| Prologue - Disturbance | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 12 2014, 08:24 PM (49 Views) | |
| cipherhornet | May 12 2014, 08:24 PM Post #1 |
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A long, long time ago In a galaxy far, far away... STAR WARS PASTS REBORN THE BLACK TALONS It has been eight years since the REBEL ALLIANCE defeated the forces of Emperor Palpatine and the GALACTIC EMPIRE at the Battle of Endor. As the newly formed NEW REPUBLIC begins to scour the galaxy of the final traces of the Empire, a force from the past has been waiting, watching. The BLACK TALONS, formerly a unit of the Grand Army of the Republic, has been watching events unfolding, waiting for their moment to return to the galaxy. Having been given ORDER 65, which had labeled Palpatine a traitor to the GALACTIC REPUBLIC, but was forced to go into hiding, being the only unit given that order. Hiding on the fringes of the TAPANI SECTOR, the Black Talons have bided their time for the past thirty-two years, but the remnants of the Jedi Order have been detecting disturbances in the Force, a possible prelude to a new rising threat from the DARK SIDE. Realizing that the threat is too big to ignore, the Black Talons have begun mobilizing. Hoping to quell the rising darkness and defend those who cannot defend themselves, the Black Talons prepare themselves for war, stepping out of the shadows and back into a galaxy that has changed and may or may not be so willing welcome them back... |
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| cipherhornet | May 12 2014, 10:32 PM Post #2 |
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Werda'Aureti Master Alysia Rigel's Quarters Black Talon GHQ Jedi Master Alysia Rigel's quarters were a simple affair. It contained a bed, a separate room for the refresher station, a desk for her meetings one-on-one, and a large open space with a high dome, where she could meditate. She sat in the center of her meditation space, cross legged and her eyes closed, floating just off the floor. Alysia reached out with her senses to connect with the Force, to achieve her center. Such was the way of her life, trying to achieve balance as a Jedi, one of the last Jedi Masters, while still providing guidance to the new Jedi Defenders and to the Black Talons overall. For the longest time, she could only see darkness in the galaxy, as Palpatine's evil rule took over. When he died, she could see a glimmer of hope that was beginning to grow. But she could still see darkness on the horizon. And recently, it was looming closer and closer. For the first time in a long time, she could physically feel the effects of the dark side looming, the chill of it's approach. And then, she felt as if something was about to reach out and grab her. Before it could, her eyes shot open and she fell onto the floor. It was like waking from a nightmare... She took a moment to calm herself, and stood up, brushing off her robes. She had only felt a disturbance in the Force that strong twice before. First when the Jedi Order was all but wiped out by Order 66, and then when Palpatine and Darth Vader were killed. Pulling on her cloak, she departed her quarters, walking through the corridors of the Black Talons' Headquarters. She passed by the clone troopers in their Phase II armor, adorned in grey stripes and the Black Talon insignia, a talon's claw inside a circle, all in black. The ground troopers all bore the same face, the face of Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett. However, the support personnel were either mixed clones or non-clone personnel, clad in the uniform of the Old Republic military. Alysia continued on to the main command center, which was continuously abuzz with activity. And at the center of it all, literally, was Admiral Darael Hollinger. Despite his age, the man continued to keep up with his work, his commitment to saving the Republic. She could respect that, and he had a fire about him that fascinated her. But, she had her duty, he had his. He looked up from the hologram table at her and nodded once in greeting. "Master Jedi." He said, looking over fleet deployments on the display. "Admiral." Alyisa replied, stopping at the table and folding her hands behind her back. "Just reviewing the fleet deployments again. I think we're going to go ahead with contacting House Pelagia, offer up some of our forces." Darael explained, "I figure if we send a small force, we won't cause the other Houses to panic and attack Pelagia again." "I see." Alyisa said simply, nodding once. Darael looked up at her. "What's wrong?" He asked. "I've sensed a great disturbance in the Force. I know that you do not take such stock in things, but this has grown to become something I can no longer ignore." Alyisa said. "Alyisa, the last two