Ain't No Rest For The Wicked [Levantine Sanctum Dominion of Iferetes]

[Vaudin Miir]

[member="Miktik"] [member="Jorus Merrill"] [member="Chloe Blake"]

Vaudin breathed in and out heavily bracing himself then pushed up to his feet. He pushed the small lever on his overunder breakdown and pulled out the old cartridge, check the one he didn't fire, pocketed it and loaded slugs. He had never seen junk like this on the space lanes but he was gonna take a guess they didn't like 10 gauge holes in their bodies, just a hunch. Vaudin could feel a fever coming on and he was starting to sweat like a Bantha at a barbeque. He looked around and grabbed some cord and pulled off a sleeve of his shirt. It took only a few minutes to fold the sleeve, place in over his wounded side and tie it in place. First aid wasn't the sort of thing he had done in a long time and he couldn't say he had missed it but he was glad he had learned it now.


the reddish brown Iktotchi moved back to the door and started listening for trouble and it sure didn't take long to hear some. He listened as first a loud discharge of a big gauge weapon went off followed by several blaster shots and all Vaudin could think was it had to by Jorus or Chloe getting found by the creatures. Vaudin set the shotgun down and pulled the door back open before grabbing the gun again and heading for the noise. They were going to be grabbing a lot of attention and Vaudin couldn't sit by while his friends got attacked. He could see the light around a corner at the far end of the twisted tube that passed for a corridor on the monstrous ship and started toward it. His fever was quickly getting worse and his head was starting to swim. He was getting another of those feelings common to his race and he braced for the vision that sometimes came along.


Nothing came this time as Vaudin had to brace against the wall with his shoulder and shake off the feeling of being in quicksand. He pushed forward lifting the shotgun to waste high as he neared the junction to the light. He was nearly there when he heard the creatures stirring and then BOOM! The sound of the explosion and the flash of light caught him by surprise and he stumbled against the bulkhead again before moving faster toward the light and smoke. He was nearly to a 'T' junction when a pale loping creature jumped out in front of him and turned toward the noise. Vaudin had a pretty good grasp of form VIII Shotgun-cho and form IX beat-with-fist, so he did what he thought was best and pulled the trigger as he aimed at the thing's back.

The hole in the facing side of the monster was much smaller than the one on the opposite and Vaudin could just about see through as the thing collapsed. Vaudin moved forward still feeling like his feet were in sand and stopped just in time to see the Kushiban moving across his path, calling for Jorus.

"Jorus." Vaudin echoed afraid that 'hey!' would get him shot. "You know where Jorus is?"

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]


"Join your harem? Please. I am not a nameless face in the crowd to be picked at your whim. I don't like sharing with others."



Besides, Kerrigan was a woman. Delila saw no interest in her same sex counterparts. Boarding the shuttle, the soldier rolled her eyes as they got underway to the Frigate. Orbiting Etti IV from space, the ship was a sight to behold. It sat like deadly black shark in space, maneuvering through the stars for its prey. Delila wasn't often impressed by ships or technology but the Illyria was a sight to behold.


The hangar opened as they approached, revealing a gleaming interior. The shuttle slowed, expertly piloted as not to have them all die in a firey crash. As smooth as any fine alcohol, the shuttle set down on the gleaming black decking. Delila instantly made her way to the ramp, walking down. It wasn't a surprise they were troops lined up and waiting to receive them. The only thing missing was a band to play her a themed intro as she walked.


Soldiers snapped a salute, some looking nervous. The redhead gave a sharp salute back.


"Captain Castillon. Lady Kerrigan. Welcome aboard, we are humbled by your presence."

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Delila Castillon"]


Siobhan was quite fond of the deadly black shark that was called the Illyria. Admittedly she was mostly a groundpounder but she could appreciate a shiny death machine in space. Besides, it was a Firemane design, and the Company was hers and Tegaea's. Yes, she was perhaps more than just a bit vain.


She also liked it when troops stood in line to greet her as if she were just as much a Queen as [member="Anya Venari"]. Truth be told she had taken a fancy to the pomp and circumstance during her time as Exarch, however much all the bureaucratic tedium, meetings and diplomacy had annoyed her while she held office. So she stepped down the landing ramp and onto the gleaming hangar deck after Dells, chin held high and carrying herself with the commanding, slightly haughty air of someone who owned the place.


