Capitalist with a Gun: Mandalorian Invasion of Roche (Mando vs Republic)

[Cloudburner]

Equipment: Suppressed Rapid Fire DL-44, 2x Ion grenades, grappling hook and combat knife.
Location: Nickel One
Enemies: [member="Jaccer Ramirez"]
Allies: Mandalorians

https://youtu.be/Z03rlruHnmY


" I will carry on until I am satisfied that my team all died for a good cause, something I can't say for you, commander!"

He used his grappling hook to catch on to a nearby building. Up there he would continue to fire his blaster at the opposition.

"You can't defeat me, commander! My destiny is in restoring Mandalorian law to the Galaxy! What is yours?"

He then shot 34 blaster bolts at the Republic commander.

"You can try to aid your pathetic views, but you cannot stop others from opposing them!"

 

[Popo]

Location: Reactors
Allies: Mandalorians, [member="Danger Arceneau"]
Enemies: The Republic, [member="Ali Hadrix"]
Object: Resist and Bite

Popo was finally finished searching. The secondary reactors took some finding, but he'd been resourceful. He'd had to resort to flipping through various holocams to track down the area, but he'd done it.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, he'd kept a few holocams open to monitor the situation. He'd done so just to keep tabs on enemy movement and track friendlies, but what had been a simple monitoring task now became a witness to atrocities.

He was a Hutt and a crime lord to boot, he'd sentenced his fair share of lowlifes to the airlock back on the Wheel, but this was something else. It made his stomach churn and roil in disgust. To see the Republic fall was one thing, to see it become what it hated was another.

Turns out the phrase was true: you either die the hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

The call came through as he stared in horror at the holos that looped before him and he answered mutely.

"Mister Popo? This is a call from Danger Arceneau's office. Ms. Arceneau was wondering if you were to attend the Senate meeting on Chazwa. The meeting is currentl-"

"Tell Danger," he said, cutting off the voice on the other end. His voice was shakey and he took a moment to gather himself before continuing. "Tell Ms. Arceneau that I'm currently indesposed. Tell her I am on Roche as of this moment and will not be attending. Tell her that the Republic has begun another war, a war with the Mandalorians. Tell her that because of atrocities committed by Republic troops and officers ranging from rank and file to the Supreme Commander that the Mandalorians will not stop until Chazwa falls. Tell her that civilians on both sides are being killed. Tell her that. Tell her that now. And give her this."

He mutely packaged the holotapes and comm recordings gathered from the fighting, the comm recordings he'd barely paid attention to.

"The Senate must know. The corporations must know. There will be a reckoning and in my heart I feel nothing will stop it."

With that, he closed the connection and sat silently as blasterfire sounded in the background. He heard none of it, for he heard only one thing.

The Republic he'd fought for, bled for, and lead into battle time and time again was truly dead. In its place stood a macabre perversion of what had once been a government, a Galactic nation, of good and Justice for one and all.

In the heat of combat as weapons discharged and explosions echoed, Popo only heard one thing.

The breaking of his own heart as the truth crushed him.

The Republic he knew was well and truly gone forever.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Objective: Purge the False Evil Republic Presence
Mission: Purge Evil from the Republic, I'm selfish and this was my invasion to be evil
Gear: Signature
Allies: [member="Ryan Korr"] | [member="Popo"]
Enemies: [member="Ali Hadrix"]

The Sith Lord shrugged, pulling the small datacard out of the main computer. "I can't kill them like that. I can make them kill themselves though. I've got what I need, and I've given Tenloss remote control of the systems. Though this area is still vulnerable." Vulkan flexed his muscles for a second and returned to following the Jedi Master. "It's not like you would trust me here anyway. And its not like I trust more republic troops with something of this importance. It needs to be joint held if you are going to have any chance of suing for peace." Vulkan didn't care about peace, were it up to him he would have gotten very dark, very quickly, but the Supreme Commander stole his evil thunder already, no use trying to salvage it now. Now he was a Champion of Goodness and Justice with a darker take on things.

"Aten. Bring a squad of four Akaan'drahr tot he control room and hold it. There are friendly Republic troops to update you on the developing situation." Vulkan turned his attention back the Jedi Master, following him out, "Fair enough?" He asked as he followed behind the Ryan Korr, his fellow Champion of Justice. It was like Batman meets Superman, an excellent Holovid from back in Vulkan's younger years.

In his younger days, Vulkan would have had a grudge match here and now rather than accept threats from a Jedi, but, he was older, more experienced and had a greater patience. He was still slowly building the Force about him, not to the scale he had been before, but he had also yet to discharge any of that power at anything. Not even a single mind trick had been needed as of yet and it seemed that this battle was going to be light on displays of his mental prowess, but he he figured the transit from Roche to Mandalore with Ali would be plenty of time to play with her mind. By the time he was done she would beg for death at the hands of Ember Rekali, and would embrace it like an escape. And then Vulkan would trap her soul and torment her for as long as he lived. His experience had taught him patience. Patience and he would cause more trauma to that woman that he could with a thousand warriors.

It didn't bother the Sith Lord that the Jedi Master didn't trust him, Vulkan had dealt with enough Jedi to know that one that wasn't trying to manipulate someone for selfish reasons was like finding a Unicorn. Every Jedi he had ever met that swore allegiance to the Republic had been a back stabbing arrogant fool, more than willing to cut corners of their code to kill a Sith and get a notch on their belt.

