A Summit of Governments: Aftermath [Open]

[Darth Ferus]

Damn Illusions.

The old Zabrak's thinned his lips as he glanced around the now ruined landscape. So much destruction, yet how much was real? Where was his target? Where was the third party? So many things he wasn't sure of. So many things wrong that spelled his death. If he couldn't trust his senses, there was only one option left. Trust in the Force. Krest closed his eyes, shutting out the world around him and simply trusting the one thing that was always by his side.

Two marks. Dark. Close. [member="Ella Nova"] and [member="Darth Centax"] , presumably. Ella was fleeing. Centax.. The sudden pressure around his right knee made it all too clear even without the Force to guide him. He focused on that part of him, flexing his own power to keep his knee from being crippled. He was gonna need it to keep up in the fight. Another source of danger. Kill shot. The Force sent it's whispers of impending death, and he acted.

Weaponless for the time being the aged man swung his fist down into the soil, causing it to erupt around him. A wall of earth formed, catching the bullets as they were fired. Then, he waved the same fist at the ring, sending the earth as a wave right for Centax and Ella, as she was running past him. As it did, the Zabrak stood, the same hand again being used again. His axe flew through the air at it's master's call, just as it was designed to, and he turned and threw it right for the fleeing back of the Sith Lord Ella. Or, at least, where he felt her. He was doing this blind after all.

 

[Onrai]

[member="Darth Centax"]

With the attack for the most part neutered, the point defense turrets and fighters cleaning up the remaining individuals, the shuttles were noticed as they came to the ship's hull. The captain of the Ablution expected that they were trying to cause a breach. Multiple Oppressor-15 Dark Troopers, the soulless automatons they were, were redirected from the ship's troop complement to the fringes of the area the ships were at. Shields were activated, and automated turrets, installed since the last boarding attempt of Elpsis and Laira, would pop out from roof panels to engage the Nikto as they entered. The boarding actions would for the most part be dealt with - the Dark Troopers possessed repeating blaster cannons, personal shields like a droideka, and even had turadium armor - they would not be going down so easily.

With regards to survivors, once all enemy craft had been routed, transports would be launched from the hangar bay to pick up any survivors within the wreckage or in EVA suits, both friendly and foe. Some pilots had unfortunately lost their craft, though the numbers were minimal compared to the former One Sith forces. While this operation concluded and the survivors were recovered for processing in the Ablution's brig, Vanessa would continue to focus, looking for her former student on the surface and doing her absolute best to make sure that woman did not escape.

"Captain, set our beam lenses to orbital bombardment, maximum precision." She said. The would get one shot at this, assuming Ayra hadn't already escaped to a ship, which Vanessa did not feel she had done.

 

[Darth Centax]

​

In Orbit: [member="Vanessa Vantai"] (cont below)

The remaining boarders fell fast to the droids, or the external cannons, cut down in a storm of laser fire. Not without showing their fanatical nature, as force cultists often did. Several more internal explosions went off, choosing a fanatics death over failure, minor explosions going over around the outer hull to vent dust and debris, further loss of life to those in surrounding rooms perhaps. The boarders quickly but violently silenced, leaving such a mess on Vanessa's carpet. Tsk tsk.

The few remaining 769th Breaching Veterans instead tried to hide, and tried to infiltrate, stripping themselves of their armor and trying to join the crew, how successful any of them were who knew. It was the same for that ejected Sith ace, with a very specific mission, but he was a story opportunity to be told another day perhaps if the universe was willing. A few infiltrating traitors to be hunted in her own time.

Planetside: [member="Krest"] | [member="Ella Nova"] (cont below)

Centax had his word. Still. His pride. Walking right in front of the barrage aimed at both. As the earth hit him. He took it full force so he could both take the earth hit and try to grab the axe aimed for Ella in midair. This time he was done dealing with that threat. Attempting to pull it into his own free left crushgaunt. It was a nice axe.

The Earth barrage knocked Centax back. That fancy Sith armor, just like the ships looked very pretty, very strong outwardly. Inwardly it was maintained by the best engineers he could find. Sadly they were not the original designers, a relic from the OS armory. As the earth hit him, there was a flicker across all his internal systems and some static before they came back online. With all the earth in the way, whether Krest noticed the slight pause behind the wall of black armor, who could say.

The Phrik held against earth, scuffing its surface and breaking across it, but the force of the blow certainly bruised the Darth’s chest and shoulders below, leaving him open to a follow up as he regained his balance. Out of the dust and soil, Centax bit down inwardly, like thick cold iron condensing further into loathing. The slugthrower weapon had been smashed in half and freed from his gauntlet. The Jacknife, a sonic concussion blaster, flew into his right hand instead. Gripped by a gauntlet once more. Seconds Krest was surely using to his advantage.

