Mission Ascendancy of Defiance | An Age of Strife Story

[Jordi Massad]

2nd post

MISSION: ASCENDANCY OF DEFIANCE
AN AGE OF STRIFE STORY
OPERATION: DAMOCLES

Codename: Scimitar

Emir of the Massad Fedayeen

BELIGERENTS
(COMPNOR VS. CEI)

Sylus (Γ059) Kastav Volff Rika Hiro

Kyros of Memnon

WAY OF THE SWORD: DAMOCLEAN BY NATURE - PART 2

Maintenance Hatch, Brask Oto Station,
The Redoubt (Early-877 ABY)

<"Priority will be life support systems. Air supply, HVAC, gravity generators. We have sealed and magnetised suits, they don't all have one. Preference for leaving electricals untouched as much as possible. Next objective will require taking over the station's critical systems remotely once we reach the central level.">​

With chuckled scoff of delight, Jordi gave a chef's kiss to nobody in particular as he prepared for the rest of the response; paying full devoted attention to Rama Actual's instructions in light of the quality of advice he was being gifted, especially when the mention of Brask Oto's critical systems reached the Kandaran's left ear. Intrigued by the initial requests to target specific equipment over electricals, Massad was naturally curious as to what systems hacks were in place already, realising that if COMPNOR were already in and working on the terminals, they could very well have access to the surveillance cams - and perhaps even the droids.

<"Confirm if Chiss are breaking through the sealed blast door from your end. If positive, a single explosive at a clustered group like them would remove a possible attack vector.">

<"Silent where I am, though with explosives, it sure wouldn't be - but I'll check anyway. Stand by.... Confirmed, but a tad more than anticipated-CONTACT TO OUR SIX, OPEN FIRE!!!!">​

The air around Jordi's head would erupt with Disruptor fire after sneaking farther up the hall to follow the blood-trail, forcing the Kandaran to backpedal and return fire for as long as his head remained out in the open, and not only was it a quick-acting interception of thread behind the Chiss operators, but frighteningly accurate too. Four near-misses and maintained fire on the opened door, that was all it took to realise he wasn't just dealing with the Chiss' run of the mill, OPFOR would be throwing professionals his way. It was obvious then that the blood had belonged to Imperials, retreating into the ambush of the very same operators who were assailing him then, and in that moment, Jordi growled at the thought of wasting one of his charges, though he knew one would need to be sacrificed for the breathing space either way - better to throw it through the gap than rig it after closing the door.

'Ah, needs must.... I hate this job sometimes.'

<"Slicers. Go for the console on my mark. Any troopers with jump capability, we're going up to the next level to neutralise the repeaters. Mark in ten seconds. Those on this level, continue suppression, prioritise against heavy weaponry.">
Interesting....​

Then, after wrestling one of the depth charges from the rucksack, Massad sneered at the disruptor trails as he activated it, exclaiming,'Good evening, gentlemen!', seconds later as he lobbed it through the gap and slapped the door-control touchpad to finish with a calligrapher's flourish. Jordi knew he still needed to distance himself from the blast, as a depth charge like that would utilise an air-sealed sealed hallway to frightening effect, and though it would be contained by the doors for the most part, the resulting blast had every chance of shredding his only defence into pieces - a chance Scimitar was unwilling to take under the circumstances.

'A gift from the Empire!'

First is was panic, then the shuffling scramble to reach the door console on their side, then the recognisable sound of the loud, pressurized thump, sending the door on Jordi's side flying inward as it tumbled dangerously close to his head. Followed by the intense heat of the pressurized blast, Massad knew he need to jump into one of the adjoining hallways to survive it, spurring him onwards to leap after that threshold as the door itself barely missed his head for the second time. But after that, Jordi would be safe enough to draw his pistol and Yatan dagger, and by the looks of the madness he had left behind, safe enough to continue unopposed. Uninjured, unwounded, though greatly unimpressed with self and circumstance alike, Scimitar clenched his teeth and tried to put it behind him as he stepped over the scattered remains of the Chiss he had just killed, grumbling angrily to himself as every potential ambush point was checked along the way.

<"Jump troopers. Mark in three. Two. One. Mark!">
Hmmmm.... Busy bees are these, busy bees indeed.​

'Well, I best start buzzing on my part then. Much to be done tonight.'

With his rage evaporating almost instantly, Massad continued on in search of a means to cut off the station's air-supply and life-support systems, and with luck, foes he could kill a little more quietly in comparison. So it was back into the maintenance hatch he went, as Jordi knew for a fact it could go up another floor, with door consoles he could easily bypass without threats or health-risks to worry about in his attempt to slip hither and yon undetected. Being as quiet as his breather-suit would allow, the hatch-grill above would be much easier for Scimitar to shift than the first, a small blessing, and especially so for all the trouble he was bringing down on himself with the grand entrance. The Kandaran could hear the nearest Chiss reinforcements before as he made his way out into the hallway above, gladdened by his own good sense in reattaching the hatch-grill beforehand, which in turn was made all the easier with the loud, impatient efforts to find the one responsible for the detonation on the lower levels.

I'm beginning to think I have more climbing to do if I want to find the others.
But I need to look around here too.​

'Can't be helped.'

<"Sparrow to Rama actual and Preacher, my team got ambushed at the entry point, I'm the only one left, moving to your point soon over.">​

Drawn to the comm-link once more, Jordi stifled a gasp of surprise in the effort to stick more militantly to procedure, along with the relevant self-driven need for adherence to stealth tactics, especially relevant in the moments following his escape from the tactical-sweep downstairs. Scimitar had not been informed of Sparrow's activation beforehand, though quickly assumed that Belkora sent her with her own specific task, but without a tac-team in support, it looked very much to the Kandaran that the next-gen HRD agent would need to act alone as Jordi was. Such was the way of COMPNOR's best agents, tough to kill, but inordinately unlucky in their own right, as no agent would want more work than they needed - and especially not in any of the Galaxy's most-prestigious clandestine organisations.

Someone was coordinating a stern defence of the station, and in the operation's first plays, it seemed this someone was making easy work of the set-pieces. As a result of this well-considered response from the Chiss, Jordi, and other peers within ISB and COMPFORCE alike, would be finding themselves veering away from conventional means to combat this playmaker's deft sense of strategic awareness. However, times like these always called for agents like Hiro, Sylus, Volff and a roster-deep array of others like them, times the organisation was ready for, especially in the wake of Kuat and Dubrillion alike. Internal conflict was always expected, and especially so with a Tarkinist-leaning administration in charge of the Empire for the foreseeable future, but the likes of Belkora, Harrsk, Yubari and many others had generally foreseen events like this were eventually going to occur, and long before the Chiss first strode out against the Empire in rebellion.

It was time to embrace the Age of Strife, and Jordi was ready.

 

[Lucien Dooku]

IMPERIAL KNIGHT STRIKE FORCE // OPERATION KNIGHTFALL
KNIGHT-CHAPTER | ANGELS OF DEFIANCE

vibes ​

---

---

The source of raw, unbridled rage appeared before his eyes, championing the contingent of Chiss behind him with an awesome display of the force which left many of his men -- and the surrounding environment -- a crippled, tangled mess of limbs, plastoid and viscera. The blast of pure force jetted down the corridor in a crescendo of death, leaving him little time to react, and protect the Knights and Stormtroopers who marshalled behind him.

He balled his arm into a fist, teeth gritting whilst amber orbs of fire remained locked upon the powerful Chiss Lord across the hall. Within an instant he dropped to one knee, his fist being slammed against the hull plating in a display of defiance against the onslaught to come. The force buckled the plating the moment his fist touched the ground, coinciding with the wave of telekinetic energy which soon reached their position. It collided against an incorporeal barrier of his own, the wave of energy being brought to a screeching halt against a force barrier that protected the bulk of the men and women to his rear.

