Casus Belli (Tygaran Alliance/Galactic Alliance vs First Order Rebellion of Kaeshana)

[Isla Ashen]

Location: Santaissa – Comm Tower
Allies: [member="Darth Veles"], [member="Kaalia Voldaren"], [member="Arlen Rossi"]
Enemies: [member="Kira Vaal"], [member="Kaida Taldir"], [member="Ryan Korr"]

Isla’s gloved hand was forced to drop the wounded rebel to the ground, a couple of blaster bolts cut through the cold air next to her cheek. Her palm shot out in the direction of the shooter, and a powerful push sent him hurling into the side of a building. Emerald eyes narrowed, watching as the man slumped down, but still moved. A moment later, it was over – the HRDs finished the job. Now, the man sat with his head hanging forward, his eyes blank and sightless.

She knelt for a moment to retrieve the wounded man, and continued to drag him toward the tower. As she moved along, she aimed a couple of glances behind her, and only found the snowy scenery of Santaissa. Isla turned slightly to view her companions, the Mon Cal and her fellow redhead had fared well. The area surrounding the comm tower was littered with bodies, but the droids were quick to sweep them out of sight. And any snow that had been stained red would soon be covered by the blizzard that lingered in the area. Isla watched as Avreet moved swiftly into the tower, and then Kaalia and the girl after him. With a last glance behind, she stuffed the limp form of the rebel inside, and secured the door.

Just inside the shelter of the building, she felt relief at being safe from the cold air. Isla took a knee, with a moment of quiet; she noted the communication from Arlen Rossi. It was good to know that the Agent was on her way, she was a reliable operative of Security Bureau, and she also happened to be a friend. She would be here soon, and perhaps Isla would greet her with a smile. But for now, her lips remained pressed tightly together. Her hands came to rest on the man’s cheek, a gesture that might have looked kind and tender to an outsider. However, it was not a touch that was meant to soothe. Isla looked down into his frightened eyes, and glimpsed into his mind. Her prey was scared, and close to death now.

A moment later, she saw only darkness.

Blowing out a breath, Isla’s hands quickly went to work searching the dead man’s pockets and equipment. She lifted a blaster pistol from his belt and placed it onto her own, as well as a couple of standard stun grenades, and one thermal detonator. These items would certainly come in handy. After a short ride in the lift, she had entered the control room, where she found Darth Veles. Her brow arched at the sound of a voice coming through…

"This is Jedi Knight Ryan Korr to any surviving operators at the comms tower. Do you read me?"

Instead of responding to that frequency, Isla reached out to Arlen Rossi via their secure network.

“Agent Rossi – a Jedi Knight is attempting to make contact with the tower. Proceed as planned…or?”

 

[Ria Misrani]

The Citadel was where all the fighting was being done at, where those who had long since turned their back on the radiated Eldorai of Kaeshana. She laughed at the haughtiness of those who had arrived, sure they had brought together virtual enemies to fight the First Order. All the while bowing down to their human masters, Amunalora took a long careful drag from her smoke. "You know," she says with a pause for thought, "I always thought that if I, were taken to Tygara perhaps I would have a chance, and then I realised." Another long drag, followed by the smooth exhale and release of the smoke itself. "I would never be one of them, I would never want to bow to these humans they were not of Ashira's making. How easily they manipulate the minds of the weak."

Amunalora held her captives beneath the surface of Kaeshana, where the effects of the world's global cooling could be felt. Where year after year the underground walls were continually reinforced, sought to provide shelter from the radiated winters and ice storms that the world was now known to give.

She looks to her captives as more of Warband followers begin to gather into the tunnels. Tunnels created by gangs, by the Forsaken, by every other group looking to prey on the naive survivors of Kaeshana waiting like dogs for their masters to return. "They wait, my sisters, they wait like animals wanting their masters approvals." She sneers, "and then these droids arrive, harvesting our people - using them, and then outsiders like you." She gestures with her smoke stick, "proclaiming to want to help us, for what? You wish for us to bow to you too?" Amuna thinks aloud, "no, we do not bow."

Looking at her gun, her gaze moves up toward [member="Sioux Chambers"]. "Do you bark for your master, too?" She wonders, "what about you?"

Her gun moves to point toward @Beka Barineker it's a simple weapon, one of the few slugthrowers that they could muster. The human masters were quick to take the goods with them when they left, 'evacuating' the masses out of the goodness of their souls. Her slugthrower is at least of .45 caliber the pistol is a bit worn around the metal, the grip is dirty, and raw but it works. "Tell me of your... people, your nation, do they too bark for their masters?"

 

[Zark San Tekka]

Location: Kaeshana System, Midst of Battle
Objective: Attack Run on FIV Stellaris
Allies: [member="Roth Tillian"] [member="Choli Vyn"] [member="Kurt Meyer"] [member="Laira Vereen"] [member="Asmus Janes"], GA and Friends
Opponents: [member="Aermoira Cyone"] FIV Stellaris, FO and Friends

Cockpit, D-Wing Fast Bomber
High Orbit, Kaeshana System

"Wild Knights," Tillian's voice crackled over Arix's comm, "Change of target. Follow my lead."

Without thinking, the Flight Officer angled his controls to veer off onto Knight Leader's new flight path. All around them laser blasts and flak bursts, but it was chaotic and undirected, glancing fire from ships who did not yet have a reason to aim at them specifically. That would change soon, as after some quick mental calculations Arix realized their vector would take them directly into the First Order battle line.

"Ne....ctive is to...able or des...ruiser jammin...troops." the Captain's voice crackled in and out, and after doing a quick check of his systems to confirm it wasn't a problem with his fighter he reasoned they must be passed into some sort of jamming field. Luckily, their enemy had not yet heard of the Wild Knights.

Targeting the cruiser Stellaris. It's jamming comms. Disable and destroy, the Jedi Padawan heard Knight Leader's voice in his head. Every Knight, down to a pilot, was Force sensitive, whether they be Jedi or Jensaraai, Starting with engines- stagger lasers, ions, heavy ordinance, VTs in that order. Split around for a second attack run from the interceptors with ion.

Knight Ten, received, Arix sent back telepathically, one of the few mental techniques he retained mastery over in the aftermath of the explosion that left him maimed and Force weak as a result, Prepping for attack run.

Running through the D-Wings systems, the nervous young Flight Officer ensured his lasers were fully charge and his first volley of ion torpedoes were primed and ready to go. They were drawing nearer to the target now, near enough to draw notice, and he heard Roth's voice in his head once more as he commanded the interceptors to break off and engage the now rapidly approaching fighter screen. The enemy TIEs were skilled, but with a Knight behind the stick Arix trusted his wingmen to see him through to his target. They were almost within weapons range when suddenly the same malfunctions began to effect his sensor readout, the closer they drew to the Stormcloud the worse the reliability of the signal got.

Knight Lead, I've lost onboard targeting, he projected the thoughts to the entire squadron, We need to get close enough to eyeball it, bombers are gonna need you to stay with us a little longer.

For the average pilot, the notion would be laughable. Attempting a precision strike using only visual targeting, most squadrons would call off the mission as too risky to be worth it. But the Wild Knights were Jedi, and guiding torpedoes with the aide of the Force was one of the oldest tricks in the book. It wasn't the jammed sensors that concerned him, it was the incoming screen of homing missiles. The D-Wings were agile craft, for bombers, and the Knight starfighters were more agile still, not to mention each were piloted by a Force sensitive, but with the mixture of the fighters, jamming, and point defense, there were bound to be some casualties even for a squadron like theirs.

His sensor readout going haywire, he couldn't even check to see the truth of his gloomy prediction, and it would do him no good now. Feathering the trigger on his forward lasers, the D-Wing knocked an incoming homing missile out of the sky, but if he wanted to maintain a prayer's chance of hitting his target he would have to maintain his course, which meant he was helpless to any fire that wasn't coming in head on. For that, he would have to rely on Roth and his wingmates. When the Flight Officer judged he was as close as they were going to get, he joined the surviving D-Wings in beginning his attack run. Just as the Captain had instructed. First lasers, then ion torpedoes, then a quick ordinance toggle to the proton rockets before finishing his raking pass with the VT gatling cannon.

