Invasion Chapter Two: House of Cards | Long Live The Empire DE vs GA Coruscant

[Astri Elyse]

Tag: Efret Farr Malva'ikh Dralidok

Knowing that war was on the horizon had frightened Astri. But Master Farr had spent an inordinate amount of time with her, giving her lessons of culture and history as a way to keep her mind off of things. And it was working, with the two of them lost in an explanation of the Zeffo. Such a mysterious people, with such a tragic end and—

Astri wasn't very attuned to the Force, but even she could feel that: the oppressive shadow that fell upon the metal world.

"They're here..." She trembled.

But then Efret was whisking her away, pulling her along by the hand, and leading her out of the museum. They had a plan for this. Master Farr had discussed it with her at length, sparring no detail. Astri knew exactly what to do, where to go, and how to respond. But that didn't make her any less frightened to be confront with the Dark Side. Nor was she less frightened to be trapped in this temple, coming under siege.

Master Farr did... something, Astri could tell, to rip the smothering darkness away from her. But it was all for naught, as a new presence took its place—an unmistakable chill that arrived with the most terrifying creature Astri had ever laid her eyes on.

"W-what is that thing? Why is is so cold?"

 

[Detritus Ren]

Location: Jedi Temple, Landing Platform
Allies: Olorion Fossk Vorik Orwrex
Enemies: GA, Grandmaster Valery Noble
Equipment: The Ren Lightsaber, Detritus's Orbalisk Armor


Detritus wasn't sure how the landing would go. They took an unusual approach with many others finding different ways inside of the Temple. The Knights of Ren on the other hand had a reputation to keep, they had to enter the Temple in style, and what better way than to land the Knights of Ren's stealth ship right onto one of the landing platforms of the Jedi Temple, of course it had to come through flying through the battle above, then being shot at and chased by X-Wings on the surface to pull the stunt off. Detritus's own vision had felt blurry at best. He rubbed his own helmet, trying to quickly regain his composure as through the window he watched squads of Temple security head towards the platform of which the Ren had to crash land upon.

He looked behind him to see his guest, Fossk already out of the ship, the impact seemed to take him right out of the Vulture and into the fray. Pulling his lightsaber to his grasp, he looked behind to see Orwrex's astromech, Dark was slammed all over the place, while the Knights, Vorik and Orwrex were still regaining their bearings on the situation at hand. Detritus felt empowered by the dark side, a wave flooded his system, the Orbalisks fed with newfound energy, feeding the dark side between host and parasites alike. Detritus's eyes blazed yellow as he tried to make his. Detritus would move ahead of his Knights, waiting for them to join into the fight. He could already hear the strokes of a lightsaber, the sounds of blasterfire, and the cries that followed from the slain.

Detritus would move, saber in hand and hungry orbalisks smelling the conflict. Detritus with a grunt would kick whatever what's left of the hatch right off the hinges. He can worry about repairing the Vulture some other time. Now, it was time to secure the Temple for the Dark Side. With the burst of dark energy did Detritus come rushing out, his crackling, orange blade ignited and soon tasted first blood with a slash across the chest of the first Alliance soldier he had come across. The next came by tossing a soldier off the platform with his freehand, the soldier screamed as he fell, and the battle persisted with more soldiers flooding the platform. Detritus would rush ahead to the soldiers, cutting several down, and pushing others back with the Force, trying to create much needed space for the Ren.

Orwrex and Vorik would be needed to gain ground. Detritus didn't wish to be bogged down on the outside, not when his prize was within the Temple. Detritus would fall back on the defensive, more squads were appearing, they needed to get through the soldiers, then it would be an easy task to navigate the rest of the Temple. "Knights! Secure this platform!" Detritus would shout to his Knights, as he felt both Orwrex and Vorik soon enter the battle, blasters kept firing and Detritus would continue to bounce off blaster shots, or redirecting them back at the soldiers, with his Knights together would the Knights of Ren and Fossk prevail. They wouldn't be denied on this day.​

 

[Katherine Holt]

Objective: Protect the Temple
Gear: Armour, Lightsaber, Besker Spear
Tags: Ellayina L'lerim

Katherine had flown the skies of Coruscant countless times since she had become a Jedi. And to see the skyline so devoid of its usual traffic, instead replaced by a mix of different starfighters clashing with one another.

It all felt wrong.

This was meant to be the heart of the Alliance, and yet a dark shroud was now looming over it. The Dark Empire was trying to smother the Light, and Katherine was not about to let that happen.

Initially, she wanted to take part in the defences within the Temple itself. But given her wings and ease of flight, it only made sense to have her positioned outside, acting as part of the overwatch surrounding the Temple’s perimeter. Although the Padawan did feel some measure of trepidation about flying today.

Between the incident of almost being possessed by her ‘mother’ and the present, Katherine had been plagued by a recurring nightmare. It started vague at first, with only the familiar sensation of flying, followed by the very apparent feeling of gravity kicking in. It had woken her immediately, but with each repeat of the nightmare, it grew more vivid. Right up until she could actively see herself flying, before a flash of warning struck her senses and she suddenly began to descend.

It didn’t help that the last nightmare before today, had finally revealed it to be Coruscant all along. But Katherine shook those thoughts aside, she had a job to do.

There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Dark Empire’s ISB would be in operation on Coruscant. It was a matter of where they could potentially pop up. Speculation had mostly been on the Senate, but ISB activity at the Temple wasn’t entirely ruled out. Thus, amongst Katherine’s duties overseeing enemy movements from above, she was also keeping an eye out for anything unusual.

Individuals on the ground were too small for the Padawan to directly identify, so she kept her focus on the transports themselves. She sighted one landing a fair distance away from the ground offensive. It wasn’t too much of an unusual LZ, but there was something about it that gave Katherine pause.

