Dominion All Alone in the Night | CIS Dominion of Kayri III

[BX-4381]

C O M M A N D O​

Tag: BX-4323 | Anakwor Farlorn | Kobi Fesser | Skylar Vikaar | G 3 M 1 N 1 | Gerwald Lechner | Lavria Xedrim | Palm-Imer | Oleander Webb | Visanj T'shkali

BX-4381, individual-designation: CROSSFIRE, rattled as the dropship descended with its squad of commando droids. Mission parameters had detailed an objective identified as 'Void Orbs.' The objective was to be required with minimal casualties. Preliminary databank downloads on || MISSION LOCATION: KAYRI III || identified native hostiles as Charon. Parameters included the extermination of individuals. Individuals are expected to be hostile.

Seperating off of the dropship, BX-4381 and its squad began to form up, neural synthesizers and personality matrices coming online as the commando droid's combat systems automatically activated.

TARGET ACQUISITION // INSUFFICIENT
COUNT: MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS
ASSESSMENT: FRIENDLY

There were multiple beings, which the targeting system of BX-4381 identified as various sympathetic individuals associated with the Confederacy. Forming up in an orderly fashion, BX-4381 held its standard-issue BAW-89 blaster carbine in formal ready position, awaiting orders from its commanding droid.

 

[Vytal Noctura]

The low whistle of a staff rapidly spun filled the air as the pale woman crouched in the center of the arachnid's web. The creature was fast. Agile. Its slender legs were adapted to avoid becoming stuck in its own webbing. An unsurprising evolutionary trait given the nature of the beast. A spider was a spider even when it had the torso of a humanoid. The only difference was this was held the prestige of being the apex predator of this planet.

Fitting then they it should be put up against Dathomir's finest creation.

A sharp slap accompanied the shaft as it snapped back into her open palm. Vytal danced aside as the thing practically flew across the open air as it had times before. Its legs propelled itself great distances. Eager to land on a snared prey and wrap it up for a meal. Only the Witch wasn't interested in staying for dinner.

With a jab, Vytal sought to stick the abdomen of her opponent. One of many legs managed to deflect the blow enough to only graze its shell.

Teeth bared, her hand shot out from the spear. Fingers splayed apart the razor sharp talons snapped into place before she thrust them at the Charon's leg. A shrill cry flowed from its maw as the blood did over Vytal's gauntlet.

It had been overdue that it should suffer. Now, perhaps, the fiendish creature would cease its playful bounding about. Sadly the Chaon had over played its chief strategic advantage -- being a novel and hitherto unknown opponent. Vytal had seen it move and reaction to stimuli. Now all she had to do was ply that knowledge into victory.

Vytal whipped backwards to avoid another leg as it tried to skewer the Pale Witch. Spear point touch. Fingertip touch, arm bend, grunt of exertion. Land in a crouch. She could feel the pounding of her heart from how strenuous the battle had become. Every effort to avoid becoming tangled in the strands strewn about was perhaps more exhausting than the battle itself.

Sweat sliding down the side of her face, Vytal grinned at the creature. Spear in one hand, she beckoned it to attack with the other.

 

[Asori Soto]

---
Location: KO capital dropship > no mans' land
Wearing: civvies + blast vest
Toting: standard blaster rifle, vibrodagger, and various geological equipment
Tags: Visanj T'shkali / Palm-Imer / Gerwald Lechner / Lavria Xedrim / Oleander Webb
---

The anticipation was crushing, much like the whirring hydraulics of the loading ramp as it was let down.

And it was two-fold. Allure of the episteme laying throughout the Charon caverns was as gripping a reason as any to risk life and limb, but the amount of time that had elapsed since she had seriously used a blaster gave her the briefest moments of pause. Though she was admittedly out of practice, she sure was about to be back in. And though fighting off humanoid pirates threatening her cargo along the hyperlanes would be quite a different experience than invading an arachnid nest to steal their idol, blasting was blasting regardless of circumstances. And hers were different now as a university alumna rather than a freight runner.

She gave a generally affirming nod as she heard Gerwald's orders - she'd stick with Ms. T'shkali and therefore Palm-Imer and himself.

 

[Julra Repraj]

​

Tag: Vytal Noctura

Vytal would feel space and time begin to warp near her, the magick being unleashed would of course be familiar the blinding white breach that formed was only there for a short time before Julra stepped through. Raising an eyebrow she took a look at the Nightmother and across to what she was battling, not the greeting she was expecting but none the less she was here now.

"Why do I always pick the worst times to show up?" she muttered quietly before the creature lunged at the nightmother again the familiar green ichor of the Nightsisters flared into Julra's palms before she extended them outwards the creatures advance on the Nightmother slowed before ceasing entirely.

Julra stepped to one side as she lowered her hands, she took a slow walk around the creature studying it before she looked to the nightmother, coming to her side and extending a hand. "It wont hold for long, I suggest you take the opportunity to end it." she she helped her to her feet, the Nightmother would feel strength flowing into her as well as any wounds that she had sustained would slowly heal. Restoration magic was not something she was necesarily skilled at but she knew enough to help her out.

In the past the gate alone would have taken much of her magic but she showed no sign of strain, a testament to the days she had spent just trying to maintain a stable gateway for as long as she could. The blonde woman looked back to the creature while she tended to the Nightmother one must never turn their back on the enemy after all.

 

[John Locke]

Location: John's Quarters | The Halcyon Storm
Wearing: Would you believe...a suit?
Tagging: Matthew Locke

​

“One day, if you ever stop by Naboo we’ll take a trip out there and visit. She’s…something else, everything good in one person. But, don’t sell yourself short there. You’re not exactly the rabble-rouser you used to be yourself.”

