Invasion Chapter Three: Total War | Long Live The Empire DE vs GA Coruscant

[Marauder]

Marauder and his vod's position was being lit up by blaster fire. They were pinned down and couldn't go anywhere without taking down the Imperial fortification. All he could hear was the chaos of warfare.

Marauder blindly threw a grenade where the blaster fire was coming from and hoped for the best. The detonator exploded and debris flew every which way, causing most of the blaster fire to stop, yet there were survivors, but not enough to keep them pinned.

The six Mandalorians ignited their jetpacks and barreled at the imperials with a vengeance, Their time was up.

Marauder landed on a stormtrooper with so much force, his ribs broke, killing him. Marauder then drew his blaster and fired at some more as his vod landed. Marauder stomped the ground, knee bent. Rockets shot out from his knee plate, leaving a thin smoke trail behind as they blew up a couple of stormtroopers. Marauder looked around for any more threats, only dead stormtroopers remained.

 

[Achan Jaikavi]

Before the Invasion

His mind was set. Even as master Riyah arrived, Achan knew he would not be swayed. As much as he disliked the Jedi for their undeserved place in society granted them by genetic lottery, his feelings for the Sith were more akin to utter hatred. He would not back down before the onslaught of those dogs.

He had already sent away all of the Unblessed’s prized research. The was no way that he was allowing anything like Project Soulblade from falling into enemy hands, but he did know that there would be at least one Soulblade active in this assault. It was a trial run, using one of the more expendable bottom feeders that had been merged with the abomination of science and Force wizardry.

His eyes swept his office on last time as the Jedi Master spoke. He had everything. He lifted his holdout-blaster up and looked on its shiny metal surface. It was so small. Inadequate before the might of an Empire. A chill run up his spine. This may well be the last day of his life.

”I will not back down before unholy masses of the Dark Side…no matter my fate,” he said, more to himself but then looked back to the Jedi Master and addressed her, “my fate will be the same as my peoples.”

During the Invasion

“There is a security lockdown room on level 20. But I do not think it will be a match for any that would come after us.”

He could tell Katarine was annoyed. Frankly, he would have been annoyed at having a Jedi escort at any other time than this. Right now, he was grateful for her presence.

He paused to look out the window. What he saw surprised him. “They seem not to care about being seen…or the worst are already inside?”

He put a hand to her shoulder, grabbing her attention. “Katarine…” He had never been so informal with her.

“…I am sorry you are here with me, rather than out there fighting for Coruscant. But I do not wish to cower in fear. You have my permission to take the fight to these Sithspit. I will do my best to keep up.“

---

Katarine Ryiah Natasi Fortan Alicio Organa Raphael Calgar Kazian Blackwood Reiner Ghadi

 

[Minerva Fhirdiad]

Tag: Drego Ruus​

The titanic clash erupted within and above Coruscant's surface. Onboard one of several gunships under fighter escort Minerva stood waiting. Her company barely had a respite after the Carlc raid when they were shipped back to the Alliance capital. Feeling the vibrations with the increased flak the warrior thought.

We knew this day would and it has now arrived.

Nodding in determination to herself Minerva drew her particle rifle. Turning to the troops with her inside the gunship bay most looked back to her. No words were said and none necessary. Coruscant in flames was all the motivation they needed. It wasn't too long before she heard the pilot up in front declaring via intercom.

"Prepare to jump! Forty seconds!"

Already on their feet the commandos position the bay doors. It opened revealing the madness engulfing the city planet below

"Come on!" Minerva shouted before charging first and leaped off the ramp.

The troops went after their captain. Soon three platoon's worth of Talon commandos were skydiving to the besieged capital. In the midst of the fall Minerva picked up signals not just from Alliance forces but also Mandalorian Protectors. Her helemt's HUD located Drego Ruus's position which seemed to be moving at a consistent pace. Once the nearest skyscraper was spotted and coming closer in view Minerva at last ignited her jetpack as did the others.

It slowed their descent before landing on the roof of a towering office complex still standing. Just as soon as her boots hit the ground she rushed over to the eastern side and looked down, spotting giant worms surging and tearing apart buildings and streets. Inside her helm Minerva scoffed.

"Sith abominations."

With her rangfinder she found Drego riding on top of one such beast. Despite the situation Minerva grinned in full approval. Signaling to her commandos she ordered.

"Let's go hunt some monsters."

Activating their jetpacks Talon company got off the skyscraper and dive in toward the target. At the lead as usual Minerva came up alongside Drego before landing next to himm trying to keep steady on the creature’s back. She spoke through the helmet comm channel with her fellow Mandaloria.

"I'm here Drego! Tell me the plan.”

 

[Thomas Barran]

1st Post

-THE COREWARD CHRONICLES-

THE_BLOODHOUND
GREAT KHAN OF THE MAWSWORN
HEATHEN SAINT OF ROGUES AND OUTLAWS
DIVINE CHAMPION OF MOTHER REBIRTH

Tags (Friend): Keilara Kala'myr Arminius Kroeger Defias Lord Mor'zhul
Kazian Blackwood Scylla AI Vaudimir Traith Reiner Ghadi Pious Tapp

Tags (Foe): Anthony Gray Sun Gress D'ran Lodd Grimmin Drego Ruus
Natasi Fortan Alicio Organa Raphael Calgar Dyrn Grav Achan Jaikavi
Katarine Ryiah Lupa Visz Marauder Ashley Nevermore Zandra Ruus
Minerva Fhirdiad

A NEW CENTURY, A NEW TERROR VI: WHERE CHAINS ONCE BOUND US - PROLOGUE

CORNER OF SOUTH-7TH/63RD,
SLUM ZONE 5, CORUSCANT (901 ABY)

<"Tommy, this is Mercy. The data is collected and sent to you. I will shortly reach the place and position I have marked in the data, from there I will provide you with support. And if necessary, I can easily join you on the city streets. Mercy, over.">

Sad to say....
The droids of the simulation defended better than the humans living in the real thing.

The South slums here were a slaughter.
​

'BASTARDS!!!! DON'T GO THINKING I DIDN'T SEE THE MAWITE SYMBOLS ON YOUR COATS!!!! I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE!!!!'

Only one small contingent had offered anything meaningful in the way of guerilla-method defence in the area, and with the last of them lined up with heads facing the nearest wall by the time Barran Khan stepped out from his dropship, all but one of the sector's GADF captives had made their peace with the cost of defeat when the one-eyed Woad was finally ready to join the fight. Likely watching as the golden mask marched up to the pre-execution encounter, set to one side so he could watch his comrades die, one by one; nominally a Mawsworn method of intel-gathering torture, though in reality, the reasoning here was much crueller than the surface level would imply.

'YOU'RE SCUM, ALL OF YOU!!!! FILTHY PARASITES - RIGHT DOWN TO THE LAST MARAUDER!!!!'