She returned the soldiers' greetings with a sharp salute of her own. "Thank you. At ease, soldiers. We will leave momentarily." They were guided to the bridge of the shiny vessel. The blast doors opened with a snap-hiss, revealing a bridge that was the usual hub of activity one could expect from the command deck of a war frigate, crewers, officers and comm specialists going about their business. The crew was a good mix of humans, Eldorai and other aliens. Firemane was assisting the Eldorai in acquiring a naval capacity of their own and the training to use it, though for practical reasons most Eldorai warships were still mostly officered by humans.


At the end of the bridge stood one of those Eldorai Dells should very familia with. One of those who was terribly unlikely to hold the whole punching a bitchy old Eldorai lady against her. And incidentally was not sleeping with Siobhan and actually found her rather annoying.


"Captain Castillon, Lady Kerrigan. I imagine a riveting day full of explosions awaits us?" Kaida asked very, very dryly after giving the annoying Countess a crisp salute. She had been promoted to Captain recently. Apparently she was the Angelii who kept having to hang out with foreigners, which was mostly fine with her since she found most Eldorai annoying. Especially the ones who wanted her to attend prayer sessions and praise the Great Goddess. And almost all the aristos in general.



"Perhaps. I know how much Captain Castillon has missed them! Captain, set course for Iferetes. Ships have been vanishing, merchants have their knickers in a twist about a 'ghost ship'." The Captain in question being whoever commanded the ship, since Kaida was not a naval officer, but there because space elves reign.



"Of course it has to be a semi-mythical ghost ship. No chance of it being pirates, Sith who 'returned from the shadows' and such. People believe too many folk tales and watch too many holovids," Kaida said in what would probably be considered being genre-savvy if this were not exactly that kind of tale.


"You're far, far too jaded, Captain," Siobhan said sarcastically as the coordinates were punched in and space rippled, the ship jumping to hyperspace.


"I shall beseech Ashira to show me the light and rekindle my faith."

 

[Miktik]

[member="Vaudin Miir"]

Miktik jumped when he heard the man called out Jorus’s name. He tried to level the massive shotgun but the weight of the weapon caused him to fall on his hindparts. “You scared me…” he said shifting around. “I thought one of those things had learned to mimic language. I thought for sure you were going to eat me…”

His ears went back and he made a low whimpering sound when the man asked if he knew where Jorus was. “Of course I know where he is,” he said sarcastically, “I just like to roam around the halls on a ship filled with monsters calling out his name. It’s a hobby of mine.”

Putting on a brave face he stood up and pushed the massive shotgun at the man before him. “Take that will you? Jorus will want it when we find him.” He upholstered one of his pistols and checked its power cell. “And I’m useless with it.”

 

[Vaudin Miir]

[member="Miktik"]

Vaudin watched as the small thing rounded on him with a shotgun nearly the same size he was. and promptly fell on his backside. He was a little surprised the pint-sized creature had lasted this long in the ship that seemed to be filled with everything that could kill you and every inclination to do it.

"I still might eat you now smart guy." Vaudin said as he listened to the furry thing talk,

Vaudin blinked and had thoughts of using the little thing as a distraction if the creatures came running but decided against it, as a friend of Jorus was a friend of Vaudin. He heard thudding down the other corridor if the hole they were in could be called such a thing, and took the shotgun the little creature had held out.

"Well sounds like we're popular." Vaudin said wiping sweat from his face as his fever intensified, "Better haul tail before we become lunch."

 

[Miktik]

[member="Vaudin Miir"]

“I’ve never been popular in my life,” Miktik said looking around. He tightened his grip on the pistol before finally holstering it again. On all fours now Miktik started down the hall, now unencumbered and on all fours as nature intended. A cry of some dark creature echoed in the distance. “I don’t think I like being popular…”

He bounced and ran circling the man as they went down the hall. “I need to save Jorus…” he said with a bit of a frown. “I hid in the ducts you see, when they came for him.” Ears back the poor Kushiban was ashamed. “And when I went looking for him, I found you.”

 

[Vaudin Miir]

[member="Miktik"] [member="Jorus Merrill"] [member="Chloe Blake"]

"Yeah popular isn't looking good." Vaudin said as he tried to quicken his pace. His fever was making him sweat and the movement had broken open the wound on his side. He kept putting one foot in front of the other even though he wanted to just laydown.

'Kepp going you salty son of a nerf herder.' he thought to himself as they moved down the hall.

"I'm a poor karking trade for Jorus friend." Vaudin said looking over his shoulder and slipping his comlink out of his vest. "Chloe? Jorus?"

Nothing.

