Bloody Swarms - The SJO Dominion of the Roche Hex

[Maria Bentley]

Location: Stationed on the Sith ships
Objective: Down with the Monarch
Allies: The Sith
Enemies: Everyone else, Rust

Maria was getting sick of waiting, whenever there was an exciting object it was always preceded by a significant amount of standing around and tapping her foot, trying to not to kill clueless recruits of grunts who stared her down when she didn’t appear to notice. She’d already been told off for scolding one with burning hot tea when she’d spotted one particular person doing in.

“For all that is forsaken, open you damn thing! Before I lose my CPU!” She shouted, much to the amusement of the people behind her, yet they dare not even emit a chuckle. She cocked her head towards the floating device as one of them seemed to twitch, perhaps it was time! Her suspicions were confirmed seconds later when it snapped open into a blood red gateway! It was surprisingly huge! Enough for her and several of the grunts to charge through some kind of army.

“Ugh, finally. You. In.” She pointed promptly to the nearest grunt she could find. Then flinging her hand in the direction of the portal in a casual way. “If you get through, come back and you can have a promotion. If you don’t, well. One problem at a time they say.” Maria then slapped him on the back and sent him tumbling into the portal, much to the horror and amusement of some.

“Motivation speech, blah blah blah! Let’s go kill some Royalty! Whoever collects the most Jedi scalps get an extra special reward! Don’t be slacking off now, did you all have a drink and go to the toilet beforehand yes? I don’t want any more complain from the droids that wash, am I clear?”

By this time a very haggard and utterly smug grunt walked right back through the portal, seemingly pleased with himself. “You made it back!? Excellent, you’re promoted. To guard duty. Your backside stays here. Along with you lot.” She’d used her force power to make 1/3rd of the force drop to one knee to signify that they were to stay. Satisfied, she turned back toward the blood red portal and calmly walked through it, her troops falling in step quite quickly, the creatures scampering in the most tame way they could, still occasionally knocking someone on their ass.

She emerged in the toilet. Wow. How utterly hygienic and appropriate. She didn’t really care too much about the locale, but couldn’t they have gotten any closer! Regardless, she directed the troops to stay behind her, then choosing one of the tunnels and beginning to walk down it, eager to find someone to fight.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Gir Quee]

Location: Krakana-class Tactical Command Ship Obi-Wan Kenobi, near the Roche System
Objective: Establish outer security cordon
Allies: [member="Sentus Olan"] | [member="Varindar Asyt"]
Enemies: [member="Joon"] | [member="Corin Zanith"]
Post #2

"There's a lot of new signatures there..." said Allet, gesturing out a cloud of holographic signatures that suddenly arrived at the system.

With only the Crystal Grav Trap to give them eyes on the asteroid field, they could only determine mass and orientation of objects. That had made an interesting parlor game up until now, as they all attempted to guess where each signature would go. A good many of the signatures previous to this had halted before the belt before entering on pre-determined flight paths dictated by the local traffic control. Many of the larger signatures, likely bulk freighters, seemed destined for an area near the center of the belt where the Shining Path was under construction, while a great many smaller signatures of much smaller craft seemed to move and go at random. But this new group of signatures was far different in both its size and attitude. Perhaps more importantly, other signatures around it began to disappear as well.

"This is a conflict of some sort," decided Gir, flicking a switch on his headset, "deactivate the cloaking device. Announce General quarters."

"Yes sir."

Seconds later, the klaxon of general quarters began to sound through the ship as thousands of men and droids prepared the massive vessel for war. In the Space Operations Center, the hazy mass silhouettes vanished as holo-graphic representations of actual ships began to take their place. A number of his command staff commented on their guesses and traded credits based on various bets. But Gir ignored them all, focusing instead of the Sith armada that had arrived. Even now, Captain Marrab had take the liberty to swing the Obi-Wan Kenobi to the port, pointing the battlecruiser directly at the heart of the Sith war fleet. His comlink crackled as the mon calamari captain contacted him.

"Permission to give them a greeting?"

"Granted," said Gir, walking across the holo-field to a command console.

A quartet of massive, fiery plasma bolts surged out of the ship's Onager-class Rail Cannons towards the sith warcruiser of Darth Animus: the opening salvo from 4th Fleet of what was certain to be long and costly battle. Gir's eyes found Varindar's ships dancing among the fleeing civilian ships, tumbling rocks, and the ferocious sith war fleet. We have to limit civilian casualties. He tapped several buttons on console, releasing many of the ship's starfighters to aid the Jedi hostieler's efforts in beating back the Sith advance. The remaining fighter squadrons spread out around the bow of the Kenobi, forming a starfighter screen to deter any attacks by their sith-controlled counterparts.

 

[Eugen Aker]

Location: Nickel One --> Shipyards
Objective: Get to Shining Path
Allies: SJO ([member="Sko'saht"], [member="Charlie"], [member="Sky'ito Yumi"], [member="John Locke"], [member="Kei Amadis"] )

Jyoti quickly formulated a cheeky quip to Charlie's disbelief about such a regal figure going simply by Spencer, but Sky'ito and a nosey stranger beat her to the punch with equal parts of scolding and snark. While almost making a pastime of teasing her apprentice, she didn't want to lay in on her on top of the others.