Rippling off his own defenses, the wave still ripped through the plating along the walls, and though Lucien maintained his form, it was evident that even he had struggled beneath the sheer weight of power being leveled against him. Raising to his feet at the moment the attack had ended, he wouldn't wait for his enemy to press forwards whilst the momentum was still in the Imperials favor. "Aoki, Sahar, attack him together!" Lucien called out, both audibly and over their shared comms simultaneously.

He dashed forwards with tremendous speed once more, whirling his frame through a hail of Chiss blades who aimed to cut down their leader before the battle had even begun. Strong in form in spite of the overwhelming numbers which descended upon him, his lightsaber tore through a Chiss warrior's torso with ease, following from one end to another in order to catch the blade of a second warrior who attempted to cut him down from the rear. "Rakaan, support Matma against their second-in-command! Work together, and we will achieve victory!" His orders were delivered clearly, even as he spun on his heel to break his assailant's guard, a fist being delivered to the man's gut via his prosthetic, and ending with a kinetic blast from the repulsor in its palm being fired off upon impact.

With a hole being punched through the torso of that warrior, Lucien continued to work his way forwards through their ranks. The Force Corps of the Chiss were aplenty, it seemed, and skilled all the same in various forms of lightsaber combat. But no matter, the Knights themselves had a job to do, and failure was not an option. Bright flashes of white followed the hissing snap after each stroke of his blade descending upon another warrior, and quickly it would become apparent as to what his motives were. A path was being cleared through their ranks, whether through prosecution at the end of his blade, or their aggression being directed upon him.

For the Knights who had their duties now espoused, the path was clear.

"Engage, now!" ​

 

[Apollo Kurze]

OPERATION PHALANX

173RD. STORMTROOPER LEGION 'MYRMIDONS'
5TH. COMPANY 'SONS OF KRIEG'
14TH. TERRITORIAL DIVISION, NIRAUAN SECTOR ARMY

The thumping of Imperial ordinance rang out in the distant south, alerting the hovering Mandalorian that the action was soon to begin on their front of the battlefield. Once more the enemy had come to Nirauan in force, intent on bringing further death and destruction to a world that had grown used to being torn at by the claws of savage foes, be they Sith or whoever else with a penchant for wanton destruction. These Chiss were more of the same, as far as Apollo was concerned. Enemies of the Dominion, and no matter what the former Emperor had proclaimed, Nirauan would always be of the Dominion.

And the Sons of Krieg, the newly-minted Fifth Company of the Myrmidons, would see to it that the Dominion's capitol would never again be assaulted, and its peoples homes reduced to rubble once again. Elsewhere across the battlefield, Lord Dante was busying himself with the overall defense efforts across the world, but on his little piece of assigned real estate, Apollo was given the honor of leading the Myrmidons to victory. There was no alternative to the matter; it was victory or death, lest they risk their newfound home being once more left to the wolves for plunder and destruction. The men of Nirauan knew this as well, and it showed amongst their ranks from the stalwart sense of morale that seemed commonplace to their formations.

No longer were these the green formations from the Maw's surprise invasion, or even before. These men had been mustered and trained for this coming day, even when nobody knew what particularly enemy would come next. The mistakes of the past were to never be repeated, and their families would never again see their homes being leveled to the ground by an enemy who sought to destroy their way of life. Veterans and rookies alike stood by side by side, manning entrenched positions along the entire front of the Powerplant, setting up fixed guns and moving heavy ordinance to defensible spots at the rear.

The Chiss would come, and when they did, they would be ready.

---

---

DESCENDING ANGELS


Allowing for the Chiss mechanized elements to begin their offensive operations first, the Fifth Company of the Myrmidons remained stationed far above in the skies, watching their advance upon the powerplant beneath them with discipline and patience, despite the impending assault having begun. Apollo waited a good long while before giving any further commands, only allowing his men the room to manuever whenever the occasional stray rounds were angled in their direction.

The advancing elements of armored and mechanized were fully committed by the time Apollo was poised to allow his Myrmidons to strike. The order was given, and the airborne elites would descend further behind the bulk of the enemy formation, and far past where the quickly-moving armored formations were capable of wheeling their weapons to the rear. It became evident to the slower divisions of infantry, but only at the last minute when the lightning descent of the Myrmidons had been spotted by the nascent troopers scattered among their numbers. A glaring white formation of white tinted with black fell upon the Infantry to the farthest rear, loosely packed in a manueverable wedge that allowed for maximum effecitveness as they fell into the Chiss' ranks of infantry.

Vibroswords and axes were already at the ready, the elites of the Nirauan delivering a horrific scene of vengeance and death upon the blue-tinted soldiers who were unlucky to have been in that first wave of attack. A cyclone of blades ripped through them within an instant, cutting their numbers down aplenty before the Myrmidons once more took to the skies, leaving a volley of ordinance in their wake to cover their aerial retreat. They'd repeat this same pattern several more times over, coordinating with the Nirauan forces at the plant to drop heavy barrages of thermal smoke to the Chiss's rear, and delivering themselves right into their formations to rip and tear at anything their thermal sights would pick up.

This was the way of the Myrmidons; They would tear through the enemy until their morale was shattered, and none would dare to stand.



​

 

[Seydou of Thyrsus]

SUPREME COMMANDER OF ARMY GROUP NIRAUAN
THE CHISS RECLAMATION
BATTLE FOR NIRAUAN

Spoiler: Intel Log #1.5 - OPERATIONAL MAP

BATTLE FOR FORT YULAREN​

1ST CHISS EXPANSIONARY ARMY
3rd Mechanized Division [STR 4/5]
4th Mechanized Division [STR 2/5]
5th Infantry Division [STR 5/5]​

Suppressive Barrage vs. FN-999 Aerys Fortan Amiggie Lutih Asanté Tsilor Hall Mannarra

Spoiler: dice rolls

3rd Mechanized Division General Vinor Traits:
- Media Personality

The pounding of guns from heavy walkers and artillery continued without rest. Reports surged of a weakened left flank of the enemy and the 3rd Division's commanding officer, Vinor, a man whose career only stood on the pillars of being a loved media personality, ordered his forces to advance on the softened flank of the Imperials. Believing a breakthrough in the weakened enemy flank was inevitable, the 3rd Mech Commander knew a quick victory over the Fort would bring further credit to his name.​

4th Mechanized Division General Rhugo Traits:
- War Hero

Meanwhile, the left flank of the Chiss received reports of armored reinforcements arriving to solidify the right flank of the Imperial's defense. As an experienced war hero from the Chiss-Maw war, General Rhugo further spread his units apart taking advantage of his superior numbers to dampen the Imperial's concentrated artillery effort that had struck hard and true. This, in turn, left wider gaps between his units which he believed would not be exploited due to the Chiss' overwhelming firepower being a guarantee to stave off any daring advance.​

5th Infantry Division General Stini Traits:
- Cautious

With the 4th remaining static, General Stini was reluctant to bolster the 3rd's press against the Imperials' left flank. Instead, the 5th was tasked with engaging the enemy's center with skirmishes aiming to harass and divert their attention from the 3rd's advance onto the left flank. One such engagement was the fierce skirmish over a hill providing a strategic vantage point between the 25th Company of the 5th Infantry division against a company of Mandalorians led by Alex Eldar Adenn Munin .​

BLITZ OF THE COAST​

1ST CHISS EXPANSIONARY ARMY
1st Armor Division [STR 5/5]
2nd Mechanized Division [STR 5/5]​

Blitz vs. DECEASED Aron Gowrie
​

1st Armor Division General Aard Traits:
- Harsh Leader

To General Aard's chagrin, a few settlements in his rapid advance had blown up the protective barriers of a few minor rivers, flooding their own settlements, which had led to the delay of his advance. His combat engineers had quickly taken to constructing bridges over the man-made rivers. However, for the Imperial citizens' transgression against the Chiss, General Aard ordered the complete decimation of these settlements while the bridges were being constructed.​

2nd Mechanized Division General Jath Traits:
- Inflexible Strategist

General Jath's covering advance behind General Aard had been slow. It was only the unexpected stall of Aard's defence due to the man-made rivers that had prevented him from losing Aard's tail and leaving the Armored division outstretched.​

BLITZ OF THE POWER PLANT​

2ND CHISS EXPANSIONARY ARMY
1st Armor Division [STR 4/5]
2nd Mechanized Division [STR 2/5]
3rd Mechanized Division [STR 5/5]
4th Infantry Division [STR 5/5]
5th Infantry Division [STR 5/5]​

Blitz vs. Aerys Fortan Amiggie Lutih Rose Dorce Apollo Kurze

Spoiler: dice rolls

Betting on their superior numeric and firepower advantage, the 2nd Chiss Army widened the formation of their blitz with the aim of encircling the large power plant, cutting off the defenders' supply lines.

