to my desktop *sweatdrops*
Novus Peregrine
2024-02-28 00:09:56 +0000 UTCSoooo.... how long before they recruit Anash off Esselle to be one of the primary ship builders/refitters for their out-of-Republic-Space Base/shipyard? Also, don't forget to have planetary defenses.. or planetoid/asteroid or whatever they choose for the base. Especially if they add propulsion. Does a mobile asteroid base have to adhere to any kind of armament restrictions? What about a planet? Are their limits to what ground based and/or orbital armaments and defenses can be set up?
Keht Jelicho
2024-02-24 16:10:38 +0000 UTCFigured it would get the point across ;-).
Novus Peregrine
2024-02-22 23:58:44 +0000 UTCTo be fair, it was slightly longer than usual since Displaced Hero's release date got shifted from the 8th to the 22nd when it took over Mass Effect: Final Error's spot as an updated-every-month story. The next one shouldn't feel quite so long, hopefully ;-). I'm glad you enjoyed the chapters :-). And yes, Mei and Anash are a warcrime spree waiting to happen...
Novus Peregrine
2024-02-22 23:57:31 +0000 UTCThanks for the great chapters! Its great to see new chapters, as I've been waiting so long! ... Have I been waiting long? Or do it just feel like so, because I've been looking forward to reading more of this story so much? Okay thats properly it! I love this story and its only gotten better with these latest chapters! Its great to see Izuku and Aayla move their relationship forward and Mei looks to be adapting very well. Plus Anash and Mei working together puts pictures of doomsday weapons in my mind ... love it! And then we have Izuku's beginning of a plan in chapter 28 and Tholme joining them ... GREAT STUFF! Thanks for these great and fun and exciting chapters! Can't wait to read much more of this great story!
Aeden Emrys
2024-02-22 21:09:54 +0000 UTCI'm currently playing "Ride of the Valkyries" as I picture and get a little laugh at your repeated and colorful use of "stab wounds"! Love it!
Aeden Emrys
2024-02-22 20:59:19 +0000 UTCSPOILER COMMENT! I suggest you don't read it until you get to the end of chapter 28! ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Okay, if you're still here, this is a fairly minor thing. But I just know it's going to bother someone, somewhere. So I figured I'd better explain now. These author's notes will end up at the end of Chapter 28 when this is posted elsewhere: A/N 1: Okay, to clear something up real quick. Ride of the Valkyries was only how Izuku related the feel of the Force humming. An equivalent song that Tholme or Aayla knew would have been felt by them. A/N 2: Even more importantly than that, since I know someone will likely bring it up. NO, the Force itself doesn't actually care that they are going to go on an anti-slavery Crusade. The Light Side probably does care, somewhat. But the Force as a whole normally would not. The Cosmic Force as a whole is (as I see it) too detached for such specific morality. However, it is aware enough (I think) to rebel against Palpatine's future of mass-destruction. Kill too many things and you literally wound the Force. Like at Malachor V in the Kotor series. Alderaan nearly certainly would have created a similar wound in the Force. Even the Cosmic Force isn't going to take kindly to actions that effectively hurt it in a meaningful way. Thus, the Force here isn't happy about the Specific action they are taking. Rather, it's positively cheerful at the idea of completely derailing a future that would result in its personal equivalent of stab wounds. It doesn't want stab wounds. It will cheerfully beat drums of war for someone it feels will help it avoid stab wounds. With Izuku's relatively direct connection to it, they can all therefore feel it when it's cheerfully encouraging someone to prevent egotistical Sith assholes from giving it stab wounds...
Novus Peregrine
2024-02-22 14:10:03 +0000 UTC
