Bringing Heaven to Hell (Firemane)

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Coryth Elaris"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Hevana Martin"], [member="Delila Castillon"], Ynnead Longeye, [member="Anemone Nivalis"]
(If not mentioned and assigned to a group below, feel free to tag along to whichever you wish.)

(Intent of this thread is to land and clear out the wrecked Bando Gora fortress and city, then to set up a base of our own, and try to alter the atmosphere to something a little less…lethal.)

Gehenna…site of the final battle between the Bando Gora and the Protectorate. On that hellish world a titanic struggle had been fought and won by the Protectorate, and now their successors in Firemane Industries and Technology and the Kaeshana Confederation were here to use the victory.

Tegaea Alcori, the woman who had watched the forces under her wife win the battle, was here again in orbit, looking down. Still there were the remains of shattered warships and junk in orbit. Looking down at the hateful yellow ball filled her with memories, many unpleasant.

From the bridge of her Frigate the Ardarvia she directed operations. Alongside her was the Valora’s Blade carrier and numerous smaller frigates, corvettes and utility ships.

“Clearing teams, I want the orbital debris neutralised. Salvage useful components and metals, blast or burn up the rest in the atmosphere. Landing teams, check equipment and prepare for landing. Land in the Bando Gora city and exterminate any hostiles. Exploration teams, likewise. You’ll follow up the landing teams and survey the area.”

Turning to her wife who was also on the bridge, she pointed. “Do you remember it?” she asked softly. She knew that was a time which Siobhan did, so it was mainly for rhetorical purposes.

“Eyrecae, Kaida, Delila and Hevana are going with the landing team to clear our any nasties. Tempest is heading up the exploration team with Miri or Coryth and I’ll supervise the orbital clearing. It’s going to be dangerous for anyone landing on the surface, but I think it’ll be worth it.”

 

[Hevana Martin]

[member="Coryth Elaris"] [member="Nomad Crimson"]

While Hevana's unit was not yet filled, it was time to test out what she had. The hellish surface of Gehenna would make a perfect base of operations for them. The best soldiers came from the toughest situations, and it was hard to find tougher than Gehenna. Eventually the soldier wanted to get some specialty drop ships, but they would have to wait. Fire planet of doom first, shiny new things to crash later. Standing in the hanger, Hevana tapped her foot impatiently as they waited for the order to sortie.

Only one thing sat at the surface of her mind besides the battle. Coryth better still be wearing her armor, or they would be having words after the operation finished.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"], [member="Hevana Martin"], [member="Delila Castillon"], [member="Ynnead Longeye"], [member="Anemone Nivalis"], [member="Coryth Elaris"], [member="Mirien Valdier"]


"Yes, I remember. I conquered the planet. We ended the Bando Gora threat here." she spoke, turning slightly to face her wife, who had been Lady Protector at the time of the battle. Well, and in the process Siobhan had almost died, been crippled and maimed again, which was really a redundant tradition these days, and had to be saved from falling into a pit of lava by Maelion. It had been her greatest triumphs, but in many ways a Pyrrhic victory that gave her little cause for euphoria. One of those soldiers who had survived the battle had tried to frag her on Myrkr in revenge. Given how things had went down that was probably understandable.


"The casualties were horrific," she continued as she gazed out of the viewing port past the detritus of battle that had accumulated during the titanic clash, towards the venomous yellow orb that was Gehenna. It was a hell planet, a volcanic hothouse that had been a fitting haven for some of the Galaxy's most evil creatures. For a moment there was a flash it was like she could see the battle take place before her eyes, the massive Protectorate fleet under Admiral Stahlmann facing the armada of the Bando Gora. A flash and the Star Lance, the flagship of the Bando Gora, appeared before her eyes, its massive laser reaping a bloody tribute like Death's Scythe.


Once one broke through the atmosphere the true struggle began. The gloom of the sky was lit by hellish reflections from volcanic eruptions and the occasional lance of energy from above. Such was the heat that every soldier had needed full heat and breathing suit for this battle, something that had not changed. So, yes, [member="Coryth Elaris"] would actually have to wear armour. It had been, Siobhan recalled, popular amongst the Bando Gora to simply expose captives to the sun and let them be roasted alive like snow before a supernova, declaring it a sacrifice to the Chaos Gods.


Demon war engines, mechanical constructs fuelled by the darkside, had awaited them on the ground. Scores of arachnids, thousands upon thousands of Reavers. Superior firepower and determination had won the day, but it only got worse when they had to push through the massive caves towards the Bando Gora's subterranean lair. Every inch of ground had been won through a price in blood. No quarter had been given, no prisoners taken. Reavers had been roasted with fire, blown up, gassed, along with their drug-addled slaves who had been turned into living bombs.


"There was a Mechanical Dragon...the 'Machine God'. HK and I fought him." Well, [member="HK-36"] had been possessed by a dark spirit who had purported to be the machine god, but in actuality 'just' been his champion. After it had been exorcised - rather brutally by Siobhan - the true 'god' had revealed himself. "I beat him to death with his own wings," there was a grim smile on her lips at that. "Then came Abaddon. Almost died then." To end him she had torn down the entire mountain and split the ground, exposing rivers of lava. He had perished, along with thousands of his acolytes...and Omegan soldiers.


Once she had felt things such as remorse and guilt...now she could no longer recall that. She had made mistakes, but war was hell. Or perhaps that simply a convenient rationalisation and she had become thoroughly desensitised and callous. Perhaps both viewpoints were equally valid. There was a reason the Bando Gora remnant had adopted her as their new Chaos Goddess. The thought was rather sickening to her.


