Hipsters Don't Lie: Jaleela Djalla

Next one by the great  , the unstoppable super-soldier and one-woman-army, Jaleela Djalla.  If Star Wars had a 'Captain America', she would be it.  

This one goes out to everyone who's served their country, past or present.  Thank you for your service and sacrifice from this grateful civilian!  Semper fidelis! 

 "I was a PFC on a search patrol, hunting Charlie down
It was in the jungle wars of '65
My weapon jammed and I got stuck way out and all alone
And I could hear the enemy moving in close outside...
 Just then I heard a twig snap and I grabbed my empty gun
And I dug in scared while I counted down my fate
And then a big marine; a giant with a pair of friendly eyes
Appeared there at my shoulder and said 'Wait!'

 When he came in close beside me he said:
'Don't worry, son, I'm here,
If Charlie wants to tangle, he'll have two to dodge!' 
I said, 'well thanks a lot!'
I told him my name and asked him his
And he said 'the boys just call me 'Camouflage'..." 

Well, I was gonna ask him where he came from when we heard the bullets fly
Coming through the brush and all around our ears
It was then I saw this big marine light a fire in his eyes
And it was strange but suddenly I forgot my fears...

Well, we fought all night, side by side we took our battle stance
And I wondered how the bullets missed this man
'Cause they seemed to go right through him, just as if he wasn't there
And in the morning, we both took a chance and ran... 

And it was near the river bank when the ambush came on top of us
And I'd thought it was the end and we were had
Then a bullet with my name on it came buzzing through a bush
And that big marine, he just swatted it with his hand!
Just like it was a fly!

And I knew there was something weird about him
'Cause when I turned around he was pulling a big palm tree
Right up out of the ground and swatting those Charlies with it
From here to kingdom come...

When he led me out of danger, I saw my camp and waved goodbye
He just winked at me from the jungle and then was gone
And when I got back to my HQ, I told 'em about my night
And the battle I'd spent with a big marine named Camouflage...

 When I said his name a soldier gulped, and a medic took my arm
And led me to a green tent on the right
He said "You may be telling true, boy
But this here is Camouflage
And he's been right here since he passed away last night...!
In fact, he's been here all week long...
But before he went he said "Semper Fi,' and said his only wish
Was to save a young marine caught in a barrage
So here, take his dog-tag, son,
I know he'd want you to have it now."
And we both said a prayer for a big marine named Camouflage...

So next time you're in a jungle fight and you feel the presence near
Or hear a voice that in your mind will lie
Just be thankful that you're not alone and you got some company
From a big marine the boys called Camouflage..."


 Stan Ridgway, 'Camouflage'

 
 
(This character - this entire team - had a rather tempestuous background.  A few players were leaving the group at that time and others were joining us. The initial concept for this one was an older, battle-scarred woman, someone who'd been though the Galactic Civil War for decades.  The original artist made her look much younger (and hotter) however, and it took me a while to talk the player around into accepting the look (I think a number of attractive R&B singers may have been the models for the reworking! The character of Moses Hightower from 'Police Academy' was another...).  She was made younger, the first graduate and ideal poster-girl for the Systems Alliance Emergent Project - 'biotics' trained for the battlefield, specifically to fight Jedi. Most Emergents are not the equal of a seasoned Jedi or Sith, and instead operate within a highly-trained SpecForce unit to take down their foes.  Jaleela here, on the other hand, is the equal of anything in the galaxy, being equally comfortable with melee weapons, rifles, shotguns or Force powers.)

To her enemies, she is greatly feared; an icon of war, a bloody demon given human shape and unleashed upon their throats.  To the Systems Alliance, she is a hero of the highest order, less of a person and more of an icon, a personification of their values.  She is the poster-child for the Emergent Project, and held up as the ultimate example of everything an Alliance soldier should be.   But for all the legend, she is flesh and blood; she is Jaleela Djalla, modest child of a simple people, and the Alliance is in her heart and soul. 

