Act III: Insurrection

[Kira Talith]

@Vulpesen @Commander Calico CC-247

Rebels
Sanctuary
Underground HQ

It didn't take much to get Kira going, especially after hearing Vulpesen nearby talking on the comm. She'd barely heard her name crackling through the box, and it was only confirmed once Vul started sending a transmission back.

To which of course she then made herself available, coming to Vulpesen's side to ask, "Wait.. is that Calico?" she asked, concern in her expression. Last she recalled he'd handed her over to Vul and then they had split up, lost in the chaos of finding sanctuary.

"Is he with the others? How are they?" came her rapid fire questions. Her voice got higher as she attempted to talk from behind the man holding the comm, "CALICO??!!! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?"

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen grinned as he heard the battle plan, coming in from behind @[member="Mandalore the Insurgent"]. He was in the middle of checking over the pistol in his hands as he had heard the plan. "Its not much, but its better than nothing." The information on Akala was quite unsettling, but he was far from one to give up. As @[member="TiCira D'Arr Hawk"] spoke, he kept an ear out to her words and heard her grave words. "Well, which route will get the most action and danger? Diversion or Kaa? You can sign me up for that one." Suicidal? No. Overconfident? Maybe. Slightly dangerous with an addiction to danger? Certainly. Besides, there was no way in the nine Correllian Hells that he would let someone take on such a challenge by their self, especially if her tone was anything to go by.

As for @[member="Kira Liadain"]'s shouting, Vulpesen placed his hand on her head once he was done speaking, using the force to send a calming wave over her. "You're going ballistic. Calm down. By the sound of it, he's alive and with what were going through I think thats good enough. If you truly want to speak to him, then be my guest." With that he flipped the comlink over in his hand and offered it to the other jedi.

 

[Onrai]

@Grimm @Eenes Kokad

"I'll keep it for the time being. We need to stick together - at least until we can figure out what the hell is going on here. Besides, I'm proficient with dual-wielding." She smiled, motioning for the two to follow her as she stepped into the street. "Either of you see any stores or whatnot that don't appear to have been looted? We're going to need arms. And personnel. We're going to have to get onto a ship and head to Serpena in the Unknown Regions. I have something that I think will be able to stop these people."

@Kursed

 

[Anya Venari]

Rebels in the tunnels, final briefing
@Mandalore the Insurgent @Preliat Mantis @Gilamar Skirata @Siobhan Kerrigan @Kira Liadain @Macrosoft Mack @E'vi Sohl @Meraal Vaun @Lucas Burke @Vulpesen @Ordo @Strider Garon @TiCira D'Arr Hawk @Verz Horak @Mia Monroe @Vulpesen @Racket @Others with me

She listened to Mandalore, to Ti’Cira. These strangers who had just appeared did not understand, could not understand what had happened for the last twenty years. To see the downfall and ruin of all that you hold dear was terrible, but to know that you had been part of it…that was even worse.

Melantha sighed slightly. “Akala is beyond even my comprehension of power. To those who serve her, she ascends them, makes them more powerful than any mortal alive. I am one of those ascended by my father thousands of years ago. I was exiled from Kaeshana, banished for questioning the past and future of my people, left to die. General Kaa saved me, adopted me as his only daughter, and ascended me to great power over the Force.”

“For millennia I served my father and Akala, doing their bidding. But when the onslaught began, when the war of conquest started, I realised I could not simply let this happen. At some stage, perhaps around the Fall of Fondor, or the Purging of Annaj, I felt treason in my heart. I tried to avoid killing civilians, but it was not enough. Finally I met Mandalore as he tried to defend Taris from the oncoming storm. Things were not…easy…I should have fought him, but instead I came to his side and helped him evacuate the orbital stations as they crashed in flames. From then, Mandalore has been kind enough to let me work with him.”

“However, I am not his only child of General Kaa. Two brothers I have; Phobos and Jhaega. They have none of my scruples, and are quite happy to raze whole cities to the ground if they defy them. Phobos is known as the Butcher of Corellia for a reason, and Jhaega is a ferocious beast of rage and terror who laid waste to Denon with his fire.”

“My friends, the only option now is to attack one final time. We must kill my father and my brothers. It is imperative that they be stopped. Without them the Kursed may lose some direction, and even more, my father and brothers have powers in excess even of I. If we can destroy them, we can at least give ourselves time to reinforce our position. It is our only hope.”

