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

[Kuzo]

Kaeshana
FLEEING Crashed Transport
​South of Santaissa
Allies: FO
​Enemies: Creators of the Force Storm
[member="Vexen"] [member="Micah Talith"]

Irajah had been shielded from most of the violence of the blast, first by Micah and Vexen directly, and then by their shield. She could feel, in a vague, distant sort of way, the way they pulled the Force around them. Not enough to have any idea of how it was done, simply that is had been done.

Not to say that being pushed into a ditch by the ferocity of the explosion hadn't hurt. Fortunately, the very indecorous yell and cursing from the petite woman had been drowned out by the blast. She blinked blearily up at Micah, her ears ringing, feeling stuffed full of cotton. She couldn't make out the muffled blah blah but it was obvious she was conscious and (mostly) lucid at this point.

"WHAT?"

*****

The fire ball from the explosion was impossible to miss. The rescue cutter circled around, scanning the vicinity of the forest right around it. The pilot frowned as the sensor's operator shook his head.

"Someone radio it up," she said finally. It wasn't the first casualty in this unexpected conflict. They'd come here to help, damn their eyes. But the sight of the bright red cross on the side of the aid transport, flickering in the flames right before the explosion had torn it apart- that stuck with her. That ship and it's occupants hadn't originally come here for a war. They'd come here to study, to rebuild if possible. Most of them had been military personnel, but not one of them.

"Did we get the explosion on recon footage? Good. Send that along as well."

A few moments later [member="Aermoira Cyone"] would get the message that Doctor Ven's transport had gone down- because of the storm or if it had been fired upon was unclear, but that didn't much matter- and that the initial scans showed no survivors.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Objective: Capture, Control, Rescue
Ship: Orar'uliik
Allies: GA | [member="Elpsis Elaris"]
Enemies: FO | Citadel of Dawn
Music

The Orar'uliik broke atmosphere, having to dial down its speed to remain hidden but nevertheless continuing to travel through the engagement zone. It was exactly what Draco would call a clusterkark if he could see exactly what was going on down below. His single transport didn't carry a whole lot of warriors, nothing like the vast full Battlegroups the First Order and Firemane had on the ground, or the Galactic Alliance. But his small ground was highly trained, specialized in its purpose. And well equipped.

"Full stealth, take the ship out of the engagement zone once we've repelled down to the surface." Draco surveyed the landscape closely, looking over tagged IFF mentions and other information he could. The great thing about coming in late was that most stuff had already been landed and more reinforcements had to plow through lots of defensive networks. That is unless they were going to try the Black Ties strategy of using literally every stealth transport they had to unload several more invasion forces onto the planet.

"There, take us there to drop, then bug out. Boys," The warlord turned his attention to the men in the passenger bay, "Stay stealth, stay quiet until we make our move. If you see Laira, call out on the comms. I know she's here somewhere." And fighting by what he could feel of her senses. In serious, but not immediately fatal danger, and loving everything about it. Damn girl. He had tried to raise her so that she wouldn't be like this, but the apple doesn't always fall far from the tree.

The vessel's bottom doors opened, and the short, twenty meter or so drop behind a small hill so they would be out of sight. A little further ahead of them @Elipsis Elaris and her group was engaged with flame walkers and the trenches beyond them. The men fell quietly, clutching axes and beskads, mandal hypernautics rippers. Even Draco was wielding his power-axe. When they hit the ground, they starting moving, keeping low to the ground, keeping their stealth systems working. They didn't have full visual stealth, but sensor stealth instead, and relied on camouflage patterns beyond that.

"Forward." Draco whispered, waving them around the hill. The Firemane forces needed a little extra push to clear the way through, and he had something fun for the First Order stowed away in his ship once there was a lull in the fighting long enough to get it working.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer

Siobhan relied on Soresu, a formidable defense.

Carnifex, however; held two weapons in his hands and thus relied upon the Moderation Form: Niman. He would come at Siobhan with one blade held high, the other low. Or he would adopt a defensive stance with one blade while constantly attacking with the other, each one moving independently yet in tandem with one another to perpetually assault the Grandmistress. Her heavy beskar armor offered her to be more lax than if she had worn something with durasteel or duraplast, and every now and then one of his blades would score a hit against the lightsaber resistant armor to no detriment to Siobhan. He wore similar armor, albeit crafted from a different yet equally resistant material, and he too found that those retaliatory strikes that managed to sneak through his offensive did little to cause him actual harm.

But that was not Siobhan's true craft, this show of blades was merely a means to keep the Butcher King from carving her up outright. In time she would lash out, sending a telekinetic haymaker right into the Sith Lord's left cheek, his head careening with the punch as he stumbled back a step from the force of the blow. He tasted blood in his mouth, no doubt one or more of his teeth had been rattled loose by the blow, yet none had yet fallen out.

The lull in the battle lasted for less than a second, an eternity in the eyes of those whose battle intuition afforded them insight and superhuman reaction, but as the Sith Lord snapped back the fight continued even more intense than before. Whereas before the Dark Lord had employed a very traditional succession of stringed attacks against Siobhan's person and the blade part of her weapon, now his attacks were more random yet even more precised in their avenue of attack. He sought to strike Siobhan's hand, specifically her lightsaber's emitter whenever possible, and he also attempt to bind her up in a saberlock with one of his blades so he could rake his other across her waist to demolish any other weapons she might have withheld.

​

Meanwhile the battle between the Crownguard and the Angelii continued without much interference in the battle between the Dark Lord and the Grandmistress, although occasionally the battle would draw exceptionally close. By now all twelve Crownguard had entered the fray, each soldiers fighting as part of a collective rather than independently, and the whirling melee continued to escalate. Sometime during the battle four of the Crownguard would break away from the fighting, taking up position behind their brethren as they partook in an arcane ritual to conjure forth lattices of dark energy to ensnare the remaining Angelii so that their still-fighting brethren could take them down in a much more timely and efficient fashion.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="HK-36"]​

 

[Darth Veles]

[SIZE=10pt]Satanissa, comm tower[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]With: [member="Isla Ashen"], [member="Kaalia Voldaren"], [member="Arlen Rossi"][/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Against: [member="Kira Vaal"], [member="Ryan Korr"], [member="Elincia Alanis"], [member="Kaida Taldir"], [member="Aeda Shaytari"], [member="Six-O"], [member="Kiyron"], [member="Taryc Ap'Irae"], [member="Ghorumgash Khazund-Veranum"][/SIZE]


[SIZE=10pt]Was the Jedi’s lack of defence a result of the girl’s death or something else? It did not mutter much aside from making his work infinitely easier as he consistently approached the rebel opponent while pouring weaponized anger through his fingertips. Despite seeing his enemy clearly stood little chance, Darth Veles did not tone his shocking onslaught down – in fact, it grew in strength over time, his body and mind more and more consumed by the dark side that fuelled his attacks. He did not pause either, denying his victim a chance to move, to breathe, to resist, reducing her whole world to pain and two burning ambers that were his eyes. Then nothing. She was down, incapacitated, weak, defeated, and he towered above her. Before her mouth or body could voice a protest, the Sith lord took the rebel’s limp form, slinging her body over the shoulder. An easy task with the cybernetic enhancements installed within him, letting him move swiftly and without difficulty despite the baggage. Time was of the essence, constantly running out and waiting for nobody. It had claimed the greatest of Sith lords, so there was no reason for Darth Veles to be the sole exception.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]The Force practically carried him on its own – all the Dark lord had to do was jump, feeling the dark energy shoot into his legs as he did so. He was on fire – the free hand pointed at the droid and Darth Veles felt that sweet, yet strange tingling sensation in his hand as another torrent of energy headed towards the IGa-60 droid. Of course, others were free to open fire his way, but hopefully the Jedi captive served as good enough reason to prevent anyone from doing so. Upon landing on the snow covered rooftop, he did not let go of his precious source of information, even though he felt the opposing energies pulling the structure down. Provided all went well, the telekinetic pressure wouldn’t last for much longer. For now, the Sith lord added his will into the fray, reinforcing that of the two flame-haired Ren and denying the Eldorai forces success. Negating their attempts was no easy task, not even for him, but the dark side still burned brightly inside his body, energy begging to be released, and thus gave them a worthy adversary.[/SIZE]