The cable-tied battalion commander, a young, venomously-spoken Captain of Zabrak birth, had likely aggravated the Scav Kings presiding over their capture, a fate that many potential slave-warriors had embraced in defeat. Letting their mouths dig graves for them, as there was always that one who talked too much, that one who said the wrong things at the wrong moments, instigating the urge to make that talkative one watch as his friends died. Unable to change the fates of their compatriots, glued to the spot as their friends fell, one by one, to the cold, apathetic shots of their adversaries. But this one was different, Thomas could tell there was more than met the eye, and by reading the looks in the Scav Kings' eyes alone, the Great Khan could see that the loudmouth was awaiting judgement; not for any information he may-or-may-not have been withholding, nor for any perceived insult, but as punishment for something far more egregious.

I wonder....
In your final hour, what souls have you dared snatch from my ranks?​

It was enough that it seemed worthy of celebration, even in the wake of an abject defeat that had robbed his brethren of their voices, and in the Bloodhound's mind, that could only mean one thing.

One of the Scav King's leaders had been killed in the process of apprehending this loudmouth personally, and in the captive's confidence to roar,'THE JEDI WILL AVENGE US SOONER OR LATER!!!!', and without so much as a stutter in lack of assured certainty, it was clear this confidence was weighted with the consolation of a small, petty victory. Barran Khan would need to inquire as to which of the three Scavshah Warchiefs had fallen to his own hubris, but prioritized the loudmouth's hopelessness above all things that day, fully fixated by the time the Zabrak persisted,'AT THIS POINT, I DON'T CARE WHO LIBERATES THIS WORLD!!!! CORUSCANT WAS NEVER FATED FOR IMPERIAL RULE - NOR WILL IT EVER BE!!!!', sealing his fate to have all hope slaughtered before his very eyes.

'You think so? Well, I don't.... Ya wanna know why?'

What started as a glowering turn to the man towering above his knelt form, originally mistaking the Bloodhound for another Scav King, almost immediately became an increasingly-pale mask of abject terror; recognition of the sort that diminished any and all need for introduction, saving Thomas time in his distraction, a pleasant development in an otherwise tense situation. It was then that the Khan turned to the nearest Scav King's, almost apathetic in his demeanour as he digressed,'Turn them around, I want this one to remember his comrades - as they are now.... As they soon will be.', though he was smiling ear-to-ear behind his mask at the time.

<"Tommy, this is Mercy again. I arrived at my position. Let the dancing begin, over.">​

'An' as for that,"Why?", its simple.... There's always another Empire, and many are springing up now, are they not?'

Pulling blindfolds off all five surviving captives' heads at the time, it was clear to everyone that the golden mask was in the process of making his point, though the clarity offered was obviously expected to be violent, thus none had anything to say in response by then. All the captives knew who wore the mask, and with all that had been said of the Bloodhound's exploits and prison-break by then, the man himself seemed almost like a manifesting myth of the worst sort, like a harbinger of doom was giving them one last mercy before they perished. Though as for what was done with that small, fleeting mercy, only one of those previously blindfolded would turn to their vocal, brave commander, whilst the other four opted to look to the skies for the last time instead, taking one last opportunity to make peace with their makers.

'So don't be waitin' up in the Nether.... Your friends will be nothing but bones by the time anyone even thinks to avenge them - mere shadows an' dust to the souls o' the future!'

​

Drawing the Mongrel's great-sword from it's scabbard, the Bloodhound began to circle the bound, silent subordinates of the Zabrak like a scavenger, behaviours of which the Scav Kings themselves appreciated. Circling around from the back at first, movements of which could only instigate shudders of fearful apprehension, seemingly playing with his prey as Barran calmly strolled his way around to the front; almost as if the one-eyed Woad was taking his time to savour a last glance at the faces of the doomed, but just like they were before, none could bring themselves to look on the golden mask of their executioner.

'These fellows here were your friends, Zabrak. Your friends, an' you doomed them all to obscurity.... I sure hope it was worth it.'

A NEW CENTURY, A NEW TERROR VI: WHERE CHAINS ONCE BOUND US - PART 1

CORNER OF WEST RISE ON 63RD,
SLUM ZONE 4, CORUSCANT (901 ABY)

Thus his process begins.... Another for Rebirth.
Broken down by strife, lifeless in his soul - an' now I rebuild him.

My new canvas.... My new Darkhan, in the remaking.​

In a last-second twist of fate for the loudmouth, the Bloodhound had taken pity on the broken Zabrak seen staring in catatonic grief, but just before the Khan walked off to leave the captain with his Scav King tormentors, he had made a comment on weakness that drew the silent fury of a man he previously assumed had been shattered by the loss of his subordinates. It was in this moment when the hidden heart of Thomas, the Stormchaser's son, shone through the dense fog of malice; even if it was only with the ambitious intent to make his own successor to Nail Darkhan, it was enough to supercede the intentions of his stalwart tribesmen, granting the griefstruck Zabrak the chance to live and fight another day.

'I will speak with you when I'm done with your compatriots.... Farewell for now, Zabrak.'

If this encounter had transpired twenty or thirty years before, the loudmouth's circumstances might have been infinitely worse to consider, with prospects worse than hopeless, but times had changed enough for the Bloodhound to know his decision had been more a mercy than anything the Scav Kings would have offered that day. However, certain Marauders' laws (contradictory though the very concept would seem to laymen of friendly and opposed sorts) would have protected the Zabrak in previous decades, though this was dependent solely on the mercy or respect of the presiding Warlord, though one last glance at the armoured brutes told Barran all he needed to know of the difficulties he would face in past and present situations alike.

But this time the Scav Kings would obey, and though their protestations and disapproval awaited the first opportunity, Barran Khan felt relief seeing longstanding veterans stepping back for the sake of the aspirants willing to evacuate the Zabrak safely, though it seemed more like a relief to the aspirants than it was for anyone else. It was a difficult order for the would-be Marauders to endeavour, (as much as they were determined to obey their Khan's commands at all times) knowing the size, strength and armour-advantages of the Scav Kings from whom they were snatching due retribution, but seeing their compatriots step back was fortunately viewed as blessing enough to proceed - before the hulking armoured warriors changed their minds.

'Its fine, soldier.... Your war is done for now, we're going back to the Ark.'
Its fine, soldier....

Nail, my dear friend.... It would seem you've left your mark on all of us.
I hear it in everyone, all who ever knew the titan you were.​

Half-dragging the Zabrak along, the Aspirants would take the issue of the Scav Kings off their Khan's hands, and with it, all distractions from the planetary assault Barran had been sent to support in the first place.