"We need to find Jorus and Chloe. I honestly don't know who's I more trouble."

The sound of creatures was still to their rear but really it was just a matter of time and then it happened as they passed another junction a tall slender figure stepped into the tube in the distance only illuminated by the occasional spark from a broken panel. Vaudin stooped and tried to grab the Kushiban and haul him back toward the junction and go the other way.

"Move Haus!" Vaud said as he turned to change directions.

 

[Judah Lesan]

Morning Star
Orbit

Morning Star, Judah Lesan's home when he wasn't home. The Knight had never learned to stay put. Of course his family was used to it by now, but there was always a twinge of guilt that Judah had left the training of his own son to his long time friend and ally, [member="Cambria Zadira"]. At least the rugged looking Telosian knew his son was being trained well. Katara, the beloved wife, always was telling the older Judah how accomplished he was with whatever he put his mind to. JJ's skill with a blade was amazing, was likely going to surpass his own someday. Judah was a proud father.

Katara also kept herself busy. The long legged Corellisi stayed sane by chasing down bad guys and other villanous types when the boys weren't home. Judah hated being away from her also, but he managed. Homecomings were always exceptional as the two shared a very healthy and vibrant love life. Simply put, they couldn't keep their hands off each other when together. Judah smirked at the thought as he wrapped up his recording for the family. Sending it out, he sighed as the red indicator flashed a successful transmission. Another mission, another day.

The Knight fired another message out. He was supposed to meet with someone. Something about officially unofficial official business, whatever that meant. Judah shrugged as he sent the comm message out.

"Morning Star requesting permission to land."

Simple and straight forward. He was told to say nothing more and nothing less. All he had to do now was wait for a reply.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Chloe Blake"]

Jorus' current scattergun was one he'd found in the hand of a corpse. A partial corpse. Well, he'd found the scattergun in a hand, and that was about it. Twelve-gauge, two shots left, heavily clawed in the stock region, it was, all things considered, unimpressive. He'd had two shots in his left Tenloss Ambassador revolver and three in the right, and after a close encounter with a small horde -- not as small as the one between Moross and the Feds, but small -- he found himself down to one and two, respectively. He holstered the fifty cal rippers and switched to the scattergun, opting to save the remaining three Ambassador shots for heavy targets. Thus, when he stumbled across the really impressively large rakghoul that was aiming to masticate Chloe Blake, he happened to be wielding a weapon that turned its back to hamburger but pretty much just made it mad.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Etti IV
Spaceport



Resting in a docking bay in the spaceport was the Siren's Song, his personal transport waiting and at the ready. Normally Judah didn't bother to take the vessel, leaving it for the other half of the Dashiell clan instead. Yet he was tired of either contracting a ride back to Protectorate or Moross space or taking public transportation. Neither seemed to make the bee line straight back to home. He didn't have time to wait and sit around while stopping at each planet.


We really need to invest in another ship.


Walking through the spaceport it was loud, busy and crowded. Like many planets it was full of merchants ready to hawk their goods. Chalu and himself had already parted ways, leaving Judah on his own. Eyes scanned the local goods -- some of it the typical tourist fare and some not so much. Judah was looking beyond the colorful and gaudy glitz though. A small store caught his eye, one that looked full of droids and junk.


Walking into the shop was like walking into a highly disorganized warehouse for his company. The shop was longer than it was wide, with an old Lorridian man behind the counter. Judah offered a small nod and disappeared into the shop. Eyes scanned the shelves, often having to move something when he thought he found what he was looking for. After quite a bit of digging, Judah came up with an old Troplex Flight Computer for none other than an X-Wing. Having a few of the fighters in their possession, himself and [member="Thessa Kai"] were always looking for original parts or parts to upgrade.


Taking his find up to the counter to pay, the old Lorridian man blinked, as if coming out of a daydream or sleep.


"This will do ya son? Got a fighter or are you one of those weirdos who use this as decoration?"


"No decoration Sir. Its for an X-Wing fighter."


"Good on you boy. Stuff like this is too valuable to collect dust. What else can I sell ya? You seem like a man who knows his junk."


"Not sure if you can sell it....Looking for an old starchart. Or planetary data. I need something dating back before the Gulag plague."


"Before the Gulag plague? Tall order son. Let me see here..." The old Lorridian turned his back and started digging through a box behind the counter. Judah waited patiently, wondering how the old man even knew where anything was. Straightening back up, a hard drive to an navicomputer in his hand. "Pulled this off a ancient freighter that crashed during the plague. Don't ask me where or how son, thats my secret."