Accelerating out of the run, Knight Ten sought to put some distance between him and his target's ECM capabilities while at the same time glancing over his shoulder in an attempt to get visual confirmation at least that any of their strikes had found a crucial target. Ready to bank for a second pass on the command of his squadron leader, he wondered how many of his mates hadn't made it out of that shooting gallery.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Beka narrowed her eyes at the barrel of [member="Amunalora Fenariel"]'s gun. "The First Order has never treated any of its people like dogs," she said coldly. "Never. And they wouldn't have started here. That woman came here to study what happened to this planet. To see how we can help restore the planet's atmosphere, clean up its environment. Create a place for you to live that's not a dark hole." She frowned. "You know, there are some fringe elements in the First Order that think you aren't humans, and that makes you animals. I don't happen to agree, but after the display you put on today, I feel... well, I feel I might be persuaded."

The FOSB agent tried not to let her work get to her. She did a lot of things for the First Order, and that often took her places she would rather not go. She had killed for the First Order. She had stolen for them. Had compromised beliefs that she had held from childhood because she was convinced that it was for the greater good. But now, looking into the face of an insolent savage, she couldn't isolate herself. Couldn't control herself. "You really are animals," she spat. "Shitting in a box because that's all you know. That woman --" Again, she pointed at Sioux. "--and our friends came here to offer you everything. But you can't see beyond the tip of your nose. You'd rather be queen of nothing than help us build this planet into something. The reasoning of an animal."

She glared at [member="Amunalora Fenariel"], breath fogging her mask. Daring her to pull the trigger.

 

[Dish]

[member="FN-888"]

Location: Trenches near the Citadel of Dawn
Allies: The Galactic Alliance, [member="Audren Sykes"]
Enemies: [member="Brent Smith"], [member="FN-888"], [member="Pierce Fortan III"]'s bombs the First Order
Objective: Survive

"Down!"

The order came in time, but it didn't make much of a difference, when the First Order rained proton bombs, it poured. All around them the already maddeningly chaotic battle descended further into chaos as the ground around him detonated, the entire earth shaking violently, even in the Phase V armor the Dreadguard shook. His armor blocked most of the noise of the pounding bombs, which in turn drowned out the screams, it was almost peaceful to him in terms of sound. Looking to his right, one of his rebels looked to him, she wasn't afraid, more so she was ready just as he was. Her time just came first.

A proton bomb detonated frighteningly close, and while the twi'lek rebel from his unit and force knows how many others were killed instantly, the supersoldier's armor and augmented body kept him alive as he was flung down the muddy trench,the muck kicking up around him as he tumbled until he slid to a halt. He'd had worse if he was being completely honest, he hadn't even broken anything. Pulling himself up from the mud he snatched his DC-18 from the mud and briefly scanned the weapon, it was intact, and is his HUD was to be believed, functional.

Dish had mere microseconds to react to a stormtrooper to his rear. The soldier must've breached their line, or perhaps he'd just taken cover wherever he could, it didn't matter, it wouldn't save him now. Pivoting Dish hammered the trooper with a blindingly fast uppercut, augmented strength and armor plating resulted in a portion of the trooper's helmet fragmenting, and for the briefest moment DG-52 looked into one of the eyes of the soldier, he didn't see fear, he saw defiance, he saw himself. Even with the rage at the death of some of his comrades, 52 would be haunted by that moment. Without pause he wrapped a armored hand around the trooper's broken helmet and smashed his head against a rock jutting out of the trench wall. There was a wet crunch, but Dish didn't look, he simply released the man's head and let him slump to the ground as the final proton bombs detonated, quickly blasting the trooper's now charging comrade, dropping him in an instant.

He'd survived, but he wasn't sure about his men. Shouldering his rifle, the rebel peeked over the wall of his trench, peering towards FN-888's position, or whatever may have been left of it.

 

[Aran Piett]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN7MJISCA2A​

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Objective: Escape the Planet with Wounded/Reinforce Blockaid​

Location: Orbit over Kaeshana​

Allies: First Order​

Enemies: GA and their Allies​

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Aran's shuttle gets trough the lines of Alliance ships, but sadly the fighter escorts for it did not. Though there were still some of the fighters left they became little more than buying time for the shuttle to warp out of the system.​

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"Jump in 5.....4.....3.....2.....1" Aran yelled back to the wounded and medics in the bay of the shuttle, as the ship lurched into hyperspace, and into the endor system where it would be met up with friendly forces as well as Aran's new command. As the shuttle docked with the medical frigate, Aran disembarked to another shuttle to take command of one of the new Resurgent classes that were being sent to them, though it was just original design, it was still an honor. The new designs were still in test phases. Once on board the FIV Indomitable Aran quickly made his way to the bridge to be greeted by a familiar face.​

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"Lieutenant Halsey....good to see you again."​

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"Likewise Commander, welcome to our new Temporary assigned duty."​

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"It is something to strive for Lieutenant."​

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"Aye sir. Ensign Navarone has taken command of the Subjugator, and has formed up with us. We also have two dagger and three denial class escorts forming up as well for picket duty."​

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"Perfect Lieutenant, alert all ships to prepare for jump, I want to come in at these coordinates."​

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"Aye Aye Commander." Halsey grins, and walks over the the comms panel sending the alert and coordinates to the group.​

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The small fleet leaves Endor orbit in transit to Kaeshana.​

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"Entering Kaeshana in 3.....2....1..."​

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The small group of ships appear out of hyperspace right behind part of the Alliance fleet under the command of [member="Vilin"]​

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"Open a channel to all First Order ships. This is Commander Piett with the requested reinforcements from Endor. Commodore [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"] we are falling in, and taking Executive Officer of your Battlegroup as order. All ships of group Indomitable, target the rear echelon ships support ships first."​

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Spoiler: Order of Battle

1x Resurgent Class, FIV Indomitable
1x Victory X FIV Subjugator
3x Denial Class Escorts
2x Dagger Class Escorts

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Spoiler: Order Given

Orders have been given to attack Vilin's rear Echelon forces starting with support ships

 

[Cyrus Tregessar]

FIV CONTEMPT
CIC
KAESHANA SYSTEM
OBJECTIVE: ENFO... ELIMINATE ENEMY FORCES
ALLIES: [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"] | [member="Natasi Fortan"] | [member="Basileus Isauros "]| [member="Aran Piett"] | [member="Fiolette Yvarro"]
ENEMIES: [member="Kyrana Gould"] | [member="Cathul Thuku"] | [member="Vilin"] | [member="Alexandra Morrow"] | [member="Talyn Krane"] | [member="Tanomas Graf"]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdz8LBwh0Fc​

Whether it was a result of the sheer size of the ship, or the numerous large gun emplacements on its center spine, the Contempt had managed to become the prime target for most the enemy forces. Even as it retreated to the rear of the formation bursts of long range fire sought it out. Much of the fire would have been accurate, had it been targeted at a less well guarded ship. Escort ships at the apex of either point of the wedge engaged warheads and strike craft if devastating crossing shots, and the pair of IDX Star Destroyers on the nose absorbed most the hits with a resilience only a true Star Destroyer could manage. Here and there a turbolaser bolt or mass driver shell made it through, but the directional shields were more than enough to handle things.

But it wouldn't do to get too dense a formation, not with the Barsen'thor lurking around. Cyrus was entirely sure what the capabilities of the rumored near-superweapon mounted on the ship was, but he certainly didn't intend to find out the hard way. He studied the display of allied ships for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to increase spacing without sacrificing too much defensive integrity.

An alert drew his attention away to the fact that more warheads were inbound, though these were apparently targeted at the escorting Star Destroyers. As before, Bastion locked on to the targets and engaged, receiving additional targeting data from the IDX's sensors as it was fed through via tactical links. The system wasn't quite as effective as destroying ordnance not inbound to ownship, but it did its job well enough. Good thing too, since the IDX lacked nearly as robust a defensive suite as was present on the Darr Itah's.

Around a dozen warheads per ship made it through the defensive envelope, more for the Relentless than the Vanguard. The shields on the latter flared but held under the barrage, but on the second a pair made it through, impacting just below the bridge tower. For a few tense seconds, comms ceased with the escort. Then, to the almost palpable relief of everyone in CIC the Relentless reported damage under control.

"Remnant ships are withdrawing, their flagship has been boarded."