"The ruins of the Bando Gora city are buried deep beneath the mountains. Getting down there will be a queen. Can still expect Reaver remnants and what monsters got free when the city got torn down. Likewise malevolent spirits - it's a massive darkside nexus. We never got the chance to raid the Bando Gora temple, so there may still be artefacts down there...and darkside salvagers eager for a killing. Moreover, Bando Gora splinter groups survive. They may be drawn back to their ancient homeworld. There's still power here," she spoke, now clearly thinking in terms of the present. Power was indeed to be found here. Dangerous and dark, the sort that could only be acquired for a price, but power still.


Power that could be yours, the inner voice spoke. Not a demon that suddenly manifested and started talking to her, twisting her reasoning process, just a thought she knew to be true. Contrary to popular belief the dark side is not a demon that pounces upon naughty Jedi and suddenly corrupts them in the blink of an eye. You do not need to be corrupted if you're already there.


"If we had Phylis and Coryth, they may be able to purge the nexus with Force Light...to an extent, but that poses dangers of its own. Maintaining a permanent base and mining diamonds will be awkward if our personnel keeps hearing voices whispering in their mind to commit homicide. Even with the Bando Gora banished the planet is still dangerous. When the sun rises conditions will be so hellish to make work almost impossible." Hence why the landing was taking place at night, but even then the planet was still bloody hot and frankly looked like the typical depiction of hell from an Illyrian myth.


And so there was war in heaven, chaos and the realms of the mundane. Samael and his angels fighting Leviathan the great serpent that twists. Stars died in the burning light of hellfire and Samael was devoured by the snake god, his angels scattered. So it came to pass that Gods beseeched Illyria and she took the sword, the terrible swift sword and cut Leviathan, prince of lies, Harbinger of the End Times, the dragon of the dead, in two on the world of Gehenna. His rotten carcass was chained to the mounts of hell, so that he might hunger.


Thus it was written in the Illyric Chronicles. Yes, occasionally Siobhan actually read things that counted as literature - at least if they involved blood and gore. It surprises this writer as well, but then as of late she had had plenty of time. What with ending up in hospital twice. Once after getting spaced due to blindly death charging into an obvious trap, another time after being mind raped and losing a good portion of her memory. "I should be down there." Being safely aboard the Ardarvia while the rest went down planetside felt cowardly to her. Of course, to an extent it was her massive ego talking, since she thought every big battle was about her. She hated the idea of being just an apendage. "It does not feel right being up here and safe. What am I supposed to do?"

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Hevana Martin"], [member="Delila Castillon"]


Gehenna brought back memories for the Angelii officer. None of them were pleasant ones. Back in the day Kaida had been younger, still a Corporal in Omega Pyre. Perhaps also a good deal more idealistic than she was now. War is hell, so an old adage goes, and on Gehenna it had been literally true. Fierce, chaotic fighting across the war-ravaged surface, then the great push into the caves. Near constant ambushes by packs of Reavers, beasts and suicide bombers...so easy to miss in the darkness. In the end it had been a simply race for survival after Kerrigan tore the mountain down. Kaida had narrowly escaped, many had not. It still made her feel bitter. Hence why she was not inclined to feel any sympathy for the 'former Exarch' after her to recent brushes with death. queen just could not stay dead anyway.



But that was neither here nor now. Firemane and the Kaeshana Confederation wanted to claim the planet for themselves. Kill the remaining monsters, set up a sealed base, gradually turn the atmosphere into something slightly less...lethal. Personally Kaida found herself questioning whether all this would be worth the investment, but she was a soldier and orders were orders. Of course, a soldier of Kaeshana, not of Firemane, something its two corporate masters needed reminding of occasionally. Nonetheless she had volunteered for the mission when she heard about it. She was still not quite certain whether she had not been drunk when she made the decision.



Having gathered her equipment in her quarters she headed out. Clad in heavy armour, battle shield slung over her back along with her shatterboltgun. Pouches filled with spare magazines and grenades of various types, lightsabre on her belt. She took the turbolift down to the hangar bay where the landing team she had been assigned to was assembling. At least there would be no annoying Eldorai priestesses demanding devotion to the Great Goddess.

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Kaida Taldir"] , [member="Hevana Martin"]


Delila had the armor laid out on the small cramped twin bed in her cabin. She's been stuck in this tin can ever since Etti IV, when the vessel came and picked herself up as well as a hand-picked team for the operation. The redhead pulled on tight fitting combat pants and stared in the mirror, clad in only her pants and black sports bra. Delila rolled onto the heels of her bare feet, pulling her long hair into a tight bun. Reaching towards the counter, a small compact vibroblade found its way into her hand. Kissing the leather case, the small blade immediately went into her cleavage, settling there. The blade was part good luck charm, part save your ass in a pinch charm. Observing herself in the mirror, the redhead scoffed, her thoughts wandering.


Why can't I get a man? Women are falling all over me, practically spreading their legs in the streets. Maybe I should give it a try. Like that time I tried snails at the military banquet. Disgusting little creatures, even cooked. Sleeping with a woman is probably the same way. Not to mention the drama. Imagine being on the rag at the same time. Ugh....out of chocolate and yelling at one another. No thank you. Still....It'd be nice to have sex again before I die.


Shaking her head, Delila pulled on her top, one designed to wick away moisture and keep her cool. She'd need it on Gehanna. One by one the pieces of armor went on until merely the helmet remained. An entire duffle bag of weapons lay at her feet and she scooped them up. It was a struggle just to get out of the tin can. Perhaps today though she could get revenge for her liver. Maybe a new body part. Her left kidney had been feeling a little blah, perhaps a Reaver would do her a favor of a new one of those. One could only be so lucky.