 

[Jaccer Ramirez]

Location: Nickel One
Allies: The Galactic Republic
Enemies: [member="Vahn Fett"]
Gear:

Spoiler

[SIZE=11pt]CAS – 6 Heavy Armourhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/62576-cas-6-heavy-armour/[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]HAED-L Slugthrower Riflehttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/63082-haed-l-slugthrower-rifle/#entry939771[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]X-60 Happy Boomerhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/46608-x-60-happy-boomer/[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]

[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]With the blaster fire now raining[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] from above, Jaccer was required to find cover immediately. The Mandalorian had the uphill advantage and if he was smart he would stay up there for the rest of this fight. As the battle between the Mandalorians and Republic had already been raging for hours at this point, most of the buildings had been collapsed and were mere rubble. In fact the only building still standing was the one Vahn had claimed. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]In a mad dash, with his arms by his side to minimise his surface area, Jaccer would move towards the building. The Mandalorian's fire was accurate however, and various rounds of his blaster would find their target. One impact, Jaccer's whole body would be moved backwards and halted for a brief moment. It was a well known fact that the DL-44 packed a massive punch. If it wasn't for his CAS - 6 Heavy Armour, the Major would've been little more than dust by now. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Eventually, Jaccer was able to take cover beneath the building and begin firing upwards at the Mandalorian. "[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]My mission is to protect the innocent and you are obstructing my efforts to do so![/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]" Between his bursts, Jaccer would speak to his opponent once again. "For a warrior who preaches about honour, you seem unwilling to fight a fair fight!" In reality, Jaccer had nothing but respect for the Mandalorians. Their courage, honour and fighting prowess was almost outmatched in the Galaxy. However, he was being employed to stop them and he was not one to disobey orders.[/SIZE]

 

[Cloudburner]

Equipment: Suppressed Rapid Fire DL-44, 2x Ion grenades, grappling hook and combat knife.
Location: Nickel One
Enemies: Jaccer Ramirez
Allies: Mandalorians

"Fight a fair fight?"

Vahn thought for a second about abandoning his blaster, but then he realised it was the commander playing mind tricks on him again.

"You cannot trick me with your bait! I'm not that stupid! I know a Republic Commander like you has some deadman's tricks up his sleeves!"

Vahn had respect for the commander. Fighting a losing battle for the democracy he loves. He then shot 10 bolts. 8 missed, whereas 1 hit the weapon of the commander forcing the commander to have nothing to fight back with. The other would richochet off nearby surfaces, penetrating Fett's jetpack causing him to fly off the building and land in a pile of dead bodies.

"My brothers, dead. I will avenge you all."

He stood up. All of his blaster charge was wasted.

"You are smart, commander! But eventually the willpower to carry on, even when you are confronted by all your brothers dying corpses will outshine intelligence!"

He pulled out his combat knife.

"Let's end this commander! One on One, combat knives! An eye for an eye! Or do you not have the honour and the confidence to fight? It is fair now! The Republic is all talk! No bite!"

He walked the dilapidated wasteland the area had become.

"Give me the strength, fallen Mando'ade, to defeat the corrupt Republic and to restore our mark on the Galaxy."

He saw the commander.

"The time to fight has come! The Mando'ade you have killed will be insignificant to the amount of Republic troops killed on this very day, Commander!"

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Medical Relief Efforts
Location: Medical Aid Station - Roche Asteroids (Not located on Nickel One)
Medics: [member="Vaet"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Avalore Eden"]
Protectors: [member="Gabriel Sionoma"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]
Injured Party: N/A

It wasn't every day Julius felt the more mystical side of things really, especially with the loss of life and the cries of the psyche that accompanied it. He had grabbed a crate of supplies from a soldier, freeing him from some of his burden with an easy smile, and had walked with the footlocker like crate slung on top of his left shoulder, right hand floating close to the ancient lightsaber bouncing from the ring at his hip, eyes scanning and watchful. Recently such abilities as his sense had begun to blossom and grow, a result he suspected of a positively grueling and murderous training regimen in his new place on Socorro.. The ancient home of the Jedi Guardians had done wonders to help him connect within himself, even if not to be the same Jedi those former Masters would have no doubt preferred.

For his part, he remained mostly silent, chatting more to the Soldiers than his fellow Force Users. Honestly, he had more in common with them than he did the Jedi he traveled with. Masters and Healers and Mystics to a one. He might be able to deal or hold his own against most of them in a fight, for a time... But they had talents he did not at all come close to possessing. The sudden shift in his head was rapid, honestly, and he wasn't sure at first what it was, but as they spoke more of the venting of wherever it was, the events clicked in his mind, and he realized precisely what was going on. Though he didn't know it in this moment, it would be the first step into a much used power. It was as if the Force were a web of potential, and presences he didn't quite know pulsed within said web.

Snapping back from his revere, he eyed [member="Vaet"] passively and nodded to the diminuitive little Jedi. There was no reaching out of his hand, or even at this time, there was merely him handing the crate almost regretfully to the soldier he had relieved of it earlier. With a roll of his shoulders, the cloak flared back from him and he stretched hands, knuckles cracking. There wasn't much he knew of far away cultures and societies, but he had spent a few years with Aran, and he knew that something he had seen in that sensory vision was... Decidedly them, though it was vague and murky in the end of things. Gruffly, but as gentle as he could, he reached out to [member="Vaet"] with his mind. The touch was brief and gentle, full of strength and solidity, not invasive, but just outside of his minds defenses. It's entire presence was one of support and solidarity.

As he was fond of saying, he was a terrible Space Wizard, and robes weren't his style... So the brief reach was actually vaguely taxing, and he would nod to the little ones direction as he worked his MP1 free into his hand, but kept it at the low ready. Tracking back and forth his eyes scanned around, staying close to [member="Avalore Eden"] and he spoke finally, voice cracking and unsteady.

"This will not end here... They have done something terrible, and for better or worse, many things will change because of it..."

 

[Juwiela Melec]

Location: Roche; asteroid field
Objective: Get a move on
Allies: [member="Oddball"]
Enemies: [member="Arrbi Betna"]
Ship, Gletcher, Copycat: Sprite

The thing about barely being able to detect something in the first place meant that if its position shifted even the smallest amount it would need to be found again. And thereabout came the biggest detriment of Force Sight: if one's attunement to the energy field was somehow disrupted, they were well and truly blind to the situation at hand. And regardless of the number of jokes cracked about it, Juwiela really didn't enjoy flying completely blind. "Begin breaking formation, but keep it slow for now. Pair off. Empty, you're my wingmate." He was the greenhorn; a novice pilot at best. If worse came to worse, she could at the very least cover him.

Her ethereal senses were pushed nearly into overdrive in an attempt to locate the one she had ascertained was most certainly enemy, but her efforts reaped no reward. Alright, you win. We can't fething see you. They weren't odds she liked, but the Rogues had a reputation of taking on the tasks most others would have balked at. It wasn't uncommon to hear the offhanded comment here and there about them having a deathwish. And maybe they weren't entirely wrong. "Begin powering up systems, and lock S-foils in attack position. Whoever we're dealing with is going to be able to get a lock on us with the engines on full." A warning the majority of them didn't need, but one she offered for Oddball's sake.

