Faction Battle for Sanctuary [ER] - Ascendant Crusade

[Reborn Nemesis]

Battle for Sanctuary
The Mobus System has long stood on the precipice of oblivion, a gateway between the known and the unknown, where civilization's reach meets the chaotic void beyond. Nestled at the border of the Unknown Regions, this star system is dominated by the massive gas giant aptly named Sanctuary—a beacon of stability in an otherwise lawless frontier. Over centuries, its eighteen moons have become vital hubs of colonization, trade, and industry, forming a tenuous lifeline for those daring enough to push beyond the galaxy's mapped territories. The largest of these settlements, under the governance of the Sanctuary Regional Authority (SRA), has emerged as the system's beating heart.

But where there is light, darkness gathers.

Jedi Knight Hayden Cress, the first among the newly anointed Jedi Lords, has seen the writing on the wall. The region's prosperity and security are fragile, constantly threatened by those who would see its promise shattered. Recognizing the need for more than just wandering Jedi and scattered militias, Cress has forged an alliance with the SRA, forming the Sanctuary Defense League—a standing force dedicated to shielding the system from those who would plunge it into tyranny.

It is an effort that has not gone unnoticed.

The system's strategic value extends beyond mere commerce. It is a vital corridor for military expansion into the Unknown Regions—a launching point for conquests and a bulwark against encroaching threats. It is for that reason that the Ascendant Crusade, under the ruthless command of Lord Militant Hellmarch, has set its sights upon it. Fueled by a fanatical belief in their destiny to reshape the galaxy, the Ascendant Crusade seeks to break the Jedi before they can cement their hold. Alongside their Reborn Imperial allies, they descend upon Sanctuary with the singular goal of annihilation.

The battle for the Mobus System will not be fought in whispers or shadows. It will be waged in open war, where fleets clash and blood stains the soil.

The Crusade has begun.

Objective One: Space Superiority
The Ascendant Crusade's First Fleet, a hammer of Imperial might, surges into the system like a storm, its massive capital ships emerging from hyperspace at the system's edge. At its head, Lord Militant Hellmarch stands aboard his command dreadnought, overseeing the opening gambit of a brutal campaign.

Jedi picket forces, smaller in number but swift and tenacious, engage immediately. Warships maneuver through the asteroid-laden outer regions, starfighters darting between the debris fields as turbolaser fire ignites the void.

This battle is more than a simple skirmish; it is the keystone upon which the fate of the system will rest. If the Ascendant Crusade can break through the defensive lines, they will carve a path toward the gas giant and its moons, their victory all but assured. If the Jedi and SRA forces can hold, Sanctuary may yet remain a stronghold against the coming tide.

Objective Two: Death to the Republic
Even as the naval battle rages above, the ground war begins. Troop transports, escorted by heavy warships, punch through the defensive perimeter, descending upon the fourth moon of Sanctuary—a key bastion of the Sanctuary Regional Authority.

It is here that the defenders have made their stand. The Jedi Lord's Padawan learner, a commander in their own right, has rallied the SRA's forces, preparing to launch reinforcements to the other moons. If left unchecked, they will bolster the defenses across the system, making a full conquest impossible.

The Ascendant Crusade cannot allow that to happen.

Elite shock troops deploy from orbit, slamming into the moon's surface in drop pods and landing craft, weapons blazing. Their orders are clear: Shatter the defenders. Slaughter the Jedi. Break the Sanctuary Defense League before it can rise to power.

No mercy will be given. No surrender will be accepted and it is Imperius Indomitus who is there to personally oversee it is done.

Victory here will mark the beginning of Ascendant dominance over the Unknown Regions. Failure will mean only another battle in a war that cannot—must not—be lost.

The time for diplomacy has passed. The time for war has come.

Tags: | Imperius Indomitus | Darth Callidus | The Lord of Hunger | Darth Moskvin | Crane Baxa | Aemicia Vaiken | Hellmarch | Marlon Sularen | Domaric Mordane | Detritus Ren | Onrai | Saltare Dothon | Tharn Vel | Calin Rakel | Box Mattox | Anguis Dux | Odrin Rath | Hevnor | Darth Apophion | Mareko | Ibaris Varanin | Nekana Quane​

 

[Imperius Indomitus]

Unknown Regions | Mobus System | Valor

• Objective: II. Death to the Republic
• Location: Valor Hangar
• Tags:
  • Allied: Open
• Theme: March to Victory

When they came, there was an Empire. It was not great, it was not strong but it had a framework that was mendable and that was expandable, it was a foundation that once the rot and corruption was cut away, could have served a purpose stronger, more formidable and longer lasting than what they had before. But alas, the corruption had set its roots too deep and it collapsed. Warlords rising from the smoking husk that was an Empire before, just as they had every time it had happened beforehand. Imperials are always very quick to forge their own path, to find their own way and proclaim it the right way. To the seem rise and fall, to have their ambitions laid bare was not difficult to see, not long to wait for. But to reunite them was. Miniscule, minute details of ideology and philosophy became the rocks on which the waves of efforts to unify were crushed.

