Attack Of The Dead Sith - Razing Mandalore | TSE Dom of Mandalore

[Darth Carnifex]

The first blow had been struck.

Moving fast, the Sith Empire had launched a fierce assault upon the Mandalorian crownworld of Mandalore, intent on bringing the Clans to their knees. Through the sacrifices of heroes, the Sith assault was stymied and ground to a bitter standstill.

Mandalore remains a pitched battlefield, warships clogging the ashen sky while fragmented armies battle one another on ruined plains and in dessicated forests.

Sundari is a blasted hearth, the explosion that engulfed the Royal Palace having considerably damaged the outer dome. Most of it has collapsed into the cityscape beneath it, creating a claustrophobic labyrinthe of melted stone and twisted metal. In amidst the ruins the armies of the Sith and Mandalorian fight to the death, every city block made a fortress, and every street a killing field.

Strategy has given way to instinct, battle formations crumbling away as the two opposing forces intermingled in the smoldering carcass of Mandalore’s greatest city.

Even as the battle continued to rage, each side locked in a struggle where neither holds the advantage, a new flotilla of warships burst out of hyperspace to join the beleaguered Sith invaders. Known as the Spear-Strike Doctrine, the Empire had thrust its blade deep into Mandalore and now the second wave had arrived to solidify what the first had gained. Thousands of gun galleys rushed to supplement the engaging Sith destroyers, hundreds of fighters disgorged from swollen carriers.

The Behemoth, smoking from a dozen minor wounds, again turned its superlaser against the weakened planetary shield. This second blast was strong enough to shatter the shield once and for all, a rippling effect cascading across the blotted Mandalorian sky as the shield failed across the entire planet.

Now was the time to deliver the final blow.

Burn Sundari: The epicenter of the Sith’s assault on Mandalore, Sundari has suffered the worst damage in the entire battle. Reduced to a ruin, the Sith and Mandalorians still fight over the political and symbolic capital of the United Clans, neither side giving ground as they mercilessly kill one another in a bloody stalemate. With the arrival of Sith reinforcements, the time has come to push the advantage and burn this petulant city to the ground. The Emperor, last seen in the now destroyed palace, has yet to respond to any attempts to reach him via communication.

Crush Resistance: Sundari is besieged and New Keldabe rests in flames, but they were not the only cities affected by the Sith’s invasion. Every settlement on Mandalore has become a fortress, the Mandalorians desperately clinging to every building in their defiance against the Lords of the Sith. Overrun their cities, destroy all who oppose you. There are no innocents among the Mandalorians.

BYOO: You know the drill.

 

[Lyris Vyrehl]

With: -----​

Location: Sundari​

Soundtrack: Disturbed "Liberate"​

​

Perched on the smouldering ruins of what once was a reputable mechanic’s garage in the capital, a cold grey gaze swept across the destruction that had already been wrought upon Mandalore’s capital city. Guarded by a helmet, the HUD tracked a number of objectives below her while a scroll off to one side contained the feed of the current situation as it was reported in and disseminated. The woman frowned, and sighed with no little amount of disappointment.

Lyris had sent word to other Mandalorians exiled by their so-called ‘brethren’ for the simple ability to wield the Force when the invasion had been ordered. Some had been able to find swift passage to join the assault, others had been too far off across the starlanes to be able to return in time to take their revenge. They would bide their time, she had no doubt, and be instrumental in rooting out whichever of the heathens survived.

One in particular she had heard of, E’vi, formerly of Clan Ordo, had lost her son when the Mandalorians had self-righteously slaughtered so many innocents on Dathomir. She had been entirely too happy to hear that Mandalore was in ruins and had vowed to assist in the aftermath as she could not make it in time for the assault.

How had they become so blindly misguided? Lyris had several opinions on the matter, and none of them flattering or even remotely sanitizable enough to be mentioned in anything approaching polite company.

It didn’t matter anymore. The order had been given, the destruction had been wrought, and the slaughter of those who didn’t deserve the name Mandalorian any longer continued.

A brief scratch of static came across her comm and she lofted a brow as it took a moment to resolve. “...repeat, Vyrehl, status report…”

“Vyrehl here. Section eight is clear. Moving on to sweep nine. Need me somewhere else, over?”

“As you were. We’ve had more reports of resistance in that area. Watch your six. Base two out.”

For the first time that day, Lyris smiled, leaping down from her perch and engaging the minor thrusters in her boots to ease her landing. It was the work of a moment to run her gloved hands across her weapons, the shatterblasters on each hip, the beskar knives in thigh sheaths, and the beskads crossed on her back. Armed and armored, the woman was ready.

It was time to hunt.