Slowly, she drug herself and the weapons down to the land-team assembly area. At least Siobhan wouldn't be joining her. Delila swore Tegaea gave her a death glare everytime she walked into the room.

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Arrakis, Dune, the desert planet; only source of spice in the universe. The spice extends life. The spice expands consciousness. The spice is vital to space travel. The spice must flow...oh, wait, sorry, wrong universe! Though the Jihad of the House of Atreides is quite fascinating as well. Anyhow, on with the actual plot, for this thread needs more space elves.


With a flare of starlines real space had returned and the massive Valora's Blade screamed out of the depths of hyperspace, coming into view alongside the smaller Ardarvia, the command ship of Firemane Industries. A host of smaller vessels, corvettes, salvage ships and the shark shaped Illyria-class frigates formed their host, like a swarm eager to descend upon the conquered planet. The Valora's Blade was a support heavy cruiser and as such not built for head-on battles, but carried a substantial contingent of dropships, bombers and interceptors.


A hellish world that may have been conquered, but never tamed. There was an important distinction. The Bando Gora had never made an attempt to tame it, rather they had been part of the darkness, made beasts of men and called them Reavers, for it was their mission to reap the soul of all living beings to please their dark gods. Upon the bridge of the Valora's Blade stood Lady Tarissa Cadalthor, for she was here to represent the interests of the Eldorai Matriarchy. For the occasion she was clad she was clad in uniform, not a hair out of place, hands clasped behind her back as she stoically surveyed the remains of broken warships and wreckage that littered space, gazing further ahead to behold the venomous yellow orb. Her sarix, the energy blade she had gained through service in the Angelii, was at her side. The weapon was not just for decoration, for although Tarissa was not a great duellist it had tasted the blood of traitors during the failed Dark Eldorai uprising.


Even someone like Tarissa, whose Force connection was not the strongest, could sense that the planet simly felt evil, vile and sickening. But where there was a will, there was a way. Cooperation with the humans was still distasteful to many elves, though change was coming. Not all of it was something she opposed. Human music was not half bad and she liked starcaf.


"We have arrived, Lady Cadalthor. All systems check out. Our forces await your command. Deploying fighter squadrons for patrol and salvage ships," an Eldorai officer informed her.


"I am well aware. I have eyes, Host Leader. Initiate deployment of clearing teams to salvage what components of the orbital debris are useful to us, neutralise the rest. I want scans of the moon of Golgotha. Move in sync with the Firemane forces and prepare for deployment of ground teams to the assigned sectors. All resistance is to be exterminated. Do unto the beasts and vermin as our ancestors did unto the Kar'zun," she spoke commandingly. The Kar'zun had been a race of invaders who had sought to take Kaeshana from the Eldorai and subjugate them. Over the ages the war had raged and defeat seemed certain, before Ariane the Great took up Ashira's blade and all but exterminated the hated enemy in a holy war of righteous fury.


"By your command, Lady. Sending transmission to the Ardarvia to coordinate operations," the communications officer spoke. An aide passed initial scans and images of Bando Gora vessels over to Tarissa and she cocked her head slightly to get a better view, long pianist fingers running over the reports.


"May the light of Ashira be with us and illuminate our path through the darkness. Valora's fury shall burn all foul demons and wipe this land clean," a blonde-haired Eldorai Chaplain, who wore her robes over a suit of ornate crimson armour, spoke fervently.


Tarissa gave her a look out of the corner of her eye. "The Goddess is with those who help themselves. Too long our people have taken Her favour for granted. She is not with the weak or the idle. Consider the cleansing and rejuvenation of this planet a test." Weakness and idleness were abhorrent to the Goddess and could not be tolerated. It was a lesson the Eldorai had learned from their human friends. The way in which Kaeshana had been rudely opened up had been disquieting, but an important lesson. Needless to say the planet was large and so as Firemane had been assigned its sectors to explore, so had the Eldorai.


Alas Tarissa was in the dark about the true origins of her people. Including the fact that the daughter of her 'Goddess' was a bloodthirsty lunatic who liked to thrash people with a big hammer. Already salvage ships were swarming out like a host of locusts, navigating a path through the thick mass of debris to salvage what was worth taking. It was truly a treasure trove of battered warships. Most of it would be not worth the effort, but enough should be found to warrant the effort.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Coryth Elaris"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Hevana Martin"], [member="Delila Castillon"], [member="Ynnead Longeye"], [member="Anemone Nivalis"]

Tegaea listened to the recollection by her wife with downcast heart and mind. She had not been the one directing the ground operations, but she had been present, and she had witnessed the battle in space at least and the long line of hospital ships returning to the fleet for treatment.

She did not say it aloud, but she had attended memorial services, had read the casualty lists and seen the footage of the surface, but she had not been there. She had not led the great offensive, rather she had been the political leader. Unlike a certain Vice-Chancellor, not everyone was suitable for charging into battle with a blaster.

Over time Tegaea’s role had changed from a frontline commander to an administrator and leader. Often she had felt the urge to take command again in a battle, but wisely reconsidered. She was not the young mercenary commander anymore, she was older, possibly wiser, driven by responsibilities and a more realistic sense of her skills.

“I know you want to be down there, Siobhan,” she said softly. “This was the scene of your greatest triumph, but I urge you to stay with me. We have good people going down there, they can handle themselves,” she advised. The waiting was always the hardest part, but this time Siobhan might start to feel a bit like she did whenever her wife was away on campaign.