Darth Imperius did not see the fall of the Dark Empire as a tragedy. A blow yes, but other plans had been set in motion and now desperation paired with necessity opened new avenues. The lurking threat of the Alliance, the chaotic expansion of the Diarchy, the revanchism of the Neo-Crusaders . . . these concerns could be discarded now. Suddenly the plans of the Ascendant Order became much more viable and intriguing, they became a necessity. Let the petty souls of the core-worlders fight for the rims and their legacy obsessed planets. It was the Unknown Regions that would see the foundations of a new Empire. And it was the Ascendant Crusade that would open a pathway to launch it.

Together with Hellmarch they had planned and prepared for the campaign, had assembled and trained the troops and decided on a path to bring their rule to the Unknown Regions. It would have been rather disappointing if there was no opposition and the refugee Jedi Lords of Waystation had made sure there was.

The Mobus System was the entry point and the First Fleet of the Ascendant Order would take on the rag-tag fleet of the enemy, but that was not Imperius' concern. He was leading the invasion force to the moon of Sanctuary.

✠ ✠ ✠​

Explosions rocked the pod, it was not hit but the density of anti-air gun fire was quite strong. The enemy really did not want to see them make planetfall, but the drop pods would ensure that most of the first wave would come to surface unscathed, assault landers and heavy transports would follow as soon as some of those guns would be cleared.

Darth Imperius sat in his seat without much worry or fear of being shot out of the sky during their freefall experience. Around him were ten members of the Extremis Paladins, clad in heavy black plate armor and red tabards, their shields stowed next to them, their weapons on them. They were silent, their minds exclusively focused on the battle ahead, their minds filled with nothing but the purpose of the battle ahead. The Dark Lord himself was clad in a similar armor, though with a lot more uniqueness to it and customly fitted to his person, forged by himself. His lightsaber was clipped to his side, his sword on his back, a heavy pistol magnetically attached to his thigh armor and grenades on his belt.

He heard some screams that quickly ended over the comms of those pods that were hit in one way or another. It was a brief distraction as there was not much time, both to die and to listen. The descent took barely a minute, crashing through the atmosphere like a meteor only to be saved by brake thrusters and repulsors in the last meters.

The brakes slammed, the thrusters ignited, the pod rocked from crashing speed to landing speed in less than a heartbeat, dampeners helped to mitigate the effect on the passengers, making them not end up being a mass of flesh and blood on the floor, squeezed to a gooey mass by the g-forces and gravity. Then they hit, still hard as the metal pod rammed into the earth. In a mere blink of an eye the sides exploded outwards and the battle was upon them.

Imperius was already moving.

Equipment
| Lightsaber | Greatsword | Amulet | Shuttle |
Order of Battle
| Ascendant Legion | Nemesis Legion Cohort | Knights Tenebrus |
| Harrower-class Dreadnought |​

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Sanctuary
OBJECTIVE: Collect and Contain
IMPORTANT LINKS: Sword | Armor | Jewel | Ring | Necklace | DIII Gluttoneria | The guards | The Enforcer
TAG: Imperius Indomitus | Hellmarch | OPEN

Frail, weak and pointless, the rules of any republic, any democracy made the strong of body and the strong of mind sacrifice their rightful positions of power for the weakminded, belligerent fools that had turned countless worlds from thriving societies into bastions of decadence and corruption. All which was needed to truly run a society without such hindrances, was to display strength, to know the use of your people and to stomp out the decay and decadence wrought by those whose mind was weak.
​

The Gluttoneria slowly moved into orbit after having jumped out of hyperspace, a trip which had been marred by somewhat faulty details and sensory input from the hyperlanes, nothing big or deranging, but still...a nuissance. As the mighty vessel slowly adjusted its course and maintained its proper descent, minimizing the distance to the surface of Sanctuary as much as possible, the alarms already started blaring, Imperius Indomitus had already arrived and was already unleashing hell upon the surface, there was no mistake, the Imperator wanted to turn Sanctuary into an example, a warning to those who'd deny the Ascended Order its rightful place in history.