Bringing the barrel upward to fire its screeching, three round sonic blasts, concussive by nature. The small hand-sized explosions of rupturing sonic energy would seek out his opponent’s torso again, exploding against anything they hit, disorientating, and not all that pleasant on the eardrums to anything nearby.

Planetside Evac: [member="Ella Nova"] | [member="Vanessa Vantai"] - Tick Tock Tick Tock.

Shimmers. Several of them. All around.

....

Only if or when she got clear. Would Ella find some of the 771st faceless first, [member="James Justice"] clones behind their armor. Decloaking all around her?

….

A trap? Was this a setup all along?

….

Thankfully not for Ella, there was no danger here to sense from them at least. Instead, the troopers would fast appraise her of the updated battle in orbit, the immediate danger it posed to her and the surrounding area, as well as possible escape routes or distractions. Apparently, the team had been clearing the area of any stray republic troopers who happened to pose a threat. Their stealth corvette was waiting, the obvious thing to use and to shoot at, or their commander had another plan.

Directive 15. Use what you have. An unremarkable but fast civilian ship was approaching to touch down nearby, dust blew up all around the clones. Certainly a few dozen civilians onboard about to be transported from their vacation. Just picking up someone near the temple… as far as they knew. The captain was a loyal Sithwatch member.

The clone veteran advised if she listened. With how badly the orbital battle had gone. It might behoove her to keep her choice of vessel a secret from prying eyes if she used their ships at all. A few more ships located themselves within reach, of various shapes and sizes, about to launch in random directions. The first Sithwatch civilian ships already were taking off elsewhere, broadcasting their civilian ID codes, civilian fighters, freighter, random members of the public, an emergency transport, maybe even an infiltrated local trooper with the right clearance codes were all readying to launch. A bit over half a dozen in all.

A selection to pick from. Stealth, Surprise, or she could wave their plan off as a distraction for her own plan. The 771st-A officer seemed open to suggestion, as well trained clones often were, his small team of six infiltrators were at her disposal. The red carpet treatment was laid out ahead of her. Centax had been good to his word, perhaps a weakness for the Sith in him but her strength here today.

[member="Ella Nova"] NPCs:

Spoiler

Consider: 6 Infiltrating 771st clone stealth troopers now under your control, as well as whatever ship you pick as your own.

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Krest"] | [member="Darth Centax"] | [member="Vanessa Vantai"] |

The illusion faded around Krest the moment the axe left his hand. Concentration broke Ella looked over her shoulder, stumbling and half falling in her attempt to flee as the axe edged closer and closer. She wouldn't be able to avoid it. In the split few seconds that elapsed a decision was made on how to lessen the damage. Try to dive to the left and the axe would likely sever her right leg from beneath the knee cap. Try to duck and it would lodge itself halfway through her skull. Dive to the right and it might just lodge itself in between her shoulder blades. Diving to the right Ella prepared for the sensation of bone crunching, sinew being torn apart and the searing red hot feeling of pain taking over her synapses when nothing happened.

Without pausing to see why or how Krest had missed her Ella drove herself straight back up to run. Her lungs burned with the effort to suck in as much oxygen as she could as her legs carried her forwards. As she got near the tree she felt her hamstring tear in her right leg which sent her tumbling to the ground. Screaming in pain and clutching her leg Ella drove herself back up onto her other leg. The only thing that was carrying her forward was the anger. Anger at the man who had imprisoned her on Coruscant. The same man who set her up on Alderaan. Rage at those who had let themselves be so easily manipulated into doing his bidding. She would kill them all if she could survive today. If she could just get off this cursed planet.

Bustling in the trees in front of her distracted her from thoughts of revenge, murder and bad leg. Soldiers moved in around her with their weapons raised. Ella ignited her Lightsaber with the expectation of blaster bolts raining down upon her when one of them stepped forward and explained everything. When he was done talking Ella thumbed the ignition button of her Lightsaber as she looked up to the skies.

So Vantai is still here. Trying to prevent me from leaving Alderaan, Ella thought to herself. Taking a deep breath Ella begun to calm herself. The raging inferno of emotions that lingered beneath the surface begun to slowly fade out as she used the same techniques that a Jedi would use to calm themselves down. When her mind cleared and she could focus Ella begun to draw her powers in. With several kilometers between them and the Abultion combined with her abilities to stop herself from being Force Sensed Ella assumed that Vantai would no longer be able to feel her which make it harder to get a fix on them.