She swooped overhead, keeping an eye on the enemy as they advanced towards the Temple. Again, nothing seemed out of the ordinary as they moved. Wanting a closer look, Katherine dived down towards the steps of the Jedi Temple. She landed atop one of the towering pillars that lined the entrance, taking careful steps along the edge as she looked down.

 

[Romi Jade]

JEDI TEMPLE, COUNCIL CHAMBER

Romi stood still, unyielding. As Sinestra closed the distance, a glowing indigo blade sprang to life in a furious, humming blur, whipping up from beneath her poncho like a bullet -- In a span of a single second, a raging storm of blue and red erupts into being, blade meeting blade in a furious shower of sparks, with the Dark Seeress swinging hammer blows through the air with such speed and intensity, like an assault cannon raining down on her opponent's indigo sliver of a blade. The blade itself, unlike Jade's previously claimed color, seemed like an ethereal light that sought to push back against the encroaching shadows.

They were parallels in this moment -- Romi's calm, determined eyes reflected a lifetime of battles and hard-won wisdom. Sinestra's eyes were dark pits of anger and ambition. Two ends of a spectrum clashing.

She knew there was no swaying Sinestra from this path by talking her down, she was beyond that now. All that was left was...

Romi's defensive stance was one that shifts, her movements growing more fluid and strategic. She shook her head, "You haven't mastered anything yet, I'm all that stands in your way, and I don't intend on moving." Graceful and precise parries, quick evasions - wherever she didn't need to be, she wasn't and that let her hold her ground. 3...6....9 strikes all turned away or evaded with quick pivots.

After a brief, yet turbulent atmospheric translation, the towering spires and edifices of the New Jedi temple were within her sights, standing as decadent idols of heresy and putrescence. Silent, Electra resolved that she would strike them down, even knowing that her attempt to do so now might fail given the depth of the defenses surrounding the temple.

Electra locked onto the Council Towers and added her lasers to the disharmonious chorus of plasmatic hellfire, aiming to strike down each of the four towers with a salvo of surgical shots delivered from her TIE’s quadruple array of rapid-fire heavy laser cannons. The Chiss fired more than twenty bolts in total over three seconds, aiming for the foundations of the towers so that they might collapse wholesale onto the temple itself, with the aim of inflicting maximum damage in the process.

From where she was positioned she could see the incoming salvos. She used the Force sparingly, each application needing to be precise and well-timed. With a deft telekinetic shove, Romi created a momentary distance between them in conjunction with the bombardment, with the intention to throw Sinestra off balance, and send her stumbling backwards a bit.

Taking advantage of the break in live combat, she shifted into a predator of Sarapin. Romi sprang into the open space between them with a quick leap, blade flashing faster than the eye could follow, slashing wide and level with her indigo lightsaber. Her fading-blonde hair shone with reflected highlights as it lashed from one shoulder to another. Her blue eyes blazed with another sort of light, one that matched the feral snarl on her face.

---
Sinestra ​

 

[Raz Azule]

TAG: Cordelia Dimitte

The Mandalorian had dipped his beskar steel into the Jetiise’s neck, and raising if back out he felt the drug of bloodshed, his armor painted in the life matter of his enemies, he wiped fresh strokes on his chest armor when he heard footsteps and turned fo see a Young Girl, with Sorceror blade in hand. She was cute for an enemy. When she tried to make parlay, and appeal to his Ijaat (honor) he stepped closer with is blood stained blade. He looked at her and listened as she assured him she was not a Jetiise, which was doubtful due to her grab and weapon in hand, though they were normally honest to a fault.

“Children..” He paused as he thought of Foundlings, who were trained from walking to fight. The Jetiise did the same, though they were not as robust, possessing no beskar.

“If this is a Jedi trick.. witch.. I will skin you alive..”

A gruesome first exchange as he wiped his blade on his cape, and drew close to her as he sheathed his blade and pointed to the corridor further beyond,

“This is the way..”

 

[Vorm]

Long Live the Empire

Fighting: Allyson Locke
​

---

A click, and the old brute’s lightsaber spews crimson light down the damp tunnel. Lead by Kaleb Sunwalker , the Dark Side Elite prowled in the shadows and silence of the tunnels beneath the Jedi temple. The old brute ducked under a cobweb as he remembered the words of Ibaris Varanin .

“...kill them all.”

- I will… - He vowed, before the mission. When he was a child, the Order took his brother - but not him. He wasn’t strong enough, they said. He has come to see for himself this strength the Jedi kept from him. With craving for violence, he turns a corner, seeing Kaleb Sunwalker , Amena Kader , Sinestra and the rest of his group splitting off one-by-one. Each operative in unspoken understanding of what is to be done; bearing the profane blessing of their Emperor.

Nodding once to the others in farewell, the former Ren takes the derelict route toward the Room of a Thousand Fountains. With each step taken toward the lush gardens of the Temple, he felt a shade of dark trance envelop him; two powers forced on him, one from below ( Ibaris Varanin ), and the other, from within his mind ( Darth Vinaze ).

A line appears in the crushed gravel floor of the greenhouse. A growing sense of terror permeates the hall above. In the next second, the earth cracks along the fissure, spitting rock and dirt as a hole blows open. Birthed forth from the darkness, the terrorizer emerges, his lightsaber crackling ominously.
​

---

Sinestra Ibaris Varanin Kaleb Sunwalker Amena Kader Malva'ikh Dralidok Sahar Creuat ​

​

 

[Orwrex]

Location: Jedi Temple, Landing Platform
Brothers: R5-DK "Dark" Vorik
Enemies: Briana Sal-Soren Rik Perris​

Orwrex could feel his skull throb inside of his own mask. A gloved hand reached to rub the back of his head, he was slightly disoriented, and wondered if he even had a concussion. Orwrex looked around, he could see Dark trying to regain his composure, as for Fossk, Ren, and Vorik. They were all ready to engage the enemy hounding them on the platform. "Ughhh... Next time lets take a less crash responsive route, next time." He would say to himself, as he stood up. His legs felt a little shaky, but the empowering waves of darkness had put the Knight of Ren back on his feet within moments. He looked outside to see squads of Alliance soldiers advancing, no doubt these men were trying to stop anymore darksiders from getting inside. Nothing would impede the Knights of Ren.