"Let them go, harass from range but focus on other targets. We can deal with them later."

That seemed to be most of the incoming fire for the moment. Long-range engagements could be like that, as the high energy requirements from most weapons necessitated a longer cycle time. That would all change of course, once things got close in. With a moment to breathe Cyrus began to transmit orders to disperse the fleet.

"Power surge, from the Barsen'thor!"

Vayyrel was on her feet in an instant.

"Emergency thrust, fire all ventral thrusters!"

The Contempt lurched hard enough to stagger everyone in CIC as the stern of the ship pushed down with an agility that belied the size of the vessel. The Darr Itah's had been designed since day one for a battle of maneuver, to not make the same mistakes as the Immortals and potentially pull off the kind of high speed stratagems that had netted the legendary Admiral Stahlmann two of those ships. Cyrus couldn't say for sure, but the Barsen'Thor felt like it was designed to fight that last war, where One Sith Naval doctrine had focused on long range firepower from slow but eminently sturdy ships.

The blast from the Nova Cannon, once it appeared, arcing across space like a great avenging light, struck the Relentless on its forward-port side. The Star Destroyer spun as if it were a toy, and the point of impact belched fire. The great cannon wasn't finished though, it had punched clean through the battleship as if it were a civilian escort and managed, upon exiting the other side, to scour a gouge across the surface of the Contempt. Only the layer of Matrix Armor plating saved it from more serious damage.

The trio of Vortex Cannon rounds arrived a moment later. One missed, but the other two slammed into the already crippled Relentless, tearing the bow off and turning the dagger shaped ship into something more resembling a half-eaten sandwich. The remains of the prow, blown apart by the subsequent explosions, scattered debris across the Contempt.

Almost miraculously, the Relentless was still operational, albeit at a level of combat effectiveness that would be at best considered 'nominal.' Cyrus wasted no time in order the Captain to withdraw, it was simply a waste of resources and personnel to keep it in the fight.

By now the fleet had finished launching strike craft, and what squadrons were not already engaged with enemy counterparts were forming up in groups, preparing for attack runs and interception strikes. The rest of the fleet, having just witnessed the firepower of the Barsen'Thor and the other long range weaponry on the Tygaran fleet, was spacing out in accordance with Cyrus' orders.

Sometime during all the shooting the Probe teams had managed to analyze the energy torpedo's that had slipped through Bastion. The report was somewhat grim, detailing a large cloaked missile bus that launched its own payload at near-fighter ranges. While the fleet lacked any CGT's it was apparently possible to track when the MIRV's were fired and engage the bus before it could fire its payload. A pair of escorts towards the front of the formation were assigned to prioritize that task, with the two spare FIPV-9's assigned duty to keep a track on the Procurator-X in order to detect weapon launch.

That left just dealing with the Barsen'Thor. In lieu of a proper solution Cyrus decided to just fire back and see how they liked that. On cue all the long range batteries of the Contempt oriented towards the large Firemane flagship and fired in unison, the staccato 'thumps' of the HVC's most noticeable over all else.

The rest of the fleet continued to close with Therapy Command and open distance to the other enemy fleets. A Victory-X entered into standard range with an enemy Dreadnought cruiser and was suddenly alight as the two ships opened fire with all batteries. Here and there frigates and corvettes closed in, attempting to either back up the offensive of larger ships or exploit gaps made by warheads and sheer weight of fire. For the moment Cyrus was too busy to pay attention to the details, but soon enough they would become the sort of thing that told victory or defeat in this battle.

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Location: Citadel of Dawn
Objective: Engage [member="Trextan Voidstalker"],and escape incoming bombardment.
Allies, [member="Ludolf Vaas"], [member="Samka Derith"], [member="Brent Smith"]
Enemies: [member="Dax Fyre"],and other enemies

Kyrel saw the Jedi,and felt excitement go through him. He thought to himself 'Finally a fight finally worth my time' He raised a force barrier,blocking his attempt at a force pull failed ,and so Kyrel attempted to block his attack vertically, He than attempted launched a series of Djem So attacks using his strength to gain the upper hand,and dominate his opponent. Their blades clashed creating sparks with each strike, and he had hoped that he would tire him out with his initial strikes,and therefore find an opening to where he can defeat him.

Than he sensed a disturbance in the force. He immediately disengaged combat with the Jedi,and started using force speed gaining as much distance between him and the citadel as he possible can. Troops were running out yelling at each to move,and get out as bombs blasted the area. Rubble,and dead men on both sides flew everywhere,while Kyrel who was escaping was caught in the shock wave that tore his cape into shattered taters.

He than tried to link up with the nearest force,and continue the fighting against the GA. He deflected blaster shots as he tried to carefully make his way to other units. He grinned as he knew this would scatter the GA,and would push them back from the citadel that was nothing more than rubble. Kyrel hacked and cleaved his way through the soldiers with ease,as he tried to find the remaining units to link up with and mount a counter offensive.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

[member="Nathaniel Barrett"] | [member="Jaius Sovv"]​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCaVyvgomEk​

Natasi would have loved to pace now, but confined as she was to her hoverchair thanks to injuries sustained during the Siege of Dosuun, the Grand Moff could only watch [member="Nathaniel Barrett"] coolly. Her coolness was not towards the Commissioner himself, but it was her way of staying remote. Staying dispassionate in the face of brutality the likes of which she had never been exposed to. She steepled her fingers on the table and looked across at Barrett as he spoke, nodding her encouragement here and there, but mostly straining to control herself as she listened to the tale he told. It broke her heart. But what broke her heart even more was what was bubbling within her. A rage, a fury -- righteous, to be sure, whatever the First Order's detractors might say -- but a rage nonetheless.

As the Commissioner continued, the Grand Moff floated back from the table a few inches. As Barrett explained the artillery fire, she reached down and set the brake on the chair. As he detailed the dark side powers at play on the surface, Natasi was putting her hands on her the armrests of her chair, now motionless. With great effort, she pushed, raising herself out of the chair. Her grip slipped; she faltered a little, slumping back down into her seat, but that would not stop her. What she had to say demanded to be said from one's feet. She pushed; she hauled; she strained with her useless legs, using the chair and the table to brace herself up; she leaned over the table somewhat, bracing herself on her hands as she leaned over the communicator.

"Truth and Reconciliation, this is Grand Moff Natasi Fortan," she said calmly, though her pulse was racing in her ears, hammering her, and her body ached already from the position. "These are the terms under which this conversation will continue, and I ask that you pass along this message to your compatriots on the surface and in space. This is it, Truth and Reconciliation. This is all of it. You will pledge to withdraw all hostile forces from Kaeshana's surface and this system within one hour. Within three hours you will have begun the process of withdrawing your forces. Within five hours your forces will have left this system and you will not return. Should you agree to these terms, I will relay an order to the First Order's forces on the surface to stand down and let you leave unmolested, and we can discuss terms of settlement." She paused, taking a breath.

"Should you choose to ignore this extremely generous offer," she said, a tone of hard durasteel settling over her words, giving them weight. "It will be made clear to me that you have no interest in the safety and security of the survivors of Kaeshana. If you continue to force violence and violation against the First Order, its duly claimed territory, and the people of Kaeshana, you will have demonstrated to me, and to the galaxy, that your interests lie only in dealing death, not in saving lives, and that you care nothing for the people of Kaeshana -- whoever may be left after your brutality this day." The Grand Moff wavered for a moment, her dark eyes gazing across the table at Barrett. "In the event that you and your friends choose a chance at a hollow victory over peace -- peace for our time -- then I'm afraid it will mean a state of war between the First Order and the Galactic Alliance, and I will cleanse the surface of Kaeshana of your warmongering terrorists if it means I have to reduce every hostile combatant on this planet to cinders. This is the price you pay for protecting the Dark Side despots the Alliance call friends." Her face twisted into a mask of anger and determination. "This is a war that you have started, but by the Balance we will finish it."

She leaned over the communications device. "You have one hour to discuss this proposal with your leadership. The Captain will transmit a channel at which we can be reached when you have made up your mind. Now is the time for the Galactic Alliance to ask itself whether this planet, of no strategic value to you, is worth not only the lives of your armed forces, but the very soul of the Galactic Alliance. You have blood on your hands, but it is your decisions going forward that determine whether you can ever wash them clean again." Natasi paused again, willing herself to remain upright for just a little while longer. "One hour, Truth and Reconciliation."