The sudden close air support by the Imperials had struck hard the advance of the 1st Armored Division, while the Myrmidons' arrival had impacted the covering advance of the 2nd Mechanized Division; both events had forced the overly cautious and benevolent Lord General of the Army to order a concentrated shelling across the facility, followed by the dispersion of leaflets that read:

IMPERIAL SOLDIERS, YOUR DEFEAT IS INEVITABLE.

SURRENDER AND YOUR LIVES WILL BE SPARED.

FIGHT AND YOU WILL BE BURIED IN UNMARKED GRAVES.

IS THIS FOREIGN TO YOU WORLD WORTH THE SORROW OF YOUR LOVED ONES?

DO NOT REPEAT NORIS.​

​

 

[Rakaan Horne]

OPERATION KNIGHTFALL:-
Matma Bernu | Tris

His idle arm rose to shield his brow from the echoes of the Force, the self-crafted barrier from Dooku had halted the blast bar a few minor temors. No more, and no less. It was all that it was, Rakaan decided as a scant few strands of hair had billowed in non-existent wind for no more than a mere moment. Horne had risen his blade to attention, held in both hands, as he heard his orders next.

"Careful, Matma." He cautioned without so much as a look afforded to him, instead focused on the Chiss woman; the second-in-command, as Lucien had named her. True or not, there was no need to ask. "You and I are together on this one." Rakaan commented from beside the Chiss Imperial, content to follow his move.

 

[Aoki-Barran Mira]

O P P E R A T I O N - K N I G H T F A L L

O B J E C T I V E - T W O

N O - R E G R E T S . . .



Primary Objective: Take control of the station.

Secondary Objective: Attack Zodt with Sahar.

Location: Brask Oto Command Station.

Equipment: In biography.

Friendlies: The Empire.

Enemies: Chiss Restorationists.

Friendlies Interacted With: Sahar Lucien Dooku

Engaging: Sinestra

​

As Lucien's orders rang out, Mira looked towards a wounded knight and hastily lifted the rubble off him. She wished she could help more, but she had her orders. She turned and ran, approaching Sahar.

What is this place? I have fought battles, even been at Tython, but this? All those times, I never was in the heat of battle. I never had to watch my fellow soldiers die around me...
Externally, Mira was calm, as always. Despite her inner conflict, she would carry her duty out into the bitter end. She put her energy bow away. There was no point in wasting, she had to do her best.

She slipped into a battle ready position and placed her hands over the hilt and scabbard of her songsteel katana, Utaken. She spoke up, talking to Sahar. So far, she did not like Sahar, but an order was an order. The millisecond she and Sahar worked things out, she would draw the sword and strike deathly.

<"What is the plan?">

Of course, Mira had never worked with Sahar and knew nothing of her fighting style. Unlike the times she worked with her mentor, Raina Demici, this would be difficult.

 

[Jett]

CAPTAIN OF THE 25th COMPANY
THE CHISS RECLAMATION
BATTLE FOR NIRUAN

Formidable. He remembered Mandalorians as such, and still never held them in awe. Both relentless and zealous also came to mind, as much as admirable also entered his recollection of them and their fierce kind. It was not the cause of discomfort, however, rather it enabled the tenacious side of himself that seemed to have revealed itself more and more as of late. He noted their armoured frames in the distance, all from the entrenched fortifications all across the hillside in the sea of Chiss blue.

In no time at all, their lines had become blurred. Chaos, as controlled as it was, descended on the battlefield. It made itself known. From the front, where the skirmish had been thickest, Jett rained blue charric bolts onto the Mandalorian warriors and the same could be said for those in his immediate area. He saw the trails of rockets that soared into the air to meet their Basilisks or individual fliers, and a wry smirk crept across his face with a connection.

Jett and his soldiers had swivelled their aim from one foe to the next, settled on Alex Eldar and sent a volley of kinetically charged bolts towards the Mandalorian and those that flew beside her.

Adenn Munin

​

 

[Sinestra]

LORD ZODT
Lord-General of the Chiss Force Corps
Brask Oto Command Station
The Chiss Reclamation

I​

Eyes burning with cinder followed the destruction his powers laid upon the Imperials. "The Ascendancy is dead, Tri'sunodo. I usher our race into a new age, stronger than ever before. It is in your interest to kneel before me." he said coldly, a malicious smirk curving his lips.

Spotting one of the Imperial Knights tending to a wounded comrade, Zodt pinpointed his new victim.

The consequences of defying the Lord-General would be vividly demonstrated here and now. He would cull the weak with no mercy.

Snap-hiss!

The crimson blade emerged in the Chiss Lord's hand and he leaped like a beast over Chiss and Knights alike straight upon Aoki-Barran Mira with an overhead slash that upon impact would send a thunderous shockwave rattling the immediate area.​

ENGAGING: Aoki-Barran Mira Sahar
ENEMY: Lucien Dooku Rakaan Horne Matma Bernu
ALLIES: Tris

 

[Nukth Kelga'an]

Ascendancy of Defiance​

---

THE EMPIRE
THIRD SECTOR DEFENCE FORCES
First Anaxsi Free Brigade -- Second TodHusars Regiment
'Banshee' Company​

---

- IV -
BERZINGUE FROM ANAXES
Er'kit Solutions -- Prologue​

— 876, Operation: Phalanx, Nirauan

The first time Kelga’an came on this planet called ‘Nirauan’, he protected the Saffia District of New Carannia against the Brotherhood of the Maw, alongside the heavy units of Strike Group « Er’kit ». This battle happened eight years ago. No sooner than the Second Hyperspace War had begun than the Mawites were attacking the prized jewel of the former New Imperial Order. The Nirauan people were still shaken from the Third Imperial Civil War and new bad guys were coming to their world.

Today, the matter was genuinely different. We didn’t talk of degenerate Mawites that were freaking duffers in terms of war but truly efficient in close combat -- we were talking about Chiss. Even with this insurrection from these blue-skinned rascals, the Anaxsi captain knew that all the Chiss weren’t like them. They were only fringe elements from their people that couldn’t represent all the species themselves. Despite all this, Kelga’an had to fight them. He was a man of war, and the newly formed Empire asked him to do this. So he did.

A second trip on Nirauan; a second annihilation. Another beach too far to reach.

---

- IV -
BERZINGUE FROM ANAXES
Er'kit Solutions -- Part. I​

Interacting with: Rose Dorce Faraak Apollo Kurze
— 876 ABY, New Carannia powerplant, Nirauan

« Officer -- tell me what’s goin’ on. Gimme a sit-rep of the med forces. »

Kelga’an brought his cigarette to his mouth, settling his gaze in the medical officer’s eyes. The captain had been designated by the Third Sector Command as the commander of the Operational Force Bravo-Terrathree, under the orders of the Operational Group Er’kit. Two regiments of the 1st Anaxsi Free Brigade -- ‘La Sagaie’ and ‘Le Bouclier’ -- had been called on Nirauan, so they would give the Fifth Army a hand. In addition to the Yinchorr troops, other units from the Third Army had been brought alongside the TodHusars. But the major part was settled in the surroundings of Fort Yularen, or in the area between the fortified place and the powerplant where Kelga’an’s Sons were. The Banshees were playing with the rest of the 2nd TodHusars Regiment but, also and above all, a detachment from the 501st called ‘Boom’ Platoon and led by a buckethead whose name was Thorn, according to their callsign.