“Now the map. The Fortress has a key weakness. Underground there is a network of tunnels we can use to get inside. If we can do that, the Black Fortress’ defences can be lowered and we can destroy it, and I hope destroy my father and brother if they are there. I will lead you there with Mandalore whilst Ti’Cira provides a diversion in the city. Hopefully it will distract the Kursed long enough for us to enter.”

“My friends…if we lose this battle…we lose the war. So if you join us I will be personally very grateful. I have some powers of foresight, and if we fail here, the only future I see is flames…with a single shadow consuming all.”

She bowed her head.

 

[Ordo]

@[member="Preliat Mantis"] @[member="Gilamar Skirata"] @[member="Kira Liadain"] @[member="Vulpesen"] @[member="Strider Garon"] @[member="TiCira D'Arr Hawk"] @[member="Mia Monroe"] @[member="Verz Horak"] @[member="Ket Van Derveld"] @[member="Mandalore the Insurgent"]

"Mia blast it!" Ordo said shaking his head and rubbing his scar riddled face before turning to the Witchy woman oh how high she flies.

"What do you need?" Ordo said deadly serious, "I'm your bastard."

If this was the last shot for the halaxy then he was sure Rianna would understand.

'Where are you cyar'ika?'

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

The Black Citadel
@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

The battle lines were being drawn. Though she didn’t know it, soon the final struggle would be waged.
Tegaea stood in the Black Citadel, looking down on the shattered remains of Mandalore City. The Kursed were gathering, needing only their leaders to march on the galaxy and destroy the last nest of resistance.

Her mechanical body clinked and whirred as she walked to one of the transparisteel windows. She was a shell of what she had once been. Machine parts had replaced even more of her than her wife, and her hair was greying, her eyes shadowed and hollowed. However, despite the pain from the implants, the crude reconditioning of Akala’s doctors, and the indoctrination of the Kursed, she still stood proudly there.

“I know you are here, my love. You will bend to me…this will be the Butcher’s final end,” she whispered.

 

[The Hound]

The Black Citadel

His hand's quivered, his body shook. A hunger, welling from deep inside like none he had known before. A hunger for blind, unwanted revenge, a hunger for violence, a hunger for knowledge, a hunger for destruction, a hunger to serve. All of these fueled Turin and could possibly be pointed to if one were to look for reasons he would stand with Akala, outside of her own mind controlling powers. Now the young Force user sat, meditating, searching the White Current for the one that would satisfy three of his hungers. @[member="Sophia Walsh"]...To his clouded eyes now she had betrayed him, left him for some other man. He would fix this, for if he couldn't have her, no one could.

 

[Revenchent]

REBELS- IN THE PERIMITER OF THE SUPER DUPER CIS CLUBHOUSE


Well, that brought the clone's spirits up. Kira was alive and--judging from her voice--doing well. That brought a wave of relief over Calico that he certainly hadn't been expecting. "Alright, Jedi, my boys are gathered on the surface. I don't know what's going on, but if someone is down there giving order, relay them to me. We can assist, anything to get out of this hell hole." He paused and let a small laugh echo through the line. "If Kira wants to talk, I'll keep this line open. Tell her to chime in whenever she wants to hear my words of wisdom or talk about new bathrobes styles."


With that, Calico's hand fell away from his helmet. He turned to follow after Galaar and their Imperial friend, only to be stopped by Canal shoving a weapon in his hands. The Commander shook his head. "No, Canal. We go together. Bluejay is just confused, but she's one of ours. Don't overestimate yourself, stop trying to impress everyone." Calico's tone was firm, like a father talking down to a son, but no hostile. "It will get you killed. Know your limits." He shoved the weapon back into Canal's arms. Leaving the boy would be a death sentence, and there was no point to it.


A rather unfamiliar voice cut through on the CIS comms and garnered his attention. "It's your lucky day Templar. The Dreadguard's best and brightest happen to use Mandalore as a burnt out vacation spot. Transmitting now, move your shebs." Finally, Calico turned to follow his men. His twin DC-15s raised cautiously in front of him as he turned every-which-way for any hostiles. Hopefully, Vulpesen would give him an actual objective. They were working blind here.


