A Cluster in Turmoil [ Mando'ade Dominion of Hapes Hex ]

[Vilaz Munin]

Location: Tanaab
Allies: Mandos and Sith ([member="Krest"] [member="Satia"] [member="Jack Raxis"] [member="Stardust"] [member="Rashae"] [member="Nolan Detta"] [member="Ardgal Raxis"])
Enemies: Echani ([member="Harkon"] [member="Diana Veneris"])
Objective: 3
Post: 5/20

"Do not focus all of your warriors in rescuing me. Focus on helping the survivors, I'll figure something out," he commanded to the other Mandalorians that began sending in squads to help him and his warriors. Was Vilaz in a bad spot? Definitely, but he could figure out something. But then things would get more tighter when a massive group of hostiles, appearing on Vilaz's HUD and those with him, arrived a few meters away from the dropship. And then blaster bolts were shot out from many vectors onto the vessel making Vilaz think of something fast before they were all massacred.

And then he had an idea.

He diverted all the power of his personal shielding to the energy shield mode instead of the "both" mode which could protect him from kinetic and energy weapons. But now he needed all the protection he could get to defend all those lethal bolts. "Get ready to open the door. Wait for my command," the Munin instructed to his warriors and then went to their positions. "And...NOW." The doors were opened and the Mand'alor jumped out into the open, then activating his jetpack that moved in a retreating direction while his shield absorbing the focused enemy fire from the Echani. "Fetch," and a wrist rocket was sent out to the central flank of the the Echani. "Get out of there now," Vilaz said to his men that then made their own daring escape. Some were lucky to make it out in one piece, and others were not so fortunate enough.

"Get back to the perimeter that we created, and then focus on rescuing the survivors! The sooner they're safe, the sooner we can mount an offensive on these paled skins!"

 

[Anika Nygaard]

Anika's smile seemed to fade into an emotionless face upon seeing the look on her master's face. She had tried to keep things light, but she guessed with what her past had shown, it would be better for her to keep her mouth shut. Anika knew well on how to hide her feelings. To Malok, it may not seem too much as so, as he had some advanced techniques through the force. When they first met, it had felt as if he had the power to look right through her. Anika had planned to get there much earlier, but the time had been pretty far off and she had definitely gone double time to be able to get to where she was going. She would have been too late if she had gone any slower.

She heard him introduce her to the others in the room and she knew he was more than just irritated with her. When he placed all the attention on her momentarily, Anika got slightly nervous with all eyes being on her. If she had had a chair at the time, she probably would have sunken in it. Instead, she straightened up, toughened it out and moved forward joining the group. Anika knew she had some sort of special force techniques, but she honestly didn't know what Malok had seen in her. She was a mess.

"I apologize master, it won't happen again."

she responded to him. While he still stayed firm, Anika was surprised that he wasn't being too hard on her. By what she had done on Mustafar, branded her in her mind a failure.. maybe this is what he saw in her. Something he could fix. Anika still had many questions to why she was chosen, but no matter, there was a mission at hand and it was lethal. Hopefully she wouldn't screw this one up. As long as she knew which people to kill, she'd be ok.. all of the shame being put on her was tough and she seemed to need this mission.

Anika was still a teenager, so even though she grew up with a rough life and had a tough skin on the outside, she was still the same small child that she had been when she lived on the streets and everything had been taken from her. On the inside, she was still a hurt child with nothing to live for. Anika had done her best to ignore that life though. It was in the past and she wanted nothing to do with it again. She had a new life now and she was going to live it and prove who she truly was and not who they believed her to be.

Then, the map deactivated and Anika moved forward, next to Malok going behind him when she went through the door. She then followed him towards the hangar, which would soon reveal a ship started up and ready for them to board, so as Malok wasted no time, Anika followed him keeping her eyes to herself. The one time she looked up was when she saw Malok motioning for her to sit beside him as he then went over the mission with her, explaining everything.

Before they took off, Anika put her seat belt on and then it was game time. The adrenaline was getting to her and she was ready.

~ [member="Malok"] ; [member="Arlox"] ; [member="FN-9999"] ~​

 

[Alkor Centaris]

"You mean to tell me that you never had formal training with a blaster?" she asked, her skeptic gaze on the target. Several burn marks were strewn across the surface, but no single area was concentrated with hits. It was like watching a child who had never fired a weapon taking their first few shots, only far more pathetic. "This is, like, seriously abysmal."

"I never had to shoot people when I was stabbing them," he told her. "Assassination, predominantly. Melee combatant. I carry firearms and use the Force to help compensate for accuracy."

"Shabla magic," the woman seethed. "No amount of trickery can compensate for proper aim, Alkor," she told him. "And in a situation where you can't use mystic powers, knowing how to fight without them can save your life."

He glanced at her. "Do you know what it feels like?" he asked quietly.

"What what feels like?" Asha's brow furrowed as she looked back at him. "What's this, all of a sudden?"

"Imagine feeling everything around you- not just seeing, smelling, or touching it, but actually being aware of it all. Down to the smallest, most insignificant spec."

She studied his face as he spoke, and she saw a conflict that the man never showed anyone. Asha started to speak, but stopped herself. What she heard was not the endearing preaching of a Jedi, or the lust for power a Sith might indulge in. She could almost hear the bitterness in his voice. "That sounds horrible," she whispered, finally.

"Not just aware," he told her, "of the things, but of things about them that they do not want you to know. I can see it all, Asha. The secrets people hide, and how to undo them. I see you, right now, and in my eyes you are exposed in a way that is deeper and more horrifying than I can put to words. I know exactly what to do to make you come apart."

She recoiled from him, uncertain. There was a sudden fear in her, given life by his words. There was a fear that she had never felt before, especially not toward this man. "You... wouldn't... right?"

