Heart of Darkness (DMed Story)

[Darth Caecus]

“No, it is impossible; it is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one’s existence--that which makes its truth, its meaning--its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible. ​

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We live, as we dream--alone.”​

-Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness​

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In 435 ABY, the lights started to go out across the galaxy. One by one, system after system fell to darkness. To silence. The Gulag Plague swept to the very edges, snuffing out the perpetually fragile heartbeat of life on planet after planet. A hush fell over the airwaves. Ships waited, uncrewed, in their berths.

And the dead watched, expectant.

In the darkness, she had waited. Cold and isolated, for the first time in memory, she saw the galaxy at peace. There was a serenity in the silence. A balance that it had lacked. Somewhere, in the shadows, there was a sigh- of relief, perhaps, that it was over. The untroubled privacy of an almost personal galaxy suited her in a way the roiling chaos it had once been never could. In the solitude she smiled again.

Almost 400 years passed. It was slow at first. Easy to miss. But one by one, those lights began to come back on. Life crawled back out of the aphotic depths, reaching back to the stars again. The smile faded. The light shone too brightly. The noises of life rent and grated. Dismayed, she watched still, no longer the dead amoung the dead, as life once more found a way.

She withdrew, thoughtful. And resentful. Because she now had known both cacophony and stillness. She watched as the galaxy swung once more from tranquility to the raging maelstrom that life brought with it. Eventually, she decided one thing for certain.

She liked the silence better.

The Omega​

The grey swathed figure hadn't moved for hours. The command crew moved like water around a stone, swift and flowing as preparations were made. Reports came in, were offered, and greeted only with silence.

Kith Verloren, better known as Darth Molior watched the planet beneath them rotate as the hours passed. Dressed in simple, faded clothing from a bygone era, there was nothing in her appearance to mark her as the leader here. But the deference given to her and the eerie aura of stillness she commanded around her required no translation. Bone white hair, bleached by time, hung long past her shoulders. Skin, pale, cold, ashen in undertone. The preternatural stillness extended even to her breath and heartbeat- both absent in that silence.

It had been inevitable that they would come. She had held no illusions that they could keep the Omega a secret forever. They had done all that they could to protect it. Fleets circled the planet like angry swarms of wasps. Their ground forces waited, prepared to die- but more importantly, prepared to kill, down on Castameer below. The Omega itself hung like a platinum jewel in space above the planet, the culmination of years of work, of intrigue. She cared not at all for the One Sith, that flawed and foolish fellowship, that many here, now loyal to her and her vision, had once sworn an oath to. They were hers now, entwined in her vision. Zealots- True Believers. Their passion always surprised her, startling her out of her reveries, almost painful in their intensity. But that would all be over, soon enough. Such useful, energetic creatures these.

She loathed them all.

​

Castameer​

They came to Castameer to stop a weapon who's full capacity none of them completely understood. They came from the clans of the Mandalorians. From the First Order and the Galactic Alliance. They came from the myriad Jedi and from the crumbled Sith. Too many factions that spanned the Galaxy- and they came, though perhaps the motives of some were suspect.

They arrived alone. They arrived in groups. Some even brought armies. Ships arrayed in dizzying numbers against the enemy fleet that surged around the planet. But on the surface, they gathered, coalescing in to loose affiliations that allowed them to fight together without simply devolving to murder.

They gathered in three locations.

The Jedi, The Galactic Alliance, The Galactic Republic, The Kathol Outback and their allies converged on the Strip Mines. Under guarded, and with rumor of a potential slave rebellion brewing, this possible avenue up to the Omega appealed for a multitude of reasons. The ability to both hit back at the Rogue Sith and free the enslaved wretches was impossible to pass up. Leading to Pollux Airbase, it offered a way up to the Omega with desirable side effects.