A loud crashed sent a shiver down his spine. Artillery. Kark, move! "Down boys!" He roared, rolling up behind a fallen sofa of all things. Then, it registered to him that something was moving in the craters, and it spoke. He recognized that voice from the comms.


Today was getting weirder by the second. Calico stood up looking not the least bit shaken; holding his sidearms at rest down by his hips. They could be raised in a moment's notice if need be. "I am. Grand Marshal of the CIS. All CIS personnel on this world are under my jurisdiction. Give me a name, if you want. We're about ready to move out." He motioned toward the three men behind him. "Like I said, moving out."


Calico took a moment to switch to his private squad comm, an old, ancient frequency shared only by Galaar and himself. "Get the boys moving. Secure the building, make sure it's defensible. Those monsters in the sky make me feel like something is about to happen...I'll talk to this di'kut and see if he's with us. We can't go far until that other Templar arrives." He paused for a moment; distracted by a single wavering thought. "I want to find Kira and that Jedi if we get the chance. No idea what's in those tunnels; might not be safe."


@[member="Kira Liadain"]
@[member="Nyos Val"]
@[member="CC-117 Canal"]
@[member="Galaar CC-252"]
@[member="Voroll Dey Astaar"]
@[member="Zius Aurus"]
@[member="CC-935 Bluejay"]
@[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Verz Horak]

@Melantha @Preliat Mantis @Gilamar Skirata @Kira Liadain @Vulpesen @Strider Garon @TiCira D'Arr Hawk @Mia Monroe @[member="Ordo"] @Ket Van Derveld @Mandalore the Insurgent

Well, Verz had wanted answers. This was shocking though, to think that just one woman conquered the galaxy, and enslaved most of it. But this was no time to think of the impossible odds, or how if they failed, the last hope of the galaxy would fall. Verz thought of two things. One, that if this was what they needed to do, so be it. If he died, it was his destiny to do so. But he would help save the free galaxy while he could. He hadn't survived the Sith-Mando War to lose another on his homeworld.

But the second thing he thought about was @[member="Arla Balor"] . He missed her terribly and hoped she was OK. Hopefully he would find her soon. He turned his thoughts back to the tunnels. "Count me in for the final assault."

 

[Djorn Bline]

Canal heard the tone of Calico and obeyed him and he took back his blaster rifle and said to him, "Yes, sir. And I'm not trying to impress anyone. Its just... a duty that we have to do. And I do understand that there is something wrong with Jay," then he took back his shotgun from Galaar and his detonators from the knight. He then followed Calico inside of the shack and lifted up the door and put it in his place. "Dang it Galaar. You took out that hinges of this door." He then got a chair and put it in a position where it would hold the door and would have a hard time for someone to knock down the door.

Then he heard the sound of artillery and heard Calico ordering them to take cover. Canal went on the ground to take his cover. The things that Canal and his brethren foes through all of the time. "Commander, what do we do now.? Aren't we going to the tunnels with the other?" Canal asked to Calico cause they were literally sitting ducks out in the open, waiting for their fate.

He then followed Calico after the artillery and waited for his orders.

@[member="Commander Calico CC-247"] @[member=Galaar CC-252] @[member=Voroll Dey Astaar] @[member=CC-935 Bluejay]

 

[Kara Avoyos]

It took longer than expected for Kara and her new best friend to reach the sanctuary, but they eventually managed it. The alarmingly large number of people who’d attempted to kill them had slowed progress a bit. As had the layout of the sewers themselves. The force could tell somewhere where they needed to go, but it sometimes wasn’t so good about giving little details like ‘next room is filled with boiling hot steam’ or ‘it is about to start raining giant rats.’

There were already a large number of people gathered in the sanctuary, but she didn’t immediately see any Templars or Confederacy personnel. Comm chatter suggested that her comrades in arms had holed up in a warehouse outside of the tunnels, but by the time she’d learned that it had been too late to turn back.

“See anyone you know.” She asked Windu

@[member="Antares Windu"]

 

[Antares]

@SANCTUARY FOLK - REBELS

He nodded his head to @[member="Kara Avoyos"]. "I see quite a few people." Was his response to her question. He did, he saw @[member="Kira Liadain"], the petite Jedi Knight. Who fancied herself a joker. Antares had to admit, she was quite the comedic act. That was the first person he could see, anyone else he couldn't see. "Do you see any of your templars?" He spoke softly. He wasn't entirely sure what templars were meant to look like, so he wasn't even sure if there were any there. Besides, he took her arm gently and walked around the room.

