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Assets: Ranger Special Tactics Unit, 'Radama Raiders'
First Ranger Infantry.
Calderon scanned the surrounding areas of the hangar as himself and the Padawan went from team to team, assuring that each and every soldier was prepared for the coming operation. His face seemed to draw a blank expression when Jerit had asked his question. His thoughts immediately went to Mirial, and Arisa.
"I've been better, but I've still got all my limbs so I can't really complain, can I?" Valkren stated this while at the same time helping a smaller framed ranger finish pushing a cannon emplacement into a crate to be used for deployment, patting the armored ranger on the back as they continued on their path. He took a side-long glance at Jerit as they made their way past all sorts of personnel preparing their equipment, rather deep in thought as he waited for one of the pair to say something. He was surprised that a kid like him could have such a fire for doing what the rangers did on a daily basis. In truth, it reminded Valkren of what he was like while in the Galactic Republic Marines, when he first enlisted.
"Jerit.." He stopped, placing a gloved hand on his friends shoulder and turning him towards himself.
"I just want you to know, all Ord Radama jokes aside...I've got your back out there. You were there on Radama when sithspit hit the fan with myself and Valae, so I know you've got my back. But I need to know that you'll show some leadership aswell, kid. These soldiers might know you from the past, but they look to those that carry those handy sabers as those that can lead. Hell they probably look up to a Jedi like you over me any day."
The colonel simply nodded, pulling his hand away and grasping his helmet tightly once more underneath his left arm. After a moment of silence he'd look back to the padawan, "If those Jedi hadn't of snagged you, I'd be proud to call you one of my rangers any day."
-------
(Mid Transit to station)
Colonel Valkren Calderon clambered down from the cockpit of the stealth transport, sliding down into the troop-carrier section of the vehicle. Along with the Radama Raider's own stealth ship, five other identical ships choc full of grunts from the First Ranger Infantry unit were also slaved to their ships systems. His visor illuminated blue faintly against the skull design on his helmet as he descended into the darkness of the troop-bay. His HUD initiating as it displayed every name of every soldier in his unit as he passed by. Once he passed by every soldier, including his Padawan friend, he'd turn and grab a hold of the handle above him. The young officer tapped the side of his helmet, informing everyone to tune into the team's frequency so he could transmit their short briefing to them all.
"Right, listen up you ugly SOB's. Our team's objective will be the station's Hyperdrive. We're there to make sure the First Order doesn't decide to slip away without letting us Rangers have some fun first."
With this statement came a murmur through the comms, making it easy to tell that his rangers wanted to go into an uproar at the thought of another fight. Yet, they held their professionalism, saving the tactical savagery that each one of the soldiers held for the impending fight.
"We cut in, secure the surrounding corridors, and once we've sured' up our positions, the raiders will enter to the hyperdrive and slave the systems to our own. Once that objective is secured, we standby for new orders."
He switched from his left to his right hand to grip the handle above him, his tree trunk like arms clad in their katarn plating moving about as he shifted to get comfortable.
"One last thing, I heard the Jedi say the Rangers were the deadliest weapons available in the Galaxy. Let's see if it's true." He slapped Jerit's shoulder once more, before taking his own seat.
Location: Around FIV Minotaur
Objective: Save Mynock Squadron members, near FIV Minotaur
Allies: GA forces
Enemies: FO Forces
Ships: Mynock Squadron Mynock Rock
Decker flew in close to the First Order capital ship, chasing down one of the interceptors. Ahead was one of what was left of Mynock Group 3. Two had been downed already, and there was no sign of their wreckages at all, but they were no doubt somewhere among the battleground around the First Order ship. The other Galactic Alliance fighters had moved off, and Decker wanted to move off as quickly as possible before they were overwhelmed. He got a long on the interceptor, and fired a few bursts to get it off Mynock 6's tail. Mynock 6 had sparks flying from one of their engines, and on top. It didn't take it out, but it was enough to make it bug out. "Mynock 6, get out of here!" The X-Wing gave no response, but he did round off.
"Mynock 2, give him cover." Mynock 2 came from elsewhere in the fight, joining up with Mynock 6. "I need to find Mynock 3. We'll join up with the Mynock Rock in a-" His X-Wing shuddered as a blast hit his fighter, the shield barely holding. Decker tried to check behind him and spotted two interceptors closing in. "R5, focus deflectors to the-" More blasts came, and before he knew it, the top of R5 was floating off behind. His deflectors were getting low.
He angled his ship to try and get out of the fight, going under the First Order ship. "Mynock 3! If you can hear me, get out of here! NOW!" Another blast hit, knocking out his systems. The fighter started to rock, almost to the point of shattering. He held on tight to the throttle as he angled toward the one safest point; the hangar.
Location: En route to Barrini Station in a stealthed Eidolon-class Transport Faction: Order of the Silver Jedi Allies: Galactic Alliance et al. Enemies: First Order Nearby Allies: [member="Jyoti Nooran"] | [member="Jerit Kolomor"] | [member="Liuna Ondizi"] | [member="Dusaro Dresari"] | [member="Allyson Locke"] | [member="Valkren Calderon"] Nearby Enemies: N/A Post Tracker (* = current):1 | 2 | 3 | 4*
Lightsaber (standard)
Space suit (standard)
Blaster pistol (standard)
"Right, got it."
She would be supporting Dusaro and their troops on the station, to give them cover and protection while they did what needed to be done. Take down the communication and sensor arrays, she repeated over and over in her head. Leave the shield emitters intact. They wanted to capture the station for their own use, not destroy it; a prospect that Kira figured was infinitely more difficult. Perhaps we can use it to our advantage? They would need every bit of an edge they could get to take down the First Order. If taking control of the station could help us win, then I will see it through.
She was impressed at his tales of confrontations with the Sith. The fact that he had crossed sabers with two of them, and came out on top, only served to further put Kira at ease. I'm in good hands. She made mental notes of the advice he gave her. The dark side's power came from ones fear and doubt, she knew, I can't show any weakness. Kira wasn't sure if she would be able to fight such an opponent. Keeping her paranoia and insecurities under wraps were a constant struggle, even in just her normal everyday life. How am I to control that when I'm against an opponent who feeds off of it? Kira hoped she wouldn't find out.
"I'm ready. Let's do this. I've got your back."
The Eidolon-class Transport they were in took off, moving in stealth to the targeted station. The ship shook at first as its engines fired, but soon settled down, allowing Kira to loosen her death-grip on a nearby handle. From the view screen to her side she could see all their ships arranged in formation. Waves of drones and droids went out before the transports, serving as a distraction from the stealthy assault they had planned. As the ships moved forward on the screen the enemy fleet of the First Order also came into view, and all those civilian ships that had been caught in the crossfire. We're coming, just hold on, she wished they could hear her.
She pressed a switch on the side of her helmet, closing the visor over her face.
The last one to enter the Mandalorian's ship was a considerably smaller, lankier, much more frazzled Mando look-alike. Screaming and waving his arms in panic, the boy entered the ship, and slammed into the nearest seat he could with enough force to leave a bruise- All in the span of five seconds. Almost at once, his shaking hands let the assault carbine fall onto his lap, exchanging it for his helmet, which he desperately ripped off his head. "Silas, we are going to die," he spoke earnestly and loudly, voice filled with terror, "Silas, we are going to die and it's all y-"
Then, there was a pause, as his eyes focused on the rest of the ship. So... They weren't alone. Slowly, the boy's grey eyes focused on the rest of the ship's crew, cheeks slowly turning scarlet in the process. All of them were Mandalorians, and he'd shown to them exactly what Mandalorian tradition dictated he shouldn't do... He was showing fear. Gently, casually, he tried swiveling his gaze (and chair) away from them, almost trying to give off a nonchalant look as he put his helmet back on... "So, all in a day's work, huh?"
Maybe for them. But for Jaiyn, this couldn't be further from his day-to-day. Just a few weeks ago, all the fighting simulations had been just that- Simulations. But now, the danger was real, his blaster was armed and firing live shots, and his heart... His heart was as quick as a pod-racer on death sticks. The sixteen year old was no warrior, not yet. He was still a rookie- Fresh, unscarred, unhinged at the first sight of battle, and most importantly, inexperienced. Every step he took was improvised and unfamiliar; you could see it in his trembling hands, improper weapon handling, and loud entry. It'd be a difficult journey, to make this bundle of nerves a proper soldier.
But everyone had to start somewhere. For Jaiyn, his first steps had come in the heart of a dying star destroyer, surrounded by a wizened instructor, and intimidatingly judgemental comrades.
Location: No Man's Zone - > Alliance Battleline -> The 'Excubitor.' Primary Objective(s):Board the "Excubitor" and Assassinate Admiral Cathul Thuku. Allies: The First Order | [member="Emilia Ravel"] | [member="Xenro"] | [member="Khonsu Amon"] Enemies: The Galactic Alliance | [member="Cathul Thuku"]| [member="Kiyron"]
A couple of TIE fighters flanked the Silencer as a make-shift escort. Connor looked this way and that out of the crimson red viewport to see their position.