 

[H3xle]

Location: Near Comm Tower

Allies: [member="Six-O"], [member="Elincia Alanis"], [member="HK-36"], [member="Kira Vaal"], [member="kaida taldir"]
Enemies: [member="Darth Veles"], [member="Isla Ashen"], [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] [member="Arlen Rossi"]

Forces:

Spoiler

With Taryc
-1 Company of Soldiers (250 Soldiers)
-Gear:
-Armor
-Rifle
-Sidearm
-SAW (Squad Assault Weapon, 2 per squad=8 per platoon=32 per company)
At Kerrigan-Alcori Estate
-2 Companies of Soldiers (500 Soldiers)
-Gear:
-Armor
-Rifle
-Sidearm
-SAW (Squad Assault Weapon, 2 per squad=8 per platoon=32 per company)

Taryc watched as the enemy troopers opposite her were duly surprised to have fire raining into them all of a sudden. The fireballs had their desired effect, many of the enemy troopers turned their weapons on her, letting her soldiers continue to wither their forces down with their fire. The fireballs weren't hampered by the shields that the blaster fire made evident, and she saw many in the back lines having to deal with it, either by being on fire all of a sudden, or helping their comrades with trying to no longer be on fire.

As the shielding became evident, her soldiers switched tactics slightly, combining fire on several soldiers, overwhelming shields, then tearing through the weak armor beneath. Taryc's beskar armor took several hits from the flechettes before she dropped back down. The bruises they left when they hit her beskar armorweave would likely hurt severely for several days, but she was smiling beneath her helmet none the less.

"Reserve companies, converge on first companies position." She ordered as the flames on her sword died. The battle turned into the type of battle that these GADF and Omega Pyre soldiers specialized in, and that she didn't. 500 more soldiers were on their way, all wearing the heavy armor. They'd likely receive less of a bruise than she had for each flechette, though she saw some medics treating minor wounds. Likely flechettes hitting the joints of the armor, as they tended to be less resilient. "Commander Beck..." she said over a private channel as she swiftly moved over to where the GADF commander was. At the edge of her consciousness, she felt a familiar presence, one of a friend. His appearance here could only mean the real battle was elsewhere, a place she would be needed. "...this is your kind of fight, not mine. Their arms do little damage until they cut through your shields, I'm less protected. I have the reserve force coming, they will reinforce you, but I am needed elsewhere."

"Thanks for the opening assist Taryc. Buy you a beer when this is all done?" The commander said, appearing to be unworried by the force they were arrayed against.

"Sure thing, James." She said, then began to lope back the way she had come. She'd pass the relief force on her way to meet up with Draco and those with him. Being alone and covered in Beskar meant she would be able to set her own pace. Athletic as she was, it was a ground eating pace that any distance runner would be proud of.

Actions:
1) Distraction complete, Taryc moved on to other battles
2) NPC force still in place and switching to overwhelming fire on enemy troopers
3) Relief force en route, will arrive in a post or two.
4) [member=draco vereen"] Taryc will arrive in the next post or two.

 

[Samka Derith]

Location: East of the Citadel of Dawn​

Objective: Outflank the attackers​

Allies: [member="Rolf Amsel"] [member="Asharad Graush"] [member="FN-888"]​

Enemy: Anyone assaulting the First Order's trenches​

([member="Joza Perl"], [member="HK-36"], [member="Audren Sykes"], @Canel, [member="Krenis Skirata"] [member="Dish"] ? Lots'a people I probably missed!)​

​

​

Having attached her platoon to Major Amsel's force, the Knight of Ren followed the man eastwards through the snow and across the mountain range. Samka had even done her best not to complain too much, she expected many of the soldiers there already thought her weak by her appearance and alone and didn't wish to add to that perception. Unlike the others, she did not come glad in full military gear and as such the bitter wind crept through the fabric of her clothing. Every so often she'd shiver and try to distract herself by playing with the condensation of her breath. Childish? Perhaps but so long as nobody knew what she was doing it should be fine. It had been reasonable weather not long ago so what had changed?

Thankfully they had made it to the Major's sought after position on the mountain range, perfectly unhindered by any enemy attacks. "Wonderful," the teenage skipped over to the edge and beamed at the sight below. Their forces were holding bravely but despite the terrain advantage, it was only a matter of time before they were forced to retreat by the enemy's sheer numbers. From here, they could change the tides. "Let's burn them all, Major!"

Sam took a few steps back from the edge to allow more Stromtroopers into position but first it seemed the Major had first to consult with his general. The girl rolled her eyes, these military types were always helpless without their leadership. With the Ren given operational independence, she couldn't imagine it any other way.

"No priority targets." Samka walked up the Major's side in time to hear the reply from the General.


"That means kill them all equally," she bluntly stated to the man's face.

But now she was directly in front of him, there was a sense of familiarity with this officer. Sam hadn't paid him much attention beforehand, tagging along without much thought of the leading officer in question but being this close...

"Amsel..." Sam's features shifted from deep thought to a cheery smile as she recalled the memories of their first interaction, the pair had formed part of the First Order's team at the Galactic Games quite some time ago. Sam offered a respectful bow of her head as she continued, "Congratulations on your promotion and I am pleased to see you make a recovery from the mess I last saw you in," she had done her best to sooth the man's injuries but the sport was brutal and everyone was playing to win.

"However..." the warmth drained from the young girl's voice, now replaced by a venomous tone, her eyes flashed dangerously and the cold aura of the Dark Side began to ooze from her very body. "You were most unpleasant to me before the games started, utterly dreadful even. This is your reward." Major Rolf Amsel would feel a sudden pressure blocking his throat and fear clouding his mind. It wouldn't last long nor do any lasting damage, they were still allies in a warzone after all. But this was a long time coming. She hadn't been able to punish the officer at the time, in-fighting would look bad before the crowd as well as weaken their team somewhat where it was just the three of them, but it went further than that. Back then Sam was fresh faced, newly allowed out of the Ren's facility on Skye for younglings and thus inexperienced. She was stronger now. Bolder. And everyone who had ever mocked her, spat on her, stepped on her, laughed at her or disrespected her on the way was going to suffer for it.

"That's enough," Sam said, releasing her grip on Rolf's body and mind. "I trust you're a good officer and I don't want to be the one leading all these troops, I have little patience for logistics."