For the loudmouth, the hard part in his own fight was concluded already, but for the Khanate of the Maw, their own fight had only just found it's steady first footing. As unlike those unfortunate (or stupid-) enough to sign Coruscantine defence-contracts for the impending Imperial assault, those mounting the assault were able to boast dedicated, standing armies, evidently better-equipped for the worst, drawn-out rigors of war in contrast. Likely felt in acute awareness of the already-overextended GADF presence across the core, making active support seem more like a gamble than a guarantee, and for all that the Mandalorian Protectors endeavoured to alleviate that pressure, it was clear that salvation would be little more than a pipedream for the PMCs who stood as South Sector's first line of defence.

Not that it was ever easy defending against attackers who seemed to know their streets better than any defender on the ground that day, though there was no way for the local PMCs to know that their enemies had preemptively simulated this attack, preparing for the final, real assault in every conceivable aspect of the impending Imperial offensive. The fight was over for Coruscant's first lines of defence, but weeks before the PMCs and militias even thought to prepare strongpoints, and against the Empire's meticulous attention to detail, the Zabrak would live on to learn there was no hope for rag-tag roadblocks of his sort.

<"Dreamer to Bloodhound! Towers West-though-East are clear, the majority are free to move up.">
<"Copy that, Dreamer. You can double back to lead the Scav Kings if you want.">
<"Wait, is Karash dead or-?">
<"Yes, an' very recently, I'll let the Scav Kings tell ya what happened. Bloodhound - out!">​

Cleaning the blood from his mentor's blade, partly in reverence and partly to maintain it's warfighting longevity, Barran Khan would slowly sheathe it in clear sight of the slighted Scav Kings, silently reminding his old-guard subordinates that his blade had been drawn throughout the brief standoff. If heads were not dipping sheepishly before, they certainly were by then, the desired effect for which the Great Khan was looking the most, as the Woad knew his subordinates well enough to see that the Maw's hierarchy still meant something to the Scav Kings of the next generation. They were as much aggravated as they were happy to continue living, though it was still quite apparent the Scav Kings valued the Bloodhound's wisdom all the more, coupled with the overriding urge to wipe the slate clean, once and for all.

'Alright, Dornum. It appears to me that you're the Magnar of the Scav Kings now, so you can hold these positions until Dreamer Darkhan returns.... He won't be long.'

 

[Teket]

TAGS: OPEN

​

Teket had always found life in the tribe to be boring. He was a revered shaman, known for his unusually strong natural abilities with magic, but both the tribe chief and his master, the chief shaman, looked down on him just because he was young. Even had they not, the constant requests and orders grated on Teket. It wore him down, and all he wanted to do was leave, or he faced the temptation to uproot the treehouses and topple the entire village. Though, he had to be honest with himself, the only thing holding him back was the fact that he really had no other options, nowhere to go. That was, until a group of humans had arrived in one of their flying metal huts. It was enormous in size, and the humans seemed to be collecting resources, cutting down trees for lumber and gathering fruits and nuts. They were quite a ways away from the village and didn't interfere with the Ewoks at all. Teket had happened to sense them and sneaked away to spy on them. Watching them closely, Teket cooked up a plan. He waited until he was sure the humans were close to being ready to leave back into the sky, then he gathered some food, collected his red cloak he had made but rarely got to wear, and started to leave. Unfortunately, his master Prikil noticed him leaving. "Where are you going?" he demanded.

"I am leaving. I hate it here. I want to go on an adventure, see where these humans come from, find a more interesting life."

"That is foolish. This is your life. Now, do as you're told and get back home and go to bed. We have a busy day tomorrow."

"Get out of my way, old man. I am much more powerful than you, and I'm sick of you looking down on me. You cannot stop me."

The chief shaman just reached out with his staff and began trying to push Teket back. That move was the last straw. In a fit of rage, Teket reached out with his magic and picked up the older Ewok and slammed him against a tree, his bones crunching. He then took the headdress the shaman wore and set it on fire with a small item he had pilfered from the humans when they weren't looking. It set it down in the center of the tree village. It would be his parting gift. Teket jumped to the forest floor and walked towards the human base, the flames spreading behind him. He did not know if the villagers would wake up in time to put it out or not, and he frankly did not care.

The young Ewok snuck aboard, hiding himself in a vent and keeping out of sight. He made a hammock out of his cloak and lived off his rations, occasionally sneaking out to steal small portions of their food as well. They never even seemed to notice. He watched and listened, using his magic to touch their minds. After a couple weeks, he was able to start picking up some of their conversations, at least enough to understand the context. For now, he was just waiting. He had no idea what was going to happen now that he had made it to the stars.

---

​

Teket woke to lots of frantic noise. Something about something, someone, or somewhere called "Core-oo-sant" being attacked. It definitely sounded exciting, whatever it was! Someone mentioned a hyper-something-or-other, and the metal hut -- apparently it was called a "starship" -- lurched forward.

---

After a while, Teket decided to grab his cloak and sneak out to look at what was going on. Peering out the window, he saw a scene he never could have imagined. Metal buildings larger than he thought possible stretched as far as the eye could see. There didn't seem to be any trees! At least, not that he could see. And, somehow, there seemed to be fire everywhere and lots of explosions and fighting as other starships of varying sizes screamed about. The ship he was on was letting loose its own volleys of light, causing things to explode. He'd heard about these things. He was pretty sure they were called "blasters." There was a war going on, one that no Ewok could have comprehended, and it made Teket excited.

"Hey! What's an Ewok doing here!?" Oops. Teket turned to see a human lunging toward him. He jumped, doing a backflip, and kicked off the man's shoulders. The guy's nose burst open, blood spraying everywhere, as his face smacked the window. Teket laughed as the man held his gushing nose in pain. Looked like it was time Teket made his exit.

Rushing toward the front of the ship, he startled more people, some other creatures besides human. But they were evidently too preoccupied with the war going on to do more than just shout. Perhaps they were the ones firing the blasters? He couldn't be certain. One large, muscular human blocked his way, the man staring down menacingly at him. Teket simply flourished his cloak and pointed at him. "Open a door for me!" he said. The man would have no idea what he was saying, but reaching out with his magic, Teket was able to grab hold of the man's mind and command him to do it anyway. The human mumbled an agreement and ran over to the side wall and activated something on the wall. A door opened, the sudden pressure sucking the man out of the ship and into the air without even a chance to scream. Teket was more prepared. Thinking quickly, he jumped for the down, grabbing the edge and hauling himself nimbly onto the outside of the ship. Holding on, he looked around to see what else he could do, considering he was just making it up as he went and had absolutely no idea what he was doing. He was having fun, though!