Spoiler

[member="Tiland Kortun"] [member="Thoja Arlos"] [member="Xiarr Sair"] [member="Matsu Ike"] [member="Zark"] [member="Bryce Bantam"] [member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Zonia Kalranoos"] [member="Arisa Yune"] [member="Dax Fyre"] [member="Choli Vyn"] [member="Kira Vaal"] [member="Galen Adina"] [member="Aerion Ivelisse"] [member="Audren Sykes"] [member="Macharius Solaire"] [member="Claire Ouron"] [member="Riven Black"] [member="Jaster Starfallen"] [member="Solan Charr"] [member="Raeya Papanoida"] [member="Karen Roberts"] [member="Maeriala Lavellan"] [member="Viktoria Kess"] [member="Jakkor Kess"] [member="Lucien Galtier"] [member="RC-506 Lock"] [member="Jatt Cath"] [member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

The combined Mandalorians, The Black Sun, along with mercenaries and others found the ground battle taking place at the Voracion Citadel to be too tempting a target. Both familiar and straight forward, the battle there offered a unique chance to infiltrate the Citadel under cover of rampaging death. As armies clashed, it would allow this smaller group to enter, hopefully unnoticed, and find a way up to the Omega.

Spoiler

[member="Ra Vizsla"] [member="Rhan Komo"] [member="Damien Daemon"] [member="Lyth Meran"] [member="Thraxis"] [member="Flannigan Mcnash"] [member="Cadan Tazi"] [member="Ghorua the Shark"] [member="Korro Kenyu"] [member="Ronan Vizsla"] [member="Rylan Thatcher"] [member="Nara Basaar"] [member="Werah Unon"] [member="Drogh"] [member="Cole Dagos"] [member="Arla Balor"] [member="Dean Letham"] [member="Funky Balor"] [member="​Nima Tann"] [member="Elpsis Elaris"] [member="Charlyra Araano"]

The Sith, The First Order, Dark Jedi and their allies saw the opportunity in the Sith Academy. Both as a source of ingress, and as a treasure trove of lore and personnel. Perhaps those in this place of learning could be suborned in to helping reach the Omega- and if not, then they would be subdued in the wave that was coming toward them. Surely here, was a way up to the Omega.

Spoiler

[member="Atheus"] [member="Vustia"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Matsu Xiangu"] [member="Wolf"] [member="CT-47B"] [member="Tyger Tyger"] [member="Mael Ren"] [member="Thresh Sken"] [member="Daxton Bane"] [member="Kierel"] [member="Darth Ophidia"] [member="Nomar"] [member="Jude Falkrowe"]

They came, in hopes of reaching the Omega before it was too late. ​

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Some in hope to destroy it utterly. ​

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Others, perhaps, to claim it for their own. ​

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Only time would tell just what would happen once they all reached​

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The Heart of Darkness​

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

LOCATION: Outside the Sith Academy
CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Make sure nothing is broken.
ALLIES: None yet.

Spoiler

DM: I have no idea what I'm doing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So please let me know if I should edit/start elsewhere. Any Sith/darksiders that wanna hang, just tag me. [member="Atheus"] [member="Vustia"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Wolf"] [member="CT-47B"] [member="Tyger Tyger"] [member="Mael Ren"] [member="Thresh Sken"] [member="Daxton Bane"] [member="Kierel"] [member="Darth Ophidia"] [member="Nomar"] [member="Jude Falkrowe"]

The snow hissed in her ears as it melted in the face of fire.

Her eyes were squeezed shut in pain as she gripped at the wreck of her one-seater, pulling herself from its husk before she too melted like the permafrost biting in to her back. She’d come in something small - after all, these days she preferred solitude and when she’d heard whisperings of the Omega she’d set out without thought. There was no time to gather her Children, no time to prepare. But she always needed to see, to know. And she had not been disappointed. The thing up there in the sky was almost alien; space had swallowed its constant hum but she had felt its power. It made her angry.

This was her galaxy to destroy.

But as expected, nothing so powerful was without its protection and she’d been shot from the sky without ceremony. Hard to kill, she finally dropped down in to the snow with a soft thud and a groan of relief. Dragging a few paces from the wreck, she pulled herself to her feet and looked around.

For a moment she felt entirely alone, the wind whipping long strands of black hair against her high cheekbones, a bitter breeze that brought more than a chill with it. And then she saw the tiny black pinpricks of movement down in the valley below, making their way towards an academy flanked by the Sith’s usual proclivity for large monuments.

She started moving too.