It took longer than average for everything to become functional with their attempt to remain undetected for as long as possible, but she would much rather have them all remain safe. That wasn't something she could guarantee for much longer, with their opponent remaining entirely unseen. Confirmation sounded within her cockpit shortly after that her ship was primed and ready to go. "All of you, break off." Her grip on the joystick tightened as she banked further out of formation. Now it was showtime.

 

[Jaccer Ramirez]

Location: Nickel One
Allies: The Galactic Republic
Enemies: [member="Vahn Fett"]
Gear:

Spoiler

[SIZE=11pt]CAS – 6 Heavy Armour[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]X-60 Happy Boomerhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/46608-x-60-happy-boomer/[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]

[/SIZE]


The plasma from Vahn's DL-44 had melted away most of the HAED-L rifle, rendering it useless. All it was now was a hunk of metal. It seemed luck was Jaccer's side, not only had his opponents jet pack forced him onto the ground, it would appear that his blaster was out of charge. This was about to become a close combat engagement.

Throwing now unusable rifle to the floor, the Republic Major would pull a combat knife from his boot. "Not if I have something to say about that." He would comment to the Mandalorian, before closing the the distance between the two. This situation seemed like some sort of cruel, ironic joke. These two warriors were surrounded by some of the most sophisticated military equipment in the Glalaxy and yet the battle would be fought with knives; sticks and stones in comparison to the other equipment.

"Shall we dance?" Jaccer would joke before thrusting his blade towards his opponent. After pulling the blade back, he would thrust the blade once again. The targets were the lower abdomen and then the arm of the Mandalorian which held the knife.

 

[Cloudburner]

Equipment: Suppressed Rapid Fire DL-44, 2x Ion grenades, grappling hook and combat knife.
Location: Nickel One
Enemies: Jaccer Ramirez
Allies: Mandalorians

"Quick moves, commander, but they can be outmatched by the skills of Mandalorian warriors too easily. The Republic needs to get better troops if they wish to survive."

Vahn slashed the commander's thigh. The rage was gathering inside of him. This was no better a time to turn on his rage to initiate full destruction on the Commander's psyche.

 

[Faith Organa]

[SIZE=12pt]Faith could hardly bring herself to look up, here she was a representative of the Republic, a Republic that had just killed his child.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]She swallowed hard took a deep breath, and raised her eyes to meet his. She could see another man standing behind him she did not recognize him, but still she nodded to him. The look on his face mirrored something she had seen not long ago on the face of another.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Faith took her gaze back to the Field Marshall [member="Ember Rekali"][/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“There are very few words that I can offer to you that will ease the pain, or the need for reparation. I understand both very well.” Faith looked around for her Uncle [member="Ordo"] they had both thought this meeting held such promise. “I know the pain of losing a child.” She would say nothing more about it, that pain ran too deep.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“I will be taking this accounting back to my mother and I can guarantee you that my sister [member="Alyesa Organa"] and I react appropriately.” Each had been named successor to their mother on Alderaan and Aldera their word would be law on both.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Sir, the Republic I have idolized for so long does not murder innocents, women, children, or noncombatants. The Republic I have tried to represent in the most honest of ways” Faith tried to keep her lip from quivering with emotion.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Faith offered her hand, “I am sorry for your loss I wish I had been quicker, or stronger or whatever it would have taken to save your daughter and the others. Those who want war ignore reason and can only see what they want. I’m supposed to be the leader of the Republic until another chosen.” Faith stopped there the reality of what she had to do upon her.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Faith’s shoulder’s shrunk down she did not know what to say, “if The Republic is murdering innocents then as the leader of the Republic, it is my fault, my responsibility your child is dead. That countless others are dead that were not warriors, or soldiers on both sides.’ The words of her mother whispered do the right thing[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She had hoped to create a bridge today, she had hoped for so many things, perhaps she had been too naïve in her thoughts, her wants, or desires.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“I am your prisoner Sir as your prison Field Marshall perhaps we can both look at what has transpired here today” She did not know if it would help, but she was the Leader right now, and Leaders do not shake off responsibility. They step up, Faith looked down, “I just need to send a message home. My mother worries” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]May my ancestors be proud of me she thought and then she thought of [member="Dar'yaim Balor"] [/SIZE]

 

[Ali Hadrix]

Character: Captain Macer Heln, Kol'k Oto, Abram, Funke
Location: Nickel One Control Station
Allies: Galactic Republic | Verpine Government | Civilians
Enemies: [member=Lisette Kuhn] | [member=Keira Ticon] | Mandalorians
Objective: Defend Nickel One, evacuate civilians, arrest Keira Ticon
Equipment: Full duranium beskar'gam, EM protected helmet and weapons. Verpine Assault Carbine, 2 x DL-44 blaster pistols, wrist rocket, wrist-cable, various grenades (lethal and non-lethal), beskad, stun gauntlet, small-jetpack, bacta injection system.
NPC's (for narrative): Geft, Tresler, Abram, Funke, Vitor, Aulx, Astor, Umlar, Wolcraft


Nickel One Administrative Halls

The moment the broadcasts had started, Abram caught words that concerned him. He put a hand on Funke's shoulder. ::Wait, something's gone wrong.:: "I believe you are mistaken. The Jedi have no authority here. Roche is a member world of the Republic, as decided by both the consensus of the Verpine Hive population and its established local government. As we understand it, the Jedi are not a ranking authority of the Republic government, and as such we are not beholden to your authority..."
They listened together for a moment as Abram began rerouting the transmission to Commander Hadrix. ::There's a Jedi with Kol'k and the delegation...and a Mandalorian. I think they're in trouble...:: Worry began to swell in the Commando's stomach as he and his partner turned back and bolted for the control station.