"Focus on the forward cannons," Connor said, adjusting the read-out focus on his yolk. "Cripple them enough to buy time for any and all boarding vessels moving to those Alliance ships."
He opened the transmission to the others.
"I’m coming around the Excubitor. You need me in there, say now."
The hull of the Alliance ship opened up before the Silencer and swarms of fighters were launching from the underbelly.
Taking the battle to the stars was one thing, but Connor sure hated the wait and silence of sitting in the cockpit without the thrill of the hunt to fuel him.
Enemies in the Vicinity: [member="Zark"] [member="Wedge Draav"]
Equipment: In Signature
Objective: Board Alliance Command ship via hangar
Ship: TIE Silencer
As Varas sped towards the Allied Command Ship, her only goal now to dodge incoming fire since the left wing of her Silencer was badly damaged, she finally located Kyrel Ren’s fighter. Almost simultaneously in her head, she heard his familiar deep voice in the Core World accent: "Curse you girl... disobey me again, and you will have more to fear then the Alliance. Come to me now; we will reveal ourselves to our enemies at once."
She smiled behind the Ren mask whereas prior to this day her mouth would have turned into a tense frown at the threat. While he still had the capacity to cause her legs to tremble as she stood, no more did she fear him the way she poignantly had the first month they’d been in Mustafar together.
But Varas had a problem. She attracted an enemy who followed behind. Her gloved hand pushed hard on the throttle until the TIE sped up to the maximum speed, but the Alliance pilot kept pace with her.
Once her father's ship disappeared into the maw-like hangar of the enemy flagship, she careened towards the exact location. She noticed a flash, the glow of a minor explosion inside and quickly scanned for Kyrel’s Force signature. He was still alive. She checked the radar. Feth, feth, feth, the TR-20 was still there behind her, busy with the swirl of TIEs and Alliance fighters picking off targets.
Another shot to her left wing, had Varas's fighter shuddering again, but at this point, she skidded into the hangar, able to see the cacophony and carnage her father had caused, but also the soldiers rushing into greet her own Silencer as it skidded to a halt, the fire on her wing causing black smoke to billow.
She jumped out of the hatch and into the black smoke, hoping it would provide enough of a screen for her to escape into the labyrinthine ship and find Kyrel.
Allies: The Galactic Alliance, [member='Coren Starchaser']
Enemies: The First Order, FIV Executioner[member='Sieger Ren'], [member='Xiomar Ren']
Objective: Assassinate Supreme Leader Sieger Ren, Disable the FIV Executioner
Throwing the canopy off his cockpit, Aryn groaned painfully as he dragged himself from his destroyed fighter. Looking back over it momentarily, he frowned, knowing that the craft would likely never fly again. He had flown this fighter since he had left his home on Eriadu so many years ago, it had been his first escape into the galaxy at large, and the most important part of Aryn's years in the Rebellion. That was a life that sat shattered and broken now, much like the torn-up and scattered starfighter which sat before him. Yet he had no time to linger on his old life, on what was long past and never to return, he had his new life ahead, and right now he had a goal which he could not delay.
Watching as his BB-unit rolled itself off the wreckage of the starfighter, Aryn was at least pleased to see it had survived the attack in-tact, his gaze turning towards Coren elsewhere in the hangar as he spoke up. "I'm here, let's get moving." Taking hold of his lightsaber from his belt, Aryn made his way towards the exit of the hangar, glancing down towards BB-3 before he moved out of the door. "Stay here, BB-3, try and keep a ship ready, and slice into the ship systems if you can, we'll need your help to get to Ren." The droid beeped in acknowledgement, Aryn giving it a nod as he turned back to Coren. "Chances are it's not gonna be easy to get through here, you ready?" He questioned his fellow Jedi, flexing his fingers over the hilt of his lightsaber as he waited for his allies' confirmation.
As he stood there, he could feel the dark side echoing through the halls of the dreadnought they stood within. It pulled and clouded at Aryn's thoughts, and though he shunned it, the force within him flowed out to meet it all, drawing in the darkness and the immense aura of dread that was permeating out from the supreme leader itself. It was almost overwhelming, but as the force within Aryn rose to meet the darkness, he found himself encompassed with a strange sort of peace, simply ready for the next stage of this plan.
She sensed it before it happened, even before his whispered warning over their connection. An attack coming, brought by a powerful dark sider. Lovely, the Knights of Ren were coming to play. As the bridge erupted in sparks from the attack, she remained seated where she was, eyes still closed. She could feel the panic here... and in a lower hanger as the attacker slipped into the ship. The first of a few, no doubt.
"I am fine, for the Force protected me," she replied out loud smiling. "We have an intruder, and he is likely to not be the first. I would prepare yourself."
Her attention drifted back to the overarching picture... and there it was. Another attack coming, this one far different than that of ships and men. A psychic attack, directed at their fleet, at the men and women who made up their fighter pilots, their crewmen, their captains and commanders... Stretching out from the darkness around the First Order main fleet. Projecting herself, she recognized the presence attempting to influence their people, the same she felt on Kaeshana during the now clearly failed peace negotiations.
It would be a slight reversal, Taeli now drawing on Zark slightly, truly making the stream of Force energy symbiotic, to meet the girl's psychic assault. A comforting shield would be surrounding the Alliance minds in the area, her presence would be clear to both Samka and her Supreme Leader. Any assault they launched on the Alliance morale would be met and blunted, that is until the Knights of Ren and First Order boarding parties distracted them sufficiently. Zark would see her lips in the physical world curve as she sensed something else behind Samka... a possible avenue for her to infuriate the girl even more.
Aboard the Executioner Allies: Alliance, [member="Aryn Teth"] Enemies: First Order [member="Sieger Ren"], [member="Xiomar Ren"]
The hangar here was… well, what it was. Damaged and about to be flooded with foes. Which meant that he and his partner here had to get moving, had to get some tasks complete and hopefully they were going to get off this doomed vessel before the Alliance tore it to shreds. Even if not, so long as they took some of the boyband Rens down, then he’d be happy. But that was not exactly plan A. He looked over at the voice from Aryn, and saw the vessel. Looked like both fighters had seen better days.
He was fairly certain his Rassilon could make it off the ship, but the X-Wing had lost a few stabilizers. Maybe they could get her flying again, Coren could only hope. But so long as the pilot and astromech were alive? All that was needed. Making his way to the Jedi General, Starchaser nodded. Getting the droid to do his work was smart. “If he can get the shields down, the Alliance should know to turn this ship to slag.” They could always find a way out, or… y’know, not.
“Didn’t sign up for the Alliance because it was easy.” Necessary was the word he always used. Checking the load out on his sidearm, Coren nodded. “Lets go kill ourselves some Ren, yeah?” He grinned, a dark grin. The Force was swirling around him, in a torrent of the same feel of clouds before a storm, gray and angry, but with a purpose to cleanse the world. He powered up his scattergun, set for kill, and moved towards the door.
Confusion - or was it shock? - was plastered over her features. Her entire posture had shifted at his request - his demand. Though she had left him because she had felt pushed away, and despite his seeming inability to reach out to her when she'd needed him most, there was not a single fiber of her being that felt, in this moment, that she had been the one who had hurt him. Hurt herself. Part of her wanted to believe he'd never cared, that she was just some plaything for him to feel in control over - it would have made it easier if it had been true, but she knew by the immediate pang of regret that she'd done little more than lie to herself, to make herself feel better about that mistake.
The glance he'd cast at her when he'd turned away to face the intruder, her potential rescuer, was met with the same helpless look she'd given him when she asked him to take her away so long ago - and, for a short time, the reality of war evaporated. For just the breadth of a second Lily wasn't the commanding officer of an Alliance fleet and A'sharad wasn't a haunting memory - just a man and a woman that had wanted to be together despite the people that pulled them apart, a couple that went at any lengths to see each other.
But it wasn't reality, after all, and the sudden hostilities of a would-be rescuer in the form of Raph Thule, emerging from the secondary blast door that lead to the bridge, ripped her from that reverie.
She'd been forgotten in this conflict, she supposed - though there was no doubt it was a brawl for her safety, and that of the ship she commanded. A stranger, a woman in the armor of a stormtrooper of some sort, had fired an array of shots at the Alliance soldier, taking cover only to keep her aim trained on the Tetan Empress. Part of her couldn't help but smile softly at this misplaced caution - Lily had grown increasingly harmless in her continued years of adulthood, hardly the fiery Sith acolyte that had tried her damnedest to attract the attention of parents that had left their twins behind. In truth, she'd lost interest in the force on the same day her sister had been sapped of her sensitivity, taking some responsibility for the incident.
It wasn't unreasonable that a soldier who hadn't known of her would have treated her with suspicion - most naval leaders could at least fire a blaster with some accuracy. But Lily was a shipwright, a tactician when she was in charge, and a businesswoman first and foremost - a soldier she was not.
Still, she couldn't blame someone for treating her as the enemy when that was clearly who she was.