When it was done Ella took the six men who pledged to defend her into the civilian transport they had arrived leaving the Corvette behind for their master. Ella was not the trusting type, particularly when it came to those who followed the ways of the dark side. Vantai was proof that those who followed the dark side could not be trusted given the fact that she had helped him set her up at the summit. But she could trust people's motives and whoever the Sith was who was fighting Krest now had done an awful lot just to kill her himself. It made more sense that he had done all this to save her but for what ulterior motive remained unclear. Regardless she allowed herself to follow his escape plan to a certain degree.

The civilian transport she boarded melded into the others that the Sithwatch had launched in their seminal efforts to save her life. Instead of heading out to space Ella commanded the pilot to bring her to Aldera, the capital city of Alderaan among the convoy of transports that were transporting the dead or injured who were caught up in the explosion which followed the Ayrix ramming itself into the Temple of Balance.

~​

​

| [member="Thraxis"] |

​

At the back of the transport Ella hung her Lightsaber onto her hip and sat down to check herself over. She was covered in cuts, blood and she was certain that she was finding it hard to breathe. That is why it was so hard to run, she thought. Taking out her comlink she brought up the frequency to the leader of the Purple Rejects and a man who she had sought to fashion her own criminal Empire on Humbarine. He was a mercenary by trade but she was confident that if there was anyone who could secure safe passage off Alderaan it was him.

Lifting the device to her lips she lowered her voice into a hushed whisper as the transport continued it's passage to Aldera. "Thraxis. It is me. Ayra. I am injured and being hunted down on Alderaan. I am hiding out on Aldera. I need you to smuggle me off the planet. I am dying." Lowering the device back to her side Ella leaned backwards on her seat and clutched her ribs. She looked up through the window of the transport to the skies knowing Vantai was up there on her ship waiting for her.

You can't stay in this system forever, Vantai. Even if the Empire colluded with the Republic today to murder me you are still hostiles to one another. Your efforts to stop me from leaving the system resulted in a space battle. Sooner or later the Republic will send someone to deal with your presence. So long as I remain on the surface I will be alive. You were counting on me to try and leave instantly, weren't you? That would have been what Ayra would have done, right?

 

[Darth Ferus]

It was indeed a nice axe. One specifically attuned to the old Zabrak. As the dirt wave ended Krest stared down [member="Darth Centax"] , facing the realization that he couldn't take on both him and [member="Ella Nova"] with ease, not while the Sorceress was focused on fleeing at least. If he wanted to continue his hunt, he was going to need to deal with the threat in front of him. Centax was easily able to catch his weapon and keep his grip. Crushgaunts were always an effective choice, something the Zabrak should look into some day.

But to hold it was it's own issue. With a quick wave of his hand Krest attempted to force his axe to move. The Crushgaunt would never let it go willingly, but did the boy have the strength to keep the Zabrak from pulling it? It was a swift jerk right for the extended pistol, trying to just knock the blaster off aim while he dashed forward. "The One Sith is dead, boy! Get out of my way before you join them!" It was a commanding roar as he ran, attempting to close the distance as he hopefully knocked the gun off aim enough for him to dodge as he dashed.

 

[Thraxis]

Tags:

Spoiler

[member="Krest"] | [member="Darth Centax"] | [member="Vanessa Vantai"] | [member="Ella Nova"]

Loadout:

Spoiler

Chassis Slot: Thraxis Armour Helmet Slot: Enigma Gas Mask
Cloak Slot: Phantasm Cloak Greave Slot: Thraxis Armour
Pauldron Slot: Thraxis Armour Foot Slot: Thraxis Armour
Melee: Cruciatus Blade Overcoat: Jkiti Greatcoat
Rifle Slot: DEMP Sidearm Slot: Pistolas
Misc: Null Generator Hand-to-Hand Weapon: Vambrace
Tuck-A-Bag

To say Thraxis was, unaware of the going on's at the Summit was an understatement. He had literally, no idea about its dealings; he had gotten himself too caught up with Slavery and Kay to even let the Sith Empire be a blimp on his radar. However, something popped, in a small sweat soaked room where booze was the rage with every Purveyor, where Slave numbers and digits flared on small electric blue screens Thraxis pressed digits like some bored Automaton. Every motion consisting of Dull repetition before he dragged it down to read it, sipping away at scum filled booze.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose. If he hadn't signed an agreement, he would be half-inclined to not do anything. Though the other half would be inclined, if only because it wanted to see the Universe burn. I'm... Not exactly sure what you want me to do. I have no connections to Aldrera. He wasn't sure though, he pulled up a map, he scanned it over before he clutched his face, his distorted features pulled and dragged down as sickened eyes looked at the problem child. "Oh for Abeloth's sake..." Once he put a name to the planet, he was ready to slap Arya silly. The planet Alderaan. It was far outside his range of control, he stretched a finger from Hutt Space and little further than that. The best I can do is try. I ain't no damn Smuggler. He looked to his choices. He knew a Smuggler. [member="Candez Stoon"] was it. He wasn't bringing them into this, the pay was too high and the risks very similar. Hell, he wasn't even about to bring in the Purple Rejects. This was his contract. This was his mission. No matter how little faith he had in being able to resolve it.