Nickel One Control Station

"You don't want to do thi--" Captain Heln felt his jaw tighten as the Jedi took his rifle, handing it off to the Sergeant. Kriffing Jedi. Maintaining his military bearing, Heln glanced at the Mandalorian and let his anger fade, taking a deep breath. The Jedi Order was no where near his chain of command, but if he made it out of this alive, the Jedi would face justice. Not vigilante justice, but true justice, from the halls of the Republic itself. Or so he hoped. Heln kept his tongue to himself as the Mandalorian conversed briefly with the Jedi and they began to leave. He eyed the Sergeant with pity. "You know they don't have the right, soldier. The Jedi are independent of the Republic, not an authority here. You know that. But it's okay, I'm sure they just mind tricked you."
Heln frowned and began to turn away, noticing how the Republic troops that had arrived with hadn't dispersed themselves very well and were collected more heavily near the entrance. Fatal funnel...he thought, reaching suddenly for the blaster pistol holstered at the small of his back. "GO!" He screamed, putting a blaster bolt into the chest of the Sergeant before turning the weapon on the other troops.
One of his own immediately reached for Kol'k Oto, pulling the Verpine out of the way of harm and behind a console as his other guards persons turned their weapons on the newly arrived Republic soldiers. Captain Heln kept firing, bolt after bolt punching into the bodies of his former comrades, hating the Jedi and the Mandalorian that had forced him to pull the trigger.
The Verpine technicians rushed frantically to the opposite side of the room, slipping behind consoles and heading for the access door opposite where the Jedi and his Mandalorian counterpart had entered. Blaster bolts ricocheted back and forth throughout the room; sparks flying and fires starting at damaged electronics. The technician that had activated the broadcast ejected the last holotape within the security terminal, rushing swiftly to the far side of the room and fleeing along with their fellow Verpine. The remaining loyal Republic guards persons fired with their own weapons as they backed out of the control station, following the fleeing Verpine.

Captain Heln was never going to make it, he knew that from the get go. He kept firing until the charge on his blaster pistol was out, and then reached for one of the grenades at his belt. He flipped the activation stud and pressed the detonator, then threw it toward the near door.


Nickel One Administration Halls, outside the Control Station


Abram halted as an explosion rocked the station room ahead. He lifted his rifle and waited a moment, Funke at his side. Suddenly the doors slid wide open and a group of Verpine spilled out into the hallway. Blaster fire rang from inside the chamber, and smoke plumed from the open doors. Abram and Funke burst into action, Funke taking the first arrivals and Abram pushing through to the chamber doors, where his own soldiers were firing through at an enemy hidden by smoke and fire. Abram fired in after them, providing rear security as Funke led the fleeing Verpine technicians and delegates further away. After a series of turns, Abram was able to gather information from the remaining Republic security team who had gathered around the delegates. They kept moving as a group, moving toward the nearest Republic evacuation shuttles.
"What the hell happened in there?" He demanded. The highest ranking of them, a Twi'lek Leftenant, shook her head. "A Jedi showed up with a Mandalorian, they were looking for Commander Hadrix. Accused her of ordering the hangar depressurizations." Funke cut her off immediately. "What hangar depressurizations?" The Twi'lek sighed, "The delegation here, along with their cohorts, decided venting the hangars the Mandalorians had taken over was a good way to stall them." She jerked her thumb toward Kol'k Oto. "They figured the Mando's suits would save them from it, that it'd set them back."
Abram shook his head, "So what's the problem?" The Leftenant shrugged, "There were civilians in a couple of hangars apparently. Verpine drone workers for the most part. We're not sure where the rest of them came from, but the Mandalorians are infamous for bringing children into battle. I haven't had a chance to review the security footage."
One of the Verpine chittered and lifted a clawed hand. "I pulled the most recent holotapes from the security console before we fled." Abram signaled to the technician. "Give 'em here." The Verpine appeared reluctant at first, but the Twi'lek nodded. "He's legit." Abram took the tape that was handed to him and slipped it into his datapad. Kol'k Oto spoke up as the tape loaded. "The work shifts have been over for hours, the hangars ought to have been empty! There were no scheduled shifts, no transportation authorized! The only people there should have been our drone workers!" Kol'k sounded exasperated, distressed. The Verpine knew what they had done, but had not intended it to be so. "Then how did they get there, huh?" Abram asked, shoving the datapad in the Verpine's face. The footage they reviewed was roughly taken, but did show entire groups of casualties sustained in the depressurization of the several hangars. Abram turned the 'pad back to himself and tracked back through the footage, which showed the civilians working amongst the Verpine drone workers after hours. He began to understand, as the workers downloaded crates into the hangars from freighters docked there, why there had been civilians in the hangars at all. The individuals working the shipping crates drew weapons from them to kill the Verpine drones workers, then began hiding the bodies inside.
"They were accomplices, clearing the hangars for the Mando'ade." Abram muttered as he forwarded through to the Mandalorian approach. He played the footage which showed the civilians bringing more supplies and people from within the station. "Kids...personal belongings. They were planning this. But there's nothing useful, just clothes, food...it was short notice!" Abram felt his jaw tighten in anger, and he found his left hand turned to a fist. "They must have been from the Mandalorian sectors of the station; turncoats that conspired with the invaders and planned to flee on their transports. You, Oto, may have given the order, but these Mando'ade turned those innocents into victims."
Kol'k Oto shoot their head, antennae twitching furiously. "They would not. They could not. They are like family to the Verpine; these people have been with us for years...decades!" Abram shook his head as the families lead by their own were cast into space after the shields dropped. He shut off the footage and looked up at Kol'k. "A lot has happened today that we didn't think would...or could. It's time we started focusing on how to keep anything else like this from happening again. Now come on, we've got to get you lot out of here. And we've got to get this footage to the Republic."