Orwrex looked to Dark who had managed to get back onto his legs. "Beep... Beep...Dwoooo!" Dark would chirp at Orwrex. Orwrex shook his head in annoyance. "How was I supposed to know we were crash landing, i'm just here for the ride!" Dark looked as if he was putting his tiny arm tools to his sides, beeping and chirping in an irritated tone. "Beep! Beep! Beep!!!" Dark proceeded to start ramming himself into Orwrex. "Ow... Ow... Look if you want to hurt meatbags, there is plenty of them right out there!" He said holding his right foot in one hand, and pointing a finger outside. The astromech would stop trying to run into his master. He spun his head around to look outside. "See! now c'mon Ren is waiting for us! We gotta secure the platform, and plenty of meatbags to kill." Orwrex would say trying to persuade his droid that his chosen violence could be taken out in other ways.

Orwrex would grab the knife looking hilt of his saber. Already moving towards the opening that Ren had created. "Let's go get them meatbags!" Orwrex would say enthusiastically to his astromech, the response being a zapper spark from his stun ray. As if implying a threat to Orwrex, while also being excited to be a murder bot again. The Knight and Droid duo would enter out to see Vorik, Ren, and Fossk already cutting a path through the squads of Alliance soldiers. "Having all the fun without me? No fair..." Orwrex would grumble slightly. Before he made his move did he look to the droid. "Dark, go get em!"

The Astromech had chosen violence, out of it's ports came the stun rays, buzzsaws, and it's little arms. Dark went on ahead of the group charging right towards the squads of Alliance soldiers. "WeeeeeeeeDwwwooooooooo!!!!!" The droid would sound loudly as it spun it's head around in hopes of being more intimidating. Then the top port of the droid opened, and as Dark charged for the soldiers, a blue gas started to spray out. Dark was covered in this haze of blue gas, as the soldiers around the droid started to cough violently, several bodies dropping to the ground.

That's when Orwrex was running right towards the gas, his mask sealed in tight did he let himself become one with the mist. Taking his saber hilt, he used his hilt just as if a regular blade. The jagged blade would be plunged through each Alliance soldier, Orwrex moving swiftly like the shadow assassin as he was. With each stroke of the dagger looking hilt, did more Alliance soldiers fell to the ground. By the time the cloud of Nihil War Gas disappeared then the squads had been brought to heel by both blade and gas. Nothing would impede the Knights of Ren from taking what they wished, killed who they wish. Not on this day.

 

[Valin Zenth]

TAGS: Cordelia Dimitte Balun Dashiell Raz Azule

Valin, the towering watcher of the Jedi Temple, stood with the silent weight of a guardian. He loomed over seven feet tall, his muscular form wielding a massive electrified blade that hummed with a lethal promise. His appearance was as fearsome as his reputation—long wild white hair flowed like a battle standard, and his face bore the gnarled scars of electrical burns that obscured his blind right eye and trailed down his neck.

The temple, was now a hollow echo of its former vibrancy, served as an ominous reminder of the recent atrocities on Tython. Valin had felt the absence of the younglings acutely; their laughter and light replaced by a foreboding silence that spoke of a threat all too familiar. The Sith, those vile purveyors of darkness, had even dared to taint and corrupt the innocent—and right at the threshold of their sacred sanctuary following the attack on Tython.

Valin’s cybernetic limbs—a right arm and left leg—were not just remnants of past battles; they were symbols of his resilience and enduring duty. As news reached him of a dark presence attempting to ensnare the minds of young Padawans near the temple grounds, a righteous fury ignited within him.

He was well aware of how the Sith had targeted their young, and how seriously they took relocating the younglings from the temple. He had felt the sting of how empty their temple was in the wake of Tython. Even the necessary precautions they took to ensure no younglings would be left here in danger. He knew how it affected the young ones they moved as well. There was no reason for untrained younglings to be within the temple during this attack.

There would be no standing idle. Not today. With the indignation of a true warrior of light with in of the Force, Valin strode forth, ready to confront the enemy with the full might of his wrath and the unwavering resolve of the Jedi. He wouldn't stand by as the vile creature Cordelia Dimitte who took delight in trying to corrupt their young walked free.

"Halt!"

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

She sensed something. A presence she had not felt since...

No, he was gone. It was impossible — her senses were clouded, her judgement manipulated by the battle that raged on all around her. It couldn't be that she felt him here on Coruscant. Valery gritted her teeth, and still felt her muscles tensing. Her free hand had clenched into a fist and her other had tightly wrapped around the hilt of her lightsaber. She had struck him down that day, and she had felt his soul fading into the nether.

But not all of it.

Valery placed her free hand over her heart and with a deep breath, she slowly centered herself again. A part of Kyrel's twisted soul would always remain a part of her. She had tried to purge it, but it was tied to her own being in ways she still did not comprehend. But why did she feel it so vividly now? This hadn't been her first battle of significance since Exegol, and never before had it been nearly this intense.

It felt as if he was right here with her.

"Strange..." she muttered to herself, as she walked forward through the halls of the Temple. With a flick of the ignition switch, the violet blade burst into existence, and where she'd usually hide her presence, Valery allowed it to shine through the Force like a beacon, summoning all servants of the Dark to her like moths to a flame. Not far away, she felt Corazona von Ascania , Jonyna Si , Kaleleon and so many others defending the Temple. She knew Briana Sal-Soren was out there somewhere too, fighting to defend the Jedi and people of Coruscant.

Valery knew she could rely on all of them, but they could rely on her as well.