Natasi cut the signal and collapsed back into her hoverchair, panting heavily. She forced herself to sit up straight, touching the communicator on the bridge. "Alert our forces to prepare for large-scale orbital bombardment Begin pulling telemetry for most effective attacks. Acceptable casualties -- ten -- no, make it fifteen percent." You couldn't make an omelette without breaking eggs, after all. "Power up all weapons. Signal Dosuun for reinforcements. The Galactic Alliance need to know I am not the kind to make idle threats."

 

[RIP Carlyle Rausgeber]

Objective: Destroy Therapy Command
Location: Forming up behind Cyrus Treggessar
Post: XII

The fleet continued forward pressing it's attack, as soon as Therapy Command came into range, the fleet began a withering barrage, "All batteries, focus fire upon the enemy fleet!" Carlyle ordered, the fleet responded, and within a minute, a withering barrage of missiles, fire, both turbolaser and ion assaulted the fleet. "All TIE crew are cleared to leave." Carlyle turned to his bridge officers, "Unleash hell lads!"

Dozens of TIE's launched from their bays, "Keep them in close formation, and have us patched into ground command if things get too patchy." Carlyle ordered.
"Aye aye sir," The TIE Operations officer reported.

"Commodore, we've recieved a report from FIV Command, they're under attack." The Comms officer reported.

"Where from?" Carlyle asked.

"From one of the outer fleets." Comms reported, "Shield absorbed the fire, but they're being pinged."

"For karks sake, tell the Command to return fire from port batteries, along with FIV Liberator and Riot, that'll give them something to think about." Carlyle commanded.
"Understood." Comms replied.

"Incoming torpedo, port side!" Scanning reported.

"Employ countermeasures!" Carlyle roared.

"Aye aye sir!" the Gunnery Officer replied. The Vindicator listed to one side, and the port side defensive guns turned, firing flak at the torpedo. The missile was destroyed before it could properly detonate. The star destroyer rocked, but didn't sustain any permanent damage. Had the torpedo been deployed at a closer range, the Vindicator most certainly would have taken a larger hit.

Carlyle peered out at the battle, "Continue on gents, we've got the-" Then the blast hit, the Vortex cannons firing devastated the Darr Ithar, and the crews of the fleet watched on, terrified by the show of power. "Comms, get my Vallhalla command. Get me anyone. We need reinforcements to clean up this mess."

"Speaking of reinforcements sir," Scanning interjected, "Commander Piett's arrived, with, with a massive ship."

"How big?" Carlyle asked.

"Huge sir, about double our size." Scanning replied.

"He's engaging sir, just behind that fleet that pinged us with the torpedo." Comms reported.

"Well then, tell him to keep up the pressure, I want the karkers dead." Carlyle snarled, "Now, back to it!"


Actions:

Attacked [member="Cathul Thuku"] 's fleet.
2 Victory-x's and an Empire Class Frigate are engaging [member="Alexandra Morrow"] after one Victory X was pinged by fire.
The fleet has moved forward.
The Vindicator was shocked by a torpedo from [member="Vilin"].

[member="Cyrus Tregessar"] | [member="Kyrana Gould"] | [member="Fiolette Yvarro"] | [member="Cathul Thuku"] | [member="Basileus Isauros "]| [member="Alexandra Morrow"] | [member="Vilin"] | [member="Aran Piett"]

 

[LT-137]

"The difference between Gods and Daemons largely depends on where one is standing at the time."​

- Horus Rising (Novel); Preamble.​

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https://youtu.be/Wa6vvYOq-gE​

Location: Pirate Base - Nearby Asteroid Belt.
Allies: The First Order.
Enemies: Pirate Scum.
Primary Objective: Secure the Criminal Base.
Secondary Objective: Free the Xenos Slaves.
Tertiary Objective: Exfiltrate and Regroup with the Fleet.

​

​

Curling his fingers into a fist, Torian - for the first time in what seemed like ages - felt the shiver of pleasure trundle down the length of his spine. The aqueous fluid of life dripped from his fingers in thick droplets of sparkling crimson. He hadn’t felt this good in a long time. For the past week and a half, the Stormtrooper had been confined to the rotten innards of that Diplomatic Transport as they made their way towards this benighted world. His body ached for action, to feel the sweet kiss of adrenaline rush through his veins. Then, as fate would have it, that itch crawling behind his eyes was sated.

They had come to this world under the banner of peace, arriving in-system with a flotilla of Medical and Research vessels - escorted by a small squadron of Destroyers. However, those that had clawed out their miserable existence upon the planet below had wrongly seen them as invaders. Ancient Imperials who sought to steal whatever was left of their home and pervert it to their ends. That had all changed when the local band of Outlaws had sallied forth from their Asteroid base, seeking to reap another harvest of slaves from the planet below. They were surprised to see that a Squadron of Imperial Destroyers had greeted them instead, and died screaming as they fled back towards their secluded home.

In the aftermath of the planetary skirmish, Torian, and his Squad of Stormtroopers had sailed through the infinite canvas of night - intent on finishing what the FOSB had begun. Hours had passed since the loading ramp had dropped, and the Soldier lost himself in the flurry of combat. One moment had bled into the next, and then the next thing he knew, He was standing over the fallen form of the local Slavemaster; with his fists bathed in his crimson vitae. It was then that the Scarlet curtains had lifted, bring the Soldier back from the edge of the abyss. With but a glance, the man had drunk in his surroundings. He was within the command complex of the Asteroid station, surrounded the fallen corpses of those that stood in his way. Nearby terminals sparked with the near-silent accusations of violence, filling the darkness surrounding him in sickening waves. He had lost his helmet somewhere in the Chaos, and his eyes struggled to adjust to the lack of illumination painting his surroundings.

He struck the mewling wretch with his closed fist once again, spewing forth bloody gobbets of saliva. His gauntlets were stained in the cardinal hues of another’s life, and the sight had caused his heart to skip a beat in heated elation. The sight was one he relished, as for every teardrop that spilled forth from the man’s battered face, had eased the blade of vengeance buried deep within the Stormtroopers hollowed soul. This man held sway over every Smuggler, Pirate, and Slaver scum that decided to call this base home. Torian struck him again, feeling the shiver of agony ripple through the man’s broken form. His joints were vaporized by the Charric’s thermal caress, and hanging of scorched strips of ragged fabric. He wasn’t going anywhere, yet the Stormtrooper enjoyed torturing the Scum in his final moments. Perhaps, when his soul had finally been sent to whatever afterlife this man believed in, he would find peace. That very thought curled the Bakuran’s lips into a regal sneer. No. He didn’t deserve a chance to enjoy the afterlife. Not after everything he had done.

“Just…” The beaten, and broken Pirate Lord had sputtered. “Kill me…”

Another strike forced the man’s weight from the Stormtrooper’s grip, knocking him to the deck in a clatter of ragged flesh smashing against factory-forged steel. He writhed in pain. Betrayed by his own body, the debased creature did little more than whimper and whine - all the while begging his killer to finish the job. He was denied the pleasure of a swift death. Instead, Torian stalked forward, pulling his combat blade free of its shoulder mounted sheath. He knelt down before the fallen figure, placing the deactivated knife above the helpless man’s throat.

“I will grant your wish,” The Stormtrooper began. “However, I have a mission to complete before you pass on into your next miserable life.” Lifting the blade and forcing the man’s jaw to tilt towards his Killer’s face. “You will tell me where your slaves are kept.”

Bloody phlegm was the Pirate’s response, painting Torian’s russet-brown features with a considerably vital hue. Reacting out of instinct, rather than cold and calculating logic, the Stormtrooper smashed his fist - the only one not holding a weapon - into the man’s nose. A satisfying crunch had filled the sparking silence as the cartilage gave way to the crimson stained duraplast plating.

“I’m not keen on repeating myself,” Torian said coldly, as his lifeless sapphire eyes narrowed. “Tell me where you’re keeping them, and I shall end this torment.”