Nickel One, Unknown Location

Ali kept pace with the soldiers ahead of her, the remainder of the platoon followed along behind. When I find Ticon...it'll take her entire unit to stop me from putting my fist inside her stomach. Ali thought dangerously, letting her anger fuel her strength. Geft ran along beside her, "No killing," he affirmed. Ali only grunted in response. Geft grabbed her by the shoulder and forced her to a stop. The soldiers ahead of them took a moment to get the message, but slowed to a halt as well and took a knee along the sides of the corridor. "I'm serious Hadrix. No killing." Ali gave the man an exasperated look, but he interrupted before she could speak. "It's barely been a day, we can hardly make heads or tails of all this, and we've got a Mandalorian invasion force on board right now. We need all the allies we can get, and whatever Ticon is guilty of, I'm sure she's less guilty right now than the Mando'ade trying to take this station."
Ali pursed her lips in frustration but she forced the anger down and out of her system. Geft was right, there was a bigger threat, and neither Ali nor Ticon could conquer the other while simultaneously fighting the Mandalorian invasion force. "Fine, you're right, I overreac--" Ali silenced herself as a series of open transmissions began cycling through her buy'ce. "Geft, are you getting this?" She asked. Geft nodded. "What the heck is going on?" Ali shook her head. "Depressurized hangars...I haven't the foggiest idea why but the Verpine delegation is behind whatever it was." Geft fingered the trigger well of his rifle briefly. "I'm getting a bad feeling about this..." He muttered, following Ali onward.
::Commander, it's Funke.:: Ali's commlink burst into life suddenly after the transmissions ended. ::Funke, it's Hadrix, what's going on? Where are you?:: Funke's voice was hurried; he sounded like he was running. ::We're heading back to the control station. Those transmissions are coming from the Verpine delegates, they're broadcasting openly while talking to a Jedi and a Mandalorian. I don't have ID's, but we're heading there now.::
Ali bit her lip, suddenly dreading the fate of Kol'k Oto and their representatives. ::Funke, you have to be careful, if there's a Jedi in there I'm willing to bet the Mandalorian's a Force User too. Recce only, do not engage them!:: Funke offered no response, and Ali swore. "Everyone's losing their fecking minds," she cursed, running her a hand through her dark, chocolate hair. Geft took her by the shoulder, "Come on, we've got to go."

[member=Darth Vulkan] | [member=Ryan Korr] | [member=Popo] | [member=Gir Quee]​

 

[Keira Priest]

Location: 200 meters from Nickel One, on the asteroid
Objective: Fight, enter the station if possible
Allies: [member="Commander Lusk"], [member="Dish"]
Enemies: [member="Vilaz Munin"], [member="Elijah Rekali"], [member="Ali Hadrix"] (temporarily)
Gear: In signature, Equalizer Pulse Rifle, Sith Killer Rounds

As was typical Lusk shrugged off her concern, instead joining his brothers and sisters and leaving she and Dish on a separate dropship. Keira really wished he wouldn't do that sometimes, but at the moment they all had to settle. "Suits sealed. We're making a touch and go a couple hundred meters from Nickel One. I don't expect anyone to be out on the asteroid with us, but as always be ready for anything." There was no noise to raise her voice over, no comm chatter as was typically common. Instead everyone was stoically silent, something that didn't sit well with her. But there was no time for doubt, not really anyway. She just had to trust in them as she always did.

"Dish, you're with me. I think it's about time we get back to what we know." War never really changed except for when it did, but she had clashed with the Mandalorians enough to have an idea of what to expect. The scars on her left and right sides ensured that much. No time was given to overthink before the light above the doors of the dropship switched to green and the ramp slid down. In an instant they were off, though instead of being met with a hail of enemy fire and the deafening cacophony of the battlefield their surroundings were eerily silent, the only true sound the rumbling of engines overhead, though that echoed much deeper in the asteroid beneath their feet.

Out of both habit and instinct she studied the incoming enemy forces in the form of the vessel carrying troops, recognizing the insignia splashed across the ship for what it was. There had been no mistakes made. They were dealing with Mandalorians. "I want us inside ASAP. We're under limited oxygen supply, and I won't be losing anyone like this." Lives would be lost regardless, but she knew within their mindset that it was far better to go down fighting rather than simply succumbing to environmental hazards. The real fight lay in the building before them. This was nothing more than a detour. The fun would begin later.

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Location: The Central Hub
Allies: Saber Team and Republic Marine forces.
Enemies: [member="Katalyn"] + Mandalorian forces
Equipment: Armor + Communications pack | Rifle | Voice | Side Arm | Rotary Cannon + Thermal detonators. (Valkren's team of five men currently posses the same armaments that he does.) Equipment of 102nd Marine Security division varies.

The approaching Mandalorian's were mistaken, there were certainly not just six men defending the three corridors that led into the messhall. With over five thousand security team members and even more technicians in the Central Hub, they had amassed quite the army to defend the corridors. Valkren moved from his crouching position again, his white plating rubbing together as he squeezed off another burst from his rotary cannon, watching as another man fell to the ground. He pushed himself up against the barricade, propping the cannon up so he could continuously fire down the hallway. With the marines and two of his own men also beside him, there was almost no way that the enemy forces could continue. "O'Connor, O'Riley. How are things on your ends?" The Sergeant spoke up, directing his communication to his other two assault specialists that were in charge of the corridors to the left and right of his own.

"All good on this side sir."

"Kicking ass and taking names, Boss."

"That's what I like to hear!" He yelled out, keeping his fire down range. Eventually he would run low on thermal clips for the rotary cannon, but that was no matter. When that happened he'd simply switch to his rifle, then to his side arm, and then to his vibroblade. And if all else failed he'd use his fists if he had to. As for explosives that the enemies could use, he had thought about that. But he hadn't put that much worry into it. A simple launcher wouldn't be able to breach anything. This was a form of station anyways, if it had to it could take hits from fighters and lighter ships, much similar in firepower to an advanced launcher. Even if they could breach it, the vacuum of space would be too much for even the strongest of jump jets. The breach would happen so suddenly and pull all the air from the room that it would catch even those on guard by surprise. They'd all be screwed and they'd all have to deal with fighting in space until their oxygen ran out.

"Michaels, move to the other two corridors and get to work on those explosives. If they can even reach our lines they'll get met with heavy casualties."

Being behind these barricades meant they could keep a great deal of distance and still care for their wounded. They could take heavy armament fire and just regroup further and further down the corridors. His casualty collection point would just be moved further and further back, and that was quite easy to do with the extreme numbers of operators aboard the Central Hub. Valkren took a bolt to the left shoulder plate, cursing as he rolled his shoulders and crouched into cover. It had skimmed it, leaving a dark, black mark of ash-like material. They always hit his shoulder, why the kark was it always his shoulder. Valk' wouldn't get many close calls like this, and he thanked whatever being it was that watched over him every time something like that happened, because somewhere another soldier's shot was dead on on his or her target..And someone like Valkren wouldn't be getting the chance to thank that same being.