Seeing -- thrusters? -- to the sides of the ship, Teket reached out to invisibly grab them with his magic. Metal was quite tough, and he had to strain himself, but he managed to bend them a little. But it was enough to change the ship's direction, causing it to spin, the blaster fire turning from its original targets and onto the ships to the side and behind. Comrades of the people in the ship, most likely. The ship was then hit by blaster fire from the other ships and went into a tailspin. He laughed out loud at the thrill of it all, launching himself into the air and using his cloak as a glider to soar through the air and land on one building, as the ship careened into another tall building and exploded.

"Whoo-hoo, this is fun! I'm sure that building wasn't too important. They've got more than enough to spare."

 

[Drego Ruus]

Tag: Minerva Fhirdiad Scylla AI​

Plan?

The plan was violence. Lots of it.

But an actual plan would be nice.

"We need to get inside this thing. Kill it."

A horde of surge drones came pouring across the skin of the worm. Drego didn't miss a beat, firing his new battle rifle over Minvera's shoulder and laying into them, finishing a burst of fire with a thermal detonator that created a massive crater into the skin of the worm. One leapt over, towards Drego only to activate the underbarrel chainsaw on the rifle and ripping into the drone. "Tanya, hook up with Talon. I'm gonna work with my vod for this."

 

[Minerva Fhirdiad]

Tag: Scylla AI Drego Ruus​

Raising her rifle she pulled the trigger, firing semi-auto bursts at the drone horde. Soon enough Talon commandos still flying mid-air were shooting at the bug drones. She unleashed her vambrace's repulsor knocking multiple killer bugs off the worm only to fall to their destruction in the ruined streets. At the sight of the crater Minerva grinned from ear to ear hidden by the helmet. Subsequently she called one of her comrades.

"Gakot you're in charge! Do all you can to assist Drego's warriors up here! I'll be back!"

"On it boss and good hunting!"

Done she said in a competitive tone to Drego just she used the repulsor against several drones, sending them screeching into a deadly descent.

"Race you inside."

Then she used her jetpack to ascend off the giant worm and searched for a way in.

 

[Drego Ruus]

Tag: Minerva Fhirdiad
​

Race?

Drego looked at the skin at his feet. She wanted to find a way inside? Drego would make one.

Revving his chainsaw, he began the long process. Dig into the beast by hand. Saw his way into the beast with nothing but beskar teeth and heavy firepower.

From above, more of Clan Ruus rained down. All of them had the same idea. Get inside with nothing more than chainsaws. Like little ants, they dug into the skin of the beast with a fervor. War Jaws came down with them, landing on the back of it, and firing a horde of HE mortar shells into it's back, and onto adjacent forces. The worm had become a moving FOB for the Mandos to fire from it.

 

[Marauder]

Marauder looks up at the dogfight in the burning sky and watched a TIE fighter explode and fall in their direction. "MOVE!" Someone yelled as the debris grew closer to the vod. Marauder retreats from the area along with the others. Some activated their holoshields and held them above their heads while debris rained down on the Mandalorians, making flight too risky a move.

A chunk of metal smacked Marauder in the head, causing him to fall into the rubble. "Get outta here, I'll catch up!" Marauder ordered. He clambered under what used to be a street and watched as the others ran under a bridge. At least he wouldn't have to go far to find them. More debris slammed into the ground but at least it didn't penetrate his makeshift fortification.

The debris stopped falling and Marauder quickly rejoined the others before another ship blew up. "Our mission hasn't changed, we must destroy Imperial occupied areas." One Mandalorian said. "The sooner they're gone, the sooner we get home."

 

[Nero Drake]

UNDERCITY SEWERS
Vortex ​

---

Nero gazed up at the underworld portal from astride his swoop. This far down the faint glimpse of surface was already tainted with brimstone. Embers reflected in the young street punk's narrowed eyes. Half-forgotten memories of Kathol flashed unbidden through his mind. Old resentment burned brightly again in his chest. He wasn't a helpless child this time.

"Let's ride!" Drake shouted over the roaring engines.

One by one each swoop lifted off before threading the needle through a nearby sewer tunnel at dangerously high speeds. Nero's gang used the sewers to move around the city avoiding street rivals or the rare underworld security patrol. He only knew a smallest fraction of Coruscant's impossible labyrinth. Infrastructure networks like this were tunneled throughout the planet.

Tremors caused by explosions on the surface caused one of the usual passages to collapse, and when they were searching for an alternate route someone in his crew noticed the bodies.

Nero stepped off his swoop and bent down to turn a corpse over. Everything smelled awful down here but he could tell this was a fresh kill. Something about the scene felt wrong. He couldn't explain it, but he'd learned to trust these strange instincts.

"Look at these blast wounds," he pointed at the scorch marks, "Too precise for scavengers."

Common sense urged him to get back on his swoop and let this be someone else's problem. Nero drew the bryar pistol from his belt. Most of his crew was similarly armed although a few carried scatterguns or vibroblades. Fortune only favored those willing to wager a hand.

 

[Katarine Ryiah]

​

Location: Senator Achan Jaikavi's Office
Objective: Protect the Senator
Tags: Achan Jaikavi | Natasi Fortan | Alicio Organa | Raphael Calgar | Kazian Blackwood | Reiner Ghadi


She had joined him at the window and both stood there watching at the sight below. He was speaking about a panic room but she agreed it wouldn’t be enough and would more likely end as their tomb, or at least hers. She figured the Empire wanted him alive, for now.

His touch surprised her and she felt a swooping sensation deep in her stomach while she turned to look at him.

"…I am sorry you are here with me, rather than out there fighting for Coruscant. But I do not wish to cower in fear. You have my permission to take the fight to these Sithspit. I will do my best to keep up."

“Senator, please let me get you out of here. You are no good to your people dead, and probably worse to them if the Empire publicly broadcasts your execution. It’s not exactly a morale boost to see our leaders slaughtered.”

She had been arguing with him for hours or course but she hopped he could see reason now. They could not stay here. He did seem ready to at least follow her into the fight and that was a start. If she could get him out the door maybe she could get him all the way to safety.

“Besides I am sure we will get to fight some bad guys along the way.”

She smiled at him, but deep down she felt bad that her sarcastic joke wasn’t a joke at all. There would be danger and no guarantee she could get him into the hands of The Alliance.

​

 

[Syd Celsius]

Wearing: 90 Suit (Concealed under green cloak)

Armed With: Wind and Fire Wheels


With : Clone Defense Troopers. (4000)

Clone Offense Troopers (3000)

Clone Siege Troopers (1000)

Clone Ashla Healers (2)




While the Kytrand Clone Navy was fighting in Orbit, The Clone Defense Troopers and Clone Offense Troopers had emerged from various hiding spots in various buildings both on the upper and lower levels after weeks of being smuggled onto Coruscant with all necessary equipment. Everyone had known the strike was coming. Everyone. There had been no excuse not to send as many as possible here in anticipation.

The Reflection, once again in control of Syd's body, the only notable change being her eyes, the whites turning a bronze color, the iris a dark green.