"You like bets," she started, trying to inject some levity back into their chat. "So how about this? If I'm right, then you have to buff out the Kitsune, but if I'm wrong, then I'll take you out to Galaxy Corral (a 24/7 buffet on Randon). How about it?"

Before she could get a response from Charlie, her neural implant became flooded with alerts from Silver forces across the belt.

Just as she feared, the Sith had come.

While filtering through the messages, she felt surges of Dark Side energies flowing through Nickel One. She grimaced as she made the horrifying realization the Sith were likely already aboard the colony.

"Feth," she hissed. "I need to get to the shipyards. They've come for it."

"It" referred to the 10km warship currently moored in an SEC shipyard within the belt, a grand product of mechanical (and classic) wizardry that could lay waste to entire sectors. It was little wonder why the Sith wouldn't ever want to see such a weapon deployed against them.

"The Sith may have already infiltrated Nickel One," she alerted the tiny party. "I don't know how, but I can feel them. If that's the case, then we need to reinforce security for the Queen and her cabinet. Yumi, take Charlie with you and get to the Queen. Captain Sko'saht should be able to get you right to the government district. You may need to prep them for evacuation. Now I need to get back to the Kitsune."

Her legs coiled as she started the motion to bound back to the hangars, but stopped as her silver eyes fell on Charlie once more. Expression softening just a tad, she stepped in close, wrapping a gloved hand around the small of her back.

The embrace was fleeting, and no words were exchanged, but Charlie would understand.

She parted from Charlie, gaze lingering on her apprentice for a few more moments before she reluctantly turned and disappeared through a tunnel.

 

[Vertigo]

Location: Nickle One, Hanger.
Objective: Pick a Gun, Any gun.
Assets: Two Houk Ranger Fire team, Fire Support.
Direct Allies: [member="Valkren Calderon"] | [member="Tyrell Caphey"] | [member="Roona Osmari"]

Posts: 5

Name's. “Dex yeah.” Rok he hated his first name. Ruk would have been a proper Houk name. Ruk the chief, general, admiral in charge. Yeah he could get behind that. But Rok. What the hell was a Rok. Who the hell called their son Rok. Houk-thoughts. “Tyrell right,” he gave the medic a shoulder bump which to this writer was a nicer way of hammering heads. “Yeah business comes first.” [member="Tyrell Caphey"]

Wondering to himself about this being a perfect time to shoot Sith with his looted Sith weapon. Arrhhh. As long as these Verpine guns shot and kept shooting, they’d do. “Bet’s still on right. Best shot. Loser buys the drinks?” He still had the grenade launcher, he was confident in blowing a few things up. How many rounds did Houks take to put them on their back in the pub, the losers credchit might find out later!

Waiting on the call to move. Dex adjusted his gun again, getting it just right for fun. “Shoot Sith, they fall down, same as anyone.” That’s what he was planning to do. Only with grenades. He picked up an extra line of ammo and strapped it around his armor, then moved where he was told. “Gonna get me some fresh sith boots.” The other houks around joined in the cheering rumble, morale was good, real good.

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Location: Nickel One - Hangar​

Objective: Fend off Sith Forces​

Assets: First Ranger Special Tactics Unit,​

Third Ranger Infantry.​

Post count: #4​

___________________________________________________​

Calderon wrapped his fingertips on the grip of his rifle gently as the group of rangers and verpine soldiers waited, anxious to hear where the first breach would be at if the Sith ships were truly here.

"Sir." Lowder spoke up suddenly, receiving a long range transmission from a separate ranger unit on the other side of the facility.

"Power readings are spiking up big time in the sewage systems. Getting mixed signals from the soldiers though.."

The specialist's own eyes widened behind his visor as another transmission came through.

"They're saying..Spiders, sir. Boss I can't make this out but I think we've got Sith troops and something else coming out of the damn toilets!"

Lieutenant Harris slowly turned his head towards Valkren, cocking a brow behind his helmet as he muttered out some words. "Coming out of the toilets? I knew they were Sith scum but, really?"

Valkren stared out the hangar bay doors, his mind cluttered with thoughts of the enemies movements and their plan. What were they going for, did the Sith know about the ship? Was this directly targeting a higher-level Silver Jedi Order member? Who was still present on Nickel One?

The thoughts suddenly vanished from his mind, replaced with knowledge of the duty that he was to uphold.

"Dex, Caphey! Hate to do this to you guys, but you're going dumpster diving! Take as many men as you need and head to the sewage system, kill whatever the Sith have down there and report back. Raiders are with me, we support the Third Infantry within the facility and take the fight directly to this sith." Valkren turned on his heels and rangers and verpine all around the group in the hangar mobilized, moving to different areas of Nickel One. The colonel stopped for a moment and turned about, pointing at the two rangers he had just addressed briefly. Already being a good distance away, he transmitted through his helmet to them.