Turning her back on Amsel, she now addressed the Stormtroopers gathered around, many of which looked uneasy seeing their superior officer being choked by a teenage girl they'd picked up along the way. "If you were with the platoon with me, remember some of you will have Charric snipers from our supply drop. Which means lightsabers are meaningless to you. It'll be your job to spot Jedi and end them. Understood?" A few helmets among the sea of armour nodded. The Knight of Ren turned back to the Imperial Officer, "On your command, Major," she invited the man with a grin. Most of these were his troops, not hers. As for her role in this, it would be suicidal to charge down the mountain alone into the fray. She would remain here as an extra layer of defence unless called elsewhere.

 

[Vexen]

[member="Irajah Ven"] [member="Micah Talith"]

What was bad for human ears was even worse for the defel's. Her ears remained flattened down to her head. She turned towards Irajah with her head cocked to one side.

I'm alright, she conveyed to Micah. She had sensed, rather than heard the intention behind his question. Her nose twitched from side to side. With a jerk she twisted around to look down at her back. The smell of burned hair was strong. She could see the ends singed off near her neck, wispy tendrils of smoke rising. Micah would feel a sudden burst of her distaste through their mental connection.

Muddy fur could be rectified with a quick bath. Singed fur had to be carefully trimmed and then grown back. Remembering where her priorities were, Vexen dropped down onto her knees beside the crash victim. She placed one paw across her chest protectively to try and encourage her to stay down and still. She was still alert, but her hearing was obviously as shot as Vexen's for the time being.

 

[Hira Mitsae]

Location: North side of the Citadel of Dawn and moving south
Objective: Liberation and securing of Santaissa

Allies: [member="Tempest"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]| [member="HK-36"] | [member="Six-O"] | [member="Aeron Kreelan"] | [member="Nima Tann"] | [member="Sed Frieder"] | [member="Taryc Ap'Irae"]

Enemies: [member="Asharad Graush"]
--

Burns across his arms and the upper-side of his robes in tatters.

There was an unsteadiness in his walk as he rose himself from his crouch. Next to him Aeron also rose. All around them that was just fire, dirt molten to slag and a crater with them in the middle of it. Almost seemed like the Order had targeted them with everything they karking had.

Probably should have felt a bit smug about that.

"I got your back." Sardun finally responded, before flashing a grin. "Counting that as twenty Sabercats, though, just so you are aware."

It was gonna be a whole hassle to get his arms healed properly. But that was the cost of doing business, in truth they should probably have been burned to cinders after that last stunt. Couldn't ever claim that Michael Sardun wasn't a stubborn bastard who just didn't know how to die.

"Getting about tired dealing with their horde of mooks, link back to the others and put an end to this?"

 

[HK-36]

Character: Adventures of NPC Greycloak "Iron-Borne"
Location: Battle for the Citadel of the Dawn, foothills by Vaas
Objective: Neutralize Vaas
Allies: [member="Joza Perl"] (Ivan)
Enemies: [member="Ludolf Vaas"]
Forces: 1 Greycloak, clad in Protectorate Power Armor, 2x Electro-Cestus, and chameleon cloaks, armed with Magnetic Revolvers, heavy Magnetic Repeater, generic blue-crystal lightsabers, and Spear of Rae.


His initial shot missed, hitting a stone and causing it to splinter into fragments with a violent crack. The Greycloak's magnetic repeater whirred softly as its revolving chamber put another pellet ready and loaded a fresh one in. He looked at Ludolf, standing across the field, the two beings stared each other down, the droid had his rifle, more weapons on his belt, Ludolf had his pistol, a knife, and a thirst for violent end unto his enemies. The droid put his rifle up quickly, in a way it would be a test for Ludolf's reflexes as the machine squeezed the trigger.

There was little need for him to actually aim through the rifle's computerized scope as it could just be connected to his trackers and scanners remotely, already plotting and calculating trajectories between the rifle and its mark in real time. Its shot would be aimed towards the chest, largest area to take a hit but also usually the most armored one. The droid noticed how the dust covered Ludolf's armor, that was enough to tell him that solid objects could pass through his deflector shields, much like the ones the droid had in his armor, and the magnetic repeater he used, well it fired fully solid, physical projectiles.

"You will bleed." He muttered, holding his magnetic repeater up and at the ready as its revolving chamber whirred and rotated once more. To the machine life was defined by heart and the body it kept alive but by mind and reason that drove the body onward and defined its goals. "The First Order keeps sending their lapdogs to spread their oppression throughout the Galaxy and masquerade it as good will, I know your true nature. Soulless, just like your Sith masters."

Of course both of them had different point of views about them really being the good guys in this, in reality, they were probably both as much of a jerk as the other one.

Even if the droid's shot hit or not, it wouldn't have been enough of a hit to stop Ludolf from moving, just to keep the continuity of posts, so during one of his movement between cover, Ludolf would roll while firing off a burst of blaster bolts towards the machine. The Greycloak would stand unyielding, his rifle still standing at the ready and heat sensors tracking Ludolf's presence behind the cover to predict when he was going to move to the next one, for example his roll.

The droid pulled the trigger once more, hoping this would be a defining strike that would weaken the other man enough to make their melee engagement much easier, holding the trigger there to spin the revolving chamber and send out a burst of his own, emptying the magazine to fire six hyper-velocity pellets at once, a feature that set the Magnetic Repeaters and Revolvers apart from other semi-automatic shatterguns. However, because Ludolf rolled, there was no really a way for the machine to accurately target a specific limb or a body area. Head, torso, knees, arms, legs, even spleen, all of it could have been hit depending on chance and the Force's will, it was more or less a crap shoot. Of course not all shots would manage to hit him at all, but hopefully something would reach him and it would be enough to put a quick end to the Supreme Commander's fighting during the battle.

As to Ludolf's own burst of blaster bolts, it shouldn't be too much of a stretch to assume that not all of his shots were accurate either, couple went wide flying off into the hills behind the droid, one hit just the ground in front of him, but three managed to fly towards the slow moving target. However just before they reached him a blue shield appeared around the droid, the deflector systems built into his suit of Protectorate armor. The energy projectiles were diffused, leaving only heated spots on the machine's armor from the residual heat of the plasma.

The blaster attack did drain his energy shield systems almost entirely however, and the droid was forced to deactivate them for now to give the deflectors a chance to charge up again, it would probably not be during his fight with Ludolf when they'll go online, unless the fight really stretches out.

Either way, the droid too wanted to engage Ludolf in melee, after all the machine was made out of metal and Ludolf was not, if they punched each other one would clearly have an advantage. So, the droid stepped closer and closer towards Ludolf's position, slowly narrowing the distance as his rifle was still at the ready, the lever being pulled and cocked back in to fully rotate the revolving chamber and put new pellets into it after the burst. The weapon's energy systems told the Greycloak he had one more burst left in the weapon before he had to reload its power pack with a fresh one.

The Greycloak glanced to Ivan and gave him a thumbs up, signalling it was a well placed stun grenade that neutralized Ludolf's crew, he then motioned to Ludolf's position with two of his fingers to signal him to keep up the attack.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Darth Carnifex"], [member="HK-36"]


The fact that both combatants were clad in heavy, lightsabre-resistant armour made it terribly ironic that they were both trying to hit each other with the aforementioned glowsticks. Once upon a time, proliferation of phrik and beskar armour had been far more restricted, which probably contributed to the mythos of lightsabres being fearsome, devastating weapons.


These days? Not so much. This was why Siobhan largely restricted herself to defence against the flurry of attacks unleashed by Carnifex when he demonstrated his control of the Niman form. Soresu was not a wholly defensive style, but unless she managed to launch a precise strike against a weak spot in his armour her violet blade would not hurt him. Much like the infamous Darth Zannah, swordplay was not her true craft. Defence would not slay her enemy, but give her the space and breathing room to unleash her true power.