He pulled himself from his chair, tossing a pair of Keys at the Rejects as he passed them. "Raid the Liquor Cabinet. Get pissed. Don't follow me." It was easy. Insultingly easy. The rejects followed Thraxis as long as he could afford their loyalty. Though, it's not like he needed much. They were scum and little more. Not even good Scum. That very weak layer of pool Scum. Yeah, that's what they amounted to. His men where the Pool Scum of the crime world, petty, boring and overall lacking in artistic flair.

With an empty swagger, a leg drawn up along the stairs in mundane repetition he hopped in the only ship viable for this job. And it sucked for it. The D-HB1 "Pack Master" It was tough as nails sure. But it couldn't move fast. That, and it was a bomber. Not a Smugglers Ship. He paid other people to smuggle. His engines flared to life with creaking moans, lights of white scarred the concrete floor as slowly it drifted upwards, ascending through the skies of Sirluur and departing from the White Palace as he sent another message as stars spanned and drew out ahead of him. But... I'll try anyway. Don't get ya hopes up. Also don't die. You have the force do... Forcie things.

 

[Onrai]

[member="Ella Nova"]

She was still here, Vanessa could feel - but where? Any sense of specific location had been replaced with a general sensation of Ayra's presence, not enough to pin down her location. She had not left the planet, that was certain, but where was she hiding on the world's surface? Vanessa sighed - she would have to contact someone here on the planet like [member="Solan Charr"] and inform them of the situation. In the meantime, whatever salvageable wreckage or craft were in the debris field were being brought into the hangar bay of the Ablution.

This was not the fun she was hoping for.

 

[Darth Centax]

​

Planetside: [member="Krest"]

The weapon's blast did indeed go wide. Screeching off behind Krest loudly and explosively hitting a tree. The Darth's feet slid in the dirt as he tried to grip the axe. Centax released the weapon and sent it faster, hurled straight at him with Krest’s own force probably only adding to how fast it was moving, like a blur. Then nothing, just standing there, the rise and fall of his chest. An unflinching metal wall.

Krest’s charge came, footsteps hitting the dirt. One. Gun to left hand. Two. Saber to right. Three. Setting the timing and balance. Four Breathing on the knife edge. The Darth’s eyes narrowed behind his visor.

Five.

“I am the one sith.”

A grenade fell from his belt right at his own feet! Ready to blow them all to hell!

BOOOOOOOM

It clicked and an exploding sound happened below them both. Then nothing. A fake.

Centax stepped at Krest now. Firing again, closer in, striking the weapon across himself to cover his body, the saber aimed for the opponent’s axe itself to deflect it. He fired again. Each time a small three round burst of sonic concussion at Krest. Krest would find Centax using the right-handed saber to maintain space and reach against the axe, rather than attack, his pistol the main danger. His stance was deep though like a skilled martial artist’s, a back stance if Krest understood such things, backfoot facing outward, front foot forward and flexible. Useful in leg work and kicks. His preference to sidestep rather than move forward or back.

In Orbit and the Ruins of Dead Ships: [member="Vanessa Vantai"]

While the prisoners were detained and the debris brought on board. Those individuals, not so much the clones, but individuals who valued their lives might be her source of intelligence, for they knew which ships the Sithwatch militia might be working with. They, of course, would require some persuasion to reveal this information. She might also find a troubling development, some of the Nikto were under a form of mass hypnosis and gibbering wildly. Strange stories about biological droids, hive minds seeding planets, suits of armor that were consuming people, and other interesting quirks. The various feuding factions within the One Sith had been busy, just not in the way the galaxy expected, none of it might make sense, but it was all there within the captives strange and wild stories. One Melsk Thraus Jr a captain of some experience, a lot of arrogance and little backbone, had apparently survived in her brig as well.

