Objective: Evacuation
Location: Coruscant System
Equipment: Wayward Samaritan Full Gear
Accessories: Bracelet,
Echo Stone
Weapons: Lossa's Lightsaber,
Turmoil - Lightsaber,
Concealed Blaster,
Nasty-Stabby
Tools: Fusioncutter
Aboard: Ballarat
Allied Tags:
Zaiya Ceti
Denn Verdan
Vianca Mecetti
Amelia von Sorenn
Kol Ambo
Company Tags:
Onrai
Enemy Tags:
Marlon Sularen
Bo Vuto
Kaine Hamilton
Post #: 4
The Aegis was soon joined by the three vessels Lossa had hoped would arrive sooner. The
Hilltop at the center of the formation flanked by the
Deliverance to port and the
Keeper to starboard.
The codes and IFF challenged as systems aboard each ship were adjusted to coordinate with the Support Group, finding the connection unavailable currently as the onboard Queen A.I. Discipline attempted contact. Weapons systems that had been charged prior to their departure began searching for targets of opportunity, at first fixing themselves on the Aegis and causing a few alarms to sound as a standoff began to form. When the old orders from the Ballarat were shared after contact with the Aegis was established, the weapons systems ceased their target lock and began to defensively sweep the area as all four vessels began to plot their course to join the Support Fleet. Finding the group to have already moved to the interior of the deployment zone.
The A.I. Discipline tied into the ship's systems formed its holographic body besides the Captain in command of the Hilltop. Eagerly sharing what it had learned in the short span of time as the man frowned with the news. A resigned sigh passed his lips as he called for the opening of a communications channel. The main body of the support fleet scrambled to establish the secured line on their end to the freshly arrived vessels.
The Ballarat had allowed direct control of the Droid Starfighter swarm to the carrier vessels housing them. Transmitting orders to be crew's across the carrier's ship captains but lacking direct access itself. The direct command from Ballarat did make the entire swarm of Droids pause. Their pattern of patrol became still for the scant few seconds it took for the collective to process the strange breach of protocol.
The Duchess and Lightning had been the assigned control points for the Droid Starfighters, which had remained their central collective core processing systems. The deviation giving them pause was receiving such an illogical order from Ballarat. Their current objective to provide cover for the Evacuation Group was the order that overrode any direct order. The gathered processing systems aboard the Droid Starfighters challenged the order through each of the two core processing systems before making a direct query to the Duchess and Lightning for clarification. The question of the order being transmitted to both vessels as the captains of each opened a line between them at the sudden order.
The transmitted order was isolated, and found to fall under the Emergency Protocol that their commander had instructed them to be mindful of. Their final joint decision was made given how self-destructive the order was to the success of their operation.
Having already been under suspicion of interference with the Ballarat with the prior dispatch, the ship was summarily removed from the collective information network the Evacuation Support Group had created. It's ties to the network isolated, removed, scrubbed, and quarantined by the other vessels as they dumped their network codes and switched to the backups. A task that took considerably less time given their preparation beforehand as part of the Liminal Protocol practice they had done before deployment.
A new communication line opened and passed to every vessel on a different channel than the Ballarat. With the Duchess taking temporary control of the situation, waiting for the Hilltop to be tied in.
<All Vessels, this is a joint emergency command from the Duchess and Lightning. You are to assume that Ballarat had been compromised. The Duchess will filter all communications while we bring the Hilltop online for further operation command.> Captain Brenson of the Dutchess instructed as the other vessels followed suit, tying their systems into the new network, allowing the officers a moment to breathe as the Hilltop was brought into the new system. The A.I. streamlining the process
Tertiary systems were shut down and brought back online to insure separation from the Ballarat. Clear warnings were sent to both the Mecetti and Alliance 10th fleets about the possible intrusion of an enemy aboard the Ballarat. With instructions to cease communications with the Ballarat twice sent as the Hilltop and its Queen A.I. assumed direct control of operations as the tactical display updated itself. The artificial intelligence further streamlining the process with the organic operators as it began to check their lines and pass them through the further security measures. All four vessels began to wade through the fighting above to rendezvous with their counterparts below.