"Engage the stygian cloaking field, prepare the droid legions for touchdown," Standing at the center of the command bridge, his gauntlets grasping at the edge of a large holographic display, the Lord of Hunger took in a deep breath, if only the Dark Empire had not collapsed unto itself, he could have left the more ardeous military tasks to those who were inherently more suited for such activities. he simply wanted to continue his projects, provide the order vital power through his mind and not through the use of his unstable body. "Activate the launchers on my command... NOW."

One of the ensigns immediately reacted to the command, tapping against the screen of their controlpanel, when all over the enormous battlecruiser, the sounds of bay doors opening and hydraulic clamps uncoupling could be heard. Yet it were no bombs that were being delivered, no missiles being fired, but a whole horde of small craft with only one goal: harsh and unnerving atmospheric entry, a bombardment of drop pods that would ravage the land beneath.

When these drop pods where finally launched and under way, a handful of support craft carrying vital equipment and additional assets were being sent down, all the while the Gluttoneria would remain cloaked and would avoid moving into the fray that was certainly going to occur within the vicinity. Should it be necessary, it could always be used as a back up in emergencies.

"Rapport,"

***

​

Like a meteor shower, the air seemed to be filled with dozens, if not hundreds of small drop pods, violently descending through the layers of atmosphere protecting the surface, yet where the arbitrary rocks from outer space would burn and scatter, these objects seemed to be unaffected by friction or heat, barelling through without hesitation, until perhaps about a thousand meters in the air where the thrusters would kick in and slow down these objects, these pods just enough to maintain structural integrity on impact. Those that hit the ground were far fewer from the number that had been launched, with clear indication that there was some form of resistance present on the planet. debris could be seen raining down in several of the sectors where the pods were meant to drop.

With hisses of hydraulics unengaging and air escaping the interior, the pods folded open like a metal flower, racks of deactivated droids suddenly surging with life as each pod's contents started to pour out, armed and armored. the sound of metallic thuds, the continued hissing of the pods opening and the clear indication that the support ships were in bound to drop off even more material should have been enough of an indication that whatever was happening on Sanctuary, it would not be peace that was arriving at their doorstep... not at first, at least.

"Assist the Imperator," That was the order given to the Droid Legion, while the Lord of Hunger himself was descending aboard one of the support craft, with a whole cohort at his beck and call for this particular engagement. If the heavy artillery and additional siege equipment spread across the other support vessels would descend, the droid legion would be more than capable of directly supporting the Imperator's warmachine. In the meantime though, Credius sought to act as a more mobile force with his cohort and his Sceleratii. "ETA in about four minutes, keep me in the loop of what's happening up there...I do not want any surprises."

 

[Saltare Dothon]

Imperius Indomitus The Lord of Hunger​

"Listen up," Saltare said as the shuttle plummeted to the planet below them. "Our target is a logistics hub deep behind enemy lines. It's used to fuel ships, arm their troops, feed their men, and repair and resupply every unit the SRA has on this planet. We're landing under the cover of darkness and the cover of the broader Imperial assault. We'll infiltrate into the enemy's back lines, planet explosives within tactical areas of the hub, and then exfil. Targets have been uploaded and sent to your HUDs."

Saltare paused as the data was sent to the men and women inside his dropship.

"Inferno squadron is landing at LZ Alpha, Iron squadron is at Bravo, and Gold squadron is at Charlie. Make your way to the facility, keep a low profile as long as possible, plant your charges, and get out. Questions?"

None spoke.

"The wider Imperial assault will cover us, as I said before. Expect gun runs on enemy positions within the hub and full-scale conflict all around us. Our friendlies will not be able to distinguish us from the enemy. Do not silhouette yourself if possible. Keep a low profile, focus on the mission, and then exfil. ETA is in 2."

Their dropship was a modified HAAG with stealth coating, allowing them to slip behind the SRA's lines and avoid radar detection. It bucked and jerked as it hit air pockets on its descent, but the rough ride was worth it. With their new shuttle, they were within spitting distance of the perimeter units of the SRA.

As the shuttle landed, Saltare and Inferno squadron exited and began their march toward the hub. If they could cripple the supply lines, the SRA would be dead in the water before it could even take off.

 

[Darth Moskvin]

Battles.....

