Faction An Awakening (Lords of the Sith)

[Darth Seryxa]

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In the chaotic aftermath of the recent invasion of Korriban, the planet had fallen into complete disarray. The once strong Sith Imperial presence had been reduced to nearly nothing, and tomb raiders and pirates were now capitalizing on that fact to plunder the ancient tombs and artifacts of the Sith. Yet their utter desecration of Sith history would prove to be their potential undoing, as something else had stirred due to the fighting. A resurgence several thousand years in the making had finally commenced. From a vast, hidden complex buried beneath the sands of Korriban, legions of ancient Sith, troops and battle droids hailing from the era of Vitiate's Sith Empire had emerged to find their sacred world being desecrated by thieves and brigands. This would not stand.

This mysterious Sith army was led by a Twi'lek Sith Lord known only to scholars as Darth Seryxa, a former member of the Dark Council's Sphere of Ancient Knowledge. At her command, her armies had engaged the swarms of pirates and tomb plunderers, turning the very Valley of the Sith Lords itself into a full blown warzone, while preparations were being made to reactivate the small fleet of Harrower-class Dreadnoughts buried nearby to secure Korriban's space from further incursions.

Seryxa herself fought at the head of one of her legions, assaulting an entrenched pirate position within the ancient ruins of the old Sith Academy. Yet even as battle raged around her, Seryxa could not help but feel how much had changed during her long slumber. The force itself felt more out of balance than ever. How much chaos had ensued in her absence? It was no matter, however, she thought to herself. She had a planet to reclaim and an Empire to rebuild, one inch of territory at a time...

 

[Cato Demora]

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Korriban, Valley of Sleeping Kings
864ABY - Korriban Pacification Effort

As it had many times before, war had come to Korriban. The Galactic Alliance had seen it fit to tear the Sith Empire from the planet - leaving in its wake a token force with no intention of stopping looters. The effort would've been too great to save something that could not possibly have been worth it - but in their efforts to leave the planet to its fate with the meager force, they had opened up the realm for something worse.

The orbital exchange had lasted only a few minutes before ships were burning and falling to the planet - much to the credit of Bast'rom'arosti . Cato had appreciated what the man had done in breaking the small blockade around the planet, but now it was up to his platoon to see the world pacified. Word had reached him from the Frumentarii scouts that a war had broken out in the Valley of Sleeping Kings - a site the Worm Emperor seemed to pay great attention to - and so the First Legion was to be deployed from orbit to settle it.

"Initial reports indicate a heavy presence of droids and sith troopers - likely frozen in carbonite, if the exhaust picked up by the sensors is accurate. Pirates are fortified on the western tombs while the unknown Sith press from the east. Currently unknown who is friendly, and who isn't, Captain.", the voice rang in his headset as he strapped himself into the drop pod with three others.

"So we pacify the lot of them. Anyone who shoots the First Legion doesn't live to tell about it.", Erin offered from the side seat, deep and bold as he always was.

"Mind yourself.", Cato offered as the straps tightened and a cage was lowered over each.

"If a shoot out starts, I don't want to be the instigators. Focus on the Pirates, and wait to see if the Sith shoot at us - but if they do...", he offered back as the pod was moved via repulsorlift to the drop point.

"... then kill them all, and let the Emperor sort them out."

The pod dropped in sync with another 20, all aimed at the north end of the Valley, closest to the academy. It wasn't secure yet, but it would be soon as the First Legion would deploy. He could feel the G's starting to push him out of his seat as the anti-gravity compensators struggled to keep up; but it wasn't anything he wasn't used to. Cato spoke into his mic as he fell, his voice slightly altered by the forces his chest were under -

"Lieutenant Troma, First Legion is deploying to the academy. ETA: 60 seconds. Keep your eyes open.", he offered as the pods began to breach atmosphere and spark like meteors.

Darth Seryxa

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

Korriban, it would seem, had been tremulous at best since it had been wrought from the grips of the Empire, and though reoccupation efforts had been made, and in many way succeeded, by some in the aftermath, there had still been all manner of fiends to contend with in the meantime. Those who took to the Valleys without any consideration for the lengthy history contained within, the ancient artifacts and legendary tombs were taken and cracked open, desecrated.​

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At first they had been a mere nuisance, but as time progressed a greater threat they had become. And now, it seemed, the Ancient Sith would have their revenge from beyond the grave. If reports were to be believed, something deep within those tombs had been awakened.​

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Now, the Valley was little more than a warzone. These unknown warriors, of a time lost to the Four Hundred Year Darkness, were fighting back against the raiders... But nobody quite knew which side they truly belonged to. Would they take back the Valley and then fall upon the smattering of Sith who once more called this place home? Men like his Master, and those around him? Would they submit once they discovered their lives had passed, and there was little of the world they knew remaining?​

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None of that could be known for sure.​

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All that the boy knew was that he would not rest whilst either remained a threat.​

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Armed with a newly forged lightsaber, he descended upon the chaos. For now his sights were set on those who did not belong, the raiders who tore relics from their resting spots, but then?​

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Well... That remained to be seen.​

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Cato Demora Darth Seryxa ​

 

[Tithon Antilles]

Korriban, 864ABY
Aboard The SDS 'Antediluvian'

"Orbit secured, Admiral.", Commodore Havik offered back, her eyes dancing across the technical screen hologram before her.