"From one salvager to another, I completely understand. It has all the flight information and planetary data on it?"


"Guaranteed." There was a pause. "You ain't going after that Ghost Ship, are you son?"


"Ghost Ship?" Judah repeated, confused.


"You heard me right, I ain't that old or senile. Keeps a few paths around Iferetes. Folks say its a haunted ship, run by the souls of those who died during the Plague and couldn't find peace. Ships still are disappearing. Some folks in convoys get away, they've spotted this ship. Say it looks like all the levels of hell cuttin' through the black."


"No intentions of finding this Ghost Ship. I'm on the hunt for an unknown planet, but I think this hard drive is going to make my search easier."


"Just stay away from Iferetes son. Whatever you do, don't travel those space lanes."

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]



"Kaida. The one Eldorai I can stand. How did you end up in this sector of space? Siobhan yells and you come running?"


The formalities were done and Delila greeted the other Captain with a warm handshake. Despite the woman being part of a race that Delila found extremely annoying the pair was quite well matched. Explosives, hatred of old rich ladies, trolling Siobhan. Perhaps if the pair spent any time together they could easily be considered friends. With the Firemane vessel underway, the stars blurring outside the view ports, more could be commented about the ghost ship.


"Sith from the shadows? There is another joke. For a group hellbent on domination of the 'verse they sure like to hide in the dark corners and cracks. My vote is still on pirates.This system is still quite unexplored. Anyone can catch vessels, kill the crew then haul in the goods. Most of these pirate types scrap the vessel in a chop shop. Sell it off to whatever."


"Maybe we can drag in whatever is causing this. Enjoy a bit of fame and maybe fortune."

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Delila Castillon"]


One thing Kaida and Delila also had in common was that they were two women with whom Siobhan would never get to sleep with. Unlike Dells Kaida did swing that way, she just did not like Siobhan! "In her dreams only. Contrary to popular belief not every elf runs after her. Kaeshana got dull. I imagine the Angelii can cope a couple weeks without me now that they've finally learned to use a decent gun," Kaida responded, giving the redhead a firm handshake.


On a sidenote, redheads were very rare amongst the Eldorai. Babysitting Eyrecae on Dahomey had started to become annoying and so Kaida did not mind the chance to hang out in wild space. Even though she was certain this whole mission would turn out to be a wild bantha chase.


"Finally some rationality. But, no, it could not be pirates or something similarly mundane. It has to be something dramatic straight out of legends or a holovid," she spoke as the frigate made its passage through the depths of hyperspace, passing through the shimmering blue tunnel.



For her part Siobhan was in trolling mode. "Dells and a space elf agreeing on something and being cordial to each other. I never thought I'd see it happen. It's so sweet."


Kaida shot the annoying aristo a death glare. Doubtless she was imagining doing nasty things such as making a snowwoman out of her or manifesting a swarm of icicles out of thin air to bombard her with. "Respectfully, I am still not interested in going out for drinks with you...Countess."


"Because you can't hold your liquor? I recall a fun scene from the victory party after Silaqui was put on the throne," Siobhan snarked some more, much to Kaida's annoyance. It was a proven fact that Eldorai had a comically low alcohol tolerance. Hopefully no one had taken pictures during that party!


"Bloody nobles," Kaida muttered in Eldarai, though as she knew Siobhan could understand the language.



"I heard that! Sometimes I think we went a bit too far in liberalising Kaeshana. In any case, on the scale of plausibility, an ancient ghost ship drifting in space isn't that low compared to what we've faced so far. Zombie hordes, a mechanical dragon, a body-hopping talking Warthog who vaporises planets, the Lotek'k..."



"If this goes on long enough she'll mention a balrog and 'star brat'," Kaida said quietly to Dells before raising her voice a bit. "Yes, Countess. You have indeed been a magnet for terribly dramatic foes and overdramatic events in the past. However..."



"Ma'am, we're coming in for reversion and will drop out of hyperspace momentarily," one of the random bridge officers informed them, bringing everyone back to the actual plot. There was a flash as ripples were felt in space and then the shark shaped frigate jumped into real space. Far away in the vastness of space lay a gigantic space hulk. Kaida muttered an Eldarai curse at the sight. The crew members' expressions varied as they beheld the sight. Presumably some had placed bets on what they would find. Unbeknownst to Siobhan [member="Jorus Merrill"] and [member="Chloe Blake"] were having a fun episode with Rakghouls on the Ship of the Damned.



