An Empire In Shadows: Chapter I - Until Lambs Become the Lions

[Ithiel Vi'Dreya]

Tools back up on the shoulder, he nodded. Knights Obsidian. “That’s where I am serving.” Duty first, and Ithiel was a home is where the hat is kind of guy. “Saw you leading us on the winter gig.” Still young, he held the tools with no real effort, carrying them about daily.

Placing them down and using the legs so he didn’t pull his back out. Heh. If there was one thing his mother taught him, it was how to fetch and carry. Every day, until he learned that work and exercise was one of the best parts of this life. A small smile, that leveled out soon enough. Missed her.

Then he looked up seeing the body.

There wasn’t disgust, there was surprise. Madalena licking the corpse had him tilt his head and lean in, blinking behind the goggles. He was going to say something. Before he could she had a plan. Better to be tactful.

Not saying anything, not a word. While they were walking, he kept up. He liked her drive. The young Vi’dreya matching it and then some. “What caliber?” As an engineer, he asked the technical question. Not the question she was probably expecting from the morgue and the blood deal. Everyone had their way. This was his. Grabbing a toolbelt from an engineer as they walked, and fastening it on. One blaster, one toolbelt and a knife were all he grabbed before they left.

Snipers Nest

What caliber. He’d find out soon enough. Quiet the rest of the way. The next word he’d say was looking right down the abandoned rifle. “Custom job. Nice work. I’d guess Rodian. No.” He looked at it again. “Genosian. See the markings here, and the way the trigger curls.” He didn't turn it, leaving it exactly where the assassin had. Ithiel didn't even touch it. "Might pull some prints, sec." Getting the scanning device out from the kit belt, the Vi'dreya began checking the weapon for anything, coming up with a partial DNA signature, and showing her the results.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]​

 

[Luca Donskoi]

[SIZE=12pt]Objective: [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Intercept CNS Bonesaw[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=12pt]Wearing: [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Flight Suit (Helmet & Gloves)[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=12pt]Ship: [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]T-77 ‘Talon’ Stealth Interceptor[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=12pt]Equipment: [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]KC-95 ‘Ace of Spades’ Blaster Pistol[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=12pt]Tags: [/SIZE][member='Rath Exigo'] | [member='Gerhard Manndorf'] | [member='Kas Varad']​

[SIZE=12pt]Post: [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]3[/SIZE]​

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[SIZE=12pt]Still nothing on the scanners as the three interceptors made their passes for the next sweep over the city. So far, so good. At least that’s how it seemed. The citizens seemed to be paying heed to the declaration of Marshall Law here and that came as a relief for the young Sky Marshal. If everything kept up in this manner, the mission would be over swiftly. Those on the ground, he trusted to fulfil their duties to the ‘T’ as they likely expected the same from him. But then came in the transmission from OPCOM. It seemed there was an uninvited attendee now. Perhaps this was just a coincidental thing. Perhaps not. But needless to say, command still advised he take a look into it along with his two wingmen. Fair enough, it was why he was here after all. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]::OPCOM, Saber 1. In route. ETA 6 Mike. Over.:: With that, the commlink closed between the lead T-77 ‘Talon’ and OPCOM. Alden glanced to his right and then to his left, gauging the starfighters that flanked him on either side; ‘Fangs’ was off to his left, and the final member to his right. It occurred to him that the final member had not designated a callsign for themselves, but that was of little concern for now, but something to be addressed later. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]After a moment, Alden thumbed a command to the panel in front of him to open a short-range, burst transmission to the two wingmen. ::On me and be ready for anything.:: The commlink cut in an instant after he voiced his command to the two. Within seconds, Alden began to pull the yoke of the starfighter, sending the craft soaring higher into the atmosphere, where they’d eventually break into Druckenwell’s ozone. It lit the ship in a violent red-orange glow before fading away moments after once the layer was cleared. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]There on the horizon, and to the orbital south-west of them, the menacing silhouette of a massive ship, reminiscent to an older Imperial Star Destroyer. The ship had placed itself dangerously between the command vessel, the Twilight Cause, and the numerous escort craft that accompanied it. A brazen maneuver for someone not directly associated with the task force currently assigned to handle the situation that currently engulfed the planet below. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]They were about three minutes out at this point and Alden thumbed the same command as before, opening another short-range, burst transmission to his wingmen. ::Keep scans running and alert OPCOM the moment any aggression surfaces.:: The commlink closed almost immediately once again. “Oh, you got to love arrogance,” he muttered to himself and the three moved ever closer to the unwelcomed visitor. These guys obviously were either ignorant of who exactly they were, or were just dumb if they decided to strike. To strike against the CIS would likely be the last mistake they ever made if they dared to make it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Then Alden recognized the maneuvering of the vessel, something he’d come to be well educated of in his time as a Commander in the Navy of the fallen Galactic Alliance. They were being discrete, which made it far more difficult to be sure of exactly what was happening, but it appeared as though they would be beginning to position for some kind of attack. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]::OPCOM, Saber 1. Can we get a scan of all CNS Bonesaw systems? Over.:: He wasn’t certain if he actually saw what he thought he did, but it didn’t hurt to be sure. And besides, the Twilight Cause had a much better sensor suite than any of their ‘Talons’ did. If OPCOM came back and identified all was normal, that was good, but he was ready should they identify otherwise. [/SIZE]