He grinned once more, spinning the rotary cannon once more and leaning up, firing down the hallway. Getting the drop on them like this was probably the best thing they could do, since they somehow obliterated the forward scouting party and decided to just rush into the corridors blindly.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Location: Nickel One, Mando Quarter, hangar bay
Opponents: [member="Faith Balor-Organa"], guarded by [member="Ordo"]
Allies: [member="Falcon Gyndar"]
Objective: Witness

"I served the Republic before you, Senator. Trust me when I say this is absolutely typical. Ahto. Contruum. The Unreal City. The Batt-" Ember drew a shuddering breath. "I find honour in your behaviour, and I accept your surrender. You'll be treated according to the rules of war, apart from...two things." From his belt, he procured his canteen. He twisted his wrist, and an eighteen-inch beskar hookblade slid from his bracer. A shallow cut on the back of his hand -- the only bare skin visible -- let him shake several drops of blood into the canteen.

"A Dathomiri blood trail," he said, as the cut closed and the blade retracted. "You'll feel a sting, like you've eaten mildly spicy food. With this, I'll be able to keep track of you anywhere, so long as you're not standing next to a ysalamir. I had every one of my children marked, and my wife, and they marked me." He tapped his temple. "On the scalp, under the hair is where we put them. The marks washed off me after they died." He said it flat and even, not trusting himself to add inflection. He passed her the canteen.

"And now, Senator, no more words. Witness."

It was possible to bring along a rider while flow-walking. The hangar bay seemed to dissolve around the three of them, their consciousnesses unmoored in the timestream. Ember applied his mastery of farsight's instincts, and took his son-in-law, his former Padawan, and his prisoner in search of the truth. Moments of decision could be isolated, crucial turning points located. In its way, it was much like instinctive astrogation.

Nickel One's command centre, in the recent past, took form around them.

Ali activated the general alarm. Klaxons began to sound all throughout the station, urging soldiers to battle positions and civilians to safety. Ali grabbed her rifle, clipping it to the shoulder plate of her beskar'gam, then made to speak to the rest of her BOG Commandos. "Typical pairs, okay? Get to front line defensive areas outside the hangars and any other access points. Mount your defenses there. If you lose ground, retreat and seal it off behind you, then use the overrides to vent the lost sections to space. We'll be able to get plenty of them that way. Once it's done, clear the vented areas, and reestablish fighting positions. If that's not possible, use your best judgement. Astor, Wolcraft, you're sticking with me." The Commandos nodded, pairing off and grabbing their gear before leaving to meet up with their respective commanders. Ali's BOG Commandos weren't part of the Republic military, but Ali's commanders would take their direction nonetheless, a fact of which she was proud.

"There's one moment of truth. Here's another..."

The same location, not long after. Instead of the Republic Supreme Commander, it was one of the Verpine speaking.

Oto made to return to the command console in case Commander Hadrix attempted to reach them, but something caught their mind. Turning to another technical station, Oto flagged down the personnel there and folded their hands together politely. "Do we have access to the hangar bay control systems?" They asked with a chitter. One of the technicians nodded. "We do, sir. Top level overrides can only be used from one of these control centers." Oto rubbed their antennae together briefly in thought. "Mandalorians wear vacuum-sealed outfits typically, do they not?" One of Oto's Republic guards persons spoke up. "Aye, sir. It's not uncommon. Couldn't speak for their fodder, but many do, yes." Kol'k glanced to the technician once more. "What about civilian presence in the hangars?" The technician shrugged. "The working shifts ended some time before the Mandalorians arrived; if there are any personnel remaining there, they are either worker clones or remain by choice." Oto nodded. "Seal the hangar entrances if possible and deactivate the shields. Vent the hangars overtaken by Mandalorian forces. At the very least we can slow down their advance through the rest of the station by scattering them into the wind." The technician nodded and got to work, looking down at their console and clacking away at keys whilst inputting commands. Moments later, within the hangar bays taken by the Mandalorian military, any entrances leading further into the station that were not physically secured into the open position began to slide and locked closed with top level overrides. Then, without warning, the shields keeping the atmosphere and pressure suitable within the hangar bays would flicker and shut off, venting the large, occupied chambers into open space.

The fog of war cleared a little. So: two separate mass decompression orders. One by the Supreme Commander to pro-Republic commandos. Another by a Republic-loyalist Verpine leader to a Verpine technician, while Republic soldiers looked on, and precedent for decompression tactics having been set by the Supreme Commander only minutes before. The former had targeted sections of the station of which the Republic lost control, a scorched-earth retreat from hangar bays and other ingress points. The latter had targeted the rest of the hangar bays. Ember lacked context -- so much depended on how these orders had been implemented -- but context, he could get.

If there are any personnel remaining there, they are either worker clones or remain by choice. The Verpine's emotionless line ran through his head, over and over, until the vision began to warp. With a snarl and a wave of his hand, he dragged Faith, Ordo, and Falcon through the flow-walk with him. They skittered through time together, incorporeal, from hangar bay to hangar bay, watching the jumbled ingress and egress of a war-zone evacuation. Watching how the orders were implemented, both by commandos and by remote control from the command centre. They watched the absolute hubris of trying a clean evacuation of an asteroid city during a battle, while contesting and decompressing hangars.

They watched [member="Aaralyn Rekali"] die, over and over again, trying to save civilians caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. But knowing what he knew about flow-walking, Ember understood that their faint touch on time might have been perceptible to her. As she died, she might have felt them with her, just for this moment they kept re-living.

Flow-walking, he knew, wouldn't hold up in a court of law. Faith's testimony would be tainted, too: it would be all too easy for others to claim she'd been subjected to illusions, mind control and so forth. But he knew she understood that, and knew that she knew that he didn't care.