This is her 'official' Emergent outfit, for when stealth isn't required and she can charge straight into battle. Something of a human battering ram, she punches a hole through enemy defences, allowing the rest of Crimson Phoenix to make a surgical strike afterwards.  Jaleela has served in Crimson Phoenix longer than anyone, and everyone else looks up to her with something between respect and awe. She is fearsome sight to her enemies when she dons her visor, muscles straining and braids flying. She has a whole case full of medals, including the Corellian Cross (for gallantry in the field), the Illudium Star (for actions above and beyond the call of duty), the Kalidor Crescent (for 'conspicuous and intrepid courage at the risk of one's own life'), and the Medal of Mantooine (given to those who have distinguished themselves with exceptional and meritorious service). Some believe she is the most decorated soldier currently serving with the AIS, but she does not seek glory or fame, being commendably modest about her accomplishments.

Her attitude in general is never anything less than wholehearted, which makes even some of her companions nervous around her, having never met a soldier who never seems to feel any doubts, never questions a command or entertains any fears.  Some have jokingly suggested she is not truly human, being some kind of a programmed clone bred for war. That isn't true - she was taken from a tribal society friendly to the Alliance as a little girl when her Force Sensitivity manifested, given as a gift to the warriors who saved their world.  Jaleela grew up in the Emergent Project, and is wholly devoted to it (some say 'brainwashed' behind her back). The Alliance of Independent Systems is not her employer or even her cause - it's more akin to her religion, an unswerving faith in the merits of her faction.

Peculiarly, Jaleela does take some inspiration from the Imperial Stormtroopers and Jedi Clone Warriors - while most human troops fear and loathe clones, seeing them as no more than 'biological droids', Jaleela admires their bravery and selflessness, even though they serve the enemy. She believes their eternal souls are trapped in mortal bodies, and in mercy-killing them cleanly, she is sending their spirits back to the Source where their souls will be free once more.

Off-duty, she is personable and friendly, more than happy to enjoy shore-leave with her comrades and share herself with her Alliance brothers and sisters. While she is never anything less than totally supportive to her friends, even those who are close to her feel daunted by her seeming perfection, wondering if she sets a standard that even other Emergents cannot live up to.  Her commanding officers are full of nothing but praise, proclaiming her to be the ideal soldier, and many of them owe her their lives.


What she says:           

"Oh, I'm nothing special. Being part of the Alliance is what makes me what I am. It's my brothers and sisters in arms who are the real heroes."

What they say about her:

"I ain't sayin' shit, honeh! Last time we had a trainin' session, it was all o' us verses her.  She kicked all our asses real good, without breakin' a sweat! Still got some scars... I ain't talkin' trash 'bout someone like that..."

Shaela Niklas-Rann, Systems Alliance Pilot and fellow Emergent   

"Let me tell you, I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for the Special Forces gals. I was on New Valis, with a squad of marines, protecting the mining town when the Imperials hit us.  Squadrons of those soulless clone things, the air was thick with TIEs.  We'd called in reinforcements, but that would take time... But there was a squad of SpecForce guys in the area, and all we had to do was hold out.  Many of the men won posthumous Redbirds that day, and when it all came down to it, there was just me and Phaen left manning the big guns.  I knew I was hit, losing blood, but I was determined to sell my life dearly, taking those bastards down with me. I looked over to see Phaen slump over the E-Web, and I knew this was my time to die.  I looked up, into the darkness of the storm, and saw blue lights flashing in the clouds... The TIEs were crashing, as if they'd wronged some angry god. I just kept on firing, but as my vision darkened, I hear shouts and cries, and then... out of the smoke came this... She wasn't really a woman. She was some... primal totem, like the tribals tell it, some kind of jungle animal in human skin. She looked like she was seven feet tall, brown skin taut across huge muscles.  She lifted them stormtroops with one hand, smashed them to the ground like firewood.  She was covered in their blood, I've no idea how many she'd killed to get to us.  She slid up her visor, blood-red, and I looked up into the face of this... angel.  She didn't say anything, but her eyes said it all.  Then she picked me up like a child's toy in one hand, and hoisted Phaen in the other. Then...  I swear I wasn't dreaming... she hustled across to where the grav-tanks were arriving in support.  I blacked out then, but the medics said she saved my life, and she stayed with me until I made it back to camp.  Because of her, I'm alive to speak of it, and because of her, I got to see Phaen buried back on Delvin with full honours. No man left behind, that's Alliance creed, what makes us better than the Imps and the Feds.  I earned my second Redbird that day, but in truth, it belongs to that gal.  Bet she has a whole drawer full of 'em, heh!"

Captain Ette Shi'lou, Systems Alliance Sector Forces