Gear:

Spoiler

Armor: DKS-401 (Phrik | No Nexus) | MRS-1 Modular SMG 8mm AP Loadout (Hands) | 4x Mixed Grenades Ion|Cryoban|Frag|Frag | Standard Lightsaber (Hands) | Personal Ray Shield Blaster (Belt) | Stealth Field (Belt) | Crushgaunts (Bolted and Sealed on Hands) | Jack Knife Pistol (Hands) |

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Krest"] | [member="Darth Centax"] | [member="Vanessa Vantai"] | [member="Thraxis"] |

As the convoy of transports neared Aldera the go ahead was given. Scrambled into action were the new T-90 X-Wing Starfighters. The pinnacle of Alderaan Engineering and manufactured in concert with Incom Corporation the brand new adaption on the classic X-Wing design were put into action as Alderaan was put into a state of alert. With news coming in from the outskirts of the capital that an attack had taken place at the Temple of Balance and a space battle was being waged above the planet it was paramount to the protection of the capital's citizens that Alderaan's best and brightest were ready to defend them. With their engines primed it took them little time to intercept the incoming convoy of the survivors from the attack.

Instructions were broadcast across the convoy by the squadron leader of the X-Wings as they took positions to escort the convoy safely into Aldera where security forces were ready and waiting in the city. A perimeter had been established in one of Aldera's spaceports where one of it's landing pads had been cordoned off by security personnel. One by one each of the nine transport ships- some of which were manned by the Sithwatch- landed at their designated landing zones. Upon landing a screening process would begin as the survivors of the attack were checked over by security as they looked for the fugitive linked to the attack: Ella Nova, formerly the Senator and representative of Humbarine in the New Republic.

For the Sithwatch it wouldn't be too difficult for them to bypass the screening process and return to their posts. After all they had been on Alderaan for years, living among the populace in secret, bidding their time to act until today when that time had come. But for Ella it would prove far more difficult. Whilst Senators were not as famous as they thought they were Ella was a known face before the events at the summit. She had been shown several times on the HoloNET giving interviews or being mentioned in news reports regarding the politics of the New Republic. Indeed there had been one recent article covering the fact that she had been given a seat on the senatorial committee that would oversight the Republic's military forces. No doubt a scandal would follow now that she was a known terrorist.

But after what had happened there wouldn't be many ways to hide her face, particularly here on Alderaan. News outlets were already covering the breaking news that she was connected to the attack whilst reports had been circulated among the various branches of Alderaan's security- ranging from Police forces all the way through to the military- that Ella Nova was a wanted fugitive- dead or alive- by the New Republic following the attack. It wouldn't take very long for security to find her once her transport landed and when they did Ella knew that she would either be captured alive or killed in the melee that would follow once they found her. Likely dead as there was no way that she would let herself be captured again.

Gingerly Ella rose to her feet and moved across the cramped conditions of the transport towards the shuttle bay doors, climbing over the bodies of survivors who laid or stood around the ship, some of who had died on their way to the capital for help. The ones who were still alive and waiting for the transport to land hadn't yet heard who was responsible for the attack save for the six Sithwatch that had boarded the transport with her. But as the ship edged nearer to the spaceport Ella knew that her time was running out. As soon as they landed she would be pointed out and another disaster would follow the several that had already taken place today. This time there was nobody watching from afar to reveal themselves suddenly and rush in to save her as what had happened with Krest and Vantai.

This time she was on her own.

Looking out through the glasteel window which hung on the shuttle bay doors Ella could see the skyscrapers and buildings which made up the city. She didn't take the moment to appreciate it's beauty or style. Instead her attention was on the X-Wing that was currently flying right beside it. From this distance she could make out the innards of the starfighter's cock pit and it's pilot as they flew the ship. They would be landing any minute. Mere moments away from being met at the end of pointed blasters and instructions to surrender if they hadn't already been given shoot to kill orders. In summary landing at the spaceport was not an option if Ella wanted to survive. The alternative then was to leave it all to chance.

SNAP-HISS!

Moving at speed Ella begun to slaughter everyone in the transport. She spared no quarter. None of the injured, able bodied or supposed ally- like the Sithwatch- survived as she begun to systematically cut them all down. Crimson light flared from the inside of the transport catching the attention of the X-Wing pilot. As Ella thumbed the ignition button on her Lightsaber and deactivated her weapon she could hear their voice coming through the radio speakers from the front. "Transport Ospus! What is happening in there?! Report in immediately!" Covered in the blood of her latest victims Ella begun to maneuver her way to the front of the transport, ignoring the sounds of the inquiring X-Wings. She felt the ship beginning to buckle as she moved back to the cockpit. With no pilot left to control the transport it was just beginning to fall out of control.

