Public 1313: Wasteland

[Xeno]

1313
Tags: Reicher Vax , Nero Drake , The Vulptex

Luxar | Klocto | Sword​

"For feth's sake," Xeno scowled, "Feeding into sensless violence? I haven't killed any of your people. I won't speak for the other unseen players here, but don't act like you are above the cycle of violence. You came to wage war with Pykes on land that is not your to defend, bringing weapons to fight it with. This isn't about moral victory. We do not want you here in our home just as much as the Pykes. Sith just rained hellfire on Coruscant killing millions. Bare the mark of the darkside and you stand with them, opposing their viewpoint or otherwise. If you truly opposed the Kainite either they wouldn't be in power or you'd be dead."

Xeno shot a glare at the man that was called Nero by the Sith Legionary. He wasted very little time attempting ripping the knife out of the man's hand with raw, telekinetic energy. Any man willing to hold another person at blade point to negotiate certainly wasn't getting his support.

"Stop shooting each other and go home," Xeno snapped. "The Pykes are contained. The longer you linger here the more of you get shot at and killed by whatever the hell clearly doesn't want you here. Do not waste their lives."

Klocto and Luxar had made quick work of the remaining Pykes, knocking them out and restraining them. The Rodian turned his head to the chaos, taking a puff of his cigarette before letting out a sigh.

"Don't waste your time making this a moral debate either," he added from afar. "He's blowing a blood vessel for a reason. Empires were born to crush the people. Your stupid red emblem is the mark of death and slaughter. Talk up how much you wanna defend and uplift, but face reality. You need to protect the people of the galaxy from your own Empire first. We chose our side. As long as you stand with the Sith in any capacity, their blood will always be on your hands. God knows we have enough sins crawling up our backs..."

Xeno scoffed, turning away. The ice melted as he did so.

"We're done here," he stated. "You're on your own. But start meddling in the lives of people who you don't understand and you'll wind up dead in a gutter. If these assassins don't kill you, the people of Coruscant will do it themselves."

Because they were all tired of outsiders dictating their lives. Luxar used his large mechanical body to gather up the Pykes, hauling them away. Xeno and Luxar were quick to follow, vanishing into the darkness of the night one by one. Xeno only offered one more word before departing.

"You lead your people into a death trap for nothing. Their lives are in your hands. The next blaster bolt is yours to take, not theirs."

Then gone, only the melted remnants of the ice remaining from their presence.

 

[The Vulptex]

Tag: Xeno Reicher Vax Nero Drake Jonyna Si
Names: Lyra, Samantha, Alex, Beatrix​

<Things are getting a bit dicey here. Do we re-engage?>

Before Vixen could answer, a new voice came over the comms.

<Negative ground team. Mentor here, calling in reinforcements. Eagle, hold your fire.>

The sudden sound of Si Tech Ladybugs and Roc Speeders filled the air. The group below had made quite the racket, and now the NJO had sent it's finest...

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Nero Drake Xeno Reicher Vax

"This is NJO Councilwoman Jonyna Si. I'm asking anyone on Platform Six still alive to drop your weapons, you're all under arrest."

It was a simple command, even if blunt as a Gadferri to the chest.

The Rocs hovered overhead, guns trained on the sith troopers. Jonyna had no idea why they were there, but she certainly had no intention of letting them free. The Alliance was already at war with their kind, this wasn't a matter of moral debate.

 

[Reicher Vax]

Location: Level 1313, Coruscant
Equipment: Standard Issue Sith Trooper Armor, Vibroblade, Standard Issue Blaster Rifle, Datapad, Cloak.
Tag: Nero Drake Cyran Vaas The Vulptex Xeno Jonyna Si

The icy remnants of Xeno's parting words lingered in the air as the darkened battlefield grew momentarily still. Reicher's crimson visor glowed faintly in the shadows, his stance unbroken despite the overwhelming tension, he wish he could talk more with the elusive swordsman as he permeated with emotion but yet reason. The echoes of Xeno's disdain, the subtle hum of NJO Rocs overhead, and the suffocating pressure of the moment all converged into a single decision point. The platform had become a theater of chaos, just as everything the GA touch did, but Reicher Vax was not one to leave without a calculated exit, They had done their job here at Coruscant and a damn good one at that.

The sudden crackle of his commlink broke the silence. <Lieutenant, this is Command. Reinforcements en route. Should be arriving now.>

Finally, Reicher responded to his HQ <Our cell is compromised, start looking to evacuate anyone who wishes to come aboard, they can move to Polis Massa and we could use all the loyalists we can get.>

Reicher's voice, cold and steady, cut through the comms to his squad. "Legionnaires, disengage. Defensive formation. Extraction imminent." His tone carried the same weight of discipline it always did, but there was a sharper edge to it now—a recognition that survival hinged on swift and precise action. Smoke grenades finally flew from the Legionnaires themselves as they prepared for the evac. Gunfire rained upon them from the might of the GA elite, damning many to die in this forsaken venture.