"Was I the only person you saw, who was...friendly out there?" He spoke softly. How else was he supposed to phrase it? He was going to have to find out if there were other people she had seen and left behind. In his opinion, from what he knew of the templars they were quite unpredictable. Something he wanted to achieve.

 

[Galaar Tal'Verda]

Rebels - In the CIS Murder-House,

Galaar went to take cover at the artillery shell and made it to the couch next to Calico. He gave a low growling noise as the whole shook from the concussive impact of the blast. "Kark it Calico! We're sitting nerf here, I don't fancy being turned into red pirpaak by a shrapnel shell."

The artillery wasn't the worst of their issues though, there was a loud hissing pop and the back door of the werehouse went flying inward and red blaster fire peppered the ground next to the clones and their Imperial Knight ally. "Come get some you demogolka chakaars!" Galaar wheezed out and made a quick dash to the other wall, covering their flank. His sprayed the doorway with blue blasterfire that sizzled wherever it hit, filling the room with the scent of ozone and flesh as a body was was moving inward suddenly hit the ground and spasmed as its spine was cut through with a bolt.

Galaar dropped two more unarmed Kursed before a massive Mando in full beskar totting a repeater walking through the doorway and took a whole clip of blue blasterfire without even flinching. There was one solution to this rising problem, explosives... The clone quickly reached for a spherical grenade on his belt, and timed it for ten seconds before priming it and chucking it at the tank slowly crossing the room. "Calico! Down! Danger clo-" He wasn't bale to finish his sentence before the explosion rushed the air from the room and knocked him flat on his shebs.

The Mandalorian now dead and in chunks on the floor suddenly vanished as a sound of creaking permacrete and twisting steel filled the room and the building's floor began suddenly vanishing into some kind of warren unearthed by the blast. Both Galaar and Calico were caught in the shockwave and Voroll and Canal would both likely see Galaar scream and curse in several different languages as he suddenly plunged into the abyss created by the blast.

@Kira Liadain
@Nyos Val
@CC-117 Canal
@Galaar CC-252
@Voroll Dey Astaar
@Zius Aurus
@CC-935 Bluejay
@Vulpesen

 

[Nyos Val]

Nyos shielded his face as the explosions rocked the area. He moved into the building, arms raised.

I come to aid. I mean you no harm, Only to help solve this riddle. As he spoke a lone corrupt Mando rushed him, but without looking, Nyos grabbed him by the throat, used him as a shield from incoming blaster fire then tossed him aside.

As I said, I'm here to help. A smile crossed his face, to show good intentions.

Nyos pulled the bag from his shoulder and showed the medical supplies. He needed to find people he could trust, so why not show that they could trust him.

@[member="Kira Liadain"]
@[member="CC-117 Canal"]
@[member="Galaar CC-252"]
@[member="Voroll Dey Astaar"]
@[member="Zius Aurus"]
@[member="CC-935 Bluejay"]
@[member="Vulpesen"]
@[member="Commander Calico CC-247"]

 

[Kara Avoyos]

Rebels – Sanctuary

Kara shook her head dejectedly. Even though she knew that at least some of her people were out there alive, it would have been nice to be able to see one of them in the flesh rather than just hearing voices over her comm. “They are holed up in a warehouse.”

Going back into the tunnels alone, especially heading towards the outside would have been a risk. So instead she had forced herself to do the smart thing and keep going forward. Listening to confederates taking fire was hard, but she’d be no help at all if she managed to get herself shot trying to fight her way to them. “I should be there.”

“You were the only person out there who didn’t make a dedicated attempt at removing my head from its resting place.” Kara answered. It had been like the whole world had simply gone nuts, which made a twisted amount of sense when the whole bit about her having no idea how she’d ended up on this planet was considered. “Does anyone know what is going on?”
@[member="Antares Windu"]

 

[Antares]

Antares's shoulders went up and down before his brown gaze found her eyes. "I will help you aide your comrades." He said simply and with a nod of his head and a warm smile. She was a friend to him in these circumstances whether she thought so or not. He would help her, he was a Jedi after all. Whether they were friends or not.

"I am not sure if anybody knows what is going on, shall we find out or go get your friends?" He asked while he looked around the room, though kept his ears open for @[member="Kara Avoyos"] to speak to him.

