Invasion Blood Debt | Mandalorian Enclave invasion of Eternal Empire-held Panatha

[The Operator]

Ida Saxon|Enclave|Panatha
Tags: Sasha Kryze , open to opposition or other allies.

Ida had met the Eternals before, during the Third Imperial Civil war on her service to Tavlars legion. They were shifty individuals, but more importantly, they were dangerous first and foremost. So when Ida and many others saw their colours on the battlefields of Serenno, Dantooine and other grounds, she and thousands of others had been reminded that the fight against the then-burgeoning Sith Empire had been but a small part of a more significant proxy conflict.

She had her own personal vendetta against the Sith and all them karking fools. Including that ginger demon on the eternal throne, whose actions led to the deaths of countless friends and comrades during the war. Vendettas had been the only thing fuelling her on, her parents dead, her people few, and Clan Saxon scattered to the wind. She was but a lonely soul trying to survive.

This mission was one step closer to that. They couldn't take on the Eternals with the numbers they had now, but the Enclave was growing all the time. She didn't know how many there were in total, a safety precaution, she figured, but judging by the number of people she'd seen pass through the enclaves halls, it was a good guess that they were gaining popularity. In spite of that, she had no future as a Mandalorian but at least by helping she would correct some wrongs and undo the humiliation of her people.

Her and Sasha arrived on Panatha in advance of the main force, hiding themselves in a cargo haul flight and departing without tipping border control. They knew what they had to do, and although she didn't know Sasha she knew she knew how to handle herself.​

​

 

[Vren Rook]

ALLIES: Saul Vandron | Romul Saxon | Verin Oldo | Aurelian Sigismund | Kam Ge'lih Dragr | IMVEMRIC | Enclave | NIO
ENEMIES: Aximand Sicarus | Asaaj En Kelsani | Malanves Lagrange | Amelia von Sorenn | The Amalgam | EE | CIS | TSE
ENGAGING: TBD
GEAR: In bio

BLACKEST HOUR​

The time had come.

It had been over a decade. Over a decade of biding time. Fighting the Darkness from the shadows. Learning. Waiting. Growing stronger.

Stronger groups have gotten their vengeance on the Sith Empire. But the remnants, the actual executioners, were still at large.

And they were here!

Alongside others. Hiding behind the Eternal Empress' skirts. Even those that Vren had bled for for a decade, the Confederates, were protecting those that have exacted the worst crimes known to humanity on a people.

But they would burn.

Vren sat within the cockpit of Nag, where she rested on top of the bridge of the UES Requiem after she had arrived from hyperspace and had cleared some stray Eternal Fighter squadrons that had attempted to oppose the Enclave's conquest.
"You doin' all right so far, Girl?" he asked the droid as he reclined in his seat.
She rumbled before the answer flashed on his HUD.
://: You know who you're asking right? ://: she asked him.
He chuckled. "Fair enough." he said before orders came through on the naval comms. And just a minute after, enemy reinforcements arrived within their line of vision.

Great.

He sighed before hailing all fellow Mando'ade that were floating around outside as well.
<All Vode that have engaged outside of capital, this is Vren Rook. Be ready to engage enemy reinforcements, awaiting orders from the UES Requiem. Rook out.> he said.

All hell would break loose soon.

"Best have that cannon ready, Girl." he told Nag.

No Sith. No Exceptions.

Spoiler: TLDR

• Vren received the orders from Commander Miles of the UES Requiem.
  [*]
  

Vren let all Enclave and Allied Mando'ade outside the capital ships know of the orders to ready for boarding/pestering enemy naval elements.

 

[Sasha Kryze]

"Next thing I knew, this karking Hutt is literally SLIMING his way across the floor at me. Let me tell you, the whole laid back lazy routine is just them playing possum... Thank God Garrus Garon was there. You ever seen a someone explode from the inside out?"

Sasha asked, aware she was talking Ida's ear off, but too nervous to hold it. She wasn't the types that could remain stoic before combat. Once it it, she was sharp, but that waiting period before was always nightmarish to her. So much to worry about. You either went out there and found glory, or you got winged in the doorway. She had always been on the dispensing end, but knew one day she would be on the receiving. Hopefully not today. A few hours had long passed.

They were in some sort of factory, and had been hearing the hustle and bustle of much commotion, not to mention the sound of heavy machinery starting and leaving. Some arriving. Their container having been suspended in mid-air, they had ample time to introduce each other, and talk if they felt the need too. But once the factory had quieted down, they were simply biding their time until they could continue with the objectives for their mission.

Sasha was wearing Enclave issued armor, as opposed to her own. If she was going to war they could keep the issued armor, not hers. Anyway, it was time. Sasha had her helmet off, long past feeling a need to obscure her identity from the other. Ida hated Sith just as much as Sasha did. If not more. Between the two of them, they were probably good for at least one war crime tonight. Give or take, depending on the situation.

Armed with a Paradoxal Slugthrower, and a single Valiance heavy blaster pistol she would sit on one of the Canisters within the shipping container, talking it up with Ida. Before side-nodding the container door.

"Almost time... I'm gonna take a peek."

Sasha offered, getting up and refitting her helmet over her head. Pulling down tautly until the HUD activated. With that, she would move forward, quickly activating her Anti-Security Blade and quickly overriding the door commands. Causing them to simply unlock, and pop ajar. She peeked through the gap initially, seeing nothing but vehicles, seemingly rows of unused military surplus. It truly made you wonder what they were up against, when they still had armor left over.

Also, what were the odds that they would've been dropped into a weapons factory? They were either incredibly lucky, or incredibly unlucky. Sweeping the area with her Valiance pistol, Sasha would see no humans, no visible security just yet... Clear.

"Its Empty... Be right back"

The woman offered to Ida, stepping off the ledge and letting her jump boots slow her landing before hitting the ground. As soon as she landed, she would scan again in a 360 degree area before moving to the crane controls and lowering the crate that Ida was still in. As she was lowered, Sasha would investigate the vehicles in the warehouse, noting some of them were loaded for bare.

"Some of this armor is stocked, You know how to splice a tan--"

No way... She neared the closest one, hopping up on the doorway and holstering her pistol as she peered through the window, chuckling a bit.

"Ignition Key's in it..."

She said, lightly cackling to herself and opening the door with a telltale 'THOB'. If Ida could see her face, she might've laughed at the lunacy in her eyes. Talk about lock your doors at night. For now Sasha would slide into the drivers seat of a Heavy Transport vehicle, bringing up the vehicles HUD systems to check its combat viability. They needed to travel three miles from here, and armored transport could come in handy for all manner of reasons, especially one that was flying the enemy colors. Perhaps it could earn them some invisibility...

"Fuel One-Hundred Percent, Weapons Systems Loaded for bare... Couldn't tell you what a KC-T80 Munitions system is, but we've got sixty shots of it. What you think?"

Sasha asked, turning to Ida if she had made it there by then, her hand moving over the key for the vehicle ignition. Though she wouldn't try it unless the other seemed to think it was a good idea as well. As far as she was concerned, it was free real estate.

The Operator

 

[Sergeant Omen]

Location: Eternal Empire Space, Panatha, Streets of Canthar
Local Time: 23:06
Primary Objective: Knock Out Powersource Powering Canthar's Defenses
Secondary Objective: Eliminate Eternal Empire HVT and Search Through Any Intel.
Vode: Gwyneira Vizsla | Thonn Rokkal | Runi Kuryida | Voices of The Deep (Dima) | Kranak Vizsla
Aruetiise (Hostiles): Sith, Eternal Empire Elements, Lyssa Io | Alessandra Io
Engaging: Open For Opposition!

"Kranak, stop bouncing. It is making you look like you need to go to the fresher." The Clone was cleaning his verp carbine with his helmet off as the speakers in his bucket played music to hum along with. He needed to make sure his instruments of violence were ready to go for the fight to come. Unlike Kranak, he was less looking forward to this scrap but maybe that was just because of how it looked. The Mandos were burning down a tree! They might come for our tree next so get your slugthrower ready! Ah... The creation of endless violence as far as the eye could see. When he had entered this galaxy, he might have loved an event like this but now... It just seemed like the time all blended together in one bloody cycle of violence and strife. Well, atleast this invasion would give a first-hand showing of the Mandolarians' capabilities and what they were capable of. Given the results of this little battle, the galaxy might find it easier to make peace with this new power rather than make war with them.

Omen finished his work and put on his helmet as sounds of distant blaster fire echoed from deeper in the city. The Rebels certainly were putting up a fight but how long could they hold out in a guerrilla war against the most seasoned warriors the EE had to offer. The Trooper thought it was less than the plan stated. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. As Kranak detailed the mission, Omen stayed quiet. The mission itself seemed easy enough. Sabotage the power generators for the main forces and then hold out till they arrive from orbit to assist them. Now all that had to happen was getting to the compound itself.

As the small group pushed through the alleyways, Omen tailed at the back of the line lie a shadow, crotching as not to be seen just like the squad leader requested. When Kranak signaled with his left arm, Omen took up a position behind a residential building overlooking the sunken compound, resisting the urge to do a low whistle at its sheer size. With guards trailing all over, it would be more difficult to set charges on the shields themselves. But they were Mandolarians and they hadn't come all the way here just to putter around. It would be done, no matter the cost. The Clone only hope there was a "blow-up a generator for free" discount to be had.

As Kranak gave out orders, Omen responded with his own query. <"A'den 6 to Leader. You want me to take up overwatch or join you in assaulting the compound?"> The Clone soldier would feel a lot more comfortable being the eye overwatching the operation but he also had a lot of Boom Boom if needed. It would be the squad leader's call though on what his role was to be. After all, Traat'aliit gar besbe'trayc or the squad was his weapon.

 

[Andras Garon]

Location: Canthar, Panatha
Allies: The Enclave
Enemies: Joycelyn Zambrano , Sith, Eternal Empire
Equipment: Neo Crusader Armor, Mando'ade Phase-Blade x2 , Blaster Rifle, Force Breaker Grenades​

---

Dropships descended from the heavens alongside an assortment of Shuttles and Troop Transports. Many would make landfall outside of Canthar to assist with the besieging of the city, others made the trip in Drop Pods equipped with potent shielding and high powered rocketry would punch downwards to penetrate deeper into the heart of darkness.