Lily, for her own part, sat back down in the seat she'd occupied through much of the conflict. There wasn't a point in trying to aid one side or the other - she would never try to hurt A'sharad, but she also couldn't betray the Galactic Alliance in such a fashion.
She sighed. Part of her wondered if she was even going home at the end of the day.
Ship Name: ANS Liberty Ship Class:Citadel-Class Star DefenderShield / Hull:0/0 Hangar: 3 Squadrons Locust-Class Starfighters (30 Total) Actions:Firing at FIV Conqueror and returning fire; All Squadrons deployed and heading towards the FIV Conqueror to engage
Location: L2 (Barrini Station) Objective: Boarding Allies: Galactic Alliance and Friends Opposition: First Order Directly Opposing: TBD
Noa opened a clear line over hyperwave and subspace transceivers to address the trapped civilians within the area.
"This is Captain Noa of the Silver Spacy, acting in concert with the Galactic Alliance Defense Forces. As many of you have already gathered, the First Order has enacted a sector wide blockade that cuts through this leg of the Hydian Way. We are here to crush said blockade and get everyone back on their way."
"As operations commence, we urge all non combatants to exit the immediate area surrounding station. Coordinates are now being transmitted that will direct you all to safe zones that have been projected to have the lowest probability of collisions as interdictors remain in effect. Medical teams will be there on standby to issue emergency care and rations."
"If you see a disabled vessel and have the means to move them or take on their passengers, then please do. Under any circumstance, DO NOT attempt hyperjumps until interdictors have been confirmed to be neutralized. The overlapping gravitational fields will shear you ships apart."
He set the message on a loop once recorded, then switched back to addressing his battlegroup over his secure neural link. Like most Kiribian soldiers, he was cyberized to allow a rapid flow of communication between machines and follow crewman alike.
<Lament, are they listening?>
<Ships do appear to be relocating to the safe zones. The first wave of supply shuttles are now on their way. ETA, 30 minutes by sublight.>
<What of the station and the surrounding FO formation.>
<Sensor pings detected, but they seemed to be locked in a holding pattern.>
<I see.>
He rubbed his chin as studied the holographic rendering of the station. Unlike L1 and L4, FO forces here seemed to be quite benign, making no obvious moves to counter the Silver's assault on the station. Though it could only be the calm before the storm.
<The transport squadrons are about to enter the projected range of the enemy's defensive envelopes. Use our HVC batteries to launch Nuriel canisters and EWAR missiles to disrupt their employment of point defenses.>
Lament began to spew continuous waves MIRVs and assault missiles filled with anti beam canisters and nagnol gas respectfully, all set to detonate over each FO capital ship, releasing screens of gases that could block much of their firepower and disrupt their sensors. The station itself was spared as to not interfere with the progress of the transports and their escorts.
<Reconfigure our formation to limit the exposure of our Centurions and support vessels, then gradually tighten our orbit to bring us in closer.>
Irene and Taeyeon shifted port side of Lament as they all traveled in a clockwise orbit, shifting to parallel tracks so that Lament's starboard side created a protective barrier between them and the FO ships clustered around the station. The heavy destroyer was tough, designed to take all sorts of punishment as it dished it out in equal measures.
Nightshade, Luxxanna and R'hllor were now tucked between the spaces of the destroyers, while small packs of Kometa and Fencers hung closely to the largest capital ships. Additional envelopes of starfighters surrounded the formation, extending outwards to hundreds of kilometers, with a single Sowa deployed farthest out to act as an AWACs unit while the Nebel had their plasma projectors currently disabled (unnecessary thanks to the ISR drone's powerful sensor suite).
Provided there weren't any roving packs of FO vessels in deep space beyond the immediate area of the station, the strike group was in a good position to continue supporting the boarding parties. Otherwise, there was nothing to do but see if the FO battlegroup took any direct action against them. Noa wasn't all that keen on shooting unless it was necessary, as civilian ships were still fleeting out of the area and wanted to see them out of the crossfire.
The ball was now in the First Order's court.
Recovered by now, Jyoti had moved to the back of the transport as they were only minutes away from arrival. She huddled next to Ondizi, passing a bulky slicing kit to the Mirialan.
"After we breach, I need you to find the nearest port or terminal so we can retrieve a layout of the station. Once you get that, transmit it to all other boarding parties."
The kit connected back to the Silver's Atropos unit back on Kashyyyk via biocomm, giving the specialized AI a way into the station's systems once it was able to jack into the network.
She turned her focus back to her feed, noting the rising causalities to the transport squadrons. As she had hoped, the ECM drones and droid units were taking the brunt of the losses while the Eidolons hid among them in stealth mode. There didn't seem to be much coordination between enemy vessels against the incoming Silvers, issues compounded by the coverage being provided by Silver and Black Group.
Off in the distance, she could feel the faint tug of the Dark Side. The results of battle meditation being conducted elsewhere in the sector. She could only feel it because of her previous state of hyper awareness. She doubted it would have much effect on those around her, little more than a whisper at this range. It was an incredible feat to cover the average battlespace with that ability, let alone an entire sector.
There was a slight rock in the bay, and thud that reverberated through the interior as the the transport connected with the exterior of the station..
"Contact established, deploying hull cutting ring," Walsh reported. A steady grind could be heard as the ring began to bore through the hull.
"Stack up," she ordered, activating her shield gauntlet as she crouched near the edge of the ring. Three Ysanna marksmen joined her, adorned in identical Shadow armor and wielding shatterpistols and Famos Mk2 carbines. One came up behind her, while the other two lined up on the opposite side of the ring complete the four-man wedge formation.
She focused on the on the other side of the hull for threats. She could feel a few individuals massing directly against her unit, but she imagined the station wouldn't have too many defenders to commit to any one area as several other breaches were being made simultaneously.
”There's a squad sized force gathering," she informed the breaching team. "Prep nagnol canisters, we'll thin them out before entering."
”About 30 seconds."
She unholstered her own shatterpistol and tapped deep into the Force once more. In her mind an overlay of cracks began to bloom across reality as her perception sharpened to laser like intensity. Shatterpoint.
The grinding died down, leaving them in perfect silence within the vacuum of space.
"Get ready. I'll get rid of that chunk myself, then pop those canisters."
She raised her shield arm across her chest, and then made a downward slice with her fist. The section of cut hull surged forward like a cannon shot as she pushed it inwards with great telekinetic force.
The screams of the stormtroopers crushed by the ricocheting hunk of heated metal were drowned out by the roar of depressurization.
"Tossing canisters!" Spector 05 declared after the pressure finally equalized, throwing a pair through the hole. Seconds later, the space within would be saturated with thick clouds of nagnol gas, which would play hell with the sensors of the stormtroopers. Meanwhile, Jyoti and the Ysanna wouldn't be impeded in the slightest.
She and her counterpart stretched out their shatterpistols right over the edge of the breach and began to fire. As each pellet left the barrel, the pair of Force Users guided them right into disoriented stormtroopers they sensed through the clouds. One by one, the remaining stormtroopers dropped until none were left standing.
"Moving in." Jyoti vaulted over the edge of the breach into a wide hallway, immediately moving right to move along one side of the hall while her counterpart went left. Moments later, and they would be joined by the rest of the team bringing up their rear.
Shield arm raised over her chest and head for protection, she quickly advanced down the hall, momentarily pausing here and there to check the vitals of each down stormtrooper she came across in her area of responsibility. All dead.
She paused, clearing the entire hall of nagnol with a single fingerflick as she pushed the gas deeper into the station.
"Hallway cleared, everyone get inside."
She took a knee near the corner of the hall while Spector 07 stood above her with weapon raised, sidearm replaced by his Famos to provide suppressive fire. Her counterparts mirror her moves on the adjacent side.
They were in, now it was just up to Ondizi to get them a layout of the station while she played guard for the moment.
The three captured escape pods reeled in by the Executioner had just settled to the ground, a loud metallic *Thunkk* triggering several things to happen. Already a full squad of stormtroopers had formed a semi-circle around the three newest additions to the large ventral hangar. Already the quadranium lined blast doors had begun to close behind the recovered pods, a vulnerability that in its current state was unacceptable to the crew of the Executioner. The troopers however weren't alone - one of Sieger's own Praetorian guards had been dispatched to oversee the surrender and incarceration of the recovered Alliance crew. The Praetorian stood three paces behind the line of troopers, blasters aimed directly at the pods as they settled. A distorted voice sounded loudly in the space, the Praetorian issuing an unequivocal command to those within.
" By Order of the Supreme Leader you are hereby prisoners of war. You are to surrender immediately. Exit the escape pods and prepare to be detained. Resistance will be met with death. "
They stood ready, blaster rifles aimed at the hatches of the three escape pods. Already on edge due to the snafu with the starboard hangar, these soldiers would be damned if they didn't get the opportunity to kill some Alliance foe should they choose to resist. They were itching for a fight, zealous for blood. As they awaited the enemy to disembark and alarm could be heard indicating that the large bulkhead had sealed, what had once been ventral hangar opening now securely covered with a quadranium lined hull.