 

[Corran Watts]

Partners In Crime: [member="Lyris Vyrehl"]​

Whereabouts: Sundari​

​

Corran was out of his element. He did not know how to react to what was going on around him. He had never been part of a real fight yet alone a raging war. Explosions scared him, made him jump, the dead bodies strewn around him would forever be burned into his mind. He fumbled with the Autokrator Rifle in his hands as they trembled. He was not ready for this. He had, of course, volunteered to come on this mission but he had only recently joined the Academy. They had warned him against it but he was eager to prove himself. He wanted to be taken seriously but now all he wanted was to go back to his little dorm room and cry himself to sleep.

An explosion made him flinch and he dropped his rifle as people around him yelled. They had seemed excited that a Sith had joined their ranks, at first, but quickly they realized he was but a boy and he did not even have a lightsaber. The rifle looked goofy in his hands and he barely knew how to shoot the thing. Quickly, he bent over and picked the rifle up, and he inspected it. By inspected he meant that he looked at it and then looked around him again. The worst part was, they were in a clear sector, he had arrived as all the fighting had died down. How was he going to get through this? He had nothing to do with what was happening on this planet. He barely even knew what a Mandalorian was, even more, he was not holding any type of grudge against them with enough energy to raze their planet.

Corran thrust himself against a wall and he sunk down to his butt with the rifle propped up on his knees. Heavy breathing was all he knew as he cradled his gun.

You have to fight.

The words echoed in his head and his eyes snapped open. Taking a deep breath he tried to move forward but he just could not. He heard the sound of thrusters and he snapped his head as a woman, who seemed to be a much cooler head, landed beside him. He wished he could be like her, she showed no fear as she landed, she seemed to be embracing what was happening while he was curled into a corner. He closed his eyes again and he buried his head in shame as he realized he was not cut out for this.

 

[Salara Zambrano]

​

​

A new wave of soldiers would descend upon Mandalore, as the Sith renewed their intent to wipe those who swore fealty to the Infernal from the face of the galaxy. The fight had been bitter, brutal as it came to a standstill with Sundari stained red with the blood of both Legionnaire and Mandalorian alike. Her sons and husband had last been seen around the palace and Salara had no doubt that Kaine was at the heart of the destruction. She whispered sweet words in Epicant, a prayer - a chant, for while she knew that Kaine refused to simply die. The Empress was also aware of how destructive these battles could be.

Her shuttle would land as close to the grounds as possible, and in what must have seemed to be a rare appearance. An Empress of the Sith Empire had taken to the battlefield, dressed in the Royal Sith Armor with the cloak dyed an abyssal black. Salara withdrew her lightsaber and slayed the first Mandalorian who dared to attack her. An outstretched hand as she readied her lightsaber for battle in the other. "The Emperor and my sons are there, find them - now!" The Epicanthix ordered whilst she marched forward her boots crushed the dirt and debris beneath their weight.

She would find Kaine, for out of all the wives - she held the strongest bond with him.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Lyris Vyrehl]

With: [member="Corran Watts"]
Location: Sundari
Soundtrack: Disturbed "Liberate"

The commotion below her hadn't gone entirely unnoticed. The sensors built into her armor had taken stock of it, and she tilted her head slightly to one side as she settled her helmeted gaze on the boy curled up against a wall that was partially collapsed into rubble.

And he was a boy, a relatively young one at that, his posture screaming that he'd never seen a battlefield before, as the slight tremors of his hands gave rise to her belief that he'd never even held a weapon, much less a relatively advanced rifle akin to the one he had loosely grasped. A stream of curses escaped her lips, words that would make even a drunken Hutt blush, as her hands rose and removed her helmet. Who in their right mind had let this child onto the dropship, nevermind let him off of it?

She would have words for whoever it was later...for now, though the section was clear, it wasn't safe for him to remain where he was, and her overprotective streak was kicking up something fierce.

With a softness to her voice most of her friends wouldn't have thought her capable of, Lyris crouched down beside him, one hand cradling her helmet, the other waving the others off to continue the patrol. "You got a name, kid? Didn't think they were letting any of the apprentices go out alone down here...who's your Master?"

 

[Amaya Cardei]

Led by Colonel Dido, the 421st Crimson Lance had finally touched down on what was now a raging ball of fire. They had been informed that [member="Kaalia Pavanos"], Darth Avacyn had last been seen near the palace grounds. The loyal legion unfortunately landed outside the city which meant they had to push forward. Landing zones near the palace had been reserved for those looking for the Emperor and his family. Dido called in for walkers and tanks, the sector was secure and she turned to see as a small outpost began to form around the landing zone.