The more she integrated into Syd, the more control she gained, starting to reforge her damaged connections to the other Personas absorbed along the way.

Of course, in integrating with Syd, she retained Syd's feelings over Starlin Rand . Sensing he was on Coruscant, she sent him an immense feeling of Goodwill as she flew overhead on the city, directing the Clone Offense Troopers to remorselessly put down any Sith militia disguised as Civilians. But at seeing the worms drop, Syd froze, remembering the fall of Sarka, how nothing she had done had been able to stop the worms.

Syd tumbled, clutching her head as she fell through the air, reliving all the chaos, the pain of feeling Laertia become quietly insane from the sheer brutality and seeming futility of attempting to stop the Bryn'adul.

Syd screamed in horror as she relived cutting through them, recalled the thickness of the infantryman's hide in a conflict, and continued tumbling through the sky, hitting a piece of fabric canopy which broke her fall...

...and then went tumbling into a dumpster...

Which melted into slag as Syd's mostly gold clad form rose from the molten slag.

She got out her comlink, and buzzed the Clone Siege Troopers to began operations against the giant worms being deployed with any flight capable vehicles or heavy artillery they had, while giving a roar and screaming into the air as clouds gathered, the Reflection in her whispering ancient and terrible Electro-Enchantments even Phyre herself wouldn't have dared try.

Green light flashed in the clouds as she sent down a heavy green bolt of lightning, it's brilliance momentarily blinding an entire few city blocks worth as she sent it crashing towards one if the Large worms, fueled by the memory of shame and regret for failing Sarka that had made her retreat into other personas for months, for years after.

Every Personality in Syd's body screamed at once as a multiple bolts of green lightning arched down on the city below her, striking clusters of larger swarming insects and smaller ones hurling fireballs, large ones into columns of the 777'th, flying through the air and dodging return fire, avoiding Tie Fighters as they tried to chase her through buildings, though she proved too nimble for even them to chase her as she crashed through a window before diving out of another to be avoid a missile strike that took out that floor. She twisted as she fell, throwing a heavy bolt through the fighter's cockpit...just as the fighter also fired.

Her bolt destroyed the cockpit, but her arm got sheered off due to being clipped by one of the bolts and she blacked out as she twisted up to avoid smashing right into the street at the last minute instead skidding violently across it, ragdolling as a smear of glowing green blood was left in her crash trail...

Syd, for the moment, lay unconscious, but the troopers in the Mechanized Assault Flyers began swarming the giant worms, attacking their mouths with constant bombardment from missiles, while Clone Offense Troopers fearlessly marched into battle in shaking streets, savagely trying to aggressively corral Militia groups while Patrols of Clone Defense Troopers engaged the 777'th from behind fortifications set up in various levels and parts of the city planet being attacked.

"Disciplined..." one of the Blue Striped defense troops noted as they sniped at the black armored soldiers armed with weapons that devastated the armors of their brothers that tried to actively harass their advancement at ever step, using clustered mortar and grenade launcher strikes from afar while Offense Troop Squads backed by Siege Clones got up close and personal with carbines, chain guns, and blaster cannons, Flying Rocket Battle Droids showered Militia who stuck their head out with rocket salvos.

"Good weapons too." his spotter next to him noted dispassionately while Siege Troopers on the roof above them mercilessly bombarded exposed enemy forces, directing airstrikes and mortar strikes, some using CiqQuad Cannons to mow down Sith Militia and the deadly drone bugs that came in massed mobs backed by those little face hugger expies.

The First Trooper Burst Sniped with special Gyro Stabilizers and a tripod, killing an enemy commander from three kilometers out. They had decided to hide Snipers everywhere even though buildings were also occasionally buying the farm. Lance's of their light created deadly showers of glowing red rain on the streets as they began pelting some of the larger rock monsters, which were also now being targeted by the Siege Troopers heavy artillery. Enemy teams began to run into grenade booby traps as Defense troopers excelled in Area Denial. Offense Troopers also ruthlessly engaged Mawite forces in quick moving, low squad count skirmish teams armed with carbines and grenades, engaging hostiles on the lower levels with focused aggression...

Other combinations of units began to reinforce Alliance units from afar, trying to draw fire onto themselves so Alliance Forces could attempt to outflank them and their deadly abominations and fanatical savages...


Scylla AI

Thomas Barran

 

[Minerva Fhirdiad]

Tag: Drego Ruus Scylla AI​

Realizing that Drego was staying put Minerva dive back toward his position. She fired more patrice shots into the mass of drones scurrying on the top of the worm. She stopped down in front of her vod freezing five drones solid with her CryoBan Projector before switching up blasting again with the repulsor. Sparing a moment she commented on the warmaster's chainsaw weapon.

"Nice, very nice indeed."

Meanwhile the Talon Commandos who weren't killed by falling debris mid-flight were fighting alongside the warriors of Clan Ruus. They covered their Mandalorian allies with suppressing fire against the drone while the Mandos were cutting holes into the beast. It was then that an unexpected reinforcements appeared. Just as Minerva gunned down a drone before freezing another she saw who jumped in and went after the other monstrous worms and the nearby invaders.


They're wearing clone-like armor. She mentally noted drawing back as she reloaded a new clip into the rifle.


A drone got close from the left trying to shred her to pieces but instead she used her jet boots off to its side to freeze the upper body and the drone slid off the worm. Jumping back in front of Drego she kept guarding him, shooting in bursts then reloading and shooting again, repeating the process.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Battle of Coruscant raged like distant thunder, a bellowing rumble that reverberated beneath the Dark Lord's feet. Wide, billowing robes cloaked His muscular frame, His face concealed by a voluminous black veil that only the faintest light from His glowing, molten eyes pierced through. A pair of formidable guards in corrugated susurra-weave trailed behind Him, broadsabers fastened at their hips and their faces concealed behind stylistic masks resembling skulls. The entire trio radiated an air of menace, the Dark Side roiling off of them in cold gusts.

This was not the first time the Dark Lord had come to Coruscant beneath the notice of the Jedi Order and their sycophants in the senate. He'd come before to treat with Taeli Raaf within eyesight of the Jedi Temple itself, unbeknownst to even the greatest of their number. The power of the Dark Side shielded Him from view, even the most determined of hunters could not unveil His presence if He did not allow it. Such was His mastery over the mystic arts of the ancient Sith.

"Consider it a privilege, Senator Grimmin. The upheaval in the Outer Rim has occupied much of my consideration, it is fortuitous that a journey to the galactic center is a triviality." The Dark Lord swept into His seat with a flourish, the two guards taking up position somewhere out of sight -- becoming as still as statues. Even across the tranquil Great Western Sea, the battle above reflected in the calm waters. The shimmering of planetary shields, flame blossoming as warships burst from sustained bombardment.