Alkor raised the blaster toward the target. Without looking, he pulled the trigger. The energy ripped across the distance and struck the target dead center. Asha shivered.

"No," he told her. "I would not. I hate this power. I loathe the day I began to understand it. I long to forget the things I feel, the things I see every day." Alkor turned, tilted his head, and adjusted his grip on the weapon. He exhaled, pressing the Force from his thoughts, clearing his mind of everything but the target.

He hit the target on the furthest edge. "I was a killer before I was a Force Adept," he confided. "I should have died long before I ever became what I eventually was. I was condemned to die, you know. My homeworld spoke with a unanimous voice, calling for my life."

"Yet, here you are." Alkor glanced back at her. "Something tells me that you were meant to be here."

"Believe whatever makes you content," he shrugged. "Isley Verd called me his brother, brought me into the fold, and believed in me." He held up his useless hand, the sole feeling in it a frigid chill. "So much so that he gave me a direction to walk in. He told me where to look."

"He did?" Asha blinked. Isley had always seemed like a profound man, but she never realized that he and Alkor were close. Alkor never struck her as being close to anyone. "That's... surprising."

Alkor raised the weapon again and fired. This shot was a bit more on target, but only just. "Asha," he asked her. "What is "family"?"

She turned and blinked again. "Wh-what?"

"Family," he repeated. "What does it mean to be family?"

"I can't explain it to you if you don't know." Her answer was flat. She sounded hurt. "Hopefully, you can learn for yourself exactly what it means. It's... everything to our people."

Alkor nodded slowly. "I do not understand," he said. "But I am trying."

 

[Rashae]

The Padme and its stationary position was a buzz of activity. Rashae's Medical corvettes and other Medevac vessels were docking and undocking in an organized fashion. There were shuttles that moved in between the Padme and the cargo vessels that spoke of where survivors that were not gravely wounded were being sorted to. Their social services were just as busy as the medical services soothing the scared people that arrived. Blankets, soup and other comforts were provided to calm the chaos in their minds. Lovous's psychology team were sorting through the various emotional trauma to assist.

Commander Stephen Cantolas was processing the data being streamed in from their own scanners and Mandalorian Intelligence. Mandalorian vessels kept them apprised of the military situation. This information was valuable to the Commander as he had a lot of people to ensure was safe. Except one wayward Minister that seemed to do things her own way. There was a lot of hostile fire down on the planet surface were she was located. It was getting even more active, not less. He was getting increasingly worried as he had no contact with the Medical Corvette that Rashae had gone down on. It was right in the middle of hell. He shouldn't have let the woman go down. He breathed a sigh as he garnished his patience. That was his hallmark trait.

“Commander, Priority 1 message. We got company. “ His communications officer stated, standing straight and at attention.

The Commander acknowledged the statement and waved him back to his duties as he looked at the message from the Captain of the Ouroboros. Pushing the button he took the return message from Rashae's earlier Holo. “Commander Cantalos of the Padme Acknowledges Captain La'fiel of the Ouroboros. The Minister, Doctor Rashae Lovous, has went planet side on an emergency. It seems to be getting a bit festive down there. We are most please to see Hapan Royal forces respond. If we could get a corridor for Medevac and evacuation vessel protocols, it would be appreciated. Please let your forces know of the medical personnel on the surface including the Minister. There are a lot of hostilities down there, Captain.” Not that she didn't already k now that but it was said in a subtle way of the gravity of the Minister's situation.

There was no small amount of relief on Cantalos face knowing that additional forces were being placed on the ground. Refugee intake was nominal at best but they would do a more thorough security check later. Right now was extraction and support.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&


Perhaps it was foolish of her to take a forward spear front position on the planet surface. Perhaps it would do nothing more than add her expertise to the various wounds and problems. Can she make a difference? Can she do more than the staff she already had in place? In her mind it was a most emphatic yes. She didnt like loosing a patient, any patient. If you throw enough science at it, it just might survive. If you throw additional will and determination, then you have your miracle. That was how this particular doctor saw it. Wrapped up in a complicated swirl of segmented inverted logic that saw things from the top down, deconstructing and reconstructing as she went. It was unique and little to no one understood it.

Unpredictability rankled many a military general and admiral of this woman's actions as Medical support was supposed to be calm, sedate and steady. Not Rashae. The Mandalorians were a breath of fresh air in many areas. Direct, to the point and appreciated hard work. No, she wasnt a warrior, but she had an iron will and strength of mind that few possess, even those that wield he force. The Minister listened to Virgil as she ordered her more experienced staff over to the broken Mandalorian.

“We will get him, Raxis clan. “ Two people converged on the Mandalorian as Rashae gave her orders. “Pain killers, stabilize the legs and get her into a stasis pod to surgical. She has internal injuries. Scan for additional issues. “ Preliminary scans on site of a hostile area like this sometimes missed things. There were nods as the doctor that worked under Rashae and a medic were starting their work asking for the full name. They knew it was Raxis clan. They asked for allergies and other medical questions in a much softer way than Doctor Lovous was capable of. Thats why she paid for people that had bed side manner. She had none.

“Ardgal!!” She yelled for him as she moved away from Virgil. Her escort fanned out poking in the rubble as medics and personell flanked her.

“Over here!!” One of her medics yelled out. This had Rashae running towards the scene.

“Get me some light, damn it. “ One of the soldiers that were acting as her escort did so as her hand went up to stop anyone from touching Ardgal. “Dont move him. Get me a stasis pod immediately!!” She demanded. There was no rebuke as three people ran full tilt from her side leaving a large medkit and a medic to assist her. “Ardgal, can you hear me? This is Doctor Rashae.”

She tried to get at his neck but his damned armor was being difficult. “How the hell do you get this off?! “ she said as she was looking for the thingies that it clipped onto. “What the frak? Get me a Mandalorian.. Now!!”