times you came to me and told me you felt a great disturbance in the Force, the first time was when we confirmed that Order 66 had been given to every other unit, and then you said it when the Rebels won at Endor." Darael replied, "So, I do take stock when you say such things." Alyisa gave a small smile in response. "Thank you, Admiral." She replied. "How bad is it, though?" Darael asked. "It's a growing darkness, like seeing storm clouds gathering in the distance. You can see the storm is going to come, but you don't know when or how bad." Alyisa explained, "I am just not sure if my vision is entirely clear on the matter or not." "The perils of being at the top of the chain." Darael replied with a knowing nod, "Might be good to consult with some of your peers, though, see if they can offer insight. Asking for a second opinion isn't a sign of weakness, Master Jedi." "I know." Alyisa replied, "Perhaps that would be prudent at this point. But I agree with your plan, Admiral." "Thanks. We're not going anywhere yet, if you want to go take care of matters now. Or get some sleep." Darael said. "Yes. That would probably be a good idea. I've been spending so much time trying to figure out what I've been sensing that I've worn myself out." Alyisa said, and then bowed once, "Good evening, Admiral." "Good evening, Master Jedi." Darael nodded. Alyisa turned and took her leave, hoping that she could get some sleep this time. |
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| cipherhornet | May 13 2014, 01:27 AM Post #3 |
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Werda'Aureti Sparring Grounds, Barracks Black Talon GHQ A crowd of troopers and personnel gathered around the circular sparring ring, cheering and chatting as they watched the contestants in the ring circle each other. One was an older man, a Fett-clone, with streaks of gray running through his cropped black hair. He wore black pants with a silver stripe up each leg and a white shirt, well worn, with the emblem of the Old Republic still faintly visible on it in black. White boxing tape was wrapped around his hands, and he stood in a fighter's stance, hands up, legs spread apart. Opposite was a woman, much younger, with black hair. She wore tight fitting dark green pants and a short shirt that only went down half way of her stomach, matching in green, with no sleeves but straps over her shoulder. Her stance was more relaxed, but she was also in a fighting stance. "C'MON BLAZE!" "YEAH, YOU GOT HER, BLAZE!" "KICK HIS BUTT, NEZA!" "GO JEDI GO!" The crowd cheered for their favorite, but the two seemed to ignore them and focus on each other. Blaze stepped in first, feigning a punch. Neza shifted slightly, and Blaze followed with his opposite foot, kicking her in the shin. Neza stepped back, regaining her footing. Blaze stepped in again, attempting to grab the younger Jedi, but she countered, flipping him over her shoulder and onto his back. She stepped in with a punch, but Blaze rolled to the side, and flip-kicked back to his feet. "You're slowing down, old man." Neza said with a grin. "Is the Force telling you that, or are you just getting cocky?" Blaze replied with a chuckle of his own. Neza stepped in again, punching Blaze with an open palm blow to his left shoulder, pushing it towards his right hip. Blaze rolled into it, grabbing her arm and pinning it before punching her across the jaw and then her stomach before pushing her to the floor, while still holding her arm. Neza rolled enough to bring her free hand up and blasted Blaze with a bit of Force energy, pushing him back. Some of the crowd voiced their displeasure with that move, others cheered. Blaze stood back up, still looking grim. "That's all you got?" Blaze asked. "That's all I need." Neza replied, and launched herself back to her feet and charged at Blaze. The clone stepped to the side and hit the back of her head with a chop, before slamming his knee up into her chest and then threw the Jedi to the floor. He then grabbed her legs, folding them into her torso and pinned her to the floor. However, Neza bashed Blaze in the side of the head with her elbow, and rolled so that she now was pinning Blaze. He struggled, but stopped as soon as he heard the bell. She had won. "The winner is Neza Chanden!" The referee called out, as Neza stood up. She extended a hand to Blaze, which he took and stood up. "Not bad. Thought you'd try to wiggle out like last time." Blaze said as they exited the ring. "Where'd you pick that one up?" "Couple days ago from the Holonet." Neza replied. A droid came over with towels while two medics checked them over for any serious injuries. "The Holonet? That's low." Blaze chuckled, "Nice use of the Force blast there. I told you I don't mind you using it on me, only way I can learn to counter it." "I