"See, I was right," Siobhan proclaimed smugly, "run a scan on that thing. Check for life signs. And get the dropships ready. I want a boarding team prepared."

 

[Chloe Blake]

[member="Jorus Merrill"] [member="Kaida Taldir"] [member="Vaudin Miir"] [member="Miktik"]

Talk about riling up a crimson ravager Rakghoul up good. A savage ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAR went echoing across the room, the Rakghoul arching it's back as his arms would open wide. A roar that was soon echoed in turn in the distance by several other.

More Rakghouls. Feth.

Chloe would grimace as she went scrambling to her feet, faint slicing over her ribcage but not one to let luck leave her. The shot prompted the Rakghoul's attention, causing him to swivel round, large savage teeth bared in a massive growl that erupted into a roar at Jorus.

Heavy arms would come crashing down onto the pavement, utilizing both arms and legs to rush at the Warden's direction. Chloe took this time to pull out her own Ambassador pistol out.

Up she went on her knees then onto her feet as she began shooting at the Rakghoul's kneecaps. One would hit, prompting him to go crashing to a knee but not knocking off the momentum.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Chloe Blake"]

The last shotgun shell roared as loud as the rakghoul, and he got the gun up sideways just in time to catch the clawed strike on barrel and stock. The impact drove him down to one knee, mirroring the monster. Claws tightened around the shotgun beside his hands.

The stock hit the edge of a bulkhead, anchoring it and letting him slip a hand free, just for a moment. He snatched the cortosis alloy knife from his boot; the pronged guard slipped between his fingers. The shotgun shoved back against Jorus' face, but the rest of him got the rakghoul in something like a hug, and the blade slammed into the rakghoul's left kidney. Repeatedly.

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]


Content to watch the verbal sparring back and forth, Delila found herself amused. In natural Siobhan character the woman thought everyone was interested in her. As if she was the Pied Piper of lesbianism. Apparently if she showed enough cleavage women of all sexuality preferences were just supposed to fall at her feet. Rolling her eyes at the exchange got heated, a Naval member was slowly edging forward. Before the man could announce their arrival the vessel lurched smoothly into real space. Filling their viewports was the supposed ghost ship. It certainly looked like something the Bando Gora would love to own. Maybe it was the Bando Gora. Delila still wanted revenge for her liver.


"The queen is going to be smug now the entire time." Delila muttered to Kaida about Siobhan. No doubt both women were annoyed with the prospect with Siobhan being correct. Now this would be part of the brunette's legends. Told in bars the world over, time after time. Even if one had heard the story before. "I suppose I will gather up a boarding team."


Not wanting to stick around for the Siobhan-was-right hour, Delila nodded and stalked off down the corridors. Not knowing the layout of the ship, she found some private to help do her dirty work.


"Private...uh...Henth is it?Yes? Good." Eyes squinted to read the name bar. Maybe she needed glasses. Lets hope not. "Round up the best soldiers aboard this ship. Tell them to gather up their weapons and enviro suits. We're going to explore on a death trap. Have them meet me down in the hangar within fifteen minutes."


"Y-Yes Ma'am" was all the young private could reply before running off.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Delila Castillon"], [member="Jorus Merrill"], [member="Chloe Blake"]



"She'll be smug about it for ages. She better not drop a roof on us again," Kaida whispered to Dells, who seemed close to a kindred spirit. Maybe redheads were not so bad after all! She likewise did not want to stick around for the Sio Was Right Hour and quickly left the bridge, getting her equipment.


Kaida likewise found Siobhan's smugness extremely annoying. Along with her belief that every woman, regardless of personality, species, tastes and sexual orientation, wanted to get into her pants. For her part Kaida found almost everything about the woman tremendously off-putting. Such as her pompousness, her massive ego that made Queen Silaqui look almost humble, general socialite beauty queen mannerisms. Really, she was not even that attractive. Besides, who knew how much of her was a machine these days!



Regardless, they had found the ghost ship, which definitely looked like something the Bando Gora would build. Kaida tensed slightly at the thought, she remembered Gehenna, then she shook it off and gathered a team of her own. Death trap seemed a perfect description to her. In fifteen minutes a strike force was assembled in the hangar. On short short notice, but still. Armed with bolters, shatterboltguns, blasters, lots of explosives and even one rotary cannon and two flamethrowers, kitted out in Firemane's new duraplast MKII Omnicron Tactical Assault Armour.