 

[Matsu Ike]

Location: THe Strip Mines enroute
Allies: [member="Arisa Yune"] [member="Karen Roberts"] [member="Claire Ouron"]

Matsu remained quiet and careful as she was focusing the force around her, the small grouping that she had here on the world had been trying to find a better way as she checked the datapad using the probe droid. Her ossus guardian robes making her visible to see but providing her with the highest level for intel gathering she could get. Their arrival she doubted would have gone unnoticed but she was hoping to at least prevent more as the jedi Master focused on a small group and herself to focus the force before moving into cover with the icy landscape. "Alright lets see who is around and where they are." Matsu said it while looking up for a moment pointing and sending the probe droids out to gather information, some small red eye brobes to start getting the information and scouting ahead so not to be surprised. She was also looking to see who else might have made it to the planet as they had used the quick insertion Rac with a small group that could arrive. The jedi master didn't need to bother with stealth in the force as there was going to be a lot of people wanting to come here but she could at least sneak around for now thanks to the white robes and her very white skin. The songsteel force swords on her back, her blaster and lightsabers all working in conjunction with what she wanted to do when a familiar presence was there. She could feel the only other person in the galaxy on the planet as well as the heavy sith presence.

 

[Ra Vizsla]

Voracion Citadel​

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THE 5TH GATE​

[member="Kith Verloren"]


"Brothers,"

Windswept snowflakes blasted against the beard of Ra Vizsla, Mand'alor of the united Clans, his wolf cloak flowing tightly around his massive frame.

"Every man here today is free.

Every Clan, sovereign.

But beyond those gates..."

The goliath Gurlanin marched through the thick snow bank towards the edge of the cliff overlooking the first gate they would have to bombard of the Citadel.

"...Beyond those gates, there are men who want to take your freedom. Who wish to subjugate your sovereignty. Men who would see the end of our sons, our daughters, our way of life. We come here not as allies of the Jeedai, the Sith'ari. I didn't sound the call to war on this... rogue bastion of Sith to defend the free people of the Galaxy."

His beskad made his way into the air, and the basilisk war droid that had accompanied him on Kashyyyk stepped forward in the snow, seemingly shaking the blizzard off of it's back.

"I brought you here because I made a promise, a promise I intend to keep, a promise I have so far kept.​

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We're going to kark every Sith until they're six feet in the ground.​

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Sound the drums.​

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Unleash the horns.​

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Let them hear it.​

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Let the Galaxy hear it.​

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The Mando'ade come not as heroes, or legends, or defenders of good against evil​

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We come not as fodder for the Jeedai, nor as slaves to the Sith​

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We come as ​

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Conquerors."​

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Basilisk War Droids screeched.​

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Horns echoed off the mountains of Castameer.​

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Drums began to pound.​

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And a black smoke began to pour down the valley towards the 5th Gate.​

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The Invasion had begun.​

 

[Choli Vyn]

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Location: Strip Mines
Allies: Any lightsiders

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Choli gave a small groan. It had been a good idea to begin with. Well, she thought it was a good idea. The thing was that as soon as she flew in to provide cover fire, her right engine got hit. The end result was one Rogue Seven crashing into the Strip Mines. It was by sheer luck that her snubfighter didn't blow up with the skidding landing, so now she was there half unconcious.

Would anyone help her? Or will she end up having to wait a bit before she regained her full bearings.

As it was, the young sixteen year old would be seen lolling to the right of her smoking cockpit. It was cracked open, and one could barely see a trickle of blood sliding down her cheek. She didn't have any broken bones, but there were be bruises a plenty.

 

[Visser Chernykh]

Location: Within the vicinity of the Sith Academy
Objective: Remove resistance, gather heretical materials, find the Omega weapon
Allies: The First Order, the Knights of Ren. Join us or be swept into the refuse pile of history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm8D7pZeGss

Mael Ren waited alone and yet he knew he wasn't really by himself. The Order of Ren was legion and more would come. Together they would scour this frozen hellhole and find whatever this Omega was. Driving snow and vast fields of ice couldn't stop the will of Sieger Ren.

He'd spoken to his most loyal followers before he'd sent them here. Even now Mael could feel the electric thrill of his Leader's gaze upon his genuflecting form. The Supreme Leader had spoken and his mere word was stronger than oaths. They had come for Omega.

Sieger Ren in his wisdom recognized Omega as a threat. It could destabilize the galaxy and impede his will. This wouldn't be tolerated. Mael Ren felt his anger building at the thought of these Sith defying his master.

The Sith belonged in the refuse pile like all discarded things. The First Order was the future. All who interfered would receive the punishment they were due. No mercy for resistance.