know. But I don't want to upset the crowd, either." Neza said with a smile. Blaze laughed. "You're alright, kid. Hit the showers, we'll have another match some time next week." Blaze said. "I look forward to it, Blaze." Neza replied. Just then, they turned to see Master Rigel approaching. "Master Jedi." Blaze said in greeting. "Master." Neza said, but a bit more stiffly. It was no secret that Neza got along better with the troopers than she did other Jedi. "Marshal Commander." Alysia said to Blaze, "I need to speak with Knight Chanden, if you don't mind." "Yes ma'am." Blaze nodded, looking to the medics and droids and waving them off, and then took his leave as well. He put a hand on Neza's shoulder as he passed her, lowering his voice. "Try to be nice, kid." Blaze said quietly before walking off. The crowds dispersed, heading their separate ways, leaving Neza and Alysia alone. "What is it this time? Have I managed to offend one of the new recruits? Or is it Voka'Kaar again?" Neza said, sitting down on a bench and opening a water bottle. "I'm not here to baby this refuge of Jedi. If they're here to fight, they need to be ready. Otherwise, they can go somewhere else, help the people on the planet." "That isn't what I'm here for, Neza." Alysia replied, remaining standing. "You don't make social calls to me, Master. So don't act like you're just here to say good job on the fight. You only talk to me if you need something or if you're chastising me. So which is it?" Neza asked. "I have been distant with you, yes. And I've disagreed with you at times, but we do not need to be enemies. There was a time when we were not." Alysia said. "And that time has gone, Master. I know you don't approve of my methods or my ways of doing things. You think I'm treading near the Dark Side." Neza said, "I'm doing exactly what these troops do, and they're not evil. I'm not going to cling to ideas that aren't doing us any favors." "I don't think that at all." Alysia replied. "Oh banthastang, Master!" Neza shot to her feet, "I know good and well you think I'm just a step away from being a fallen Jedi. You've thought that about me since the Clone Wars. Just because I spent my life growing up as a resistance fighter and then opting to learn the art of warfare." "Neza, you are a Jedi Guardian. You bear the burden of warfare, it is the path you chose to walk as a Jedi." Alysia started before Neza threw her water bottle down. "Don't you talk to me like you pity me, Master. I'm a defender of the remains of the Jedi, and I don't bear any burden. I accept my duty and I fight like a soldier. Dress it up however you want, but I'm a soldier of the Jedi." Neza countered. "You do bear that burden. We all do. More than ever." Alysia said. "You know what, whatever it is, Master, go find someone else to do it." Neza said, turning away, "Sick of talking to you anyways." Alysia waited, watching the Jedi Knight walk away from her, before speaking up. "I need your help." Alysia said. "With what?" Neza asked, still walking. "I've sensed a great evil in the Force, looming ahead. But what or where, I cannot determine." Alysia said. Neza stopped and turned around, stalking up to her. "So. You see something evil on the horizon, and all of the sudden, you think that just like that, all the times you've told me I was wrong, all the times you've left me out to dry, all the times you've shot me down in front of everyone else, that's just going to go out the airlock?" Neza demanded, "You self-righteous old fool, you act like you're the only Jedi left in the galaxy who knows what to do. But the second it all comes crashing down, you think we're supposed to just fall in line and help you again." Alysia just stared at Neza, speechless. "Why don't you go ask Voka? I know you wouldn't dare talk to Dione, she's a Shadow, and that's somehow worse than a Guardian." Neza said, "Because if it wasn't for the fact that we're short on Jedi, I'd have suggested you retire ages ago. You act like you're better than everyone else, because you talk instead of fight. And because I choose to fight, I'm lesser in your eyes." Alysia remained silent. "Yeah. That's what I thought. Good night, Master....by the Force I hate calling you that." Neza scoffed, turning around and walking away. "Neza. I'm sorry." Alysia said. "No. No you're not. You're not sorry. You're saying that because you want me to walk over, and feel sorry for you." Neza replied, calling over her shoulder. Alysia watched Neza walk out the door, letting out a sigh. "Well. That was a disaster to watch." Blaze said, stepping back in from the opposite door. "I don't understand. This is a serious issue, and she turns away?" Alysia said. "You're damned right she does. But not from the issue. It's you." Blaze said. "You think she's right?" Alysia