He was seated in one of a half dozen chairs, strapped in and positioned in a circular fashion. The Mandalorians present all staring back at one another, the visors of their Buy'ce reflecting what each of them saw. No windows existed in the Drop Pod, only the roar of the enormous rocket engine and the updates fed to each individual HUD by the computer interface of the vessel. When they made landfall it was loud and rough.

In a matter of seconds the Mandalorians that were strapped in had freed themselves and the Drop Pod opened to release them. Blasterfire spilled from the interior as the Mandalorians made their exit and fire was returned as well.

Andras exited the Pod behind two of the other Mandalorians, Commandos assigned to accompany him. Once he'd set his foot on the streets of Canthar he'd lift the Blaster Rifle in his hands and begin to fire, returning a volley in the direction of several defenders. Once that was done he accessed one of the many interfaces in his HUD to provide himself with a holographic layout of the vicinity.

The Dark Horse had been assigned Joycelyn Zambrano as a target. A Sith Lord, powerful and experienced. The Drop Pod had crashed planetside in the streets of Canthar near a Temple that intelligence had determined was dedicated to Joycelyn herself. No small amount of ego was involved in such a dedication Andras imagined.

Defenses were thick. The Commandos that accompanied Andras were well armed and armored as befitting a strike deep into enemy territory. Blasterfire ran wild, an explosion from a grenade threw several defenders into the air and the hum of the comms cracked for each of the Commandos...

"Clear out defenders we meet on route to the target and secure a perimeter. We strike at the Temple first."

...the Mandalorians were silent, their actions speaking volumes as they began moving in the direction of the target location. They'd use the streets for cover and anything else they could to their advantage, at least two would use their Jet Packs early on to take the high ground and ambush any defenders harrying their allies. The Temple was close.

​

 

[Kuben Woods]

Location: Planet side in dropship
Equipment: Jackal ACR, Sk-RS Mk. IV, backup DXR-6, four fragmentation grenades, four flash bangs, lightsaber (concealed)
Mission: Stand by for Orders
Tag: Kranak Vizsla , Sergeant Omen , Open

Spoiler: THEME

The rain was pouring outside, and Damian relished the challenge.

His assault ship was patrolling in the skies above, a quick reaction force for any spots that the Ultranauts found and needed reinforcements in. However, he knew the true enemy here. The voice in his head had sensed them well before their arrival, even noting the Empress's arrival, and had deemed to tell him this time before the briefing. War was breaking out in the space above the planet, and he knew the Mandalorians would come dirt side. He relished the opportunity to put the dogs down, little better than the NIO "super-soldiers" he'd encountered before. They thought themselves true masters of war. They claimed that they were the greatest warriors of the galaxy. Such a shame then that when they'd been put down by the Sith that either they were wrong or it hadn't mattered. They forgot that like anyone else they can bleed. And that if they can bleed, they can die.

He looked over his platoon in the drop bay, fellow squad leaders checking over their soldiers with his platoon sergeant sitting in the back with the LT. The mission was a stark change from their previous arrangement with Mandalorians beforehand, seeing them as supposedly friendly forces. But such was the nature of animals. If not properly domesticated, they turned on their friends or masters on a whim. Damian gripped his rifle tightly as he could feel the fire of rage beginning to build. The voice in his head decided to chime in.

Excited are you.

And what do you want?

Oh I'm just here to admire, hehehe, for once it seems like you might cut loose when the shooting starts.

I'm fighting to protect our people, nothing more.

Doesn't mean that you won't enjoy it, just like all those people you killed back home.

Traitors deserve no mercy, no respite, and no dignity in death.

So they're all traitors? Is that what makes you angry?

I am angry, because I know many will follow this cause blindly because of their supposed 'duty'. It's why when we put them down last time we burned Mandalore to the ground and salted the remains. They will never learn. And since they threaten the lives of our people, I will put them down. Men go to prison, get jailed when they are a threat to society. Soldiers die with honor and dignity either on or off the battlefield for fighting for their comrades and to protect their kin and country. Dogs get put down.

Ohohohohohohoho listen to you. You know what? You need my help, you only need to ask, no tricks, no strings, nothing. Just this once though.

Why?

Because I want to see this side of you flourish, I think I may have found your vice my little crusader.

Damian subtly rolled his eyes and shook his head as he turned and began checking his men. He would go over each and every one of them, checking harnesses, masks, and their armor. Their rifles were all ready. Their armor fresh. Their seals good. To say that any of them was lacking for faith would be an outright lie. Mandalorians hid behind Beskar. Ultranauts hid behind nothing and no one. They fought, not without fear but despite it. They knew each and every day they suited up and grabbed their weapons, might be their last. Damian knew these truths doubly so, not only as an Ultranaut but a yet to be discovered Force User himself. The literal demon bonded to his bones a constant reminder that despite all his appearances he probably did not truly belong here. And yet he fought. Every day he woke up, eat meals, trained, and fought alongside these men and women. He knew that if they ever discovered his secret he'd be arrested, tried, and then executed without a second thought. That if he told a single person or if they ever saw his lightsaber, his life would once again be over. But he would never surrender again. Not against a foe he could fight. He would not sit idly by while the galaxy burned under the heels of those who loved to play that they were "the good guys". Damian knew he was a monster. But he also knew it would take becoming a monster to defeat those that dared be wolves in sheep's clothing.

He would be the sheep dog, and he would hunt these so called 'wolves'.

 

[Obran]

F O R C E H U N T E R
Theme​

Objective: Eliminate High-Value Targets
Allies: Siv Dragr | Volo Dragr
Enemies: Darth Carnifex | Ingrid L'lerim

Spoiler: Equipment

• Sundering Magcharge Pistol
• Deathrattle Hard-Sound Carbine
• Miit'beviin - The Orator's Spear
• Suyar'gam - Poet's Armor
• Resa'car - The Shield of Light
• Hunter of the Manda - Obran's Cloak

"Tag the body, but leave it for the Eternal Empire to find. It'll serve as a message: they're next."

With an almost casual shrug, the Bard slipped the half-sword into the bandoleer across his chest. A trophy to take back to the Clan lands, even if Siv didn't seem to care in this instance. A puppet King of the Sith deserved commemoration upon being slain. As for tagging the body, Obran took the other half of the blade, and with casual malice, thrust downward with the shattered blade tip, carving an oddly skillfully done mythosaur skull on the floor with the tip of the blade. Pulling a simple kal knife from his left boot, Obran stabbed it in the forehead of his graffiti, leaving the shattered remnant of the king's blade next to it. The meaning was especially clear, almost poetic really.

Wiping the tip of his trakar spear on the garment of the slain king, he turned from doing so just as Ingrid spoke, and his eyes fell on Carnifex as well. He let the Force Users monologue, rolling his eyes along with their pontificating until the helmet of the Dark Lord clicked closed. Then, the cloaked and armored mando'ad snapped into ready, shield banging with the spear in a loud trio of challenges before he set to crouch, his resa'car hissing to life, spear just an inch above the large rounded shield, which he held tilted to receive a charge. The gleaming bare metal of the mand's armor still shone even in the darker quarters the quintet was in.

And, from behind the helmeted face, a song came through, as his beskar shod left foot stomped in time to the song he began to chant.

"Motir ca'tra nau tracinya.
Gra'tua cuun hett su dralshy'a. Taung!

Motir ca'tra nau tracinya.
Gra'tua cuun hett su dralshy'a.
Aruetyc runi'la solus cet o'r prudii an."

And with that, he continued chanting and stomping his hind foot, a stance the spitting image of a warrior ready to receive the charge of his enemy, his presence in the Force radiating nothing but an odd blurred blankness, thanks to his gear being cloaked and wrapped in voidsteel and terentatek leather. It had been years since his people had truly made trakar'gam, and a smith to make it was as hard to find as the metal itself. But after his torture at the hands of the Sith not long prior, he had resolved to dedicate his jobs and career to the particular hunting of rogue and dangerous Force Users, and so had geared himself for such efforts.

Spoiler: Translation of Mando'a

Those who stand before us light the night sky in flame.
Our vengeance burns brighter still. Taung!

Those who stand before us light the night sky in flame.
Our vengeance burns brighter still.
Every last traitorous soul shall kneel in our shadow.

 

[Saul Vandron]

S C O U R G E _ O F _ T H E _ S T A R S
PANATHA '70 | SPACE | OATHSWORN
​

He's back here again.

Marching involuntarily through the cemetery, whipped by rain and gale. He wants to stop, to turn back because he's been here a million times before, but his legs heed none of his pleas. He wants to scream but his mouth is sewn shut. Step by step until he's leaning over a casket in an open grave and a tombstone etched with a name he can't see.

"Papa." a meek voice whispers from behind but no power of will turns his head around. His eyes are locked into the grave and his hands are scripted to open the casket. The wooden slab creaks open to reveal... nothing. Empty.

"Turn around, Papa."

"I--I can't..."

"I'm right here."

"I... I can't..."

"I can't remember who you are."

A loud gasp escaped his lips as the Mandalorian was startled back to consciousness. His chest heaved up and down but no air found its way into his lungs.

"Th-the... helme--" he hoarsely mutters, struggling for air as he tumbles out of bed and staggers towards the armor pinned to the wall. He trips, knees hit the ground but he keeps moving forward, crawling if he has to. He grabs the wall, pulling himself up in a fierce struggle against the weight of an invisible planet on his shoulders. Nails claw the durasteel wall until one hand finally clips the helmet and it comes crashing down. The buy'ce tumbles away, almost out of reach, before his hand catches it and slides it over his head.

The air is back and Davik Hall is gone, banished back to the realms of nightmares.

Orion Fett breathes in reality as the HUD materializes before his sight, life indicators flashing a critically high heart rate. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale until the ringing in the ears is gone, until the thousand broken pieces in his brain are realigned again.

:: Commander, we will be reverting to real space shortly. :: the voice of Rally Master Vruc Fett crackled through his helmet's comms.

:: I'll be on the bridge shortly. ::

---

---

Line of Battle:
Death's Head :: CLOAKED ::

the devil & the huntsman​

Aboard the Death's Head...

"...and the cloak's core?"

"Stable, Commander. Looks like Entralla's done a good job." Vruc remarks, a smirk forming beneath his helmet.

"Then we are battle-ready."

"Positive, merely waiting for the Requiem to give the orders."

The red visor's gaze slowly turned from the stars to the Mandalorian beside him, "I give the orders."

"Yes, al'verde."

"And what of Trajan Fett ?" he inquires, as plainly as always.

"Nothing's changed since his last report - alive and ready to hunt."