« Certainly, sieur, » the medical officer answered while drawing a datapad from one of his pockets and giving it to the captain, « here it is, boss -- but, sure, I can detail its content. The four medical squads -- one per combat company under your command -- are ready. Also, ninety per cent of the field toubibs in the infantry squads are signed as locked, loaded and ready, fo’ the moment. We’re waitin’ for a confirmation from the other ten per cent in less than half an hour. However, the medical backup planned with the Kawas is on the way but ongoin’ until further notice. »

« How many per cent complete? »

« Fifty or so, accordin’ to the last sit-reps from Captain Zann, » the specialist officer.

Kelga’an stubbed out his cigarette on a gear case and forced out a simple reply: « Lukewarm, officer. Make sure that everythin’ will be workin’ in one hour grand max. » The Anaxsi nodded and then put what was lefting from his cigarette in the ashtray between the TodHusars. He stood up and saluted the Captain and the other soldiers here before returning to his makeshift medical bay. « Well. Artillery officer -- your turn. »

The captain was very different when he was tasked to lead an important unit; all of a sudden, he was able to assign very stringent orders to his subordinates, even if they already were doing good work. Kelga’an was like that -- always worried about what could happen on the battlefield. To him, like to many other officers among the Husars, the backup stuff was the central part of an operation and even more when it was a matter of operational group -- as this operational group.

« Affi’, sieur. We’ve got six mortars with us -- type One-Thirty-Two. We’ve got enough engines to besiege something as big as the well-known Saffia District. » The officer in question knew that Kelga’an was part of this old battle of Nirauan, against the Maw, under General Barran’s command. He knew that because he was with him during this operation -- his name was Forr. Kelga’an nodded and the artillery specialist kept going: « That’s fine, fo’ the moment, but we could quickly be out of tanks if we don’t have a strong backup. »

« How many One-Thirties? » the captain asked.

« Two dozens, if I’m right. »

« Precisely? »

« Twenty-one, » another officer answered instead of Forr, « just asked Captain Zann’s comm supervisor. »

« Good, officer. But next time I want my artillery officer to answer me when I ask him a question, » Kelga’an said, gritting his teeth.

« He’s right -- twenty-one. Just checked on our BattleNet, sieur, » Forr added as the captain was telling the officer off, « but how can this number help you, sir? »

Kelga’an put his hands in one another and put his gaze in the void between the two officers, clearly thinking about what could be the plan for his troops. « Answer me, an' everythin'll be fine. Oski -- everythin’s fine, officer. Thank you fo’ your time, it has been truly helpful. » He took a look at Forr and added: « Forr, you’re dismissed. Please prepare your six besieging engines. You’ll be behind the lines until further notice, so be prepared for quick deployment when I’ll ask you. »

Forr simply nodded to his captain, getting away from the officers’ clique to come closer to the place where the tanks had been parked by the TodHusars. Kelga’an quickly turned his face to the soldier in charge of the communications, who talked a couple of minutes before.

« Officer, please contact Etrun-Actual and tell him that we’re ready t’go. I’m gonna get in touch with this ‘Boom’ Platoon, from the 501st and then--... »

The sound of an explosion, quickly followed by the rally scream from the Stormtroopers of the 501st, prevented the captain from ending his sentence. In all likelihood, the Chiss had started their attack upon the powerplant. Fortunately, Kelga’an had been prepared for this but for now, he had to contact his allies.

:: Thorn, this is Bravo-Terrathree-Leader, Banshee-Actual, speakin’ -- just heard the deflagration! I readied six besieging engines all around the powerplant, so feel free to ask ‘em support whenever you want; just call Kawa-Leader for this! I’ve got four infantry companies under my command, an’ they all are comin’ to your position! Can you gimme a sit-rep for your platoon? OVER! ::​

 

[Margo Liaeris]

Fortunate Son

Special Commando Advanced Recon

Objective: Operation Trident
Location: Nirauan - Tansen Dam Approach
Tags: Gavyn Berand | Lily Stevens | Hal Vaiken | Andro Stratus

The order was given to move out, to which Margo fell in step behind Reaper as they advanced through the dense forestry. Margo did gain some minor satisfaction from the sideways glance Reaper gave to Berand - despite her being impressed by Gavyn's decisive and bold ability to eliminate the threat presented to them, the objective fact was that the situation of dealing with an ambushing force had no real, clean way to deal with it. Not unless they all were prepared to take them down slow and up close with a knife or silenced pistol. But with the enemy having the drop on them, the chances of doing so effectively were exceedingly low.

Even still, the dynamic at play within the squad had already begun to materialize even in the span of the first few minutes of their deployment thus far. With Vaiken serving in the role of overwatch and tactical support, that left Reaper as the clear unit commander given her seniority with the squad. Margo didn't know Berand at all really, and she naturally assumed he held a level of veterancy with the group. But clearly, there was something underlying between him and Reaper. One would expect soldiers who had spent any length of time together to operate with a level of unspoken coordination, which in turn tended to streamline the unit's overall cohesion, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Instead, Margo had the distinct impression that Reaper was the lone 'seasoned' member of the outfit, with Gavyn only preceeding her as a SCAR Trooper by maybe a few months. At least she wasn't totally a greenhorn within the unit, even though the very expression was highly subjective with copious levels of Irony. She had been trained as a Deathtrooper in the waning years of the endgame between the the Sith Empire and New Imperial Order's Civil War, and had even seen a few deployments while the Empire engaged in the final battle at Dromund Kaas. She had some battle experience within her, and she was qualified to be here.

But that knowledge did nothing to cement her place here - it only provided her the opportunity. She was thankful for her training, as her instincts told her that her training and senses alone would see her through this initial deployment. While nerves were high at the outset, she could feel them melt away as her finely tuned focus began to take over. Her head turned back and forth as if on a swivel as the trio crept along toward their objective. Silence prevailed between them as they moved along until Reaper updated them with the comm chatter she was picking up through the Chiss helmet.

As they drew closer to the jammer location, Margo gripped her blaster with a touch firmer of a grip, and readied herself. Hopefully Berand wouldn't get careless again, for she could feel themselves nearing a critical juncture of their objective.

 

[Adenn Munin]

C R U S A D E R
NIRAUAN | FORT YULAREN
SONS OF MANDALORE
16th COMPANY | 501st LEGION
Alex Eldar | Faraak | DECEASED Aron Gowrie | Jett

​

Her demeanor was childish and carefree, in his own rightful opinion. Lack of discipline it seemed to be; like a beskad without any edge to it. Every clan was different as was every warrior, but this behavior was unacceptable to his standards; standards Adenn inherited from his own father as the warrior lived his life with something to prove to him.

<“I pray your martial skills are as good as your jokes,”> the young Warrior retorted back to Alex. For her own sake, he hoped she proved him wrong. Maybe it was her confidence, but the elders always spoke of the dangers of overconfidence. The downfall for any warrior.

His jet pack roared to life, following Alex and her companions whom departed before him. Only did he receive comms from an Imperial officer, assuming the 16th and the Wildcats had history based on the context alone.

<“Munin is fine to call me, Wildcat,”> he understood professional armies outside of his culture were accustomed to use call signs, though he rejected those standards. <“My warriors and I are aiming to capture a hill from the blue devils, Wildcat. We won’t hold back, though I expect your soldiers to be right behind us before the situation becomes dire.”>

Always the first in battle, and the last ones to come out from it. Hundreds would surely die in this skirmish.