Meanwhile Colonel Tarkin and the 173rd Black Talons found themselves dug in. Firing upon the Mandalorian forces that they were slowly whittling away. He turned a moment to peer over the makeshift trench and fired his shot landed beside his intended target. "Chit," the man cursed and looked up to see reinforcements were on their way. He thanked the Force for the Sith's determination. He got on comms, and sent word to Darth Arcanix, [member="Taeli Raaf"], "mi'lady we'll attempt another go around."

He switched to make contact with the Rift Mages, and watched as they tore through the skies bombs at the ready.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

​

​

Darkness.

A dull roar droned incessantly.

Memories flashed before his eyes, blue fire, the floor beneath his feet giving way, a rush of air, and then nothing. He wasn't dead, he knew what that was like, this was different. He was still alive, just... Stuck. He attempted to move his right arm, it operated well enough. His left wasn't working so well, a jagged piece of bone sticking out from broken and bruised skin. With an exertion of effort he brought his right arm over to jam the bone back into place so that mending could commence.

Without the bral to dampen him, his powers were gradually returning to their full potential.

So he reached up to the tonnes of rock and debris pinning him to the floor, and demanded it rise. It took some time and more than a little effort, but limb by limb he freed himself from what otherwise would've been his tomb. His pelvis and legs had been completely shattered in the fall, and though they would mend in time he would be indisposed until then. His armor's components had also been damaged, not just from the fall but from the fierce fight the prefaced it. He had no way of reaching his followers above him, no way to hone them in on his location.

He sat there, propping himself up against one of the mine walls as he listened intently to the sounds of battle raging above. The Dark Side flowed through him, fed by the death and destruction wrought by the Sith's attack, and he began to meditate, to let the frigid chill of the Dark wash over and through him.

It would take time to regain his strength.

[member="Salara Zambrano"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

​

​

“There you are. Best spring water around here. Heh,” Morgan chuckled, watching as the younger man nearly drowned himself drinking from the offered jug. “Want me to fill the pitcher again?”

A thin fellow, his skin burned to a bark by the sun, Sullivan hesitantly parted the pitcher from his parched lips and gave it back to Morgan’s hulking hands. It was a chilly day at the farm, the sun still low, but neither Mandalorian seemed to mind.

“I could have another.” Sullivan flashed a grin.

The grey-haired farmer gently pushed the jug under the water pump and filled it with more fresh, clean liquid. An old-timer, he believed in helping those in need and held hospitality sacred. Unlike so many others, Morgan had not felt the impact of the Sith empire. He had his crops and three hungry maws that needed tending. While others fought and died for their beliefs, he wished to live and die in peace, away from any sort of violent conflict.

“Did you think about my offer?” Sullivan inquired while thirstily eyeing the water. There was an awkward pause before Morgan spoke up, voice rough, eyebrows falling into a deep frown.

“I’m a farmer and father of three.” He practically shoved the jug toward Sullivan to further accent the dismissal of whatever the two had discussed earlier.

“You’re a Mandalorian, ner vod,” the younger man retorted between gulps. “An excellent soldier and--“

“But that was a long time ago,” Morgan scoffed and shook his head. “My wife was alive and I was a younger man. A much younger man.” He shrugged and wistfully looked over the farm. The fields had to be plowed. The electric fence surrounding them, too, needed to undergo repairs to keep the wildlife away at night. “Life goes on. Things change. People change.”

“Listen,” Sullivan started, voice fraught with urgency. “You know this land better than anyone. An experienced scout like you could easily slip past the Sith.” His hands reached under the woolen fabric of his cloak, pulling out a small, flat item, and held it in between them. “This datacard has it all. Sith supply routes, fortifications, their numbers, details about their strategy and attack patterns. You can spread this data about without arousing suspicion. Give our people a fighting chance.”

Pale blue gaze dug into the datacard and for a moment Morgan gave the impression of actually thinking it over. “No, no,” the farmer ultimately threw his arms up before folding them across his chest. “Sorry, I don’t want to have anything to do with it.”

A disappointed nod and Sullivan set the jug down.

“I understand. But remember. You’d be doing it for your children. And your children’s children. Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not.” Sullivan reminded, arching an eyebrow. Morgan’s gaze did not relent. With a shrug, the younger man turned around and started back through the farm.

Morgan’s ice blue eyes followed the Mandalorian all the way to the fence. Sullivan was a patriot, one of many who had decided to resist and fight. In a way, the dark-skinned man reminded Morgan of himself in his younger days. A warrior who lived for great deeds, honor, glory. Remembering those times pushed nostalgic tears into his eyes. Silently cursing under his breath and shaking his head in disbelief over what he was about to do, Morgan started after the rebel.

“Sullivan!”