 

[Tiland Kortun]

Approaching the mines

So this was how all things concluded, Tiland thought, as he stepped from the ship into the snow at the insertion point. The rest of the Jedi team was disassembling in the area, by the feel of it. In a world cloaked by darkness, the Light was beginning to build. As life bloomed upwards, so did the Light. The Dark had grown too strong here, too bitter, and too much. As in all things, balance was beginning to be restored. His staff thumped against the ground as the newly knighted Jedi strode away from the vessel.

There was work to be done here, the allied forces to be assembled, and then to infiltrate through the mines and lead a slave revolt. Just a day of business as usual the Jedi. Probe droids zipped past, and Tiland followed them idly. Information was valuable, but he felt there were better ways to find it than through droids. He reached out with the Force, expanding his presence to gently touch the other Jedi and seek the best way to proceed.

The Force roiled here, full of conflict and death. Such as things were in such battlefields. But most noticeably, a fighter had come crashing down towards the ground not far away. Tiland hefted his satchel and strode towards it, picking his way along the ground.

A healer's first duty was to be where the wounded were. He tightened his robe as he approached, pausing to survey the situation. Alliance fighter, by the look of it, and the pilot, well, she looked very young to be a pilot, even by human standards.

"Can you hear me?" He asked, kneeling beside the girl, and puling out a few leaves. He crushed them to allow the smell to waft towards her nose. They would help revive her and he could assess the rest of the injuries.

[member="Choli Vyn"]

 

[Jsc]

The Strip Mines
w/ [member="Matsu Ike"] - Landing


[SIZE=9pt]"The Imperial Strip Mines. Built to supply the Sith presence on the planet with the valuable crystals and minerals that are hidden under the frozen surface of Castameer. This place employed the greater number of enslaved beings that have been kidnapped across the Unknown Regions and Wild Space. The area is not heavily defended, but is surrounded by a fenced in shantytown where the slaves reside and is constantly guarded by elements of the Sith ground forces. Rumors of a leader possibly trying to raise the slaves up have reached the Sith’s ears, and any signs of resistance or rebellion are savagely put down. On the outside of the wall, a sprawling complex of droid automated factories churns out war material and other supplies necessary to fuel the Imperial war machine." ~ The Codex[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]"Arriving with the Galactic Alliance Fleet into the forzen horizon of Castameer. Karen Roberts of Denon and her X-Wing Type-R were tasked by The Divine Circle to reinforce the military advance onto the Pollux Airbase. Outside of Sith cannon range, the Imperial Strip Mines would serve as her landind zone on-world, and the beginning of the operation. The beginning to the end." ~ Sid's Log, The Omega War[/SIZE]


Her X-Wing Recon* landed near the prefabricated trailers of the Strip Mines construction barracks. Already the mud and the frozen wet earth burned with pillars of leaping fire. The Sith vehicles that surrounded the construction trailers were nothing more than crumbled piles of burning, smoking slag. Filling the frozen air with large plumes of black smoke. They had been the targets of bombs and lasers, and the unending wraith of friendly starfighters. Make no mistake of this chill beginning. No. This frozen world was burning.

Karen Roberts of Denon dismounted her cockpit in her all black Gem's Coat*. A daring woman's spacesuit with a faceless black helm. Her dark boots greeted the frozen soil with a slushy wet and slippery clamor. Letting herself slowly sink down into it's messy earthen embrace. Disgusting. Truly, a wandering wasteland to the most defiled of senses. The Imperial Strip Mines. Oh, and how she hated them.

R2 beeped his compliance to stay with the ship as the dark figure withdrew her Distruptor Carbine*, her lightsabers, and her personal energy shield from the vessel. Nearby she could already sense the presence of some very familiar probe droids. (Was [member="Matsu Ike"] nearby?) ...Indeed, already our brunette conqueror was focusing her super-human prescience sight out into the future. Using the Force to both cloak her own presence to the enemy and to discern deeper into the every-moving currents of the Force.

Surrounded by burning vehicles, smoke that choked the air, and poised at the base of her ship. Karen Roberts of Denon, black helm concealed, braced herself for the future.