Bridge & Port Hangar Bay
On the bridge of the Executioner, Commander Lupus continued to maintain a watchful eye on the command HUD before him. Commands came less harried now, but no less severe. Captain Cavadan had been removed to the infirmary, his wounds unknown. Even so the crew worked like a well oiled machine. While they may not have been fueled by the sheer power of Sieger Ren's presence in both body and mind they yet received a measure of enhanced reaction and resolution by way of the Master of Ren aboard the Concordia. It was this edge which aided the TIE Raptor pilots tasked with eliminating buzz droids along the hull. Sheikh Squadron was among the most frequent to train with the TIE Raptor system, it showed. With ease they weaved through enemy and allied formation alike, the enhanced visual aid system they could see near perfect in every direction. It might drain the shields of the Executioner but what other option was there? With practiced precision the Raptors began picking off the buzz droids with their ion cannons, decreased power more than sufficient to overwhelm the droids and reduce the drain on the Resurgent's shield generator.
Elsewhere aboard the ship the intrusion into their port hangar had been noticed. It was only moments before all corridors leading off from the hangar were rapidly sealed, access only granted to those with the proper code cylinders. A lucky break for the First Order, even those code cylinders would only grant access so long as no one was able to effectively lockdown their owner's credentials across the ship. Already there was a limited number of those with access but even more so as the only ranking officers to maintain the proper codes were Captain and above. The responding teams as fate would have it were merely led by Lieutenants of the Stormtrooper Corps. Unknown to Commander Lupus however, there was a Captain on duty in the hangar as the heavy blast doors sealed shut - now locked within the port hangar with two particularly lucky Jedi Masters. Though Commander Lupus might have been more concerned with the situation unfolding in space, those in the hangar bay had realized their position all too late.
Captain Catalys, a veteran of the Kaeshana and Mustafar Campaign, survivor of the assault on Hoth and Bespin, had no time for shenanigans. From the moment he'd looked up to see the familiar silhouette of an X-wing slipping across the deck to the moment the other enemy vessel entered the hangar he'd been quietly gathering troopers from the small hangar control center to his aid. Already armed, some had even seemed to watch in disbelief as the Jedi merely stepped out of their vessels as if they were landing at a starport on Naboo - aside from the obviously wrecked starfighter. As the pair began heading for the largest of the entrances to the hangar it was like a firecracker had gone off in their minds, spurring them to action. Across the deck were a scattering of SJAS-AAL/FO-03 Tactical Troop Transports, many of their crews only half present. The FIV Executioner had yet remained far enough from the enemy battle line that its boarding forces were held in reserve. Now they moved to action.
Cutting off the two Jedi, a group of near ten stormtroopers moved to intercept, their blasters raised and aimed at the duo now advancing on the hangar bay doors.
"Halt! In the name of the First Order lay down your weapons and kneel!"
The Sergeant's vocabulator announced the command with a sharp tone, glancing over towards the hangar command center as he briefly looked towards the Captain for further instruction. Though a good thirty meters away, the Captain stepped forward, his own blaster raised towards the pair of intruders. Silently he keyed up his own comm, requesting more backup to the port hangar. Only seconds later a loud alarm blared within the hangar itself, stirring any who'd missed the debacle to motion. Troopers took cover behind the shuttles, some set up their blasters towards the two intruders. Over the intercom system an alert was relayed.
:: Intruder Alert. Section Lockdown in Effect. Report to your Superiors Immediately. Intruder Alert. Section Lockdown in Effect... ::
As the battle raged on Sieger's attention focused elsewhere - more specifically upon the Executioner itself. The plight they found themselves in was in part their own making, though anticipating the completeness of the enemy's intelligence could not have been ascertained until now. It was clear they were part of an all out brawl and they had been the first target. Oh they'd taken the first punch, that was for sure, but Sieger had faith in himself and those loyal to him. They would see this through. As lives were snuffed out all around him he basked in the tidal currents of the Force, no longer expending energy but absorbing the very fleeting essences of the soul as they passed into the void. He could feel the power here, the darkness swirling around not only himself but the fleet. Suffocating, thick, acrid almost. I was familiar to the Dark Lord, his many months of seclusion granting him plenty of time to learn the very nature of the Dark Side. He had much yet to understand but he had grown in strength and power. Even now he used but a modicum of his ability. Though he didn't know it yet, he was going to need all the strength he could muster to end this engagement.
It was with a almost audible sneer he projected his likeness to the Ren under his command.
<< It appears we have some uninvited guests. It would be discourteous not to greet them would it not? >>
With little more than an impression of the mind he summoned Brennan and Elensa, the disciple to the bridge, the fastest route left as a mere imprint. As the voice trailed off in their minds an almost playful tone entered the Supreme Leader's voice. Something subtle and sinister, like a predator stalking its prey, a dire wolf toying with their food before sinking their teeth into its haunches and ripping flesh from bone. Cold, Calculating - a violent subtlety to his demeanor. It rippled through the Force like a cold wind, likely to chill even the most hardened of foes. Focusing on the two presences in his mind Sieger directed his attention towards the port hangar of the Executioner. A violent surge of energy lanced forth through the nether. Seeking, stalking, hunting the two Jedi Masters as they traversed the hangar deck. At best a crippling headache would find itself wedged into their temples, even if momentarily - at worst it would drive them forward towards its source.
Even as Sieger commanded the Ren he directed the actions of Commander Lupus, the man's eyes ablaze with fury previously unknown.
"Initiate Protocol Omicron."
Omicron. A silent signal to the crew of the bridge. Well practiced and rehearsed, they reacted immediately. Swiftly but silently they moved, hands flying across the controls as Commander Lupus stepped forward to his command console. A rapid input of commands followed by the insertion of the Commander's own Code Cylinder set in motion a turn of events which effects would only become known later. It wasn't only the Commander's cylinder however. As Captain Cavadan had been hauled off to the infirmary, a swift hand had found itself at his pocket, the key grabbed by the Commander. It too was inserted into the console, a simultaneous twist cementing the initiation process.
A moment later they were removed, the bridge crew vacating the command trenches and filing towards the turbolifts. Even the Supreme Leader seemed to have a part, his footsteps taking him within armslength of the viewports at the front of the bridge. Many enhancements had been made since the days of the Empire, one could argue the systems that were a part of the Resurgent-II were hardly even comparable to those of old - but the bridge still commanded a dominating view of the battlefield. Reinforced against assaults like the one on the famed Executor of the historic Galactic Empire, the Executioner boasted numerous improvements over even the Resurgent-class Star Destroyers of the original First Order - or what they knew of it. While there were some inherent flaws of the wedge design, little else remained of the technology used over eight hundred years ago.
FIV Executioner
1000/2904 Shields 2350/2904 Hull
Attacking: Therapy Command Support Vessels (Frigates/Cruisers) with Turbolasers (Boosted), Ion Cannons, and Torpedoes (Reduced Effectiveness as the Executioner turns starboard as it begins re positioning off the main battle line. TIE Raptors engaging Buzz Droids along the hull of the FIV Executioner with highly accurate Ion Cannon Fire ([member="Cathul Thuku"]) | Firing Turbolasers (Boosted) and Ion Cannons at the ANS Itsukusk.
Actions:
3 Squadrons of TIE Raptors, Targeting buzz droids along FIV Executioner's hull with ion weaponry.
Damage Control Teams Patching Starboard Hull.
Additional Damage Control Teams Armed with Ion Carbines assessing and repairing Dorsal Bow Surface.
Security Detachment Sent to Port Hangar, Attempting to Detain Alliance Boarders.
Providing Covering Fire for Sixth Fleet Corvettes and Frigates ([member="Dako Asturo"] & @Robogeber)
Ventral Hangar Sealed by Quadranium Coated Blast Doors
Port Hangar On Lockdown
Movement: Leveling Incline on Vertical Plane with Triaxis. Attempt to withdraw to the rear and re-face Alliance Battle Line as Concordia moves forward to provide aft cover.
Notes:
Keeper-class Platform Triaxis
Focusing Targeting Disruption Systems on Therapy Command Weapons Systems and Deployed Tracking Weapons (Torpedoes) by Directional Array
Focusing Sensor Dampening Arrays, aimed at ANS Itukusk (Overwhelming Data Input to attempt a SIGINT blackout)
Continued Target Painting Arrays and Began Transmitting Real Time Tactical Airspace Data to the First Order Fleet (Locking Targets for easy vessel acquisition) - Primary Focus: ANS Itsukusk
Experiencing negligible interference from counter EWAR due to network of stations & Additional Fleet Support (Complete Airspace Picture due to Keeper-class Platforms and Proprietary Relays)
Location: Hull of the Executor Allies: Mando'ade l [member="Aryn Spar"] l [member="Baiko no Kaho"] l [member="Shia Kryze"] l [member="Silas Mantis"] l Enemies: [member="Sieger Ren"] l First Order l Dar'Jetii l Time Objective: Breach and clear Equipment: MF-44 Shotgun, Westar-35 Sidearm, Beskar Knife, Crushgaunts, Anger Issues
A finger went up, one minute.