His voice echoed over the land, followed by the thudding sound of rushing footsteps.

“Give me the datacard.”

 

[Corran Watts]

Partners In Crime: [member="Lyris Vyrehl"]​

Location: Cryin in the corner, Sundari​

​

You have to fight!

The words continued to echo in his head as he tried his hardest to open his eyes and stand up. To be a man! No matter how hard he tried, though, he could not remove himself from his position. The sounds of battle were jarring and he was too afraid. The fear consumed his every fiber and took control of his body keeping him in place. He was going to die a coward. He thought back to Kabaira, how he was able to always muster the courage to keep going, but he could not latch on to that feeling now. The only thing he knew was that he was going to die and he was going to do it with tears streaming down his face.

A voice rang out and his eyes snapped open as he looked up and saw the woman from before. Her voice was soft, kind, almost the complete opposite of what was going on around him. There was a calming nature to her, something that seemed to keep the fear at bay, the fact that she was so calm and collected made him want to be calm and collected as well. "C....Corran," He managed to get his name out through cracks in his voice. For a moment, he was able to keep the fear at bay, something about her being near him made him feel safe. In the back of his head, though, it was still there. Trying to claw its way passed his temporary calm with ferocity. "I, uh, don't have one yet." He managed to shift his positioning a bit and sat up a little straighter and gripped the rifle a little bit tighter. He had not realized it before, but, the sword on his hip was digging into his side.

"Well, they weren't, but I volunteered to come alone." A stupid notion he wished he could have gone back in time and changed, but this was what he had to deal with now, and there was no changing it. "Pretty stupid, right?"

He managed a small chuckle, trying to hide his fear, and keep it at bay. The longer she was around the more he felt courage coming up inside of him. He placed the rifle by his side and managed to get onto one knee. "I can still help." The determination was beginning to come back every so slowly. "Just..... just tell me what to do. No one told me what to do, if I have some sort of direction, maybe I can get rid of my cowardice."

 

[Rach'ta]

Location: Sundari City, Surface of Mandalore
Tags: -

---

Rach'ta had followed the Sith invasion fleet by stowing away in a trooper transport vessel, part of the reinforcements to the Battle for Mandalore. He had done this by attempting to blend in as just another eccentrically dressed acolyte, hoping his appearance was enough of a cover to keep the odd trooper from questioning his purpose. It had worked out well enough. None of the troopers seemed interested in talking with him, most likely to keep from running afoul of some social protocol that Rach'ta was also ignorant of. As the transport landed and the troopers rushed out of the transport the Twi'lek followed close behind to see where they were going. It had been some time since Rach'ta communed with the Force which in turned limited his visions to quick flashes of picture. A blaster bolt, fire, lightsaber blades, nothing that seemed out of the ordinary for the Sith conquests.

It was then that he noticed a the front rank of troopers hiding behind rubble, then there was a flash of light. Rach'ta had been thrown to the ground by a jetpack missile launched from a Mandalorian skirmisher, it seemed that there was trooper where the blast had hit nearest to. The trooper's face was obscured but his form was motionless. As Rach'ta pushed himself up with shaking arms he felt a strong hand on his upper right arm "Are you alright?" asked a Trooper who hoisted Rach'ta to his feet "Where is your lightsaber?" he seemed energized from the combat. Keen senses that Rach'ta, even as a Force User, did not have. The kind only truly received through experiencing war first had, not trivial battles "I..." Rach'ta spoke hoarsely as another explosion made itself known near their position "Get him to cover!" commanded the trooper to a pair of others which grabbed Rach'ta by the shoulders and tugged him into a blast hole "My lord, are you injured?" asked one of the troopers while his partner checked over the Twi'lek for injuries "You're lucky the Captain was near! We thought you had died from the blast."

 

[Invicta Zambrano]

With: [member="Salara Zambrano"]
Seeking: [member="Darth Carnifex"] & Serin Zambrano
Location: Sundari
Soundtrack: Disturbed "Liberate"

There was a large contingent of soldiers surrounding the shuttle the Empress Salara had stepped out of, some of whom broke away to find a formation around her as she strode through the rubble of the Sundari outskirts. Resplendent in her armor, she was a sight to behold as she whispered quietly and settled her senses to find Kaine. Invicta watched her for several moments, gauging how best to approach without interrupting her efforts when Vylythis appeared briefly at her side.

"Empress." the young woman said quietly, ever polite and proper even in the light of the current situation.

"Vylythis...I...am pleased to see you safe. Have you...have you had any word of Serin?" Invicta asked, turning and maintaining her serenity as she took careful visual stock of her eldest daughter and barely resisted the urge to wrap her up in a tight embrace. She cast a flicker of Force sense over her child and assured herself of what her eyes told her, clearing her throat as she waited for a reply.