"One more thing, stay in touch. One of you will be buying the whole division drinks after we're done with this bet." Valkren cracked a smirk, before turning back around to jog out of the hangar, with Lowder in the lead directing the team down the corridors towards the last known location of the Sith troops.

[member="Vertigo"] | [member="Beltran Rarr"] | [member="Roona Osmari"] | [member="Tyrell Caphey"] | [member="Maria Bentley"]

 

[John Locke]

​

Location: Bridge of the Shining Path

Objective: 3: Prepare the Shining Path for battle

Post: 5

Allies: [member="Kei Amadis"] | [member="Jyoti Nooran"] | Various Engineers | Jefferies | [member="Gir Quee"]
____________________________________

At first the blaring klaxons of the sensor warnings where lost within the sheer number of flashing red lights that surrounded him, the holographic displays filling his vision until the rising alarm finally dragged his attention down to the side. John felt a cool sliver of ice sliding down the back of his spine as she forced himself to sit up straighter, as he waved his hand transferring all his damage control screens to the side, almost flinging them over towards Jefferies as he flicked on his comms. "Master Amadis, it looks like we have visitors now, and there's only one reason I can think that they'd show up here. I need to fix those systems and get the main weapons back. I'm going to pull us away from Nickel One, I'd rather not be a sitting target if we have the choice. I'm setting Jefferies here to run the board and liaise with you. Call out if you need anything from us and we'll get you whatever we can." Shutting off the commlink John nodded at Jefferies before spinning around to look at everyone else scattered around the bridge.

"If I can have your attention, it looks like the Sith have shown in the system and I believe they'll be targeting this ship, and I don't know about you but I'm not gonna let them have it. I know none of you signed up for this, you're engineers and technicians, but we've always stood together and I hope you'll be with me now as we take the ship out for a trial by fire." turning back to face the front of the bridge John pulled up the ship's sensors and systems. "Start charging weapons and disable the limiters, comms contact nickel one and ask them to disengage their docking clamps. Helm, plot us a course away from the asteroid and put us in between the Sith and the Asteroid. It's full of civilians, and the very least we can do is stand in the way until the other military units in the system can react to them. Sensors, you have 5 minutes then I want a detailed breakdown of the enemy ships and someone get me Admiral Quee please." As the denizens of the bridge turned away to their tasks John took a deep breath and depressed a button, recording a message to be sent out. "Admiral Quee, Master Nooran, by the time you get this I will have disengaged the docking clamps and will be bringing the Shining Path up to a war footing and sill deploys to a position in the path of the Sith fleet. We have our shields and weapons coming online and I intend to act as an anvil for the rest of your forces to engage. I await any further commands."

Swinging back to face the rest of the crew John nodded, "Ok, pull us out slowly. Once we're 1 kilometre out from the dock start bringing up our shields and bring all weapons to full charge. Comms, do we have anyone else out there we can liaise with near to the station? ask them to fall in to protect our flanks now, and someone pull up the red alert please." Slowly, like an iceberg building up momentum the behemoth that was the Shining Path started inching away from the dock as it started to pick up speed, the faint shimmering across its surface signifying the shields that slowly came up, wrapping the ship in it's protective embrace as Nickel One fell away behind the ship driving towards the Sith like a gigantic rapier.

 

[Tyrell Caphey]

Location: Nickle One, Hangar.
Objective: Investigating the sewers
Allies: [member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Vertigo"] [member="Roona Osmari"]
Posts: 4

Listening to the Dex's talk about the bet and the Siths he couldn't help to smile abit inside the helmet. Weapons was ready. Thoughts of what and how many they were went through the corporals mind. He quietly made up a plan on what would be the worst, the most favorable and the most probable situation they could encounter and how to deal with it.

''Yes, sir!'' he nodded at the direction of colonel Calderon before turning to Dex's once more. ''Looks like we're about to do the dirty work. You three want to go together on this?'' thinking the three Houks prefered to stay together.

The squad gathered up including Dex and his two comrades. ''Alright! Me and Dex will take the lead and I want everyone in a tight formation down there. We don't want anyone to get lost! We'll advance in a staggered column to produce as much firepower to the front and the back as possible, it'll also make it easier to relocate firepower where it needs to be. Stay close to the walls. Dex, I suggest one of you to walk in the que if we're ambushed and the other in the middle as a resource, you good with that?''