A grateful smile curled up the corner of John’s lips as he nodded at his brother, the earnestness, the genuine emotion in his face. It was, it was the face of the brother he remembered from all those years ago back on Corellia, there hidden underneath all those years, all those experiences. The cyborg took a sip of his caf, swirling the dark liquid around as he glanced over at Matthew over the rim of his cup. Maybe not everything had changed after all.

“See, I’m not so sure you’ve had all the wits kicked out of your head just yet Matty. Or perhaps that story I heard about you and the Wookies was someone else? Cause if it wasn’t you then it might make an amusing anecdote to tell mum and dad…”

John let his voice trail off as a wicked smile spread across his lips, for this moment it seemed that the galaxy had found a way to wind back the clock on them, letting the years just fall away. Within these four walls it felt for a heartbeat that they might have been halfway across the galaxy, in a little shop or a room back home. He knew it was just a trick of his memory, but John swore that he could hear the sound of traffic outside, the smell of their mother cooking spiceloaf. The mind was a funny thing, the way that it could throw you back to another place, that you might almost thing that you were back there.

“Have you been back…”

So much about home had changed since they’d both left, the old neighbourhood, the old shops had all closed, old friends had moved on, replaced by new families. Yet the story, the feel of the neighbourhood stayed the same, as unchanging as the stars that wheeled overhead, a monument against the ravages of time. John had done what he could, buying a house for his parents in a nicer part of coronet city, somewhere they could retire but…that place, it got into your bones and you could never really escape. John had spent his life trying, but you couldn’t forget it, not really. It’s why the sense of community he’d built within the company was so important, people looking out for one another without thought of payment, giving what little they had just because someone else needed help. It was nice to think that maybe some of the essence of that community had escaped the planet with him, had flowed out into the galaxy.

He’d found a new home, a new place in the galaxy but…in someways he’d never really left that street. Still that little kid staring up, one hand held out to the stars wondering what was out there.

 

[Anakwor Farlorn]

Farlorn's Forlorn
Chapter Nine: (Un)fortunate sons
Part Two​

Tags: Ruus Kote
Objective: Survive

So many pillars of black smoke were rising on the horizon, it was as if an entire industrial zone had popped up overnight.

The Pathfinders had marked another Charon strongpoint, judged weak enough that infantry could take it without the assistance of Ruus Kote armored forces, but perhaps not without unnecessary losses. Nothing of value was deemed to be in the nearby vicinity.

So, Colonel Farlorn elected to bathe the immediate area with a healthy but indiscriminate dose of white phosphorus.

Delivered by an atmos-bomber, the shells detonated fifty meters off the ground, spreading the chemical over the target area. Burning like grounded stars, the burning chunks descended lazily to the earth, trailing behind them pale smoke. Damp foliage instantly ignited the moment the phosphorus touched them. The trunks of trees exploded in a shower of splinters as the water inside them violently transformed into steam. Even the surface of a river that ran through the target zone had been set aflame, making it look like it was a channel of lava slowly flowing downstream. The air was so greedily guzzled up by the fires that the vacuum created not only sucked the air out of the lungs of the Charon but the lungs themselves. Air-bags and windpipes were left dangling out of their mandibles as they slowly suffocated and cooked alive inside their insectoid shells.

The few that were left tried to escape, their faith in their death cult overcome by their frenzy to get away from the hellfire engulfing their bodies. Though the Rangers cut down a few, many were left simply to burn, wailing and trying to beg for death in their alien tongue. But Farlorn’s orders had been clear.

“Don’t shoot,” he had ordered. “Let them burn.”

This story repeated itself half a dozen times as the rangers slowly advanced through the jungle. Concentrations of enemy forces too strong for his troops to take or for his chemical weapons to dislodge were contained and ignored, the armoured forces would take care of it. Several times the Charon launched ambushes against his forces, well-planned and superbly organized the Colonel had to admit. But save for once or twice the enemy was sent yelping back into the forest dragging their dead and wounded with them.

The losses he had so far suffered were only twelve dead and about fifty wounded. Acceptable losses for gains made. Almost all objectives were being achieved ahead of schedule with the exception of his Combat Pioneers having trouble clearing the vegetation for the convoy due to constant counter-attacks.

From the FOB he had established near the ranger’s initial landing zone, he watched his holo-table turn from hostile crimson to victorious purple. Soon, the path would be cleared like he had assured and the glory of a near-perfect operation would be his. He entertained the idea of moving on the crystals themselves and seizing them so that he would be the sole man that achieved victory of his Viceroy this day. His grandeur and standing within the public and government officials would rise. But even the risks for him were too great. He already had victory in his grasp, there was no point to reaching for something he could not grab.

Let the Mandolorian back-stabbers and the force-manipulating Knights and their children take it. There were many other victories to be won elsewhere and it would prove no significant delay to his grand plan.

Of course, Osowiec and his Company were seemingly not having as good of a time as him. He listened closely as Bellary forwarded Kote’s message. He adjusted his headset and activated the mic. “The situation is difficult. Very well, I shall pass on your message. I have faith in both my men and yours to carry this day. Hail to the Vicelord, may he reign Everlong.”

With that he cut his link.

----------------​

The Charon decapitated Sergeant Speranzza, spraying his disgustingly hot blood all over the back of Karsaw. He turned around just in time for his rifle to block a blow from its massive claws. It was barely but the sheer force of it sent him staggering back several steps.

Up close, the alien beast was horrifying, with its body wrapped in razor sharp hair and a bulging pair of yellow baleful eyes. Karsaw was a veteran of nearly twelve battles now, waged in the most brutal of environments against the savage of enemies, but just the sight of the creature made him consider if he should flee for his life.

He didn’t get a chance to make a choice as he had noticed him. Lunging at the Trooper, it moved swiftly like water, as if the rest of existence had been slowed down. Somehow, Karsaw managed to throw himself to the side, its bladed hands leaving only tearing through his tunic and leaving a shallow lacerating stripe down his torso instead of bisecting him. Taking advantage of its over-extended lunge, he swiped downward with his bayonet at its arm joint where the armoured hide didn’t connect.