 

[Fiore]

The fortress loomed over Kaa as he entered in, he received reports of the matters that were happening outside. Frowning it seemed nothing was being done by his children, maybe it was time to do the thinking for them. Waving his fingers, he called over one of the Kursed that lingered in the Fortress. Turning his massive form he spoke to the creature and smirked. “Go to @[member="Phobos"] and order him to aid the Kursed also tell @[member="Jhaega"] he has permission to unleash...chaos”

Nodding quicky the Kursed scampered towards where the brothers were speaking. Bowing he hid from Jhaega and remarked as quick as he could before the dragon decided to consume him.

A cowardly voice echoed as he spoke quickly to the brothers. “ G-General Kaaaaaaaaaaaaa, said kill the rebels, aid Kursed, Jhaega kill them ----- CHAOS!”

Laughing maniacally, he wandered towards Jhaega and bit into the dragon’s foot. Kaa on the other had other things to attend too. Moving towards his tower, he sat in his seat and watched the holo feed of the city. Chuckling softly, he quickly pinpointed a strong dread Master and entered his mind. "Leave the woman, gather your mother's troops and destroy the Rebels - save the Mandalore, his head is mine." @[member="Isley Verd"]

 

[Bluejay Ungolfen]

Wherever the Feth Calico and co. Are - KURSED

Bluejay laughed aloud when Canal handed off his weapons. "Moron." She insulted him cheerfully, although decided not to give him a reason why. Then Calico decided to keep everyone together. She was delighted, but decided that it might not be the best idea to let on how happy she was they were staying. "Oh, come on, Calico. Let the runt have his nanosecond in the spotlight." She said, hastily lumping what she sincerely hoped sounded like forced cheer with a worried edge behind it. Please fall for it. In truth, she was comfortable with her abilities to take down at least Calico, Galaar, and Canal (especially with the two experienced commandos wounded), although admittedly the Jedi might cause something of a problem. The cyborg was dangerous but definitely not invincible - nobody was. Worry about them later. Fall for it, Calico, c'mon...

Yeah, or not. Feth it, Galaar - she assumed it was Galaar - why did you have to blow things up? Besides the obvious reason, anyway. She expressed her feelings with a furious oath in Galaar's direction over the comms as she staggered backwards. The nanosecond - good word, nanosecond - she could see, her brain nearly exploded.

Hole.

Galaar.

Falling.

Well, that takes care of that, then. She thought with somewhat-fake cheer. There was something decidedly unappealing about a commando, traitor or not, dying in a fall. Can't believe I'm pulling a mercy kill, but... Darting forward as fast as she dared, getting as close as possible, the Dread Sister squeezed off two shots aimed for Galaar's helmet.

@CC-117 Canal
@Galaar CC-252
@Voroll Dey Astaar
@Zius Aurus
@[member="Nyos Val"]
@Vulpesen
@Commander Calico CC-247

 

[Sophia Walsh]

@[member="Turin Val Kur"]

The streets were creepy to boot. It was eerily silent which made her think that something was going on. She didn't know what and honestly Sophia wasn't sure that she wished to know what was going on. Sighing she kept walking along the empty street looking for something, anything of interest.

The young woman peaked around a corner as she thought that she heard something. It turned out to be nothing but the wind but still it was enough to make her wander in that direction to see what it was. Sophia hoped to find some sign of life.

 

[Kara Avoyos]

"We should probably see what we can do here first." As much as it sucked, Kara knew it was the right call. Going back might be doable with someone watching her back, but they would still be wandering into a high risk situation with nothing in the way of intelligence. They might be able to get there in fighting condition and they might be able to help her comrades, but it would be a risk. They were here now, where there help was almost certainly needed and had a change to learn more about what was going on. That was something.

Her mother and the near army of tutors who had been responsible for the education of all potential heirs to the throne had been strict in their training. No matter how emotionally charged a situation might be, the problem in front of you - the one you could influence now - had priority over problems that were far away. The Confederates were well trained and there was a good number of them out there, so Kara needed to focus on the now. Who knew, she might even be able to wrangle up some support for her comrades.

"What can we do to help?" Kara asked once @[member="Melantha"] had finished speaking.
@[member="Antares Windu"] @[member="Mandalore the Insurgent"] @[member="TiCira D'Arr Hawk"]