No…thousands would.

<“Eldar, have the basilisks take point and unleash a salvo on the Chiss. We’ll follow up with getting close and personal with them.”>

 

[Hall Mannarra]

Operation: Phalanx
The Empire
181st Armored Division, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Company, 3rd Platoon
Location: Nirauan, Fort Yularen, Motor Pool
Local Time: 13:39
Primary Objective: Defend the New Carannia Powerplant
Secondary Objective: Provide Armored Support to Friendly Elements
DECEASED Aron Gowrie | Rose Dorce | Faraak | Apollo Kurze | Nukth Kelga'an | Aerys Fortan | Amiggie Lutih

Spoiler: Forces

Elements of the 181st Armored Division, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Company, 3rd Platoon

• XT-62 MBTb ‘331’ | Charlie 3-1 | [Command Tank] | [Operational.]
• XT-62 MBTb ‘332’ | Charlie 3-2 | [Operational.] | Column Lead Tank
• XT-62 MBTb ‘333’ | Charlie 3-3 | [Operational.]
• XT-62 MBTb ‘334’ | Charlie 3-4 | [Operational. Injured Crew Combat Effective.]

Retribution​

<”Third platoon! Mount up! We’re rolling out!”>

With the repairs on their damaged vehicles finished, refueled and rearmed for the task at hand, the men of the third platoon hastily climbed into their assigned tanks; vehicles that might very well become their coffin in their upcoming engagement.

Climbing into the tank through the Loader’s Hatch, the young lad continued to grit his teeth, enduring the throes of his healed injuries as he sat down on the Gunner’s seat. Reaching forth towards a metal box welded to the interior right beside him, he pulled out a pair of standard issue headset for tank crews; a back-up in case their helmets were to become inoperable somehow.

Slipping on the headset over his black tanker beret as he patched into the tank’s intercom, the muffled purring of the engine reached his ears as Kale powered up the vehicle. Soon after, both the Commander’s and Loader’s Hatch closed and sealed shut with a series of metallic thuds after Stege and Kenth hopped inside.

<”Kale, drive us out the motor pool,”> the TC[1] ordered over the intercom as he reached for the handset hung over his radio station to his right, talking to the LT[2] in a muffled voice. <”Power!”> Following standard procedure, Hall reported over the intercom as he powered up the turret controls and the main armament. Feeling Stege nudging him over the shoulder, he turned his head to his left and looked at his brother in arms. A toothy smile spreaded over his darkened, smudgy features as he reached and grabbed a single use bacta autoinjector in gratitude. <”Thanks, dude!”> Patting him on his back in a silent response to the kid’s gratitude, Stege scurried a step back and stood straight by his station, ready to feed shells into the gun’s breech. Momentarily letting go of the turret controls, Hall quickly went about removing the cap over the injector’s needle with his thumb, and administering the medicine as he listened to their orders coming down from Kenth.

<”Kale, you know where we’re going?”> he asked the Driver as he hung the radio’s handset over its cradle by the radio station.

<”Our assigned berm outside the wire like we practiced, yeah?”>

<”Negative, we’re heading over to the NCPP[3], due east of Yularen,”> he said, correcting the driver. <”We got orders to provide armored support for our guys over there.”>

<”Copy, rolling out.”> Confirming the order, the driver barreled the tank forward, stepping on the gas slowly; the gentle purring of the engine gradually turned into a loud growl, then into a thunderous roar as the treads rumbled forward. Careful not to run over any personnel inside while exiting the Motor Pool, the Driver stuck his head out the Driver’s Hatch to see his surroundings inside the spacious maintenance garage more clearly; ‘332’ moved out the Motor Pool, passing rows of tanks and various types of armored vehicles either under repairs or in the process of getting crewed. They were soon to be followed by ‘333’, ‘331’ and ‘334’ in short notice.

<”Stege, get a HEAT[4] shell in there,”> the TC ordered as he unsealed the hatch above him, turning out from the Commander’s Hatch. Wordlessly, the Loader slid aside the rolling armored panel over the ammunition stowage with the push of a button, and reached for a fin stabilized HEAT shell from one of the racks.

<”Intercom check! Everyone, sound off!”> he shouted as they rumbled out the wire; clouds of dust and columns of earth rising up into the air with each landing artillery shell pounding their forward lines up ahead, as blaster fire of all calibers trailing in the air in the exchange of fire.

<”Kale, aye!”> the Driver shouted in response as he turned the tank right and barreled down the road, heading straight for the powerplant as he closed down his hatch; suburban structures dotted the flat, negotiable terrain in the distance before them.

<”Stege, aye!”> the Loader reported over the intercom, as a series of brass, metallic clangs resounded inside the fighting compartment; pushing the shell up the gun breech, the Loader closed it shut afterwards. <”HEAT up!”>

<”Hall, aye!”> the Gunner shouted, his brow pressed hard against the rubber guard over the gunner’s sights, looking for targets to engage as he swung the turret around on a few occasions, scanning his assigned sector in the column as the lead tank.

Having obtained some form of combat experience before, they were not as fearful under fire unlike the last time, but they were all aware this battle differed immensely from the one they participated before. Uneasiness slowly but surely settled in, as the crew fell silent aside from the occasional, short lived intercom chatter.

This would be their actual baptism of fire, facing enemy armor for the first time.

Corrupted by Design​

<”Driver! Halt, Halt!”> The TC shouted. The tank quickly came to a halt before a high rise point of the road in front of them, with the rest of the platoon following suit. Hiding behind the natural defilade that concealed the column for the moment, their turrets swiveled from house to house as the crews within gazed through their periscopes at the abandoned, evacuated suburban houses and structures around them in the small town; they stood on the road in defensive formation until they got the go ahead to move again.

Reaching for a pair of Macrobinoculars, the TC gazed upon the scene before his eyes; the NCPP under concentrated fire from enemy artillery, his eyes widened as he saw the large formation of tanks leaving a cloud of dust behind them as they advanced under the protection of artillery fire trying to suppress the defenders, moving towards the facility with a wide arc at an attempt to completely surround the strategic position and the defenders inside.

<”Cchhit!”> he hissed as he lowered his macrobinoculars, and reached for the handset hung over its cradle by the radio station inside the tank. After a brief chatter with the LT, following after a sitrep, Kenth switched back to the intercom once again. <”Driver, traverse ninety degrees left, cruising speed.”>

<”Roger!”> Following the order he was given, Kale turned the tank due left and drove the tank along the defilade, going off the road into the terrain. Following the lead tank, the rest of the column moved behind ‘332’ with adequate spacing between each tank. Having not traversed two hundred meters, the command to halt rang over the intercom again, followed by the order to go hull down in between the brushes nearby, before the defilade in front.

<”Gunner, HEAT, Taaank! Traverse left!”> Kenth shouted as he turned in; the Commander’s Hatch closed and sealed shut with a series of metallic clanks ringing in the interior. Peering out of his periscope now, the TC set his eyes on the lead tank of the closest armored formation to them, about one and a half clicks to their north-east.

<”Ooon!”> he shouted as he saw the gunner sights hovering right on the intended target.

<”Up!”> Stege shouted in habit, reminding both the Gunner and the Commander the gun was loaded with a fin stabilized HEAT shell.

<”Identified!”> Hall shouted, confirming he had eyes on target, looking at the broadside of the armored vehicle as it barreled at around sixty kilometers per hour towards the powerplant. Zeroed to the target’s range with the help of the tank’s laser rangefinder, the young crewman waited for the command to shoot as he tracked the target, dialing in the appropriate target lead with its speed in mind in his gunner sights.

<”Fire, Fire Sabot!”>

<”On the way!”> He shouted, squeezing hard on the trigger switch. With a loud, muffled thud, the breech of the gun violently recoiled back, with the spent shell falling on the basket underneath the breech with a brassy rattle. Reaching for an APFSDS[5] shell from the ammunition rack behind him, Stege quickly went about feeding the gun.