asked. "Yep." Blaze replied, "Face it, Master Jedi, you've lost touch with those around you. No one is denying you haven't helped out around here, but you've become a bloody recluse, and when you do lash out, in your quiet own way, Neza and Dione take most of it, but you leave Voka out of it. They take it that you disagree with them continuing to train to fight, but you're fine with Voka locking himself in the labs with Firewall and refusing to even wear his saber anymore." "Furthermore, Master Jedi, you hardly talk to anyone else these days but the Admiral and sometimes me. So the only time Neza sees you, it's because you either want something from her, or you want to give her hell for something she's done. She doesn't trust you." Blaze said. "But if she won't listen to me, how can I show her that I want to make things right?" Alysia asked. "If you're looking at me to fight your battle for you, count me out." Blaze replied, "You're going to have to talk to her, but my advise? Don't tell her what she wants to hear. Don't be a diplomat or a Jedi Master. Just be you. Neza doesn't respect either of those parts of you right now, because to her, the diplomat is a liar, and the Jedi Master is a self-righteous know-it-all who's judging her from atop a lofty pedestal. And she's not the only one who feels like that." With that, Blaze turned and departed, leaving Alysia alone in the chamber. |
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| cipherhornet | May 14 2014, 12:38 PM Post #4 |
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Werda'Aureti Shuttle Bay Black Talon GHQ An Nu-class Shuttle gracefully swooped into the hangar bay of the Black Talon's headquarters, it's wings folded up, and landing struts lowered. It flared to a stop before setting down, it's engines powering down, and then the nose-mounted ramp folded down. A group of troopers in black armor, with the "bee-hive" style helmet that once was the trademark of clone paratroopers, stepped down the ramp, with a raven haired woman in a black jumpsuit and a trooper in camouflage "Scout" armor followed them. Senior Commander Mako and Jedi Knight Dione Windtide walked in step together as the troopers dispersed to turn in their gear. "Not much of a scouting mission." The woman said quietly, "We seem to have made no progress." "No, not that." Mako replied, also quiet, "It just means that too little is going on." "I'm suspicious of that." Dione commented. "You should be. If you weren't, I'd think you were getting complacent." Mako said with a grim chuckle, "There is never a case of "nothing" going on. Not unless everyone is dead." "I agree. The calm before the storm, I would say." Dione replied. "Yeah. The question is though: what storm? With the Empire falling to shambles, the New Republic picking up the pieces, and everyone trying to just get a slice before order is restored, it's a good question to ponder." Mako said, pulling off his helmet. He was a Fett-clone, but there was very little to physically distinguish him from his brothers, aside from the fact his hair was dyed black to conceal any signs of grey hair. This was good, if he had to infiltrate Stormtrooper ranks, though. "I've been sensing a growing disturbance. But it's always off on the horizon, and I never can tell what it really is." Dione explained. "Have you talked to Master Rigel?" Mako asked. "No. I try not to. She is difficult to deal with." Dione replied, shaking her head. "That's irrelevant now, Shadow. You never turn away a resource just because you don't care to deal with it." Mako said. "I know. I try to deal with her positively, but when she says something, I can feel the distrust she has for me." Dione explained, shaking her head again, "It makes me question if she believes what I have to say." "That's a failure on her part as a leader, then. If your subordinates are wrong, you call them on it and you help them correct their mistake. If your subordinates are right, then, you support them. Anything else is incorrect." Mako explained. Dione glanced at him. "I hope you don't take this the wrong way, Mako, but I'm glad you're so detached. You offer perspective that is unbiased." Dione said, with a small smile. "It's my job, Shadow." Mako replied with a nod, "But...ah...thank you." "Right. I forget how well you take compliments." Dione said, "Good work, today, Commander. I'll catch up with you later, go over the intel." "Very good. And keep me updated on your meeting, Shadow." Mako said. The two parted directions, Mako heading to the locker room, while Dione headed for the turbolift nexus. Mako was quite obviously not a sociable type, and only interacted with people as much as he had to, but Dione felt that their bond was at least as close as either one would get to being friends. He had taught her the ways of