 

[Charlie Nooran]

​

[SIZE=10pt]Location: Nickle One[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Objective: Save the Queen and Kill the Sith[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Allies: SJO [member="Sko'saht"] [member="Sky'ito Yumi"] [member="Jyoti Nooran"] (bai bai)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Enemies: Sith [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Directly Engaging: [/SIZE][member="Arlen Rossi"] (soon)

[SIZE=10pt]Jyoti wasn’t the only one that had felt the surge of the darkside. Charlie stood there as the knot in her stomach twisted and formed a stone heavier than anything she had ever felt. Frowning, this wasn’t a good sign especially since they were here for diplomatic purposes. The Queen and the Verpine could see this as the Jedi bringing the Sith to them. The bet lingered on her mind as it was the last moment of happiness that she felt before the bad feeling formulated. Jyoti began to give orders, duty rose above the fun they were having and Charlie listened with every ounce of her attention span. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]The orders were something she wasn't completely fond of. They were separating and Charlie fought the urge to protest. Jyoti was the Master and she knew better. One day Charlie would have to be separated consistently on the battlefield from her Master - today was just the start of it. Nodding, the young padawan knew her role in all of this and planned on executing it to the best of her abilities. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Moments such as this were ones that she dreaded, what if something happened? She couldn’t do anything to help beyond what she was being told. “Yes, Master.” it was all she could say despite other things she wanted to say - this wasn’t the place nor the time. Standing there, she tried to smile as the Echani Jedi looked back at her. Soon the young K’paur girl found herself being embraced. The gesture was unexpected, but welcomed. It was a bit better than the shoulder pats she always got. It was brief and Charlie stood there as the woman ran down the tunnel. She wanted to go with her more than anything - even her body involuntarily took a step towards the tunnel. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Those weren’t her orders though, instead she unclipped the lightsaber from her belt and looked towards the others. “Keep up.” The Force flowed through the young padawan’s legs as she took off heading towards where their original objective was. Time was crucial and she couldn’t stand there much longer, if she did she might have disobeyed her orders. She didn’t run too fast, Sky’ito and Sko were still able to keep up, Charlie just needed to move. [/SIZE]

 

[Sky'ito Yumi]

Objective 3: Nickle One
Objective: Talking Nicely
Peps: [member="Charlie"] [member="Jyoti Nooran"] [member="[COLOR=#7a98a2]Sko'saht"][/COLOR]
Sus: [member="Arlen Rossi"]
Post: 3

[SIZE=10.5pt]Once again Sukai got a death stare from the Padawan, what had she done this time? 'wait is Jyoti that type of master, great no she hates me even more'. [/SIZE]Before she could give a response to apologize for her action a sudden cryptic wave of dark energy came, slamming into her body as a thousand or so people lives suddenly snuffed out, a sinister motive emanating from the ends of the system. They had arrived, but that was not all, another presence, one seeming to be pure evil, like bringers of death was mixed into the dark feeling, beings filled with blood lust for no rhyme or reasons, 'what in the force has fallen upon us today'.

[SIZE=10.5pt]In an instant Master Nooran started to issue out order, and sense or calmness vanishing, replaced with urgency, Sukai's facial expression changing to a stern stoic 0ne. "I felt it to master a short sharp dark feeling coming from inside the complex, I suspect it was the man who talked with us not moments ago though perhaps [member="John Locke"] know more about the current situation". No doubt the complex would be fitted sensor and security devices to detect and phenomenon’s that enter, unless the Sith where able to disguise their attacks or sabotage somehow. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]As for taking Charlie with her to the Queen's chamber? considering the already icy relationship between the two which only seemed to deteriorate even more she was uncertain if that was a good idea, but orders where order. "Yes, master I will make sure no harm comes to her", Sukai replied, watching the two as they embraced, the love between master and Padawan being quite the site, she was almost jealous, the only thing her master did was shoot marshmallows at her during training and often make bad puns[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]With the Jyoti now rushing towards her own objective Sukai quickly unclasped her saber staff turning around to see Charlie taking off, giving a shall quip she was all too eager to challenge. Using a small amount of the force speed coupled with her natural abilities Sukai easily caught up with the young Padawan, " I have kept up... now what"? It was partially a joking tonne but also semi-serious Sukai had never been put in charge of anything, more than happy to take orders from a master or military leader, but not as a knight she was suddenly had all these responsibilities.[/SIZE]

 

[grammaticus]

Objective: Kill Them All
Post: 3
Allies: [member="Joon"]
Enemies: [member="Gir Quee"] [member="Varindar Asyt"]

Darth Animus tasted blood, the rich coppery taste flooding his senses all at once. He had been hit in the head by flying debris, a minor cut he had already sealed with the force. Most people were disgusted by the taste of blood, a primal reaction truthfully. Blood meant injury, and no one in their right mind wanted to be hurt. Animus had a different reaction entirely. It invigorated him, gave him focus, sharpened his senses. Renewed he threw himself into battle at hand, coordinating the dozens of warships in his fleet, and directing the hundreds of fighters that flew in between them. He saw everything so clearly, so sharply. He could see the Star Destroyer twenty kilometers starboard, even though it was far behind his field of vision. Battle Meditation is what they ancient Sith called it. Animus had discovered the technique during one of his expeditions into the Unknown Regions. It was serving him well here.

Mearly sending out a thought, he watched as a cruiser on the edge of the formation fired all its weaponry into one of the larger asteroids. Moments later it broke up, shattering into hundreds of smaller pieces. Seconds later, a flight of Silver starfighters flew into the debris. Animus had sensed they would use the asteroid as a staging base to launch an assault, even before they had begun heading towards it. The pilots reflexes weren't nearly fast enough to save them, as a series of explosions lit up the void briefly. He did not let his mind linger there, only briefly enjoying the feeling of the pilots lives being extinguished.