The minute passed with tension and silence, as they attached themselves to the underside of the Executor's hull. TIE fighters showed up on the scanners, along with several other, smaller blips on the scans of the Executor. Droids, heat signatures denoting either humans or smaller machinery being dispatched. Karsan gave the thirty second mark, and the magnetic locks began to unfurl from the bottom of the cloaked shuttle.
He swallowed, and clamped onto the Executor's underside, and stood still. He gave a ten second markdown, before he released the controls and turned his head back to the boarding party, and gave a thumbs up. They were latched onto the underside of the First Order's ship, and cloaked still. He'd have to keep the engines running to make sure they remained that way, however. Stygium be praised.
He turned and checked the shotgun, and the webbing he had over his armor, chock full of shells and ammo. Karsan was an operator, that much was obvious, just by the way he set up his gear alone. Everything had it's place and purpose, and task on his body. He chambered a shell, and released himself from the pilot's seat.
"We're ready to go. We can go EVA whenever you're ready."
Objective: Board enemy station, take over the Hyperdrive
Assets: Ranger Special Tactics Unit, 'Radama Raiders'
First Ranger Infantry.
The transport rocked slightly as a stray round from a fighter brushed their side plate. The colonel could only imagine how the fighting looked outside of the material that kept all of his soldiers from being sucked into the vacuum of space.
"ETA one minute till contact with the station's hull, Colonel." The transport's copilot spoke up, his voice coming through his helmet as the colonel checked over his weapon on his lap. Along with the rather large Z-6 Rotary cannon he was inspecting, a KG-2 'Grendel' assault ripper was strapped across his back, his back kit keeping it tight against him to prevent any uncomfortable movement while in combat. Ofcourse, his side arm was tucked deep into his drop-holster on his hip, directly beside his spare knife. But those would only be for emergencies, the combat knife especially considering the blade each one of the ranger's held in their wrist gauntlets that came with the Katarn combat armor.
The colonel only looked to the other raiders in his transport, nodding to them as the group stood tall, preparing their weapons with Valkren in the lead. He'd heave up the cannon, giving it a quick spin for good luck. As the barrels came to a slow, it was clear the see the carvings and tally marks on the massive weapon that seemed to mimic those on his own armor, showing the time it's put in during combat. He moved to the front of the transport, listening for the copilot once more as his raiders began to stack up behind him.
His soldiers began to speak among themselves, getting their minds in the 'zone.'
"Time for the first order to meet the true weapons of the Silver Jedi."
"There won't be a storm trooper alive when we leave this station."
"I'm going to get me' one of their helmets for a trophy."
"Cut the chatter, kids. Eyes on the Colonel!" Lieutenant Konrad Harris's voice cut through, turning to look at the rest of them before moving his visor'd gaze back up to Valkren.
"Thirty seconds, boys and girls." The pilots voice came through again, coordinating with the other five transports in their formation as the grew even closer to their destination. It was easy to tell how the soldier's tensed their postures, gripping their weapons with one hand and their allies shoulder with the other. Stacked on one another, they were prepared to move almost immediately through the breach they knew would show it's face momentarily.
"Hey, Jerit." Specialist Lowder spoke up, due to the fact that he was stacked directly behind him, but his voice came through a personal channel to the padawan. "I don't know how much you remember about Ord Radama..Obviously you know why they call of us the Radama Raiders..But I think you're about to see why they call the big man up there the 'Reaper of Radama." The specialist's eyes were glued to the cannon the colonel toted from behind his blue visor, shifting his shoulder plates as he shook the thought from his mind.
"Ten seconds to contact! Good luck!" The main pilot could be heard communicating with the pilots of the other transports as they made contact with the hull in their specific locations, forcing the FO transport to shake violently and move each soldier from their position momentarily. A harsh grinding sound followed the quake as each of the six ships began to slice into the hull. Valkren turned around momentarily, gripping his rotary cannon with both hands as he spoke up, transmitting to all of the boarding units in his formation.
"Alright! You all know the song and dance. Stay behind your team lead and follow their instructions. I'll be transmitting directly to each of them, so if you follow orders we should all get out of here alive and well in time for happy hour! First Ranger to bring me and First Order officers helmet, his or her drinks will be on me! And that's a promise!" He lifted the end of the barrels toward the roof of the transport, before turning back to where the breach would show itself soon enough.
"We've got movement in the corridors, Colonel. I'm reading squad-sized strengths. Probably all they can muster up on short notice! Happy hunting, Calderon." The pilot's voice cut out as both Lieutenant Harris and Sergeant Plexico took positions on either side of the colonel, their assault rippers trained on the door ahead of them.
Suddenly, the grinding ceased. The charges implemented by the hull cutters triggered, then detonated, throwing the hostile troopers on the other side of Valkren's transport back as dust and debris filled the corridor. Plexico and Harris leapt over the breach, their HUD's helping them see through the thick dust cloud. The two specialized warfighters went to each soldier, mercilessly placing three rounds in each of them as they clambered to get back to their positions. Valkren soon followed, turning right immediately out of the breach to face the incoming reinforcements that were expected. The barrels of his Z-6 began to spin faster and faster as he leveled the weapon down the hallway. A smirk began to tug at the young officer's lips as he pulled back the firing mechanism, letting unleash a blue hellfire of blaster bolts down the hallway onto the incoming group of white-armored troopers.
The lightshow was almost beautiful, atleast to the rangers that began to pile out of his transport and move to secure a defensive perimeter around their entry point. Most of the blue bolts that left his weapon found their mark, cutting down the majority of soldiers in his field of view, but as the weapon fired more it became more inaccurate, turning into a suppression weapon towards the end of his spray. This caused the remaining soldiers to scatter for cover, most likely going to get more reinforcements. The barrels of his weapon slowed to a halt, smoke steaming out of each of them as he stared down the wrecked corridor. Lowering the weapon slightly and letting several of his special operations rangers take over the direction he was facing, he'd turn toward the main group, pressing in on his communicator.
"This is Calderon, the Raiders and First Ranger Infantry have all breached successfully. We're on time. Standby for updates."
After this, he looked to his main team within the perimeter.
"Specialist Lowder, get us hooked in and find out exactly how far we are from the hyper drive. Sergeant Plexico, take two men and check in with the other five transports, report back to me on their statuses. I'll transmit orders to you on what I want the infantry to do. Harris, Kolomor, stick with me. We hold this position until we find out exactly how far out the pilots put us."
With that, his team went to work, and Valkren prepared for the fight ahead.
// 25x 'Radama Raider' Special forces Rangers. 60x First Ranger Infantry units. //
Location: L2 (Barrini Station) Objective: Boarding Allies: Galactic Alliance and Friends Opposition: First Order Directly Opposing: TBD
[SIZE=9pt]Allyson had thrown out the glitterstim and had gotten a stim shot from the doctor on the ship’s med bay. Everything that had happened seemed like a blur and she just wanted to be high for this entire adventure. On the glitterstim she could feel everyone else around her and it covered up her own real emotions. It made life easier and she knew the General was right in all of this and that she couldn’t be a mess for when she was needed. The pod she was housed in with Jyoti moved towards the station. As it did and came into view Allyson felt her heart and chest become heavy. Why was she heading back to an FO run station?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]This wasn’t right and she didn’t feel any better about this. Groaning she knew she should have listened to Kaili, she should have stayed home, but no she had to do her job. As they continued to move closer, Allyson grabbed the bag that was under each of their seats and she lost all her dinner into it, good thing it didn’t taste good going down, it would have ruined the meal for her coming up. Her stomach evacuated everything from itself into the bag and she took in deep breaths. At least the bags came with breath mints. Doing a quick clean up, she listened to the commotion around her.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]They breeched the station and Allyson followed behind Jyoti. She didn’t do much minus hide[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]from any fire that was coming their way. Once everything was cleared she looked over at the General and remembered what her job was. She was here to hack and slice, just like before. Flashes of that other space station plagued her mind as she moved towards Vee, the one that had the code cylinder. A hand opened and the cylinder was placed into it and Allyson focused everything she had. Crawling forward she ripped off one of the helmets of the dead trooper and began to get to work. “It’s going to take me a little bit, but I’ll get to work.” [/SIZE]
Location: 'The 'Excubitor.' -> Ventral Hangar Bay -> Central Access Corridor. Primary Objective(s): Board the "Excubitor" and Assassinate Admiral Cathul Thuku. Secondary Objective(s): Capture Alliance Personnel, Sabotage the Procurator X - Designate; "Excubitor." Allies: The First Order, The Golden Company. Enemies: The Galactic Alliance, [member="Cathul Thuku"], @Kiyron. Equipment: See Thyrsian Sun Guards NPC Entry. Complement: Two Phaethon-Class Assault Transport's (Departed), Fourty Thysian Sun Guards (One Legion) - Two Wounded.