She heard that the Mand'alor was reporting as alright. She switched her Com towards that man and his team.

“Munin, copy that. Get yourself checked out soon as you are out of hostile range. My team is by the Raxis Clan. We got two going up critical condition. Teams will be coming up and down getting survivors and wounded consistently. Lovous out!” She gave a succinct briefing and didnt sugar coat a damned thing.

Finally with the assistance of one of the less injured Mandalorians, got the helmet thing off. They called it something else but for the life of her she couldnt recall it. It was a helmet thing. The medic beside her was already doing scans as he got the larger scanner from the large medkit.

“Thanks, we got to get that branch cut from t he bottom without moving him so much. Let me seal the wound from this side. No, got to get him to a surgical unit to handle the extraction of the object. “ She looked at the display of the scan as her eyes suddenly went wide. “cardiac cocktail and neural stimulators stat!! “

The chest plate came off as Ardgal started to flat line. The long beep was ominous as Rashae started compressions. “Get me that cocktail now!! NO, fraking hell. 30/10.. “ The stim shot was put into his neck as Rashae was compressing and putting her mouth to his lips to breath into Ardgal strongly.

It was if fate was hanging onto the very micro second as the medscanner finally gave a beep of a heart pulse. They got a rhythm. It wasnt that great but they had something. “Where is my frakking stasis pod. “

“ETA five minutes, they are almost here, Minister. “ The medic said calmly as the armor taken off was thoughtfully placed in a bin that went with the warrior. Rashae knew by now, after working with them that mandalorian armor was as important to them as a lightsaber was to a jedi. It was like their soul or something the way they talk of it. “Get me the wound sealer. “

She didnt like using this one and put wound sealer on he rlist of projects for GenTech. Her skin patches and antisepsis spray were in well use across the battle field. It often got some injured back into the battle. Not Ardgal. No amount of skin patches was going to fix this right now.

“Come on Ardgal stay with me. “ She spoke to him not sure if he heard her or not. Virgil would be already in a pod as they worked to laser cut the branch that took 20 seconds. It felt like forever. The m an was half in armor and half in his under suit that was tore up though the armor took most of the brunt of the force. “Scan his cybernetics. After reading the scans. Notify my cybernetics expert to be on standby. “

It took four people to get Ardgal moved into the Pod prone. Rashae fussing the entire time to make sure they didnt move him too much not so much for the head injuries but for the foreign object in him. He had bleeders, multiples. They had to stop once they got him onto the pod so Rashae could input a body tube for the extra blood. “Get an IV set and blood builders. “ she ordered as she new he was loosing blood and not in a good way. She got pain killers in his system.

“How are his neural scans? “ the Medic furrowed his brow and it confused him but since part of his neural trace routes where cybernetic it would be. Rashae looked over at the scans. “He has faults and looks like skull fractures is causing some of it. Get these scans up to the cybernetics expert and neurology. “ As the pod pumped oxygen and started getting him on the corvette.

Virgil's pod would be just about there as Ardgal's pod brought up behind as Rashae stayed beside it. He was the most critical. From one of their flanks came fire bolts that all the medical personell started ducking around the corvette for cover. Her soldier escorts took position and volleyed back towards the enemy incursion. She wasnt entirely sure who it was shooting at them, maybe it was echani, maybe it was some plauged riddled force from what the Dredge created or a combination there of. All the Minister knew was she couldnt get her patients on the ship to take off.

“Hang on Raxis. “ She told the two of them. They were pumped full of pain killers but mandalorians were resilient. The two of them might manage a few words. She had her finger on the comlink as she had was in front of Ardgal's pod and trying to reach out to someone, anyone.

“Anyone out there can spare a bit of muscle. We are pinned down by hostile fire. We have two critically wounded and several moderately wounded persons ready to l oad and launch. We cant launch with this blaster fire?” She sent out to the Mandalorians, her ship, neutrals and friendlies.

Cantalos came in her ear. “Minister, Hapan royal forces have arrived, additional support is on the ground we are creating a cooridor with their aid and what fighters we have to keep that corridor. Hang in there. “ He said as Rashae repeated the information. Her escort were getting singed by the constant fire as they tried to keep under cover.

It felt like forever but it might have been five or ten minutes when the blaster fire was redirected elsewhere. In her com came a foreign voice with an accent, “Royal Hapan Marines Minister. I hear that you are having a bit of trouble. “ Do all military types have this kind of humor?

“Thank you, we got two critically wounded here I got to get up to surgical on the Padme as well as other wounded. “ She said letting the humor pass.

“We got you covered Ma'am. Major of the Hapan Royal Marines here. Start loading we will keep them occupied. “ The friendly thickly accented Hapan relayed.

“Lets move out! “ Actually she had always wanted to say that. Ironic wasnt it. There were those who limped onto the ship as this particular team saw a bit too much today. Medics converged on the soldiers who acted as Minister Lovous's escort as some of them took on a slug or blaster fire or two.

The efficiency of her team kicked in as her escort kept tabs and kept the team covered. Once in the corvette they got the Pods plugged in and medicines kept Virgil and Ardgal stable for the trip. Rashae seemed to live in coms today as she talked to that friendly Hapan marine. “Major, Can we find another location to land. We need to be able to get to these wounded? “

“Affirmative Minister, we will get a landing area secure for your team. “ Relayed the Hapan forces.

“Awesome, best news I heard today so far. Lovous out. “ She took a few deep breaths before turning to Ardgal as her subordinate doctor turned to Virgil. There was a small surgical suite in the corvette but what Ardgal needed was on the medical frigate. “Come on Ardgal, hang in there.” As the ship started its ascent up towards the atmosphere and towards the Padme, the raven haired beauty of a doctor looked into the pod window as if willing him to live.