She followed her senses, her blade already drawn and ready for battle, and moved to confront this strange, yet familiar source of evil. It was evil, hungry and it wasn't alone, but the Force was with her today.

Detritus Ren Olorion Fossk ​

 

[Dedata | Celty Ree]

Spoiler: Equipment

Weapons	Armor	Gadgets	Ship/Vehicles
Sparti Short Spear	Dedata's MK2 Helmet	Modified Datapad running Deda-net	The Shadow Broker
Ianus Kopis	Dedata's outfit	Data spikes	Dullahan
	Leg harness and bags	'Janus' Slicer Gloves
	BURN CORPO SHIT Tanktop	Flow Vape

"Dee, how's that masking holding up?" the info broker asked as she sat in the lower levels of the Jedi Temple. The sensors and security systems were more likely to recognize the signature of young children rather than that of an adult. Even life detection sensors would be confused. Still, how often did one have the opportunity to scrape any data from this place? Their closed systems and the magic they wielded made breaching these places nigh impossible. However, the Dark Empire, as they called themselves—a clear rebranding of the lunatic cult of the Maw—posed a unique challenge, at least that's how they appeared to the woman.

"Yes, Dedata, there are no issues," the VI responded to the woman's question.

"And how far is everyone from my ship? Are they safe?" Dedata inquired.

"They are close, but Vreen has sustained an injury while protecting Giza before they left the shop. Additionally, Nebrosa broke into the back room, took the X-12 Sentry Blaster Mortar, and proceeded to destroy everything in there."

"Keep me updated on Vreen's condition. How about Celinie?" Dedata asked with concern.

"She refused to leave her equipment and is pushing it along with Vreen on a loader."

The woman chuckled at the thought, trying to focus on the lighter side and the quirkiness of her innocent employees. Dedata felt bad for getting them mixed up in her world. Today, they would learn so much about her, and neither of them was part of the Family. In a way, they were a different kind of family and had been loyal to her.

Dedata sat behind the terminal, recovering data from the Jedi systems onto her datapad. At the same time, her Dedata-net worked to corrupt everything as she downloaded it. Even as she glanced through the files, it was hard to ignore the building's vibrations. She needed just a few more minuets then it was working out how to sneak out without being noticed.

Neither the jedi or these dark invaders would look kindly at her presence here. The same time she hoped that the defence of this place would hold too. Sure her shop would need to be rebuild but even she would admit the Alliance was the better of many evils. "When they are safe in the ship dee. We move to stage two, regardless if I am finished here or not. Besides these damn invaders will pay for it, hell. I will make sure these freaks will know that pissing me off will cost them credits."

The VI's icon would shift and her turquoise eyes noticed it in the corner of her HUD. "Your already connecting to Moonvail satellite's aren't you. Pick out an expensive one for me then."

Mirialan - Celinie || Trandoshan - Vreen || Zebrak - Nebrosa || Twi'lek - Giza​

Stimky jedi: Valin Zenth Balun Dashiell
Very stimky other people: Raz Azule Cordelia Dimitte

 

[Raz Azule]

They made it through the corridor to an open area with debris and a Mando in black and jade armor. Raz placed his hand to notify Cordelia to stay back as he approached, there was a transmitter the Dark Mando was tinkering with, strewn before him was corpses of Jetiise.

The transmitter let a message play loud, “This Knight Juwana Var, there are some Younglings.. trapped.. underground.. please help!”
The Jade Mando turned and rose up,
“Hello Vod, like it? It lures Jetiise down into a kill zone. They cannot resist the urge to help poor innocents.”

Raz sighed,
“Where is the Ijaat in this.. Vod?”
his tone stern and denoting displeasure at the scheme.

The Dark Mando chuckled,
“You zealots and your honor codes.. the goal is to take the temple and wipe out as many Sorcerors as possible. Honor has no place on the battlefield..”

The Death Hand turned as he looked at Cordelia Dimitte As he unsheathed his Besckad,
“Step back..”
He then spun and slashed, The Dark Mando blocking the blade with his beskar fore arm.
“You fool! Our enemy is the Jetiise! Honor games can wait!”

Raz did not listen, he swept the blade around for another cut as the Trapper Mando grabbed his other arm and they entered into a grapple, the Beskcad was tossed, as The Death Hand made a fist and beat the Jade and Black helmet of the Naycijaat, the two tumbling on the ground as they exchanged blows, the Dark Mando releasing a stream of flame at Raz’s face, a rather desperate attempt since Beskar protects against the hottest of heat. It did briefly blind him, but he threw hus fists into the fire to make comtact wih his arm and pulled him to to the ground as he dug his red stained knee into his back, there was snap sound.
“Arggh! Gar Farrik! (you ..official SW expletive)”

Raz grabbed him with both hands and threw him into a puddle, and making a fist a wrist blade slide out from his bracer, the Naycijaat was crawling towards the Beskcad, Raz leapt and landing his beskboot on his back and thrusted his blade in his neck, the Dark Mando gurgled as he tried to take the handle of the weapon, blood dripping out a vent.

Raz dragged him away from the blade and flipped him over,
“You use traps because you have no honor! You have no strength! I shall break you into pieces to feed my hounds! You Naycijaat!”
Taking his blade he carved the Jade Mando, tearing off beskar and there was sound of carving, and when it was done, Raz stopped to get his Beskcad and rose in fresh war paint, he took off his helm, his blond locks dancing as he held the helm of the Jade Mando, life matter dripping from it as he shouted it,
“Kote at Kyr'am Gaan! Glory to Death Hand!”

 

[Valor the Forsaken]

NEW JEDI TEMPLE, CORUSCANT
Valor the Forsaken

​

Right on time.

A flight of New Sith Order Infiltration Shuttles tore through the tumultuous skies above Coruscant, narrowly evading enemy fire and the ominous storm clouds. Thunder and turbolaser blasts washed over the shuttles, dealing death to the invaders within. Packed tightly in the dimly lit cargo hold, the Sith Acolytes steeled themselves for the imminent clash as they descended towards the heart of the New Jedi Order.