She took the comm and keyed it to the Eldorai commander of the Valora’s Blade. “Lady Caldathor, nice to see the Blade in action. If you would, send in your first squadron through the atmosphere and search for any life readings or enemy forces, our first wave of transports will follow you in.”

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Hevana Martin"], [member="Kaida Taldir"]

The aforesaid mentioned genocidal lunatic of a demigoddess was unsurprisingly eager to go. On board one of the Firemane large transports she strode back and forth in the hanger bay where Kaida Taldir had recently arrived.

Eyrecae had been given a very clear, very specific briefing by Tegaea and [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]. She was not to remove her helmet, was not to start declaring her origins or who her mother was, and was not to pick fights with her allies. Predictably, she had taken the advice on board, but was not going to be bound to it. Chaotic neutral did what it wanted and hit the rules with a hammer if it tried to stop it.

Eyrecae had prepared carefully though. Her armour had been padded inside and insulated against the heat, whilst she had an IV protein drip linked to her so she could remain fed during the battle without having to eat. Her hammer had been painted with various Eldorai curse words and profanities too. She was really getting into the spirit of it.

Soon though she’d face a real enemy, not like those miserable tribesmen on that world with Judah. No, these would be things she’d be allowed to hammer and crush and destroy without interference. The day of blood was here, and it would be glorious.

This writer wonders if not Eyrecae should have been on the Bando Gora side!

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


This writer thinks Chaotic Evil is a more fitting alignment for Eyrecae.


She could hear Hoplite tanks rumbling across the war-ravaged land, see the burnt-out earth being thrown up as the massive feet of AT-SEs trode across the ground, hear the whoosh of the rocket motors of Typhoon-class self-propelled rocket launchers as they rained down death and destruction upon the Reavers and their beasts. Thick clouds of gas spread through the air as the missiles released nerve gas. The clash of blade on blade as the Iron Knights of [member="HK-36"] faced the Chaos Knights, their dark and twisted counterpart.


Or at least so it felt to her. A flash of what had once been. "Our greatest triumph. Don't forget that. We made it happen," Siobhan said softly as she looked upon her wife, being pulled back to the present. She had attended memorial services after the battle as well. Read casualty lists, wrote letter upon letter to families who would never see a loved one return to them. Those had always been the hardest to write. As a matter of fact, a group called the Mothers of Roche and Gehenna had demandes she be put on trial for war crimes. Nothing had come of it, of course.


"Just feel like something could go wrong on the ground if I'm here in safety. Arrogant, I know. But still I know the planet. I conquered it. Feels like I'm shirking responsibility. Tempest's going down there after all. Guess I know now how you feel when I go out." There was also the fact that Siobhan was still struggling to find a role. Sure, she did attend business meetings and tried to support her wife where she could, but as far as she was concerned Tegaea was the leader.


After her near-fatal run-in with Shadow and almost losing her mind on Alderaan, she was not really sure what she wanted to do. Beyond finding Shadow and killing him...permanently this time. But the events were seemingly making her hesitate to go down. Perhaps she was wiser, or not.

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Given the sort of person Tarissa was, she would probably be fine with the daughter of her Goddess being a genocidal lunatic. If she was only a bit less...uncouth. Yes, there was a 'classy' way to exterminate 'lesser beings', subjugate worlds, enslave monkeighs and stuff This one is starting to think that Lady Cadalthor may be a bit on the evil side of things and rather screwed up.


In any event, the beasts would be slaughtered and purged. Gehenna would feel the might of the Eldorai now that they had finally woken up. When you thought about it, the offworlders had done them a favour by coming to Kaeshana to slaughter and pillage, for otherwise the space elves would still be sleeping, ignorant of the world. Sometimes the tree of purity must be refreshed with blood!


Regardless she acknowledged the call from Lady Alcori. Most recently Alcori and Kerrigan had been ennobled and thus become members of the Peerage, which meant that theoretically they belonged to the Council of Nobles. In a way the move was not half-bad because it bound them and thus by extension Firemane closer to the Matriarchy. Still it rankled several conservatives that humans were awarded Eldorai noble titles, even though they were comparatively junior as peers. Of course, one of those conservative aristos happened to be her mother, who tended to be annoying, so Tarissa was actually fine with them having titles.


As for Kerrigan, well, Tarissa did...know her. "Thank you, Lady Alcori. It was getting terribly dreary just taking out of the Skyport for patrol. Action is what it needs. A pleasure to see you well again, Lady Kerrigan," she gave Alcori a nod at her request. "Very well. If Bando Gora savages and abominations are down there, it will be a good test for our forces. May the Great Goddess be with you." Bando Gora remnants did exist, likewise there were reports of Scutarii raiders having returned. Either way, they would be wiped out.


She made an impatient gesture to one of her minions. Whatever her name was. "Deploy Red Squadron and send them through the atmosphere towards the planet. Scan for life forms and hostiles. Inform the Thrax to have a flight of Silaqui-class Gunships and dropships ready to follow. They are to be ready to engage and exterminate any adversaries." The hangar bay of the Blade spat out a swarm of fighters that shot out into the vacuum of space and sped towards the uniniting planetoid, navigating their way through the debris that seemed to clog their path. Other squadrons and small corvettes were being sent out to provide a screen for the war vessels and protect the salvage vessels. After all, it was best to be prepared against ambushes.

 

[Tempest]

Knight

What did this word mean for Tempest? She was one now of course, Siobhan had told her so and even given her the title in a ceremony. Yet she didn’t feel any different, more powerful, less full of doubt. Was it just an arbitrary dividing line which changed nothing, or was it something real and meaningful?