[member='Vilaz Munin'] [member='Ardgal Raxis'] [member='Stardust Raxis'] [member='Strider Garon'] [member='Nolan Detta'] [member='Jack Raxis'] [member='Relina Zhan'] sorry if i forgot someone.

 

[Nolan Detta]

Tanaab
Post 3

Out there, somewhere in the lines of the Echani ranks, a lone Mandalorian was running amok, slaughtering dozens every minute. There, in the void, inside his own mind, Nolan watched his actions through sanguine and fire, as if he was merely a spectator. Fists and bolts and beskad flew about in front of him, but he didn't do it, as if his body had separated from his consciousness. All that was left was the Force, an angry, vengeful shadow of the Force, bent on the total annihilation of his foes. His mouth foamed, teeth bared, fists clenched so tightly they reached the point of exsanguination. Roars, bellows and growls echoed alongside the chorus of chaos that was the battlefield between the Echani and the Mando'ade.

Having spent the last of his fuel, his had discarded his jet pack into an Echani faceplate, crushing the flesh beneath it. The cybernetic arm unleashing visceral destruction upon any it laid its hand upon, the micro-repulsor generators inside the palm shredded durasteel and flesh alike. The Rage was building with each kill as the Force urged its host on to fill its lust for blood, for pain, suffering and death. Succumb to the Darkside of the Force, Nolan was lost to his surrounding, the only thing that kept him from attacking his own, was the fact that they had not attacked him, by intent or happenstance.

Flashes of his form could be seen between the cover each side took and the dust, smoke and fire that erupted due to the heavy assault each side brought against the other. Nolan was no longer himself, but now just a puppet of death, and it would take some divine intervention to bring him back from The Depths of his hatred.

[member="Vilaz Munin"] [member="Ardgal Raxis"] [member="Stardust Raxis"] [member="Jack Raxis"] [member="Relina Zhan"] [member="Rashae"] @Anyone I forgot

 

[Ardgal Raxis]

Post: 7
Objective: Just Survive somehow
Allies: [member="Stardust Raxis"] [member="Jack Raxis"] [member="Vilaz Munin"] [member="Nolan Detta"] [member="Rashae"] @Anyone else going to kick Echani butt

As Virgil was covered in medical attention she grimaced, gripping her pistol with white knuckles in one hand. It wasn't form pain, that was her familiar friend from many a time, no it was from a sense of embarrassment and helplessness that overpowered it all. She hated feeling powerless and exposed like this. It made her feel vulnerable, and on a battle field where her vode were bleeding, fighting, killing and dying, it made her feel like a worthless di'kut of a dar'manda. If she could have, Virgil would have stood up and escaped all of this to fight more.

"Name's Virgil Aleana Raxis," the woman answered, "No, no allergies, Blood type--A positive," she grimaced, "I'm on Delramax, 150 mg, the," she grimaced as her legs were placed on the stretcher, "Adrenal enhancer. You're going to need blood samples for me and Ardgal, the genetic engineering is pretty extensive for the both of us."

Her answers continued for all of the questions, she was more than willing and workable for the doctors, even if she hated every second of it.

The world was spinning around Ardgal, the world was dimming all around him as he heard his name screamed out. The warrior reached his hand out weakly, trying to grasp whoever or whatever it was around him. Bright lights flashed in his eyes, he could see a face, very vaguely and dimly through the haze of death around him.

“Ardgal, can you hear me? This is Doctor Rashae.”

"Doctor," he managed to rasp, "My men, my--soldiers--tell them--tell them--"

His lips continued to move but he could not get the words out. As the took the helmet off his vision cleared some. Without the damaged and grime covered visor to impair his vision, Ardgal could see the face leaning over him, the several faces, none he recognized. The worst part about it was Ardgal could feel it all. His enhancements refused to let the warrior go unconscious through the immense suffering as he felt his heart stop. He felt every compression, every ounce, he heard every word. He could give it up now, quit, lose this suffering and miserable body. For a moment he thought he would, and leave it all behind. The sweet nothingness of death's embrace wrapped around his existence as seconds turned to lifetimes.

And then he was back.

“Come on Ardgal stay with me. “

He was here, he was barely here, clinging to life by a single thread the Doctor had cast to him, but Subject 13 remained in existence. His hand reached out and grabbed--something, he didn't know quite what. For a man who was more dead than alive, Ardgal had a killer grip.

The cybernetic scan would yield a wild result--there was almost as much metal in him as there was flesh; graphed bones, enhanced joints, a cyborg liver, extensive implants along his spine, and a vast array of enhancements in his brain. Most of it was clearly illegal, none of it was anything a sane person would willingly put in their bodies.

"Tell my men," Ardgal managed through the chaos of the bright lights around him, "Protect the Manda'lor. Leave--no--survivors. Tell them--tell them I will live."

It was a bold claim from a man who was wheezing out every word into an oxygen mask. It didn't matter as much if they were being heard or not, he didn't even really know. He felt the subtle shift as the Corvette moved upwards, off the ground. He could vaguely hear Virgil insisting she would be fine and they focus all their care on Ardgal. She had one worshiped him as her god--literally, fragrance, prayers, and all. He supposed old habits died hard. He sudenly became aware of how the blood in his eyes stung, he kept on blinking trying to get the crimson haze from his view. He didn't remember his own blood getting in his eyes, but--then it dawned on him that others died for his own extraction to safety.

“Come on Ardgal, hang in there.”

His dark eyes looked back at her aquamarine, deeply, as if they could pierce through flesh and soul and see what lay inside. He knew she was going to do everything she could to save him. He knew that it took some kind of bravery to land in the hot zones like that, clean of armor, weapons, or any real defense to speak of. He charted it in his mental notes in his cyborg database to make it up to her, if he made it through. No, when he made it through. Either way, she would have his respect.