The weapons aboard the Hilltop began tracking Ballarat’s projected course. Data from the surrounding vessels flooded the systems, filtered by the computers and giving clear firing solutions as gunners adjusted to fully track the ship with predictive solutions in case it began to deviate. The communication line once again opened as Captain Kalfyr spoke with authority.
<This is the Hilltop assuming command and control of this operation. All vessels are to assume that Ballarat is compromised and potentially hostile. Sledgehammer Corvettes are to begin firing upon the Ballarat with Ion Cannons immediately. Failure to comply will elicit a compromised status, with compromised vessels to be disabled alongside the Ballarat.> Kalfyr spoke with no doubt in his voice. The order passed directly to each of the Support Group vessels as the Hilltop moved behind the Aegis to further protect the Keeper and Deliverance from incoming fire as it covered their approach vector.
The comm line was suddenly silent aside from the lingering static. Each crewmember tied in to the newly secured communication line glancing to one another at the gravity of what was about to happen settled in.
The ion gunners aboard the Defiant, Cutter, Talon, and Jackal, were still for only a moment before the dual barreled weapon systems began to turn and target lock the Ballarat. A silent string of curses from each gunner passing their lips in different dialects as the switches flipped and triggers squeezed. 4 ion cannons began to open up on the former command vessel. The first shots glistened across the shields as the Ballarat absorbed the initial bout of incoming fire, feeding back into the shield systems.
The Hilltop opened a communication channel to the Aegis directly. The Captain cleared his throat as he prepared to direct their efforts to keep the Ballarat from simply plummeting to the surface.
<Aegis, this is Hilltop. We will be using our repuslor-tractor systems to keep the Ballarat from falling to the city below in case the engines are completely disabled. We will be slowed by the added mass, and require your attention in case of enemy movements against us. Deploy starfighter squadrons in preparation for our enemies to capitalize on this.> Kalfyr informed the Cruiser before receiving an affirmation of the request. His hand shifted to his chin as he contemplated how to secure the former command vessel further without sacrificing the lives on board. Disabling the weapons would leave the crew subject to the enemy, especially while relying on the Hilltop to potentially navigate and maneuver being subject to the drag.
“Discipline.” voice gruff as he tried to come to a conclusion about how to move forward. The holographic form of the shipbound A.I. appeared once more, remaining little more than a blue semi-transparent face beside his.
“I am present, Captain Kalfyr. What do you require?”
“Need to figure out how to secure Ballarat. You got any ideas?” Kalfyr glanced at the face as it tilted slightly, mimicking the organic posture of turning their head as if in serious thought. Running calculations and thought weren't so different in his eyes, but it made him uncomfortable with how quickly the artificial intelligence had adopted the mannerism.
“I will place it as a secondary priority, Captain Kalfyr. I have no immediate solution. Is that all you require?” The A.I. informed him, earning it a sideways glance as he frowned and clicked his tongue in thought.
“This is a right fucking mess. Dismissed.” He sighed, letting his hands fall before scratching his neck and glancing out of the viewport. The holographic face disappeared as he addressed the helmsman.
“Priddy better be careful about- Bah never mind. All ahead full and let's get these damned ships to the ground. Begin firing on Ballarat to disable without destroying it once we attain a sub point five chance of error. Order the Wallflower, Dainty and Valorous to rejoin the main body.”
The new additions to the support fleet burned hard for the surface, ignoring the conflict between Mecetti and the enemy as their shields were adjusted and the hulls burned with their descent.
The Command Bridge of the Ballarat was silent and apprehensive as the spirit continued to speak. Lossa allowed her hand to shift away from Zaiya to observe as colors danced across the girl's skin. She would have allowed herself a moment to ponder the odd display if they had been in a less tense situation. Something else to remember for later as her hand extended towards her chair, using the Force to pull her helmet from its resting place to her hand. Fingers biting into the metal as the structure of the helmet groaned beneath her grip. An awkward pressing wiggle had it situated on her head in time to catch the words directed to Denn.
The feelings from Zaiya would be short-lived, as the Zeltron narrowed her eyes behind the visor and glanced to the corner of her visor-screen to see the recording function still active.
Having intended to review the footage later with Captain Kalfyr on what she needed to work, it instead served as its own blackbox for what was taking place on the bridge. Onrai directed her words to the attempt of bargaining and the phrasing drew a frown from Lossa. Discarding the sentiment of the jedi as the crew's attention shifted from the sight before them to a singular collective interest at their stations. A one way message of warning, sent to their systems from the Hilltop. The coding scrambled beyond access as the message blinked on their screens.