Tempest didn’t know. As she dressed in her cramped quarters, not unlike [member="Delila Castillon"], she stared into the mirror and wondered what she was seeing.
She was a Knight now…but a Knight of what? Kerrigan? Surely that was just a joke between them. She felt like she had this new title without good reason because she didn’t feel any more special.

She had started as a settler’s daughter, then as a slave, finally been freed and working with Firemane. It had been a rocky road, and probably worth it. She was better off now than when she’d been a slave, obviously, but where was she going and what was she doing?

With a sigh she strapped on her armour and hung her lightsabre from her belt and loaded her bolter. All the doubts vanished once the fighting started. She could only hope her doubts weren’t right.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
This writer points out that Eyrecae isn’t evil so much as she is extremely warlike and wrathful. She’s not a murderer or cruel though.

This writer also notes to [member="Delila Castillon"] that a balance of power between two such women could help explain why Siobhan regularly took off to go and smash things to pieces. Hell hath no fury like a woman with cramps!

Regardless, Tegaea nodded understandingly to [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"].
“I felt the same way when I had to take a step back and start leaving the command to you. Now you have to do the same with Tempest and the others and it’s hard. But, we’ve trained them well. They’ll manage. I know they will.”

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Tempest"], [member="Hevana Martin"]


This writer points out that Eyrecae wanted to murder a prisoner in another thread. Besides, it was her writer who called her genocidal and said she might be a better fit for the Bando Gora side! Admittedly Siobhan was most certainly not a nice person either, so this one is not in a position to judge.



The hangar was really popular at this point in time. Firemane mercenaries and Eldorai soldiers filled the enormous bay, all kitted out and geared up for war, for that was what they could expect when they went down and faced the beasts of Gehenna. Conquered the planet might have been, but it had not been tamed yet.



Thus the need for a second Purge to clean out the monstrosities and vermin. If you were feeling particularly dramatic about things. Something Kaida tended to be averse to. So, clad in her armour, which had been padded and insulated against the heat, she walked into the hangar. Since it was less likely that they would face lightsabre-wielders, she had foregone the cortosis shield that she was entitled to as an Angelii officer, and instead opted for the older Taegis, which ironically enough offered better protection against conventional weapons. Even so, getting up close and personal with a giant arachnid was not high on her list, but then in battle you did not get to choose your opponents.


As she entered the hangar she found [member="Delila Castillon"] and gave her a nod that counted as friendly as she approached her. Kaida was not a particularly sociable person and frankly found most people annoying. Especially if they were elves. Perhaps that was the reason why she and the redhead got on.


"Captain Castillon, I see you have been roped into yet another explosive Firemane operation. I guess we won't be lacking in big bangs," she said dryly, then gave Tempest a nod. "Lieutenant Tempest." Kaida did not really have an opinion when it came to her, having never met or interacted with her. She just knew she was a former slave from Dahomey and Kerrigan's apprentice...well, you could not choose your teachers! Though if there was one thing any decent Eldorai loathed, it was slavery.


At least Kerrigan was not going with them. Kaida could do without that lunatic dropping a building on her just because she was feeling emo. As for Eyrecae...well, she was good at hitting things and there would be lots to kill. Did not make Kaida like her more. Clearly our frost elf was rather...frosty. It's late, so this writer's lame pun should be excused.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Siobhan for her part seemed to harbour doubts, but swallowed them and gave her wife a nod. "I know. She's a good girl. Just don't want to put too much pressure on her. But it should be a good test for her. No better training ground than a planet straight out of hell." That was, as a matter of fact, not the only reason. Fact was things would be easier if Siobhan knew what to do with herself. Therein lay at least part of the problem. It had been clearer for Tegaea when she was made Exarch since there was a clear goal to pursue. Well, at least that was how Siobhan looked at things. Fact was she was still Firemane's strongest fighter. She had no intention of going soft and becoming dependent on others for protection.


Regardless she looked ahead as the swarm of Eldorai fighters dove through the mass of broken ships and sped towards the planet, making a break through the atmosphere. "So we just...wait and watch?" It did not sound that exciting. "You know, I could telekinetically move some of the space debris and clear it out. Or pull the objects we're interested in salvaging closer." She just happened to be the best telekinetic specialist this side of the galaxy.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Tegaea wasn’t entirely sure how the Force worked regarding intervening shields and solid barriers, but it was worth doing.
“Okay, but be careful,” she said sternly. “You’ve only just gotten out of hospital, so don’t overdo it. Throw the big debris into orbit so they burn up. That’s the most useful thing I think.”

Tegaea turned to an aide. “Lieutenant, provide the Countess with one of our shuttles and get her a good space suit. I’m guessing she’ll have to be tethered to the ship when she does this if she can’t do it through the window. Either way, follow her orders and contact me if anything comes up.”

Turning back to the tactical map, she saw the Eldorai fighters pierce the atmosphere. “Captain [member="Delila Castillon"], once you have clearance from [member="Tarissa Cadalthor"], begin your landing. Have [member="Hevana Martin"]’s team operate with you. Lieutenant Tempest will be following you up to begin the survey. Good luck, and may the Force be with us.”

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

"Maybe it is just me, but truly these depictions look terribly pornographic. Then again, this was a lair of Slaanesh cultists. Or of Kerrigan ones. It's difficult to tell the difference," a feminine, melodic and slightly mocking voice spoke in the darkness, deep beneath the surface of Gehenna, far away from our more or less noble heroines from Firemane Industries and their Eldorai allies. Gloved fingers, worn in a heavy gauntlet, traced along the ruined wall she was examining.