Even through the mind-numbing pain killers and his own life hanging in the balance there was something else in his eyes--resolve. Courage. Firmness. Trust. If one were to look at his eyes alone and not his broken body they would have no idea he was on the bring of death. He managed a slight, if not reassuring smile that said one thing, I'm not dying today. He knew the importance of putting on a strong front, even if he felt weak as an old man.

"Good work, doctor." he said with a surprisingly steady voice. Arguably the first syllables he had uttered with any level of coherence, "Thank you."

A single transmission would cut through the Corvette's lines, "Med Corv, this is Prometheus, third under General Ardgal and in command of the clunking Corvette Firebird up here in the sky. Word on the street is you have our General and his cousin on board." there was a slight pause, his next words held a small, but detectable sense of warmth, "Thanks, from all of us at Raxis. If you can patch up his shebs, we'll forever be in your debt. We will do everything we can to give you cover on your way up here. Your a damn brave woman for going down there yourself and plucking those two out of the mud."

 

[Relina Zhan]

[member="Strider Garon"] [member="Dredge"] [member="Elisea Korrado"] [member="Arisa Yune"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Soeht"] [member="Jorel Imos"] [member="Amaya Verd"] [member="Rashae"] [member="Persephone Callas"]

The Hapan Space Marines, having successfully completed their hard-drop orbital insertion, soon found themselves engaged with... what the hell were these things? The Cyborg Sergeant Major Crys Xan would lead the charge to take a clearing on the ruined city's outskirts. It was the remains of a small suburban neighbourhood, and apparently, the source of First Lance's hostile contact. Wherever this Dredge entity's touch had been, the people seemed to lose themselves and attack any who were unassimilated. "First Lance to Operations HQ, we have made contact with both friendlies and hostiles. Our position is under attack. Must engage." he said over his com. Granted, his lance was on its own until the landing zone was secured and further reinforcements could be deployed, but a constant situation report was always in order. "First lance, move forward! Let them have it!"

The Marines began their advance using their extensive urban warfare training to gradually gain ground. The hordes of ichor-bleeding space zombies that were once beautiful Hapan subjects were many, but quite mortal. "Maintain discipline! Use short controlled bursts. Don't waste ammo." Advised a Marine Master Sergeant, herself beginning to gain a rhythm, using a damaged landspeeder for cover.

"You see that, sir? It's terror!" Complained a private upon seeing the sickening, traumatising sight before him. Fear seemed to hinder his accuracy, as he was having trouble keeping pace with the others.

"Marine, did I give you permission to queen?" The Sergeant Major replied. "Stand firm and shoot straight. These streets will do nicely. Fall into formation. We're taking the intersection ahead."

The twelve soldiers pressed their assault gradually forward, bathing the neighbourhood in bright red streaks of light in staccato bursts of high powered blaster fire. The three Cyborg Warriors among them took point, using their heavier armour and weapon systems to begin forming an effective phalanx formation. Above their heads, the Gamma-Class Dropships were on approach, carrying additional Marine lances and medical supplies. They were to change hands with the foreign and domestic medical personnel and their patients while restablishing a beachhead to retake the planet.

In Orbit, The Hapan Royal Navy presence was growing as detachments from each member world arrived in the Hapes system. It would not be long before the capital planet's space was littered with warships ranging from Wyvern capital ships to Nova-class cruisers, to the new Supernova-class battleships. Rlodnir Bomber squadrons and Terminus fighter squadrons alike began to swarm the space above the Ta'a Chume'Dan crater, as if a hornet's nest had been stirred up. Comm channels began to light up with mixed Hapan and Basic military chatter.

Relina and the Angel Squadron, meanwhile, were ordered to escort the medical frigate and had by then assumed a defensive formation, albeit weapons safe. Through her canopy's display, her IFF had confirmed the location and integrity of Star Home, the Royal Family's mobile government centre and second residence, complete with a replica of Fountain Palace. It was an ancient, venerable starship and a marvel of ingenuity and engineering... and at all costs, had to be protected. She was relieved from some of her tension when an impromptu honour guard of available warships assumed a defensive formation around Star Home.

"Angel Squadron on station, awaiting further orders." Relina advised as flatly as her accent allowed.

"Rodger, Angel One. Stand by. It would seem the Mandalorian delegation is attempting to assist us." Captain Le'Fiel replied. She would then address the Mandalorians next, hailing their nearest ship. "Mandalorian Fleet, this is Captain Le'Fiel of the Ouroboros. What is your status?"

 

[RC 212]

Obj 3

Dying.

​

Blood.​

​

Fire.​

​

Smoke.​

Through the tangle Jack barely breathed. Around him a heap of bodies. His shotgun was shattered, his weapons stripped from him. Two limbs were severed, one amputated. There was only a flicker of life left, held together by the force....

Come home Jack

"No." He whispered.

The final seconds of his life ticked by....

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Allies-[member="Relina Zhan"] [member="Rashae"] [member="Alkor Centaris"] [member="Ardgal Raxis"] [member="Jack Raxis"]
Post 7
Obj-get outta hell

Stardust armor was banged up badly, she stood as she raised her blade looking at the bodies lying around her. Out of nowhere a scream came charging at her, she turned and sliced up watching as blood cover her cracked visor, she moved forward. She felt pain within her body but ignored it

Stardust saw jack, she started running as she yelled


JAAAAAACK!