 

[Saabossi]

Location: Blackwatch Safehouse

Lost. Forgotten. Saabossi had found no where for herself to go, no place to feel safe as well as put her skills to good use. Have a place among ranks, to be a soldier once more. She had gone from mercenary work to the Confederacy, and from there came to the Eternal Empire. Almost immediately she settled in, fitting in among the ranks. Although how long she would be here before drifting off again elsewhere, she did not know. Perhaps a few years, perhaps a few months before the draw for more took hold again. Saa always found herself drawn to the experience of adventure, going out there. Earning credits per head.

The slithering sniper had been given her first mission in the ranks of the Eternal Empire. To aid in the campaign on the planet of Druckenwell. So, she put her skills to use and kept overwatch as inside the safehouse, interrogation went on. Saabossi stuck to the roof of the safehouse, moving along while scoping out the area nearby. Here and there her tongue flicked out to catch scents, of anything that dared to surprise her. Her tail rattling at every scent.

She was getting an itchy trigger finger, being up here with no action. Saa almost wanted to interrupt the interrogations, to slither inside and get some new orders. To shoot some targets down, scout out a location. Instead she hissed to herself while moving to a new position, awaiting a new call, a new order.

[member="Corran Conner"] [member="Darth Tacitus"]

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Lucius Crane"] | [member="Saabossi"] | [member="Efried Halbrecht"] | [member="Corran Conner"]​

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• Blackwatch Safehouse
  Druckenwell, Confederacy of Independent Systems

"Everyone, pay attention," the Emperor spoke to his agents and officers, slipping back into the comfortable role of an officer briefing his men before a mission. "One of the prisoners has revealed a possible connection between the Imperial Remnant and one of the local shipyards. We don't know the exact details yet, but the Viceroy used to work there before the election, using his position to hide a major project that was being developed there for Bayne's forces."

"We do not yet know what it is they were building, but the Imperial Remnant have been very keen on keeping it a secret. Therefore, we must intervene swiftly, before the trail runs cold," Tacitus explained. "Colonel Halbrecht and his troops are already in orbit, I have dispatched a courier to inform him of his new orders to seize the orbital shipyard and place everyone there under arrest, pending our arrival."