It wailed in pain as it flailed around its amputated appendage and lashed out a powerful counter-attack that Karsaw only just managed to meet, his raised blaster rifle splintering apart under its blow. He fell backward and collapsed on the jungle floor, landing on a dislocated shoulder that sent a sharp jab of pain through his entire body.

He looked up just in time to see a claw descending to pulp him into nothing. For some reason, his mind decided to wonder what would have been if he had possessed the guts to talk up that girl in that bar before he deployed. How strangely inappropriate for his last words.

The Charon shivered as the first ten blaster-bolts punched clean through its armour and collapsed when the eleventh cracked its skull open. Its corpse spasmed for several moments until Porky crushed its head into paste with his boot.

“You okay, Kar-boy? Looks like you need to eat more of your greens.” He said as he continued to fire his twin-linked repeater into the horde of Charon closing in. The heavy gunner was somewhat shocked when ‘Kar-boy’ reached for his holster and pointed his sidearm at him. “If that was hurtful…”

He squeezed the trigger and sent a shot over Porky’s shoulder so close that it actually singed his hair.

The Charon behind Porky literally exploded into pieces of meat each no larger than a clenched fist.

Karsaw stared at his blaster pistol. “What the hell type of blaster did grandpa pass down to me?”

“Uh, I don’t think your grandpa did help, as nice as that would have been.” Porky pointed to the treeline where a wall of steel was erupting from, the whining of their engines being utterly deafening even over the roar of the blasters and explosions. The Charon mass buckled and burst under a barrage from the troops at front, the tanks at the back, and the shoulder-launched rockets spreading napalm-infused death from above. The HE-FRAG shells sent up volcanic eruptions of dirt and body parts, reducing so many Charon just to pink mist.

“Remember when I said we would be saving the butts of the Mando’s?” Osowiec yelled over the din. “Turns out it was the other way around.”

Astonishingly and beyond basic reasoning, the enemy refused to break, they didn’t even hesitate at the death being wrecked around them on all sides. Instead of running for their lives as all sentient creatures of this galaxy would have, what was still left wheeled around and charged the Mandolorian tanks. As much firepower as two super-heavies had, it didn’t mean diddly-squat if they were enriched and on sides. This was still a losing battle, they had gotten some time was all.

“All right, you maggots, you got thirty seconds to grab your kit and any equipment you can carry.” The Captain ordered as he slung over a pair of ammo tins over his shoulder by their strap. “Iskak, O’Brien, I want det-charges on that shuttle and anything we can’t bring with us. I am not going to be the guy that gave these bastards Confederate tech.”

It took only twenty seconds and the twenty-three men left were already running. They left the dead behind. There was no point in taking them with them. They had no world to return them to. There would be no families that needed to mourn and for the survivors, no point.

The concussive blast of the crashed transport behind being demolished ripped trees straight off their roots and reduced the Charon swarming over it to atoms. It winded Karsaw and he would have fallen over if Porky hadn’t grabbed his shoulder and jerked him back onto his feet.

“You be safe,” He panted. “Stay by me and I’ll keep you safe.”

The platoon moved at a near-sprint into a tide of Charon but they were not vulnerable. The rangers had fought and suffered as one for years, through struggle and agonies they made it through as one to stand tall another day. They didn’t need advanced equipment or gene-enhancement, they just needed each other. They covered one another. They checked and turned with expertise. They watched the flanks, they plastered the angles, they fired in turns to stagger reloading. At any given point in the action at least two-thirds of them were firing.

Dead Charon littered their path as they advanced one step at a time towards salvation. But it wasn’t without cost. A burst of plasma from a Charon brood-leader ripped through the ranks of the Carians. Trooper Yoncy was reduced to a boiling biological slag and Lorndak lost both her eyes. Porky thought quickly, hoisted her onto his back, and told her to hold on as tightly as she could. The blinded trooper weakly nodded before she passed out.

“Open up the ramps! We got some wounded!” Osowiec blasted over the comms-net and actually slapped on the side of a APC. “We’ll try to open up a gap we can use to withdraw. Andrej! use all the damn munition’s you got and blow them all to kingdom come!”

“Pleasure’s mine, sir.” Andrej smiled and turned around with his HH-4 grenade launcher and launched a dozen incendiary rounds mixed with high explosives into the jungle all around them, turning the area into a hungry inferno that aggressively spread outwards, giving them maybe a minute of breathing space.

 

[Matthew Locke]

​

TAG: John Locke​

OBJECT: BYOO - How's it going Bro'​

Location: Halcyon Storm

Spoiler

​

Matt looked back at his older brother was a smile, thinking about how lovely this girl must be if even John talked about her like she was a dream. He was happy that someone had picked up the buckets of bolts and gave him some affection, it was good to see John with a smile on his face. Matt could remember John being stuck up in his ideas when he was in school, John had always had some gruff charm to him, but he was never the greatest when it came to the ladies, their parents had given that trait to Matt.​

​

"Bantha Crap! You heard about that too? God, I was hoping to not have to remember that day, and apparently, half the galaxy knows that I almost got my wits kicked in by a couple of Wookies! Let me just remind you they're twice my size and three times as strong! I'm lucky I got out of there with my arms still attached!"​

​

Matt was rambling a bit, he remembered that day, he had been scared, but that was a nightmare if he had ever lived one, Wookies were some scary beasts when they got riled up.​

​

Matt's eyes flashed towards his brother if he began to ask whether or not he had come back to see their parents since he had left, so long ago at this point. His eyes flashed down as he gave a sigh, taking another sip of his Caf as he thought about his parents for a moment, he missed them, but he didn't think he could face them after the way he had left. Another long draw from his cigarette as he held the smoke in his lungs, before exhaling it through his nose as he looked at his brother.​

​

"No, I haven't been back there since before I left... how are they doing? I never got the chance to keep in touch with them...."​

​

​

​

 

[John Locke]

Location: John's Quarters | The Halcyon Storm
Wearing: Would you believe...a suit?
Tagging: Matthew Locke

​

“It sounds like you never learns the most important lesson, always let the wookie win…or get cybernetics that let you arm wrestle them into submission, your choice really.”