However, the clash of energy swords came first. Some Soresu practitioners made the mistake of taking the fortress analogy too far and assuming they could maintain a static defence indefinitely. Not only was constantly blocking or parrying attacks energy intensive, it also left one open as soon as one's opponent launched more sophisticated, precise or random strikes that could not be anticipated as easily as brute force blows. Minimising the body's exposure to an enemy's blade or blaster bolt through side-steps and withdrawals was part and parcel of the Soresu repertoire.


Thus when Kaine came at her again, both of his crimson lightsabres moving in tandem as he assaulted the Grandmistress again and again through random yet precise strikes, Siobhan traded space for time, creating distance between herself and the God-Emperor of Panatha.


Her orange blade remained in motion, creating a strong wall of protection, but she did not try to meet every strike that was tossed her way. The Force guided her, strengthening her body, heightening her reflexes and giving her a secure footing on the rocky, snow-covered ground, for it was her ally. When her adversary sought to force her into a sabrelock so that he could overpower her, her blade was out of reach.


But she did not have her way all the time. For when the Sith Lord had sought to hit her sabre's emitter, she rolled her wrist and put it in the path of the strike. His blood-red blade slid down the beskar, burning her hand, though not removing it from her arm. White-hot, searing pain surged through it and burnt flesh acquired a smell that bore a strong resemblance to a bad barbeque. Where the crimson blade had made contact with her gauntlet, sparks flew.


Beneath her helmet, Siobhan grit her teeth, feeding on the pain while she remained in motion, her sabre remaining in her grip. The Force flowed through her as she absorbed some of the heat, converting it into energy she could draw upon. Rage swelled up inside her stomach, then was unleashed in an eruption of power. In her grasp, the Force became a mighty battering ram, an association which had long gained her a reputation for the same thing, for she was the hammer, not the scalpel. She focused her invisible ram upon Kaine's chest, aiming to not only hit it with terrible force but also toss the former Emperor across the battleground.

 

[Joza Perl]

Location: Citadel of Dawn
Objective: Engage Asharad
Allies: Galactic Aliance, Tygaran Alliance, TKO
Enemies: FO
Forces: 350/400 TKO Marines with Magnetic Repeaters and Handheld Shattergun Rotary Cannons, 19/24 snipers in the eastern mountains in Nexu Armor with standard sniper rifles

Her Stun worked somewhat, slowing the Sith just enough so that he couldn’t dodge the shot completely. Would things have ended there if she’d hit her mark? Given the ridiculous bloodlust and will of some of the opponents she’d come across, Joza doubted it. And so, she pushed past he frustration in favor of a more critical analysis of the battle. Either the bolt had not pierced deeply, or he was particularly good at shrugging off injuries due to adrenaline, a Force based ability or whatever else. Regardless, the moment she eased on the paralysis was the moment that [member="Asharad Graush"] leapt for her, Force enhanced speed catching her just off of her guard enough to stumble backwards in an attempt to avoid his strike.

Joza jerked back a bit violently, the tip of his crimson saber making contact just below the right half of her chest and scoring down to her ribs. While it did not completely breach her armor, it weakened where it had struck and left a scorching path that was felt on her skin below. The pain made her hiss, but served to help fuel her adrenaline as her she decided to take the fall, keenly aware of the opponent above her. The Zeltron’s pair of sabers would quickly ignite on the way down, right arm instinctively raised to parry any follow-up strikes. Neither of her sabers were nothing aesthetically fancy or special—a surprise—but simple kyber crystals giving birth to a sapphire blade that so many Jedi carried. She’d obtained them while leading a more monastic lifestyle, having chosen the crystals as much as they’d chosen her. Or something. But they were the oldest weapons she owned, and had served her well in her journeys.

Her second blade would ignite as she hit the ground, making a wide swipe at Asharad’s legs before using her momentum to roll to the side and spring upwards, blades crossed in front of her chest. Fluidity and spatial awareness were two key factors in dancing, vestiges of her art that transferred to her fighting style.


Loadout:

Spoiler

-Standard lightsaber (x2)
-Sasori Medium Armor
-Ranger Shotgun
-AI Wrist Blaster
-VT Needle Disruptor
-Tactical Fighting Blade
-Glop Grenade (x2)
-Stun Pearl (x5)

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Location: Citadel of Dawn, Northwest
Allies: [member="Asharad Graush"], [member="Ludolf Vaas"]
Enemies: @ HK-36, [member="Tempest"], [member="Choli Vyn"], [member="Mao"]

Jaron shrugged as the voice came. He turned slow to find a Jedi, and by the way he was talking, a master perhaps. He had just been called a coward, something Jaron didn't like, but perhaps he could play the part. Cowards got killed, and maybe it could get him reassigned. Still, he stopped where he was, waiting to see what kind of threat this was before he would call on his battle droids to buy him the time he needed to run off. He wasn't engaged in battle directly, and as long as he wasn't there was no need to move for the attack.

"Sorry you feel that way. The marines are advancing, and we're back here with equipment, that if it blows, will take us out with it. I don't know about you, but I'd rather fight smarter than harder. The battle is out there. Here we are sitting ducks, and I won't be sitting."

He turned on his heels and started walking back to the cover line of trees where his battle droids were waiting for him. If he was followed then the droids could buy him the time to run to the cloaked ship. His goal was to get back to aid the rest of the team now that his objective was over. All he had to do was maintain the Jedi bit for a little longer and hope whoever this guy was didn't see through him. Regardless if he had to draw his blade it would be blue, and that would be the final proof to complete the cover he was building. Jaron just wanted to be away from the incoming fire that his handiwork would be sure to draw.

With a sigh he opted to run for it when it wouldn't seem to risky. For now patience seemed the best option. It wasn't far to his ship, and he was outside of the blast radius. Whether the other guy knew that or not was something else entirely.

 

[Joza Perl]

[member="HK-36"] and [member="Ludolf Vaas"]

Ivan barely had time to arch a brow at the droid, now at least sure that they were on the same side. Joza hadn’t made any mention of a droid army, just “More Marines, now.” Never did the pilot imagine that he’d be stuck in a firefight against the high command of the First Order. This was stupid, and therefore akin to something Joza would do while Ivan hung back, providing cover fire and grumbling about updating his resume.

Their combined assault hadn’t won the battle yet, and the Corellian let out an inaudible huff as the droid motioned towards Ludolf’s repositioning. While the Greycloak appeared to seem fine with engaging the Supreme Commander in melee combat, Ivan crept along the rocks, ducking and dodging errant fire from the din a little ways away as he went. He was neither brave nor was he a coward, but his heart’s beating thumped in his ears. As apathetic as he portrayed himself to be, especially when it came to his occasionally flamboyant boss, Ivan cared. He cared about the annoying pink strumpet, and he cared about fighting for a freer galaxy. Was it idealism, or the feeling of being a part of something bigger than yourself that drove him on?