"Get to the dropship. Tactical objectives are to explore the unknown vessel, terminate hostiles and if possible secure useful tech. Keep an eye out for captives, if there's any truth to the rumours there may be survivors from the abductions, but shoot anything that looks hostile. Enemy is unknown. Perhaps Sith stalking around in the shadows or whatever monsters their labs spawned, Bando Gora splinter groups. Kill anything that gets in the way. Keep mobile and don't let yourself get swarmed. Defensive perimeter gets set up in the hangar once we land, then we push through. Priority targets are the engines and the bridge. We shall assume direct control. Bonuses for anyone who performs well," Siobhan declared in what undoubtedly an inspiring speech - or more likely not - as she gestured to the troops to board the Silaqui-class Dropship, which would soon. For her part Siobhan was wearing her ridiculously imposing beskar'gam, which she apparently liked to show off as much as whatever fancy dresses and jewellry her socialite beauty queen self loved so much.



Siobhan took up position close to the cockpit as the troops filed in and the dropship shot out through the vacuum of space towards the gigantic hulk of a ship. Shee darkness, evil and primal hunger radiated from it. It simply felt wrong and malicious. Silaqui-class Gunships flew escort and flanked the heavily armoured transport vessels as they made their approach. The Illyria-class frigate likewise moved into position so that its heavy guns could provide some support if needed, approaching through space like a black shark out for prey, eager to sink its teeth into vulnerable flesh.



Not that there was anything vulnerable about the dreadnought that seemed spawned by another age. Unbeknownst to our heroines, it housed multitudes of fascinating creatures called Rakghouls...Everything was quiet when the transport ships landed in the hangar, eeriely so. The calm before the storm one might say if one was inclined to be dramatic. The hangar was enveloped in darkness, barely any illumation being provided.



Ancient but still powerful looking constructs, namely a variation of gunships and other designs could be found in the hangar as the landing ramps lowered and Firemane troops swarmed out, setting up e-webs and defensive emplacements, scanning for hostiles. Kaida led one fireteam as they began their first tentative move into the belly of the beast, her dazzling yellow lightsabre providing some illumination, or a beacon of light if you really want to be poetic and dramatic, amidst the darkness.

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]


Even in potential battle Siobhan had to be annoying. Almost if someone had encoded it into her DNA via a hypospray. Fitting into a dropship with thirteen other soldiers in full armor and weaponry was a little difficult. The Captain was squeezed in shoulder to shoulder, weapons laying between feet and on laps to provide as much possible room. At least the ride would be mercifully short as they made the little jaunt to the 'ghost ship'.


They landed in complete darkness. Night vision would be useless -- there was no natural light filtering in to multiply it. The soldiers would have to rely on headlamps which bothered Delila a little. Beyond the creepy factor it was just difficult seeing a small section of the world at a time. Jostling into position, Delila and her squad were soon exiting the dropship, thrust into the dark hangar where the silence was only broken by breathing and the creaking of the ghost ship.


"Lovely, I think I need a summer home here."


Her quip earned a few chuckles from the tactical squad. Their lights were bouncing off the hangar walls as heads turned, scanning for any signs of trouble. There were quite a number of old bloodstains and half-eaten bodies(or what looked like half-eaten bodies) strewn about. It was clear most who arrived did not make it past the hangar. Stomach turned a little but Delila had seen this all before. Her credits were still on Reavers. One could only hope she didn't get raped and skinned alive.


"Everyone work in pairs, keep an eye on your six."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Delila Castillon"]


Dells was not the only one reminded of the Bando Gora Reavers. Siobhan was ruling them out as culprits, but as she made her way through the hangars she could not deny that it looked very familiar. Flashes of the Bando Gora command ship shot through her mind. Dried, old blood staining the floor and the walls. Half-eaten, badly mauled bodies lining the ground, looking as if they had been torn apart by Reavers or beings very close to them. An arm here, a chewed looking leg there, couple metres away some innards, but Siobhan had seen this all before. The only thing missing was a perverse shrine where the Bando Gora could perform blood sacrifices for their chaos goddess.



Her bionic eye glowed in the darkness, the flash of crimson providing some illumination. Her lightsabre was likewise ignited, the brilliant blue blade casting her face, obscured by her helmet, in an eerie light. "Team, stay behind and secure the LZ," she ordered a squad of soldiers, outfitted with heavy weapons, quietly as she pressed ahead, advancing in the centre but keeping mobile so that she could best direct things. She almost stumbled over a skeleton and then her eyes fell upon one of the Gunships.