It wasn’t exactly that John had been keeping tabs on Matt, not really but when your younger brother was making a splash in the galaxy word got back to you. John had never really wanted to, but once you grew beyond a certain point getting involved in the world of corporate intrigue was inevitable. He’d been drawn into that world, hiring mercenaries, agents to work his will in a way that wouldn’t get back to him. There were times when John had written out a message to his brother, asking if he’d be interested in a job, a way to reach out to him before he deleted the message. The truth was, he didn’t want his brother to think of him like that. It was funny, Matthew was more involved in the world than anyone, he would have understood what it took to run a company more than anyone else would but…there was maybe a part of John that wanted to be seen as that big brother who was better than anyone else. They weren’t children anymore…but he still wanted his brother to be proud of him.

All in all, he was pretty glad that Matthew had reached out in the first place.

“They’re ok. Retired now but, you know what they’re like, you could never tell just by looking at them, they have to ‘keep busy’.”

Their parents had always been involved in the community, the kinds of people who had to be doing something with their day. That had never changed, now in retirement, no matter how much John had tried to convince them to slow down, to enjoy their retirement but…it had fallen on deaf ears.

“You know, mum still keeps your room, just in case you ever decide to stop off at home. Dad did try to turn it into his man cave at one point but…she chased him around the house for about an hour before he let her have her way.”

 

[001-A-986 "Nix"]

equipment: 001-A-986 biodroid, RSKF-44 heavy blaster pistol, urban combat BDU pants, Bantho leather sleeveless jacket, energy cell bandoleer
objective: Hide and seek
sub-objective: regroup with friendly forces
location: Forest
Running through the area the sound of chittering behind him could be heard gaining As nix turned around and launched two plasma caster shots from his hands as he kept running. he dropped in way off target and alone as he attempted to regroup with any friendlies he could while trying to avoid getting slaughtered by the local inhabitants. though he was pretty sure the fires he's causing are enough to get anyone's attention so that's on him. With no coms on him, the best he could hope for is to get someone's attention.

 

[Matthew Locke]

​

TAG: John Locke​

OBJECT: BYOO - How's it going Bro'​

Location: Halcyon Storm​

Spoiler

​

Matt gave a loud chuckle as he looked at his brother, taking another drag from the cigarette he held in his hands. Rising up out of his seat he moved over to the viewport and stood there, his eyes glancing out into the stars as his brother talked to him about his parents. He loved them, but he hadn't left on the best of terms, so he didn't want to come home just to be disappointed in him, he knew that they loved him too, he just couldn't face them, or himself for that matter.​

​

"I don't think mom and dad need two cyborgs in their family. I'll only start hooking up when my body starts to break and I can't do my job anymore, then we'll have a talk."​

​

Matt said with a chuckle as he glanced over at his brother with a chuckle as he gave him a coy wink before turning back to look out at the stars, blowing the smoke out of his nose as he stood by the viewport, his eyes glancing around at the stars, it was nice to take a moment and relax.​

​

"I figured she would still want me to come to visit, I'm not as daft as I let out, I just know if I can do that just yet, maybe one day I'll come and visit them."​

​

Matt glanced back towards his brother, leaning against the window as he glanced over his brother, thinking of what to say as he took a deep breath.​

​

"I've been doing this crap for too long Johnny, I need something more stable. I'm not giving it up, but running from one end of the galaxy to the other, I'm getting tired man."​

​

This was written all over his face, even the story of the fight with them Wookies brought back a little resentment for his youth, he wanted to slow down a little, but he couldn't give up what he loved to do, the thrill of the battle was all that kept him being somebody.​

​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

P R O T E C T​

Wearing:xxx
Weapon:xxx
Tag: Palm-Imer | Oleander Webb | Lavria Xedrim | Visanj T'shkali | Asori Soto | Ruus Kote | Anakwor Farlorn | Kobi Fesser | Skylar Vikaar

Several things took place in relatively quick succession of the other. The landing zone did attract attention. First it seemed others had made it to the surface before they had. Two rather young force users, a couple of mercenaries or three, and mechanical human. Odd that a lupine found cyborgs to be a curious thing when he could shift into a wolf, yet he did. How organic and mechanical could co-exist was beyond his mind, but perhaps one day that would change. After all, Exarch John Locke was a cyborg himself.​

​

He smirked as the children tried to run off, and caught a glimpse as one of the mandalorian mercenaries rounded them up. At least they would have an escort, and with the fact those among them who could use the force would not be able to in short order, they would come in handy. His HUD fell to the logo, Strill. Active first response. No wonder the team had arrived so fast.​

​

“We might as well stay together,” he called out to the others. “I sent scouts ahead, send a man with them and have the rest of your team cover the flank?”​

​

The question was also a statement. The lupine turned away and moved forward as though his request had already been fulfilled. There was little time for anything else because the landing zone was about to be overrun.​

​

The charon could be heard moving for their location quickly. They had enough numbers that the sensitive ears of the lupine could hear the ground rumble beneath their feet. He turned to fact those that were with him.​

​

“Get ready for a fight.”​

​

His thoughts reached out to Oleander Webb and Lavria Xedrim. <<“They are coming your way… we are recovering the void stone no matter what. Do what you must.”>>​