To further enforce his point, he pushed the sharpened molecular blade into the pirate’s flesh, feeling it part ever so slightly as more and more pressure was placed on the knife’s edge. The man beneath the blade screamed in agony, trying to ease the strain seeking to sever the rapidly pulsating lifeline’s embedded within his neck. As the cells began to part, and dark maroon ribbons began to stream forth, he screamed. “Wait!” As the words struggled past the gurgling pool of crimson water building behind his lips, it caused the burden of cold steel to lift from it's freshly carved furrow. “They’re on… Deck Twenty-Three. Two thousand Eldorai slaves. Freshly harvested from that wasteland.”

“Will I find them alive?” Torian asked through gritted teeth.

The silence that followed his question was his only answer. Feeling the flicker of rage spark within his breast, Torian smashed his fist into the man’s face once again.

“Are they still breathing!?”

“Yes,” The Pirate Lord had finally whispered. “They’re still alive.”

Without wasting a moment, Torian slid the blade across the man’s throat and roused himself from the deck in a single motion. Cleansing the knife on the lip of his textured glove, the Stormtrooper returned the combat blade to its rightful place and re-sealed the clasp. While he would enjoy seeing the man’s final, fading breath before the Force had taken his soul, He still had a mission to complete. Pulling his rifle over his shoulders and fanning his fingers across the handle and foregrip, the Soldier began his dark descent into the unknown. It was there that he would find, not only the Eldorai Hostages awaiting their liberation, but an echo of his past stalking his very shadow...

 

[Hansen]

FN-888 "Helden"
Citadel of Dawn.

Debris and rock thrown up into the air, the Stormtrooper Lieutenant and her platoon duck into cover with the falling of concussion missiles upon the Alliance positions. "In Cover!!" Bits of debris and organic matter slam against 3rd Platoon and their white armour. Smearing them an assortment of colours although largely the crimson of Human blood. A fleeting pity for the Firemane troops washes over Joan, and then fades as quickly as it arrived. They would have no such pity for her Stormtroopers, the bombardment eases and Joan looks over shoulder and is greeted by a sight that renews her faith in the First Order. Hundreds, upon Hundreds of Stormtroopers swarm onto the Citadel battlements and around the Trenches, dropping into prone firing positions to minimise their targets.

Joan looks over towards the treeline that flank the road on either side, not only have they been charred by a fire now extinguished. The leaves that remained had been blown clean off by the force of the concussion rockets; The trees, despite previous evidence to the contrary looked thoroughly dead. Joan pauses for a moment, and looks left down the Trench through 1 and 2 sections, Sev exchanges her look with a confused shrug; What just happened? The situation seemed hopeless but now....Now they could win.

"Third platoon! Open fire!" And again the two gunpits manned by "Origin" and "Hands-off" roar to life and send blaster bolts down the road once more. The Stormtroopers shoulder their blaster rifles and send a hail of blaster bolts over the Earth separating themselves and the Firemane forces. "Sev! It looks like we might still be on for that court martial!" Joan hears a chuckle over the TEAMCOM. She peers over to the right somewhat and sees what is obviously a man trying to hide inside a Trench. She keys the Commlink. "Hotshot! See that short Trench off to our right Trooper? Blow it out with your Flamethrower will you?"

Hotshot peers through his narrow visor across the crater strewn field and searches for the man and spots a rifle-holding soldier. Hotshot aims his Flamethrowers' projector into the sky in that direction from the cover of Slit trench and depresses trigger. This sends an arc of burning hot liquid over the Battlefield towards @[member='Dish']'s Trench. "Ow yeah! Roast for me baby!" The crazed pyromaniac Stormtrooper bites his bottom lip in frustration, he watches the fire keenly and to Hotshot they are as attractive as Twi'lek erotic dancers. "I hear Galactic Alliance smell like hot chocolate! They melt easy!"

Sev takes note of the charge percentage of his HUD, getting low. He'd need to swap out packs soon. A large rock slammed down onto his helmet during the bombardment and his aim wasn't as good as it was, a distinct pain stabbed into the back of his neck. "Hear our marching step! All Stormtroopers, honour Sieger!" The Platoon Sergeant sings happily to himself while fighting. Sev was the epitome of what it meant to be a loyal, dutiful soldier. When he compared himself and Joan in his own mind, he viewed the Lieutenant as being a more independent individual albeit weaker. That's where the two complimented each other.

"I'm going to begin transmitting our surrounding telemetry data upto the fleet! In the event we need to Delta-Zero our position!" Joan hits a button on her right vambrace with left hand and begins broadcasing telemetry data upto the Capital Ships in Orbit.


@[member='Joza Perl'], @[member='Audren Sykes'], @[member='BE-183'], @[member='Ludolf Vaas'], @[member='Asharad Graush'], @[member='Pierce Fortan III'], @[member='Elpsis Elaris'], @[member='Sara Lee Jones'], @[member='Nathaniel Barrett'], @[member='Tempest'], @[member='Dish'].

 

[Diysuperguy33]

Location: Chalcedon orbit
Allies: n/a
Enemies: [member="Maurice Dalton"]
Objective: Prepare to reinforce Cathul Thuku, on her command

"Commander, a transport ship just dropped out of hyperspace," Said her first mate.

"Friendly or hostile?" She questioned.

"Unsure." He replied.

"Have the Tyrese's fighters ready to deploy at a moments notice"

"Open a transmission with them"

"This is the Galactic Alliance ship, Tyrese. You are nearing a military war zone. State your business"

Spoiler

4600m

Tyrese (My flagship)

• 2x A-wings

Steiner

• 36x Knight Class Fighter

• 24x Ranger Class Interceptor

• 24x Avenger Class Bomber

• 12x Paladin Class Fighter

• 8x Imimica Class Gunship

• 16x Argevant Class Dropship

Hoffman

• 36x Knight Class Fighter

• 24x Ranger Class Interceptor

• 24x Avenger Class Bomber

• 12x Paladin Class Fighter

• 8x Imimica Class Gunship

• 16x Argevant Class Dropship

Lakeitel

• 36x Knight Class Fighter

• 24x Ranger Class Interceptor

• 24x Avenger Class Bomber

• 12x Paladin Class Fighter

• 8x Imimica Class Gunship

• 16x Argevant Class Dropship

 

[Arlen Rossi]

Location: Comm Tower, Santaissa
Objective: Hold the line
Allies: First Order ([member="Darth Veles"], [member="Isla Ashen"], [member="Kaalia Voldaren"])
Enemies: Galactic Alliance ([member="Kira Vaal"],[member="Kaida Taldir"], [member="Ryan Korr"])

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkF2C_u3Hgs​

Now within view of the tower, Arlen continued to receive updates on Vele's and Ashen's progress. Resistance had been broken and the FO was now more or less in control of the tower. There had been no sign on the Alliance reinforcements spotted earlier, but Arlen would still keep them in mind, tasking some of her drones to scout around the area for any approaching formations.

Ashen contacted her over secure network, informing her that a Jedi was attempting to make contact with the tower.

Despite their slim chances of defeating an army of battle droids led by a Sith Lord, the insurgents had fought down to just about the last man until they were overwhelmed. Now a Jedi was poking around. That couldn't be a coincidence. The insurgents must have been sitting on an important piece of information to fight so hard. She needed to figure out just what that information was.

"Keep quiet for now, until we know the objective of the insurgents. However, I would advise that you keep your prisoners holed up in the tower in case the reckless Alliance or one of their bloodthirsty Dark Jedi friends gets the bright idea to level the tower while you're still there. This could also be our chance to snag ourselves a Jedi with a hostage exchange."

"As for the tower itself, we need to take it out of commission. I'm going to transmit a file to your datapad, then I want it uploaded to the tower's mainframe. It's malware that will corrupt the tower's operating system and suck up all its bandwidth for transmissions with junk data. I'll also need you lock down the generator room. If it looks like we're about to lose it, then knock out the power."

"Wraith Squadron, I want you to establish top cover over the tower. We're expecting company. Be advised, there are weather abnormalities that are likely being caused by hostile Force Adepts."

"Copy that," Wraith Leader replied. "We're three minutes out."