At his feet, a young woman was writhing in pain, small jolts of lightning shooting from Animus's hand to her body. It wasn't enough to kill her all at once, but the process was slow and lethal in the end. Her cries of pain were being transmitted across an open channel, forced to remain open by some of the best technical minds in the fleet. It wasn't saying much, but it ensured the Jedi and their allies would hear the suffering of those they had failed to protect. He hoped it would drive them to become reckless, and give him his chance.

He watched as one of the leading corvettes in his fleet was torn apart, killed by the massive enemy starship further in the system. He had already begun sending waves of fighters and bombers against, with five of his heaviest warships currently targeting and firing on the ship with everything they had. It wouldn't be enough, but all he needed to do was buy time at this point.

 

[Charlie Nooran]

Location: Nickle One -> Throne Room
Objective: Save the Queen!
Allies: SJO [member="Sky'ito Yumi"] [member="Sko'saht"]
Enemies: NSO; [member="Arlen Rossi"]

Charlie felt Sky’ito catch up to her, this was a good thing and they moved quickly through the small crowds of people. Lightsaber in hand she didn’t turn her head to face the girl, they had gotten to their location and Charlie felt the soles of her boots skid to a stop. Standing near the entrance to the chamber, Charlie finally spoke again to Sko who was right on their tail and to Knight Sky’ito. Orders were orders and they need to evacuate the Queen and the Guards. It seemed already everyone was locking things down.

The small hairs on the nape of her neck stood and she felt a source of the dark side lingering where they stood. It grew thick and Charlie could feel it fueling something else inside of her. She hated the Sith, she hated what they represented – yet remembering her lessons she knew they had to exist. A soft growl came from under her breath as she looked around trying to find the source of it all. A heavy exhale and she looked to Sky’ito next to her. “Take the Queen with Sko and the guard. Get them out of here. You’re more experienced so you’ll be better off fighting on the run with the Queen.”

Rolling her shoulders back, Charlie gripped her lightsaber tighter. “I’ll hold of anyone that comes this way. After I’m done here I’ll meet back up with Master.” It was the end game to her plan, thwack a few Sith and then make it back to help Jyoti with what she was doing. She knew she was probably going to get scolded for not following with Sky and Sko, but this is what made sense in her mind. “Don’t wait for me, just get moving okay?”

Charlie flashed a smile towards the older girl and nodded her head towards the direction of where the Queen was being guarded by her guards. Charlie did her best to keep what she knew was coming under wraps. She felt it several times before, during the fight against the Sith on Kashyyyk and on Charron. “Please carry out our mission Knight Yumi. Maybe the Force be with you.”

 

[Kei Amadis]

Location: At the Front of the Shining Path, trying not to break anything else.
Objective 3: Sith up the Tail Pipe.
Posts: 6
Direct Allies: [member="John Locke"] | Engineers | Many Jefferies and a Dave.

Breathing out in the force and reaching to those around the ship, he felt it too. Comms were not getting around the entire ship reliably, chatter was sporadic. Kei being Kei just got on with his job. [member="John Locke"] “Count on us to get the sensors up.”

By now everyone here was aware what was going on around the ship. The Jedi Master crutch hobbled over strewn parts and equipment, with all the grace of a gungan. Watching as the techs were arguing about exactly what was causing multiple systems to cascade fail one after the other. “Give me goods news. About time we got this girl into the fight.”

“Er. We’ve not got it locked down. Some sort of EWD, electronic warfare device. Must have hit it with us the second they came out of hyperspace.” None of this helped Kei, “well can you fix it?”

“Not with the equipment we’ve got here.” The Galtech employee concluded, “simple fact is we are not battleready yet.” Amadis again found himself unable to stop the threat, and relying on outside help. Whatever signal was being sent to the shining path, he couldn't see it from here.

[member="John Locke"] “Locke, come in. zzzz *static* zzzz they are telling me it’s some sort of Electronic Warfare, can you see a signal from where you are? *zzzz *statc*zzzz” Amadis comm’d in. Then his comms went dead, as the forward areas were fully effected. The lights dimmed to red emergency lightening as they lost power in the most forward parts of the ship. Wait a minute, if it was spreading outward, that means the origin would be where this started.

A lightbulb came on in his mind. Followed by him bumping his head on the ceiling as the gravity went off. Amadis’s stomach turned inside out, Zero-g, always zero-g. Well they weren't prepared for the fabled Amadis plot-crutch! Which he literally reversed around, and out the end a mini thruster fired to bring him closer to the wall, catching hold of something with a bump. "Everyone holding up?" The Jedi master was sensing through the force for any nearby injuries with the sudden release of gravity.