​

Gerwald and the others would do the same.​

​

Support craft flew overhead. It seemed the strike team had identified Charon strongholds and were already working to take them out. That made Gerwald feel a bit more at ease. He was already sending his team into a situation where his ability to protect them was going to be handicapped. The fact they had an escort which was trained in other forms of killing was reassuring.​

​

His mind found Palm’s. <<“Nothing crazy, hmm? The closer we get, the more your particular skill sets will be needed.”>>​

​

She knew that her training as a Soll’nav had made her exceptional with her weapons before the added benefit of using the force. Not every Force User was a warrior before learning to use a saber. It made their dependence on the force for combat even greater. The wolf had been fortunate to live among a culture that relied heavily on melee weapons for battle. The others, Gerwald had some concern, but he would learn what their skill was today.​

​

They moved forward, together. The force slowly seeped away from them as they neared the entrance to where the void stone would be housed. He kept the team hidden among the forest. There was no need to alarm the Charon just yet, and with the white phosphorus attack on the strongholds around them, the rest seemed occupied.​

​

“Com check everyone. Telepathy will be of no use inside. We go in hot, and we go in fast. Whatever you do, keep the scientist alive. Asori Soto here wants to take some readings before we extract the thing. We will need to buy her time.”​

​

Once Gerwald had made the next steps clear, he ignited his lightsabers. There was no sense in waiting for someone else to do it. Charging ahead, the Lupine made quick work of the two guards, separating their heads from their torsos.​

​

“All clear, move in.”​

 

[Srina Talon]

K A Y R I
Tag: Diana Sophistica | [Open]
Location: Kayri III [Outskirts]
Objective: BYOO
_________________________________________________________​

Ice.

She could smell in the very same way one might catch the scent of a home-cooked meal from the very moment they walked in the door. Her family had an affinity for certain elements, one of them, being any form of cold or frost. The sophisticated Echani was brought back to a single memory wherein she had first met her Master. Darth Metus had plucked her from the streets of Coruscant. Unthinking, unknowing, of the bloody feud he was blindly wading into. She remembered those abyssal depths as if they had never left. The stench of sulfur. The grey, pallid light, that endured throughout the sub-levels of Galactic City. The sound of glass shattering while she destroyed his storefront.

The Vicelord took her in. Helpless, lamb. All but ignorant to the Force—A slave to its whims.

She’d nearly frozen the interior of the Ferocity after a nightmare. Things had progressed quite far since then. From a frightened, mewling, wayward warrior of the Bright Lady to a harkened and dreaded Queen. Ice brought back a sense of nostalgia, fiercely, and she longed for simpler times. Quiet moments when they were able to take in a new world in earnest.

Those days were no longer.

The dangerous and rather malevolent Exarch of the Confederacy had zero qualms about using the Force to see her will achieved. She could recognize it in the strange survivor before the hatch ever pulled open with a gust of chilled wind. A hull and wires did not keep her from sensing like individuals. What kind of Sith would be she be otherwise? She watched from the corner of her eye while the flame-haired female joined the fray. It was an interesting battle style.

Srina twirled around as if the halberd she wielded was lighter than air. Her footsteps were light, elegant, and somehow seemed to carry the dust of the ground with her in a fragile swirl. The light from the vents on the weapon seemed to brighten while it shifted form and started to resemble a Force Pike more than a halberd. Her Magnaguard seemed to move in tandem with the whirling dervish she had become and she simply remained in motion. Every turn was another jab at an arachnid that spilled their rank insides along the ground in a soup of disgust. <<They are mine. Beware, they execute commands quite literally.>>

Destroy the opposition.​

That didn’t necessarily mean to caretake allies. They weighed the odds of success versus the lives of those around them and made the adequate decision based on statistical data. From there, they expected adaption. Srina had no qualms in this. It left her with a clear head and an adequate grasp on any situation at the most basic level. <<More than can be counted, quickly. More on the way.>>

<<Do what you must until we reach higher ground. The Magnaguard can be replaced and I will endure.>>

Though borrowed, truly, @Visanj T’shkali would forgive her for damaging her property in the line of duty. Srina did not know what the young woman was thinking, however, she already had her own designs should they begin to lose ground. For the moment, cleanly, while she sliced through creature after creature to her heart's content. There was a simplicity to it that the Echani found comforting, a rhythm, a song, that let her move from one to the next without pause.

No matter how the Vicelord had trained her to be both political and a warrior there was no hiding the truth.

She lived for the fight. For the moment her weapon caressed the air and cleaved through her enemy. Few things, very few things, made her blood move—But a battle did. An Echani, indeed.

<<The Charon seem to have teeth and claws, vicious, but with little finesse. If we move toward the mountainside we can ascend and leave them to the rubble. Fish in a barrel, from on high.>>

 

[Palm-Imer]

Armor: XxX.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging:
Gerwald Lechner ~ Lavria Xedrim ~ Oleander Webb ~ Visanj T'shkali ~ Asori Soto

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The geminaie nodded once as Oleander and Lavria moved ahead of them. Being stripped of the Force had certainly made a difference to her, but she was still confident in her capabilities and it was good to know that the man was too. Palm knew she would get to meet the two on many more occasions since Gerwald had picked them to work together, today would simply be the first display of what they could do and how well they could work together. Her hands were already resting on the hilts of her guard-shotos, which for the moment were still deactivated and clipped to her belt. She would have use of them soon.

Golden eyes remained focused on her surroundings when she felt Gerwald's voice push against her mind. A faint smile curved her lips. She could not actively answer in the same manner that he had, but the lupine had free reign of her thoughts and that would be enough for him to sense her agreeance. The geminaie had no intentions of trying anything out of the ordinary today, there was a job to be done and people to look after.