The convoy had arrived. Fire teams fanned out to establish a perimeter, outwards of a block from the tower, while the MDUs parked near a building adjacent to the tower. As both hoverpads locked into a stationary position, a shield would rise over the ruined building and part of the intersection, creating a protective cover for the bulk of the scout troopers still positioned near the vehicles. The second MDU was parked next to the first, a cage full of Ysalamiri creating a bubble of Force nullification to protect the vehicles from simply being flung around by telekinesis or some other fancy Force power. If any foe wanted to take those MDUs out of commission, then they were going to have to put some effort into it. During the trek to the tower, Arlen had been careful to stay far ahead in the front convoy to escape being affected. She would have to sit outside of the protection of the shield if she wanted to use her powers.

A pair of Sabers and repuslor sleds positioned themselves at the base of the tower to provide fire support for Vele's droids. Scout troopers now entrenched in buildings around the comm tower monitored the streets and skies for trouble. A few of them made their way up the tower from inside to take advantage of the elevation for sniping. With their enhanced sensor suite, and recon drones, they could still operate fine under the poor weather conditions.

Arlen herself stayed far away from the comm tower, sitting quietly on a speeder bike as she finally transmitted the malware file to Ashen. If all went well, then the comm tower would be rendered as good as dead, unlikely to be repaired in the midst of combat. As far as she was concerned that was done, now her thoughts were on the Resistance and the Jedi. What did they want? That was the question that kept her from calling for everyone to simply pull out and join the fight elsewhere.

 

[Tempest]

Allies: [member="Aeron Kreelan"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] [member="HK-36"] [member="Nima Tann"] [member="Sed Frieder"] [member="Taryc Ap'Irae"] [member="Six-O"] [member="Michael Sardun"] [member="Laira Vereen"]
Enemies: @Project X-2[member="Pharazon Draken"] [member="Valius Rau"] [member="Asharad Graush"] [member="Ludolf Vaas"] [member="Nils Brenner"] [member="FN-888"] [member="Pierce Fortan III"]
Location: Relocated to the north side of the Citadel of Dawn

The efforts of the brave Alliance bombers and that of Siobhan, Nima and Joza had come to fruition. The massive walker was wrecked and smoking. However it had extracted a price before it had gone down, its massive turbolaser hitting and annihilating a Manticore HST. The unfortunate vehicle unable to even fire, was blasted apart, and the dropship depositing it was also hit and crashed, killing several nearby infantry.

The quad lasers and other anti-air weapons did not walk away empty handed. Two gunships and four of the strafing fighters were hit and went down, the crew lost in the fireballs of their crashes.
The retreating Stormtroopers, true to their stoic reputation, also accounted for some of the Alliance troops as they pulled back, leaving over a dozen troopers dead, holes burned through their armour.

However, retribution was soon to follow. The Firemane commanders swiftly peeled off about 250 troops, some walkers and 3 Reaver tanks to hold position and watch the retreating enemy forces whilst the rest of the infantry and armour hurried forward to aid their forward companions. Along with them went 3 of the Hydra AA tanks.

However, the retreating regiment would not get away easily. Half of the Cobra gunships and a squadron of fighters swooped in, hoping to turn the retreat into a rout and slaughter the infantry as they fled. Rockets, laser cannons and heavy blasters along with fighter launched warheads rained down. At the least it was encourage the Stormtroopers to retreat faster and cause some losses, at best it might break their morale and force them to flee for good.

The remaining fighters, almost 3 squadrons, would move in to interdict the Reign bombers and fighters of [member="Pierce Fortan III"].
The Reign bombers were impressive in the level of indiscriminate destruction they could unleash. It truly was the sort of bomber that the First Order would use for this situation. Their greatest problem was the carpet bombing nature of their weapons, and at this close range they would hit the First Order’s defenders as much as the Firemane attackers.
Though whether any of these bombers or their escorts were lost was not for Firemane to establish, the concentrated anti-air of the Yazgid guided missile launchers, the Typhoon anti-air and the Hydras would cause some of them to be suppressed and unable to optimally direct their fire.
The Firemane infantry, now in the trenches, had warning as the ion jets screamed overhead, and they took cover as best they could. However, many were unable to take cover in time and were blasted apart.

After this the main force of the deployed forces of [member="Asharad Graush"] appeared like the Legions of Hell.
The fast moving speederbikes charged at the Reaver tanks, but in this case their speed would be their weakness. The weapons of the speeders could indeed damage or destroy a Reaver…if targeted accurately. However, to do that they’d need to slow down long enough for the flamers, repeating blasters and other weapons to hit them. It was a conundrum it was unsure how it could be resolved. However, one of the tanks was hit by a well-placed pair of bolts and burnt up.
Into this melee though came the Yazgids and their Striker Launchers and rotary shattercannns were perfect for this situation. The storm of frag grenades would create a curtain of fire which could destroy the speeders or kill or maim their rider.

Of far greater concern were the FRT-01s which were armed with weapons which could actually badly hurt the Reavers much easier. These pulse cannons were able to destroy two more of the tanks in the opening encounter, however they managed to open fire as well with their main guns, the mass driver cannons also easily able to hurt their enemies.
The AT-CWs, firing with their weapons at long range also managed to score some hits, wrecking some tanks and killing more of the arriving reinforcements.

Now though it was turn for the Alliance to return fire. The mass of the First Order infantry and vehicles was imposing, but it was also an opportunity.
Moving in, 12 of the Cobras unleashed a hail of 408 rockets, combined with anti-personnel blaster cannons whilst the heavier blaster cannons sought out the FRT-01s. Against such a mass of troops the effects should be noticeable.

It got better.

From behind the lines the Thunderers and Typhoons unleashed their massive artillery payloads onto the arriving infantry of [member="Asharad Graush"]. The Thunderers unleashed a quick volley, guided by the old Eldorai maps of the area for targeting. All told they would be able to drop 810 155mm shells onto the area in just a minute where the First Order troops were advancing. Not all these would be dead on, but with a stunning accuracy of about 75% hitting within 30 metres of the targets – this being the debarking infantry from the juggernauts – it would be a devastating onslaught. After this they would switch to slower, more aimed rounds…but that was for later.

The Typhoons meanwhile opened fire, with twelve of them unleashing their cluster bombs onto the advancing First Order soldiers and vehicles. The devastating barrage from a dozen of these terrible engines could turn the ground into a wasteland of craters, shattered trees and the remains of any vehicles and soldiers unlucky enough to be caught in the storm.

For the massed infantry the First Order was deploying, this bombardment could be utterly devastating.

Added to this, the powerful Manticore and Firemaw opened fire on the AT-CWs with their special weapons, targeting them in turn and attempting to blast them one by one as they advanced.

XXX

Meanwhile Tempest found herself in the bombardment. When the thermal detonators had been thrown she’d called on the Force to send a wave of telekinesis to knock them back.
When the bombers came over though she dived for cover with Elpsis, managing to take cover as the unguided bombs struck near their positions.

Staggering to her feet, ears ringing from the explosions, she saw the battle ranging all around them.
“Wait for the rest of the troops to catch up,” she advised Elpsis. Whilst the First Order was being barraged it was not the best time to advance into the storm. Rather, it was best to wait, gather strength and then attack.


Forces and deployment:
(Forward Firemane contingent – Tempest, Elpsis etc)

• 337 250 infantry armed and equipped Mk2 bolters, Sentinel armour, thermal detonators etc. Mounted in Yazgids of which 10 8 survive and are in action.
• 3 2 heavy and 6 5 light Mag’ladroth walkers.
• 8 5 Reaver assault tanks.
• 1 Firemaw MAVT

(New contingent – landed to the north, near to Ludolf’s forces)

• 1,250 1,225 infantry armed as above – the contingents of 5 Vigilance Frigates from the fleet. Infantry mounted in Yazgids.
• 3 2 Manticore Heavy Support Tanks.
• 18 Typhoon artillery tanks. 6 with AA missiles, 12 with standard cluster munitions.
• 9 Thunderer SPA. Deployed rearwards with air support.
• 6 Hydra AA tanks.
• 15 13 Reaver assault tanks.
• 3 Firemaw MAVT
• 3 heavy and 6 light Mag’ladroth walkers.
• 24 22 Cobra gunships.
• [SIZE=11pt]48[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] 44 Avenger fighters in 4 squadrons.[/SIZE]

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Location: Citadel of Dawn
Allies: [member="Aeron Kreelan"], [member="Joza Perl"], [member="Aeron Kreelan"], [member="Elliot Locke"], [member="Dax Fyre"], [member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"], [member="Audren Sykes"]
Enemies: [member="FN-888"], [member="Ludolf Vaas"], [member="Asharad Graush"], [member="Aizen"], [member="Pierce Fortan III"]


Elpsis did not hate the average grunt fighting on the First Order's side. They'd been indoctrinated to serve the fascist nation. If things had gone differently, she could've ended up the same way. After all, her father was an evil Sith Lord. May he burn in the hell Auntie Siobhan had tossed him into. They were not drones or unfeeling automatons. This she felt especially strongly since she perceived their emotions via her empathy, But she had no qualms about killing them because of what she knew was right.