"As he should be... maintain the course and inform the boarders to stand ready. Dismissed."

"Roger."

The Commander's stare lingered a while over his first mate's departing figure before shifting to the stars ridden with starships yearning to be ripped apart. On the port side, Panatha only grew bigger and bigger as they closed in the distance. Battle was waged beneath its clouds, a pointless battle.

He clenched his fists. This cursed world deserved no Mandalorian's blood to be shed over, no honor of combat but pure and simple genocide from the skies. Do upon the Sith what they had done upon the Mando'ade.

Spoiler: Action Report

- Cloaked, the Death's Head reverts into realspace at the edge of Panatha's gravity well and maintains a course towards where the Enclave's (and friends) fleet is amassed.

ALLIES: Romul Saxon | Verin Oldo | Aurelian Sigismund | Kam Ge'lih Dragr | Vren Rook | Vemric Keldra
ENEMIES: Aximand Sicarus | Asaaj En Kelsani | Malanves Lagrange | Amelia von Sorenn
ENGAGING: soon.png

 

[Tyr Mereel]

Wearing:​

_________________________________________________

Iron Mountains, Panatha​

Tagging: Eina L'lerim-Vandiir
_________________________________________________


The Mandalorian trekked up the side of the mountain, his comrade he had been scouting with having gotten ahead of the more cautious scout. His eyes scanned across the ridgelines as his feet dug into the dirt beneath his boots, rocks scattering softly behind him down the side of the cliff.

Noises and scuffling could be heard from just beyond the next ridgeline, Tyr cautiously moved forward picking up his pace, laying down upon the dirt as he saw the other scout fighting a woman close to an angelic warrior laying upon the man, Tyr watching as he gave tooth and nail to strike the woman down, and before his eyes, he saw the other Mandalorian draw his last breath.

His eyes narrowed as he watched the woman draw near to his companion, a golden glow coming from her hands, Tyr stood up and looked down upon the woman, a spear of beskar in his hands.

"Step away from him you [1]chakaar or I will gut you like the scum you are, you have no right to use your twisted magics upon a Mandalorian. You are lucky I am a man of honor or I would have put a hole in your chest the instant I saw your disgrace." threw his pistols to the ground looking at the woman, taking steps towards her until they were about 5 meters apart.

Tyr began to twirl the spear in his hands his eyes fixed upon the angelic being before him, his body unmoving beside the hands that twirled the beskar spear like a skilled dancer. Tyr began to circle the woman slowly, his boots kicking up boots as he took the steps around her.

"Make amends to the gods you worship, for today you shall fall for what you have done, and no one can save you from my wraith."

​

Spoiler: Tranlation

[1]Chakaar = B***h

 

[Domina Prime]

Location: In Route Via Hyperspace
Date: -DATA CORRUPTED-
Primary Objective: Cause Chaos, Assist in powersource OBJ
Secondary Objective: Consume & Assimilate
Equipment: None
Vode: Sergeant Omen | Gwyneira Vizsla | Thonn Rokkal | Runi Kuryida |
Allies: Enclave
Enemies: Empire
Engaging: Open~

​

Like a damaged reel of videotape, a broken record spinning feebly over the fissure with ugly static warbling, sunrise for the shadows arrived with repetition capable of deadening even the brightest eyes into some dim, docile, sheep-like compliance, twilight a shade pulled at predictable, timed intervals and as dawn neared. Visible frustration radiating within her mind as the young Foundling thought of her academy struggles, mostly of the wolves with crooked teeth, surrounding her as if she were the prey. Just a bunch of squabbling dogs nibbling their ticks, jockeying for position, pounding at their chest to as if they were better.

Even had she possessed the mental capacity to muse on them, there would be no means to such an end. After all, what did wolves ever have but their dens, their hunts, their skittish fear of inevitable extinction? Dima was nothing here, but in time she would grow, she would grow bigger and stronger than all of them!

When it was all said and done she was going to die one day...and she was ok with this. Over many sleepless nights she had accepted this as her destiny...her end game. But not without the complete devastation of all enemies of her kind. And so it was with an utterly dead-eyed expression that she'd face the lump of tendon on her radar tonight, jaws slack on an almost bewildered pant that amplified the hideous wheeze always slithering from her throat. The bustle of Kestri continuously ringing in her ears. Her azure gaze drew upwards to the buildings that reached for the clouds...it is here she would remain for now...in the slums of her home...at least, she believed it to be. Often she did not feel welcomed here but despite all that the Xeno never abandoned her love for her family, even if they did not recognize her as Kin.

Dima huffed, shifting many eyes back and forth over the sky as ships continued to leave orbit throughout the day. The streets were busier today, many greater Mandalorian Divisions deploying with their companies and making the chaotic spider pout.

She tried not to think about it, turning away and ducking into a small, local mobile restaurant in the street which seemed to be a rather popular hangout for Dima. As she peered inside Dima could see a number of tables filled and many enjoying meals...hunger rumbled in her core as the xeno nearly salivated at the smells.

Dima entered the restaurant...the 'Click'cling!' of the bell ringing as if to alert everyone to her entry as the obviously out of place alien stepped further in...the scent of spices and meats cooked tenderly wafting through the air as droids rolled around and served the customers...

Dima wasted little time looking around, ignoring everyone and moving straight to the counter bar at the front and chittered her teeth in delight, taking a sharp, clawed finger and clinging it against the table as she decided what her stress food would be for today.

After a few moments of sizzling meat and casual chatter a large muscular alien creature appeared from the kitchen. His eyes lighting up when his golden eyes landed upon the young foundling.

"Ahhhh bon'vostal! How are you lil blue?" He called out excitedly, wiping his hands along the apron around his waist as he headed over to the front counter with a smile.

Von...she was glad he was here, since she had been on Kestri the chef had always been fond of the wild child even despite her chaotic behavior when she was younger. Von was a good guy, quirky sure. But her time learning how to be a better Mandalorian at the Academy were bearable because of him and his kindness to give her work and a decent meal here and there...a small smile cured upon Dimas lips, barely recognizable to some but he knew she was happy to see a friendly face as the teeth along her jaw loosened and clenched tightly.

"Hello Vony!" Dima exclaimed whimsically, those many eyes shifting to the plates. "This one is very empty inside-" She mused, taking one of her lower arms and running those clawed fingers against where her stomach was. "But not Von's Place, so many customers now Dima is very impressed~" She nodded at her statement.

His eyes, filled with concern for a moment when she spoke, taking in the low swishing of the girls tail as Dima laid herself on the counter passively as if she were crestfallen as she complained about her hunger, but he quickly pushed such things aside when she commented on business. He chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest pridefully and shrugging casually. "Yeeeeeees yeees. Business is booming now ya? No thanks to you eh? Those fixes ya made to my kitchen were brilliant! The hungry now flock in swarms!" He mused, making Dima blush ever so slightly...it was rare, for her to be...recognized. Yet alone complimented. The girl cackled impishly and gestured her hand in a dismissive wave.

"Oh it was nothing, This one is always willing to help cousins~" She cooed, dragging a claw along the surface of the counter, keeping her face down against the table and sighing. Von narrowed his eyes, leaning over the table and giving her a look over.

"Say uh...Dima...you feelin ok? You seem less...cheerful? Where are your Foundling Friends?" He asked curiously.

The mention of them made Dima grimace...Her semblance of a smile quickly faded into a scornful frown.

"Everyone left Dima to go hunt! This one had to stay here because Dima is 'not mature enough' to go on big big hunt she is not 'responsible' enough for it or whatever~" She huffed in disappointment, claws digging into the counter in frustration, using her upper arms to gesture with 'air quotes' when mentioning how she wasn't big enough to go.

"Hm? Hunt? Y-...you mean the Invasion of Panatha!?" He replied blankly with a quirked brow. "The whole freakin reason all THIS is going on?" he pressed, gesturing his arm up at the warships drifting up into orbit making Dima stare up into the sky. "Kid, what they are doing ain't no 'hunt'. It's WAR, and you don't have your signet or your beskar yet. You sure they were wrong about what they did?" He explained to her, snapping his fingers at one of the droids to cook up something nice for the Xeno as Dima was clearly upset.

Her expression remained unchanged at the mention of Panatha. The word failing to register to the Foundling as she just tilted her head and scoffed. "Bah! it is same! When there is exciting prey why does Dima have to stay huh? Because she is not of metal?" She spat at the thought. Slowly leaning across the counter as teeth chittered violently.

"Dima does not need armor to be a good killer. Dima is bigger AND stronger than any prey!" She hissed lowly with a lick of her teeth.

Just just smirked, her eyes shifting from side to side to make sure no one was listening to hard. "You really wanna see battle then? Prove to everyone your capable?" He asked, rubbing his chin and chuckling. "Alright then little spider. If they won't give you a shot, then i will~" He began, reaching into his pocket to pull out a small keychain code and hold it in the air in front of her. "I ain't fought in a long time kid. I've lost my taste for it after all this time cookin in the kitchen. So go kid, be great, be ferocious! And remember, no matter what. What are we?"

Dima's azure eyes all focused on the code-chain, gasping in awe as Von spoke, filling Dima with delight as her glow flared with dazzling color. His words making the Xeno grin wickedly when he asked what they were.

"Hunter, and prey~" She'd purr, taking a hand and putting it out as Von dropped the code into her hand.

"This is the way~" He told her with a nod, Dima jumping up from her seat and wrapping all four of those arms around Von.

"THIS IS THE WAY! DIMA WILL NEVER FORGET VON! KISSES! BYE!" She squealed, just as quickly as she snatched him she was suddenly sprinting out towards the door, the conversation officially over, completely barreling through someone coming in at the same time and cackling wildly. "Move it, vod!" She spat, jumping over the mess made from crashing boxes and such as the wild child made her way to the port station.

-​

Not more than twenty minutes later an old rust bucket of a ship sputtered to life and drifted from the takeoff. Dima inserting the chain code to access the Panatha battle plan as the engines roared and carried the ship up into orbit. Her eyes all scattering about as she looked out the window, leaving Kestri behind as Dima giggled impishly, back tendrils all spilled out and operating the ships systems as her four arms manipulated the control console. Her basic understanding of piloting allowing the mysterious creature to operate the ship with relative ease despite glue and chicken wire holding some of it together.