Not long after she'd hear him again, but this time over the comm link. Even when the Force was still readily available for her to pull on, the geminaie had never made much use of telepathy. Mental connections were something she regarded as deeply personal, and had frequently foregone that in favor of more conventional means of communication. As they approached their destination and their angered enemies came upon them to stop their advance, the wraith blades came forth, the familiar buzz of a lightsaber being brought to life was not there, the blades as silent as a regular vibrosword would have been. They also lacked the glow that usually characterized the weapon of a force user, but they were every bit as deadly.

Her gaze momentarily turned to the scientist in their group. "Let us know when you need to stop, Ms. Soto." Until they were inside the Charon void temple, Palm would keep an eye on the woman and stay by her side. Then her main goal would take precedence, dispose of their rabid enemies until they got their hands on what they came here to retrieve, the void stones. As Gerwald made quick work of the two guards standing by the temple doors, the first swarm would fall upon them.

Crawling from behind nearby rocks and down the very walls of the structure itself came more Charon. They were fast, and they had only one concern: killing everyone that was not their kind. The geminaie moved just as swiftly but more precisely, taking down the aliens that approached her. There was no point in trying to incapacitate them, the Charon would show them no mercy and so they were forced to not spare them any either.

 

[Diana Sophistica]

Diana Sophistica
Tag: Srina Talon + Open
Location: Kayri III - outskirts - Red Hare Wreck
Equipment: Lightsaber - Dark Cloak armor
Objective: BYOO

She ended her movement for a second. The force that flowed through her as she moved was as always a whirlwind of motion and training. Her movements were guided by calculated thought as much as it was the flow of things within her. Her focus was on the fight, and her arms moved with precision that many younger then her would not know. Her life had been a battle in most cases, and it was felt in her movements. Her style was unique, but seemed to be seeped in many years of training. She planted her left foot in the dirt, and knew instinctively how it would feel if that was her own. The metal did not convey the coarse dirt beneath her feet that would crumble itself into tiny balls across her foot. The foot pivoted her body seamlessly into a stance of rigidity and her hips took most action over. Moving her body in a fierce thrust the was perfectly parallel to the ground with her lightsabre. Her left arm holding it with fingers that in their red metallic fingers, showed great contrast to the hilt. The light of the blade pierced a Charon in the chest. It brought back memories of when that arm had been her own, and the training now felt like it reached it's use. She often felt that way, but now, with her ship and livelihood so open and bare, it felt more real. She NEEDED her ship, or its contents at least. She turned the left foot, and the motion of her body followed. It was anger over this situation that took hold of her.

Her mind was never this shaken, this vulnerable to anger. Her master had made sure of that before he had failed his teachings on that himself. His training was impure in that sense. He had taught her dark side abilities while claiming them to be of the light. She herself did not believe in such a thing as inherent evil of good, but this was the reason her mind was in turmoil in the moment. Her mind settled not as she tried to regain her mind. She had asked for the droid, and knew the only way she would get this mind of hers settled was by letting it out. She looked behind her, a big mistake in combat. The other woman was far from her, far enough at least. It would be ok. As she told herself that, a Charon approached and readied an attack. Her mind overflowed with anger. The woman's tortured visage, the emerald eye and wounded socket, it lit up. The force found hold within her once more, like earlier. It took her back to her training and the man she had killed. It was now, or never. She opened her eyes fully and the sockets filled with a pale blue light. Like a beacon she shone, her hair as red as a flame with the force, now dimming to a pale white as the skin of the woman became thinly blue and the force exited her body.

A whirlwind emerged, cold air as an explosion erupted. It was uncontrolled and beyond reckless. This force was used to take the heat of enemies and she used it around her. A good 10 meters around her a cold air front emerged, and the temperature dimmed. The horde around her slowed down, as she let out an angered shriek. Her anger came to a peak and the air became arctic. Her skin had become a deadly visage and the scars formed grey lines across her body. The enemies around her found themselves sapped of energy, and the droid had a thin layer of frost across it. From the sky small pallets of snow fell, in thin wafts as the colour returned to the woman. Her mind at ease once more. Her hair looking more like a bright fire then before as her eyes were bright green once more. She turned and faced her enemies once more. Their movements never this slow compared to her's, but her force power exhausted extremely. She moved quick, on frosted ground she dashed and took out 3 to her left by swirls of her blade. The other hand holding on to the stick with the pummel and bashing a single enemy into it's thick skull.

I am sorry. I don't know what befell me. I will make my way to the mountainside, I will come in your direction when I have taken these weakened once out.

Her mind was decreasing it's tension. This move would be the best. This woman was a good fighter, from the few seconds she had seen, it was clear. Her movements conveyed emotion in her eyes. Something she (despite her previous outburst) was taught not to. Her heart felt a bit of envy over it, and a greater amount of shame for her inability to control it like hers. She was younger then her and had such great control over her movements. It was not now to think of that. She slid to the ground and as she stood, her mind got rid of that though, instead she lifted her weapons, slamming two enemies against their knees in the upwards trajectory. She then turned and ran in the direction of the woman, her hand with the staff slamming the object into its holster and grabbing the frozen droid, to drag it with her to the woman.

Coming to the left. Be wary of the thruster. It will likely heat up soon, if so you will have to be past it, or lead the Charon there to burn.

She spoke with her mind. if the fire from inside would be anything to go by, it would end up heating the vents to the thrusters. She didn't want the woman to stand besides them if it would be harmful. Just beyond it was the mountainside, the place they were bound for.

 

[Lavria Xedrim]

TAG: Gerwald Lechner | Oleander Webb | Palm-Imer | Visanj T'shkali | Asori Soto | @everyone else

She could feel it.

Everyone's insecurity and fear. The only one not sharing in that would end up being her fellow scout. Thank Hoth for that. The Sith had no need for fear ridden comrades. Hesitation would mean death. At least Oleander Webb seemed competent enough.