Her leg pained her from the injury she'd taken earlier, but she sought cover alongside Tempest, joining her powers with those of her dark skinned girlfriend to blast the thermal detonators away with a telekinetic wave, pushing them back towards their throwers. Unguided bombs, a most primitive weapon, rained down from the heavens, but Firemane's formidable anti-air defences and flak roared to life, unleashing a hailstorm upon the bombers while allied attack craft fell upon them.


The earth seemed to shake amidst the mass of explosions. It made her ears ring painfully, especially when the Firemane artillery barrages began. "Ok. You're the boss. There is something I can do though," she spoke quietly. Hell had broken loose around her, but she felt...fine. The colossal walker seemed to have gone down. She did not yet know that another one was in the game...but so what? Their cause was just, their weapons powerful, they were going to win. Her confidence never wavered.


Unable to advance whilst the First Order was being barraged, she settled into a meditation, finding her centre amidst the storm. She imagined herself in her safe place, the wild and untamed Shadowlands. Massive Wroshyr trees that had stood the test of time for millennia and towered over humans, wild animals, the cold soft breeze of the wind brushing against her skin. The wilderness was honest and pure in a way that 'civilisation' could never be. When all was gone, the Shadowlands would remain. The Force was like a Great River, but rather than seek to press her will upon it, she let the stream carry her.


Her breathing steadied and her wound became less painful. The Force was with her and she was at peace with herself. The young empath stretched out with her mind, slowly and gently forming delicate threads as she connected with the minds of the Firemane forces in her vicinity. She'd calmned soldiers frightened by the sudden manifestation of Cthulhu in space, now she manifested a very primitive form of battle meditation. By no means as intense as immersive as the complete product, more an extension of her empathy. She was no Spencer Varanin or Adele Adonai, but a very gifted empath. Their minds would be steeled, their resolve strengthened and feel a sense of calm, if only very briefly. They would win. It was the will of her goddess.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Location: Citadel of Dawn
Allies: [member="Tempest"], [member="Nima Tann"], [member="Joza Perl"], [member="HK-36"], [member="Michael Sardun"], [member="Aeron Kreelan"], [member="Laira Vereen"]
Enemies: [member="Ludolf Vaas"], [member="Asharad Graush"], [member="Darth Carnifex"]


While Siobhan was exerting her power upon the gargantuan walker, suddenly a hail of slugthrower bullets came her way. Being so focused on her task and not that mobile anyway, Siobhan was unable to dodge. However, that was unnecessary, for she had been wearing her Imperatrix armour since arriving on Kaeshana.

The Countess was rigid as a statue as the transport ships descended. She was clad from head to in her custom beskar'gam, which blended Mandalorian practicality with Eldorai aesthetics. It was styled after the armour of Ariane the Conqueror, the greatest Eldorai Star Queen of old.

A stormtrooper of the old Galactic Empire could stand in front of a volley of slugthrower armed soldiers and be unharmed unless a shot hit a weak joint. It was no contest against class ten beskar armour. Slugs bounced off her armour like hail. It made her shake slightly and chirped the paint.


I need new paint, she thought to herself, feeling moderately annoyed, like a girl who'd messed up her nail polish. HK's droids put the apparent shooter under fire with their Magnetic Repeaters. Whether they hit him or not was not something the Grandmistress could assess.


Finally, the Sabercat was turned into a smoking wreck, the combined efforts of Laira, Joza, Nima, Siobhan and the courageous bomber pilots having paid off. The soldiers that had come with it retreated. More First Order troops arrived like the hounds of hell, Firemane artillery rained down hell upon them. "Good work, Nima. Aeron, Sardun, we gotta smash the rest of their armour! We shall crush them with an iron fist and send them to hell. Keep our rear and flanks covered in case another counterattack comes."


She turned her gaze towards the advancing First Order heavy armour. Her own tanks were putting the AT-CWs under fire. Advancing in order to get into a better position, with some help from her jets, she focused her mind upon an AT-CW.


Which part of it did she target? You might have guessed it, dear reader, she drove her telekinetic willpower against the proton cannon in an attempt to smash and tear it off. This seemed to be her favourite tactic these days. It was probably more practical than trying to chuck the entire walker, though it required more concentration. From the distance, she saw the massive discharge when the third Sabercat unleashed its ray of doom, though the walker far too far away for her at this point. "Another uber AT-AT. Lovely. Let's kill that one, too."


In this moment her jaw tightened when she felt a presence. One she had not felt in a long time. It was still distant, but dark, evil and malevolent. "Kaine is on the planet. I can feel it. Someone pass on word to the Alliance." Her words dripped with venom and hatred. Apparently a reunion was in order. Her lips curled into a cold, predatory smile while she unleashed her power.

 

[Rexus Wenck]

Post: XII
Objective: Hold The Line and Cover The Retreat.
Location: Citadel of Dawn, advancing to the frontline.
Equipment: Sonic Rifle, Pistol and Riot Baton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Fsn3mzwuA

Rexus peeked his head up when the bombers finished their pass overhead. Soldiers instinct had kicked in, and the soldier had called the advance to a crawl while the bombardment went on. "Alrighty, let's move ladies, move!" Rexus called, climbing up from the crater he'd been hiding in. One by one, the platoon raised their heads, and began to continue their quick paced reinforcement of the frontline.

"Sir, whose bombers were they?" Twigg asked, catching up to Rexus.

"I don't think it matters at this point, whoever it was, they wiped out heaps from both sides most likely." Rexus said, "This, this battle is Zarnathea, but worse."

"How could you get worse than Zarnathea?" Arry asked, "We were in tropical heat."

"That's true." Twigg said, "How does this trump the heat?"

"'Ave you two gone mad?" Rexus asked, rounding on them, "Haven't you been looking around?" He shook his head, "Zarnathea was blue milk sundaes to this."

Rexus paused, a forward unit stopped, "Oi, you may wanna see this!" The scout said, "Hostiles incoming!" The scout called, "Friendlies retreating."
Rexus put his palm up, and the platoon ground to a halt. He paused, and scanned the road. He could see in the distance Alliance and Firemane mongrels approaching, "This is it lads!" Rexus called, "Fan out, we're gonna hold the karking line here!"

The troopers scattered, and began to prepared themselves for the inevitable. Taking cover in craters, and behind mounds of debris, each individual made their peace. "This is it," Rexus repeated, "This is it, today may be our day, and if it is, then we will give the kriffers hell!"

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Ludolf Vaas"] | [member="Elpsis Elaris"] | [member="Tempest"] | @Asharard Graush | [member="FN-888"]

 

[Pharazon Draken]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Post #: 7[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Location: Santaissa Ruins.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Objective: Death or Glory.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Allies: First Order and Friends, none directly involved.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Enemies: [member="Six-O"], Galactic Alliance and Friends, none other than Six-O directly involved.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Forces: 24 Stormtroopers (25 incl Pharazon) (Ten men of absent squad on route)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Equipment: Standard Stormtrooper Equipment. [/SIZE]

• Specific links for Standard Support Equipment
  X2 FWMB-10 repeating blasters.
• X1 TI-S Mortar.
• X2 D-93 Incinerator flamethrower (one is with absent NPC Cain and his squad and not currently present).