"Heh, everyone is going to be so proud of Dima" She assured herself as hyperdrive initiated and the stars all blended together is acceleration built. "And here...we...go~"

 

[Gwyneira Vizsla]

​

Loadout: Loadout 6, Battle Loadout 3 Modified. Survivor replaced by Shroudsabers.
Primary Objective: Shut off the lights for the city.
Secondary Objective: Make Kranak proud!
Tags:
Friendlies: Kranak Vizsla Sergeant Omen Domina Prime
Hostiles: N/A for now.

Wide, pupiless eyes stared at the holoprojector before her. The Mandalorian Enclave, she knew, had finally begun it's glorious crusade against the Sith. Those good for nothing, evil Sith. Yet, the first target of the crusade made her... nervous.

The Eternal Empire.

Gwyneira Krayt shivered, she used to be a member of their regimes, before she defected. There were several reasons why, one of the largest being the atrocities she sensed above Lwekk. She simply could not remain with them after that. Still, when she had joined their Wardens, she had been told that the Sith were hated amongst them. Was that a lie? Hearing that the Empire once conspired with them made the girl feel sick. How could they? How could anyone conspire with such revolting demons?

Gwyn turned away from the projector, walking from the table of her apartment towards her closet. She opened the doors telepathically and bent down, rummaging through a sack shoved into the corner. She reached into the very bottom of the bag and pulled out two cylinders, wrapped up in cloth. She unraveled the cloth, allowing them to drape and fall to the ground. The twin lightsaber hilts, sleek and designed for style, were adorned with red sashes. She sighed, taking one hilt in each hand and standing back, holding them out before her.

Then, she activated them. Black lightsaber blades, snapping and fizzling due to crystal instability, glowed dim in the apartment complex.

She gazed upon the twin Shroudsabers of her past. She was no longer a Warden of the Shroud. She was no longer a member of the Eternal Empire. She was Vod, a Mandalorian. A Mando'ade, who was now joining her kin in finally extracting justice against the Sith. And, in Gwyn's eyes, extracting justice for Lwekk as well.

No Sith.
No Exceptions.

She deactivated the Shroudsabers, turning and placing them on the table. She had spent so much time running, fearing... but now... Now, she tore the red sashes from the lightsaber hilts.

<"Hey, cyar'ika. It's Gwyn. I'm with Kranak during this invasion, don't worry about me. You be careful, alright? We're all Mando'ade, we're all fighters, but that doesn't stop me from worrying about you. Good luck, wherever this battle takes you. I love you.">

The rain pitter pattered against their cold metal armor as they slipped through the city. Gwyn sent the voice message to her lover, Eliz Krayt, as she kept up with the squadron she was in. The Eternal Empire and rebels were up to their old infighting, with the Empire doing its best to beat any opposition down with an iron fist. It was one of the things Gwyneira had never appreciated about the Eternal Empire, it's brutal imperialism. The existence of rebels was a sign of wrong within the Empire, wrongs Gwyneira once had been blind to.

Not now, however. Her eyes had been opened.

Hiding right behind her leader, and her buir, Gwyneira held her rifle, The Distant Chill, in a professional stance as they maintained low cover. As Kranak asked if she was nervous, Gwyneira had to pause. Well, of course she was nervous when - scared? Gwyn huffed, growing defensive as she scoffed, <"No, of course not!">

His gentle response was, as always, filled with wisdom and a veteran's mastery. She sighed a deep sigh. Okay, so she was a bit scared... She looked up at her buir through her rain tinted visor. He was so strong, so stoic, so powerful. She gulped, <"I-I doubt you are, you're amazing, but are you scared too?">

He was not scared for himself? It made sense. He was a fearless and ruthless warrior, but he also was a leader who deeply cared for his vod. Gwyn knew him enough at this rate, he was scared for everyone else. Her even. She was going to assure him everything would be fine, she wanted to, but something caused her to hold her tongue as he resounded his commands to the squad. They moved out, and Gwyneira had to be ready. It was time.

Taking out energy generators was no small task, but they could do it. It was time.

That compound was no joke.

The diligent ultranauts, sentries and guards, were intimidating foes. Once one of the Eternal Empire's own, she knew fully well how intimidating they were. But she, and her allies, were intimidating too. She had been told by the wardog, Shai Krayt, long ago that a Mandalorian was more than their armor and weapons. A Mandalorian herself needed to be intimidating and powerful. If she was not powerful without a beskar'gam, she did not deserve to have it. The girl took that lesson to heart. And she was in her beskar'gam. It took her quite some time to earn every pound of beskar she was wearing, and she would be proud to finally show off this finished product. But she never forgot where she came from, and her training would serve her even more.

Gwyneira looked around the complex, infrered activated to adjust to the rainy darkness. The sentries. They could rain down fire from above, and that would not do. She nodded to Sergeant Omen before acting. She looked down to her rifle and switched from assault mode to sniper mode. She reached down to her belt and pulled the Jump Boots off, quickly attaching them to her boots. She looked around, then turned and ducked behind an alleyway at Kranak's command to spread out. She activated the flight on the jump boots and quietly flew to the top of a rainy, flat building. Swiftly ducking behind a power generator, she looked up and peered through her macrobinocular and sniper scope.

She had chosen the perfect perch. She was undetected and in range of every sentry tower from here.

She activated her comlink, speaking steadily and in an intelligent, thorough manner. <"My fellow vode, I am on a perch where I can easily snipe the sentries down, get them out of the way for you all down below. Buir, let me know when.">

 

[Ascendant Resolve]

Panatha

Like cowards, they struck in the night. The distress calls began in earnest before most planets had even seen the sunrise. But the Presidium was quick to action. The only information the Confederates could glean was that Panatha was under attack. No one had positively identified the attackers, save for the universally dreaded moniker: Mandalorian. The clans were on the march once more. Still outraged at their inability to defend their homeland, they now accused the Eternal Empire of harboring those who had made them a homeless people.

The Confederates mustered the quickest defense they could mount, sending only a single battlegroup and a message: Reinforcements are coming. Captained by Amelia von Sorenn , the CNS Litany of Peace led the charge, issuing orders along the way: The Confederates were to arrive, assess the situation, and lend aid to the Eternal Empire by whatever means necessary. What they lacked in guns they made up for in fighters. And though they were not staffed for a full invasion force, the Litany of Peace held enough droids in reserve to establish a sizable beachhead on the planet below, should it become necessary.

But the situation changed upon arrival. There would be no easy path to the planet today. The Mandalorians had established a firm perimeter around the planet. There was no going around, only through. Worse still, the Confederates saw ships that were once friendly among the enemy lines. Now turned traitor to the nation that had uplifted them. What were they to do? Were they to fire upon their brothers? Or was there some larger scheme at work here?

Below the skies, Panatha burned. The Crusaders were well established in the streets of Canthar, and they were overrunning the Eternal Empire soldiers. Unless the blockade were broken, and broken quickly, those below may not live to see tomorrow. Once more, the Confederacy found itself called to play peace keeper. To come to the aid of those ravaged by war. And aboard the Litany of Peace, the minds of those gathered to defend the Eternal Empire set themselves to the problem at hand: Assistance could not be rendered until they made it past the blockade...

​

 

[Dasmi Lindervale]

D A S M I​

Objective III Key Escort
Location: Gathering outside the Panatha System

Allies: Aximand Sicarus Asaaj En Kelsani Amelia von Sorenn Malanves Lagrange The Amalgam
Enemies: Vemric Keldra Verin Oldo Aurelian Sigismund

Spoiler: Equipment

• 1 G47 - Pipsqueak | Hip holster
• 1 K914 SMG | Concealed in right side of his cloak
• Phase I Haywire Armor | Worn beneath his
  Enviroweave lined cloak

Spoiler: Ships In Delta/Wedge Formation

• 1 The Pole | Personal Ship Docked in The Requiem
• 1 The Requiem| Currently Aboard
  • • 16 Squadrons of Multi-role Droid Starships
    • 2 Squadrons of Sensor Droid Support Starships
    • 1 Squadron of Armed Transport Shuttles
• 5 Coda Assault Frigates MK I|
  • • 5 Squadrons of Multi-role Droid Starships
    • 5 Squadrons of Forsaken Starfighter Interceptors
• 6 CR90 MK VIII Assault Corvettes
• 8 DP20 MK VI Siege Corvettes
• 10 Disruptor MK III Class Corvettes |
• 4 Monarch Class Destroyers|
  • • 12 Squadrons of Multi-role Droid Starships
    • 10 Squadrons of Forsaken Starfighter Interceptors
    • 8 Squadron of Armed Transport Shuttles

Spoiler: Fleet Actions

Waiting for full contingent of fleet to arrive before departing.
Began the first charge of Priddy Heavy Turbolasers.

Three quarters of the fleet were now present, waiting for the remaining few to join them at the assigned coordinates before jumping into the fray that no doubt awaited them at the end.

The crew was solemn, the removal of their commander and his subsequent trial still fresh on their mind as those aboard the Requiem began to prepare for departure. There was little to speak of after the assignment of their new Commadore. A man of more subtle features, sharp and glaring eyes that hid beneath a hooded cloak as he stalked about the walkways and examined the systems without explanation.

The short meeting between the new commanding officer and the presiding executive officer had been anything beside the word pleasant. Rimes had been terse, concise to the point of a knifes edge as the Chiss woman explained the current mission objective that had been handed down from MANIAC to those waiting departure.

A sudden and sharp squint of her red hued eyes had her lips tightening as she motioned towards her eye with a nod to Dasmi. A gloved hand rose to touch the corner of his eye before revealing a trail of blood emerging there. His expression never shifted, seeming unsurprised to those watching.

He said little, and when he spoke it was in a harsh whisper of orders that dared to be challenged as he excused himself and left the bridge. He paused at the bulkhead door, holding a hand upright before informing the executive officer to begin charging the heavy turbolasers. No other orders were given as the entiret of his contingent waited. Failing to dispense the order to move out when all were assembled to join the rest of the fleets departing to the defense of Panatha.

The assembled vessels sat in the still quiet of space.

Dasmi was silent in his private quarters. Tossing the cloth aside that was now stained crimson as the bacta syrette lay on the desk in front of him. Empty and allowing the small split along his eyelid to slowly mend.

Settled in front of the mirror, he examined the bruising around his eyes, the subtle hints of scarring still red against the palor of his skin. They had done a fine job in remodeling his features from the once rugged and perhaps even handsome appearance that had carried him through many private shows.

He touched his throat, the hoarse and pained speaking already taking a toll on the healing vocal cords that had been tenderly shaped beneath the deft hands of surgeons bent on remaking the man.