Pushing the pilot out of his seat Ella lowered herself down into the chair and strapped herself in. According to the display meter to her immediate right the X-Wings that had been sent to escort the convoy of survivors was now taking positions around her ship with their weapons primed. "Transport Ospus," said the same pilot from before. "You are surrounded. Land your ship immediately at your designated landing zone and prepare to be boarded or we will be forced to open f-" Reaching across Ella turned the radio off and took control of the ship. She had no time to listen to their nonsense. With the control stick in hand, Ella reared the transport to the left, threatening to collide with one of the X-Wings, but barely missing it as it's pilot expertly maneuvered themselves out of the way just in the nick of time. Seeing that as a hostile action a volley of bolts begun to light up the back of the transport from the other X-Wings as they nearly saw one of their comrades get hit.

Sirens blared across the transport as it told Ella that it's engines were no longer working. Their first point of target, she thought to herself. Engaging the inertial dampeners Ella maneuvered the transport as it begun to free fall away from the spaceport. Using the Force to guide the ship she aimed it's nose towards the streets below just as an explosion rocked the transport as one of it's fuel lines was ignited by one of the attacking X-Wings. Smoke and fire begun to fill the transport as it fell towards it's fiery destruction. Removing the straps that had secured her in the pilot's seat Ella climbed out of the chair, all thought of her own injuries and fatigue forgotten about as a rush of adrenaline flooded her and drove her towards the shuttle bay doors.

Igniting her Lightsaber again she quickly cut the doors away and was met with a torrent of air that immediately assaulted her. Clutching onto the side of the ship to secure herself Ella stood there as buildings rushed by as the transport continued to free fall. Giving herself into the dark side she leaped out of the ship before it collided into the streets below. Everything became a series of spinning and rushing images as the Sith Lord fell through the air hoping that she would land on top of the roof of the building that she had been aiming for prior to leaping out of the ship.

 

[Darth Ferus]

Krest lept to the side as his axe came back at him, a small growl escaping as he did. His weapon was his own, not to be used by the likes of [member="Darth Centax"] and the Sith. With his momentum gone the Zabrak narrowed his eyes, right on the grenade that fell. Chit. Not wanting to get caught in the blast he slammed his foot down. Again the earth obeyed his command, raising as a shield to cover him from the blast.

As it did, he again reached out for his axe. The weapon flew back to it's masters hand. The grenade blew up, yet there was no feeling of the explosion. No rocking of the earth, no destruction. Damn Sith and their tricks. But that was the end of the tricks it seemed, as the Sith closed in. Gunfire and saberwork. He hadn't seen that since the Templar's existed under CIS rule.

Sonic weaponry was a tough thing to counter. No saber would deflect that, and his axe was constantly knocked away by Centax's saber, leaving him little to do but duck, weave, and dodge around the weapon less he risk getting blasted apart. But that was a loosing strategy. A slip up would mean his death. As he moved Krest duh his heels into the ground, working on the very earth beneath his feet. A trap of his own for his foe. If Centax followed him in on his retreat, Krest would activate the trap, forcing earthen spikes to erupt from where Krest had been stepping.

 

[Onrai]

Upon the transport's inevitable impact into the surface of the world, Vanessa would notice the situation. This was not good, not at all. Yes, Vanessa had trapped Ayra on the planet for now, but the woman was exceedingly close to escaping into the void, a recluse once again. There was only one way Vanessa reasonably believed she would be able to prevent the woman's disappearance and future devastation of the Empire.

"Captain, what's the computer node maintaining the public address system for the region of the world nearest the crash site? We need to use it to send an audio message through the local public address system. I want my former apprentice to hear this - perhaps her pride will prevent her from running."

In the meantime, Vanessa headed to the hangar bay. It was time to head to ground and finish this long term conflict.

[member="Ella Nova"]

 

[Darth Centax]

Centax hounded Krest right on his heels, relentless in his approach, just like his Master. His technique was his own, but the pressure applied increased, then increased again. The shots were closer, the saber more dangerously parrying to create opportunities but also risk. Just at the moment of getting an edge, going for a roundhouse of a kick, the earth erupted from under his feet, crushing against the armor, and breaking upon its surface. Ripping, scratching and taring against the Phirk. The suit’s systems took another knock, as those spikes smashed against the outstretched thigh and foot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq3HUuDBAj4​

A self-made exploration of the Sith Code. Relived again in a new history and life. The cycles unending​

A heavy knock to the armor. Not to mention the man underneath, bruising both legs, fracturing the right foot, sending him off balance and to his knee’s. Centax was a martial artist, he needed that stance, but he was also young and fast. Not like his old decrepit Master had been at the end. He spun around, USED THE PAIN, he’d already conquered the first, pain, and it began flowing into his hands.

“General. No report from team one.” The remaining clones declared from nearby his ship, his communicator a note of failure. The rage that boiled from within Centax could have leveled the entire area. Indeed the stones around him vibrated slightly. Precision lightning arc’d out from his left fingertips cutting and scything toward his opponent, going for Krest’s knee’s again, if it connected, the sting of it would be like focused pins rather than shock. Shatterpoint techniques he’d trained but not brought to Mastery yet, seeking weaknesses.