For her part, the young woman nodded and waited, knowing her mother's custom and giving her the breath and space to do as she needed. "Her armor was last sensed here in the vicinity of the palace before the explosion took it down. I have not found anything more...but I will keep looking."

Unbending enough to allow her mother a brief hug, Vylythis squeezed her tightly before disappearing into the shadows once more to her familial duty, and to that which the Valkyries would demand of her that day.

Blinking, Invicta watched her slip away and her hands tightened into fists in the moments it took her to regain her composure. She breathed deeply, the acrid air searing her lungs and bringing her back to the other matter at hand. She forced her hands to relax and busied them with smoothing out the fitted black leather that enveloped her frame. Where Salara was impeccably armored, Invicta was not. She chose the freedom of movement that the finely crafted leather offered, and the protection that her Force-imbued hybrid body gave her.

Striding forward, she wordlessly joined Salara as they stalked with purpose toward the ruined palace.

 

[Kascalion Giedfield]

***Location: Sundari, Mandalore
Objective: Find the Emperor
Star Date: c. 859, before Mandalorian Invasion of Kashyyyk
Allies: [member="Salara Zambrano"] | [member="Invicta Zambrano"] | TSE
Enemies: Mandalorians
Themex)***

Mandalore. Kascalion had never been to this planet and only knew of what occurred here via second hand information from his sibling who had just retired to their suite on the Ruthless Vanguard, attempting to reconcile with what had occurred. The sky burned alive with engine flames and fumes of ruin. A prosperous planet reduced to another site for Sith control. Kascalion could not speak up on the matter, however. He was a Sith, a fact second only to his own people who too wandered the Galaxy or awaited his inevitable return back home.

Yet, he could not deny that it was a harsh outcome that the warrior people had suffered at the hands of the Sith, losing many heroes and many soldiers. The Ashen Devil felt for them and even grieved for them. Such wanton violence. For what? Conquest? Destruction? Sheer pleasure? Punishment? Such things were best left to barbarians of this galaxy. Not a faction that espouses a dark regality.

Kascalion wondered these things as he wandered through the smoke and ashes and burning debris dotting the fields outside Sundari, gazing through the cityscape on the horizon with a burning stare. Every now and again, the Ashen Devil would grant merciful deaths to all the Mandalorians and even the Sith and Imperial Soldiers that struggled and crawled towards hopeful shelter and havens or even fellow survivors. A simple slice of the throat with his vibroknife spared many from the suffering they would have endured had any other found them.

And as such, it was clear to the Ashen Devil that the fighting here would not stop, and the suffering would not cease, until the planet was razed entirely to a desert of blood and desolation, an event that he wanted no true part in. Thus, Kascalion was mere seconds away from contacting the Ruthless Vanguard to send a new shuttle to pick him up when he heard the words of the Emperor's wife, Salara Zambrano.

"The Emperor and my sons are there, find them - now!"

The Devil Lion sighed heavily and turned to where the voice had carried out over the sounds of despair. You are just going to have me stay here aren't you? Can't let me leave. Fine. Let's have it then. Dust of a hundred burning, charred, sunken buildings pelted the Devil Lion's ashen skin as he moved towards the source, the residue stinging his eyes as he refused to blink or even cover his face with his hands.

He simply marched. And marched. And marched, crushing chunks of metal and wood under his feet in apathy, almost catatonia, avoiding all contact with the Mandalorians where possible and simply incapacitating those that he did encounter. He was not seeking to kill anyone beyond those that were already near death, such as those that crawled through the field. Sundari, and perhaps Mandalore itself, was, for all intents and purposes, a devastated place that would require years before it returned to normalcy, if that was even a possible thing. Kascalion pondered the logistics of this planet's rebuilding procedure until the Empress of the Empire came into view, fighting with the Mandalorians and apparently leading an attempt to locate the Emperor and his sons.

"Empress Salara," Kascalion greeted, emotionless. "My sibling, Darth Raptious, has sent me in their place to aid in whatever way I can. I assume you are searching for your husband? May I be of assistance?"

 

[Salara Zambrano]

It didn't take long for [member="Invicta Zambrano"] to join Salara, with what had been Force-dampening technology gone. Salara focused on the bond with Kaine with Invicta and the soldiers beside her she could focus. Wordlessly she began to march in the Emperor's direction, at the same time she could sense her sons however faint their presence might be. She took solace in their presence knowing that her sons would still be alive. The palace grounds slowly came into view, as the cacophony of battle sounded around them the Sith's reinforcements landed and would now begin their push through Sundari.