The former admiral of the Agents of Chaos was now dead. Buried and gone. The man that existed now was his replacement. Commadore Dasmi sat where Dimitri once did. Weighing the choices of his life as stars sparkled into existance over his shoulder. A feminine smile appearing the swirling cosmic dust as the shipboard AI appeared over his shoulder.

Projections were typically limited to mere existance as she lay a hand upon his shoulder. The upgrades to this vessel however found himself at the mercy of a solid state projector when the Queen AI system had a mind to make her opinion clear. The subtle weight of her existance not escaping his notice as she squinted at his profile in the mirror.

"I was just beginning to grow fond of your other face. A shame. I suppose this will suffice...Commadore Lindervale." She spoke and twinkles of light and hazy dusk whisps spilled from her tongue. Taking the stick from his hand, she examined him further, slowly tilting her head this way and that to see his handiwork.

"Not bad, though a bit of flair might help in this." Offered words as she began to work without permission. Symbols upon his cheek, heavier lines around his eyes, and a decidedly runny looking tear in smudged charcoal charcoal where blood had once run finished her designs.

Her eyes roamed his face, hand holding his chin up for her roaving eyes. A smile never quite forming as she nodded slowly while turning his chin to and fro to measure her dilligence.

"Permissable." She informed him, the stick clacking against the table as she swirled in a soft twirl and flitted out of existance.

He did little more than sit in silence after she had moved on. Staring at the point where she had dissapeared and felt the familiar strength of a reptilian voice in his ear.

'Begin anew, but never let yourself dull. Burn admiral, and sear any who would dare challenge us.'

He blinked slowly, raising a hand to examine it's gloved features as he heard the ping from the bridge to hurry him along for awaiting information along with hyperspace signatures. The corner of his cheek twitched, daring a smile as he pushed off of his knees.

"I will be on the bridge presently."

 

[Thonn Rokkal]

Sergeant Omen Gwyneira Vizsla Kranak Vizsla Runi Kuryida Voices of The Deep Lyssa Io Alessandra Io

---

How glorious, to not just go out and fight one of their hated enemies, but two; Thonn had been doubly eager to join in this fight. Fighting pirates and clearing out the kriff had been all good, but they were just a nuisance. Thonn didn't really have much of a vendetta against them; he just liked them dead 'cause they were better behaved that way.

But the Eternal Empire and the Sith were long known foes, and Thonn revelled in the opportunity to strike at them. To him, that they could was a sign of just how far the Mandalorians had come. They had claimed their home world, secured their sector and added to their ranks – now, they were in a position from which they could attack those they despised. Thonn, like a great many of his vode, was ecstatic about this progress. Mandalorian blood and sweat had built the Enclave, and it was long time for Empire blood to be spilled.

Once he had arrived on the planet and set foot on the ground, he had to take a brief moment to reflect on where he was. Panatha. A enemy planet, and he and his vode had arrived with loaded weapons and hostile intent. Here they would deliver the violence and death the Eternal Empire so deserved; and announce to the galaxy the force that the Mandalorians had become again.

<”Alright, vode. Remember the mission objective,”>
<"The generators powering the city's defenses are likely guarded, with their wardens on high alert, thanks to the revolt,">

"Yeah, wouldn't doubt it. I came prepped for heavy resistance." Thonn responded with a nod at the recap of their Alor'ad. He'd brought plenty of power to feed his hungry rotary cannon, and had brought a blaster carbine and scattergun for good measure. The former would make for a good backup firearm, and the latter would just plain be a good way to deal with Sith. He'd be far from surprised if he had an encounter with one here.

The area was heavily patrolled, and as much as he was itching for an encounter with the enemy, that would have to wait. They needed to complete their objective first; with the power disabled, the situation would be set for an offensive.

<”It’s clear, let’s move.”>

Thonn moved as soon as Kranak announced the opportunity had come and hurried across the street and into the alleyway on the opposite side with the others. They were getting closer and closer to their objective and once there, Thonn moved for cover at Kranak's signal. He adopted a low kneeling position with a metal bin serving as cover. His rotary cannon was stashed behind him, so the barrels of the cannon wouldn't give his position away. Thonn preferred to do that actively, through blaster fire.

<”Vode, disperse,”>

It was almost time. Thonn hastily moved to a more elevated position; it provide less cover, but a much better arc for blaster fire. With his rotary cannon fully loaded and his finger itching to pull the trigger, the latter took clear priority.

<”Pick your targets. Wait for my command to engage.”>

"Affirmative." Thonn replied, sizing up the enemy as all took their respective positions. The two sentries seemed to be the most troublesome, and looked like they'd need to be taken down with heavy firepower.

>>"My fellow vode, I am on a perch where I can easily snipe the sentries down, get them out of the way for you all down below. Buir, let me know when."<<

Well, looks like they had exactly that. Free from having to focus fire and shoot one thing a whole bunch, he decided on option 2; shooting everything he could. Troops were sure to pour out to meet them once the battle began, and Thonn ensured he had a good arc of fire on any local chokepoints.

He had his thumb on the switch to spin the barrels, and his trigger finger ran alongside the weapon – waiting to curl around the trigger and unleash the storm of blaster fire that would follow.

 

[Eliz Krayt]

PANATHA | IRON MOUNTAINS MINING COMPLEX
ENCLAVE | SI'KAHYA | TEROCH SQUAD
Tiri Brass (Alor'ad) | Kal (Blade) | Naast (Destroyer) | Bavar (Calvary) | Senaar (Missile)
ALLIES: Enclave | Vulcan Krayt | Shai Maji | Siv Krayt | Open
ENEMIES: Eternal Empire | Sith | Confederates | Let's just kill everybody
ENGAGING: Open
GEAR: In bio

:: Ib'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur, cyare. See you on the other side. ::

The message was short and simple. Gwyneira Vizsla had her own fight to focus on. No reason to distract her with anything too fancy or strong worded on his part. Just the simple promise that they'd see each other again, one way or another. His eyes watched her own recording, the briefest of a smile pulling at his lips Where he said little, she said more. Not too surprising. Then the order came. The com clicked off as he pulled on his Buy'ce.

This wasn't going to be like before. The last time he was with the 16th, he'd gone off on his own. Blew up the remnants fortifications and nearly died in the process. The time before that, he ran against a Sith Lord on his own, only to loose his arm. The lessons learned were carved into flesh and soul. Alone, he was strong. Together, they were stronger. His gaze turned towards the group of Si'kahya he was with. Teroch Squad had lost one of theirs. Eliz was here to fill the gap.

Kranak had taught him everything he needed to know. Now he just needed to show he learned.

:: Alright ladies, let’s move it. Deployment was the easy part. Let’s get in there. ::

Krayts, the 16th, and Teroch descended on the mountain. Eliz kept close to his Alor as they made it to the fortifications, but they all knew their missions. Inside, Teroch's only objective was to eliminate VIPs. Act as a hit squad to pull attention from Shai's plan. The knife to cut through and weaken the armor so the fist could shatter the ribs. He was out of sight, his fractal coating on to help cut down on anyone possibly noticing them. Eternals, Sith, Epicanthix. Didn't matter who was there, didn't matter who stood in the way. They died today.

Ahead of him Tiri Brass took the lead. Her voice lowered as all of Teroch split off from the group. Not because she needed to whisper, their helmets and internal coms made it unnecessary.

:: Partaylir Jhati ::

Jhati. The one before Eliz joined the squad. They all repeated, save for the Chissalorian. He stayed quiet. This was their prayer, not his. A moment of silence.

:: Naast, Bavar. Take point. Kal, take Evaar through the vent." Evaar being Eliz. Mando'a for young. New. Mandalorian newbie. Couldn't be helped, given he was a last minute addition. Couldn't be helped, given he'd only recently completed the last of Kranak Vizsla 's training. Yet it still annoyed the young man. Why'd he get stuck with the newbie title? No time to grumble about it, though. The slick armored Kal took to the left, and Eliz followed. The others took point on the nearby door, ready to breach and clear. Eliz gave them one last look before he rounded the corner with Kal.

The vents were narrow as hell. He grumbled softly as he moved through them. Well, more crawled. Ahead of him Kal did the same. The two smallest in the squad, it made sense for them to go this way. Flank the room, cut off escape. Or, actually. Kal seemed to have a different plan. They paused over a vent covering, peering through it for a moment. Eliz watched on, curiously. Wasn't the plan to get to the back door?

The private com between them both clicked on.

:: You stay up here. Be ready to drop in when it's go time. Three points without getting caught in a crossfire. They'll never know what hit em."

Eliz didn't argue. He just nodded as the darkly armored Mandalorian looked back to him. Kal continued on, leaving Eliz with the vent. The younger Mando pulled free his blaster as he scanned through the vent covering. Ah. That's why. Within he counted at least.. Two Sith. Two obvious Sith anyway. Black robes, hints of silver and gold cylinders on their hips. His lips thinned.

Course there were Sith.

He got comfortable, marking the rest of the targets in their shared hud. It'd only be another minute before they breached.

The coming explosion rocked the vent Eliz was perched in. Doors on both side burst open, and blaster fire followed. Epicanthi Rebels pulled their blasters, ready to return fire against the intruders. The pair of Sith did the same, their sabers igniting in flashes of crimson. But before they could take a step the heavy charric in the hybrid's grasp went off. Dead to the Force, they didn't sense the coming attack until it was too late.

The first went down with a bolt between the eyes. The other, faster, brought their saber around to try and smack the maser shot away.

Only for their wrist to break under the raw kinetic energy of the shot. Two more were fired, one in the man's chest and another between the eyes.

:: Clear. ::

Eliz hopped down from the vent into the smaller room, scanning his surroundings. With the linked HUD of the squad clearing the room was child's play, but that wouldn't last forever.

:: Senaar, the terminal if you would. ::

:: You got it, Brass. :: Senaar wasted no time as she pushed the corpse of the tech that'd been in the seat. :: Finding high value targets.. Now. ::

 

[Kyyrk]

Location: Aboard the CNS Litany of Peace
Objective: Drive the Mandalorians from Panatha || Break the Blockade
Allies: Confederate and Eternal Empire Forces, Open to interaction
Enemies: Enclave and New Imperial Order Forces
Equipment: In Signature

Fortune favors the prepared.