She had done well to guide the Antediluvian through the battle, alongside the others in the fleet. Notably, Tithon took note of Bast'rom'arosti - a young blood Lieutenant given command of a Star Destroyer due to the manpower shortages this infantile government was dealing with. For all the problems it was causing Tithon in the structuring of this new navy, it was relieving to see that where they seemed to be losing in quanity they made up for in quantity.

"Thank you, Commodore.", Tithon offered as his hands rubbed against themselves behind his back - stuck at a high posture stance with legs shoulder length apart.

"Monitor the ground situation, and bring the 'Nuemidon' and 'Ophidia' into position for orbital bombardment as necessary."

While Tithon knew that bombarding the Valley of Sleeping Kings would no doubt garner him a harsh backlash from the Sith of this new Empire, he couldn't afford to allow a new army to rise and threaten their already tenuous position on the planet. Better to lose the already raided tombs than the entire planet - and all the men that would no doubt die from the second pacification of Korriban.

"Connect with Bast'rom'arosti .", he offered his technical officer as he glanced to the uplink.

When the visage of the Chiss showed up on his holo, the Grand Admiral offered no smile, but his words offered recognition;

"Good work, Lieutenant. I hand full control of the ground assault to you - do not dissapoint. The First Legion can break their lines, but if the situation deteriorates I will not hesitate to turn the Valley into glass. See that I don't have to.", he offered simply.

Darth Seryxa Arcturus Dinn

 

[Bast'rom'arosti]

Aboard the Hapan Rose -- Korriban
...

Troma stared at himself. A light reflection against the transparisteel viewport mirrored him in muted tones, yet did very little to conceal the pleased glint in his eyes. Beyond his minuscule reflection were the remains of an odd half dozen vessels. Pirate ships, illegally modified corvettes, and innumerable corpses of fighter craft. Even more so were the now-frozen bodies of hundreds of beings - men and women that had once decided that sucker punching the Sith was a good idea.

It had not been a good idea.

The Rose had been the first to respond to the sporadic reports, leaving the border's thin sentry line to silence whatever threat loomed over their capital. Guided by the Force and aided by a seasoned, veteran crew had seen the Imperial star destroyer make short work of the motley flotilla of makeshift warships.

It took a lot of effort to hide a smug smile as he turned to his tactical officer. "Please tell me the orbital drop was successful, Ensign."

"They're commencing the drop right now, Lieutenant," the man replied, producing a holo-emitter from his pocket. From it materialized a blue-framed form of Cato Demora , smartly reporting their readiness.

"You are free to drop, Captain Demora," the Chiss responded, "I'll have a squadron of fighters provide close air support while you're planetside. Should you require more, they will be deployed immediately. Rose, out."

Before he could step away from the holo-emitter, another call blinked through. The tactical officer offered an apologetic look as Tithon Antilles snapped into existence. Troma inclined his head respectfully as the Admiral congratulated his success.

"Thank you, Admiral. The First Legion and I will do our best not to disappoint," he proudly replied, "Ground targets are being prosecuted with extreme prejudice at this very moment. This will be over quickly."

Arcturus Dinn | Darth Seryxa

 

[Darth Seryxa]

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The First Legion arrived to a scene of utter bloodshed. The valley had turned into a one-sided warzone, the lightly armed tomb raiders proving little match to Seryxa's troops and the Sith leading them. A large cluster of raiders had tried forming a makeshift barricade in a final stand infront of the old Sith Academy, firing upon Seryxa and the cadre of Sith Lords following her. She made them regret that idea rather swiftly.

Seryxa took cover behind her comrades, deigniting her purple bladed lightsaber before raising her hands. Force lightning began to channel through her body, as she raised her arms up. In a display of utter power, she channeled forth a small force storm above the entrenched enemy position. Torrents of lightning came from above to reap utter havoc amongst the outmatched defenders, many electrocuted to death within moments. Those who survived in the aftermath quickly threw down their weapons to plead for mercy. None was shown. Seryxa extended her hands forth and unleashed another torrent of force lightning to eliminate the cowards painfully.