The present took form around them, the empty hangar bay. Though they'd spent hours being subjected to the spectres of the past, they'd only been standing here for a couple of minutes. Ember's knuckles creaked with pressure. "I accept your surrender, Senator," he said quietly, though he'd said that already. Perhaps he was reminding himself. His voice sounded hollow to his own ears.

 

[Tydeus of Tion]

Location: Nickel One
Allies: Democracy
Enemies: War Criminals, [member="Ali Hadrix"]
[member="Darth Vulkan"]

No sooner did the captain pull out the blaster than Ryan Korr's lightsaber whooshed to life. Not in time to save the Sergeant. He went down, a smoking hole in his chest. Korr's reaction was immediate and decisive. The cold blue blade licked out, taking off the captain's hand at the wrist before he could fire another shot. Ryan thrust a hand forward, palm flat and threw the captain into the nearest console with a Force Push.

The man slipped into unconsciousness from the pain.

As for the Verpines, they started running toward the exit in a jumbled, yet oddly organized mass.

A Republic Commando burst in and opened fire on his own troops. Another man from the squad went down. In a blur of movement, Ryan crossed the room and looped his long-handled saber around, severing both of the commando's arms at the elbow. He fell to the ground, screaming, wiggling cauterized stumps.

"Vulkan, stop them, but don't kill them."

Ryan deactivated his lightsaber and approached the downed captain, who was now coming awake. He seized him by the lapels and slammed him against the console. The Jedi Master's mind pressed against the captain's, pushing, probing. "Who gave the order to vent atmosphere?"

"I don't-"

"WHO?!"

"Kol'k Oto," he whimpered. A half-truth, Ryan sensed.

"Did the Supreme Commander authorize it?" The words hissed from between clenched teeth. "Did she?"

"No," the man was staring at his severed hand.

"Liar."

If you lose ground, retreat and seal it off behind you, then use the overrides to vent the lost sections to space. We'll be able to get plenty of them that way. Once it's done, clear the vented areas, and reestablish fighting positions.

The lie was enough. Any Jedi Master would have sensed it. Korr released the captain, letting him slump down, and removed all the remaining weapons and grenades from his person. The troopers, somewhat in shock after two of the number had been shot down by friendly fire, accepted the weapons as Korr handed them off.

Korr stalked out the door. "Guard them. Ar-Nine, is she in the same spot?... Copy."

After watching two Republic soldiers shot by their own, it would be fair to say that the Jedi Master had had enough.

 

[Ordo]

Location: Nickle One
Objective: Go to war
Allies: Civilians
Enemies: War Criminals
Notifications: [member="Vahn Fett"] [member="Popo"] [member="Darth Vulkan"] [member="Jaccer Ramirez"] [member="Julius Sedaire"] [member="Juwiela Melec"] [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] [member="Ember Rekali"] @Ali Hedrix [member="Lady Kay"] [member="Danger Arceneau"] [member="Mantic Dorn"]

The big man rested a heavy hand on his niece's shoulder and looked at Ember as his iced tea glass fell to the deck. He had no words for the man, his old grey-green eyes said enough. He wouldn't be able to go home now, not before a price was extracted for this.

"We need to handle this our way Faith." Ordo said, his deep voice a combination of anger and regret.

He watched in silence as Ember handled the reasoning and waited to take his niece into custody as much for her safety as anything else. This was going to be a bad day for the Republic and it was only the beginning.

 

[Marcus Lok]

Location: Nickel One
Objective: Reach Central Security Room
Allies: Mandalorians
Enemies: Republic

Already the troops were flooding in, and from the looks of it, his efforts in overriding some of the doors to the hangar bays had not gone unnoticed. Already, beskar clad soldiers were running through the new openings and into the station. The young troublemaker looked on through the security camera footage and gave a slight grin, finally he had proven himself. This was not over though, and he knew he would have to reach the main security room to really open this can up.

He stepped away from the terminal and slung the pack of equipment over his shoulders once more and headed further down the hallway that remained abandoned. Had his comrades already liberated the area?.. Unlikely. His answer came in the form of a squad of frantic Republic troopers that were sprinting towards the sounds of battle, though they paid little attention to the figure that ducked behind the threshold of a blast door.

Damn... Gotta be more careful...

He carried on once more, and peaked slowly around the threshold down the main hallway. Empty. With a relieved sigh, he began to briskly walk down the extended corridor, ready to jump behind cover should more troopers come running. The sounds of battle had faded slightly, and the only noises that continued on were those of the fighters and capital ships engaged above the asteroid. Small bangs, thuds, and the sounds of missiles whistling through space still greeted his ears, but they were muffled by the ventilation systems of the station. His breathing had grown more relaxed now, and soon he found what he was looking for. Above the door, it read Security Room B, and it was a sight for sore eyes. He dare not enter right off the bat, however, and as he took a slight glance around the corner, his fears were confirmed. There were a few republic troopers, and some verpine technicians who appeared to be frantically working at their consoles. Well, this made it more complicated, as he couldn't kill the verpine. Suddenly it struck him... He could scare them out. With lightning quick speed, he brought his rifle around the corner and rocketed a few blaster bolts into the overhead lighting, darkening the room completely. With the aid of his helmet's night vision capabilities he began to fire all around the personnel within. From what he could see, the few soldiers stood dazed for a few moments before rushing off with their verpine friends...

Typical Reps... Never stand to fight.

He could not blame them however, there was little reason for them to stay if they believed his comrades had struck this deep already. He had to work fast though, and he soon ran towards the main console that still flashed with life. The scenes on the screen were vast and slightly confusing. Multiple security programs were shown, as well as a vast array of cameras on the overhead monitor. For the most part, the cameras had been destroyed by blaster fire, but from what he could still make out on some of the functional ones, his brothers were advancing quickly. He just had to speed up the process. He took his equipment from his pack and plugged it into the console to begin his work. He smiled already at the vast amount of control he had from here. The terminal was already fully unlocked, as the previous owner had not thought to log off after blaster fire had ripped past his head. Marcus set to work first on the hangar doors. Most of them had been locked down, and he was glad to see that this console could control them remotely. With a few flicks of his fingers, he had managed to open many of the blast doors that had been previously shielding and keeping out any Mandalorian landing forces. A quick glance up to the screen would show multiple Barges filled to the brim with Mandalorian warriors pulling into these new opportunities to begin different advances. Quickly he looked back at the console and switched terminals to gain access to the multiple small-arms turrets that still pelted his comrades in the hallways and in choke points. With his finger moving in a downward motion down the touchscreen, he deactivated the vast majority that still guarded many of the passages. He laughed to himself as the security displays showed confused Republic troopers scramble to restore power to their automated turrets in vain. He hoped that it would be enough to help his brothers push forwards.