Mandalorians who held little regard for their own life rushed forward and were quickly met with death. The Dark Side would grow stronger across the city, strong enough to choke the light from this world whatever may remain. Dust soiled crimson with the speckled char of brunt machines and flesh scattered before them. A quick application of the Force saw the debris move from before her path. "Take the left, I'll take right." She remarked without moving to see the charging Mandalorians. A soft touch to the Force itself like a ripple in the pond this would let [member="Darth Carnifex"] know that his wives were on their way.

It was as she turned to deal with an approaching horde someone had approached, "slay the Infernal's dogs." Salara's orders to the man who presented himself. She knew not of Darth Raptious, nor at this moment did she care. There were only those who fought with the Sith and for her husband, and those who would die by their hands, her hands. She said little else to him as the sound of shells whistled through the air. Salara redirected the shell back from whence it came. "You may offer but one reprieve - bend the knee, and if they refuse - kill them." A slight pause as she turned to the man in question, "might I have your name?"

Meanwhile caught in the debris of the palace and the surrounding grounds, Alvarex coughed - gasped for breath. His lungs burned and his body felt the betrayal of the ground collapsing beneath him. The Prince could feel the Force slowly return to him, he could also sense his father somewhere nearby and called out for him, "father, where are you?" He groaned in pain almost immediately his legs were trapped, pinned beneath a fallen pillar of the palace.

[member="Kascalion Giedfield"]

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

​

It all seemingly happened in a flash. While Darth Avacyn, with her apprentice Charlyra, worked to disable the Bral forts that had been dispatched around the Sundari palace, the structure came crashing down, along with everything around it. The very ground underneath the woman's feet crumbled and gave out and out of nowhere she found herself falling down into the mines below. Instinct kicked in and as she fell into the dark caverns she called upon the forces of wind, directing them around her to slow her fall.

Avacyn wasn't entirely unscathed, however. While she had avoided any crippling injuries, a small boulder which came crashing down faster than she did collided with her right shoulder shortly before hitting the ground. She had taken a few moments to recollect herself but something was clearly wrong with her shoulder. Though her first plan was to look for a way to climb back up to the surface, the thought was quickly abandoned. There was no way she was going to be able to.

There was another problem, too. As the Sith Lady ignited a flame in her left hand to grant herself some vision in the darkness, Charlyra was nowhere to be found. Reaching out in the Force yielded little result as well beyond a faint wisp of a presence, though it wasn't nearly enough to give her any kind of direction to her. They would have to find each other again, then seek a way out. Hopefully Charlyra wasn't in too bad of a condition.

[member="Charlyra Araano"]​

 

[Mordecai Zambrano]

Somewhere along the Kelita...


"These mosquitos are frakking disgusting. Thank the Emperor for armor, right?"

Sergeant First Class Lucius Beck gave a snort. "You're lucky you're in the bucket brigade, Maider. You ever been anywhere else with bug problems? I did a double rotation to Dantooine once. Laigreks they call them. Huge bugs with swords for arms, armored chitin, and they can breathe fire."

Private Brent Maider, the platoon's junior, shut up pretty quickly. He was content to listen to the stories of his Sergeants, letting their robotic voices take him out of the sleepy lull he'd been in. The mud sloshed and squished, nearly sending the Stormtroopers sinking down to their knees with each and every step. Despite being the Empire's finest and most elite, humping through the muck like this had been a terrible assignment. Maider's legs ached like nobody's business, and each step into the marsh lining the Kelita river gave more resistance than the last.

He couldn't keep quiet. The dull pain was too much.

"I-Is this," he grunted with strain, "Why they call this place Kelita? Ain't that moat in Mando'a?"

"Something like that." Captain Cale Dalledos chimed in from the rear. "You can't really tell from here, but it damn nearly surrounds the entire capital. I imagine many, many beings have lost their lives trying to cross this." His voice trailed off as the crackle of his radio interrupted the conversation.

Brent couldn't hear what was being said but he imagined it was important. The Emperor himself had personally came to Mandalore as well. The Expeditionary Corps was doing what it did best, though: slogging through mud and blood to ensure that all of the surrounding villages and cities submitted peacefully. The Mandalorians hadn't exactly taken a liking to that - and they terrified him more than the Emperor did. Nothing like walking through someone's home demanding things, with dozens of eyes locked onto your back, just waiting for you to slip up.

And they had no armor support. Or air support. Or anyone else besides a few medics and their radio operator.

Maider silenced his helmet's voice modulator to groan loudly. Join the Light Infantry, they said. It'll be fun! Adventure!