Right now, it didn’t matter. He was sidling around the rocks, playing sniper and trying to get a clear shot on Ludolf. “C’mon,” Growling underneath his breath, Ivan’s finger twitched at the trigger of his rifle. At last, his maneuvering had brought him partially around the large rock Ludolf had taken cover behind. It was to the Corellian’s disadvantage—he was further down the gently sloping incline and didn’t have the best vantage point. But there was still plenty of cover on the rocky terrain and he had allies, and that was what drove him on. Steady. His hand were shaking, but he managed to calm them in one stable breath before they’d go back to fidgeting with nerves. He put pressure on the trigger, sending a bolt lancing towards Ludolf’s chest (or was it his shoulder?).

 

[Hansen]

FN-888 "Helden"
Kaeshana Southern Hemisphere

The Banshee zooms above the skies of Kaeshana, heading due south. "Flight control tower this is Fox-hound Alpha, requesting the landing pad over." Joans' tear stained lips speak into the wrist-mounted comlink and she waits for a reply. Sev is seated beside his platoon commander, drinking from a plastoid waterpack. He knows of Joans' emotional turmoil but is avoiding bringing it up, he expects her to get defensive; The Pride of an Officer. Sev gives a gentle nudge in the direction of the Lieutenant and brings up the Lightsaber held in hand beneath Joans' gaze. "Check this out Boss, picked it up off of a Jedi..."

Joans' weary gaze looks over the weapon, arms folded across breastplate. A smirk pushes across pursed lips. "Very nice, hell of a trophy. Should get a Knight of Ren to train you how to use it." Their spheres lock together for a moment and Sev mumbles something. "Actually Boss, I was hoping you would take it boss. On behalf of the Platoon, wouldn't be right for an NCO to carry this sort of thing anyway." Joans' eyes widen and glance down over the weapon and then upto Sev's dirty, clamy sweat-dried skin. "You're serious aren't you?" Joans' tone smacks of awe and shock, never before this day did she ever in wildest dreams imagine a Lightsaber would just fall into her lap.

"Yeah Boss, there isn't a finer officer in the FN Corps." Joans' heart melts and if it wasn't for the fatigue and weight of armor she'd give her childhood friend a tight Hug. Joan takes the Lightsaber in right hand with a firm albeit gentle grip. Treating the weapon with a certain reverence, as if she were not worthy to hold such a thing against her palm beneath the weight of fingers. "I-I don't know what to say..." Joan looks over the Lightsaber and back to face with a shake of head.

"Don't mention it Boss." Sev forces a smile and looks over his shoulder and then back to Joan. "I'm going to go and check on Lightning, Trauma and Greenstick." Sev heaves himself up onto feet and walks down through the Assault Lander to the wounded Stormtroopers.

"Fox-hound Alpha this is Flight Control Tower. You're clear to land within landing pad nine, Standby for Tractor Beam and Prepare to receive inspection team." Joan keys the comlink frequency. "Flight control tower this is Fox-hound Alpha, Roger Out." Joan slips helmet over her head and spirits away Lightsaber into a pouch on Plastoid belt, The Assault Lander shakes gently. Caught in the Tractor beam of a partially constructed prefabricated garrison. Joan heaves herself up onto feet. Banshee hovers into a hanger and lands neatly on hanger floor. The door closes promptly and ramp drops down to reveal a Stormtrooper Squad with gurneys prepared to receive the Platoon. "I'm Ef-en ate-ate-ate, Lieutenant. I need you to take our wounded down to medical. I've also got armoured assets en-route to setup a roving pickett around the perimeter while we finish construction." Joan walks beside the other Stormtrooper Officer with Sev overseeing the off-loading of their wounded onto the awaiting gurneys.

[member="Rolf Amsel"] [member="Natasi Fortan"] [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"] [member="Aran Piett"] [member="Garett Van"]

 

[Progflaw99]

​

--- --- ---​

In Vicinity:​

[member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Asharad Graush"] | [member="Torian Pierce"] | [member="Aizen"]​

[member="Pharazon Draken"] | [member="BE-183"]​

​

Objective: Assault the Flank, Relieve Stress on Forces at Citadel of Dawn​

Enemies: Those Resisting the First Order​

[member="Tempest"] | [member="Joza Perl"] | @GA/Firemane Troops​

--- --- ---​

​

:: No Priority Targets ::​

​

Overlooking the scene of chaos and destruction below, Rolf Amsel paused as he retrieved a rangefinder from the webbing attached to his armor. Surveying the scene, a grin graced his features beneath the Major's helmet. Time to start the party. Looking to his left and right he made quick comm call to his men.

:: Fire on my go. ::​

​

Motioning to a trooper equipped with a missile launcher, Rolf slung the sonic rifle over his shoulder, letting it hang as he grasped the launcher. The portable missile launcher was a powerful weapon with the capability to both fire in guided and unguided modes - their payload of detonite particularly effective against both infantry, light armored targets, and even able to take down heavy armor if the circumstances were right. As Rolf was about to lift the launcher to his shoulder, preparing to unleash their full firepower on the enemy pressing in around their forces at the Citadel of Dawn, he paused. Stepping up to where he stood, just behind the crest of the hill, the Knight of Ren explained the message in no uncertain terms. It took him a moment to realize the tone with which the Ren had addressed him was particularly laced with contempt, it seemed so out of place here on the battlefield. Narrowing his eyes behind the calm impasse of the mask, he raised an eyebrow. He'd partially recognized the Ren from their games on Dosuun but that felt like an age ago. She'd matured some since then, but still a girl in his eyes - and what did a girl know of war? Little known to him, a girl knew much about war, some would argue just as much as he for she'd been present at the Ssi-Ruuvi assault on Virgilia.

As the girl spoke, complimenting his promotion a seed of unease grew in the pit of his stomach. His mind was reaching, why would he have felt unease, the last time the two had interacted had been... and that's when it struck him. As he had just now, then he had dismissed the girl's ability based on her youthful appearance. *Never underestimate your enemies.* That had been drilled into his skull but so also had been the phrase "Don't underestimate your allies". As the career soldier hurriedly wondered what the girl was doing, speaking with a silvered tongue as she had, he felt a tickle at the back of his throat. As he tried to suppress the cough building there he instead gagged involuntarily, the tickle now turned to a sharp pain. The girl had cut off his supply of oxygen, but he yet had oxygen running through his veins - thought that too would be depleted soon. Frantically he reached up, clasping at his throat for a moment before he forced his mind to calm. This was no less different than combat, and while he might be at a disadvantage, he certainly wasn't about to let his emotions rob him of a chance to strike out... but the fear was near overwhelming. Strange - how death became so much more real in that instant - and then it was over. It felt as if the weight of a thousand moons had been lifted from his fragile windpipe. Unable to help himself his off hand came up, just underneath the helmet, gently feeling the flesh beneath the lining of his armor.

As his mind was thrown temporarily back amidst the chaos below, he had to admit the girl had a point. He wouldn't make that mistake again. Coming quickly back to the present, Rolf adjusted the launcher on his shoulder, sneering. As casually as he could muster, the Major adjusted his stance, forcing back a residual cough as he issued his orders once more, preparing to launch his assault along the enemy's flank. With a nod of acknowledgement, he crouched, moving up to the edge of the outcropping. Checking to see his men were ready, he lowered the barrel of the missile launcher. Using the targeting system on the weapon, he took aim at a Typhoon, prepping the launcher to fire in GAM, entering in a quick solution in the datapad. Silently he counted down in his head, he knew the others would take aim at the infantry and other tanks though their effectiveness might be hampered against the enemy armor with cages. With a gentle squeeze of the trigger mechanism and the loud roar of the missile being fired at the enemy's Typhoons, the remainder of the company began opening fire with their blaster rifles and missile launchers - aiming at anything and everything that wasn't tagged with friendly IFF.