___

 

[Kenrath]

Voracion Citadel
The 5th Gate

Allies: [member="Ra Vizsla"]

Enemy: [member="Kith Verloren"]

Cole was not Mandalorian.............though with each passing day he had felt more at home with them than anywhere else since he left Eshan at 18. Cole had never met Ra Vizsla...............Mand'alor of these people. He heard the speech standing in usual concealed look. His head was covered, his face was covered, the Echani battle armor covered. His Echani Vibroblade in a sheath on his back. A heavy blaster pistol in a holster on his hip rounded out what he brought with him.

While not sure what to expect Cole was ready to surge forward. Surge through those gates and meet whatever was on the other side head on. He briefly closed his eyes as the horns and drums sounded before he opened them back up glancing quickly at the man or woman to his left and right before looking back to Mand'alor his blade pulled from it's sheath and raised ready to surge forward.

 

[Choli Vyn]

Location: Strip Mines
Allies: Any lightsiders
IMMEDIATE VICINITY: [member="Tiland Kortun"]

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Well THAT would work!

Choli gave an abrupt start, her eyes snapping WIDE open at the sudden sharp scent of bitterness. Much like smelling salts, they had the ability to 'shock and awe' someone into consciousness. From behind the yellow tinted visor, the young sixteen year old began to blink very rapidly, her blurry vision attempting to come to terms with the acrid smoke and the sudden peach and grey shape in front of her.

And BOY did her ears ring.

"Huh, what ch--" a muffled curse managed to slip from her mouth. Up on top a low beep would be heard. It was her Pebble drone Astromech. A little worse for the wear but would be fine.

Vision slowly clearing up, Choli stared up at an unfamiliar face.

"D.." she swallowed hard, voice croaking. "Did I get 'em?"

She meant the TIE fighter she'd been tailing to protect Alliance shuttles landing at the strip mines.

 

[Aithne Charr]

Location: Enroute to the Strip Mines, by foot.​

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Nearby Individuals: That Crashed pilot [member="Choli Vyn"] and [member="Tiland Kortun"], Also maybe the elf lady @Maeriala Lavellan. Heck, maybe even [member="Taeli Raaf"], who knows.​

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Solan whistled as he walked over what was generally miles of clear dust in all directions, his body obscured by as much cloth and coverings as he could after having landed with an engine blown out but otherwise unscathed. Some were not so lucky, having flown in and been shot down, a specific instance not too far away as he walked and thought to himself. He had come down with a few others, each with their own plans and going off on their own but not once had he looked behind him to see if any were heading for the downed fighter as he had thought to. Sure there was a mission going on but seeing as he had to play nice with these Jedi for a bit... considering most probably would kick him in the ass for any rash actions, a gold star action would probably help out.​

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It's a shame Jedi didn't drink more often, then he might actually not get in constant trouble with them.​

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Oh well, things happen and there was a fighter to check on, one he had been getting closer to as he watched the smoke rise up from the ground and mark itself. He wondered if the pilot had started off in one direction or the other yet and as he thought of this the black form of a small ashlan wolf leaped from his clothing. It would be able to reach the fighter faster than him and run off ahead, hoping to reach its pilot before something more or someone other than him showed up.​

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What [member="Choli Vyn"] and [member="Tiland Kortun"] would come to see in a few minutes was the small form of a pitch black wolf-like create trying to help her out as best it could, showing not a hint of hostility as it would help her get any equipment she needed or even try to help free her if she needed the help. No words could come from the creature, and instead it used its paws and snout to try and direct her into what it was thinking and how it was trying to communicate with the woman who it was not linked to, clearly getting frustrated that Solan was so much slower than it even though he was much larger than it.​

 

[Leos Palle]

Location: Approaching the Strip Mines
Objective: Help the good guys
Allies: GA, GR, TKO

"Ladies and gentlemen, the task you are about to undertake is a grave one." A holo of Raeya appeared on the ship. Pre-recorded, but the crew, and the operatives of the New Republic didn't know that, save for one. "The Sith must be stopped. Whatever this thing is, it must be stopped. I'm asking you to risk your lives not for the Republic, but for the entire galaxy, and I do so with a heavy heart. I'm thankful for all that you do, and know that the New Republic's thoughts and prayers are with you all. May you rise from the shadows to strike down evil, and, as always, may the Force be with you."