As his armoured finger slipped free of the blaster pistol’s trigger guard, Centurion Batiatus of the Fourth Cohort, lowered his weapon and took a moment to admire his handiwork. Though the dropship had turned much of the adjoining corridor to molten slag and deprived him of a great many kills, the Sun Guard and his Cohort had managed to rush into the gap - taking advantage of the chaos and catching the Alliance marines on the backfoot. Their armour’s floodlights had begun flashing like a pulsar as they advanced, blinding those who once thought themselves fortunate enough to survive the dropship’s relentless fury. With their foes recoiling and dropping their electromagnetic devices at their feet, the Thyrsian Mercenaries impaled their reeling foe’s with a storm of ferromagnetic quarrels, bonding them with the broken grating of the deck beneath their armoured frame. Those that had been able to survive and return fire, found their weapons impacting the energetic corona of the Sun Guard’s projected barrier, or forcing one of their advancing killer’s back as their shields flickered and failed. However; it was only a matter of time until the defenders were put to the sword and swiftly executed without mercy.
Thus, with the moment stretch back into the present and the smouldering corpse before him starting to fester with decay, the Centurion smiled.
“Fourth Cohort,”He said through an encrypted, squad-level comms channel, as his helmet’s gaze stalked towards the sundered blast doors.“We’re joining the Fifth and Third Cohort’s as they move towards the Primary Engineering Deck. Police any explosives you find on the dead, we’ll be sure to put them to good use as we run into more of the Alliance’s reinforcements along the way.” Without a word, as a chorus of blinking acknowledgement runes pulsed across his visor, the three Cohort’s of Sun Guards began scavenging for grenades and various detonators amongst the slowly rotting field of scattered corpses. As the deed was done, and the dead defiled, Batiatus rounded up his Cohort and joined with his fellow Centurions as they began making their way towards what they assumed would lead to their destination. While the ship was inherently Imperial in its design, there was much that had yet to be discovered by the First Order. That meant the Sun Guard’s were operating blind and behind enemy lines. That was never a good sign, but the Thyrsian’s were known for pulling off the impossible - they just had to think and fight smart in order to carry the day.
So, as Batiatus and his fellow mercenaries advanced through the fluted corridors, ensuring to cover their fellow Cohorts and check their every corner, the Centurion kept his wary eye on the horizon for what would fit the bill, and allow his men to slice into the central computer - perhaps even allowing the Sun Guards to download a detailed schematic - or at least enough of one to pinpoint their destination. When they had rounded a corner and found another roaming patrol of Alliance Marines, the band of merry mercenaries wasted little time in opening fire, easily stitching the fluted corridor with dozens of spearing projectiles.“Advance as one!”Batiatus roared across the encrypted channel, moving from one fluted section of the corridor into another with practiced ease. With the Centurion of the Fourth acting as the Vanguard, the remaining Sun Guard’s followed suit - allowing their comrades the chance to earn their glory as they danced atop the crucible of war.
When his shields flared, and subsequently burst, the Centurion ducked into what sparse cover he could find and breathed heavily. His lips were peeled back in a predatory grin, as his throbbing heart sent surges of fresh adrenaline through his veins. His mind screamed with a single word, repeated over and over again in the hopes of throwing himself into the ensuing battle. Act. Act.Act. The man needed to move, and as another mouthful of recycled air surged into his lungs, the Centurion forcibly roused himself from cover and raised his rifle once again. With every depression of his trigger, more and more of his magazine depleted, sending a torrent of projectiles down range. Some had impacted their targets, throwing them back with such kinetic fury, that it bonded them with the bulkhead behind their person. Others had gone wide of their mark, more because of the pace he had set, and how he swung his rifle as targets presented themselves to the slaughter.
Lowering his weapon as he stood amongst the dead, and dying, the Sun Guard dropped his weapon to hang about his armoured frame, and swiftly withdrew his telescopic force pike. Flicking his wrist to extend the weapon to its full length, the Centurion fell upon his newfound foe’s with reckless abandon, carving them apart with every mighty swing. Soon, they would claim yet another corridor in the Order’s name, and soon, they would begin spreading throughout the battlecruiser like an untamed virus, infecting all that came within their metaphorical grasp…
As the other Cohorts had begun to advance within the interconnected web of the battlecruiser’s fluted and spinal corridors, the Tribune had found himself once again holding his hand to the exterior of his helmet, depressing the activation plate to connect with their errant Imperial agent who soared through the stars. He could’ve sworn that he had sent a reply transmission beforehand, telling their ally to board the vessel and meet up with them somewhere before the command deck. Were the Alliance jamming his long-range communications? It was doubtful, as he didn’t hear the telltale crackle of overloaded frequencies that would preclude a two-way conversation. Shaking his head, as his men readied themselves for what was to come, Khonsu spoke into his suit’s integrated microbead - hoping that this time - his ally would hear his words.“Harrison!”The Sun Guard called, letting the sound of his voice echo through the frequency and crackled to life on the other end of his active transmission.“Board the damned ship already,”His words were coated with impatience, erupting sharply from his ebony-hued lips. “We’ll need you before we strike at the Command deck. Quit showing off and make your entrance, Hero!”
While he wasn’t certain if his words were heard, Khonsu could only hope that his ally would manage to board the Excubitor and manage to fight his way through the ceaseless tide of Alliance forces.
Dropping his hand from his golden crown, the Tribune wrapped his armoured fingers around the foregrip of his service rifle and tensed in anticipation. He had hoped that the Alliance would take the chance that the Sun Guard had presented to them, that they would slowly pour forth from the access corridor and fall before the established points of fire. Instead, they had remained within that narrow, fluted gangway and had somehow found themselves behind crates. Recalling the information that their Imperial Agent had shared, there was no mention of any cover - save what sparse selection they had against the bulkheads - that was ever spoken of. Perhaps the Alliance had developed insta-crate technology, where they could spawn makeshift barricades wherever they wished, so long as they carried with them a portable device to activate this prototypical technology. Or, as an alternate theory, perhaps the Agent had only seen a corrupted image when she had broken into the system. That she hadn’t seen the cover that the Alliance had now made their own. If that was the truth, Khonsu had difficulties understanding why the Alliance would take cargo crates from the Hangar Bay and leave them scattered about amongst their many passageways.
No matter what the case was, it mattered little in the end.
Pulling his helmet back from the edge of the crate he had made his own, the Stellar Tribune began rifling through the various options that laid before him. If they had charged into the fray as the Alliance was supposed to do, and as they no doubt expected in return, several of their honoured number would be left bleeding on the deck - while the Alliance would likely be unscathed. It was a foolish thought and reeked of untrained idiocy. No amount of luck would see any of his men through that trap, thus he had to adopt a more unorthodox stance to counteract this blockade. Risking another glance, Khonsu slammed back into cover as a marine shifted his rotary cannon towards the Sun Guard’s position. They would have to act fast, especially since the two mercenaries stationed beside the now sundered blast doors had made mention of a curious noise. One that matched the sound of tossed devices, or grenades. As they didn’t detonate upon impact, they believed that they were either rigged to trigger remotely through some rudimentary deadman’s switch, or by proximity. Both of which were nasty but easily dealt with by tossing items near the devices, or killing the Marines holding the remote trigger.
Thus, speaking in his native tongue to those nearest to the door, he listened as they spoke in turn - detailing what they were able to see and what possessions remained on their person. When they had listed off a brace of concussion grenades, Khonsu’s mind sparked into overdrive. During their transit into the sector, as he studied the bequeathed data from their Imperial handler, the Sun Guard had stumbled across an entry that came to the forefront of his mind in the present. It was an entry detailing the known strengths and weaknesses of the Alliance's heavy armour - as the Security Bureau had managed to get their hands on several hundred suits during the course of the last war - having policed them from the captured soldiers that fought in various theatres. The most notable weakness within the armour was that it lacked any sonic dampening field, and would do little to protect those within its armoured husk from the weaponized sound. Allowing his lips to curl into a smile, he ordered his two Sun Guards to arm the brace of concussion grenades, and ensure they were set to the physical setting.
Gesturing for several of his brothers to activate their suit’s integrated floodlights, the Tribune and his personal Cohort roused themselves from behind their crates and shined the pulsating beams of illumination down the length of the corridor. The strobing nature of the light would forcibly strain the unprotected eye, or batter down the polychromatic nature of polarized lenses, causing waves of nausea to ripple through an armoured troopers frame. Regardless of what would transpire, it would allow the Sun Guards to take back the advantageous position they once held and throw the twinned concussion bombs down the length of the corridor. Having been cooked, whilst their fellow soldiers enacted the blinding pulsar, they struck the decking and violently detonated afore the assembled ranks of the Alliance Marines. Those that were caught in the open, would find themselves torn from their feet as the lethal blastwave of expelled sonic energy tore into the recycled atmosphere - almost liquefying their insides with terrible force. Those that found themselves behind what cover they could, were suddenly pinned in place as their one means of defence was instantaneously turned against them in a tumultuous display of carnage.