 

[Vertigo]

Location: Nickle One, Sewerage
Objective: Dumpster Diving
Assets: Two Houk Ranger Fire team, Fire Support.
Direct Allies: [member="Valkren Calderon"] | [member="Tyrell Caphey"] | [member="Roona Osmari"]

Posts: 7

“Drinks? You got that backwards chief.” Vertigo rumbled and stomped on forward with Tyrell. [member="Tyrell Caphey"]

Staggered Column. “Yeah. Good call.” Turning to the others. “Come on you 'ouks, don’t keep the corporal or the sith waiting.” The other Houks at a heavy stomp kept pace behind them, which wasn’t fast although you could hear the three of them down the hall clanging against the floor. A staggered column would give them a better chance of quickly responding to an ambush. With these new weapons they’d picked up for the first time, they could use that edge.

Wasn’t long till they found the access port, pulling back the hatch, the two other houks looked down. The smell was about as you’d expect. One rumbled something in Houk-tongue. “No it doesn’t smell like dinner.” Dex rumbled back in basic. Dropping his heavy weight down, getting through that access port was a tough fit, he did, but the second, wider Houk got jammed above him. They had to give him a shove from the top to get him through, leaning on him to force him down. “Ahhhh I think he’s had enough dinners.” The third Houk remarked to [member="Tyrell Caphey"] as he helped shove the other Houk in.

Dex looked about. Wasn’t too bad down here, lot of garbage, easy to get stuck though. Reminded him of his uncle’s kitchen back home. Eventually they made it and formed up into a staggered column, spaced as instructed. “Don't see nothin' you?" The widest of the three Houks poked his barrel through the muck on the floor, speaking to anyone.

There were a lot of corridors and sub sections down here, it made it hard to know which direction to look. Then they heard the splatter of unwelcome feet...

 

[Tanaski Yumi]

Objective: Hellgate
Location: Charros IV space
Allies: [member="Gi Gregain"] - [member="Varindar Asyt"]
Enemies: Joon - [member="Corin Zanith"]

Asyt gave a short but decisive answer and Tana's query, himself now able to see the amassing Sith fleet near the edge of the system, "roger that hotel girl and wallpaper, will form up on you in a bit". Launching his fighter forward the Jin Jedi slowly flew closer to the duo, weaving and dodging around the asteroid and debris fields, the Sith not the smartest in their attack but simply firing wildly upon jumping out of hyper space. "My first space battle, against such a large fleet, this is going to be an interesting fight", taking out the shield generators first and hanger bays, they would need a few more star fighters on their side.

In the distance Tana could see the SJO fleet firing upon the enemy ships, seeming to rip up a Sith be ripped up the Kenobi named star ship on here side, "wait was no Obi-one usually the negotiator type? would it not make more sense to call the ship Anakin or something"? It was of no matter now, the SJO deploying their fighter screen, the Sith in turn hurling waves of fighters and bombers at them, seeming to disregarding the array of scrap metal and other floating objects in between them and the Jedi.

Opening a lick Tana contacted [member="Gir Quee"], "Admiral what are our orders? intercept the enemy ships or sneak attack on them once their fighter cover it out of the way and try and take down one of the capital ships"?

 

[John Locke]

​

Location: Bridge of the Shining Path, Roche Asteroid Field

Objective: 3: Prepare the Shining Path for battle

Post: 6

Allies: [member="Kei Amadis"] | [member="Jyoti Nooran"] | Various Engineers | Jefferies | [member="Gir Quee"]

Engaging: [member="Corin Zanith"]
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The sparking of weapons sparking against the shields of the Shining Path looked like a burst of fireworks crackling on the viewscreens in front of him. The weapons fire of the approaching ships wasn't much of a threat to the leviathan closing with them yet, but in a normal fight the same would not be true...only this really wasn't much of a normal fight. With the power fluctuations at the bow of the ship messing with the systems, the Ship's primary weapons remained stubbornly offline. Without the thunderbolt punch of the mass drivers, it looked like they'd have to do this the hard way. "Helm, bring us up to battle speed, take us right up at the approaching ships, weapons, as soon as we get in range target the lead ship and hit it with everything we've got." The more of the sith fleet they could whittle down at range the better. or at least hte less risk to themselves. "Jefferies, watch the fore power systems if that error starts creeping towards the shields I want to know right away."

His dark eyes locked onto the sensor map the impromptu ship captain flicked on his comms, "Master Amadis, can you hear me? An EW device makes sense but to have started the cascade so early I think it must have been smuggled onto the ship previously. Otherwise, all we've got are the sith fleet approaching us, and if they can transmit this kinda attack over a distance then we're in a lot bigger trouble." The cyborg's brow furrowed in distraction at the sound of the screams being broadcast through the system. "Sensors, lock down which ship is transmitting that, if I have to work through their entire fleet I will but it'll be the flagship, their Admiral will want to be the one providing this...performance." With no Rangers, no troops on board there wasn't much that John could do to save the victim, but if he could spot the sick mind who had started this, he'd do his utmost to see they paid for this. "Comms, get the verpine and other Silver Jedi forces online, I'm starting to feel a little naked out here alone." A ship this size was a fleet killer, but a smart admiral could still outmanoeuvre it and it would be a shame for the Shining Path to be destroyed its first flight out of the yard.