He pulled the brown, tattered cloak tighter to his frame. The chill seemed to magically seep through hermetic sealing. He'd already given up on playing with the enviro-controls, he'd already lost feeling in his toes about half an hour ago. At that thought, he stopped for a moment just to flex them, desperately attempting to work whatever blood he could into them.

Pins and needles responded, much to his dismay.

Thump. Something bumped into him.

"Private Maider. Please, for the love of all that is holy," a feminine voice came from behind, "Get your butt moving. We're almost there."

He jumped, willing his body to continue the march. "Yes, Corporal Forlin."

"Thank you. I will check your feet later, if that's what you're worrying about," the medic offered.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

​

​

The tunnels were lonely.

Darkness and isolation stretching out for kilometers in every direction, a labyrinthe of sorrows. Emperor Carnifex sat there, propped up against one of the mine walls, his bleeding and broken lower half slowly remending piece by piece, an agonizing snail's pace compared to the injuries he had sustained during the battle. Those had been surface-level wounds, more easily repaired than such deep cataclysmic damage that now afflicted him.

In his solitude he had time to think, to contemplate and reflect on all that had happened. For all he knew, Yasha Cadera was dead. Her life snuffed out by his own hand, his own blade piercing her heart without any hesitation or remorse. He had committed to what he had to do, and he knew that this path was the correct one. He told Yasha as much, to trust him one last time even though everything she was witnessing demanded that she do the opposite.

Absently he thumbed a small black gem that he kept in one of his armor's many reinforced pockets, having miraculously survived the conflagration that nearly consumed him. "Soon, very soon." He could sense his wives above him, so far above, searching the ruins of the palace for their Lord and Husband. He did not attempt to conceal himself, he allowed his power to exude up through the stone and metal to let all know that their Emperor yet lived.

"Come for me," He spoke upon the wind, "There is much yet that needs be accomplished. Mandalore must fall."

[member="Salara Zambrano"] | [member="Kascalion Giedfield"] | [member="Invicta Zambrano"]​

 

[Adriana Fortemps]

Tag: [member="Evelynn"], [member="Drachau Zambrano"]

Mandalore

Truth be told Jorryn had hoped never to take a step on this filthy little mud bowl. Mandalorians were a simple and barbaric people, a point easy enough to prove with a select few reports that always seemed to centre around this planet. The Echani had almost half been expecting to exit her vessel into a total nuclear wasteland, but somehow Mandalore managed to exceed that.

Sundari Palace lay completely ruined, reports of some sort of massive explosions coming from multiple sources. The Inquisitor rubbed her eyes as she realized how long it would be to get to the source after this.

But for now, she wasn't here as a field reporter. She had come as part of the reinforcements to slaughter whatever was left of the Mandalorians that though they could still hold against the might of the Empire, a task that she had come more than well equipped for. Calling the behemoth that stood behind the knight a person was an insult to even the lowest of xenos species, a thought that surprised even Jorryn.

"Well then Drachau...." The soft tone intentionally trailing off as she stared towards the beast, refusing to crane her neck to look it in the eyes as she did. "Go ahead."

The Inquisitor had never cared for clones or alchemic enhancements and yet the monster that had been given to her was an amalgamation of both. It sickened her somewhat, but truthfully it could prove to be her greatest asset. The Echani wasn't averse to combat, but if she could use something such as this for maximum results while minimizing her risk.

Well feth it, why not...

 

[Amaya Cardei]

Colonel Dido's troops pressed their attack on the southern front, by now the Sith arrived in en masse. Ferrata cruisers landed tanks, walkers and fast attack vehicles, just the same the Mandalorians would not yield so easily by now they had dug in. It was as if the Netherworld had unfolded its bloodiest battle yet monsters from the labs of one Darth Arcanix could be seen tearing the Mandalorians to shreds. Ahead of Dido, she could see two of the Emperor's children, his daughters and while Dido knew not their names. She could feel the darkness they represented their hands outstretched and while one summoned demons another manipulated the minds of those weak enough to be folded. "Crimson Lance, ADVANCE!" The woman shouted, her voice distorted by the modulator as the maroon and red armor that she wore glinted in the Mandalorian sun. "GIVE NO QUARTER! FOR THE EMPEROR! FOR AVACYN!"

The Mandalorians showed their strength when push came to shove, but the Sith would not be deterred. If anything it only strengthened their resolve that Mandalore would fall, and that they would have it. An orchestra of war surrounded the 421st just as it surrounded the 173rd, where they watched Darth Arcanix's personal TIE Wing deliver a deadly payload upon their targets. Giving Colonel Tarkin and his forces breathing room, seizing the opportunity the Black Talons charged the lines. Vibrobayonettes found purchase in between the gaps of beskar plates, a flag bearer planted the Sith Empire's banner into the ground while another tossed a thermal detonator into what had been a machine gun nest.