“Open fire!”Khonsu bellowed as the distant sonic booms had begun to fade. Though their shields rippled in response, having been bracketed by the surviving defender’s amassed array of firepower - the Alliance Marines found themselves fighting off a veritable swarm of ferromagnetic quarrels, enveloped in a plasmatic sheathe, that were fired from semi-automatic bowcasters. Whatever was struck by these nigh-rapid firing weapons, should it not be bolted to the deck, found itself cast into the air with the fury of impact, showering those nearby with dripping plasma sparks or broken pieces of their makeshift barricade. If the bolt had impacted one of the remaining Marines - well - sufficed to say it was doubtful they would be able to remain standing. Their fate would either find them thrown into the air alongside their barricade, or impaled by the lethality of the Sun Guard’s gauss rifles. The firefight was brutal, and two of Khonsu’s Sun Guards had fallen - clutching their wounds as the Legion’s medic worked on patching them up. With the relentless assault swinging from one end of the corridor to another, it was more than likely that one side would begin to buckle before long… and from the situation that the Alliance forces had found themselves in, it was unlikely that their valiant defence was to earn them a victory this day.
Allies: The First Order Apprentices: [member="Elensa Jari"], [member="Xiomar Ren"]. Opposition: [member="Bryce Bantam"], [member="Halron Corr"], [member="Aryn Teth"], [member="Coren Starchaser"], [member="Aryn Spar"], [member="Baiko no Kaho"], [member="Shia Kryze"], [member="Silas Mantis"], [member="Karsan Calnov"], [member="Davon Karr"] Primary Hangar: [member="Ara Zambrano"], [member="Elensa Jari"], Special Forces Squadron "Iron Mantle". FIV Executioner's Bridge: [member="Sieger Ren"], [member="Xiomar Ren"], Omega Four-Five-Nine Special Inventory:Click Here!
<< It appears we have some uninvited guests. It would be discourteous not to greet them would it not? >>
The voice of Sieger Ren reached them again with little resistance, his word breaching their minds with the utmost obedience and adherence to his will for which Caehl Ren would turn to look beyond his peer Sarathiel Ren and instead cast his eyes upon that of his Apprentice [member="Elensa Jari"] offering her a firm nod to accompany the wishes of their Supreme Leader. "Sarathiel, you have the floor. We are required elsewhere..." Caehl turned back to look to his partner whom had so often shared in his combatant experiences over the recent years, [member="Ara Zambrano"].
Caehl's Lightsaber disengaged, the blazing energy being sucked back inside of the hilt with an audible snap, the Knight of Ren turning and raising a hand to Elensa, that his apprentice would recall the Special Forces unit Iron Mantle back to her to accompany them in their return to the Bridge. Across the Resurgent Destroyer, the many levels and hundreds of personnel both soldier and crewman would be working to halt their intruders and slow their breaching the vessels heart, yet the darkness that swelled around Caehl and his apprentice would not go unnoticed to those of the light, their power having been amplified through [member="Sieger Ren"] and [member="Samka Derith"] whom both worked to strengthen the dominion of evil that resided over their elite, the power that flowed throughout their veins, a menacing and volatile presence of hostility for which he wished nothing more than to exert upon their enemy.
Caehl Ren would lead, every security detail and bulkhead entrance delving deeper into the great vessel would open upon the sensors picking up on his movement, reacting to his identification and clearance across the FIV Executioner, the flagship that beneath the command of the Supreme Leader himself, they held full access to and would waste no time in returning to his beck and call.
"Well, my young friend...-Let us see if you are willing to die for Sieger's cause as I was when I found myself in your position..." Caehl decided to offer something of an insight into his person to his student of darkness, she of whom would face a true test of her abilities here aboard their very own ground; "The Knights of Ren act as Sieger's hand, an extension of the Supreme Leader himself. Dominate the filth that have infested his flagship and your achievements here today will not fall upon deaf ears" the pair of them would soon find themselves upon the turbolifts of the port wing, the special forces unit not so far behind them and due to board that they would begin their ascension to the height of the great war ship.
Nocturnus Ren stood beside [member="Xiomar Ren"], his hood draped low about his face, his armor present beneath that of the black shroud that flowed with every step that he took pacing the floor of the bridge. The Force was stronger with him than it was in his brother, Arkaos Ren, his elder for whom remained outside the entrance to the bridge. Arkaos was a blades-man and a warrior for whom favored close quarters such as these where as Nocturnus relied on the channeling of energies, calling forth upon the force that it might strengthen his body and sharpen his mind for the threat that had been reported within the Executioner.
Delengthe had completed his preparations, now standing behind the mounted FWMB-10 Repeating Blaster looking down the corridor that ended with the entrance to the Turbo-lifts. Any personnel not authorized to walk this floor would be cut down by the hearvy arching blaster fire of the repeater, recoil removed thanks to the tri-pod stand that it was secured upon. Word had reached them via the commlinks within their armor that Caehl Ren was making his way back with his other apprentice, the news bringing a heightened tension to the non-force users shoulders for the expectation that it conveyed, the battle would be eventually coming to them.
Location: No Man's Zone - > Alliance Battleline -> The 'Excubitor.' Primary Objective(s):Board the "Excubitor" and Assassinate Admiral Cathul Thuku. Allies: The First Order |[member="Emilia Ravel"] | [member="Xenro"] | [member="Khonsu Amon"] Enemies: The Galactic Alliance | [member="Cathul Thuku"] | [member="Kiyron"]
The static crackled as Connor came around the bow of the Excubitor for a final flight around the perimeter, and a grin broke out on his face at the partly frustrated but encouraging message. It was time to board through the opening he had seen on the sweep, and get to some use.
"I’ll be there." He switched channels to the TIE flying with him – the only one after his partner was picked off – and gave an order. "Break off and form with another pilot. Remember, attack in formation, not on your own."
He switched off the unit as the TIE broke right and left Connor open for his run through. A missile impacted on the side of the Excubitor up ahead as the Dark Sider swayed right and then left, straight for an open hangar.
The Silencer screamed through the narrow tunnel towards the hangar and what looked like a modified A-Wing zoomed past, inches from him, out towards the other way. That would be the countdown before they raised up the ray shields again. Connor squeezed harder and took the craft down suddenly and prepared for a crash landing that required split-second timing.
With a roar of engines, the Silencer shot by the shield gates and blast door just as they came online and a purple haze effectively locked him inside the hangar. The wings of the fighter were already screeching on the ground, kicking up sparks and twisted metal as the engine was cut and the craft skidded with an awfully loud scraping of metal on metal, coming to a stop facing the other way with knarled wings and a smoking hull.
Connor didn’t hesitate before the thing either got blown up or set on fire. He pushed up the cock-pit hatch and pulled himself out, blaster fire welcoming him and zipping overhead as he slid down the cracked wing to take temporary cover on the other side.
There was no flourish with the lightsaber yet – this wasn’t a suicide mission and his skill was needed elsewhere. He simply looked around quickly as a klaxon sounded, and ran away from the Silencer to the rear of the hangar, using the few ships and cargo in there as cover to get to a set of blast doors that allowed him to pass and duck into a passageway alcove to buy a few minutes of quiet. He spoke into his wrist mounted com.
"I’m in the port side hangar, well, just outside. Give me your position and I’ll flank towards you from where I am."
Command Deck, Supercarrier The Itsukusk Alliance Battle Line, Hex L-49
Men under their command were beginning to die, and while for Supreme Commander Ven each sentient's death was like losing one of his own children, for Vice Admiral Zark the cost was far higher. Through the act of battle meditation, he was connected to these beings, thousands of them. And with each hull breach, secondary explosion, or destroyed ship he felt each death as if it were his own. It was an overwhelming sensation, that threatened to unbalance him completely and rob him of all focus.
Despite its artificial nature, the Jedi Master could feel a sort of physical pain in his synthetic right arm, inside a hidden compartment a lightsaber hilt emanated waves of building agony as the alchemized core within reacted violently to such an emotionally tempestuous state. But he knew he could not give in, for as much as this conflict was waged between sons and daughters of both Alliance and First Order, it was also a duel of the minds. Already the presence, or perhaps presences, aboard the Imperial command ship were beginning to probe their defenses, seeking a way in to drain the resolve of those all around them.
[member="Taeli Raaf"] leaned on him, the way he had been leaning on her, drawing on his strength in the Force at a time when he needed it the most. Through sheer force of determined will, Zark pushed himself further than he ever had before, refusing to allow his men to fall prey to Darkside corruption. His shadow form faded in and out, as did the second sight it provided. It was getting increasingly difficult to focus both on his mental efforts and the moment to moment happenings on the bridge.
Already a more direct, albeit unconventional attack, had taken both Jedi Masters by surprise. A crushing darkness had split the heavens in the vice admiral's mind on its path to the ANS Inalienable, one of Allied Command's few remaining undamaged Dirigible corvettes, quite literally quaking it apart with Darkside energy. Such a powerful wave of destructive energy could only come from a truly powerful mind, but the Ren did not have a monopoly on Force strength. His personal code would not allow him to use the Force in such a destructive manner (not to mention his saber's core would most likely detect such violent thoughts and explode), but not only was the Jedi sage a powerful telekinetic, he was a bit of an accomplished illusionist.