~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<*>~
​

There was always a level of fear in such a thing. In hearing that dreaded chime stir you from your rest. Kyyrk's eyes flashed open in a heartbeat. In the darkened room, Horace also stirred, turning to look at the offending datapad. The only illumination offered in the dark room was that from Kyyrk's own eyes. He hadn't been asleep, for the man was plagued by vision and nightmares when he departed the waking world. Instead, he had been meditating. Willing his body to rejuvenate itself. But now that was gone. Taken from him in an instant by the chime of his datapad.

That chime meant only one thing. Priority alert from the Presidium. He stood, walking over to where the Datapad rested on the side table. He picked it up, looking out over the dark city skyline. What could demand his attention so early in the morning? He turned to look at the bright screen, squinting as the offending light reached his eyes. Mobilization of all forces. Destination: Panatha. Distress Call from the Eternal Empire. Mandalorian combatants sighted. Kyyrk's brow furrowed in concern, then in growing fear as he read this. An image flashed before his mind, standing a top a ruined castle, looking out over ruins of Eshan's capital city.

The Crusade had begun anew. But from where? And why? He looked up towards the door of his apartment, and tucked the datapad into his back pocket. He walked towards the door with purpose, grabbing his coat from the hook upon which it rested. Horace, anticipating this, flew from his perch to land upon Kyyrk's shoulder as he exited the apartment. He waited till he was on the street before he tapped the face of his chronometer twice.
"Control, this is Knight Verros. I'm en route. Give me a destination." A moment of silence as he listened to the instructions. He pulled his datapad out again and looked at the datapacket that had been sent through. "CNS Litany of Peace, roger." Kyyrk turned and jogged towards the spaceport. As he did, he made another call. This one to the office of the Exarch. It would not be fitting for her Sword to arrive at the battlefield underequipped...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

Kyyrk sat in the armory of the Litany strapping down the last of his armor. The ship was in hyperspace, soon to emerge at Panatha. Kyyrk worked quickly and silently, checking his kit, ensuring that the armor was up to standard. Satisfied that it was, he grabbed his helmet. He paused before lifting it to his head, staring at the faceless thing. In the past, it had been a tactic of fear. A threat that those he hunted would never know the face of their demise. Now? He felt it were more symbolic of his own insignificance. He looked up towards the door, gripping the helmet with his left hand which lowered to hang beside his waist.

The memory of the last time he'd visited Eternal Empire space still lingered within his mind. Of Alessandra wrapped in his arms, the music muting the surrounding conversation, the gentle sway of two bodies in motion. In truth, he'd not been able to stop thinking of her since he'd gotten the news. Panatha. Her homeworld. Though from the sound of things, she held Brentaal IV in higher regard than Panatha, he still felt his heart ache for her. Maker only knew what destruction the Mandalorians were wreaking upon THIS world. He pulled out his datapad and looked down at the screen. His thumb moved quickly, tapping out a message. //Arriving at Panatha any moment now. Thinking of you. I'll bring you back something nice. Just in case.// The "just in case" was left unspoken. Just in case the Mandalorians destroyed Panatha. Just in case she was left without a home, the same as him. Kyyrk pressed the send button as the announcement rang out across all decks. They had arrived. Kyyrk pulled his helmet on, and exited the armory making a beeline for the hanger.

He could feel a change in the energy. An apprehension that was not present moments ago. Something was wrong. A something that a brief stop at a viewport confirmed: The Mandalorians had blockaded the planet. And though Kyyrk was not as knowledgeable as he once was, he knew a Confederate ship when he saw one. So what the hell were they doing mixed with the Mandalorian line? Kyyrk's brow furrowed under his helmet as he turned away from the viewport. The ground troops had been directed to form up in the hanger, so that's where he was going. If the planet was blockaded, they would not be able to render aid to the troops planet side. They would need a solution. And Amelia von Sorenn would be distracted with more pressing matters. Kyyrk walked up to the group of waiting soldiers, looking between the few remaining loyal Mandalorians, Knights, and other combatants that had responded to the call. "What's the situation?"

 

[Volo Dragr]

Allies- Siv Dragr | Obran

The Bad End of the Blaster- Darth Carnifex | Ingrid L'lerim

Equipment- Galaar Beskar'gam, Stolen Lightsaber, M.I. Model 34 Universal Repeater, Disruptor Pistol, Heavy Pistol

War. It was an essential part of Mandalorian culture. Conflict, Conquest, and Confidence were the Mandalorian Way. It was strange. It felt strange. Wrong. It was that wrong. The same kind he always felt at his most sadistic moments.

It was no different to what Volo had been doing for the past forty years of his life. Fighting. Battling. Against beasts five times his size, or beasts that were ten times his number, sometimes both. Usually both. After all, it wasn't like he hadn't spent his free time sparring with his Beviivod, or the Beskar'ad of this new Mandalorian Enclave.

It wasn't anything new. And yet... it felt wrong. In the right kind of way. It was not the satisfaction of following The Way, it was something... more. Something carnal. Something natural. Something addictive. Something undisciplined.

He liked it.

He hated it.

Fortunately, he didn't have to be in the assault proper. It was easy to push the feeling aside when he directed his focus somewhere more present. Such as the fight on hand. Though it wasn't what he was used to in the jungles of Rishi, it was the same situation. The hunter and the prey.

It almost seemed unfair. Almost. He wasn't particularly invested in the reasoning for the fight. Mandalore was more than a planet, more than a people. Still, though, there had to be justice. Somebody had to pay the price.

By the Resol'nare itself, Volo Skaigh would swear that there was no better people to avenge themselves upon than the perpetrators themselves. He stared down at the body of the puppet king, turning and looking at the bodies that lay around him. The king's protectors. Odd that the king should be a greater warrior than his own protectors. In another life, Volo might have respected him.

He may have even liked him, if the scratches upon his gauntlets VibroSpines were any clue.

A hand reached down to his belt, pulling his heavy pistol free of its holster, keeping it firm in his hand as he turned, stepping over a body, and another, before crouching down by where he had discarded the heavy repeater. There was a distinct crunching, snapping sound. Coming from the chest under his firmly planted foot.

It was the crunch of a charred ribcage breaking.

It only intensified as he stood up, now slinging the weight of the heavy repeater onto himself, exchanging the power cell, sliding the spent one into the empty place the other had occupied. Even as he did so, his hand brushed upon a lightsaber blade, one attached to his belt. One that was not his.

Truthfully, he didn't know quite who the blade belonged to. It had been in his family as long as he'd known it. He didn't care. It was a weapon, the same as any Beskad he had trained with. It simply wasn't the Dark Saber.

Sure, he could have used any other traditional, Beskar, weapon. But with a lightsaber? He could embarrass his opponents. He could defeat them with their own weapon. Without that space magic they liked so much.

Even so, the blade hummed with the Force. The crystal calling out to his hand. A hand that would so constantly pass over it, but never hold it. Still, the crystal called. Like called to like.

On occasion, he would hold the blade in his hand, feel the hum of the crystal. Though he would not acknowledge it. He did not know that this was what the Force felt like. He did not know that like called to like. To him, it was just another weapon.

 

[Alora Vizsla]

Location: The Mine, Panatha

Alora popped open a case the moment they touched down. The resident tech had the autonomous survey drone airborne a second later and watched as it swept out wide and began to ascend for a lofty vantage overhead. It wasn't meant to map the interior of the mine; it was there to keep an eye out on surface-level activity while the beskar-lads and -lasses went spelunking. Always good to know if your enemy rolled up at your back and made leaving more difficult than arriving. At least you could be prepared for a knock-down-drag-out fight -- not that the drone would actually be much help doing anything though.

As usual, Alora sported a small collection of gadgets to slice and tap into gear. It might be a mine, but that didn't meant they had to go in like barbarians! Never knew what the Eternals had sitting around in those mine shafts either. Could be they used it for droid overflow storage.

More importantly, the young warrior wanted to keep an eye on Shai Krayt. With Kranak off in the city, Alora thought a little moral support for their Wardog wouldn't hurt. The unit might be family, but that didn't mean Alora went around telling everyone about certain matters. Wasn't like anyone was concerned Shai couldn't tough it out either. More just a personal desire to be there if anything like what had happened previously seemed about to occur again. No point piling regret atop regret, right?

Once they'd arrived, the full-metal Mandalorian slipped ahead and connected with the nearest control. A few taps of her fingers and the doors snapped open. No need to signal the work was done because only a Jedi would ponder whether the door was truly open or only appeared open -- your eyes deceive you, blah blah. Not, you know, that they were wrong one's eyes could deceive them.

Disruptor pistol drawn, Alora took up her position among those that slipped inside alongside Vulcan Krayt , Shai Maji and Siv Krayt .

Siv seemed to have some luck finding a terminal nearby. Well, it was a mine not a military base. Still, if the Eternals and Enclave ever managed to somehow make amends, Alora was totally recommending a security suite upgrade. Not that anyone ever listened... because it was a mine. Unless it really was droid overflow! Or a secret research base. Or the gateway to a realm of unspeakable horrors and endless nightmares. Yeah, Alora could do without the last one; the rest would be fun.

Honey brown eyes reviewed the data Siv shared. She marked three places on the map that seemed promising to her anyway. Stockpile of material not yet shipped out, equipment storage, and where a big drill was. One of them should have something interesting to decorate the place. It was that or they all started mining from some insanely unstable ore -- but Alora kind of hoped the Eternals already did that hard work for them.

POYO! Shai's Mischief Makers (Erebor Task Force, Tagged Above)
HIYA! Eliz Krayt
ORO? Eternals & co.​

 

[Lyssa Io]

Wearing: Nothing

Armed With: Herself

Outback Carbine

Smart Blaster

With:

House Io Citizens (007 Platoons)

Citizen Equipment:

House Io Citizen Energy Sword

House Io C.D.M.D.C (Single Platoon Only)

DC-15LE (Single Platoon Only)

House Io Assault Radiation Blaster (All other Platoons except Sirens)

DLT-20 Heavy blaster Rifles

Verpine Sniper Rifles (Single shot, breech load)

DC-15s Recharging Commando Pistol

Verpine Shatter Pistol

25mm Radiation Grenade Rounds

Vibroblade (all)

Wrist laser (all)

Environmental Bastion Suits fitted with Bio-Restorative Underlays

Defel Mimickers (Single Platoon only)

Tactical tractor beam projectors (all)

Neural Band (all)

Medpacs

The Cult of The Brain Demon (007 Members)

Siren Corps (2 Platoons, Armed with Assault Radiation Blasters, Dashade Sonic Disruptors, Sonic Grenades, Shock Grenades, DLT-20 Heavy Blaster Rifles)

Medical Nuetralizer Model 1 (007) (Armed with Citizen Energy Swords, DC-17M Commando Rifles, Life Support Packs)

14 hours earlier...