Khronas, like his peers, did not fear death. Death was for the weak, the unprepared, and those who shied away from the truth of the Sith teachings. Logic dictated that death would not greet him today. His time had not yet come.

The surviving shuttles touched down on one of the New Jedi Temple’s external landing pads thirteen seconds behind schedule. The Siniteen grimaced, his natural timekeeping abilities more accurate than any chrono. Delays were to be expected in the chaos of war, yet they still threatened his plan. He would need to make up time.

The boarding hatches lowered and disgorged the youth Sith warriors. The Acolytes - New Sith Order members yet to be apprenticed to a Sith Lord - charged the Jedi defender en masse. Their Sith swords, poor facsimiles for the lightsabers they had were yet to earn, clashed with the blades and armour of the Jedi. Khronas followed his peers across the storm-drenched landing pad, though darted wide to avoid conflict. He needed to make up time.

Dozens of Sith trainees fell to the Jedi, another charging in for each that was cut down, emboldened by the battle meditation of Darth Vinaze . Their Overseers had promised glory to those who returned with a Jedi blade, dangling before them to promise of being taken as an Apprentice. Khronas ignored the temptation - the timeline he had set for being apprenticed had not yet been reached. He would advance his meticulously planned schedule through other means.

The Siniteen breached the blastdoor leading to the New Jedi Temple seven seconds behind schedule. It was an improvement, but there was still more time to be made up. He hefted his Sith sword and hurried down the darkened hallway, feeling the dark corruption of Ibaris Varanin washing over the temple.

Today, he advanced the Grand Timeline.

TAGS: Khronas

Valor crouched in the dim recesses of a shattered corridor, his senses heightened to the brink as he immersed himself in the sensory overload of the battlefield. The air was thick with the acrid stench of scorched metal and the sharp tang of ozone, punctuated by the intermittent hiss of lightsabers clashing with makeshift Sith swords. The rumbling echoes of distant explosions blended with the near-constant thrum of blaster fire, creating a sound of chaos that reverberated through the temple's ancient walls.

Valor's heart pounded in his chest, not from fear, but from a cold, calculating dread. He had no blade, only his wits and a deep, foreboding sense of the stakes at play. His turquoise teal eyes, vibrant against the gloom, scanned the area meticulously. He watched as swathes of Acolytes stormed the building, their movements both desperate and determined.

Amidst the advancing figures, Valor's gaze had locked onto one—Khronas. The Siniteen moved with a purpose that was chilling in its precision, sidestepping the melee and navigating through the debris-strewn hallways with an eerie calm. Valor, was no untrained youngling, had recognized the threat in Khronas's deliberate avoidance of conflict. Something about the Siniteen's manner suggested he was part of a larger, more sinister plan, and Valor's instincts screamed that it was something to be wary of.

As he pressed further into the shadows, attempting to mask his presence through the Force, a sudden, unexpected sound pierced the air—a soft, gurgling croak. In the oppressive silence of his hiding spot, it was startlingly loud. Valor's heart skipped a beat, his blood running cold, as he glanced down at the pocket of his tunic, where the oggdo bogddo spawn entrusted to him by Knight Ko Vuto resided. The tiny creature, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of their situation, had chosen this perilous moment to reveal its newly developed lungs.

The croak, innocent and out of place, echoed faintly down the hallway, a sign to any who were paying attention. Valor's body tensed, ready to move at the slightest hint of discovery. His eyes flicked back to Khronas, hoping the sound had been drowned out by the cacophony of battle. But in the shadowy depths of the Jedi Temple, where every sound could be a harbinger of death, Valor knew he had to be ready for anything.

In the snug confines of Valor's pocket, the little Oggdo Bogddo spawn seemed to be experiencing a whole world of discomfort, albeit silently in its own way. The arid, dusty air of the temple's corridor was a far cry from the moist, boggy environment it was accustomed to. Every croak might as well have been a lament about the dryness enveloping its delicate, amphibian skin.

As it shifted uneasily, its thoughts—if one could imagine them—might have centered around a longing for the lush wetness of its native habitat, the comforting squelch of mud between its toes, and the abundance of insects that made up its usual diet. Here, in the heat of a battle-scarred temple and surrounded by the metallic tang of conflict, the spawn's croaks seemed almost plaintive. "It's too dry in here," each croak might suggest, "I'm hungry," another would imply, echoing the small creature's desires for a return to a more suitable—and less volatile—environment.

"Shhhhhhhh... You're gonna get us killed!"

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Friend: Jenn Kryze
Unfriend: Jogon | Isar

"What about side by side with a friend, Corazona?"

Despite the way the Force rippled and distorted from so many simultaneous disturbances, Cora's smile turned a hair more genial.

"Yes," she answered, "I suppose I could do that, Jenn."

Empire TIE fighters hammered the temple from above with a series of airstrikes, and the building around them lurched and trembled. Cora caught her footing as a few tiles clattered to the ground from the high-arched ceiling.

"Everyone who can, Fight back with meditation if you can. Aid others to fight these effects. Aid all you can so that those who can fight won't be hindered."

Sentiments whispered themselves through the Force, and among the chaos, Cora slowed the pace of her breathing. Next, her heart rate. Her eyes fell closed and she opened herself to the Force, taking in the discord for what it was, observing it, acknowledging it. The Empire had called upon an ancient Darkness that dwelled deep within Coruscant, and if they could not stop it, then they could rise above it.

Joining in with Kaleleon , she felt each presence scattered around the grounds. Jonyna Si and Ryana mina at the temple steps. Gatz Derrevar on the same floor as them. Efret Farr and her apprentice, Amani Serys and Eloise Dinn further out in to the district. Valery Noble , her Master, preparing for an encounter. Just a handful of those she was most familiar with and able to identify, but there were so many more.