She screamed as she crouched and looked him over, she removed her helmet and panted as she placed a hand under his head and gulped as she looked him over...he was in bad shape and she felt the firce slowly leaving

come on ones not the time for dying you bastard

She said as she grabbed her helmet and put it on, she switched coms to all friendlies, she hesitated as she spoke

this is stardust raxis I need immediate medical assistant and back up, jack raxis has sustained life threatening injuries and we have no other back up...to anyone that can here this follow the beacon we will remain put unless given further orders. Stardust out

She picked him up as she started walking for cover, as she got behind a large piece of debris she sat and sat him beside her as she shook her head

come on jack you can't die on me right now....come on i have lost to much already and you have to much to make up for

She said her own breathing was hard and pained, her head rested against the piece of metal her hand gripping her blaster

 

[RC 212]

[member="Stardust Raxis"]

Jack grinned through the smoke and the battle. There was still a few more baddies regrouping around the area, but they were safe for now. Stardust seemed a good wife to Gray. She had honor and placed family high even if he was a piece of garbage.

Jack reached up with a bloodied hand and brushed her cheek.

"There's......"

....

"There's nothing....I .....can...do."

He was struggling to communicate. Some of his body would not or could not move. The edges of his vision swam with a strange gray matrix of images. Times of the past, times of the present. Times of the future. There were other Raxis family members, one that was important ot him. He'd never been a good brother to her.

"Find.... my Sister..... Eliza."

He coughed again.

"She can.....make up for me..."

The Echani were running towards them again, this time with more blades than before. The shrill battle-calls began to pump his blood. The pain and rage of the matter were driving him now, giving him one last little burst of Dark energy to keep going on. Jack grabbed her bandoleer of grenades and her pistol, then shoved her away.

"Go.....save them!"

Then he stood, taking two bolts to his shoulder. With shaky hands he activated each thermal detonator, setting the timer for thirty seconds. Belt of grenades in one hand, pistol in the other he stumbled forwards, levelling the pistol into his sights and squeezing the trigger. The Mass of Echani came right up on him.

The last vision he had was her. A long brown haired woman, dressed in a Frontier Blouse, braids and those eyes. He remembered them as a kid. His mothers eyes.

"Eliza.."

"Gray...."

"Ugh."

There was a flash, then a crackling light. The ground heaved up as chain reactions blossomed with the firepower of small tactical nuke. Jack was vaporized, Echani screamed in their death throes and the oxygen superheated the blast into a raging skywards cloud....

 

[Keira Priest]

Location: Hapes
Objective: I - A Consumed People
Allies: [member="Amaya Verd"], Mando'ade
Enemies: [member="Dredge"]
Other parties: [member="Isley Verd"]
[3]

In those seconds, it was as if nothing had changed. The moment his gaze fell on her Keira felt as small as she had the first, second, third, all the way to the sixth time they had crossed paths. However, this seventh time would be different, because she was different as well. In some ways she was more certain of herself, and in others had finally learned to accept who and what she was, even if that resembled too closely the monster before her. His words didn't grate on her nearly as much as they had in the past, and she was able to shrug off the implications of his question as if they were meaningless. "I'm better than I have been. It doesn't look like I can say the same for you though."

As he'd healed from her initial strike, she could feel the nuances of pain that rippled outwards, however subtle they may have been. He was hurting, whether he'd admit it or not, and she had been the one responsible. In this form above all he seemed to be the most vulnerable to those like her, and she would have no trouble exploiting that. "When I heard all this talk of a god I expected more. Instead I just got you." Her words were a distraction as her true focus was the ethereal, bending it to her will like a hand kneading dough, methodically and thoroughly. Dredge was not one whom many trifled with and walked away whole afterwards, and that left something to be said about her.

Her grasp on those invisible threads faltered for just a moment where she stood, only a twitch of her facial muscles beneath her helmet revealing any discomfort. A presence all too familiar flickered briefly like a spark, that singular glimpse causing her breath to hitch in her throat. Isley. Just as her old mentor had, he knew how to pick the worst times, even in death.

But that was neither here nor there. Again her concentration drew itself into the present, and she reached up both hands before her, tearing sharply sideways in opposite directions, the Force following her movements. If all went as intended the creature would find himself hopefully torn to shreds, or at the very least heavily injured, both serving to bring the fight to a faster close. Her left hand shifted, reaching for one of two sabers hooked at her waist, its hilt not quite fitting entirely comfortably in her grasp. A single flick of her thumb over the ignition was telling as to why, the blade thrumming to life in an instant and humming idly. It glowed a brilliant, pure white.

 

[Dredge]

There was a bit of laughter in response to Keira's retort. Cocky and overconfident laughter that echoed outwards across the ruins of the capital. Oh how he remembered breaking her time and time again, they were all such precious memories to him. The joy he felt watching her squirm, feeling her heart and spirit break, it was positively euphoric to the entity. So it was amusing for him to see her act tough in the face of all the horrors he had rot upon her, and she'd be able to hear that in his laugh. The fact that he pitied her far more than he could ever respect her.

"Look at you, acting all tough. Okay. Tell you what." Dredge took a step back and spread his arms as if he were a holy sacrificial deity.

"Because I feel bad for you. I'll give you another free shot!" And with that he let Keira's attack rip into his astral form.

Darkness and raw power ripped into his shaded body and chunks of him began to spew in various directions before vanishing into nothing. All the while he laughed, mad cries and pained laughter left his mouth and when her attack was over there was little left of his body other than a sliver of his head and what could be considered a twig for his body. But within that lessened state Keira would be able to see a slight red glow beneath the shadows that soon vanished into back into black.

"Oh-ho-ho! That hurt! Just a little..." Soon shadows and dark energy poured out from the nexus replacing the injured parts of his body.

"Is that your bes-" Cutting himself off, Dredge paused and if he had a throat there'd be a deep gulp right about now.

He sensed power, raw and unrefined power that was ancient and deadly. Something that made even him think twice before charging Keira. He could of ripped her limb from bloody limb, eaten her like he had the royal court. Consumed her spirit and make her jus puppet. But not anymore, not while she held that.

"What's that?" There was actually a bit of caution in his voice as he took another step back.