Unbeknownst to her it was a Shadow Droid. The black-coloured craft looked like a bird of prey, ready to pounce upon its victim and unleash a payload of destruction. She could not quite place it but upon looking at it she felt something through the Force, as if it were alive. "What manner of tech is that," she muttered. The thought made her want to recoil though she stood her ground and beheld another craft, in this case a Turbostorm-class Gunship, though she probably would not know the name. The Gunship looked ancient but its armour looked tremendously thick, as much as it could be made out given the lack of light.



"Not Bando Gora designs, unless they have another Machine Cult somewhere. We're taking the stuff with us," she decided, activating her comm. Because it was so bloody dark it took a bit for her to find the right button to press. Briefly there was noise, screeches and hisses could be heard. One soldier got nervous and spun upon thinking he heard something and on reflex squeezed the trigger, a blaster bolt travelling through the air and impacting upon the scorched wall, but there was nothing.



"Hold your fire. And no charging off. Castillon, watch our flanks," Siobhan ordered before she got her comm on at last, hailing their frigate. "Kerrigan, came across unknown gunship designs. They'll be going with us. Make preparations for getting them off the vessel. We're moving inside," she spoke before gesturing to Kaida, who like Dells had a small team with her. "Taldir, take point and scout out the area ahead. But stay close." The formation thus established the strike force would press ahead into the belly of the beast.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Delila Castillon"]



Through the darkness they advanced. Past the dead, mauled bodies and sometimes over them, the bloodstains, amidst screeches coming out of darkness. The feeling of death and decay was such that it felt almost like a physical presence. Kaida had long stopped being religiously inclined after certain revelations regarding her people, but the Ghost Ship looked like something the daemons of Eldorai mythology would ride in. Or the Bando Gora, who were certainly demonic enough.



The ground creaked under their steps as they moved through the hangar and into a corridor. Fireteams were behind them, heavy weapons troops in the centre. She unconsciously tightened her grip around her lightsabre, the yellow hue of its blade making it look like a flaming sword of Ashira. With the hangar being engulfed in complete darkness they had to rely on headlamps and glowrods. At least she had the Force and thus could rely on her enhanced senses, but then again she was no master - and even force gods can die.



Her steps upon the ground were soft, almost featherlight, but then she was an elf. Nonetheless the ground creaked and there was the very strong feeling that they were being watched. "Stay close. Keep an eye on our flanks," she said quietly, the Firemane mercenaries surreptitiously advancing.



Her stomach turned a little when she came across a gruesomely mauled body of a human who had apparently gotten his chest ripped out, innards spilt across the ground, but she shook it off. Soldiers took up position around the wall as they reached the broken hangar door. Thus covered by her comrades, with weapons ready, she leaned against the wall and peeked around the corner, straining her senses before turning and giving the rest of the unit, including Dells and so on, the go-ahead with a quick hand signal.



Outside in the corridor there was slightly more illumination, though that did not say much. The sounds of battle could be heard in the distance, the screeches intensifying. There were angry hisses and suddenly, perhaps having a sixth sense, Kaida looked up at a crack in the ceiling. Just in time for a feral beast, a Rakghoul to pounce down upon her. A savage roar went echoinc across the room, the monster spreading its arms wide and opening a mouth full of sharp teeth. Kaida reacted quickly as she moved sideways and in the same motion swung her lightsabre in a brutal chop to rid the beast of its legs.



The beast tumbled down with a thud, but its roar was soon echoed by several others in the distance, coming closer. Rakghouls everywhere. Feth. Not beasts Kaida had faced before, but she had heard tales. Well, the tactics that worked against Reavers and zombies should work against them as well.



"Rakghouls!" one soldier called out, bringing up a boltgun to blast a couple creatures that came charging. The flat crack of the boltgun echoed as a bolt was thunked out to impact explosively. From seemingly everywhere the beasts came charging and there was a cacophony of sound as the Firemane troops opened fire, riddling them with rounds.



"Take cover. Short controlled bursts. Prepare buckshot for close range. Command, it's Rakghouls. Need heavy fire support," Kaida called out as she spun around in time to cut down another beast pouncing at her. She called her boltgun to her hand and fired, pumping out buckshot.



Buckshot and explosive bolts reaped a bitter harvest as beasts charged, but they seemed coming from everywhere. From the ceiling, from holes in the broken walls. One soldier was pounced upon by a beast and forced down, the Rakghoul tearing at the duraplast armour with claws before it was blown off with a load of buckshot. As Kaida thrust her blade through the mouth of a creature that had reached her, effectively impaling it, she was suddenly knocked off her feet and a beast smashed her against the wall.