Yet, she adhered to her Lord Commander's command, nonetheless.

Despite all her snarkiness, she respected the man. After all, he was the one that did breach a Sith Dreadnought to get her and her droid out. The Dark Apprentice would never lose her sarcastic side. Yet she would walk through Haran and back for him and her other comrades.

They were her home now.

She did give the others a sly smirk, however.
"Try not to get yourselves killed. I don't feel like attending a funeral." she quipped before taking off with her fellow scout.

As they moved through the brush, she could feel the Force weakening within her. It would be like that, would it? She drew bother her sabers as she jogged. Even with a weakened Force, the Zabrak could faintly sense an approaching malice.
<Oleander, we have company.> she sent the thought quietly, slowing to a stop. Dropping into a crouch, she readied her sabers.

Just then, Gerwald Lechner 's warning reached them as well.
<No kidding. Get the stones. We got this.> she answered as the first Charon burst through the vegetation. Rushing forward, albeit slower than usual, she raised her sabers, leveling them with her arms.

As the Charon lunged at her, she ducked down and slid underneath it, angling her one saber upwards as she did so. The tonfa gouged a fatal gash the length of its abdomen. She then rolled to her feet, angling the other saber defensively in the process, ready for the next wannabe spiders to make their appearance.

Hopefully Oleander had similar fun on his side.

 

[Asori Soto]

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Location: Kayri III no mans' land
Wearing: civvies + blast vest
Toting: standard blaster rifle, vibrodagger, and various geological equipment
Tags: Visanj T'shkali / Palm-Imer / Gerwald Lechner / Lavria Xedrim / Oleander Webb
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Nod to Gerwald here and Palm-Imer there, but she didn't feel quite like speaking. There was nothing of substance to add just yet, and time was of the essence.

Asori managed to make work - not quick, but work - of a few of the arachnoids, all quad-legged and upright and dark, not unlike the rest of the preliminary swarm. Actually... She stopped blasting and fell into the protective wake left by Palm-Imer's onslaught, like calm cut through the gathering storm. She lowered her rifle, but kept hold of it, and turned on her heel as she shadowed the geminaie. "Huh," she mused aloud but to no one in particular.

There was no discernable phenotypical deviation within the wave.

"How biz—"

A warrior charged out of the amorphous crowd. Asori slammed the trigger before she had finished raising, but not aiming, her rifle.

"—arre..."

 

[Ruus Kote]

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Immediate Friendly Forces: ​

• 1st Jurkad Verde "Kad'b Marev" Armored Battalion, Solus and T'ad Company
• 1st Jurkad Verde "Shereshoy" Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Solus and T'ad Company
• Ruus Kote's HQ Company

Tag(s): Anakwor Farlorn | Kobi Fesser | Skylar Vikaar | G 3 M 1 N 1 | Gerwald Lechner | Lavria Xedrim | Palm-Imer | Oleander Webb | Visanj T'shkali | Asori Soto ​

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As soon as they were close enough for the Carians to start making their way over, Ruus got on the comms to the squad leaders of the two mechanized infantry squads in the IFVs, "Shab are you waiting for, a gilded invitation? Get out there and make some noise!" Two calls of "oya!" over the comms answered him, and his tactical display adjusted to reflect the deployment of both squads from Shereshoy Solus 2. The tank's external cams caught sight of the infantry leaping into the air on wings of fire, raining down hell with verpine shatter weapons, class-D disruptors and rippers. Personal plasma casters, rockets and a whole host of other beskar'gam mounted weaponry opened fire on the Charon. ​

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The hatches flew open and in both tanks, they were beckoned in by the vehicle commanders, who'd momentarily popped in the side entrance hatch opened for the Carian troops armed. Once they were all aboard, the Strill Securities troops withdrew into their own IFVs, with their R/IS-01 'Nuhaatyc' Reconnaissance/Infantry Support Droids staying outside to act as an extra pair of eyes and ears, as well as mobile turrets to protect the formation's vulnerable rear side. The side hatches on those IFVs stayed open, two of the three of each squad's heavy support troopers kept their weapons pointed out the side. ​

​

"Shereshoy Solus 2, turn around and take point back to the LZ. Keg'yce, Marev Solus 2, hope you vode remember how to drive in reverse. The front's that way, ad'ika," ordered Ruus over the comms. A relatively quiet, but determined "oya" answered him. As one, the convoy starting moving back toward the LZ. Even the sound of tracks crunching over the undergrowth would have been more welcome than the complete silence marred only by the quiet hum of the tank's drive and reactor, and punctuated by the sound of armor plate occasionally nudging the control console. It was unnerving, given that Ruus knew there were far more Charon out there. No commander wanted to fight at the pace dictated by their enemy. Unfortunately, right now, he didn't quite have a choice in that matter. ​

​

They were just about half way there, five hundred meters out from the LZ, when the attack came. If Ruus surmised correctly, it wasn't so much a targeted attack as the next Charon wave attempting to catch him in their push, knowing he had the Carian survivors on board, and having a better idea of his force strength and capabilities now. The Charon were smart, and didn't rush from the front, instead rushing the sides of the convoy now. Given the numbers, Ruus was convinced that they'd likely close to their preferred engagement range on one flank. ​

​

"Ladies and gentlemen, ad'ika of all ages, if you look at the view screens in your tour vehicles, you'll see that our hosts have come out once more to greet us. Feel free to return the gesture out the side hatches. To our Carian passengers, if any of you think about dying before I can get you back to Colonel Farlorn alive, I'll have you resuscitated and kill you myself," said Ruus, using the same tone a tour guide might use with tourists. This time, no chorus of "oya" answered him, his men just went to work, giving their answer with their weapons instead. ​