It was clearly a lightsaber, but it wasn't anything he had felt before. It was a weapon that could do actual lasting damage and he wanted no part of it. His eyes and his entire focus lay solely with Keira and that blade, everything else became background noise and it was clear that he had underestimated her potential.

[member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Relina Zhan"] [member="Strider Garon"] [member="Preliat Mantis"]

 

[Relina Zhan]

[member="Strider Garon"] [member="Dredge"] [member="Elisea Korrado"] [member="Arisa Yune"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Soeht"] [member="Jorel Imos"] [member="Amaya Verd"] [member="Rashae"] [member="Persephone Callas"] [member="Jorel Imos"] [member="Vitha Sat-thuron"]

The Hapan First Lance task force had successfully cleared the ruined neighbourhood, establishing their beachhead at the intersection of two boulevards. The handful of intact homes and small shops would be ideal for a defensive position. "Command, this is Xan. L.Z. Secure at an intersection on the outskirts. Del'Sol and Rio'Mar boulevards. ETA on reinforcements."

"Rodger, Sergeant Major. I show Gammas Echo 419 and Sierra 117 on approach to your position. They'll begin airlifting the civilian survivors, injured military personnel, and medical teams in exchange for armour and reinforcements. There is also a medical frigate escorted by a squadron of fighters to cycle in new medical and support personnel. The fighters will provide you with aerial reconnaissance and close air support. I'm sorry, but this is all the support you're going to get for the time being." A communications liaison on the Ouroboros replied.

"Acknowledged. Who is our air support?" The Sergeant asked.

"The 7th division, 77th Tactical Fighter Wing." The Ouroboros replied.

There was a pause, as if hearing the unit designation warranted a moment's consideration. "Yes, Ma'am. I hear stories about them... that the humanity of their pilots is... debatable. That they aren't called the Angels for nothing."

The liaison above replied, "I place no stock in battlefield legends. They are professionals and you can rely on them, Sergeant Major. Good hunting. Ouroboros out."

With that, the two Gamma-Class dropships would approach for landing. A tank, additional support supplies and munitions, weapons, and additional troops were deployed. The medical personnel and their wounded would then be secured and taken to the dropships for extraction, replaced with new medics and doctors. The Marines immediately established camp at the landing zone they secured, procuring the empty houses and adjacent buildings in the district for military quartering and munitions storage.

The dropships, with their precious cargo of medical professionals and injured Hapans and Mandalorians alike, would link up with the medical frigate escorted by the Angel team, themselves replaced by another fighter squadron for egress escort. The Angels would then descend to the planet below, locked onto the homing beacon of their allies encampment.

"Angels, weapons safe.... for now... keep sensors on active scan." Relina ordered, her tone mournful as the devastated city below grew larger in her field of view. The distinct feeling of death seemed to grow stronger the closer she got... she really didn't want to be here.

"Yes, My Lady." replied the other six pilots of the squadron.

"Spread out formation, but maintain visual range of each other." she added.

The Angels passed directly over the encampment and sped toward the City... and Dredge therein. Despite the low profile design of the Terminus starfighter, which hid it from sensors at a distance, the staccato roar of pulse detonation ion engines would betray their presence to any they passed over.

 

[Keira Priest]

Location: Hapes
Objective: I - A Consumed People
Allies: [member="Amaya Verd"], [member="Relina Zhan"], Mando'ade
Enemies: [member="Dredge"]
Other parties: [member="Isley Verd"]
[4]

Though her attacks didn't appear to reap any lasting damage, they did inflict injury, which was enough to tell her that she held some kind of power to end this. His death was a long time coming, and after all that had transpired between them it was only fitting that she be the one to deal some kind of final blow. As he reformed himself she only watched, knowing she wouldn't be able to do much of anything until he was existent in the physical realm once more. This was nothing like the animosity she had faced before, though the crimson glow emanating from his core as he regenerated would suggest otherwise. Perhaps a piece of who he used to be remained, but this new entity was just as deserving of death.

The saber was spun once with a flick of her wrist, the balance of the ancient weapon an oddity after she had contended with beskad and tomahawk for so long. Keira was far from the same fighter she had once been, and such reliance on a lightsaber was nearly foreign to her. But she knew her advantages when they presented themselves, and if he feared this weapon so much then she would have to make compromises with her typical fighting style. Mandalorian though she may have been, she still remembered what it was like to fight as a Jedi.

As he stepped backwards she followed after him, weighing her own advantages and finding that she liked the looks of these odds. "This is your end, Dredge." And then it was as if she'd never existed, her form blurring as she moved unnaturally fast. Most wouldn't have charged directly towards the behemoth, but she had never been the sort to play her cards slowly. Instead she lashed out towards him with the saber, swiping towards his legs and aiming to cut him down to size.

 

[Malok]

She was a ship on her maiden voyage.

Young.

Strong.

Yet horrifically lost amongst the waves. As the Undying heard the words of his child, a heartfelt desire was born within her. Even in his sordid state, with every second working against him, Isley wanted to be that breeze that steered her in the right direction. Silence ruled him as his child spoke...and a gruesome smile formed when he saw his tomahawk. Reaching out, he took the weapon from her outstretched palms and briefly inspected its blade. There's more to being a Warrior than swinging a blade. he began, before giving the tomahawk a flip in his hands.

He cared not that the blade grazed his charred flesh when he caught the head, for he felt no pain. Rather, what mattered most was pressing the handle back into its owner's hands: [member="Amaya Verd"]. Anyone can learn to swing a blade. Practice alone can do that. Yet being a warrior - a Verd - requires fighting for your kin. Standing beside them. Do that with all you are, and you will be walking the right path. Isley then released his grip upon his blade, passing on a piece of his legacy to his daughter.

In this state, I cannot teach you as I would in life. But. My teachings are within your reach. Brave the ruins of our home and you will find all you need. Your sister, Deneve, knows the way. he said. As for your mother... A chuckle escaped him. Look into the mirror and you'll see Ajira smiling back. You're the spitting image of he-

[member="Keira Ticon"].