[member="Kaalia Pavanos"] | [member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Kascalion Giedfield]

***Location: Sundari, Mandalore
Objective: Find the Emperor
Star Date: c. 859, before Mandalorian Invasion of Kashyyyk
Allies: Salara Zambranohttp://starwarsrp.net/user/16626-salara-zambrano/http://starwarsrp.net/user/16626-salara-zambrano/ | Invicta Zambranohttp://starwarsrp.net/user/4044-invicta-zambrano/ | TSE
Enemies: Mandalorians
Themex)***

Kascalion turned to the Empress and watched coldly, perhaps with a tinge of regret, as she cut down the Mandalorians effortlessly. Already had they suffered, they still suffered. He had only just decided not to kill anyone beyond those in the field, but now, he had to. It was a frigid feeling he held in his heart, but nothing would stop him from completing the orders of his Empress on this day, even though he'd rather be asleep or drinking coffee.

"My name is Kascalion Gieldfield, otherwise known as Darth Kredge, although I despise that name. I despise most nomenclature given to me, but...such is life. Regardless, Kascalion works best for most conversations, My Lady," the Ashen Devil responded lengthily, tapping his massive boot in curious thought that quickly returned to duty. "I will help quell the survivors and find the Emperor. Best of luck in your own search, Your Highness."

Quickly, he moved on before she could respond properly, seeking to complete the objective given to him. Gripping the hilt of his lightwhip tightly, Kascalion let his eyes scan the location for foes who held the bravery to march upon him. One did with unexpected swiftness, but found herself bisected by a crack of the lightwhip cutting through waist. Not taking the time to battle dulled emotions, the Ashen Devil moved on and unleashed another crack of his whip that split another warrior's head in half. The body fell to the ground just as another three Mandalorians charged with Beskads and blasters.

The blasts and strikes Kascalion could not dodge, he blocked with his armor, the Beskads gouging deep through the layers and sparking flames in the air, but not deep enough to taste flesh. The Ashen Devil would drop his lightwhip as the four of them grappled.

"Kneel, you fools," he whispered with a grave tone that echoed in their very souls. "Stop this madness."

"We will not betray our home, you bastard!" one of the men growled, ever defiant, as he attempted to force his Beskad into the Sith's collarbone.


The Ashen Devil sighed almost sadly and began fighting with the Force, pushing the men and woman back several feet before skewering them through their chests with Darkshears. One managed to live long enough to see the armored boot of the Devil Lion crunching down upon his head, brain matter staining the charred, dusty ground.

Kascalion moved on wordlessly, moving further into the palace, hoping to end this day swiftly.

 

[Kalt Bruq]

Objective: Recover Tehkyram​

Kalt was absent for the last invasion of Mandalore. Vaulkhar had him away for other tasks at the time. To think what it would have cost to repel an imperial invasion, even if it was on Mandalore... it was quite unfathomable. Even now, with their defenses shattered and broken, there was a lot of effort and struggle being put into this invasion. Kalt was here on a task for Darth Raptious. After the news of Master Vaulkhar's... defection? Kalt found himself in a highly awkward situation. He was going to be a Sith, regardless of his Master's failings, he just needed to prove it. So he took on this mission, despite the potential dangers.

An Imperial Legionnaire reported that he was attacked by a Karkarodon within a designated area inside New Keldabe. He nearly lost his arm so by the time he had come back he didn't exactly remember enough to make a perfect description of his attacker. It was determined that a Sith Karkarodon, Tehkyram, was reportedly in the area during the last invasion, and had not reported back when the Sith retreated. Now that the fighting has started again, attacks were getting a bit more noticeable. If Tehkyram was still alive he needed to be brought back into the fold. An unenviable but necessary task.

Kalt knelt by one of Tehkyram's recent victims, as reported by a civilian just hours after Kalt had landed. There wasn't really much left but bloodied bones and some undesirable pieces. Kalt did his best to keep the stench out of his nostrils but this went through even the quadruple folded cloth he was using to shield his nostrils and mouth. Although he had already gone through the experience of witnessing someone die, let alone seeing dead bodies (he was a Sith Acolyte after all), this was a particularly gruesome image. Enough so that it nearly made him gag.

Kalt knew that a Sith could recover from wounds or sickness by feeding off of the emotions of suffering and despair of others. Literally feeding off of victims was a new approach to that tactic for him but he assumed it no doubt helped in this case. With the amount of bodies that were piling up, they must be severely injured. Kalt looked around for as many clues as he could find as to where he might be. He couldn't have gone far in whatever state he must have been in.

[member="Tehkyram"]​