With that, the recording would end. Aboard the drop ships, crews prepared to disembark. Soldiers, Jedi, volunteers. Anyone that had been willing was enlisted to go. Among there number a shadowy presence in the Force. Lancaster, she was called. Truthfully, she was really Raeya, but that was a closely guarded secret because of the nature of her being. She was not evil, but she harnessed its power from time to time, when the need arose, to strike down Sith and those that would perpetuate despair upon the galaxy. One, Atheus, had likened her to something called a sheep dog, and supposedly wearing sheeps clothing to surprise the wolves. She'd liked the analogy. It was accurate.

As the ship neared, she opened the hatch and jumped out, landing lightly on the ground. Though she was dressed in dark garb with red trim, easily mistakable for a Sith, the sigil of the New Republic was emblazoned upon her chest. She'd decided it would be a good idea not to be killed by the other good guys, after all. Others were nearby. If they were going to fight the Sith, it would be best if they worked together, so she approached them, hiding as best she could her Force allegiance, though her control wavered with her desire to slay Sith.

[member="Solan Charr"] [member="Rylan Thatcher"] [member="Karen Roberts"] [member="Tiland Kortun"] [member="Choli Vyn"]

 

[Claire Ouron]

Strip Mines: Enroute
Allies: [member="Matsu Ike"]

A young girl was accompanying the jedi master Matsu. She was dressed for the cold like Matsu but didn't have any fancy gadgets like her master. She was staring up at the sky, extremely nervous about the weapon floating in the sky. Having been raised on Alderaan she was well aware of what these "superweapons" could do from the history books. She looked over at her master, she was focusing on scouting the area ahead, Claire wished she could be so calm. It was her first real mission helping Matsu out here. "Good grief... It's so cold out here.." She said quietly.

 

[Matreya]

Damien stood not far from his Manda'lor, arms folded against his armored chest. This was the first true battle Damien was to be in, in several years. He found himself feeling a thrill, one he hadn't in millennia. It was going to be a grand thing. Clad in his Baka Battle Bodyglove, with his AEL Gunbelt loaded with three Betty Blasters, ammo galore and grenades out the wazo, as well as Lymmahtun at his hip, and Tantibus against his back.

The Manda'lor spoke, and he listened. They had come for no glory, or to hunt. Simply to dominate.

He was ready...

[member="Ra Vizsla"] [member="Kith Verloren"]

 

[Lark]

Lark sat atop a snow-capped cliff, gazing upwards towards The Omega. Snow began to cover his exposed face, making his already pale skin turn a frosty light blue. He didn't mind. He relished in the cold. The freezing dagger of the icy wind stung, it felt sharp enough to draw blood.

What a wonderful piece of art, he thought. Not only The Omega, wondrous as it was. Not only the battles that would soon rage around this cold, cold planet. Yes, all of this was a perfect scenery for a doomsday.

And yet...

Lark took a small pile of ash from a ship that had crashed nearby. He held it above his lap, contemplating his next move. There were far to many people here. The Jedi, Sith, and so many more. He was by himself, and even he could only do so much alone.

He held the pile of ashes in front of his face, and slowly, a soft breeze slowly blew them from his hand. They were carried upwards, and his gaze was once more drawn to The Omega. Lark had his answer.

He'd find a way up there, and see what glorious secrets it held.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Strip Mines: Rocky Landing

Pure and utter chaos, that was the only description for what was going on around this blasted world out in the Unknown Regions. The investigations at Ilum and Roxuli had uncovered evidence of this world named Castameer and Taeli had gone with the Alliance forces to deal with this group of Rogue Sith. Arriving in the system had been utter bedlam as not only was the Alliance here, but every major or minor power in the galaxy worth their salt was here, fighting each other and fighting the Rogue Sith.

"Brace! Brace! Brace!" a static-y voice said over the transport's intercom. Those with her all held on for dear life as their drop ship neared the strip mines, the only viable landing zone that was near enough to some air base they had detected. They couldn't get their boarding crews near enough to that massive ship that was giving her serious bad vibes, so the idea had become to get to that air base, steal some ships, and penetrate the defenses that way. Easier said than done... the ship rocked as incoming AA fire exploded around them, two transports taking direct hits as Taeli felt lives immediately end in the Force. Alarms blared and even the hardened marines and Jedi in the transport with her poured nervousness into the Force. Not even the Liberation of Coruscant had seen as much tension among the Alliance forces... but then some sort of superweapon hadn't been present.