"Doctor Conner, I need you to prepare several doses of truth serum for use on high value targets. You are also to assist Deputy Director Crane with the interrogation of the shipyard's management. Everyone else, prepare the dropships. We depart within the hour," he instructed. That just left the problem of the prisoners in the compound. His eyes finding the nearest Ultranaut, a Sluissi corporal, he delivered the words that sealed their fate. "Corporal, the prisoners held here have outlived their usefulness. Have them executed immediately," Tacitus ordered as he turned to leave the room, striding towards the building's top floor, which was a disguised hangar that held their dropships.

 

[Saabossi]

Saabossi hissed to herself at the growing feeling of boredom. When would she be blasting away enemy forces? Popping helmets off the heads with a single blast. Put some holes in chests and heads. It was what the scaled woman wanted. Some action. To use her trigger finger and aim down the scope. She slithered from the roof and inside, to see how things were going. Saa paused as something was said to her, an order for her. She nodded to [member="Darth Tacitus"], then went to the prisoners.

There was no fear nor any hesitation. Only the mere feeling of satisfaction. Of finally acting out what she was good at...and that was killing. Lifting her sniper rifle, she gave no pause in thought as she blasted them down. Once all was done, she let out a hiss of satisfaction, leaving them there.

[member="Lucius Crane"]
[member="Efried Halbrecht"]
[member="Corran Conner"]

 

[Warmaster Nyâsh]

Location Druckenwell System, Outer Orbit of Druckenwell, Orbital Shipyards
Orders Primary: Seizing the shipyards, Secondary: imprison everyone on the station and make them ready for interrogation, Tertiary: hold the shipyards
Part of Eternal Empire´s Investigation Group, 82nd Ultranaut Regiment

Unit designation Grimus-8-2, 82nd Ultranaut Regiment
Unit strength four battalions of Ultranauts; assault-shuttle attachment

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Colonel Halbrecht was staring at the bulkhead two dozen meters in front of him. Two of his squads were in front of him and several men lined up next to the door. With a short nod he gave the sergeant the signal. The bulkhead was openened by shorting-out the electronics. Immediatly afterwards the two squads stormed into the room perfectly covering each others advance while shouting "Get down! Get down!" and "On your knees, everyone!". With a delay of only a few seconds, the commander moved into the control centre of the orbital shipyard, seeing his Ultranauts pointing weapons at the personnel which was mostly crouching and whinging in fear and confusion.

It had been ten minutes after the 82nd moved into the hangars of the shipyard, forcing them to lower weapons and shields by threatening them with total destruction. Thousands of workers, engineers, programmers, pilots and other staff were seized and overran within the last fifteen minutes without a single shot fired. The primary control centre knew about their approach, but still had locked their door. Fifteen minutes which would have to be checked regarding outgoing and incoming messages or memory removal on the computers.

"You are prisoners of the Eternal Empire of Nelvaan. Resist any of the treatment and it will be met with force. Cooperate and you will stand a just tribunal." The Colonel´s voice echoed through the room, hopefully reaching all of the employed people here.

"Grimus-leader for Grimus-8-2. Primary control centre secured. Report your statuses." The sudden deployment, funny wording for a QRF, meant at least some movement for the regiment. Halbrecht was kinda relieved to order his men to a task, rather than them waiting and getting mad by staring at the damn droid carrier hull for days.
After a short delay, the four battalion commanders reported in that the main docks, the secondary control centre and the power conduct were secured as well as all outgoing transmission relays been blocked, equally to the hangars. A good and swift work, as always. It was a good idea to board this shipyard from four different hangars in expectation of no resistance. Dividing the forces is usually not the best chocie when entering hostile territory.

"Get the personal data of every being working here. Locate the directors, leaders and officers and get them divided from the rest, but not all in one room. Double guards for them and patrol the shipyard, nobody shall get off or on it without my approval." Before the vox-officer could start directing the orders, Efried Halbrecht added: "Contact our ground teams that the shipyard is secured and ready for investigation."

[member="Darth Tacitus"] | [member="Lucius Crane"] | [member="Saabossi"] | [member="Araya"] | [member="Alden Akaran"] | [member="Corran Conner"] & more​