Following ‘332’s example, the rest of the third platoon opened fire on the assortment of enemy APC’s and tanks with the intention of picking off as many of them as they could from a hull down position behind defiled, before the enemy blitz reached the powerplant and pounced on the defenders inside.

Spoiler: Terms, Jargon & Abbreviations

[1] TC = Tank Commander.
[2] LT = Lieutenant.
[3] NCPP = New Carannia Powerplant.
[4] HEAT = High Explosive Anti Tank.
[5] APFSDS = Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot.

 

[DECEASED Aron Gowrie]

3rd post

MISSION: ASCENDANCY OF DEFIANCE
AN AGE OF STRIFE STORY

WILDCAT_ONE

BRIGADIER-GENERAL OF WILDCAT DIVISION

BELIGERENTS
(IMPERIAL ARMED FORCES VS. CHISS EXPANSIONARY ARMY)

Saul Vandron FN-999 Aerys Fortan Asanté Tsilor
Amiggie Lutih Adenn Munin Alex Eldar

Faraak Jett

TRIBULATIONS OF THE WILDCATS: SONS OF HEROES - PART THREE

​

FORT YULAREN, EASTERN WARFRONT,
NEW CARANNIA OUTSKIRTS, NIRAUAN (EARLY-877 ABY)

<"Munin is fine to call me, Wildcat,">​

Shrugging shoulders in amicable acceptance, Gowrie took a drag from his cigarra and inhaled as his feet kicked up onto the rim of the map-holographic plinth, thinking kindly on the informal approach, understanding fully that younger generations of soldiers and warriors alike were cut from a similar cloth under fire. And not only that, but Lord Aron also remembered his recent deployment to the Roon surface warfront, finding himself recalling how guilty he had been of the informal approach in the field, especially in remembering he had referred to both Byron Scott and Damian Muir by their first names in their encounters with the swarms of Moon Children there. The wildest engagements often brought such traits out in people, especially in the life-or-death situations Gowrie had survived over the years, and in this new war between the Imperials and the Chiss Expansionists, the need for dispensation with all the pomp and ceremony would be welcomed and adhered to accordingly.

<"My warriors and I are aiming to capture a hill from the blue devils, Wildcat. We won't hold back, though I expect your soldiers to be right behind us before the situation becomes dire.">

<"Rest assured, they're poised, an' ready to spring out from what our strategists back home call,"The Cover of Conventional Behaviours". All armoured elements with us have the trick down.... Putting it simply, we behave like armoured-battalions ought to - until we don't. Gowrie out!">​

The Kellas wished very much to go against the nature of the ancient, extinct big-cat his epithet was taken from, and in continuation of his, yet in the self-acknowledgement of the times he had done so already, Lord Aron would let nature take it's course on the matter. Letting himself become acclimatised to the new breed of Imperial soldiering stock, their habits, their humour and their ways, Gowrie was already enjoying what such a decision would mean for the tentative loyalty of the Woads who walked north to serve in his armoured-infantry division, already smiling in the anticipation of the chances to immerse deeper into the most thrilling aspects of warfighting; or at least, the aspects of the experience that thrilled the Kellas the most, such that allowed him to tap into the fury of the Tuaths to reach peak-effectiveness under fire. That fury of his people, as much as his subordinates relied on it before, would be needed again that day, especially if it was the best way to keep the Kellas at the peak of his decisiveness.

The Wildcats had dropped extra local manpower to a few settlements in their bid to escape the notice of any potential surprise attacks, keeping their flanks covered every step of the way as the infantry worked to keep the convoy of MLVs and repulsorlift technicals from incurring any losses on their way westward, but when everyone in Lord Aron's ACV were able to see what was going on, the crewmen would be met with an infuriating backdrop of burning coastal-settlements and sky-high smoke trails. From smile to snarl in an instant, Gowrie sneered at the sight for a moment before growling,'Stop the vehicle.... I said stop the vehicle, for feth's sake! PUNCH THE BR-', until the driver eventually hit the brakes and let the Brigadier-General open the slide door to stand outside. Mulgrew followed, along with the MG-turret's magazine-loader, and as they eventually caught up to Lord Aron as he paced out in front of the column, the Tuaths' leader came to a quick decision - albeit one that was spurred into aggravation by that same burning rage on which his kinsmen relied.

'So what's the pl-'

<"Column riflemen, this is Gowrie! Of every platoon we brought southward, I want you to attach rocket-launcher roles to one operator from each fire-team.... Lets give these bastards the New Harnaidan treatment, lets bleed them dry - just like your predecessors did to the Sith-Loyalists. Wildcat One out!">​

'The plan, you ask?'

As he started walking westward again, Lord Aron angrily continued,'Simple.... We give these bastards a dose o' the fear, as it just so happens to be the only plan I give a remote feth about now.', before turning round to snatch the SA-65 from the magazine-loader's hands, proving it's safety with simple skill-at-arms checks and assuring confirmations from the young Corporal before shoving him back towards the ACV with silent instruction to grab another. Gowrie's two first candidates for roles among Gowrie's personal guard-detail would have no trouble in catching up and keeping pace with their Brigadier-General, assuming the Kellas to be cut from the same cloth as the Lord-Regent as he concluded,'If the Chiss Expansionists would challenge us with smoky towers of death, our only fitting response - is a BLACK CAULDRON!!!!', picking up pace as his two new acquaintances kept pace with him.

<"Column riflemen, this is Gowrie! Confirming implementation of asymmetric doctrine, so we need to hit them hard today. Only way now, you don't need me to tell you what the smoke means.... Standby - advance!">​

 

[FN-999]

Spoiler: Theatre Map

Recent Actions​

• Withdrawal of left flank under Lt. Col. (Lieutenant Colonel) Silvertongue continues​
• Operation Pipeline enters Phase II​
  • Center divisions under Lt. Col. Bigfoot and right flank divisions under Lt. Col. Bozo rapidly advance on Commands 2 and 3​
  • CAS (Close air support) request issued to allied air/spacecraft​

N I N E S

Featured above: Interior of Repulsorlift MCC "Initiator"
​

Operation: Phalanx
Operational Support: 709th / Aerys Fortan / Amiggie Lutih | Goidels / DECEASED Aron Gowrie | | 313th / Asanté Tsilor
Opposing: 1st Chiss Expeditionary Army under Faraak

An artillery shell slammed into the nearby ground with a resounding thump far too close for comfort.
​

[Bigfoot, this is Nines. How's your center line holding?]

After about five seconds of static, a response came through.

[Nines, this is Bigfoot. The traitors have us locked in place. They seem to be trying to keep us just occupied enough to not reinforce Silvertongue. Casualties are light so far, and I think we can hold them off until the next phase of the operation kicks in.]

[Understood. Do you think you could hold the line for just five more minutes? I'll relay the order as I complete divisional reports.]

[I can do that. Furthermore, I have nothing else to report. Bigfoot out.]

Clearly, time was of the essence.

[Golden Boy, this is Nines. Requesting an intel update.]

[Nines, this is Golden Boy. We suspect based on troop movements that the Chiss line is divided into three different commands which I'll label 1, 2, and 3. Command 1 appears committed to attacking Silvertongue's divisions, which are falling back as planned. Command 2 is skirmishing Bigfoot's divisions, but does not appear to be making any serious offensives. Command 3 is spreading itself out along Bozo's divisions and allied support, hindering our artillery. We suspect that Command 2 is the most cautious of the three, but lack further intel on any of the divisional commanders.]

[Understood, thank you.]

[Any time. Don't forget to hold the Goidels for their word on the drink. Oh! See if you can get them to send some babes my way. Everyone's just too serious around here.]

[I swear, if you weren't one of the best scouts in the Corps-]

[Don't be shy, you love me~]

[Nines, OUT.]