Alright... Now for the Republic...

He turned his eyes back to the cameras and frowned. Multiple republic ships began to escape beyond their own hangars, likely retreating towards friendly space. He wished he could stop them, however, this panel did not grant him that kind of access. He could, however, make their lives a little harder at any rate. He quickly scrolled to the door controls of one of the main corridors and inspected it carefully. This certain subcategory held all control for the doors leading to the Hangars on the Republic end of Nickel One.

Gold.

It took him mere seconds to bring down several key doors that lead to these hangers. From what he could see, several amounts of personnel were being both loaded and unloaded here as a sort of staging area. On the camera screens, he could see it more clearly. Several blast doors had been closed which would surely impede any Republic personnel's transit through the station and it would likely take them time to find a way to bring them back to operational status. Having said that, even Marcus knew that an experienced slicer could counter-slice the protocols he had put in place to lockdown the doors, as he had only the means to scramble their coding to leave them in lockdown. He sighed angrily at the fact that he had forgotten to bring some crucial equipment that might keep them locked more securely, but it was the best he could do. The doors themselves could be reopened by hot wiring or simply blasting them open, though the later may prove to be more difficult, it could still be done. With a grin at his handiwork, Marcus stepped away from the console, and began to follow the abandoned corridors on towards the fighting. His goal now?.. Reach the control room. From there, he could have access to much more of the station, and perhaps stall the Republic forces even more.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Objective: Kill dat SuCoR
Allies: [member="Ryan Korr"]
Enemies: [member="Ali Hadrix"] | @Kiera Ticon
Gear: Signature

Vulkan didn't bother to kill them, no. Death was too good for them. The Force churned and writhed around the Sith Lord, as though repulsed by his very presence. It tore and cracked against his will, and then, like a thunderbolt, red lightning erupted from the Sith Lord in a storm, aimed at the fleeing Verpine and commandos running away from him.

The Force tore at them, quickly, painfully, agonizingly. But not lethally. Just enough to put them on their knees, draining them of their vitality, their endurance, and the Force itself, further empowering the Sith Lord. He retaliated by using this added energy against their minds, crushing their consciousness under his will, "SLEEP!" He shouted, the sound like thunder, echoing through the Force and through the corridors. The Force writhed again as the Sith Lord tore their minds and broke them under his will, bringing them under his control.

"There, none dead Master Jedi, as ordered." Vulkan was rather pleased with himself at the display of mental prowess. It was only a fraction of what he was capable of, more than capable of commanding a hundred or so weak willed warriors to take the coward's way out with his mind alone, but a squad and a few Verpine, no problems. "Alright, we know the location of your treacherous Lasedri appointed Supreme Commander. Its time we took her down. Then maybe you can get the Fleet commanders to retreat and sue for peace."

No doubt things were already very far beyond suing for peace, but it was possible. Vulkan didn't see how anyone could back Ember and himself down at this point. It was a clusterkark of evil, and surprisingly, it was the Republic that was doing all the evil. Even the Sith Lord who had intended to Death Field the Republic quarter hadn't actually done any evil as of yet. "Well, I have all the holorecordings, as does Tenloss, you have your confession." The Sith Lord took off in the direction of the Dead woman with a quick pace, faster than a job, taking the Jedi Master along with him. "When my warriors get here, they will lock the place down."

Once again, any Republic Troops not immediately brushed out of the way by the Jedi Master were broken beneath the will of the Sith Lord, and forced to lock themselves, weaponless into rooms to await Mandalorian forces to place them under arrest. POW exchanges could happen later.

Time's up.

 

[Falcon Rekali]

Location: Nickel One - Mandalorian Quarter - Hangar Bay
Opponents: A crack in the dam
Allies: [member="Ember Rekali"]
Other Tags: [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] | [member="Ordo"]
Objective: ...

If feeling the tether that connected him to her be ripped away wasn't quite enough to break him, due to the greater onset of numbness and shock, bearing witness to the last actions of his beloved, stubbornly good to the last, and the ensuing clawing, bulging, and swaying of asphyxiation over and over again could grab any light that dwelt in him by the testes and squeeze until they popped. It seized his heart and crushed, siphoning his strength and dropping him, armoured knees hitting the deck and he curled over, head falling into the shaking curls that were his hands once released from the flow-walk, an experience that he couldn't recognize for the newness of it in the face of the deluge, the torrent of aggrieved pain that coursed through him.

His helm hit the deck only seconds before.

There was a silence of mere moments before his torso rose up and a ragged wail pealed out of him, folding over again. A weaker rise and fall, a repetition with the waves of sorrow striking and passing, until he couldn't manage to will a single muscle into movement, anymore. That anyone saw? No karks remained to give. With the waves came anger and potent rage, the likes of which he had never felt, nor entertained before. Falcon Gyndar, life-mate of [member="Aaralyn Rekali"], wept, gnashed his teeth, shook terribly, the faint murmurs of a plea to no certain deity for the safety of his children slipping off of his lips.

For what he would do. What he wouldn't do for them, his blood, his clan, seemed then to be a very, very small list.

 

[Faith Organa]

Location:Nickel One
Enemies
Allies

Faith did as [member="Ember Rekali"] told her, never had she walked like this. She knew of things her Aunt spoke of dream walking she called it but this was not a dream this was a nightmare.

Each step taken each reaction it broke Faith heart to see it. Feel it, that tiny part of her that knew the force cringed and cried.

When they stopped, she felt her Uncle [member="Ordo"], she looked up at him, "I know." Turning to look at her uncle,"we are a honor bound people. Our word is our bond. My husband would remind me. Will you tell the family I'm safe please"

She turned seeing the grief of the man whose name she did not know but seeing his reaction she knew then.

She looked up at Ember, "I understand Field Marshall, thank you"