As the behemoth closed with the enemy fleet the turrets that dotted its surface all rotated, orientating themselves forward, lined up at the command of computers driven by a human intelligence. The Sith had come storming into the system intent on terrorising the Verpine, on taking or destroying this ship before it had a chance to launch and now they'd find themselves hoist on their own arrogance. "Fire." A single word, one that didn't seem to carry the weight you'd expect, but the firestorm it unleashed lit up the heavens and thousands of weapons opened fire, washing over the sith fleet in a veritable tsunami of power that threatened to swamp them.

 

[Varindar Asyt]

Objective: Hellgate
Location: Charros IV
Allies: [member="Gir Quee"] [member="John Locke"] [member="Tanaski Yumi"] [member="Sentus Olan"] [member="Gi Gregain"]
Enemies: [member="Joon"] [member="Corin Zanith"]

Varindar was now on her own when an asteroid was blasted out of the way; hitting the command deck of the enemy flagship was one thing, and even hitting the enemy admiral with a proton torpedo's blast, with its survival being due to the enemy CIC being some distance from the hull, but disaster struck her wingmen. While it might have killed off Wallpaper and the others in the squadron, the debris from that asteroid were buffeting other ships in the enemy formation. Even then she was a good distance away from that asteroid, and what fragments did hit left her without any particle shields left. Plus it may have been best for her to break off the attack; the Shining Path opened fire on several Sith ships as the Sith attempted to open a channel to her where she could hear the screams of a prisoner the Sith took as she was tortured. May as well make my wingmen's deaths count: this amount of damage was rather limited, she thought, while Tana and Gi were both some distance away, and she used their positions in the Force to help regroup among this sea of rocks and debris.

"My wingmen were shot down; I'm returning to regroup"

 

[Maria Bentley]

Location: Stationed on the Sith ships
Objective: Down with the Monarch
Allies: The Sith
Enemies: Everyone else, Rust

Maria moved forwards for about three paces before stopping. Her upper body fell fowsrd and her hand slammed down into her knees for support as she completely and utterly began to laugh her heart out. A few tears ran down her face as she took in a few rasping breaths. When asked if she was okay by one of the grunts behind her, she brushed off the concern with a simple wave and straightened up again. “This is quite literally the march of the Shit Lords. A low point for the Sith Lords it I could say so myself. Hey you, stick your head up that pipe, if someone flushed it might vacuum you right into their lines! Yeah I know that’s not how it works, but you’d definitely have their remains all over you. No, no no. Not blood and guts, well. Depends on what they ate. Yeah yeah leave it alone.” Maria carried on teasing the recruit behind with no sign of stopping. She imaginined the recruit with the ‘shit eating’ grin from earlier would have loved this place.

Finally reaching what could be called the second level of sufferage, Maria then finally decided that it was time for her to relay our some orders. “Right, We’ve no doubt got some enemies intent of flushing us back down, so we need to get out the plunger and dislodge the sticky bastards from their no doubt defensive positions. Right, since they are good at getting rid of unwanted pests, we can call you monster guys the plumbers. I want some people on recon going further up ahead, you’re floaters. This place as a lot of tunnels, so I want some of you to defend our flank, you’re the blockage. As for me, I’m the goddamn exterminator, gonna clean this place up.” Once again, no one dared laugh, but there was quite a selection of snickers from the people accompanying her.

“Right everyone, let’s close the lid on this.” With that Maria tensed her legs and shot forwards, the ravenous creatures following her in suite. She knew they’d be waiting, it’s what she wanted. With all these entrances, they were sitting ducks for these monstrous freaks. Call them the flush. They’d wash away the taint that existed in this area. This was going to be a bloodbath.

As for the troops, they moved a little slower, making sure to keep and eye on the rest of the entrances as they worked there way up pipes, barely managing to keep track of the Sith ahead, into able to do so due to the Acolyte helping guide them with his ability to locate Maria by her presence.

Enemies were fast approaching.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Tyrell Caphey]

Location: Nickle One, Sewers.
Objective: Dumpster Diving
Allies: [member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Vertigo"] [member="Roona Osmari"]
Posts: 5

''Atleast he makes sure not to starve on mission!'' the corporal exclaimed when he helped to push the slightly too corpulent Houk down the access port.

Once the Houks were down and had secured the immediate area below the port, the rest of the Rangers procceeded down a tad more gracious than their alien comrades.

It was almost completely dark, except from some illuminating waste scattered on the walls one could only hope not were hazardous. Dark. Damp. Smelly. He jogged forth to Dex at the front and turned on the rifle mounted flashlight, lighting up the filthy corridor in front of them.

He looked back at the squad. ''Activate the osmotic field generators. Weapons on high alert.'' Looking down at his ow wrist computer he turned on the generator of the helmet to atleast filter out some of the smell and make sure they were protected from any contaminations that could exist in the air. The targeting computer in the helmet was a fantastic piece of tech, pairing perfectly with their weapons. The HUD seamlessly fed them with information about them and the surroundings making it much more easy to operate in enviroments like this.