He turned briefly to the Legionnaire still under Nero's knife, her posture rigid but her gaze unflinching. Before the desperate hostage-taker could process the shift in momentum, Reicher's voice boomed again, commanding but calm. "Drake, drop the blade. This ends here. You'll find no escape in this chaos, but you have my word you'll leave alive if you surrender now."

As if on cue, the distant hum of drop ships came to a crescendo, the distinct silhouette of Sith Legion transports cutting through the haze above. Their arrival cast long shadows over the platform, the unmistakable crimson of Sith emblems stark against the neon-lit chaos of Coruscant's underworld. The transports hovered, their ramps already descending as squads of reinforcements, a mix of Sith troopers, armed civilians and gangsters prepared to deploy heavy weapons and provide medical assistance.

Reicher's visor shifted toward the hovering NJO Rocs. Jonyna Si's voice carried authority, but Reicher had no intention of engaging in a futile battle against Jedi and Alliance forces while his mission objectives were already compromised.

He activated an open channel, addressing the Councilwoman directly. "Councilwoman Si, this is Lieutenant Reicher Vax of the Old Guard, we have met already and your open hostility to good nature has not changed. My unit will withdraw immediately. We have no quarrel with the New Jedi Order or the people of Coruscant. Our mission was to neutralize Pyke operations and protect innocents caught in the crossfire. That objective is complete. Hostilities end here."

His tone was measured, devoid of bluster or bravado. He didn't need to explain himself further; he understood the NJO's stance and knew they wouldn't care for his reasoning. But he also knew the value of a calculated retreat—one that left no doubt about his unit's discipline and intent.
He motioned sharply to his squad, who began retreating with precision, their movements fluid despite the injuries sustained in the skirmish. The wounded were carried with care, their comrades forming a protective perimeter as the Legionnaires began boarding the transports. The Heavy weapons they had were low quality, a compromise the squad had to make to get them, so they wouldn't down a transport but could knock it around.

Reicher's gaze flickered toward the shadows where the Vulptex operatives had melted away. He didn't know who they were, but their efficiency had left an impression. He would remember their skill—and prepare for it in the future.

Finally, he turned toward Nero.

"Enough games," Reicher growled, his voice low but unyielding. "If you want to live, get on board. Otherwise, take your chances with the GADF, your choice."

​

 

[Nero Drake]

LEVEL 1313
Reicher Vax Cyran Vaas The Vulptex Xeno ​

---

"Nero Drake," he said, his voice resonating across the icy platform. "You've made an impressive mess of things."​

"My charm can have that effect on people."

Nero examined his options from behind the medic struggling against his grip. Distant floodlights betrayed the imminent arrival of speeders which never meant anything good on 1313. Something tugged against the blade he held weakening his grip.

"You're both the same!" the street kid glared, "Daimyos with too much power squabbling over religion while the rest of us burn."

His knife slipped so with no other choice Nero shoved the stormtrooper toward her commander roughly.

"This is NJO Councilwoman Jonyna Si. I'm asking anyone on Platform Six still alive to drop your weapons, you're all under arrest."

"Karabast!" Nero cursed. His luck appeared to be finally running out.

"Enough games," Reicher growled, his voice low but unyielding. "If you want to live, get on board. Otherwise, take your chances with the GADF, your choice."​

"We had a deal!" he stubbornly held out his palm, "My converter, sleemo!"

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Reicher Vax

"Councilwoman Si, this is Lieutenant Reicher Vax of the Old Guard, we have met already and your open hostility to good nature has not changed. My unit will withdraw immediately. We have no quarrel with the New Jedi Order or the people of Coruscant. Our mission was to neutralize Pyke operations and protect innocents caught in the crossfire. That objective is complete. Hostilities end here."

Jonyna simply raised an eyebrow from the inside of her Ladybug.

"The people of Coruscant are more than capable of being defended by those who actually care for them, thank you very much. Whatever ship you came in on, I suggest you leave on before the GADF Starfighter Corps scramble. I'll give you this one warning, intruder. If I find you in GA space again, I won't be so kind."

Under normal circumstances, she would've just ordered her men to open fire. Sith troopers like this weren't here to save people, they were there to convince the populous they were 'the good guys', so they could then be brought in later, and put into the sith boot.

She wasn't sure what this sith renegade wanted, but she didn't much care either.

What she did care about was making sure the surrounding areas were untouched. She had just spent the last few days helping fix them, after all.

 

[Reicher Vax]

Location: Level 1313, Coruscant
Equipment: Standard Issue Sith Trooper Armor, Vibroblade, Standard Issue Blaster Rifle, Datapad, Cloak.
Tag: Nero Drake Jonyna Si

The crackle of Jonya Si's voice over the comms was the last thread tying Reicher to this godforsaken battlefield. He listened in silence, her warning sharp and dismissive, as expected. Reicher knew how the New Jedi Order viewed Sith—how they saw him, his men, his Empire. Nothing he said would change their minds, not today, perhaps not ever. They were too entrenched in their dogma to see beyond the black and white of their war.

But Reicher Vax was not here to argue philosophy, as much as he would like to. He was here to survive, withdraw, and ensure his mission was completed with as much discipline as it had begun.