Darth Xiphos stood in front of her assembled forces aboard the Alyosha Series Star Destroyer Dark Judgement. They were in a cleared out hangar, the Dark Blue "Flag" of House Io depicting a stylized figure in black armor on a horse was gigantic in the back ground. Her Model 1 sons, her first Daughter Lyssa, and The Amalgam , one of her most dangerous allies stood next to her.

"The Mandalorians are on the verge of arriving at Panatha, and a critical phase approaches in our Alliance with Empress Ingrid L'lerim ." Darth Xiphos explained to the assembled Organic Citizens hand picked for this assignment as she stood in front of them, wearing a Black Kimono.

"Panatha is the home of the one known as Carnifex, (OOC, also known as Darth Carnifex ) who was expelled by The Empress recently. But we don't expect the former Lord of The Tenth Empire to sit this out while his home is razed. It is highly likely he and his forces will be present. Do not engage if encountered. Both you and they have bigger problems. While The Amalgam takes to orbit, you have been chosen for the task of defending Panatha's shield Generator, which absolutely must survive. Accompanying you will be a number of Brain Demon Cultists, Two Platoons from the Siren Corps, and Medical Nuetralizers."

"If we succeed, than Panatha will hold, and the Enclave will be stymied. If we fail, than Panatha will become a rallying cry that will only embolden the Enclave and who knows how many other enemies of the Empire."

"Friendly Mandalorians will be difficult to distinguish. Make certain they are an enemy before you pull the trigger. The Mandalorians are fierce opponents. They are everything you strive to match and exceed. Do not hesitate or show mercy, for you will be shown none in kind. You were all picked for bloodying Bryn'adul remnants on Honoghr, and that makes you experienced. Do not let it go to your head. Fight smart. Fight together, and most importantly fight with utter brutality. Only these will save you in the fight ahead. Lyssa will have the honor of leading you into battle."

Xiphos paused.

"The past few years have not been pleasant. But we have crossed a threshold. While you have been hard at work, training, I have made a great discovery, a discovery that benefits not just myself but all of the refugees as well. Soon we shall have a true home beyond our ships that bristle with weapons to ward off our enemies. A home that we can call ours. A place we can build a real future from..." she continued. "That is what you fight for: to make sure that future is secured at all costs, not just for yourself, but for the ones who come after you."

Xiphos sweapt her gaze over all present.

"Fight ferociously. And if you die, take as many as you can with you." (KOTOR 2 Reference #67549: 2000 XP) Xiphos told them.

"Prepare for battle." Lyssa ordered. "We should get in there just before the Enclave arrives."

The Citizens dispersed. Among them was a man Xiphos had saved before she was Xiphos, Ted Forrest, now with multiple kills under his belt.

Everyone had a little pre battle ritual. Ted recited the names of his family, murdered in their entirety by the Bryn'adul at Nar Kreeta to fill him with rage and hatred for any enemy that would stand in the way of House Io. He had nothing but the House, and his wrath. He could not have stomached the charity of the Major Factions. Here he was expected to pull his weight and kill with his bare hands if necessary.

Every House Io refugee had a story like his. Whether their losses were at the hands of the Bryn'adul, The Maw or whoever else, they were now Family. They had Purpose, even if it was wrath. Even if that Wrath was directed to those they personally had nothing against.

Forrest, for his end of it, though his training taught him to respect The Mandalorians--House Io, after all, took a few influences from their approach in terms of warfare and survival, didn't much care for them. He found it amazing they could decry the Sith in anything given their own history. Hadn't they annihilated countless peoples themselves? Burned countless worlds? Who were they to condemn the Sith on anything when they were guilty of much the same?

Forrest spent the next Hour meditating in his quarters aboard the Dark Judgement, filling himself with hatred towards the enemy, so he would be motivated to destroy them all the harder. House Io taught that Hatred of the enemy was essential to Victory.

A few hours after that he got ready.

House Io Technology was cutting edge and they had been provided a chance to test experimental Disruptor Weaponry.

House Io wasn't big on subtlety when it comes to firearms, whatever killed the easiest was what was used.

Ted was soon suited up in his environmental Bastion Suit, with fully sealed helmet, colored in the Dark Blue of The House.

He had the honor of being in command of his own Platoon this time. A Brain Demon Cultist, a Shi'ido Force Spawn known as The Conjoined, who resembled a beautiful Sith Pureblood Female in a skintight white catsuit, was second in command, with a Medical Nuetralizer known as Amanda as third in command after him and her.

The weight of the Disruptor Carbine was noticable in his hands. He had been fully kitted out.

They awaited him in the hangar, preparing to depart in an Assassin Class Corvette. The Conjoined smiled sinisterly, flicking short black hair back as he approached.

"Citizen Forrest. A pleasure to be working alongside you once more..." The Conjoined said seductively, slipping into what the Holonet might have referred to as a Kichidere attitude momentarily.

Forrest paid her only a polite nod. Everyone knew how sadistic and depraved the Cult was. That's why Xiphos used them as terror weapons. The Medical Nuetralizer called Amanda, clad in a silver, skintight armorweave catsuit, waved happily at him.

"Everyone ready?" he asked The Conjoined.

"Of course. We should make it just under the wire..." Amanda said in response.

"We ride for Panatha then. Let's show these Mandalorians the fury of House Io." Ted replied...

Present...

The Mandalorians were indeed quite voracious. Lyssa and a new model of Nuetralizer named Alessandra Io had been left with other platoons to defend the facility itself and the witches amongst them were already preparing terrible Rituals at the site of the Generator.

They had barely gotten in themselves before the invasion had begun. Had barely made it to the generator to re-inforce the Ultranauts defensive perimeter.

Ted and his own Platoon had been given the honor of being Pro-Active.

They had been equipped with stolen Defel Mimickers, a type of stealth Generator that made them resemble little more than faint shadows as they moved quietly through streets already getting blasted apart by Mandalorians.

He had sent one part of his team that was armed with repeaters to a tall building with a good view point. The Conjoined had put a blood enchantment on the entire building powerful enough to help it withstand heavy mortar and rocket fire for a short time. The other part of his team had been sent for sniping duty at another building. He was to conduct running battles with his own team and kill targets of opportunity.

It was bad. The Bryn'adul were savage. Ted was reminded of their savagery via the Mandalorians, and his rip and tear instincts kicked into overdrive, fueled by hatred.

He saw a squad of Mandalorians gun down another squad of Eternal Empire Soldiers, and he went forward, uncloaking as he watched them turn a corner as they took a route through a street that led closer to the generator complex.

The others uncloaked behind him, watching the Mandalorians as they got behind the cover of a burnt out APC. The Conjoined hissed a spell, pointing at them...

...which was disrupted as they were shot at from above. A squad of Mandalorians in jetpacks had spoiled the surprise attack by flying overhead at just the wrong time and spotting them. One of his troops died instantly when their head exploded, and worse, the Mandalorians they had been stalking now turned to shoot at them immediately and relentlessly, trying to keep them pinned.

Ted dived, signaling his troops to scatter, but another bit it, taking a heavy blaster bolt right to the chest.

He fired upward, praying this Carbine was as deadly as they claimed. Three of his surviving troops all pointed upwards and fired their Magnetic Disruptor Carbines also.

One Mandalorian screamed in pure agony as the Magnetic bolt hit, bypassing his shields and armor. These prototypes were equivalent in strength to a Class D Disruptor and it showed by breaking the Mandalorian and his armor down as he fell from the sky, basically a meat puddle by the time he hit the ground. The sky team dodged the shots, firing the grenade rounds, which were detonated early by lightning bolts from the Conjoined's fingers. The blast still close enough that it slammed the surviving citizens backward, even as they were getting shot at. The Conjoined acted quickly, hissing a spell of Darkness that rendered the immediate area almost pitch black to the Mandalorians. It wouldn't last long. But it bought precious time, as the House Io citizens were able to see perfectly fine, as the spell didn't affect them. The Mandalorians were able to compensate with thermal imaging in their helmets however and were back to shooting, but the precious few seconds The Conjoined had bought Ted and the others cost them as Ted was able to get off another shot at a more heavily armed Mandalorian spraying their position with repeater fire. He broke down partly into a meat puddle himself, screaming to the last.

The House Io Citizens, now down three of their team, whipped out the faster firing DC-15LE's, modified for explosive shots and began firing, actually managing to drive back the ones on the ground shooting at them momentarily, The Conjoined managing to snap one of their necks with the Dark Side, then dodging the spray of shatter fire that came her way.

Ted in the meantime, continued shooting at The Mandalorians in the sky, but they were dodging his shots, and the carbine, while powerful, fired slow between shots as a safety measure to avoid overheating. One dived down firing a grapple cable that successfully pulled the carbine from his hand.

Not good.

Ted went for his pistol but a second flying Mandalorian got a magnetic cable around his wrists and yanked him, dragging him across the street.

Ted hadn't gone through all that chit before at Nar Kreeta just to die now though...

His fingers managed to touch his wrist mounted laser, and he cut through the cable, freeing himself, but all his weapons save his energy sword had fallen away and his armor was badly scuffed.

The Mandalorian landed in front of him and he dived and rolled instinctively, the purple, flat, double edged like energy sword coming alive with a buzz like an electric shaver as he swiped upward, cutting his rifle in two and making him draw his beskad.

"You're not with Eternal Empire... bloodied, sure, but still far from truly experienced..." The Mandalorian noted grimly. "Mercenary?"

"Does it matter?" Ted grunted back, starting to notice the pain from being dragged across the ground.

"I suppose not. Die, Sith Lackey."

(Music from Kirk and Spock's duel in "Amok Time" Plays)

Ted was suddenly fending of savage swings and stabs from his far more experienced attacker, His beskad moved like the scythe of the grim reaper himself, and after the sixth swing the energy sword was knocked from his hand, tumbling to the ground.

Ted was ducking and rolling out of the way of the next assaults, until a kick from the Mandalorian sent him hurling into a damaged speeder.

Only Ted clapping his hands together at the last moment on the blade stopped it from being driven into his chest. He kicked the Mandalorian's left leg out, making him lose his balance, though Ted tumbled with him to the ground, where the Mandalorian scrambled on top of him trying to drive his vibro knife through Ted's face.