"Who would have thought that the biggest complaint of my time in senior command was the sheer amount of personalities I have to deal with." muttered FN-999. "At least when I was a captain, I could choose to ignore the eccentrics. Now, they always come with hundreds of subordinates as a package deal."

"Now, where was I."

"You were gathering intel and then you were going to deliver the order." recalled the second of the two techies.

"Thank you." replied FN-999.

[All allied air units, this is Nines. Requesting CAS ASAP.]

[All allied units in vicinity of Fort Yularen, this is Nines. Intel from Golden Boy's scouts suggest that Command 3, the hostiles on our right flank, are thinly spread. Furthermore, Command 1 on our left is committed to that flank and Command 2 is where the lightest engagement is occurring. Take this intel into account as the battle continues.]

[The moment is upon us.]

A deep sigh before the momentous occasion. High risk, high reward. But better than nothing.

{Spill.}

 

[Aerys Yvarro]

Fort Yularen, Nirauan - 877 ABY

FN-999 | Asanté Tsilor | Amiggie Lutih | DECEASED Aron Gowrie | Andro Stratus | Faraak Open to Interaction/Opposition​

"BLUE BASTARDS!" Cursed Aerys, "hold steady lads! Smiles, keep tight, watch for the artillery lass." The First Order-look-a-likes were pressed up onto the edges of their trench line. "We've got vehicles." Makuria explained as shoved a datapad at Aerys, "181st, 313th, 908th, hell we've got a company of the 173rd here too." The Thyrsian commented, "looks like we're aiming for some sort of pincher move, let's draw the Chiss towards us, give the boys a steady line to fire at."

"Get boys up to the top Yularen, call out the hits, where's the CAS?"

"It'll be here, not like we had any on Dosuun against the damn scales."

"Chiss ain't scales."

"No, yer right bout that, Chiss like to evaporate everything whereas the scales wanna gnaw on'em." The half-joke fell flat, Aery shrugged, "right then, back to shootin' I go."

Chiss incoming artillery and weapons fire had begun to impact the 709th. The Dosuunians dug in all the deeper into their trenches, an engineering detachment quick to set up sandbags, and deployed modular trench systems that Col. Rolf Amsel had developed back in the Great Galactic War. Heavier weapons with shield generators emerged atop the trenches, firing rapidly toward the Chiss' blitz. It wouldn't be long before they had reached the 709th's trenches, but until then they were determined to take as many of them out as they could.

< Iron One, to all units, we're going to try and draw their attention this way. >

Makuria fanned out the 709th to get a better range on their defenses against the incoming blues. The hope was to draw enough of the Chiss into the 709th's trenches and bury'em there. Parts of the 709th would then make their way out, up and over the trenches to head toward the power plant. Leaflets that littered the area only made it easier for the legion to get their footing in the mud. Crumpling them beneath their boots as the sound of blasters ripped through the air, crimson hues crossed the ground with promises of death awaiting their marks.

"Arma machis!" Mathur shouted with a gestured toward the mechanized infantry, "NEEDAN!"

The call for mortars to fire, their trajectory changed to make aim for the Chiss' mechanized infantry.

Aerys from the binocs in hand shouted, "pyr!"

 

[Tris]

Operation Knightfall
Nightdragon of the Chiss Ascendancy
Special Observer to the Chiss Reclamation

Allies: Sinestra
Enemies: Matma Bernu | Rakaan Horne
​

Tris leaped, no, flew through the air, her lightsabers a flurry batting blaster bolts aside and back into the ranks of the Imperials. She hadn't caught what the Dark Jedi had said, her Devil-Eyed gaze frozen on a Knight whose stance offered her a challenge. She landed less than a full meter from him, her battle skirt fluttering in the wind.

"I like your eyes," she said in her accented basic. This language was so nasally and thick, it felt like her tongue needed to swell to twice its size to get all the words out right.

"They spark with the fire of a Warrior." She pounced without another word and swung her right lightsaber in a wild upward arc trying to catch him unawares.

 

[Amiggie Lutih]

Everything felt like a blur, it always did when Ami was pumped up. The anticipation was eating Ami up with the Sarge ordering her to keep tight and watch for artillery strikes. She almost felt tempted to raise her fist in the air screaming: "Frack yes!" in response. Ami much rather dodge artillery shells then spend 14 hours a day patrolling the engine rooms back in the Shadow of Intent. Ami was heading into the void, fighting, surviving, doing what she was finally trained to do.

"Yeah! For the Empire and all that good chit can we go now?!" Ami asked through clenched teeth. She always found the fanaticism to be nothing but pure cringe. Yeah, Ami is happy to be fighting for the Empire but surely there were less embarrassing ways to display one's patriotism. More artillery strikes battered the unit but Ami remained close to the group as they rushed through the trenches. The massive explosions created small tremors that nearly tripped up Ami but she remained steady as they headed for their goal: The Power Plant.

Ami remained focused trying to picture this attack like one of her fights back at Ord Mantel. The Chiss reminded her of those skinny bastard types who relied on their speed to avoid getting hit. One shot across the jaw and they crumble like a House made out of cheap plywood. Flecks of dirt caused by one of the explosions hit Ami's helmet briefly obscuring her vision but she quickly wiped it off. The commander yelled out some more orders but once again she was speaking a different language.

"Am I in the Stormtrooper corps or the unemployment office?!" Ami thought as she looked to the rest of the group trying to follow suit. The mud made it difficult to get in position, but Ami saw the mechanized infantry heading straight for them. Ami fired just like the rest of the unit blaster bolts hitting their targets with absolute precision.

"Feels nice to be the center of attention!" Ami shouted through the explosions as she continued to shoot down her targets.

Aerys Fortan, FN-999, DECEASED Aron Gowrie , Andro Stratus , Asanté Tsilor , Faraak

 

[Aoki-Barran Mira]

O P P E R A T I O N - K N I G H T F A L L
O B J E C T I V E - T W O
N O - R E G R E T S . . .

Primary Objective: Take control of the station.
Secondary Objective: Attack Zodt with Sahar.
Location: Brask Oto Command Station.
Equipment: In biography.
Friendlies: The Empire.
Enemies: Chiss Restorationists.
Allies: Sahar
Hostiles: Sinestra

​

Aoki was shocked when the dark sider came right for her. But she retained her cool as he raised his lightsaber high and brought it down. She raised her katana to block. The shockwave that exploded from the swing sent her flying back. She put Utaken away mid-flight, using the Force to help her land elegantly on her feet.

She frowned beneath her visor. This was a powerful foe, like the Sith Lord she had fought with Agent Stark. She slipped into battle position, darting forward in a burst of Force Speed. As she returned to her opponent, she drew her katana, aiming her blow at his abdomen. As the blade was swung, electricity sparked and crackled. She had turned on Utaken's electrosword function.

If one blow did not land, she would strike again, and again. Her fighting style boasted years of training and experience. The sword strikes were simple, fast, and carried poise. She was just as capable of defense as offense, blocking as swiftly as she struck. Zodt would soon realize that kindness was not weakness.

 

[Hal Vaiken]

S A R G E
501st LEGION
IMPERIAL SPECIAL FORCES
SCAR SQUADRON
Margo Liaeris Gavyn Berand Lily Stevens

OPERATION: TRIDENT
Through the Canopy
​

A wide-open glade of yellow stalks of grass welcomed SCAR's approach towards the jammer's location. Dry bark peeled off the scarce trees dotting the area which lay in silence. At the furthest edge of the glade, the long antenna of the jammer protruded behind a small mound. Some of the Chiss' security element guarding the jammer had discarded the possibility of Imperials surviving the dropship, but most had grown more cautious than before such as the commander, who ordered his men to remain vigilant on their posts.