"Understood, Councilwoman Si," he replied calmly, his voice unwavering. "We will leave. I trust your people will see to what remains of the Pykes. Consider this a lesson in efficiency."

His visor tilted upward for a fraction of a second, locking on the GADF Rocs hovering above. A mental note—every detail of their technology, their deployment strategy—was cataloged for future reference. The battlefield may have been a loss, but Reicher Vax always left with something.

"Legionnaires," he said, his voice steady but firm through the squad comms. "Final defensive sweep. Secure our wounded and prepare for liftoff. Leave no man behind."

As the squad began their organized withdrawal, smoke still rising from lingering skirmishes and the remnants of ice melting into slick pools of water, Reicher turned his attention to Nero Drake, the ever-defiant swoop biker with a penchant for chaos. The Medic shoved toward Reicher stumbled but caught her footing, her helmet jerking in the direction of her commander. She gave a nod, silent but assured, as she backed away to rejoin the others boarding the dropship, as she ran back, she turned to Nero, gave him a simple thumbs up and then continued running back to the transports.

Reicher stared at Nero for a long moment, the crimson glow of his visor unreadable. The boy had caused more than his share of problems tonight, but something about his reckless resilience caught Reicher's attention. He saw no soldier in Nero Drake, but perhaps he saw something else—a survivor.

With a faint tilt of his head, Reicher gave a signal. One of the Legionnaires, a broad-shouldered veteran with scorch marks marring his armor, stepped forward with a bemused grunt. From his pack, he retrieved a small cylindrical device—a power converter—holding it up for Nero to see.

"You're lucky our quartermaster is a sucker for sob stories," the Legionnaire said, voice muffled by his helmet's modulator. He tossed the power converter into Nero's waiting hand with a deliberate flick. "Consider it a parting gift, kid. Try not to stab anyone else with it."

Reicher's voice broke through the exchange, low and firm. "Your games are done here, Drake. This is your exit." He inclined his head slightly. "You wanted to survive? Now's your chance. Take it."

Without waiting for Nero's response, Reicher pivoted sharply and moved toward the dropship, his movements precise and calculated. His Legionnaires had already begun boarding, carrying their wounded brothers and sisters with unshakable care. Even as the NJO speeders circled like predators above, the Sith troopers maintained their discipline, each step deliberate, every retreating motion exuding calm control.

Reicher stepped onto the ramp, pausing only to take in the scene one final time. The remnants of battle surrounded them—the shattered crates, the smoke, the blood mingling with the icy pools still lingering on the platform. He spared a glance toward the ninja's last known positions, admiring their skill, even as he silently resolved to root out their presence on Coruscant. The New Jedi Order had more friends in the shadows than he'd initially believed, and that would need addressing.

<Extraction complete,> Reicher reported calmly over his commlink to HQ as he moved fully aboard the transport. <Initiate phase two. Shut down the last remaining cell on Coruscant. Sweep for loyalists and extract anyone willing to relocate to Polis Massa. The cell's compromise ends here.>

The ramp closed with a mechanical hiss as the dropship's engines roared to life, lifting off and pulling away from the platform. Through a narrow viewport, Reicher caught one last glimpse of the GADF forces securing the area, their floodlights illuminating the dark. Councilwoman Si's voice echoed faintly in his mind—her warning, her disdain.

They'll paint us as the villains no matter what we do, Reicher thought grimly, watching Coruscant's endless cityscape recede below them. But history isn't written by the self-righteous. It's written by the survivors.

He turned from the viewport, his gaze sweeping over the Legionnaires, armed civilians and Sith aligned gangsters seated silently in the bay. Some clutched their wounds, others their weapons, their battered armor a testament to the fight they had endured. Even now, they remained calm—ready for the next mission, the next challenge.

Reicher addressed them, his voice cutting through the hum of the dropship's engines. "Tonight was a lesson. The enemy won't always be who we expect. The fight won't always be fair. But we completed our mission, and we'll do it again—because that's what we are. Discipline. Strength. Unity. We are the Old Guard, and we will not falter."

"Long Live the Sith Empire, Long Live the Legion!"

-END-​

 

[Nero Drake]

LEVEL 1313
Reicher Vax Jonyna Si ​

---

Nero caught the tossed converter on instinct. It looked almost brand new which meant far better condition than tech available on level 1313. He clutched it tightly against his breast like a lifeline. This small offering from the Sith officer gave him a chance at survival.

"Your games are done here, Drake. This is your exit."​

Smoke from the shuttle's igniting engines tossled his hair. Nero considered the offer, but walking onto that ship would mean the end of life as he knew it. He'd rather trust a pyke than the same soldiers who drove his family out of fear from their Kathol sector homes and left him a destitute refugee growing up in the galaxy's dark heart.

Floodlights from circling underworld security patrol speeders closed in on the scavenger. Escape seemed like a fool's hope and yet Nero had made it this far. Luck that went far beyond mere coincidence felt like it guided every choice he made.

"This is the day you will always remember!" Nero brashly announced, "As the day you almost caught Nero Drake!"