A network of Light, strung together, burning a bright path through the Dark tides that tried to swallow them. Perhaps their combined valor would reach the Mandalorian at her side, sensitive though untrained.

KRR-AAACK!​

The doors at the opposite end of the hall suddenly flew apart. Cora snapped her eyes open, serenity thoroughly interrupted. Surprise immediately warped into disgust when she caught sight of the Dashade, her upper lip curling into a snarl. First Ukatis, now Coruscant.

"You just keep turning up where you're not wanted."

He hadn't come alone. A contingent of stormtroopers stood behind Jogon, with one standing out above the rest. The black and gold color scheme along with the cape gave him an almost regal appearance – but she eyed the pair of lightsabers he'd drawn while beckoning her forward.

The statue of what she assumed to be a long-deceased Jedi had been aimed at Jenn, but she still felt the breeze as it surged past. Her gaze tracked back to the trooper, to the pair of blades he wielded.

"Those aren't yours, are they?"

A brush against the shield she'd raised around her mind had her eyes narrowing. So he wasn't strictly a stormtrooper, then. For now, her hackles were raised. Grave concern for Makko Vyres lingered somehwere at the back of her mind, worried over his state given that he was undergoing a procedure in the medbay. A medbay that would soon be overflowing, if not outright destroyed.

Cora unclipped a pair of sabers from her belt, fastening them at the hilt. Her saberstaff thrummed to life, one edge blue, the other green. The latter was a loaner saber after her primary weapon had been destroyed by Darth Malum of House Marr , and she hadn't been able to connect to the crystal as thoroughly.

Seemingly struck by a thought, she raised a finger to Isar.

"One moment."

Her finger lowered, hand fishing a small item from her pocket. A remote. Cora thumbed the button, and a series of small, controlled explosions detonated at the entrance from where they'd come, collapsing the wall and blocking their immediate exit.

KRAA-BOOM-OM!​

Jenn's Nite Owls would handle the next part.

 

[Tirin Raene]

Spoiler: Equipment

Weapons	Armor	Gadgets	Ship/Vehicles
Sparti Short Spear	Dedata's MK2 Helmet	Modified Datapad running Deda-net	The Shadow Broker
Ianus Kopis	Dedata's outfit	Data spikes	Dullahan
	Leg harness and bags	'Janus' Slicer Gloves
	BURN CORPO SHIT Tanktop	Flow Vape

"Dee, how's that masking holding up?" the info broker asked as she sat in the lower levels of the Jedi Temple. The sensors and security systems were more likely to recognize the signature of young children rather than that of an adult. Even life detection sensors would be confused. Still, how often did one have the opportunity to scrape any data from this place? Their closed systems and the magic they wielded made breaching these places nigh impossible. However, the Dark Empire, as they called themselves—a clear rebranding of the lunatic cult of the Maw—posed a unique challenge, at least that's how they appeared to the woman.

"Yes, Dedata, there are no issues," the VI responded to the woman's question.

"And how far is everyone from my ship? Are they safe?" Dedata inquired.

"They are close, but Vreen has sustained an injury while protecting Giza before they left the shop. Additionally, Nebrosa broke into the back room, took the X-12 Sentry Blaster Mortar, and proceeded to destroy everything in there."

"Keep me updated on Vreen's condition. How about Celinie?" Dedata asked with concern.

"She refused to leave her equipment and is pushing it along with Vreen on a loader."

The woman chuckled at the thought, trying to focus on the lighter side and the quirkiness of her innocent employees. Dedata felt bad for getting them mixed up in her world. Today, they would learn so much about her, and neither of them was part of the Family. In a way, they were a different kind of family and had been loyal to her.

Dedata sat behind the terminal, recovering data from the Jedi systems onto her datapad. At the same time, her Dedata-net worked to corrupt everything as she downloaded it. Even as she glanced through the files, it was hard to ignore the building's vibrations. She needed just a few more minuets then it was working out how to sneak out without being noticed.

Neither the jedi or these dark invaders would look kindly at her presence here. The same time she hoped that the defence of this place would hold too. Sure her shop would need to be rebuild but even she would admit the Alliance was the better of many evils. "When they are safe in the ship dee. We move to stage two, regardless if I am finished here or not. Besides these damn invaders will pay for it, hell. I will make sure these freaks will know that pissing me off will cost them credits."

The VI's icon would shift and her turquoise eyes noticed it in the corner of her HUD. "Your already connecting to Moonvail satellite's aren't you. Pick out an expensive one for me then."

Mirialan - Celinie || Trandoshan - Vreen || Zebrak - Nebrosa || Twi'lek - Giza​

Stimky jedi: Valin Zenth Balun Dashiell
Very stimky other people: Raz Azule Cordelia Dimitte

TAGS: Dedata | Celty Ree
Balun Dashiell Raz Azule Cordelia Dimitte Valin Zenth

Tirin moved with the fluidity of a practiced operative as he approached the woman at the terminal. Though he often operated in tandem with Valin Zenth, today they were executing separate parts of their mission, each playing to their respective strengths in different locations. Their partnership was a dynamic alchemy of intellect and might—though it was often a playful toss-up as to who was truly the brains and who the brawn, as each excelled in areas the other found challenging.

As Tirin neared, a shimmering force barrier sprang to life around him and the woman, enveloping them in a protective cocoon that diffused the ambient light of the room. His arrival was nonchalant, yet his presence was immediately commanding, an effect that was only heightened by the serious undertone of his greeting.

"Hello. You're drawing some attention your way, you know," he remarked casually, a slight smile playing on his lips as he stood beside her. His tone was light, almost teasing, but the underlying message was clear: they were now in this together, whatever this situation might entail.