Raising his left hand in a beckoning gesture he gave the signal to move out. The squad advanced slowly and with precision down the dark corridors, the Katarn helmets senses working constantly to perceive any hostile movements.

 

[grammaticus]

Objective: Kill Them All
Post: 4
Allies: [member="Joon"] Other Sith
Enemies: [member="Gir Quee"] [member="Varindar Asyt"] [member="John Locke"] [member="Tanaski Yumi"]

Animus stabilized himself using the force, cushioning the blow as the latest volley of enemy fire tore into his ship. The Warcruiser he currently commanded was not the largest or most powerful ship in the fleet, but its shielding was the most advanced. Nearby, Animus watched as a terminal along the wall of the bridge exploded, sending the pirate working it flying across the bridge to land a few steps in front of Animus. Two nearby pirates began to move to help their comrade, but a quick glance from Animus halted them. Crouching down, Animus placed his gloved hand on the dying mans head. Closing his eyes, Animus absorbed the pain and fear the man was giving off in his last moments, taking them inside himself. The dark side fed on these emotions, and those who knew how could feed on them as well.

Leaving the husk on the ground, Animus moved away and back towards the front of the bridge. His Battle Meditation was becoming strained over long term use. He wasn't a master at it yet, but it was giving his fleet a temporary advantage. It also gave him another ability, to detect who was a Jedi starfighter and who wasn't. He could feel the light side radiating off them Jedi in their small craft, flying through the asteroid belt. It also helped that Sith Battle Meditation caused a level of fear and confusion among normal people, causing pilots to make mistakes, errors in judgement they might not normally. All he had to do was look for the starfighters that flew perfectly. He memorized them in his mind, picking up the small details, memorizing their combat habits with the help of the dark side. Once he was certain, he turned to the communication officer to begin the next phase of their plans.

"Send word to the rear guard, and deploy all interceptors to track down those Jedi pilots. Once they are diverted, send the bombers and fighters against the enemy main fleet. Only when they are committed and held in place can the next stage of the attack truly begin." His orders were carried out without question, and moments later Animus watched as hundreds of fresh interceptor pilots flew by the bridge of his Warcruiser, darting into the field to track down the Jedi pilots he had marked. Following behind them, a wave of fighters and bombers began to weave through the asteroid field, making straight for the Silver Fleet within the system, and specifically targeting the massive ship that seemed to be leading the assault.

He let his hand drift down to the lightsaber at his waist, running his fingers along the pure black hilt. While he was a accomplished fleet leader, he hated it. Not being able to see your foes face to face, to see in fear in their eyes. If you couldn't enjoy the thrill of the kill, watching the light fade from your opponents eyes, the kill meant nothing. But here, he had his orders, and he would follow them.

For now.

 

[Roona Osmari]

Location Nickel One – Hangar ---> Corridors
Allies: [member="Valkren Calderon"], [member="Tyrell Caphey"], [member="Vertigo"]
Opposition: [member="Maria Bentley"] (Eventually)
Post: 4

It was time to go to work. Roona smoothed her hair back one last time before placing her helmet over her head. A moment later, the sound of Lowder’s voice came over their comms, relaying new information. Her expression was rather puzzled behind her visor upon learning the point of entry that the Sith had apparently chosen.

By coming up through Nickel One’s sewage system, they had found a way in that could benefit their effort greatly – the Sith would be able to reach many different locations all at once. But she supposed that these dirty methods suited their Sith opposition quite well.

A glance was given towards Caphey and Dex, Roona didn’t envy them. However, she knew that they would play an important role today. Their forces inside Nickel One would be counting on their success.

Following behind Lowder and Colonel Calderon, Roona’s steps were light but brisk. The marksman held her rifle in steady hands, ready for whatever they were about to encounter. For the moment, the corridors were quite empty. No doubt, any non-essential personnel were hunkering down in anticipation of attack. It was quite a lucky thing that the Rangers had a presence here, even if it was much smaller a force than usual. But Roona knew that the Verpine were ready to do their part as well.

As her sharp eyes scanned the hallway, she caught Valkren in the corner of her gaze. Roona felt a familiar flutter of worry touch her mind, a feeling that had grown increasingly common as of late. She had no doubt about his abilities, but she wished for his safety nonetheless. After all, battle was unpredictable. This feeling was not allowed to linger for long, as Roona forced her mind into stillness.

And then, there was movement up ahead.

The skittering form of spiders spilled around a corner up ahead, and to their left. “Ten o’clock!” Roona called, but she was sure that her teammates could easily see what was now speeding their way. Raising her rifle, she lined one of the spiders up in her sights – her trigger finger made quick work of it. The first advancing arachnid fell to the ground, legs writhing.

Behind the gruesome creatures, a pack of Sith Troopers would follow, just as soon as they were satisfied that the Raiders in the hallway were occupied…