"Horrors, I believe, should be original--the use of common myths and legends being a weakening influence."
- H.P. Lovecraft -​

Gear: In Sig
Familiar: Archimedes​

O'Death

With a contradiction of thoughts, I watched Imperius Indomitus usurp glory as he marched forward into the mouth of madness. He wasn't a fool, or misguided; he was looking to win a war by himself with an armada. I had no army, no loyal soldier, no trained fighter watching my back; as a spooky Necromancer; I make my own armies off the broken cadavers lying about the streets, battlegrounds, and where I find them sleeping. And as my dead eyes counted the crooked bodies, it was time.

Between Sith magic and the magic from my Nightsisters, I raised a hungry army far more trepidus than he brought. The dead are easily agitated, easily feeling they lost a portion of themselves when they died; and mostly they crave living flesh. And it takes more than a blaster bolt to sate a zombie's addiction, a true army of power.

Green misty smoke sparkled from eyes of rot, flesh trying to remain stitched together, and in a cacophony of death throes; they howled: halting all parties engaged in the battle. The dead never forget....and with a simple fingered gesture; I remined our living enemy of such a truth.

​

 

[Imperius Indomitus]

Unknown Regions | Mobus System | Sanctuary

• Objective: II. Death to the Republic
• Location: Sanctuary | SRA Bastion
• Tags:
  • Allied: The Lord of Hunger | Darth Moskvin | Saltare Dothon | Open
• Theme: March to Victory

The drop pods had slammed them right at the throat of the enemy. Their attack was based on shock and awe, on decapitating the enemy before they could muster a strong reaction. While the Sanctuary Regional Authority was preparing for war under Jedi Lord Cress, they did not expect war to come so swiftly and so decisively to their doorstep. The Lord Militant and Imperator had made sure that the attack was not only a surprise, but that all ship captains knew that this invasion was based around speed.

While above the fleet was engaging in close combat, pinning the enemy ships and delivering devastating broadsides, the troop carriers plunged through, taking fire but not nearly enough, to deliver the ground forces into battle. On the fourth moon of Sanctuary, they aimed to destroy the enemy headquarters and indeed, preparing forces. They attacked where a majority of the enemy was ready to be shuttled and shipped, facing the most enemies possible but also on the most narrow space.

Darth Imperius was leading the black and red armored Nemesis Legion from its drop pods to the enemy. His HUD was a miasma of runes, unit markings, comm requests and targeting solutions. His black eyes worked through all of them at once, his amplified mind carrying the workload with familiar ease - even improved ease he noted. A new body was not easy to settle in, two weeks of meditation had helped him settle, but it was still necessary to go through all the sensations and experiences. He opened a command channel and gave calm, continuous commands.

" The Lord of Hunger , take your droids across my frontline and provide fire support for our advance. Prioritise enemy light and heavy artillery as well as any heavy weapon emplacements."

" Darth Moskvin , ahead on my left, next to the landing field are their barracks, tents and training area. My Third Cohort will support you, wreck havoc across their recruits and wheel in on the flank."

He also requested a non-verbal update from Inferno, Iron and Gold Squadrons, their operation to get the enemies logistics was vital to make this a decisive battle and not a protracted campaign. Imperius wanted victory today, not tomorrow, not in a week - today. And he would see it done.

His lightsaber was humming as it deflected green and red blasters bolts that were fired at him, much of it he ignored as it just plinged off of his armor or hit his large combat shield. The large warrior was at the center of the assault, around him the crimson and obsidian colors armors of the Nemesis Knights and Legionaries. Devoted warriors and soldiers that did not follow mere orders, but a vision, a goal that was beyond individual dreams and visions.

The fire they returned was precise, their advance swift. Excelling in close combat and fighting an enemy that had no room to maneuver or organise, speed and aggression was the key. With blades and blasters they smashed into the enemy that had formed up, with focused ferocity and controlled wrath the Imperials engaged with the Jedi Lord's forces.

Across the plains outside of the ISA bastion, a battle raged. The first wave of the Imperial assault had landed in drop pods and was now seriously engaged with the enemy forces, while further reinforcements arrived to support the first wave and build up the pressure. The enemy was shocked from the audacious attack but those units that had experience, tried to rally their comrades and turn. The founding and landing fields were a mess, with some shuttles and landing craft half-loaded, units in between and other still in their barracks. Behind it stood the bastion, the field fortification where the enemy command was.

And where Imperius was fighting his way towards.

Equipment
| Lightsaber | Greatsword | Amulet | Shuttle |
Order of Battle
| Ascendant Legion | Nemesis Legion Cohort | Knights Tenebrus |
| Harrower-class Dreadnought |​