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HE-Frag FS rounds detonated amongst the Charon's ranks, while Class-D disruptor cannons scythed down whole swathes, the space left by the dead and vaporized immediately occupied by their fellows. Mass-driver autocannon, pulse cannon, heavy repeating ripper and class-D disruptor bolts flew out, while all manner of small arms available to the embarked troops streamed out. It was a shabla light show to beat all light shows, and yet, the Charon kept coming. The whole time, plasma fire washed off their shields. The only good thing was that at least if he had their attention here, then the survey team heading to retrieve those stones would have less of a difficult time. ​

 

[Oleander Webb]

Wearing/Wielding: X, X
Tag: Gerwald Lechner | Lavria Xedrim | Palm-Imer | Asori Soto | Visanj T'shkali ​

With Lavria's voice sliding into his mind, Oleander gave a quick nod of acknowledgment, temporarily forgetting the limitations of mental communications for just that moment. <Showtime, then. Got it.> He offered the quick reply before slinking further into shadow. Stunted abilities or otherwise, he moved like a ghost among mortals, maneuvering for the most advantageous position he could get.

Gerwald's warning was well-timed, if not just moments off. <Take whatever time you need, we'll be here. Peasy easy> That's how the phrase went, right? It was something like that, anyway, the specifics themselves were lost to the man. He also didn't have time to ponder such phrases, with the Charon drawing ever closer.

His blade nearly translucent, an unobservant creature might think he'd forgotten to activate his lightsaber before moving, if not for the fact that the Charon before him dropped with slashes in their torso. He didn't wait to watch it fall, his blade swinging to plummet into another Charon in one fluid stroke. One by one, two by two, they would meet their ends soon enough. It wasn't his usual style. He'd much rather prefer slipping back into anonymity after each strike. Even dueling one on one was preferable to facing hoards. Still, they had a job to do. If the Charon demanded carnage then that was exactly what they would receive.

The force help them - or anyone else - who would stop Oleander from delivering.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

P R O T E C T​

Wearing:xxx
Weapons:xxx and xxx
Tag: Palm-Imer | Oleander Webb | Lavria Xedrim | Visanj T'shkali | Asori Soto | Ruus Kote | Anakwor Farlorn | Kobi Fesser | Skylar Vikaar

Gerwald loved a good fight, save for when there was so much going on that one got lost in the craziness of it all. They needed to make their push for the stones, but the number of Charon which were coming would soon overwhelm them. That was what Ruus Kote and his team were there for.

<<<“We need a clear LZ by the time we get back with those stones. I don’t care what you have to do to get rid of these Charon. Go full Broken Saber if you have to… just make sure it is clear.”>>>

It was a clear order on the comm, as Gerwald helped to see the others in safely. A quick flick of wrist saw Kobi Fesser and Skylar Vikaar floating in the air toward him.

<<<“You two are coming with me, and staying with me. And if you dare try running off… you had best hope the Charon get to you before I do.”>>>

His voice was stern as there was no way for them to see the seriousness in his eyes. Gerwald pressed ahead, hopefully with them in tow.

Lavria Xedrim and Oleander Webb had their instructions. They would also remain to ensure the others had a clear route to escape with the stones. They were in the center of the temple, and the further Gerwald moved, the more he could feel the force draining from him.

The center was not secure. Multiple dozens of Charon guarded the way, and without the force Gerwald had only one choice. He would fight and charge ahead as he had done so many times before the CIS had come to Stewjon. One by one he cut down the Charon which came for them. There was not one that evaded the might of his weapon. His armor would be covered in their blood before they ever reached the stones, but when they did, none that tried attacking them were left standing. The ones Gerwald had not managed to kill, Palm had certainly handled well on her own.

Gerwald looked to @Asori Sato. <<<“You’re gonna have to scan these on the way… or on the dropship. I have a feeling there will be more Charon here before you can finish.”>>>

Picking up the stone, Gerwald started to make a run for the exit. It was up to the others now to ensure the landing zone was clear!
​

 

[Skylar Vikaar]

Location: Landing Site, Kayri III
Equipment: Lightsaber
Tags: Kobi Fesser, Ruus Kote , G 3 M 1 N 1 , Gerwald Lechner , OPEN

Skylar had grabbed Kobi’s wrist and pulled on it when G3M1N1 started walking away from them, “Let’s hurry! We have to get back here before everyone leaves.” She said releasing her grip when she was sure he could keep pace with her. She really wanted to see the cool rocks her best friend had told her about.

Her progress away from the platform was abruptly stopped and easily reversed by what appeared to be nothing. Skylar of course knew another Force wielder had caught hold of her and Kobi Fesser. Since she knew she wasn’t strong enough to fight against it, she simply straightened her legs and kept her arms at her side until she finished her short flight in front of Gerwald Lechner . At this point the padawan had no idea what had happened to her newfound friend G 3 M 1 N 1 , she looked around but missed the cyborg altogether.

Skylar was sure if she could see his face the man in front of her would-be scowling at the fact that two Jedi padawans had ventured here without their masters in search of the Void Stones. His stern tone all but confirmed her mental image of his face. She glanced at Kobi trying to gauge his thoughts on their current situation with being caught before they could go on their adventure.

“Yes sir.” She replied and quickly fell into step as the man turned and began walking away. They hadn’t been traveling long before they came upon what Skylar had guessed to be a Charon Temple. It didn’t take long after entering the Temple that Skylar felt a sensation she had never truly felt before: the absence of the Force. “Kobi do you feel that?” she asked her friend knowing that if she felt it he definitely could, it was more to see what he had to say on the feeling of nothing from the Force. The feeling frightened her a little until Gerwald drew his lightsabers to fend off the humanoid-arachnoid attackers. She quickly drew her own lightsaber listening to the snap-hiss of the blade comforted her somewhat as she into a guarded stance toward the potential threat that might get by the man that led the padawans forward.