It dredged up many memories within His mind, chiefly the memories of the first time the Sith swept into Coruscant with ambitions of conquest. He led from the front during that assault, breaching the Jedi Temple and putting it to the torch. The Galactic Republic had been driven away, and Coruscant fell firmly into the hands of the Sith for the first time in eight hundred years. From there, they'd ruled as an Empire until the Galactic Alliance brought low all that they had built.

But such was the cycle, inevitable and predictable. It was a cycle that He had recognized a long time ago, and one that He had used to His advantage. "The Alliance finds itself beset by the same foe again. Quite a common re-occurrence, is it not? Although, I am not truly interested in the fate that befalls this world, Senator. Regardless, it should prove profitable for the noble Trade Federation."

Lodd Grimmin ​

 

[Jaidan Shatani]

Quinn Varanin Ayhan

Perhaps this latest band of aspiring despots had hoped to find easy prey here. It had not stopped them, if so, from making formidable preparations for this attack. Even so, he'd seen their propaganda, and there were always two target audiences for that. Thus, Jaidan Shatani suspected he could guess the source of the confidence he sensed.

Both sides had brought staggering force to bear, yet the might of the defenders had always failed to entirely make the transition from theory to reality. Never mind the precise makeup of the opposing fleets or the fixed orbital defenses to be overcome; the sheer population of this world should have made taking it by force of arms a logistical impossibility. Yet this had been the affluent metropolitan center of the galaxy since time immemorial, and a place like that did not produce fighters. Just pampered socialites at the top, and degenerate rats in the sewer beneath, too far out of their minds on Death Sticks and lum ale to even notice their squalor, never mind defend it. So called civilization, ever crumbling under its own weight; no number of soldiers, or even Jedi would prop it up against the overwhelming strength and ferocity of the new order.

It was a compelling narrative, to be sure. And it carried elements of truth, as all the best lies did. Yet it was a lie all the same, and if any of these thugs had put their faith into the lie, then they would soon find the reality a good deal harsher. Fortresses like this would ensure it. Soldiers like the ones defending the place would ensure it.

And yes, Jedi like him would ensure it. Right now.

A fair number of the Order’s remaining number on Coruscant were stationed at the Temple itself, and no doubt it would take all of them to fight back when the Sith inevitably took their crack at the place. But Jaidan still remembered the sensation of waiting on the ground, fighting to control his restlessness as he awaited a chance to strike back at the Mandalorians who had descended on his homeworld from orbit twenty years past, and this time he was determined to plan his contribution carefully, for maximum effect. He believed he’d found it in the form of a hardened air defense control center several miles out from the Temple. He’d have some vague notion of how the Temple fared, at the very least a view of any smoke billowing from its spires. But more importantly, this facility coordinated the operation of countless laser cannons, missile batteries and radar stations which had been deployed in preparation for this assault. Those defenses would exact a heavy toll on any invader, including landing craft bound for the Jedi Temple, and that made it a high value target.

It was a daunting target, even without knowing who waited inside, but the invaders were stubborn and determined. The base defenses, most particularly the big ion cannon on the roof, forced them to land at a distance and make the final push by land and under fire, but in spite of the drop ships that went down in flames, it was immediately apparent that the numbers and firepower present posed a serious danger. A call was immediately put out for relief by whatever available units were in the area and not already engaged, and then the task was simply to hold out until help came and hope it was enough.

But this time, as opposed to two decades prior, it was a Jedi Master who awaited the enemy, and he had far more than simply a sword at his disposal. Living beings saw with more than just their eyes, and Jaidan had spent year after year honing his mastery of the mind.

The first major difficulty for the attack force beyond that which had likely been anticipated was when their armored support began violently exploding with no immediately apparent cause. At Jaidan’s suggestion, the garrison had wasted no time on attempting to conceal the minefield, yet the vehicle crews and their accompanying infantry had spotted only empty ferrocrete right up until the explosions started. Once the heavy fire WAS finally in place, albeit somewhat reduced, the main gate held against it for an inexplicable duration without so much as a scratch visible until it finally gave way and the surviving defenders retreated inside. Even once the attackers were inside, at heavy cost, they made it about thirty feet in before rounding a corner and finding a solid wall in their way…just before thermal detonators were thrown at their feet from nowhere and blaster fire began erupting from the walls at the sides of the corridor which had appeared about a foot and a half narrower than the blueprints indicated.

On and on it went. Spirited charges down hallways that led to nowhere. Ambushes by soldiers who appeared to be wearing the same uniforms. Surprise encounters with heavy weapon emplacements which had been mistaken for unassuming structural support pillars. And all the while, Jaidan Shatani sat near the top of the structure, eyes shut in intense concentration as he conjured one calamity after another.

He knew he couldn’t keep this up forever. But with luck, he wouldn’t have to. And one way or another, he would do his part to bleed this invasion white before he was done.

 

[Lodd Grimmin]

Chapter III

Darth Carnifex ​

Despite the deafening noise of the fierce conflict between the Alliance and the New Empire, the commanding aura of the arguably most formidable Sith in the entire galaxy remained undiminished as they approached the Neimoidian Mechno-chair, wearing an errie ensemble that seemed to compliment his form perfectly.

The Twice-Emperor, who could have reigned indefinitely, had it not been for the successful rebellion of the Renegade Imperials of the New Imperial Order, who had managed to overthrow the Sith Empire, although they had not managed to survive the end of the decade.

Grimmin watched cautiously, as the Dark Lord gracefully took the seat provided. He had heard reports from the Trade Federation Merchant Fleet that the Outer Rim was becoming unstable with the war against the Empire of the Lost and the Sith Order threatening the lifeline of their organization. It complicated things, when the Malsheem orbitally bombarded the planet of Tion to teach the Lost Imperials a message for their defiance.

"Indeed, I am familiar with the stories detailing the Sith's impressive victory over the Lost Empire and the Rimward Trade League, showcasing that the True Sith have not lost their fangs despite occupying space that can be considered underdeveloped. Such tales emphasize the long-held belief that your order is the rightful rulers of the galaxy, contrasting with the false narrative of the Dark Empire."

The Neimoidian said, offering some praise to the Sith Order's victory over the Empire of the Lost, a region which had refused to lend their industrial might to the Trade Federation of Planets. It was only naturally that they would win.

"The Dark Empire is expected to emerge victorious in several battles against the Alliance before ultimately succumbing. With each conflict and planet destroyed, numerous opportunities will arise for the Trade Federation. Although I am curious, My Lord, have you heard of this renegade by the name of Bernard of Arca, one who defaced the Jedi Temple with nonsense."

He explained with some detail, finding that the Dark Empire would run out of steam quite quickly even with a predicted string of impressive victories over the Galactic Alliance. Although he had another inquiry in mind, wanting to know if the Dark Lord had any information about this renegade jedi.