If his entire purpose for being here was dead! Then his word to get her out safely was broken! PRIDE PRIDE boiled within the Sith Knight like a hot churning sensation, lifting him to his feet. The sonic weapon was melting in his left hand, melting to the gauntlet, burning it away, burning the stone spikes, burning…

Conquer the Second Pride - Partial

Task yourself with defending someone the galaxy as a whole sets out to kill, give your word, promise her that she will survive. Put your word on the line. Your promise dies in a fireball out of your reach. It wasn’t the same as breaking his pride completely, but it was close, this lesson was learned, but Keth's code needed more.

[member="Krest"]​

 

[Darth Ferus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6eSksEp27U​

​

A simple trap, but incredibly useful as it knocked [member="Darth Centax"] back. A pause was all the aged Zabrak needed. In his years a single truth had been taught, and that was to capitalize on any moment of weakness shown. He stepped forward as Centax fell back, his axe high in the air. Then the Force sent a whisper of warning. A sudden wrath in the Sith that sent a chill down Krest's spine. He halted his attack, instead slamming a foot to bring up a wall of earth.

A wall that was quickly destroyed, and a blast of lightning that impacted him anyway and sent him flying back. A pain gasp escaped him as he suddenly hit the ground, and then he felt the heat. A sudden growing and intense heat. A heat he hadn't felt since Vulcanus, his old Sith master. He forced himself to his feet, continuing his retreat to get away from the newly enraged man. What had set him off? And how much danger was he now that his anger seemed to begin to bubble over? Too many unknowns to charge into.

 

[Darth Centax]

Centax had yet to conquer anger, to compress it as Keth had. These teachings were there, the training, but the rawness of it in the technique was not focused. The lightening ripped out shredding through Sith Pride and tree alike, not a small burst, a torrent following Krest's body, cursing its way after him like a river.

Burning it all before him, twisting the ground like his Master had learned to do at Tython, remaking it in a new image as it blackened and scarred the Jedi’s holy sites. So many cycles this had gone on for, in different students, different acolytes. Legacy eating away at this place to mark his passing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky_q-cUEB3M​

Like Tython, the Jedi’s ground would burn, forged to create stronger Sith. One Sith. One.​

…But that was not how to use force lightening in a fight. As horrific as the damage to the immediate area now looked, with wood, tree, and plant smoking, hissing and cracked. When the lightening did pull back, there was a fatigue of force energy, a noticeable gap, breathing room for Krest. Centax’s out stretched left hand sagged, caked in melted metal from the sonic weapon. As much as the fractured left foot offered, in the pain that was crushed into the man to aid him, there was clear fatigue from the Sith Knight.

Understanding clicked. At that moment, Centax understood sacrifice. How the death of part of himself had made him stronger, less vulnerable. The twisted beating heart of a man with nothing left but “his teachings, and their failure. I understand.” The Sith said out loud, the armored figure clenched the crushgaunt, his hands that were no longer there. "I know."

[member="Krest"]​

 

[Darth Ferus]

There was no escape from the torrent of lightning. After the initial blast back the attack continued, burning everything in it's path. Krest was no exception. If he was struck, he'd fry. What a moment to wish for some of his old gear. His fist slammed into the ground, resulting in another burst of earth to form before him. And this time he prepared it, flooding it with his own energy to bolster and empower it.

The raw power [member="Darth Centax"] exuded was intense. What ever had set him off had sent him into a rage even Krest feared. He did what he could to squash that feeling, but it was there, tickling the back of his mind. The rock wall before him crumbled, breaking bit by bit as the unfathomable energy threatened to completely consume both the barrier and him.

And then it stopped. Krest let out his held breath as the rock wall crumbled. He stood from his crouched position, gazing over to his foe in silence. There was a pause from his foe, something he took the time to capitalize on. In a surge of what little strength he had left after the taxing defense he charged, closing the distance in the blink of an eye to bring his axe down on the Sith.

 

[Darth Centax]

From the Earth his opponent leapt, sluggish as Centax was from his force use, Krest had the advantage. The Sith's left hand went out, a gluey mix now of metal and gauntlet, aiming to catch the axe handle as it impacted into the left shoulder. The Axe cut into the black armor, the Phrik crushing, not splitting beneath the blade. Crushing the man beneath the impact.

Crimson blood ran through a stress fracture on the shell surrounding him, and his suit's systems flickered several times. The Darth tried to hold the handle to lock it in place with the left gauntlet, crushing, crushing, crushing to hold. His fractured right foot wasn’t good for supporting kicks with the other anymore.