What lighting had existed in the room, which apparently had once been a place of prayer, had long since died, though a glowrod provided illumination. Then again the woman in question did not mind the darkness. As a matter of fact she sort of had a working relationship with it. Her name was Valeska Saderas and she was here on a noble quest! Yes, truly. For knowledge was important and had to be kept from falling into the wrong hands. Oh, wait she did not care about that part.


"Truly, if the Bando Gora had emphasised the lustful slavery, 'book club' and ecstatic servitude to demonic gods part more, instead of being so terribly fixated on putting the heads of people on pikes and eating human flesh, their fate might've been different," she continued, her fangs becoming visible as her lips curved into a smile as she scrutinised the savage artistry of the scene. Arcane hieroglyphs covered the walls, praises to the Dark Gods and long recitations of the Bando Gora's glory. Likewise life-sized images could be made out, depictions of brutal violence and unspeakable depravity, scenes of subjugations. Decorations made from humanoids both dead and alive, so she found as her fingers traced along a section of the wall covered in human flesh.


"So unhygienic," she muttered, idly kicking aside a skeleton dressed in tattered rags that actually were made of human flesh, then picked up an amulet with arcane runes inscribed upon it. Said amulet apparently also had human teeth integrated into it. "Hmmph. Takana engravings. Most interesting. Perhaps." It vanished in her pocket.


"Ah, Komari Vosa," she indicated a life-sized image of the insane Dark Jedi, her features twisted into an expression of madness and with blood dripping down her chin, as she tortured a man who apparently was supposed to be Jango Fett. "Apparently they still retained reverence for her. As unimpressive as she was. No matter. Hmmph. Slaanesh. Or the Kerrigan," she said as she walked across the pews, passing more mutilated corpses that had apparently been stripped of most of their flesh, to behold a large shrine, a depiction of a long-maned creature of absolute destruction and depravity. Partial human sacrifices, long gone rotten, decorated the shrine's base. In an ancient tongue, the Dark Tongue she knew well, words had been inscribed. "All shall be a feast to the Great One."


"Well, that's dramatic," she said, sounding a bit bored before she approached a large, stone pillar. "'Look upon my works, ye mighty. And despair.' Apparently Abaddon is guilty of plagiarism as well. I guess that's one of his lesser crimes. But then once upon a time a famous crime lord was put behind bars not for homicide or anything like that...but tax evasion!" Valeska chuckled to herself.


"Mistress, we should...," the words of her minion tried to pull her out of her musings, though Valeska paid her no mind. Amelia was obedient and knew her place, but was a bit to fretful sometimes. But then she did as she was told and that was enough for the vampiress.


"Yes, yes. Youth these days. Haste makes waste. In my time...well, it was probably just as bad," Valeska said with a hint of exasperation. Truth be told she was feeling just a bit hungry, but her advanced age gave her a greater control over her blood thirst. Suddenly falling upon your pets and sucking out their blood was...not very classy. Also uneconomical.


"These symbols...striking resemblance to Lilithan ones. A connection of the Slaaneshi to the heretical Lilim?" she wondered aloud.


"Mistress...Reavers!" Amelia called out and brought up her scattergun to fire as suddenly one of the fiends pounced down from the ceiling, mutilated face full of malice and a mouth full of teeth that resembled fangs. The beast screeched, but got no further as its head was blown off, brain matter splattering across the floor.


"Well, that's naughty," Valeska said unconcerned as suddenly the beasts were upon them, Reavers seemingly swarming them. Presumably they had been watching for quite a while. Valeska ducked under a powerful overhead blow as a Reaver came at her with a chainsword, seeking to rend her in half. The second blow she blocked with her own blade before ramming her boot into the beast's solar plexus and grabbing the savage by the throat and smashing it into a pillar. But the Reaver, animated by a dark power and primal hunger, was not done yet and charged right at her, swinging and slashing wildly with sharp claws. Driven back Valeska suddenly grabbed one of the beast's arm and as it swung a furious punch at her surged forward with her free hand and tore its head off.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


As the Ardarvia would not move closer to the venomous yellow orb, Siobhan would obviously need a shuttle to get close enough. As the old saying goes, the Force is infinite, one's ability to use it is not. Besides, space is bloody big! Even if it often does not seem like that in terribly minimalist holovids and novels.


Siobhan caught the stern note and suppressed a sigh. She had been in hospital for mental troubles, not physical damage! Still she was touched by her wife's concern for her. Besides, she really liked stern, commanding Tegaea. "Yes, love. I'll be careful. I don't want to piss two redheads off!" After all, she was brave not suicidal...wait, that's actually terribly disputable. "Don't take all of Gehenna without me," she joked and leaned forward to give her a wife a quick kiss before turning on her heels and leaving. The Firemane guard on duty saluted as she passed and the heavy blast door opened with a hiss.


Down in the hangar bay of the Ardarvia, a shuttle was already awaiting the Countess when she exited the turbolift and she quickly boarded it. "Ready to go at your command, ma'am. Space suit is ready for you," the pilot, a female Eldorai, said as Siobhan got on board.


"Good. Get this bird into space and bring us in closer to the debris," Siobhan ordered as she took a breath, surveying the mass of shattered ships, wreckage and detritus that seemed to litter space. Further ahead, though the distance was too great for her to perceive with her eyes, Eldorai starfighters were piercing the atmosphere of the planet. Soon they would be racing above the war-ravaged ground of the planet and troop transports would follow.