clandestine warfare, to be ever vigilant. Punctuality and efficiency, teamwork and self-reliance, versatility and lethality, these were tenants he lived by, and had shown her. This was the way of the Shadow, once a sect of the Jedi who secretly defended the Order from those who sought it harm. These were now the ways she lived by. Dione made her way through the home base of the Black Talons, crossing turbolifts and corridors to reach the chambers of Master Rigel. She was not as vocal as Neza Chanden was in her distrust of the Jedi Master, and in fact, it was only a result of Master Rigel's own distrust towards her that had caused a schism between her and the senior Jedi. She stopped at the door and pressed the call button, but got no answer. Dione pressed it again, but still nothing. She turned to leave when she saw Master Rigel approaching. She could sense a torrent of feelings swirling around the Jedi Master, struggling to remain contained. Dione bowed in greeting. "Master Rigel." Dione said, "I came to speak with you." "Oh. Knight Windtide. Yes, of course, please." Alyisa said, opening the door and letting Dione in first. Dione crossed over to the desk, sitting down in front of it, and waited for Alyisa to sit down as well. "Master Rigel, I know we've had our disagreements. But I've come for counsel. I have been feeling a disturbance in the Force, but I can't pin down what it is." Dione said. "I know. I've felt it too. There is a great evil on the horizon, looming ahead as if it were waiting." Alyisa said. "But, I do not know more than that." "I see. What do we do?" Dione asked. "...I don't know, Dione. And I fear that we have become fractured." Alyisa said. "We have." Dione replied, "Master, if we are to come together once more, we must have leadership that we can trust, and we must also have subordinates who can be trusted by their leaders. We've let the ways of the old and ideas of new dictate things without direction." "I know. Neza refuses to listen to me any longer, and I fear that Voka'Kaar is falling into a hell of his own making." Alyisa replied. "Neza believes that we must embrace the ways of the clones, and Voka'Kaar clings to ideals that were simply not possible. They're extremes of their respective sides." Dione explained, "Neza is a Guardian, she has been trained to fight to defend the galaxy and Jedi Order. But she bears guilt as well, survivor's guilt. She could not stop the Empire from wiping out the Order, and like the clones, when Palpatine died by the hand of another, they felt they failed to carry out their duties." "Voka'Kaar is a Consular, as you and I are...as I was. His Master was like you, believing that such a path is one to be walked with intellectual and spiritual enlightenment, that if you have to raise your weapon, you have failed. But where you accepted that this is an imperfect galaxy, and there are those who prefer ignorance and only know of violence as a means to an end, he has not." "And you?" Alyisa asked. "I have embraced a new path. I am not the fighter that Neza is, but I will not relinquish my weapon like Voka'Kaar. Instead, I have changed my pursuit of knowledge to pursuit of information. I cannot fight in the open, so I do so from the shadows. But I am still a Jedi. We all are. And that is something that I believe we have forgotten." Dione replied. Alyisa stood up and paced to the center of her meditation space. "We are the last of the Order's Knights and Masters. In fact, it is fair to say that all three of you should have been made Masters long ago." Alyisa explained, "And I agree with you. We must come together. For the sake of the Black Talons, and the sake of the galaxy." "I will stand with you, Master." Dione said, standing up, "I only grew apart when I felt you no longer trusted me. I harbor no ill-will for you. Bearing a grudge is not the Jedi way." "I have grown apart from everyone." Alyisa replied, "But we must change that. If you would please, I need Neza to come here." "You don't have to look far." Neza said from the doorway. She wore her white jacket over her green shirt, though her attire was still the same otherwise from the fight, and also included her lightsaber at her belt. Dione turned and nodded to her colleague. "I didn't want to come, but Firewall convinced me to give you a shot." Neza said, sounding a bit reluctant to have done so, "But I also asked Voka'Kaar to come as well." Behind her, a blue-skinned Twi'lek male stepped in, clad in a simple black tunic and matching pants. He constantly looked at the floor, glancing only once at each other occupant of the room. Neza closed the door behind them. Alyisa approached them all. "Neza, your strength of will and skill on the battlefield has made you a highly respected warrior. We all bear the scars of war, but you cannot continue