The impact drove down to one knee as the claws slashed at her. One hand grabbed a knife which she rammed straight into the beast's kidney, another on automatism gripped its throat. As the beast tried to bite through her thick armour it suddenly recoiled and began to spasm as it was suddenly coated with ice that quickly spread across its body. Kaida gave the beast a hard kick, making it fall to the ground and shatter into pieces of ice. She rolled and jumped to her feet, feeling a sharp pain in her side though she shook it off. There was a loud boom when a trooper thrust an phosphorus grenade at the beasts, causing a cloud of white smoke to rise up into the air amidst the screeching of savages as they were incinerated.



"Be warned, it's about to get real cold. Prepare for a full volley...now," even as she spoke Kaida was giving herself to the Force as she harnessed her Sciia. Eldorai force-users, similarly to the Shapers, though the space elves would deny any similarity with them, had elemental powers and her specialities were ice and water. Abruptly, as Firemane soldiers took whichever cover they could find and fired relentlessly, the temperature across the hall began to noticeably drop at a fast rate. Over the symphony of death and destruction Kaida raised her hand, extending her fingers, coated in blood of Rakghouls, to control the air around the beasts charging towards them, pure hunger and malice in their eyes.



While the temperature dropped noticeably and small formations of frost began to crystallise around the walls she reached out to manipulate the water molecules in the air, forming them together in a solid form. Screeches were heard as soldiers pulled back, firing as they did so.



Suddenly needles of ice formed out of what seemed like thin air, hardening and expanding as they formed into knives, two of them being joined together into solid spears of ice. They pointed in all angles at the beast and, cold steam emanating from her gloved hand, Kaida sent them flying. The very sharp and long shards of ice were thrust through the eyes, skulls and chests of beasts making them cry out.. The Firemane soldiers opened up a devastating volley, bolters and scatter guns roaring, incendiary grenades unleashing the cleansing flames that carried out what ice had begun. The two ice spears travelled through the air like boomerangs, changing direction to be strike at Rakghouls coming from the corridor behind Kaida.

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Jorus Merrill"], [member="Chloe Blake"], [member="Delila Castillon"]


Somewhere in the depths of the Ghost Ship - defining an exact location was terribly difficult since almost everything was enveloped in darkness - the blast of a maser shot out through the tunnels of the vessel. One tunnel among many, for they seemed endless. Much like a maze, only this one was filled with vicious creatures out for blood. A shriek was heard as a Rakghoul went down, its massive skull being burnt like a crasp, brain matter being spat across a floor that was already stained with dried blood.



Savage roars went echoing across the room as her blood covered fingers found her gun, gripping it tightly as she kept on firing. Ammo count was running low. Just her sodding luck. She retreated as beasts came charging, firing as she went. She fought the Klaxxi, three metre tall, vicious spiders. A horde of latter-day zombies had nothing on them! Ahead there was a heavy blast door and, admist screeches and roars, she ran towards it, pushing against when it did not give way. Enraged as it refused, her hertbeat racing as the Rakghouls closed in, she reached for her lightsabre, wanting to quickly cut an entrance open...



There was an inhumane roar and then a beast leapt at her from the shadows. With trained deftness and good reflexes she dodged and rolled aside, reaching out to grip the beast and throw it against the wall, the result being a resounding crack as it smashed into it. Her maser was brought up, her finger was upon the trigger when suddenly she felt a sharp pain as the gun was knocked out of her grasp and clattered to the floor. Large savage teeth bared a massive growl that erupted into a roar and long claws viciously sought to slash at her and penetrate her armour, blood coating her right knee as she was driven back and bit upon her tongue. Then she gave the beast a hard kick right in the kidney, ramming her boot into it. A knife leapt into her hand and she rammed it into the beast's chest. Repeatedly. Then in a rage seized it with her mind and thrust it into the fray with an Atrisian curse.



She clutched at her wound as more beasts charged. Eyes turned feral and reptilian, so much like her true form beneath the one she wore. The maser was beyond her reach now. Growls that were full of malice and primal hunger were heard. Hands enclosed around the hilt of a lightsabre. Snap-hiss. The blade flared to life with a beam the colour of blood, with a hum as if eager to mete out death and judgement, the purpose it had been made for.



It was purgin' time.