The trick to convincing point defense operators on and around Station Triaxis that even more Alliance fighter squadrons were on their way was to not get greedy, or at least so Master Zark hoped. A squadron here, a flight there, and hopefully the First Order wouldn't notice the discrepancies in their scans. With his thoughts partitioned so many ways already, it was difficult to tell if his efforts were having any effect on the enemy's kill rate, but hopefully their attack groups would hold out a little longer for it.
"The Vice Admiral's target is withdrawing, sir," composed cheers briefly echoed off distant walls of ancient Sith design, "Our attack groups are beginning to show effect on target Imperial interdiction station."
"Not enough," Nemo knew they were committed now, that withdrawal was no longer an option. It was now a race between both sides, if the Alliance battle line could neutralize Imperial interdiction capability in this area, their war fleet would be forced to cede the territory that comprised a broken link in their chain lest they become bogged down in Defense Fleet reinforcements. But if the First Order broke their lines..."Lets deal with some of this heavy firepower, targeting solutions on those hostile cruisers, coordinate with the Axiom to do likewise."
We've been boarded.
"I'm aware of that, admiral," the Supreme Commander's crew were by now becoming quite familiar with Ven's conversations with an invisible executive officer, "SpaceOps teams have been dispatched to repel them."
There are Ren among their party. Marines may be able to slow them down, but only Master Raaf and I are capable of ending this incursion.
"I need to make sure we are clear," Zark said aloud as he opened his eyes, staring back at Taeli, "The First Order cannot be allowed to take either this deck or the primary reactor. Supreme Commander Ven and I know our duty, but I thought you should understand the cost of failure."
Main Hangar
Their resolve weakened by a demoralizing Force attack emanating from the FIV Concordia, a few of the surviving defenders against the incursion of [member="Kyrel Ren"] did in fact flee in terror. Until they passed beyond the threshold of the Darkside adept's manifested field of intimidation. Resolve took hold once more as they reconnected to Master Zark's meditative network. Falling back from the hangar, the Itsukusk's marines ceded that territory to the looming First Order boarding parties.
The closer the Imperials drew to the center of the labyrinthine maze of the ancient flagship's peculiar construction, the supercarrier's bridge, they would meet more and more fanatical resistance as Alliance personnel sought to slow the enemy's advance with their bodies if necessary. This close to both Jedi Masters, not even a Darkside adept highly trained in intimidation could keep them from giving their lives in service to Ven and the Alliance.
Turn back, servant of shadow, thoughts that were not his own touched the surface thoughts of the Ren Master. Through a billow of smoke gathering ahead of the Darksider, most likely the result of a stray saber slash against some steam vents, an undefined form seemed to gaze back at him through the mist. Despite a dim awareness of his surroundings, from his position on the bridge Zark could determine nothing about Kyrel's precise location that would give him a tactical advantage, There is no glory for you at the end of this path, nor mercy.
Do not make us destroy you.
Allied Command
Ship Name: The Itsukusk Ship Class:Supercarrier (Flagship) Shield / Hull:2500/2700 Hangar: 42 Squadrons (7 Wings). 10 Sprite-class X-Wing Squadrons. 15 CF10 Crossfire Squadrons. 10 A-Wing Squadrons. 5 D-Wing Squadrons. 1 X-83 TwinTail Squadron. 1 Dauntless-class X-Wing Squadron. Actions: Firing on Station Triaxis with long range batteries. Firing on FIV Bombard with standard range loadout.
Ship Name: ANS Axiom Ship Class:Citadel-Class Star DefenderShield / Hull:600/1300 Hangar:3 Squadrons. 1 Sprite-class X-Wing Squadron. 1 A-Wing Squadron. 1 D-Wing Squadron. Actions:Firing on FIV Devastator.
Ship Name: ANS Remember Eriadu Ship Class:Essex-class Starfighter KillerShield / Hull:0/0 Hangar:- Actions:Destroyed by combined firepower of FIV Goliath, Genesis, and Dishonor.
Ship Name: ANS Rivers of Arbra Ship Class:Essex-class Starfighter KillerShield / Hull:0/50 Hangar:- Actions:Firing on remaining enemy TIE Raptors.
Ship Name: ANS Rancor Claw Ship Class:Dirigible-class CorvetteShield / Hull:0/0 Hangar:- Actions:Destroyed by combined firepower of FIV Phalanx and Thunderbolt.
Intercept Group Two
3 Sprite-class X-Wing Fighter Squadrons
3 CF10 Crossfire Fighter Squadrons
3 A-Wing Interceptor Squadrons Actions: Defending ANS Rivers of Arbra from FIV Cylone, FIV Infamy. Status: 78%
Summary of Actions
Attack Groups Aurek through Esk continue attack runs on Station Triaxis.
Zark attempts to use Force illusion to inflate the number of squadrons assaulting Triaxis in an attempt to reduce the effectiveness of enemy point defense. [member="Sieger Ren"] [member="Cyrus Tregessar"] Itsukusk continues to fire long range batteries at Triaxis when possible through First Order formation, while short range firepower is redirected to the FIV Bombard.
ANS Axiom redirects fire to FIV Devastator. [member="Robogeber"]
Badly damaged ANS Loth Cat begins ramming maneuver on FIV Javelin.
ANS Righteous Sword and RebelYell fire on FIV Avalanche.
Intercept Group One continues attacking FIV Goliath, Genesis, and Dishonor.
Intercept Group Two continues defending ANS Rivers of Arbra from FIV Cyclone, FIV Infamy. [member="Morro"]
SpaceOps Marines begin to establish defensive choke points between the main hangar and bridge of the Itsukusk. [member="Kyrel Ren"] [member="Rolf Amsel"] [member="Krayn Ren"]
Every moment she spent contemplating the arrival of the enemy was another agonizing instant wasted. They had landed in the hangar, they were likely to breach the mass of the ship and yet she couldn't grasp nonchalance in the Supreme Leader's approach to the immediate threat. A thought soon demolished by the reality that was the superiority of Sieger Ren. Feeling his darkness pore over her as she stood in his presence and accepted his brush aside of her eagerness to fight. She realized, in her silence, that it wasn't the approaching enemies or the Supreme Leader's casual briskness that drew out the vast majority of her anger. It was the small, but brightly burning ember of jealousy deep within her that emblazoned the fire she would use as her weapon against the enemies of the First Order.
A mere disciple. The very idea wrenched at her gut and heart as she allowed the thought to pervade the corners of her mind. Though her rank was hardly a concern, faced with the surreal manner of a very deadly enemy, she could not resist the lingering unquenchable desire for something more. A perverse thought tooled by the doctrine of the Sith, one far too low for one such as her that she would stoop to their level to attain what she desired. She was not a Sith, she would not execute a superior to attain the position she desired. It was not the way of Sieger Ren, as it was not the way of the Ren themselves. As a knight of Ren, regardless of her position, she abated the thought beginning to force a hold over her mind and turned her thoughts to other means of advancing beyond such a rank.
She was a Knight regardless of her place, and she would prove it to the Supreme Leader himself, the opportunity set upon her by the will of the Supreme Leaders presence itself.
"Let them come," her voice echoed. "This place shall be their tomb."
It was then that she began to notice the exiting crew from the bridge. Vacating their trenches, shuffling towards the turbo lifts and off she knew not where. Something had changed, that she did not understand, and as the last of those exiting had departed she ventured a glance behind her and towards where Sieger had moved. His focus remained on the entirety of the battle, his stance poised outward rather than inward towards the intruders who would likely be arriving before the ship began to lose the majority of it's integrity. She had felt a twinge in the Force, a sudden eruption followed by a sharp void, though it hardly altered her focus. Half the ship could have gone and her only focus remained on the clear and present danger.
If she were to even call it a danger.
Gripping the hilt of her blade tighter, turning her posture to the side as to keep the Supreme Leader in her sights, she turned her gaze momentarily to the Disciple accompanying her. Silent, hooded and clearly poised for battle. Caehl had left them to protect the Supreme Leader and their focus showed in the motion of their choices. Even still, she could not help but wonder why they all remained the lap dogs of Caehl Ren. What had they done to earn such a position? To be resolved in doing everything the Knight ordered without consideration for their own advancement? An unimportant question but one she couldn't but feel as she looked upon the man beside her. Perhaps in time she'd understand, she wished not to realize that the three were failed disciples and now disgraced pawns in the bigger picture.
It hardly mattered. Nothing about them truly mattered, save their position with her master. The only reality that mattered was that if they were to fall she would fight ever harder on the ideal of their bond as Ren. They were her brothers, they were not mere weapons. That thought cleared her resolve in her eagerness to fight those who'd boarded the vessel burning bright, Jedi scum or no, she tore her gaze away from the fellow Disciple and centered her thoughts on the blade in her hand and the Supreme Leader's darkness blanketing her.