Spoiler

1 x FO-01 Stormtrooper Armor

1 x KD-30 "Dissuader" Slugthrower
1 x F-11 D Blaster Rifle
1 x SWE/2 Sonic Rifle

3 x CryoBan Grenade
2 x G-20 Glop Grenades
2 x Thermal Detonators
2 x Electromagnetic Pulse Grenade
1 trooper in each squad carries a PLX-1 Portable Missile Launcher instead of Blaster and Sonic Rifles, leaving them with a KD-30 and their launcher.

Troop Complement: 1 Company, 200 First Imperial Shock Troopers (See Loadout Above)

OOC: As always, if I missed something or failed to respond to something - please feel free to PM me!

 

[HK-36]

Character: Adventures of NPC Greycloak "Iron-Hide"
Location: Battle for the Citadel of the Dawn, Protecting Siobhan, Pushing against the Stormtroopers
Objective: NPC Fight, keep up the pressure against Stormies
Allies: [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Audren Sykes"], [member="Dax Fyre"],
Enemies: [member="FN-888"], [member="BE-183"], [member="Darth Carnifex"],
Forces: 1 Greycloak, clad in Protectorate Power Armor, 2x Electro-Cestus and chameleon cloaks, armed with Magnetic Revolvers, heavy Magnetic Repeater, generic blue-crystal lightsabers, and Spear of Rae.
1 Mobile Weapon Platform Spider Droids (Initial 2 - 1 from bombardment), Light Models, all armed with RC-1 Rotary cannons directly under his command
49 Iron Legionnaire Drones 15 (23-8 from skirmish within the slit trenches) in melee range, armed with Abregado Blast-Staves, 34 (initial 60 - 26 from bombardment) in a 6x6 phalanx advancing towards the stormies armed with Abregado Light Magnetic Repeaters
2 (initial 4-2 from bombardment) medium Spider-Droid Mobile Weapon Platforms, one equipped with RC-1 rotary cannons, one equipped with MD-1 mass drivers
1 heavy Spider-Droid Mobile Weapon Platform, equipped with one RC-1 rotary cannons mounted on the left side, one main MD-1 mass driver gun

Carnifex and Siobhan,


The battle between the Greycloak alongside the Angelii and the Sith Crownsguard was epic and spectacular. However, I have been writing so many scenes of NPCs fighting each other that I do not have any more energy to really go into much detail. Safe to say that lightsabers clashed against each other, blaster bolts and droid tricks were thrown around alongside Force Powers, and apparently now arcane rituals were being conducted. The Greycloak noticed the four Sith attempting to conduct the ritual, he was not sure which one it was but pretty much none of them were really good.

"Hey, over there!"

He called to a nearby Angelii just as one of the Crownsguard swung at him with a red lightsaber, the machine was able to dodge the attack by ducking down, the blade going over his head, he tried to use the opening to stab his own blue energy sword through the Sith's flank.

"Disrupt them, disrupt them!"

The droid ordered the Eldorai acolytes as another of the Crownsguards swung at his arm when he motioned out towards the four Sith busy with the ritual, the dark blade cutting into the plates of his armor, creating a deep molten gash making its way towards his arm. The machine quickly snapped to the side with an open-palm Echani strike to push the Sith back and knock the breath away from the fighter, hopefully causing some blunt damage as well. The droid may not have been able to wield telekinesis like Sio but he did had great capacity for physical strength.

With some more space between him and the nearby Crownsguard the machine unholstered one of his magnetic revolvers, aiming towards the Sith conducting the ritual and pulling the trigger to send out a burst of hyper-velocity pellets towards two of them, six shots in total let loose as the revolving chamber spun, emptying its contents into the magnetic rail.

Meanwhile, the Eldorai Greycloak called on for assistance took one of the Anti-Force User grenades so rampant and popular among the Firemane, a concussive type, she pulled its pin, or equivalent of it, activating the device before tossing it towards the ritual-casting group hoping that it would be enough to disrupt them and their spell, hoping their allies up front would be too distracted by other Angelii and the machine's shenanigans to not notice a grenade being tossed over them aimed at the middle of the ritual-casting circle.


FN-888, BE-183,


More turbolaser shots from the armored divisions, E-Web emplacements, and infantry strongpoints was fired towards the advancing phalanx of droids, their loose formation, this time around, prevented for large explosions to take them out en mass. If there were any more mines in approach to the trenches, although doubtful since with so fierce of bombardment between two sides by then most should have been triggered if not by the previous phalanxes moving into the trench then just mass drivers and fire from rotary cannons peppering the soil, they could be fairly easily detected by the droid's electromagnetic scanners tuned to detect power signatures and for most of the droids to avoid them. Of course, there would still be few unlucky droids who were not able to pick up on the signature among the chaos of battle and just the fact that it was buried, or simply they were forced upon them by combat, and as result died a very quick and explode-y death.

Either way, as the fire exchange between the two groups continued, taking out a couple more spider droids, the line of slower advancing sniper droids would advance upon the fortress, going few steps before stopping and shooting a volley of hyper-velocity pellets to pick off more stormtroopers firing back at them.

One particular turbolaser volley from armored vehicle was aimed towards the spider tank, the machine picking up on its trajectory as it bombarded its enemies. The large legs went to work, quickly extending to one side and latching on before dragging the rest of the machine aside with a quick shuffle like a wounded man crawling through the battlefield. The volley hit the tank, splashing against its tough armored plates, focusing mostly on its right side, exploding in a burst of dancing lights of unleashed plasma. The tank's side rotary cannon was melted clean off, its armored plates drooping, misshapen by the heat of the assault and con-caving in one direction, blackened streaks from explosions appearing across its tough frontal plates. Still, the droid tank stood and still, it fired upon its enemies, not dying in an inferno so easily.


It was then that the stormtrooper forces, or at least majority of them the droids were put up against, ordered retreat and begun to pull out of the trenches. Great chatter raised from among the droids at the sign of it as the commands were relayed among each unit and Banshees lowered from the sky, to take the troops aboard and pull them out of the field, towards the mountains, conducting the dangerous maneuver in the face of nearby anti-aircraft weaponry, some supplied by Firemane, some by GA, others still very close from Abregado as the medium spider-droids with rotary cannons on their back doubled as anti-aircraft units.

The line of sharpshooter droids reformed once more as it received its commands, the droids dashing for once to form a Phalanx once more, an imperfect ones as many of them already perished in combat, before they begun to race up the hill, running towards the slit-trench entrance that their blast-staff wielding brethren already secured, reinforcing them with their numbers.

The droids already inside the trench still faced little plans by Stormtroopers meant specifically against them, few of them died in combat then when compared to the rest of the units so far deployed, some of them even managed to climb the E-Web emplacements and begun to clear them up from enemy presence even before the retreat was ordered, their jobs made much more easier now that stormtroopers were retreating from their positions.

There was still question of the armored units that lingered above the trenches, providing cover for the stormtroopers as they retreated in their Banshee vessels. The tanks were being fired upon by the mass-driver armored spider droids, at least the ones that remained, and the wounded spider-tank still lumbering among the ruins and the no-man's land. The droids who managed to clear up the E-Web emplacements took hold of the guns and spun them about, aiming towards the vehicles to open fire and use the higher-burning plasma of the E-Webs to begin melting through the vehicle's armor, as tough as it was, it was still doable, all it took was enough plasma being launched against the armored units over and over again, especially from their flanks and rear.