There was a sudden plummet in her gut and a moment later, a shell exploded through the side of the transport, tearing holes in the hull and several marines lay lifeless on the ground, blood was everywhere. More alarms blared, the pilot screaming over the intercom to be ready for a rough landing. Smoke was billowing out of the side and through the new holes, making it difficult to breathe for those inside. She always hated landings like this.

There was a crunch, one she knew was metal hitting toughly packed snow and hard earth and the ramp lowered.

"Move it!" she yelled, directing everyone out as more transports landed at the LZ. Above them, the battle raged in the skies... in the distance, war was waged on the ground. A shantytown of some sort with walls surrounding it lay on the other side of the mines, most likely holding the slaves and workers here. Taeli saw a downed Alliance fighter and she rushed over to help the pilot and the Jedi next to her as he crushed something to try and stir her she guessed. A quick check in the Force told her the pilot was bruised up, but nothing was vitally wrong with her, but was also a Force Sensitive as well. The fighter had the squadron markings for a member of Rogue Squadron.

"You're going to want to save your medical supplies," Taeli said, putting hand on the pilot and speaking to her fellow Jedi. "It's going to be a rough road ahead, by all indications." A small pulse of the Force would leap from her hand to the pilot, giving her some more strength as the Jedi's medicine worked.

"And you're going to want to take it easy for a few minutes," she added to the pilot.

[member="Solan Charr"] [member="Choli Vyn"] [member="Tiland Kortun"]

 

[Zark San Tekka]

Location: Castameer, Lower Atmosphere, En Route to Strip Mines
Allies: Team Light Side
Objective: Infiltrate Omega Station

"Have I made a terrible mistake?"

It was the hundredth time Captain Zark Pulsar had asked the question since their shuttle had departed the flight deck of the Rebel's Hope, but the first time he had spoken them aloud. Next to him, Arix continued to operate the controls to the craft wordlessly. The silence was frustrating, especially since the cyborg's protective body suit prevented the Jedi Knight from reading his Padawan's face. The shuttle began to rock, at first from the turbulence of atmospheric entry and then from the turbulence of an unquiet sky.

"Hold on, this could get rough," Arix said, gloved fingers dancing over the controls, "We've joined up with the first wave of the insertion team, and most of their big guns are probably laid out to cover the Citadel, but they definitely know we're not tourists."

"I abandoned them when they needed me most," Zark moaned, certain they should go back.

"You did not abandon them," Arix finally replied, frustration obvious even in his voice's modulated tones, "You know why you're here, and you know it was the right call. You want to be on the bridge of some star cruiser when that station powers up, or fighting your way to stop it? I need you in the moment, Captain. I need your lightsaber."

"I'm with you, Arix," he nodded, gripping the hilt of the weapon he still wasn't used to carrying again, "Of course, where lightsabers fail....you ready back there, boys? Landing soon!"

Behind them, in the belly of the shuttle bay, the squad of Alliance special forces were triple checking their gear. With one final nod of assurance to the young Jedi, Zark moved from the cockpit and through the soldiers to the ship's rear hatch. Lightsaber in hand and figuring today to be one of those days, he figured it couldn't hurt to try and pick up meditating again. He had barely reached a semi-centered state when with a thump the shuttle landed and the hatch burst open in front of him. The yellow saber hummed to life as he led the charge off of the shuttle and into the narrow alley roads of the shantytown. His team had landed a short ways off from nearby friendly forces, and as he approached them he discovered to his amazement a face he recognized.

"Lieutenant Vyn?"

[member="Choli Vyn"] [member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Tiland Kortun"] [member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Bryce Bantam]

LOCATION: Flying through baddies, A LOT of baddies... (Orbit above Castameer aboard the Shining Starr)
CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Make it to the planet alive
ALLIES: [member="Kira Vaal] | [FONT=tahoma] [/FONT][member="Maeriala Lavellan"] | [member="Solan Charr"]

Bryce had dropped the Starr right into the heart of the battle. Lines upon line of massive capital ships lined up to begin pounding upon one another as he and the unlikely alliance of transports headed planetside.

"Force, come on you Omega karkers, clook at the Red Cross, got them all over the hull, we are a medical cutter!" Bryce shouted as his skilled pilot Alexa flew them through the soup of omega fighters. Even with the expert flying "the Starr's" shields were taking a pounding, if we wasn't needed on the command deck he would be in engineering helping his maintenance droids try to hold his advanced but jury-rigged shields together.