 

[Makko Vyres]

TEMPLE

SHIELD | ARMOR | LIGHTSABER | DRONES | SHIP | PISTOL​

( Makko Vyres Makko Vyres ) One of the Armed Transports being dispatched to the storm covered jedi temple to attempt a rescue there as it broke from the temporary formation for a systems check. Having received a transmission for help with remaining patients and younglings inside as the vessel kept low and maneuvered between buildings to minimize its presence.

"You should be lying down."

The cold voice of the medical droid cut through the silence. Makko ignored it and clipped his lightsaber to his belt.

Even getting dressed had been difficult. The drugs used to rouse him from the anaesthetics made his head pound, but it was nothing compared to the white hot stabbing pains up and down his spine. Walking had been a challenge on its own.

"There is a ship coming to evacuate the vulnerable," the medical droid asserted. "Temple guards will be here shortly to escorts everyone."

Makko had walked through the ward on his way to collect the bag he had been dropped off with. Just a handful of wounded, one child. They had cleared the main spaces to deal with casualties. A jedi healer stood waiting.

"I'm going to go and fight," Makko said quietly. "Please don't try and stop me."

 

[Amena Kader]

VIPER
PASSAGEWAYS | CORUSCANT
ALLIES: Kaleb Sunwalker | Sinestra | Ibaris Varanin | Malva'ikh Dralidok | Aphon | Prowler | Sahar | Vorm | Creuat | @whatDSEamImissing? | DE
ENEMIES: GA
ENGAGING: Stennis Fel
GEAR: Armour | Lightsaber | Pistol | Vibroblades | Vibroknife | Grenade loadout

VICARIOUS​

It couldn't be.

The Face of the Dead emerged from the darkness of the passage ahead. In that moment that the Iron Mask unflinchingly met her gaze, complete and utter fear gripped hold of Amena's heart. The Dark cloak that Ibaris Varanin had donned them with, was stripped away as the Viper was confronted with what was probably her betrayal of the Oath.

The Iron Emperor had returned to exact retribution.

In her shock as the Dread Visage bore down on her, she stumbled back, narrowly missing the sweep of the leg he aimed in her direction, and was just in time to ignite her own blade to meet his to avoid dying at the hands of what could only be Wraith.

And argent met argent in a crash of sterling sparks.

"How - you're dead...." she gritted before thrusting against his blade to put space between them. She was still in shock but a lifetime of muscle memory was acting on her behalf as she stepped back into the hard stance of the Vornskr, purified blade humming in defence.

She may be one of the Chosen to do the current Emperor's bidding, but the Iron Will never truly left her. The crystal remained unbled, a clear testament that even in her current position, she still sought order.

Had she truly strayed from that path if he sought justice?

Her metallic hand tightened on her saber along with the organic one. No chance in hell was she ready to die yet. With her head slowly clearing, hazel eyes hardened. Her work wasn't finished yet.

She shot forward, an aggressive diagonal bind striking at him from overhead. If their blades met once more, she would ignite the second blade of her saber to twist it toward his neck. At the same time, a knee lifted slightly before her heel rammed down toward the inside of his knee for dislocation.

As quick as she engaged him, she disengaged again, dancing around him, head much clearer now. There was something slightly different about this supposed spectre that resembled the late Iron Emperor. As a warrior from birth, she noticed the little things in people's movements. There was something different in this ghost of the past.

Her double blade hummed, painting the walls of the passage in silver as she circled, coiled like a viper ready to strike when needed, senses wide open now.

"I'm not the traitor you believe me to be, Sire."

 

[Project Uriel]

Suitable Target Acquired, Please Proceed to Bio Droid Processing.​

Accessing Uriel Command Matrix:
Location: Temple Precinct Area
Direct Enemy: Silas Westgard

Registering Impact Events.

Wall. Wall. Wall. Desk.

The metal dreadnaught's body smashed through a damaged wall, then another, slamming into the next inner one and splitting a desk in two. Her rear armor registered a secondary stress fracture.

She stood with a heavy creaking noise, jerking her head as if clicking her neck. A memory fragment flickered across her datastream. An old, discarded piece of code came through her central processor, silenced tight in its memory chamber; a round symbolically replaced it in her gun's chamber instead, and her metal feet clawed back to her mission through the rubble.

Analyzing threat level: High. Classified directive accessed: Identifying possible targets for Bio Droid upgrade, awaiting analysis.
Suggested subroutine: Bolter round to the head. Implementing.

She fired through the hole he'd thrown her through. Silas had given her distance in heroically saving others, a fatal mistake against her heavy bolter. The HRD remained distant, keeping the necessary effective range for the large weapon, but her field of fire was limited inside the damaged building. Uriel solved this unfortunate dilemma by removing the building, shooting out the wall into chunks, and collapsing the front.

Screeching heavy bolter shots blasted into and out of the building, cratering the wall, then the precinct ground, and hitting any people too slow around Silas. She never relented, a perfect tool selected by the One Sith.

Analysing Uriel Unit:
Personal Energy Shield: 100%
A1-Ionsider Armor Condition: Dented. Minor Stress Fracture at Rear.
Armor Ionization Buffers Condition: Empty 0%
Damage to Combat Chassis Endoskeleton: 0%
Primary Systems Damage: None
Estimated Combat Capability 230% | Shield, Armor, Systems and Ionization Buffers

Full Loadout and Background NPCs

Spoiler

Armor: A1-Ionsider including Wristblades and Hud | MK5-Heavy Bolter (Hip Braced) | Grenades: 2x Frag (Belt) | 2x Cryoban (Belt) | 2x FEX-M3 Nerve Gas Grenade (Belt) | 1x Energy Shield (Stomach) | Model 31 Palm Stunner (Right Palm)| | 2 x MK2 Jack Knife (Hip) | Full Songsteel Quarterstaff (Back) | Barrata-SSG (Back) | Vibro Knife (Belt)

NPCs Background Only
Several Independent ARD-X-1's armed similarly, only with standard durasteel armor.
Several MK2 Biosect Droids Kethenite biological horrors.