The spider-droids among the ruins were hit by the turbolaser from the armored divisions as they provided cover for the Banshee dropships, taking out a few of them, some still managed to survive with their quick, skittering movements, using a combination of speed and just pure luck to make it through this far.


The GA and allied forces, like [member="Tempest"], [member="Elpsis Elaris"], [member="Joza Perl"], [member="Michael Sardun"], [member="Aeron Kreelan"], [member="Nima Tann"], [member="Leo Vandermolen"], [member="Dish"], would hear a transmission from the droid forces on the GA and Friends secured channels, air forces like [member="Asmus Janes"] or [member="Laira Vereen"] would be able to receive it as well.

"This is Abregado Free Droid Army commander at the Dawn Citadel, we were able to secure foothold in the slit trenches at Citadel's approach, we pushed the stormtrooper garrison there into retreat, we are now securing the rest of the trench network and we will be pushing into the Citadel. I repeat, we secured the Citadel approach and we are pushing in to capture it. Enemy armored divisions remaining, please send anti-armor reinforcements or air support. FO dropships heading through mountains due south."


As to the reinforcements that were landing for Abregado last post, it seems that the FO was either too busy to turn their attention towards 4 dropships, or simply did not notice them in their approach. The ships landed, two heavy, two light, deploying another wave of forces sent by Abregado. From one light ship emerged another phalanx of infantry drones wielding light repeaters, being deployed by a mechanized rack system aboard the vessel. One of the heavy dropships carried another droid tank with same weapon configuration as the one before, while the other heavy dropship had another 4 medium spider tanks from the Mobile Weapons series. Finally the last dropship had aboard it three special teams sent by the Iron Company, mercenaries supplied and armed by Abregado, droids and organics alike, carrying a very special gift from the Firemane, a portable shield generator.

The Greycloak piloting dwarf personal walker, Blade-Knight, would be sent towards the Citadel as well to personally coordinate and lead these forces in their final approach at the fortress, seeing how his own enemy most likely retreated as well. But just as these reinforcements, it would take some time before he made the journey, meaning FO still had time to intercept and mess with them, most likely through involvement from their air-units.

Reinforcements: light Mag'Ladroth Personal Walker, right arm CBRW Flamethrower, left arm Magnetic Minigun
1 Greycloak, clad in Protectorate Power Armor, two Electro-Cestus, and chameleon cloaks, armed with Magnetic Revolvers, generic blue-crystal lightsabers, and Spears of Rae.
60 Iron Legionnaire Drones armed with light Magnetic Repeaters, moving in a 6x10 phalanx
4 medium Mobile Weapon Platform Spider Droids, 2 armed with RC-1 rotary cannons, 2 armed with MD-1 mass drivers
1 heavy Spider-Droid Mobile Weapon Platform, equipped with two RC-1 rotary cannons mounted on the sides, one main MD-1 mass driver gun
3 (30 troops) squads from the Iron Company, 10 troops per squad, organics and intelligent, emancipated Iron Legionnaire Droids alike, armored in the Protectorate Power Armor, and Electro-Cestus, armed with Magnetic Repeaters, mk2 and mk3 bolt guns, CBRW flamers, RC-2 magnetic miniguns, MD-1 mass drivers, depending on the role, and Magnetic Revolvers and Spears of Rae as side-arms, and carrying one Firemane Aspis shield generator

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Location: Near the Citadel of Dawn
Objective: Destroy [member="Charlyra Araano"] and [member="Trextan Voidstalker"]
Allies: First Order
Enemies: Galactic Alliance.

Kyrel was lost within his rage. With a hole that was practically from his back to his chest, he couldn't tell which was worse the pain or the fact he got surprised by a girl so quickly, when he should have sensed it sooner. Nonetheless the pain was useful as all it did, was make him more angry thus fueling his power, this allowed him to go after the girl like a hulk fueled by rage. He kept striking at her blades his mechanically breathing sounded as if he was hyperventilating a sign of his pure rage. For now He didn't care for the padawan that wields the purple blade.

All he wanted was to kill the girl, he could care less about the boy, this girl had managed to land a stab on him and he took that personally. He kept up his attacks trying to bash at her parry's, and wear her out. Luckily for him his mechanical strength made Djem So his best style and so he could quickly overpower his opponents with little effort, but she was an impressive duelist he had ever encountered. He had noticed seeing her change styles several times, and this infuriated him. He had never studied lightsaber stlyes too much, but what he did see from her was Juyo. No matter if this surprised him he still kept up his onslaught, attempting to knock the sabers from her hands.

At this moment he had recognized his mistake. He was too caught up in a blind fury, especially to his new opponent that it left him wide open to attack. He still kept up his attacks his blood pumping through his veins, but the force soon alerted him to an attack. He knew this was a risk but he had little to no options in this case. He didn't anticipate a two to one fight. He leaped into the air quickly, as he narrowly missed an attack from the purple saber wielding padawan.

He thought of his options carefully, as he mentally cursed himself in this situation. He needed to think instead of doing and so far he had little to no options. He had already been wounded once, and so he wouldn't make such a near fatal error again. He glided through the air before landing quickly behind the man. He attempted to blast his back with a force push, and attempting to knock him into the girl. He was trying to get them on an even playing field where he can take both of them on from the front.

 

[Asharad Graush]

Location: Citadel of Dawn,
Darth Vyrassu's Command.

[member="Joza Perl"] was likely surprised by his speed, for it was undoubtedly the reason why she had stumbled back. A'sharad intended to use that to his advantage of course. When his lightsabre scored a light gouge across her armour, right underneath her breast and likely down to her ribs. She was falling backwards at this point, and he had decided to press the advantage. Before he could actually split her in half with the following downwards slash, her right arm had raised to block the assault. That was to be expected, but he merely sought to keep her down, below him so that he may continue lording his advantage over her.

Two lightsabres.

The Sith had his own assortment of lightsabres to match.

The first lightsabre he had ever created was palmed, almost the instant after the Zeltron's lightsabres had come to life. Golden beam came to life afterwards to catch the blade that would've otherwise made contact with his legs. Unfortunately, likely the cause of her falling backwards and then making contact with the ground, her swing was too wide, easy to block with his lightsabre already being ignited downwards. A moment later, she was rolling away and springing upwards.

Lifting both his middle and index finger from the hilt of his right lightsabre, he used the Force to pull her back in the direction she had come. Specifically, in the direction of Darth Vyrassu.

The crimson beam in his left hand arced in from A'sharad's left side, threatening to melt her insides from her right flank, right underneath the ribs if unimpeded. Additionally, the golden beam in his right hand was lunging out towards her, its golden edge heading straight for her centre mass, just below the crisscross of her sabers over her chest.

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Location: Citadel of Dawn, Northwest
Allies: [member="Asharad Graush"] [member="Ishana Pavanos"]
Enemies: [member="HK-36"] (Greycloak NPC) [member="Joza Perl"] (Ivan NPC)
Gear: See initial post

A programmed response, from a programmed machine. Freedom, oppression... all ideals that meant essentially nothing when divorced actual people. Freedom was in the eye of the beholder. As for oppression? It was the Galactic Alliance that had struck the first blow by attacking the First Order on Eriadu. It was the Galactic Alliance that had clandestinely supported the so-called "Resistance", a known terrorist organization. It was the Galactic Alliance that had assassinated the First Order's former Supreme Commander. And it was the Galactic Alliance that was now lecturing him on oppression, in the form of a droid. It was clear that these two hegemonic factions could not exist in the galaxy at the same time. The First Order might be content with ignoring the Alliance and focusing on their own end of the galaxy, but the Galactic Alliance's morality simply would not allow them to not intervene and meddle with the First Order. So it was kill or be killed. Morality, at its foundation, was nothing more than self-preservation.