Liminal Protocol.
Attempts to access the communications network were met with static filled silence as the crews scrambled to contact their allies in some way. Frantic energy took hold as officers directed their staff to internal communications aboard the ship warning of imminent danger. The first strikes against the shields being absorbed as systems across the ship began to flicker but remain operational.
Gunners abandoning their post as they received an alert about the Liminal Protocol and debating on heading for the escape pods.
Lossa let her hand settle back on Zaiya's shoulder in time to be squeezed as Onrai waved her hand. Imprinting memories and information into her mind directly as she cried out at the intrusion. The manufactured calm she had kept about her was swiftly overtaken by the disturbing imagery that flooded her mind. Her subconscious now awakened fully as she began to mentally retreat from Onrai. Desperate to shut everything out. Unable to as it came racing in and breaking her mental barriers as an all encompassing tsunami would break upon a village made of sticks and straw.
The dark side swelled around Lossa, rising to meet the invasion of her mind as emotions bubbled and broke against the intrusion. The swell quickly swallowed and extinguished as more images and memories rushed in making the hasty defense ineffectual. The coral colored hand snatched back and clutched tight against her head as the yelp of pain shifted to a solid and unending scream. Barely muffled by the speakers inside the helmet she had put on before cutting out entirely at the sheer volume. Her whole body curled into itself as she tried to step back and away from the source of the information.
Adrenaline flooded her body to prepare itself, every muscle tightening as her body danced between fight or flight at the memories she was made to visualize and bear witness to. The OmniLink Sensor warning flared in the corner of her visor at the significant rise in cortisol levels, desperate to make her aware and calm down.
Fear was the first emotion to flood her system. Chased quickly by adrenaline as her body became rigid beneath the robe and armor. Like a boiling tar that surrounded her senses and drug her mind down into itself. Her body reacting to the sensory feeling of being held in place with a vicious slash of the Force surrounding her legs. Gouges in the floor panels around her feet as the metal was peeled free and sent flying in her hysteria. Whistling through the air with enough energy to embed the coiled metal into the viewport and back wall of the bridge. The flashing warning from the Omnilink became a solid image as it connected to the HoloNet, sending a medical alert to
Briana Sal-Soren
.
Her mind tried to flee into the beckoning dark of itself to escape the information overload. Met by her mirror as it pushed her back from retreating too far and pushed past her.
In the passing seconds, the next feeling to bloom was pain. A rolling tide of tightness in her core that spread across her abdomen as her steps faltered. Feeling sick and entirely confused if the pain or the memories were the true cause.The shrill scream short lived as the rolling pain stole the air from her lungs. Choking and sputtering inside her helmet as she tried to fight the bile that crept up from her stomach.
One of the deck officers dropped their datapad as they looked to their commander. Surprising others around them as he slid across the top of the console before breaking into a sprint toward Lossa.
The surrounding staff hollered in surprise or scrambled to help as the Zeltron's foot caught the lip of the gouge she had made.
(
Romi Jade
Darth Solipsis
) An illusory image peeled itself away from her form as she fell backward. A crewman diving to catch her body. The figure was short enough in stature that even Zaiya could look down upon it. Eyes alight with unfiltered malice as two small arms formed from the air. Skin a sickly pale coral beneath a loose hospital gown. Gaunt, drawn skin surrounded bright Ruby eyes which fixed themselves on Onrai. A deep rooted rage that ill fit the small being rolled in waves across the bridge as it stared at the self-proclaimed god. A rage that burned like a dying star, eager to devour everything surrounding it before it imploded. A cup overflowing with the primordial, burning hatred and bitterness that had found its focus as its mouth opened to address Onrai.
“Get out of my head.” Bare feet formed from nothing as the childlike figure took another step forward past Zaiya.
“And go. Away!”
The last word roared at the being as the living force seemed to twist and tear around the small figure. Where once it flowed freely, it now was drawn into the figure like an empty vessel. Consuming. Hungry. Vengeful. Stoking the burning star of Wrath within that small form.
Wedge Draav
Reima Vitalis
Shar Sieu
Addison Porte
Pal Veda