Seryxa then reached for her holocommunicator upon receiving a signal from one of her ranking officers. "My lord. We've detected ships in orbit. They've decimated the raider fleet and have dispatched shuttles. Should we open fire?", he asked curiously. Seryxa shook her head. "No. I sense they do not wish to initiate conflict. Allow them to land safely and see to it they find their way to the academy without hindrance. I'm curious as to who our new guests might be..."

Seryxa and her entourage proceeded to enter the ruins of the academy. To Seryxa, it didn't feel long since she'd been a lowly acolyte within these halls, toiling away through her training at the hands of Overseer Harkon, a cruel but effective teacher. History had not been merciful upon the academy. Rebuilding it to it's former splendour was one of her goals, for certain. She had brought many powerful Sith Lords who would serve as excellent Overseers for the training of a new generation of Sith at her command.

As they entered the main hall of the ruined Academy, Seryxa gazed up at the ancient spire-like relic that sat in the middle of the chamber, worn by the ages. She placed a hand upon it. "...Much time has passed indeed. I wonder how long we have slumbered?", she said, before she and the other Sith continued their way through the structure, heading upstairs to the old Dark Council chamber.

Cato Demora
Bast'rom'arosti
Tithon Antilles
Arcturus Dinn

 

[Cato Demora]

"Landfall in 3..."

It was all Cato remembered as his inertial compensator and venting failed to let him and his crew down as slowly as they hoped. The knock he took made him lose consciousness for a few seconds before he jerked back awake - watching sparks fall from the hydraulic computer that was meant to eject his door. His partners were already out of the pod, firing their blasters at the nearest targets with a mean look - but Cato was stuck. Giving himself a quick pat down to make sure nothing was broken and finding nothing especially hurt, he pulled the emergency tab to his harness and fell back into his seat.

Lifting his legs, he pressed his heels to the door and pushed - Hard. It creaked and groaned under the Legionnaires strength before popping one of the durasteel seals; bending the rest to allow him just enough room to release himself. A grab of his blaster and he slipped from the drop pod before finding a target for himself - though now they all seemed a bit distant. Some ran for ships, others for the tombs, but Cato sent a double-tap into the back of a twi'lek female from 250 yards.

"Thought we lost you there for a second, Captain.", Erin offered through the Death Trooper vocabulator.

"I'm not that easy to kill.", Cato offered in a jesting tone back - but a glance back to the drop pod told him just how close he would've been were it not for his augmentations. The durasteel was crumpled, practical no more than scrap metal now - but all of them had managed to live through it with minimal injury.

At the very least, they'd live long enough to yell at whoever did the maintenance on that pod.

"Come on, we need to figure out what this Sith meeting is about.", he said, motioning with his hand for the others to fall in.

As the Legion cleaned up what was left of the mess, Cato and his personal Squad closed into the Academy remains; ruined as it was from the massacre the Jedi had done upon it. Cato was the point man, first to enter as he lifted a gun to the nearest Sith.

"Sith Lords.", he offered the others through the coded voice channels, masked further by their force dead nature. He switched it off as the others found targets - holding their distance as others outside neared them, others moving to find vantage points on the upper levels as Cato would speak.

"Identify yourself.", he said without lowering his weapon.

"You stand on The Worm Emperor's planet; I don't think he'd be interested in hearing it has squatters."

The video uplink in his helmet would begin transmitting to Troma's own computer as he began.

Bast'rom'arosti │ Arcturus Dinn │ Darth Seryxa

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

His pace slowed as he entered the Valley from below, hidden only insofar as he was able to use the uneven sandstone walls for cover. Though in the distance blaster fire rang out, the location he'd chosen to enter into was eerily more quiet. A few stray voices were caught upon the wind, whispered in their attempts at remaining undetected.​

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Thesh strained to listen, catching only a handful of words, and peered around the ledge to see just three of the raiders standing around a metal crate. He braced himself, reaching for the lightsaber upon his belt, but paused before acting. ​

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One of the men lifted a hand containing a remote detonator, gesturing to a point just above where the boy himself stood. The other slapped the side of the crate. "Now find that damn repulsorcart," he balked, louder than they had been until that point, leading a rather disgruntled ubese to break away from the group and head Thesh's way.​

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He pressed back against the sandstone wall, held his breath, and waited... Waited...​

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The ubese turned the corner, no longer in sight of his friends he was stood right before Thesh. The boy thrust his hand forward, igniting his saber in the same motion; the crimson blade ran through the raider's core, who sank to his knees and further tore the blade upward.​

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As he kicked the raider away he could not help but hope that the others had not heard that tell-tale snap-hiss of an igniting lightsaber. Either way, he knew he had to act fast. He rounded that corner without any of his prior hesitation, and lifted his free hand to grasp through the Force at the explosives overhead. He tore them from the ledge, hurling them at the pair, and before either knew how to fully respond danced forth to dispatch them with his blade.​

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Cato Demora Bast'rom'arosti Darth Seryxa Tithon Antilles ​