If the First Order was militarily capable of retaliating long ago, they would have - if Vaas had anything to say about it.

The shots from the Greycloak's gun that did get through caused Ludolf pain. One of the pellets had serrated his shoulder. But the singe, and the blood that resulted, only spurned him on. Rarely did Ludolf feel any sense of idealism in battle, but in this moment, as his adrenaline and fury stoked him, he could never be more sure that these people needed and deserved to perish - every last one of them. The air support provided by Pavanos above would do wonders in assisting the Vaiken Legion's goal of targeting the enemy artillery, but Ludolf's mind was only on the enemy in front of him.

"An assassin droid speaks of morality. The irony is thick enough to cut, machine."

Just then Ludolf's shield absorbed a blaster bolt from Ivan, alerting him to his presence. Were it not for his personal shield, the bolt would likely have hit him on the chest. So there were snipers tiptoeing through the tulips as well. Two against one - the odds weren't in his favor, but Ludolf liked a challenge. He would do the only thing he knew how - fight. Years of pent-up desire for retaliation fueled him as he cooked a sonic grenade while behind his cover. The droid was approaching, and the other soldier was behind Ludolf and needed to be dealt with immediately. After a second, Ludolf pitched the grenade down in Ivan's direction, peeked his blaster out of cover, and continued to unload rapid shots at the Greycloak as he approached. With his other, bleeding arm, he did his best to press his helmet further against his ear.

Things were about to get loud.

 

[Ria Misrani]

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSFGq-xJxVM[/media]​

Charlyra managed to recover from the barrage in time to see the Sith move away from her. Force push . She watched almost in slow motion as [member="Trextan Voidstalker"] became the target, and she on instinct force leapt over any attempt to hurl her ally into her. Her feet skidded as she landed, Charlyra panted for breath. Her armour still held together albeit with a little less efficiency than before. [member="Kyrel Ren"]'s onslaught had done damage to it rather than her body. She focused on her opponent, channelling her own rage into fury, stacking her fury until she found the right opportunity to unleash it.

The acolyte reached out with the force, pulling at its tendrils taking what she could get. A familiar magenta hue swept over her licking her lips she studied her opponent as he worked through his rage. It was all that he was, rage, anger, hatred and all of it fueled him. She knew these emotions well for they too flowed through her, but mixed in among their number were other emotions. Love. Being one of them, and so she recalled the teachings of the old Jedi Order as taught to her by her late Master Ra'alon. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering - this is the path of the dark side, but courage, courage leads to connection, connection leads to love, love leads to growth - this, this is the path of the light. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. Remember a Jedi uses the force for Knowledge and Defense, never to attack.

And then her heart beat, recalling the very words Siobhan spoke to her upon their initial meeting on Tatooine. A means to mete out justice, do not slaughter innocents, do not consort with Sith or the First Order. Well. She was certainly doing well to abide by those tenants, using what had been taught to her to do so. Firemane had taught her more than just the ways of the Force. They had taken in a wayward exile and taught Charlyra what the Jedi Order had failed to do on Coruscant before their fall to the One Sith. Family. She would never be afraid or weak again, so long as she had that. And that gave her the energy, the fuel that she needed.

Now, now she could see why she had been force severed after Castameer.

What Yuna had tried to teach her in the between. She needn't large displays of power, she needn't go so deep into the force that she lost herself to it. Her family would be there. Her family included [member="Nima Tann"], @Elpsis Elaris, [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Tempest"], [member="Joza Perl"] and @Tegaea Alcori to name a few. Charlyra swallowed hard, embracing the emotion of her lesson - the humility of it all and how she had to learn it here. Here on Kaeshana, she came to try and contribute to prove that she was just as good as they are and like a petulant child rushed into this deal. No longer, and so as she stood there hands gripping on her weapons, energy blade in one - purple shoto in the other. Charlyra now drew from those feelings, those memories and the very words spoken to her by Siobhan. "You spoke of Regret, dark one," she calls to the man clad in black wielding the red lightsaber. "Do you know what I regret?"

He wouldn't care, and she didn't need him to.

Charlyra just needed him to listen .


"I regret not heeding the words of my master." The shoto still in her hand as she dragged the energy blade into the ground as she paced him now. "I regret not learning the lesson of Castameer, for not learning what the consequences of my actions were to have taught me. I regret what my masters have been attempting to teach me with great futility might I add, for the last fifteen years."

Gritting her teeth, as the weight of her actions bore down on her. The gravity of what had led her to this point, drove power into her body. "I failed to realize that my Initiate clan was my family and that their courage, gave me a connection, and that connection gave me love - and the chance to grow. No, I was arrogant and willfully ignorant I chose to go on my own path. Because I thought that I could be their better, and I regret that I could not tell them myself. That I could not confess to them, the love I felt in my heart for them, because I was too stubborn to do so." She let the tearful rage go down, her blades at the ready to block any oncoming attack he might send her way. "I regret that I abandoned them in their most dire hour because I had been too ashamed of my own actions, too ashamed to speak the pain that gripped my heart so."

Each spoken word was a confession, each feeling added to her fury - to her own ability to channel it. Charlyra scoffed and she was angry with herself for not realising her lesson sooner for not knowing what Siobhan had meant when she spoke of family. How by trying to carry the galaxy on her shoulders by trying to do more than she could - she should have realised it sooner. Known better than to try to be more than she was - she needn't be. She had no need to be when she had a family that would be there for her. No matter what.

"I regret that I had forsaken them all, and most of all the woman who loved me with all of her soul."

"I do not regret meeting the women who crafted me into the Acolyte that I am now." Charlyra voice dropped down an octave, getting grittier with each word. "I will never regret what they have given to me, and that Dark One. That was a second chance, a chance to reclaim myself and to realize that I could be more than just an exiled Jedi. That there would be so much more to this Galaxy, to this life than just the Dark Side and the Light Side."

Still, Charlyra managed to block and to counter whatever he could throw at her, for now, she was steeling herself with the force. She could feel it, the force flowed through her as it flowed through all. "And I do not regret this fight, for there is passion, yet emotion." Another block, another counter, "there is Serenity, yet peace." She took the onslaught, the barrage from Kyrel Ren. Who before this day she had never met, "there is chaos, yet order."

"There is no dark side."

Now she countered, countered again.

Shifting lightsaber forms from Juyo to Shii-Cho.

"There is no light side."

She watched him, again and again, the Djem So. Oh she was so glad for his attacks, for her failures in blocking him, her failures in timing on the counters. Not everything was going through, you see. By now, Charlyra's armour was barely holding, but she cared not.

"There is only the force."

With each failure with each scorch of his red lightsaber, she learned.

"I am the wielder of the flame, the protector of balance. I am the holder of the torch, lighting the way."

And with each hit, with each bout of pain, she wrapped this into herself, channelling her force energy waiting for the right moment to unleash it all.

"Keeper of the flame, soldier of the balance, I am the balance. I am the force. I am Firemane."