He had entered the system with friends, Kira and the legendary Millenium falcon to be exact. Both captains hoping to make a good accounting on this most desperate mission. Before engaging the enemy the two were hoping to fly together, Bryce the wingman to the amazing YT freighter and her accomplished captain. However, those plans had quickly gone to hell as the share numbers of enemy ships left everyone flying for their very lives.

Sparks flew and showered bridge as a conduit blew out from a heavy impact.

"Alexa watch out for the..."

Bryce was never able to finish his thought as "the Starr" was rocked by a direct hit. Warning sirens filled the air as sounds to electrical fires and twisting metal echoed in the crippled ship. Time seemed to slow as Bryce's crippled ship began to tumble into the planet's atmosphere. The ship began to roll violently as Bryce recovered from the shock.

"Alexa girl time to go..." He began to say but when he reached over to check on his ship's pilot he found she was already gone. Her eyes were still open but she was not with him anymore. A piece of metal from the console in front of her had broken loose and impaled here in the heart. Checking her one more time Bryce closed her eyes before unstrapping her and taking her an escape pod. As his ship died around him flashed back to all the great memories the two had shared in their short time together. Awaken from his memories by the only droid still functioning, his faithful Sady shocked him into reality was a quick prod from her welding arm.

It was time to go... The H-wing had done all it could for the boy, and Bryce knowing the ground was quickly approaching could do nothing else to honor her but climb aboard the escape pod with her body and Sady. He needed to try to live long enough to avenge... avenge them both...

 

[Tiland Kortun]

[member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Solan Charr"] [member="Choli Vyn"]

Tiland raised an eyebrow as the pilot stirred. Or stirred things up, perhaps. He wasn't entirely sure, but guessing the direction she was looking, he looked up to the sky.

"I think so, pilot," His voice was calm as he pulled out a small canister of water and dropped the leaves in to steep. Nothing some tea couldn't fix. Then again, there were very few things in the galaxy that a good cup of tea couldn't fix. Several centuries of healing had taught him that quite well. "Drink this."

A small black animal appeared nearby, and Tiland could sense its desire to help and to communicate. A clever creature, perhaps some sort of familiar even. Another Jedi appeared. Master Taeli Raaf, if Tiland remembered right. He gave her a nod as she assessed the situation. While her instructions to save his supplies were decent, he would be the judge of that one. These weren't crucial herbs, and certainly not even true healing herbs. He had many more in his satchel.

But those were only supplements. He reached into the Force, gathering it in himself, and then sent it to her wounds. Not much, but enough that they would no longer be a hindrance. That would have to do for now.

 

[Jakkor Kess]

Location: On foot to the Strip Mines.
Allies: [member="RC-506 Lock"] [member="Viktoria Kess"] [member="Xiarr Sair"] Any lightsiders.

Jakkor was on foot having landed the VCX-100 light freightor The Outlander hours ago in the outskirts of the Salt mines. He was covered in his usual desert style jedi robes minus the cloak of course. He nervously recited the Jedi code to himself as he walked the smell of salt in the air,and luckily for him didn't burn his nostrils as his face was covered in the usual Tusken Mask. He hoped that His Wife,and Master Viktoria didn't hear how nervous he was. He had not been in the battlefield since The Clone Wars,and even with all the nervousness of what was to come he also felt a rush of adrenaline as the warrior inside him screamed with joy at the thought of the battle that was to come. He had assembled the strike team consisting of his wife,A Clone Commando,and his old friend so that they might aid in bringing the Sith down.

He kept walking for what seemed like hours,and despite all these thoughts of battles he couldn't stop thinking about the little girl that was waiting for him at home,and she was one of the main reasons of how he would do everything in his power to make sure both of them made it out alive,and maybe if it was all over he would never wield his lightsabers in a while and would spend his days being a Father to his,and Viktoria's child. He sensed other Force Signatures in the area,and knew they couldn't be far. When he had entered the System he saw ships going in the same direction his was goin and hoped to catch up with them soon,and perhaps link up into a larger force.

After growing tired of walking he looked back and saw [member="Viktoria Kess"] right behind him,and said. "Master.. Do you feel the other Signatures here,and not far behind too." He said in the same nervous tone but also slightly irritated tone.