[SIZE=14.6667px]“I need those two megablasters re positioned to cover the south road now squads three and four” Pharazon ordered firmly but calmly over the com as he crouched at his firing position, sending bolt after bolt into the oncoming mass of rebels surging from the south. When next behind cover, Pharazon made sure to upload his unit’s location telemetry to the Command net so that he was hopefully not blasted to dust by a seemingly incoming orbital bombardment.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]A trooper at a window next to him collapsed backwards as his chest exploded after being hit with one of the bolter rounds fired by the large Klatooinian, Xerrzyk the Ghastly, the second round barely missing the dead trooper’s head and instead exploding against the opposite wall. Suppression bolter fire from the rebel speeder Sandalphon had spotted peppered and pummelled the building, bursting holes in walls and discouraging any attempts to leave the building or for the Stormtroopers on the outside to attempt to leave the cover of the building. 4th Platoon was completely pinned down and suppressed.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Then, the roof exploded in on them.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Several troopers were knocked off their feet by the concussive blast or falling pieces of ceiling material, others were dazed and had to sink back into cover. Two men were eviscerated by shrapnel and collapsed into bloody heaps. Pharazon could only thank the fact that not more of his troopers were on the upper floor.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Slowly and shakily the two megablaster troopers of squad three and four made their way over to the southern facing windows on both the top and bottom floors. They set themselves up in two respective windows on their weapons integrated stands and began pouring fire into the swarming, ravenously roaring rebels.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“We have to eliminate that fething speeder” Pharazon cursed over a private channel to Sandalphon, his temporary Platoon Sergeant in place of Cain as more explosive bolts blanketed their position. A trooper on the ground floor promptly had his head exploded by a bolter shell as he rose to fire as if to punctuate their predicament.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“Our support equipment can only do so much, and the mortar cannot reach that far if we could even spare it” Pharazon continued.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“Speaking of which... stand by Sandalphon” Pharazon said, an idea percolating in his brain that just might alleviate some of their problems. Switching back to the general platoon command net, Pharazon addressed squad five.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“Hydros, get your squad’s motor set up on the upper floor, make use of the open roof to rain hellfire and death upon any of those raving maniacs down there you can hit or keep from getting close” [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]Pharazon ordered, using more colourful language for the eccentric Sergeant.[/SIZE]

“Certainly sir”[SIZE=14.6667px] came the exuberant reply of Sergeant Hydros, a rather large and excitable fellow, he lugged the 22kg mortar by himself into position from where they had stored it on the ground floor to a spot away from the southern facing wall of the now more ruined building with effectively no ceiling. Pharazon could only thank the creators of that mortar for including wind compensators in its design. However, as the storm was dying down and moving on into the valley were the main lines were and forming into a blizzard, the wind and ice were still quite noteworthy in the ruins.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]After a few more minutes of frantic firing Pharazon was rewarded with a resounding series of seven thumps [/SIZE]and the accompanying unsettling cackling of Sergeant Hydros as the mortar belched its explosive payload out into the southern road with several landing at least 200 metres away and others landing as close as the mortar would allow at a little more than 100 metres.

[SIZE=14.6667px]Now Pharazon had to figure out what to do about the speeder and its heavy mounted weapon. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]At least rebels will have a hard time storming the building[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px] Pharazon thought firing his weapon in disciplined bursts and finely aimed shots out into the charging rebel swarm. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]Scorpio sounds like he is enjoying himself [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]he thought, amused in almost horrific fascination as he listened to the maniacal cackling emanating from the ground floor from the equally colourful and excitable Private Scorpio, who was brilliant in his own strange way Pharazon had to admit, as he belched great plumes of flames out of the ground floor doorway with his flamethrower.[/SIZE]

 

[Xandyr Carrick]

Spoiler: Fleet

10km
Primary Fleet
6 Sqdn D-Wing
4 Sqdn K-Wing Bomber
12 Sqdn X-Wing Starfighter
2 Hammerhead Corvettes (One crippled)
1 GR90 E-war transport Jamming Denial Class
1 Leviathan Class Monitor Moving silently to flank Raesgeber
1 Nebulon B9 Frigate - Projecting gravity well to enable precise micro jump
2 Thranta MK2-Class Frigate (One Destroyed)
2 Valor Class Carriers (One Destroyed)
2 Noble-Class Star Defender Firing prow weapons on Rausgeber's Imp-Xs, Some rearward fire at a Denial class
1 Trimiran Class Star Defender Firing gravimetric torpedoes to prevent more jumping

Reserve Fleet NOW in system
2 Hammerhead Corvettes
1 Trimiran Class Star Defender Right up Piett's tail and giving everything its got.

[member="Kyrana Gould"] [member="Cathul Thuku"] [member="Vilin"] [member="Alexandra Morrow"]
[member="Basileus Isauros"] [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"] [member="Cyrus Tregessar"] [member="Aermoira Cyone"] [member=Aran Piett]

The main Javelin cannons of the Noble class cruisers were now slowly recharging their capacitors for another round. Building enough charge to power the magnetic acceleration tubes that ran the length of the ship. In the meantime those vessels continued to fire volleys of energy torpedoes at the flank of the First Order fleet. Those torpedoes were massless, hitting their targets nearly instantaneously.

“Sir, we’re detecting signals through hyperspace from the rear, I have no advanced warning of additional friendlies.”

In a flash the small enemy fleet emerged from hyperspace behind them. Opening up within a few seconds. Vilin growled. This irreparably changed his plans and forced his hand to use his reserve forces.

This time at least the whole fleet had managed to get their jumps calculated together. That was the first part of the plan.

“Captain Hidarius, hold position here with your escorts,” Vilin called. “We will signal you if required, keep those nav comps running and wait for the call.”

“Signal Captain Hidarius and prepare to give him a safe landing.” Microjumps were difficult things. They had carried out theirs with precision, but Vilin’s fleet had an advantage in the matter.

“This is Captain Dessedus…we’re taking heavy fire…can’t…” the signal failed almost as soon as it began. The Valor-class carriers had been left to the rear of his formation. They were admirable at holding off fighters, but could not withstand the firepower of a Resurgent class. After he had barked out several orders, Vilin could only watch as the ANS Dignity started to lose hull integrity. They were never meant to take such a bombardment. A brilliant flash as the reactors went and there was nothing but detritus left. Another Hammerhead’s engines suddenly went in a flash, leaving her adrift and her bridge crew fighting valiantly as escape pods were launched.

“This is Vilin to Thuku and Gould. I cannot turn about without giving the enemy this flank. I need a heavy cruiser diverted to take on that Victory X. I’ll deal with the Resurgent.” Someone from Gould’s fleet responded that they could spare a vessel, but to wait for confirmation.

Vilin tapped out a tune on the head of his cane. The battle had changed now. He was no longer the hammer, but the anvil. He would hold this flank no matter the cost. And his confidence in such improved a moment later when his reserve fleet emerged from hyperspace. His ambush had been aided with a gravity well deployed by the Nebulon B9 in his formation, so as precise as the First Order jump had been, his was even greater.

A Trimiran class emerged right on the tail of Piett’s Resergent class. Her two squadrons of A-wings emerging from hyperspace a moment later, staying close to their mothership. This was the power of the vessel, head on engagements at close range. And nose to tail on Piett’s Battlecruiser, this was exacerbated. First came the salvos of fire from the 100 Raptor ACE and 50 heavy ion cannons. That prow blade bristling with weapons. At close range the bombardment was immensely effective against shields. Then the entire vessel shook with the roar of 50 assault concussion missiles being launched. Each near as large as a Starfighter they were designed to do little more than cripple heavy destroyers. In return the Resurgent class would only be able to flare her engines until she came about.

Vilin ordered the rest of his fleet to continue their long range bombardment of Rausgeber’s fleet, but the Noble class vessels turned several of their Octuple Turbolaser batteries to the rear to fire on a single Denial class escorts. Meanwhile the GR-90 turned its suite of jammers on a second Denial class. The goal was clear: punch a hole in Piett’s Starfighter defence to Vilin could direct some K-wings down their throat.

Piett had changed the course of the battle inexorably, but not as he had intended. He had prevented Vilin from carrying out his original plan of using his reserves against Rausgeber’s fleet, but in turn he had become sandwiched between Vilin’s two formations.

Vilin’s own vessel, the Viperous fired a round of torpedoes. Piett might be confused that they passed by harmlessly. Until they detonated and caused gravimetric disturbances. That was just to cover the rear from any more potential microjump attacks. No more vessels would be emerging behind them soon. The situation had seemed grim, but it could be recovered.

And he had always wanted to see a Resergent class burn.