The quietness was unnerving, broken only by the bated breath inside your helmet and the soft, northern breeze caressing the tall stalks of dry grass. Minutes ago you were aboard a gunship piercing the sky through fire and soot, luxuries reserved for the infantry grunts in trenches. You are behind enemy lines, outnumbered and outgunned, with no method of extraction.

You are now in your element.

Red eyes concealed by camouflaged helmets stalk your wary advance into their turf. A silent hand gesture gives the order for the complete annihilation of the Imperials. From a well-disguised heavy repeater nest, charric bolts rip through the glade cutting and burning through meadow and soil. Your visor is lit ablaze by the barrage and if one vector of attack wasn't enough, another is opened up by a squad of Chiss soldiers directly on your right seeking to cut you down in a carefully-crafted 'L' shaped ambush.

The alarm is raised across the jammer's security units.

You're running out of time.​

 

[Orik Dakari]

Operation Phalanx
908th Legion, 303rd Forward Security Battalion, 1st Company, 1st Platoon, Section 1​

Location: Nirauan, Fort Yularen, Left Flank
Objective: Survive

Tags:
Mandos 16th Company (Centre): Alex Eldar Adenn Munin
709th (Right): Aerys Fortan Amiggie Lutih
Goidels (Armoured Reserve from Centre to Right): DECEASED Aron Gowrie
313th: Asanté Tsilor
Chiss: Faraak

Sergeant Orik Dakari ducked behind his makeshift barricade as another barrage of blaster fire soared past. Someone nearby screamed in pain before being drowned out by shellfire. Orik peeked over the lip of the barricade to take stock of the situation. Chiss armour was rolling forward, IFVs already deploying some infantry in preparation to close for assault despite the Imperials making a covered retreat.

It had been only a short while ago when the artillery barrage had struck the Fort, when Orik and his squad were being shifted to the motor pool's security line. The bombardment was comparatively short, and before the men of the Security Battalion could assist in moving away the wounded, orders came in from HQ: All 303rd personnel were to shift to frontline deployment and move to the north in preparation for an imminent attack. Orik's squad had been one of the first to reinforce the left flank, attached to the nearest assault battalion, but after a hard-fought initial contact, orders came in to begin an ordered withdrawal to the south.

What the hell is Command playing at?

"Sarge, three armoured vehicles advancing, dead ahead!" One of his men, also sheltering behind the barricade, called out.

Orik looked in the direction and saw three Chiss IFVs breaking from tree cover, slewing slightly to his left, chasing the wake of the Imperials that had withdrawn from the sector on the left. Although Orik's squad was among the group meant to cover their retreat, they were dangerously close to being outflanked on a local level and overrun. Artillery support was busy duelling the enemy's big guns, and what remaining support was stretched to the limit. Orik could not even call for help if he wanted.

"Al! Get the launcher up!" He called. The younger soldier, barely out of vocational training, stumbled forward from his position to Orik's barricade. The Harbinger launcher had seen heavy use this day, and after its previous user, having been hurled ten feet in the air from artillery, its auto-feed system was broken. They would have to manually cycle the Harbinger.

"Jes, support him while I set up covering fire." The soldier that had spotted the IFV nodded and moved over to Al to load the launcher.

Orik keyed his comms.

"1-8 to 1-1, are you set up?"

"This is 1-1, Ewale is set up," the corporal of the Repeater Blaster team comm-ed back.

"On my mark, suppressive fire from the Repeater and small arms on the advancing vehicles, 10 O'Clock of your position. Get anyone else in your barricade to lay it on."

"Roger, 1-1 out."

Orik repeated the order for the fireteam to his left.

"This is 1-2, Snip is down, and so is the stormie with us."

They're not going to lay down enough fire for the missile team to shift over to them.

Orik keyed a shared frequency.

"1-1, 1-2, on my mark, both teams will lay down covering fire."

Orik reloaded his blaster.

"Al, Jes, shift left to 1-2 once we start shooting."

They nodded, apprehension on their faces.

"Mark!"

Soldiers on the barricades on both sides popped out from cover, firing a steady pattern into the Chiss formation. Orik joined in from his central barricade, and he thought he saw several dismounted Chiss fall to the gunfire.

Al and Jes leaped from cover, dashing to the left. One of the IFVs must have spotted them, as heavy gunfire cut Al down, with Jes falling as a blaster bolt caught her in one of her legs. Al fell, the launcher slipping from his grasp into the churned earth.

"Chit! Jes, are you up!?"

Though she did not respond on the comms, Orik saw the trooper slowly roll on her side away from the Chiss advance to avoid another salvo of blaster fire.

Orik's mind raced. If he wanted, he could call 1-3, the last unengaged fireteam in his Section, to move forward to reinforce, but he knew that fireteam was one bound to the rear for a good reason: to cover their own retreat once the retreating group on the left set up a new defensive position.

One of the IFVs fired its main cannon, and the blast almost blew apart Orik's barricade. There was little other choice. He had to displace left and scoop up the launcher, and to do that, 1-3 had to move up.

"1-3, move up to my position. 1-1 and 1-2, cease suppressive fire and recharge," he tersely ordered. To their credit, the fireteams obeyed at once, with the MPs of 1-3 vaulting over their barricade and towards Orik. As they dove into cover beside him, Orik explained the plan.

"We understand, boss," Corporal Qell nodded.

Orik looked over the barricade. The IFV team was getting dangerously close. At this rate, if they were not taken out right now, their success would embolden the rest of the Chiss to make a break for it all at once.

"Section 1 fireteams, prepare for another round of suppressive fire. On my mark... mark!" Orik dashed out from cover, adrenaline pumping through him. He dove into the mud beside Jes as blaster bolts blew past him. The wounded soldier could only groan in recognition.

"We'll get out of here, just hang in there," Orik reassured her as he pulled out the missiles strapped to her back, but his words rang hollow in his ears.

Focus on the task.

Orik slowly crept forward on his belly, praying that a stray bolt would not pierce his guts. His low profile and the increased suppressive fire kept the Chiss from targeting him, and he pulled the launcher from its resting place on the ground towards himself before continuing the slow crawl to the left barricade.

After an agony that lasted seconds, Orik made it into cover.

"Rine, support," he gasped, getting up to a crouch and checking if the launcher was still loaded. The Private nodded and slung his blaster, taking position behind Orik and preparing to cycle the missiles by hand.

Orik looked around the side of this left-hand side barricade. The IFV, on a diagonal movement, was now cutting past the front of the barricade, and much closer than before. It was now or never.

Orik took a deep breath and hauled the Harbinger launcher up onto his shoulder as he popped up from cover.

"Back blast clear! Missile away!" he yelled, before squeezing the firing mechanism. At this range, he did not require a lock-on. The missile roared forth, covering the distance in seconds. Before it even reached the target, Rine had already slotted the second missile into the housing.

"Ready!"

"Missile away!" A second roar and a second warhead streaked downrange. The IFVs deployed some sort of countermearsures, sending some sort of sparks into the air, but at this distance, it was too little, too late. Both missiles impacted, penetrated, and detonated inside the IFVs, sending up two fireballs of smoke and metal.

There was no time for celebration. The third IFV was obscured by the flaming wrecks of the other two and was blindly firing. Already Orik was making use of the confusion of the Chiss, hauling Jes and Al with the help of Rine back to the next defensive line while 1-1 and 1-3 poured rounds downrange. The Chiss were still getting too close for comfort, and 1-3 had to expand several detonators to scatter Chiss infantry support, stranding the third IFV as it did not want to be caught alone with another Harbinger missile up its tailpipe.

By the time 1-1 and 1-3 had also leapfrogged to rejoin Orik at the next defensive line, this one slightly uphill and with tree cover, a platoon of IFVs and their infantry squads were breaking from cover with a tank in support.

It's really one thing after the other, Orik muttered, loading another set of missiles into the launcher.

Spoiler: Map summary

Blue chiss streaming into gap
Black lines are barricades
Grey boxes represent Imperial units
Red circle is where the action is

​