 

[Arminius Kroeger]

D E M O N
DARK EMPIRE
IRON LEGION | THOSE ONCE LOYAL
TASK FORCE BRUTUS
1-66 AASLT REG 'APOCALYPSE' | 1-16 STRM REG 'IRON WILL' |1-8 ENG REG 'PAVEWAY'
DE | Defias | Lord Mor'zhul
GA | Gress D'ran

DARK MILLENIUM
​

The Iron Legionnaires hit the ground unto apocalypse. Their gunships sputtered out in quick succession, those able to get close haphazardly dumping their payloads of stormtroopers as the others that hopelessly tried to remain in air support were struck down. Kroeger's stormtroopers were bogged down, immediately. Desperate to bound between crumbled duracrete ruins and durasteel structures as mortar and turbo laser rounds struck the earth around them.

Arminius could recognize immediately that he'd lost a great deal of his force within the course of a few minutes of the initiation of the breach. A few units of measure as to what was going to be acceptable in totality, gone. He watched with some approval as the man tended to his radio, easily diagnosing and administering a fix to the needed repairs of the equipment. There was a few vehicles and weapon systems which he had a similar, intimate familiarity with, but never comms. Though this man hardly seemed to be a radio operator, more so someone with a knack for electronics. Regardless, he was grateful for the quick footed expertise. He nodded in wordless thanks, snatching the hand microphone from the pack, fixed to a wire as he punched in the needed net idenification code to reach the Long Night of Solace, the sole star destroyer in direct support of his attack.

<"Long Night this is Demon Actual, over!"> He barked out, hoping for an affirmation of comms, a hand adjusting the antenna of the pack some as he peered up through the hellish atmopshere of the surrounding battle scape of Galactic City, hopeful he'd reach them. He grit his teeth as a turbolaser round beat into the earth close to them.

<"Copy Demon Actual this is Long Night."> He received in reply.

<"Radar net over vicinity Kresh Zerek 874, 544. Get rounds on the point of origin, now!"> He barked out in command. The information was sent through to Kroeger's own mortar section on the ground, not that they could establish a hasty firing point without rounds landing on them.

<"Alliance don't seem afraid to blow up their own damned city today, trooper. Here I was thinking these Core bastards would have softer sensibilities but I guess...end of the day, when the dust settles- who the hell are they gonna believe? The Jedi and politicians or-"> He nodded his head in the direction of the approaching Sith Lord, immediately barking commands to the General.

​

"I am assuming command of this rabble."

"Delays in capturing the senate will not be tolerated -- order your men to advance."

"Now."

He grit his teeth in defiance.

<"The hell you are!"> He barked out, the volume less out of anger and more out of neccessity from the hellish impacts around them. A Cataphract had seen a turbolaser round core right through its turret and engine bay, sparking it alight in a violent explosion. He covered his head from behind the slab of metal he used as temporary cover in quick reaction. His commander helmet peered back up toward the Sith as he stood up fully, dropping the hand mic only for it to zip back into place with a retractive snap toward the comms pack.

He pointed between the two skyscrapers book ending their view of the Senate building ahead where heavy walkers fired down onto their position.

<"You charge ahead you're a dead man! They have planned targets all along this avenue of approach. We're zeroed in, we have no support by fire and no indirect fire assets that can target their walkers. We need to clear out the landing zone and bound to an alternate rally point and get fire on their armor before we push, Sith."> Arminius said, laying out the entirety of his plan to the Sith Lord before he went to snatch the handmic again from the trooper's pack. He dialed in another net to begin coordinating, seemingly apathetic to the Sith's attempt to take command as Stormtroopers made their best attempt to clear the landing zone. Where ATGMs could do the work of knocking out the Alliance walkers atop the skyscrapers, combat engineer troopers would do their best to approach the buildings under support by fire to planet explosive charges at the foundations to send them down.

 

[Dyrn Grav]

The starship was ready, the luggage compartment filled, the personnel and penthouse security waited. The threat of the Dark Empire attacking Coruscant had reached a crescendo, with intelligence indicating a window of invasion; though, without access to deeper sources than what was shared by his wife, Natasi, Dyrn had been limited in specifics. It seemed a cruel twist for the couple to celebrate marriage with an assault on the galactic capital.

Alone, near the edge of the hangar opening, Dyrn watched the Coruscant skyline from within the tower hangar, the traffic of speeders hazy through the proximity shield. He watched for a single vehicle, one with a single occupant he cared about, but it had yet to present itself. Dressed in his dark tunic and pants and boots, the Duke of Suffolk was prepared for transport rather than war.

"Any word from Natasi's escort?" Dyrn asked in a low tone, as he heard footsteps approach. "Are they en route?"

The head of security for the Duke came to a stop nearby, as he shook his helmeted head, indicating no. There was a moment as the shorter man checked a wrist display, a gloved hand moving over the prompts quickly, yet the result seemed to be the same. Beside the security leader, Dyrn stood with a calm that seemed at odds with the situation looming over them all, his stance casual and hands open; he stood, staring at the speeders, with only the assumption known that Natasi should be flying to their home in a speeder at that moment.

Either way, Dyrn would remain until she arrived.

"Duke, we have suspected communications disruption." the head of security mentioned, hand tapping the pad on his glove. "And... the shield."

Dyrn's blue-orange eyes turned upward, as his Keshian eyesight pierced through the sky, and he saw the ultraviolet shimmer of the shielding. He then saw it start to fail. Then the invasion began, as Dyrn watched distant atmospheric trails start to cut through the blue and clouds. The Dark Empire were here, already, far sooner than anticipated.

"I'm sure Lady Natasi is en route," the helmeted man said, trying to ease the tension growing in Dyrn. "And if not, she has--"

A low beep sounded and Dyrn looked down to his commlink as the emergency signal reached him...

Natasi was not on en route, nor was she clear of the Senate District, and the invasion had started - and that meant the battle was between Dyrn and Natasi.

"Prepare the armory. We're going to Lady Natasi."

"Yessir," the security lead turned and signaled the remainder of the armored team behind the pair. "Let's move, the Duke is combat active!"

Dyrn clicked the commlink in response, giving a reply to his wife, confirming he had received the beacon. He turned, fists clenched, and stalked toward the hovering armory cache that several security members ran toward him; and without hesitation, Dyrn pulled his tunic free, tossing it to the side, and opened the maglock doors of the upright container. Within were an assortment of weapons and armor, specifically Dyrn's, and crafted for the sole purpose of engaging in a small-scale war to tear through whatever stood between him and Natasi.

"Ready the speeder, arm yourselves with AF and HW grenades," the Duke spoke as he slid into the reinforced jumpsuit underlay. The metallic pieces of heavy armor followed, the donning of armor assisted by the team. "Have the starship ready to meet us at a nearby location, if we cannot make it back to the penthouse."