to hold onto your guilt." Alyisa said. "What guilt?" Neza asked, defensively. "You did not fail the Jedi Order or the Republic. By living on today, you are still defending both. Palpatine may not have fallen by our actions, but he has been served for his crimes. We must move on." Alyisa said, "Let your blade shine hope for those who suffer today. Stand as the bastion against those who continue to do harm. Regretting the past is not our way." Neza paused. "I...I know. But..." Neza trailed off. "Our survival is the greatest achievement, our greatest victory. We may not have been the ones to bring justice to Palpatine and his Empire, but we defied him by living." Dione said, placing a hand on Neza's shoulder, "And now, we can return, bring hope to those who have none, justice to those who have shunned it." Neza nodded, silent. Alyisa turned to Voka'Kaar. "Voka'Kaar, I know you struggle each day. It is admirable that you have remained as true to your beliefs as you can, but you cannot torment yourself like this. The Jedi will always seek enlightenment, but we also have to accept that this is an imperfect galaxy. I believe your Master wanted it to be such, just as you do, but you cannot continue to deceive yourself." Alyisa said, "You are a brilliant man, and you have a caring heart. But to torture yourself over what you cannot change will lead you astray. Accept what you cannot change, and be prepared to change as well. That is being truly enlightened." "Master...I cannot bring myself to end another life or help others who do." Voka replied. "I once thought as you did. I could not believe it when the Clone Wars broke out, I thought there was a hope for peace without bloodshed. But I also realized that if I did not fight, I would help those who sought to perpetuate the greater evil. All Jedi must be ready to defend those who cannot do so themselves from evil. To stand by and allow evil to continue, that is the greatest evil of all. You can remain in the labs, but you will start carrying your lightsaber once more. It is as much a part of our life as the Force." Alyisa said, "I will help you as much as I can, but you have to learn to live with the fact that we live in an imperfect galaxy and to stop torturing yourself over it." "...yes, Master." Voka nodded. "As for me...I know I have not led you as a Master should. And that is my failing. I have clung to old ideas without willingness to change. Our knowledge grows when we accept new ideas, when we let go of preconceptions. We cannot remain apart and hope to remain strong. Distrust and spite are the ways of the Dark Side, not of the Jedi. I think we have lost sight of what it means to be Jedi. And that has to change." Alyisa said. She led the way over to her meditation center. All four Jedi sat down in a circle, looking to one another. "There is no emotion; there is peace." Neza started. "There is no ignorance; there is knowledge." Dione said. "There is no passion; there is serenity." Voka said. "There is no chaos; there is harmony." Alyisa said. "There is no death; there is the Force." They all concluded in unison. They all began to enter meditative trances, their eyes closed as they opened themselves to the Force. Neza's lightsaber began to orbit around her, Dione remained perfectly still, almost beginning to fade into the background, Voka looked upwards as if looking at the stars beyond, while Alyisa floated just above the floor. After a few moments, they were back to normal, and looking at each other. "It was dark...so dark..." Voka said quietly. "Anger. Hatred. Strife." Neza added, also quietly. "Looming in the distance, as if waiting." Dione whispered. "It's clouded the future, shrouded it's origins. Whatever this disturbance may be, we must be ready for it to strike." Alyisa said, standing. "When it comes, Master, you'll have my blade." Neza replied, standing. "Vigilance is my sword, the shadows my shield. From the shadows, I will shine light upon it." Dione added, standing. "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good beings to do nothing. I may not be on the frontlines, but I will do my part." Voka said as he stood, finally looking at the others and not the ground. "I will trust in your skills, if you can trust in my guidance. All I ask is we stand as one, help one another rather than turn each other away." Alyisa said. "I'll ensure the Defenders are ready. And I'll talk to Blaze. He and his troops will not let this darkness without a fight." Neza said. "Wherever it hides, Mako and I will ensure that it cannot remain there for long." Dione said. "Firewall and I will gladly make sure that you all have the tools to fight and survive." Voka concluded. "Then may the Force be with us all." Alyisa said. |
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1:47 AM Jul 11