As she had claimed the planet years ago, so it would be claimed again. Then and now it had been her and Tegaea who set the gears into motion. It would belong to their company. The symmetry appealed to her. So as the shuttle shot through the open mouth of the hangar and sped towards the wreckage she cast what doubts she might have had out of her mind. Tempest, [member="Delila Castillon"] and the others would do well on the ground. She felt a cold shiver run down her spine as she stared out into the cold vacuum of space. It brought back...memories. Of being spaced and suffocating almost to death. She suppressed that and walked over to the space suit, quickly getting into it with the help of one of the Firemane crewers.

 

[Delila Castillon]

Delila was in the staging station with one [member="Kaida Taldir"] . Kaida was decent enough for an elf -- which in Dells speak was next to a divine compliment. Landing zones should be getting cleared any moment or so. At least she would be rolling out in style on the Reaver-class assault tank. Walking was completely overrated, especially on a world that was blistering hot and looking to kill you. She was looking forward to crushing Bando Gora under the traction system, their bodies crushing under the weight of the tank. It was all extremely efficient and Delila wondered why they hadn't thought of it before.


Riding in the tank with her would be the Etti IV Firemane Outpost mascot -- one Jester named Brrtyrr . 'Biter' in Basic. Brrtyrr got his name for well...biting everything in sight. Delila liked the gray and black little Jester's attitude. Siobhan had gifted it to the Etti IV Outpost shortly after she had arrived and set up shop. Rumor had it the Jester had been in the local domestic pet shelter for some time, no one would adopt such a violent little creature. The little fellow roamed the halls of the Outpost, biting soldiers at will and gleaning snacks off anyone who walked by. Or Brrtyrr bit them. Quite a vicious cycle.


Brrtyrr should be secured in the tank by now as the final preparations were made with the sentient soldiers. Delila was taking enough ammo to arm a small village. One could never be caught off guard.

 

[Coryth Elaris]

Coryth had been rather sulky about this whole idea of armor. In fact she'd outright protested it until she was shown photographic evidence of what would happen on the surface if she refused. A sigh came as she wandered down to the hangar bay to meet up with Hevana and the others. Helmet under one arm, and her boots under the other, bare feet padding across the durasteel floor. If she had to wear protective gear, the least she could do was wait until the absolute last second to seal herself into the hellish gear. It all felt far too restrictive to the little redhead.

As for what exactly was on the surface below, Coryth wasn't sure she really wanted to know. Creatures of great nightmares that was for certain. In fact, several had been haunting her dreams the last few days, a sign of things to come for whoever stood alongside the little redhead upon the surface, and in it's caverns below. With a sigh, she took a seat on a crate in the back, and slipped on her boots, connecting the seal with a bit of a snap. Instantly she curled her toes up inside, loathing the feel of the materials upon her skin. Her feet, were just not made for boots, or shoes of any kind really! A most decidedly bitter frown crossed her lips as she glanced over to Hevana with a look of, 'this is all your fault'. I so blame you for this.... Nobody made armor for women my size till you custom ordered it! Totally blame you. Thoughts grumbled mostly to herself, at least today she was keeping her empathy in check and no one had to feel her emotions but her.


[member="Hevana Martin"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


If it was any consolation for the short stack of fire, if she was a good girl and kept her armour on, she would get chocolate ice cream! In any case, it was time to unleash righteous purgation! To cleanse this dark, sinful world of all evil. To have...beautiful explosions! The light would triumph over the darkness and a new dawn would come. Or something similarly dramatic.


Overdramatic phrases aside, the swarm of Eldorai starfighters had pierced the atmosphere and were now swooping across the war-ravaged land of Gehenna. Unlike during the original battle, where space had been contested and a fierce slugfest had been fought, now the Kaeshana Confederation and Firemane reigned uncontested in the stars. The fighters were named after Adril Tythorin, a powerful Eldorai pyromancer and Jedi Knight who had trained Siobhan before giving her life to fight an eldritch abomination that was wrecking Ahto City.


Given the righteous cleansing they were created to perform it was the perfect name. Hopefully the pilots would not suddenly get whiny and refuse to do their job. Anyhow, the fast and nimble fighters surged across the planet and sped towards what would be the ruins of the Bando Gora city. A flight of Silaqui-class Gunships, named after Queen Anya's sister and predecessor, who had been cruelly murdered by traitorous Angelii during the failed Dark Eldorai revolution, were in hot pursuit, for they would provide the muscle needed to purge the landing zone. Hopefully their pilots and gunners would concentrate on their actual jobs and not suddenly take time off to party and indulge in sloth. For slacking would not be tolerated!


Even during the original battle conditions had been too harsh to set up any surface defences and the Bando Gora had been caught by surprise when the space marines of Omega Pyre suddenly landed so. Even so the battle had been brutal, casualties being staggering even before the den of evil was penetrated. So there was no hailstorm of flak fire greeting the Eldorai forces, but as they swooped down they could see evidence of the violent struggle their predecessors had fought.


The dark gloom of the sky was lit by hellish reflections from volcanic eruptions. Enormous craters had been blasted into the ground by artillery fire. They were littered with the broken devices that had once been dArachnid beasts suddenly burrowed out of the ground. Mouths full of teeth able to tear off the arm of a man and with long spines for legs, each presumably able to snap necks and crush bones.


"Wipe them out. All of them."