The security team responded affirmative, as various personnel began to scramble.

"I do not know the situation in the Senate District, but we assume enemy forces intend to capture HVTs," Dyrn strapped several weapons, a mixture of pistols and rifles, to his person. "Natasi is our first priority, we get her out above all else. Any senators we can assist or rescue in that attempt, we protect also."

Dyrn reached in with his gloved hands and pulled the heavy helmet free.

"My wife is in danger--"

Dyrn slid the helmet on and turned toward the waiting speeder.

"--and nothing will stop us getting to get her."

The Duke and security team began to jog to the waiting vehicle, and with practiced and honed ease, the embarked and were passing through the penthouse hangar shielding within moments, as the vessel tore into the sky over the city and began weaving through the chaotic traffic lanes...

Vicinity: -
Other: Natasi Fortan | Alicio Organa | Raphael Calgar
Enemies: Dark Empire​

 

[Alicio Organa]

FEDERAL ASSEMBLY, ALDERAAN OFFICE
CORUSCANT
- Natasi Fortan - Raphael Calgar - Achan Jaikavi - Katarine Ryiah - Kazian Blackwood - Reiner Ghadi - Dyrn Grav -​

Alicio had paused mid-sentence.

It wasn't out-of-character for the man. Often, he took time fermenting his words, turning each syllable to ensure they conveyed what he needed them to. But this time was different. Alicio had arisen from his chair, the clicking of his boots bringing him to his window, eyes staring out with intensity, with concern. His precognition had been eerily silent. But all in the span of a moment, darkness choked his tongue, and futures flowed unbidden into his mind.

Then, the shields dropped, and the invasion began.

"It's almost hard to believe that it's come to this. Almost."

Natasi's dry humor didn't seem to resonate with the King of Alderaan. He was distracted by visions, playing in front of his eyes, screaming for his attention. Death, fire, war, rebirth, the shattering of a world, and a bloom of impossible cold in his chest. Each one in turn stole his eyes, demanded to be known, overwhelmed his senses. It took him a moment to regain control, focus on the now.

Alicio did, slowly but surely. He turned to Natasi and Raphael, and nodded, his face set with that grim frown he was so famous for. "We have to go." Where to, he wasn't sure yet. He just knew they couldn't stay here.

The senator let his hand pass comfortingly over something hidden within his cloak, and pressed the button to open the door. "The hangars will be the first places locked down, and even if we did get a ship... the airways will be chaos. Ideas?"

 

[Vortex]

|| LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE||

~All of that green and yellow, that drip from your eyes is tellin'~

OBJECTIVES: I. Broadcast the propaganda from the Coruscant Broadcasting Center; II. Bomb the explosive cache
TAG: Nero Drake

Spoiler

​

CORUSCANT, CORE WORLDS

10… 9… 8… 7…

Coruscant. A tale I grew up with. I've dreamt of the ecunimopolis way too many times, but I never thought that I would ever make it to the planet in my lifetime. Growing up in a remnant base, it was never a viable dream. We were small, weak, scraping the outskirts of the galaxy to get by. Even under a united warlord the Alliance seemed like an impenetrable bastion. Then the Enclave showed that the Alliance wasn't as tough as we imagined. Then the warlords declared for Emperor Fossk, and we quickly launched a first strike. A glorious first strike that liberated the Deep Core from the corrupt regime of the Alliance. Yet the same attack took a hero, an Imperial legend away from us. And nothing has been the same afterwards.

6… 5… 4…

New Sith Order. Dark Side Elite. Mawite Khanate. It seems like the undesirable parts of the galaxy have made their way through the pillars of the Empire. And it was fine early on, us true Imperials still maintain most control through our military. But with what happened after the liberation of the Deep Core? Who knows. Coruscant is just a few steps ahead. Let's focus on that first.

3… 2… 1…

<IMPERIAL GHOSTS. WE'RE THREE MINUTES FROM TOUCHING DOWN AT OUR DESTINATION. THIS IS THE BIGGEST MOMENT IN OUR LIFE, SO LET'S DO WHAT WE DO BEST, LET'S PROVE WHY WE ARE THE EMPIRE'S FINEST HANDS, AND LET'S DELIVER CORUSCANT FOR THE EMPEROR.>

Brutus, Rosé, Sunspot, Hellboy, Vaapad, XO, Tress Way. My gaze shifts from left to right, taking what could possibly be a last good look at my brothers and sisters in arms, the finest special operatives in the whole Empire. Our mission is not easy, but lord knows we're going to deliver like we have countless times before, even if it's our lives we have to pay with.

———————————————————————​

It's a long vertical travel down, to the sewer towards the senate district where our first target lies. Propaganda is the most valuable tool to pacify the population, my mentor once told me. Convince the people that they live a horrible life, that the current regime has abandoned the people's interest for the elites, and they'll embrace conquest as liberation. And we are one of the units that has been trusted with the smooth delivery of those propaganda, that what was only accessible by certain people, what was quickly intercepted and banned by the government of the Alliance, now can be heard by everyone on all levels of the ecunimopolis.

We entered the sewer in a 2-1-2-1-2 formation, making sure that everything in front and our rear ends are accounted for. The first ten minutes or so were smooth. Sewer was empty and we swiftly traveled through the underground passage. Until an explosion from the surface collapsed the main passage, and we were forced to take a detour to a smaller tunnel on the side.

<Footsteps ahead, I heard three.>

Splash, splash, splash, splash, splash… Rosé's right, from its sound they seem to be bigger guys, walking towards our direction. I signed the team to hug the sides, as the footsteps stopped. They came prepared. Slowly, gliding the walls, we moved forward to counter-ambush the enemies. Taping Brutus' shoulder, Rosé and I made the overlap on the corner with our blasters ready to shoot.

Pew, pew, pew, pew, pew… all down, targets are neutralised. But taking a closer look… Karkin' hell. Those are not big, armed men, but civvies escaping. They're not supposed to be here. I can feel the nausea rising from my stomach up my throat, but before I could clearly process what just happened, I was distracted by Tress Way's voice.

<ENGINE SOUND AHEAD. TAKE COVER.>

Those can't also be civilians, right? Civilians don't bike through the sewers, right?

<VAAPAD, GRENADE.>

The engine had stopped close to the corner where I just coldly murdered innocents over some horrible mistake. What if this pack is also just civilians, unnecessary collateral in the grand scheme of things?

BOOM!

<NOW!>

In this business, we're not given enough time to think before reacting to limited information. Us or them, I try to convince myself. So I, alongside Rosé and Brutus made the first jump over the cover and started peppering blasters at the intruders.

Fire and blood to achieve peace and order never sounded as horrible.​