The Undying became distracted in that moment. He could feel her. Her fury. Her passion. Her battle roared through the Force like a frenzied beast. After this...I will not be able to return to you for some time, Amaya. he muttered, taking a step past her. But, upon my honor, this will not be the last we speak. I...I do not know when I will have the strength to return as thus, but I will try. So please, ask of me what you will now while we yet have the chance. Thus did the former Warmaster command his might one last time. Thus did malice incarnate roar through the Force, manifesting as a vicious incantation upon charred lips. Thus did the shadows themselves quiver before the Undying.

DWOMUTSIQSA!

[member="Keira Ticon"], [member="Amaya Verd"]

 

[Ria Misrani]

Objective 1: A Consumed People
Location: Hapes Cluster; Hapes
Allies: [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Keira Ticon"]
Spirits: [member="Isley Verd"]
Post 9

Amaya took the blade in her hand and looked at it with a tear stained face. She gripped the weapon and closed her eyes, and all she could see in her mind was her father. She envisioned in her mind the words that he spoke. The young Verd opened her eyes and where charred flesh reigned over the figure, she saw only him. As he was in life, perhaps it was in her mind - her own way of seeing through the disfigurement. She had one last question she could ask, for an answer that would tie her over until she saw him again. She blinked the tears away as she looked at him, "if you could go back and change one thing about your life, what would it have been?"

She should get back, get back to Keira before it was all said and done. Amaya with the weapon still in hand reflected on her father's words, all she needed to do was to look in the mirror and there smiling back would be Lady Ajira Cardei. While true, she was an unexpected result between the noblewoman and the warmaster - she was there nonetheless. Lady Cardei carried her to term and gave birth to a daughter who was adopted by a Tarisian Scavanger and raised to know the world in a different way. The brunette's thoughts flickered to [member="Ashin Karrde"], who most likely assist her in accepting what was hers; her birthright.

The woman would always be a child of two worlds, the question would be, which one would she chose? Would she aid her father's people in their plight, or turn to her mother's and sit amongst their kind? And then she looked at the blade in hand...

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEJP3y7QLPA[/media]

 

[Vilaz Munin]

Location: Tanaab
Allies: Mandos and Sith ([member="Stardust Raxis"] [member="Ardgal Raxis"] [member="Nolan Detta"] [member="Rashae"] [member="Krest"] [member="Satia"])
Enemies: Echani
Objective: 3
Post: 6/20

It was a long retreat as the downed dropship was a few kilometers away from the established Mandalorian perimeter. Why was it so long if it wasn't a long distance? Because it was an open field skirmish. Barely any cover whatsoever, and one couldn't just soar up in the air without expecting some hostile fire from an enemy marksman. Not to mention running into some conflicts that ended up in a victory for the Munin or simply retreating after stunning his foes. Was he a proud and fearless warrior? He definitely was, but he was also tactical and open minded. He knew when to fallback or to abandon a battle that was far from winnable. He knew when to sacrifice men and women instead of wasting their lives and putting them in vain. He cared deeply about those that he fought alongside and did his best to minimize casualties.

He collapsed to the ground, losing his balance from a quick jump from his jetpack and arriving safely into the Mandalorian perimeter.

"Sir! Are you alright?" A warrior asked him that was ordered to guard the perimeter.

"I am, and I'll be better after we've got the survivors out of here. Have any others of my unit arrived?"

"Some did. Some also reported that there were those killed during their retreat."

"They will be avenged. How many survivors are left?"

"Not a whole lot. Once teams landed with their boots on the ground, we've been working our shebs hard."

"Then keep it up, and double it. The sooner we're done with that, the sooner we can bite back at these fethers."

With the dialogue finished the Mand'alor began heading for a down frigate that was the last Mandalorian colonial ship. One more before they could bring wrath and pain to the Echani.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Jack Raxis"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Amaya Verd"] [member="Vilaz Munin"]
[member="Ardgal Raxis"]

Obj-save survivors
Status....in shock

Stardust looked down at her a a she felt his hand, she grabbed it gently as she shook her head begging silently for this not to be the last thing she hears, suddenly she found a blaster missing and her grenades gone as she was pushed back, she moved back and started running. She didn't even know if she was running at all she was just moving her legs as fast as she could

She heare blaster fire and turned just in time to watch the explosion and get thrown back by the shock wave, she was thrown into a piece of debris as she crumpled, she blinked as she fell into shock...did she just...she couldn't believe what she saw, she started standing or attempting to as she fell dawn and took her helmet off as she breathed heavy pulling her legs close as she mumbled

 

[Soeht]

Hapes: Because I Tell Her To

“No,” replied Monika, “It doesn’t.”

[acronym=”Approach.”]A breeze[/acronym] could be felt.

Monika began to climb the stair case. Slowly. One step at a time. She still gripped her blaster – pointing it slightly to the side and not directly at the young girl.

“Help’s here,” Monika said again with a soft voice.

It was time for Monika to discover whether or not all was as it seemed with the young girl.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Don't remain too long, alright? We're here to help Manda'lor, not die for him just yet." There was a chuckle from the Zabrak before he ran past [member="Satia"] , patting her shoulder once on his way past. The Echani weren't prepared for a Sith to suddenly appear, but she had best not to think too highly of herself. They were skilled warriors after all. But not Krest's focus. He set off in a run, his form twisting and turning with each step as blaster fire burned all around him.

He kept to a passive stance, moving through the battlefield and only striking out when necessary. Soon enough however, he would find the man he was looking for. [member="Vilaz Munin"] , Manda'lor. He ripped his way through another Echani soldier, his saber cleaving the man in two before he'd finally approach his target. "Manda'lor! I've come to help."