The beasts shrieked, the Reavers sang praises to their Dark Gods, then the mayhem began. You see, armies were not just background noise. Salvoes of laser fire lanced through the gloomy sky as the starfighters and Gunships unleashed a hailstorm. Arachnid creatures and fleeing Reavers were burnt to a crisp as the shots hit home. But the terror from above was not done yet, for due to the agreement between Kaeshana and Abregado-Rae in some cases shattergun rotary cannons were part of their armoury. The larger arachnids had armour sufficient to withstand the laser cannons, so acclimated were they to the intense heat on Gehenna. They did not have protection against miniguns with the piercing quality and superior kinetic force of a shattergun. Barrels rotated loudly then the rotary cannons barked out round upon round with supersonic force and so loudly it seemed like the shout of a wrathful god. Agonised shrieks and screams were heard as beasts were blasted and died in agony. Under the storm of missiles that targeted the larger arachnids the earth was thrown up.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paBrRm_mYZA


Struck by terror some of the arachnids took to flight, suddenly burrowing deeply into the ground and vanishing, doubtless intending to pounce upon landing Firemane troopers once the flying war engines no longer troubled them. But not all would be driven to flight or annihilated so easily. Amidst the mass of primitive Reavers were those called the True Reavers. Clad in dark armour daubed with eye-watering Chaos ruines, wielding alchemical maces and endowed with auras that reeked of the dark side, they stood their ground.


"The Kerrigan has returned and come to test us! Fight and kill for Chaos! All flesh for the Great Ones!" one bellowed out and orange tentacles leapt out of his gauntleted hand, his eyes ablaze with the colour of blood, to engulf a fleeing Reaver and utterly drain the savage, filling him with energy. Surges of telekinetic energy shot out and an Eldorai starfighter was seized by the overpowering blast and utterly crushed, the brocken wreckage crashing down onto the ground and exploding in a fireball.


"Red Three is down. Concentrate fire on the True Reavers. Full volley from the shattercannons."

Another starfighter was suddenly grabbed by telekinesis and thrown through the air. The other fighters, fast and nimble, managed to evade, but one of the gunships was not so lucky. While it managed to avoid the brunt of the attack, with the fighter being used as an improvised projectile, and it was still struck and shaken. As the pilot desperately tried to pull up suddenly another beast came into view. An arachnid creature larger than all the others, towering over them, the fruit of the twisted science the Bando Gora practiced. Just before the Gunship could evade it suddenly opened its massive mouth and shot forth a blast of what seemed to be plasma, shaped like a cannon ball, hammering the Gunship. The craft was tossed through the air by the impact and flames spread across it as a fireball engulfed it, then an explosion ensued.


A Black Hawk was down! A Black Hawk was down! Screams were heard from the inside, as the fires whipped the wrecked craft Eldorai soldiers could be seen trying to crawl out, but quickly the Reavers were upon them and pounced, grabbing the wounded soldiers and viciously tearing at them with their claws, eager for a feast.


"Bring that thing down! Arm cluster bombs. Prepare for launch at my mark!"


The response was not long in coming. Thousands of shattergun rotary cannons rounds whipped through the air to take out beasts and Reavers alike. As the True Reavers combined their powers shimmering barriers of force energy surrounded them, even as they force drained the dying Eldorai and their own troops to strengthen themselves. For some time at least the barriers held, laser cannon rounds being seemingly batted away and bouncing off the telekinetic shield, missiles being reflected.


Then it broke. You see, even a super-empowered shield had its limits. Especially when laser beams were slashing through the air at in addition to missiles. Body parts of the True Reavers flew through the air as the missile salvoe left nothing behind but an enormous crater. The giant bug refocused as it found its dark masters being decimated. Its demonic blue eyes glowed with fury as it seemingly needed time to recharge and power up.


"Bomb armed. Target is in sights."


"Launch. Full strafing run."


Silaqui-class Gunships were equipped with cluster bombs, nasty little things ideal for this sort of thing. As they swooped above the arachnids and Reavers, their bombing bays opened. Balls of death and destruction rained down upon the savages. Some, realising their doom was imminent, took to flight, but the bombs were dropped over a wide area. One True Reaver, propelled by an impressive prowess of force speed, suddenly leapt into the air and against all odds managed to land upon the roof of a Gunship, brutally smashing at it with his large alchemical mace and making it shake but was blasted off by laser cannon fire from a starfighter. Then a hellish inferno was unleashed as the bombs finally hit home. Massive explosions hit the ground, the agonised shrieks of Reavers and bugs echoed across the mountains as the overpowering shockwaves and intense heat wiped them out. The enormous bug fired one last blast of plasma, before caving in and in the process crushing several Bando Gora. Corpses and the wreckage of vehicles were engulfed by the shockwaves and thrown through the air, sometimes crushing fleeing beasts.


"So much for conventional forces being mere background noise." Tarissa watched the grisly scene with an expression of grim satisfaction, being connected to it via holofeeds that fed her information. Thus before her eyes she could watch an bloody orgy of Illyric proportions take place, see the beautiful flames cleanse this land of evil. Opening a comm link she hailed [member="Delila Castillon"]. By extension that also meant [member="Hevana Martin"], [member="Tempest"], [member="Eyrecae Alzari"], [member="Coryth Elaris"], [member="Mirien Valdier"] (if she is there, obviously this writer cannot decide that). The Firemane unit was supposed to be all but ready to go. "Captain Castillon, landing zone is clear. You may begin your assault. Be prepared for hostile contact," cutting the connection she called the Eldorai task force. "Deploy the Ariane's Fist Battalion. Spare none who oppose us." Heavy Eldorai dropships were soon starting to swoop down towards the purified landing zone. In a few moments they would unload and gourge out the heavily armed soldiers of the Star Queen along with armoured vehicles and some tanks and a unit of heavy artillery, for this was the fist of the Goddess, here to smite and claim. To kill a Reaver is not a sin, it is the path to the Goddess.