Ted held him at bay with both arms, saw the slick green of poison on the edge of the blade and his wrestling training kicked in and he yelled, hurling the Mandalorian over and away from him with all his might. He scrambled away, diving for his energy sword...only to get magnetic grapple cable wrapped around his legs, making him tumble forward, fingers ever so close to reaching the energy sword yet ever so far away as he was dragged back to the Mandalorian. He managed to grab a small chunk of broken debris and hurled right at the Mandalorian's helmet, stunning him just as he was about to aim that wrist rocket at him, which threw off its trajectory and set it tumbling into a building where a minor explosion occurred soon after.

Ted grabbed his own vibro knife and cut the cables, freeing himself just in time because the Mandalorian tried to tackle him yet again. This time however, he rolled out of the way, scrambling up...

"So...got a little fight in you after all..." The Mandalorian grumbled.

"Shut the feth up and use your weapons..." Ted snapped, readying his knife in an inverted fashion.

"Gladly..." The Mandalorian snapped, grabbing his beskad and his poisoned knife and lunging at Ted.

All Ted could do was roll and duck for the next few seconds, diving back as the Mandalorian was clearly the more experienced duelist.

Part of the Beskad reached him and tore a gash into his armored side, the tip barely missing flesh and he stumbled back, barely evading the next lunge, firing his wrist laser at the jetpack as he dodged.

The beam hit something sensitive, because there was a warning whine from it and a few sparks and the Mandalorian was frantically disconnecting the pack and tossing it aside, where it soon caught fire than exploded--just as Ted tackled him with a roar, having found a length of the Mandalorian's own damaged grapple cable and successfully looping it under the helmet, where Ted tightened it into a garrote and pulled, having found his inner Frank Castle at last, wrapping his legs around his burly opponents arms to prevent him from freeing himself. Ted pulled back with all his might until he heard a snap and felt his opponent go limp. He yanked harder, feeling another snap just to be sure.

The Mandalorian was dead.

Ted scrambled up, swiped his energy sword from the ground.

"How's that for a Sith Lackey you fethin' bucket?" he asked the corpse, before running back to his squad.

His Squad was now engaged in direct combat with the Mandalorians, having managed to shoot and kill the last of the flying Mandalorians attacking them as well as a fair number of the ground squad they had tried to ambush before getting ambushed themselves. One of his Squad had shown true valor, cutting down not one but two different Mandalorians armed with his energy sword, while Amanda had gotten the most kills of the squad, shooting four through their visors. The Conjoined was holding off a Mandalorian armed with Crushgaunts, trying to keep them from closing around her throat when he was shot from behind by Ted, who had grabbed a fallen LE rifle and hit him with full auto, turning his back into a smoking crater.

Ted did not hesitate at sniping the others. Even if their armor blocked the shot, it distracted them enough for other members of his team to attack and slay them.

"Sitrep. Now." he ordered.

"We lost four. Woods, Mactavish, Price, and Treyarch..." the Organic Citizen known as Stevens answered. All the survivors had taken some bad injuries but Amanda was already busily treating them.

"We can't stay here..." Ted replied, picking up his carbine. "Too exposed. They'll likely be on us in the next few minutes... Conjoined, destroy the bodies, take their Equipment. Leave as little evidence as possible."

The evil Witch smirked and unleashed lightning from her fingertips, destroying the bodies of their own slain. They had all been told this might be necessary to prevent identification by their enemies and prevent equipment seizure.

Ted checked his stealth belt, finding it ruined. But he hadn't come here to rely on being sneaky.

"Squad, on me.." he said, moving through the ruined streets, everyone now mimicking what they had seen their Mandalorian opponents doing as they moved from cover to cover, looking to engage the next set of hostiles, this time hopefully on their terms...

Meanwhile...

Lyssa Io and the platoons stationed around the complex and within had been equally proactive.

They had done their best to set up booby traps and fortifications before the Mandalorians arrived and started actively attacking the complex, the Witches having enchanted the generator itself to try and render it more resilient to damage like explosives or Ion attacks. The blood of captured Mandalorians Lyssa and a few Witches had provided fueled that enchantment.

Lyssa battled it out in the streets, her blades morphed into arms, sprinting towards Mandalorians at superhuman speeds and dicing them to pieces within seconds of reaching them, disguising herself as one of the victims and using this to ambush and annihilate whole squads by surprise.

She had not gone alone in such an endeavor. Her newest Sister a Nuetralizer that was also functioning as an ideological and spiritual leader named Alessandra was surely rallying the Citizens defending the Generator Complex, unleashing furious storms of repeater and radioactive blaster bolts that did heavy damage to armor, shields, and especially tissue by soaking it in poisonous Radiation particles.

These Mandalorians had apparently always fascinated Xiphos at a distance. She'd honestly been an admirer of their culture and still was. She regarded it as an accident of their own unthinking Fanaticism that they were to be ripped and torn also, until it was done.

Lyssa regarded it as unfortunate also. Her encounters with Mandalorians such as Adenn Kyramud and Anashja Tal had shown her they were deadly warriors with honor, worthy of respect. She was honestly surprised at how long some of them had lasted against her design so far...far longer than those pathetic worms amongst the Maw had.

Her Outback Carbine solved problems at range the same way Robert Patrick-ing them up close did. It was frightfully accurate, and easy to score shots through the visor with...

Of course, now and then there were those troublesome few that managed to last longer than thirty seconds but Lyssa inevitably analyzed their combat pattern and defeated them as she rampaged through the streets, supporting the Ultranaut defenders by killing particularly sneaky or skilled teams, morphed to look like she wore a skintight chromium catsuit.

But it was still bad. Worse than bad. The Mandalorians were serious about seizing this place, and Lyssa soon found herself sticking closer to the perimeter. These were just relatively small amounts of teams she had killed so far, and even her Droid algorithms made her dread what would happen when a truly larger Force arrived than the scattered units that had made it there first. She had killed maybe seventy Mandalorians so far...

Kranak Vizsla

Sergeant Omen

Thonn Rokkal

 

[Alessandra Io]

Location: Outside Power Generator Complex, Canthar - Panatha
Objective: II - Not One Step Back
Allies: EE ( QEMD-15 Echo Ingrid L'lerim Kuben Woods ) │ HI ( Lyssa Io ) │ CIS ( Kyyrk )
Enemies: ME ( The Operator Sasha Kryze Volo Dragr Domina Prime Obran Andras Garon Siv Dragr ) │ Sith ( Darth Carnifex )
Direct Engagement: Kranak Vizsla Gwyneira Vizsla Thonn Rokkal Sergeant Omen

14 Hours Before

She was so beautiful.

Alessandra was not specifically programmed to feel awe. Rather her programming was designed to facilitate the expression and sensation of a vast range of emotions, in other words, the building blocks of sentience. However, having been initialized only a couple days before, there were yet many emotions, sensations, and affections which forced her digital-biological cognition systems to do an analysis, assessing why she felt that specific emotion in that moment. This was one of those moments,

Unfortunately, those assessments failed, more often than not.

Like so, it failed here as well. Nevertheless, the Nuetralizer remained thoroughly entranced by Mother’s words to the family, her organic photoreceptors unblinking as the Matriarch emphasized the gravity of this mission to the homeworld of the most powerful Sith bloodline in galactic history and the might of the foe they were set to face. The Mandalorians were resurgent once again, seeming to have shaken off humiliation at the hands of the Sith to attempt their revenge at those they perceived to be their oppressors, as misguided as it might have been. Many within the family held a level of respect for the Mandalorians, but Alessandra had formed her own opinion on the beskar-clad barbarians. Knowing that hatred was a key ingredient to victory, Alessandra had gone out of her way to cultivate that emotion, downloading news reports, novels, pictures, and yet more documenting various Mandalorian engagements in recent history. Processing everything from the massive, false-flag attack on Umbara to a small-scale, though no less brutal massacre in a nightclub on Barbatos, the Bio-Organic HRD quickly unlocked the emotion that she needed, albeit with some difficulty.

None of the files had been easy to process.

Nevertheless, the Nuetralizer had willed herself through it. She knew that she might very well see similar horrors in a few hours, but she calculated that the more Mandalorians she killed, the fewer opportunities they might have inflict such atrocities on Panatha and elsewhere.

Before long, Alessandra donned her bodysuit and was on a corvette down to Panatha, standing shoulder to shoulder with her older sister, Lyssa Io…

Present

“The Mandalorian believes us to be no better than stormtroopers of ancient. He thinks he will fell us like grass and in doing so, showcase his talents in savagery and violence. He does not know that in us, he will find a foe that exceeds him in both! Citizens, show him the power of our Matriarch and the bloodthirst of our family! Rip and tear!”

Her voice echoed out across the lines of citizen-soldiers, Sirens, and Nuetralizers as they waged war within and without the complex, sounding out even over the sounds of blaster and slugthrower fire, with nigh-preternatural volume. In the process, the Nuetralizer did what she was programmed to do, rallying the citizens and supporting any who appeared to be flagging in their resolve. House Io was growing, so it stood to reason that there were many who were unaccustomed to the level of violence found in an active warzone. For each of them, Alessandra offered her assistance, becoming the soft-spoken, understanding nun, where she had been the firebrand preacher only moments before.

Rising up after comforting a wounded citizen, Alessandra moved to link back up with her older sister, sending a direct comm to the mysterious, massive quarantine droid ( QEMD-15 Echo ) as she did, who her sensor probe had identified within the city.

“This is Alessandra Io, Chaplain Nuetralizer of House Io, transmitting to Echo. We need the streets cleared at the generator complex! Mandalorians are attacking in force!”

Without waiting for an answer, Alessandra continued to move ahead, seeing her sister in the distance as the Advanced Prototype attacked the advancing Mandalorians with her carbine and bladed arms. So far, the defense was proceeding smoothly, but the Mandalorians as of yet showed no signs of exhaustion or letting up.

If she survived, Alessandra knew that she would have much to analyze and process from this day.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Eversor Bodysuit
  • Gauntlets
    • FAE/MDW-01 Active Defense System - R
      • Pink Vapor Nano Missile
    • Hekler'Kok WMMW-01 - R/L
      • Shotgun (2) - 10 Gauge Explosive
    • LPD-42 ParticleJet Miniaturized Maser - L
  • Energy Shield
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Droid
    • IBIS Drone
• Eversor Rings
• House Io Citizen Energy Sword
• Mini-Drone Explosive (4)