Centax did something perhaps only Keth would have done.

Sacrificing to gain

He walked forward into the blade.

Blood spilled.

With a roar, he twirled his right-handed saber beam up, and around between them. Looking to take any stubborn arms or hands, and suddenly twisted his body sideways left to try to put distance between his opponent and Krest's own axe. The sabers side's right armored elbow, cracked outward in a jab to Krest's neck or chin. A simple pulling one way, attacking the other, simple but lethal. Was he about to lose that axe yet again!

[member="Krest"]​

 

[Darth Ferus]

There it was. Anger, desperation. The close to this fight. [member="Darth Centax"] stepped into the axe to strike back against Krest with his lightsaber. He kept his grip on his axe with his left hand as his right came around. The Force was whispering of danger, of evisceration from the saber, but he knew better. Almost calmly he set the metallic hand on the emitter as it began it's swing, letting the cortosis ore lining of the cybernetics do it's job.

"It's over boy. Rest."

And should his hand be closed on a shorted out lightsaber he'd lean forward, bringing the unnaturally thick skull of a Zabrak down onto the nose of the Sith.

 

[Darth Centax]

The saber went dead, the head smashed against the armor, shorting out the left eye’s view through it. Taken off guard. The crushgaunt could not give an inch on the axe handle, even if he’d wanted it to. The Sith Knight did not budge one step this time, his metal stance digging into the earth.

Holding. Straining. Blood on the shoulder. Pain in the foot.

Saber caught by his opponent in the same way, he crushed the end to nothing. Sacrificing his weapon. To gain. The force fatigue still there. Pain and Pride boiling. He was fast running out of weapons. The now free right gaunt looked for anything to grip, arm, chest or stomach. With a preference for the nearest arm, but the chest would do.

And did what they do.

Crushed. “It never ends.”

If it got a grip, the man would find himself being crushed to shatter or break bone, then rapidly thrown into the nearest tree. Hard. If not they’d stay right there and exchange a few headbutts.

Either way.

Centax was keeping the axe.

[member="Krest"]​

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Damnit boy, give up!" Krest roared in frustration as [member="Darth Centax"] kept his ground. If he hadn't gotten in his way of striking down Ella, the old Zabrak would have admired the Sith's tenacity. There was the all too familiar snap-hiss of a lightsaber as Centax broke his own, and a light blue blade erupted from the cybernetic palm. With it, he caught the crushgaunt, forcing the plasma edge into the palm of the gauntlet. Which would fall first? Would his hand be crushed before the heat burned through?

He wasn't waiting to find out. Again he brought his forehead down, slamming into the metal helmet again and again. Blood leaked from his forehead at the foolish actions, but it wasn't wasted. Each strike had the Force infused in it, unleashing blast after blast of the energy to try and force the boy to his back. "Just.. Give.. Up..!"

 

[Darth Centax]

There was no reaction to the words but pressing harder. Pressure His armored face took another headbutt, and fizzed with static, shutting down one ear and also leaving him with half vision in now one eye. The Crushgaunt burned, crushing and burning, crushing and burning. What little was left of the hand beneath the crushgaunt burned with it. There most of all, Centax had no feeling.

Give up? One Sith didn’t do that. Kethenites didn’t do that. There was no end. There was strength or there was death. Anything else was not Sith. But he was not Keth in his methods.

All at once, Centax both released his hand, Krest's weapon, and thrust a sideways pushing, armor kick, toward Krest’s stomach, to try and connect at the same time as they released. He wasn’t pulling him into the blow for damage, he was propelling him away, twist of the hips. Force backed in the movement. It hurt to use the injured foot to push off with, but thankfully or sadly, his ability to feel acute pain was less than most, after losing his hands so horrifically against the GA. The kick would do nothing for his own foot’s injury.

If Krest managed to hold his stance, or avoid the kick, the Darth aimed to give Krest's ankles a good yank as he landed in a force grip, to send him further off balance, and to gain space.

The Darth checked the blood on his armor, rubbing the crimson stain clear of the OS symbol, and bringing the blood up before his face. Sideways on to Krest now, wherever he’d ended up. He also looked over the rubble from the initial temple battle, for useful pieces should he need it.

Waiting and watching. Battered and Poised. His vision to 25% and hearing to half. “You have earned the lives of those in the temple.” Centax stated. The holes in the armor and the blood visible across various wounds. He didn’t move from battle, there was no flight or turn away. “She is dead.” He told Krest, because to his knowledge, Ella was dead. His purpose here had died with her. There was no attempt to hide the truth or deception in the force if Krest really listened.

[member="Krest"]​