 

[Efret Farr]

Malva'ikh Dralidok Astri Elyse

Efret froze for a moment longer than she should have, but then pushed Astri behind her own body. With Nirrah on her shoulder for this encounter of theirs, the Jedi Master could see Malva’ikh clearly through the mists he was generating. She was also able to note the self-inflicted carvings on his arms.

So he knew her name.

Even if she knew his, she wouldn’t have answered Astri’s question. Who he was wasn’t important right now. They had to get away. “Never mind him,” was her reply to the padawan instead.

She paused again, overcome by the Darkness as her gaze flitted to her dagger. Though it might have called her name mentally, she didn’t hear it; the tingling under her skin as if a thousand ants had burrowed into it was more than enough to communicate its horrific allure. After forcing herself to blink hard and break the spell, she nudged Astri back the way they had come. “Brace yourself.”

With a burst of preternatural speed, Efret and Astri were in another hall to the left of the one they had just been in. “Go first,” she urged as she shifted Astri to be in front of her. “Lead me. Don’t let go.” She signed with one hand as she glanced over her shoulder, expecting Malva’ikh to appear around the corner any moment. Efret could protect Astri better if she was in between the girl and the Dark Jedi Elite, but also the master did not trust herself to lead.

Following in someone else’s steps might keep her distracted. The fewer choices she positioned herself to make, the better the chance that she wasn’t going to let herself do something she’d regret because of the damned dagger.

Together, the Jedi fled towards the natural rock spire which the Temple was built around. With each step, the gilded floor began to feel more like the surface of a tar pit. “Stairs, Astri, the stairs.” Efret’s computerized voice had no urgency itself, but the frantic signs she made behind Astri’s back did. “Up one level.”

The flight of stairs led them into one of the Temple’s agricultural research rooms, set up in experimental rows of various crops and flowers. As they passed by a couple of grapevines, Efret pulled them both underneath. “Here. Get down.” She let go of Astri’s hand to place both on two nearby leaves. The Force flowed through her into the plant, causing its foliage to grow around them. She then reached down to switch off her interpretation unit.

Only then did her hand return to Astri’s. <Quiet,> she bade with her other.

 

[Jenn Kryze]

Beskar'gam
​

| Location | The Jedi Temple
| Objective | And then they fought, with bitter rage

Even as a wave of uneasiness hit the Mandalorian, twisting her gut and filling her mind with doubts, and fears, she refused to yield. From the moment she had taken the mantle of Alor for herself, great power and splendor had been hers - and the many trials she faced during her earnest (and sometimes desperate) attempts to bring her people to glory had only strengthened her will, testing her resolve time and time again. But Jenn had never been broken by those many challenges, and neither did she merely endure them; she learned from them, growing from a lost and angry girl into a formidable warrior - and a leader whose will was iron.​

​

The sense of weariness that accompanied her through the past few months all but left her now that she found herself blessed with the chance to stand and fight for something she believed in with all of her heart. As for the encroaching darkness? It was neither her will that warded it off, nor the surety of her fate - but the invigorating presence of the Light, made manifest through the Jedi who now stood at her side. Someone she could call more than even an equal, but a friend. The darkness lifted from her heart...​

KRR-AAACK!​

​

The doors would not hold forever, but Jenn only welcomed such an entrance. Better one big enemy that you can see than many small ones that you can't, as the old Mandalorian adage went; and those invaders were everything but subtle. Evidently, the snarling brute had some kind of history with the Princess - but before she could try and gauge him and his fellow servant of darkness (and make that sneering bastard choke on his words), the Alor was reminded of just how different fighting the Sith always proved to be.​

​

Different, of course, being another word for difficult. She didn't exactly get statues flung her way every day, and there was barely any margin of her, given how quickly her foe performed such an action. With a nimble jump and a burst of her jetpack, the Mandalorian soared into the air, barely avoiding the intricate stonework sent her way.​

KRAAA-BOOM!​

​

The explosion brought a ferocious smile to her face; with the benefit of preparedness, she and the Jedi had laid out a simple, but no less effective trap. The path behind the invaders was blocked, leaving them with but one choice; to conquer, or die.​

​

Unfortunately for them, the explosion was exactly the signal the Nite Owls had been waiting for, letting out a war cry as they slipped on out of cover with a deafening war cry.​

"KOTE!"​

Wrist-mounted missiles, whistling birds, and even heavier missile launchers were brought to bear, unleashing a devastating barrage of explosive onto the stormtroopers. There were but nine warriors of beskar, and yet they fought like lions, determined to make the enemy pay dearly for every each of ground; bedecked in the heaviest armour wrought by his Alor's hands, the veteran Henryk weathered a storm of return fire, allowing Karrys and Yngvi to snipe those among the troopers with the heavy weaponry to truly turn the tide. Ko'ren brought her rotary cannon to bear, singing a song of death and devastation, while brave Pollux descended upon the foe on wings of fire, his Ukatian blade left red with the blood of those who sought to desecrate the home of the Jedi.​

​

Jenn, for her part, squeezed the triggers on her pair of blaster pistols, hoping to keep her foe busy with deflecting her shots as she kept on flying through the air... until she reached the spot above him, returning the pair of weapons to her holster and drawing her lightwhip.​

​

When in Coruscant, do as the Jedi do.​

​

The warrior deactivated her jetpack, her controlled fall allowing her to land close to her foe; with but a flick of her wrist, the elegant urumi was brought to life, the Mandalorian sending its elegant flow of energy towards her foe. Oh, she had learned from her last fight with a Dark Lord of the Sith, and she knew just what she wanted to try this time; relentless aggression. A technique they often used themselves - which only made the thought of forcing a Dark Sider on the defensive all the more delicious to her. And with each flick of her wrist, each nimble motion that sent her urumi to crash forth, she sang. Jenn's voice had ever-been a beautiful thing to behold, if only thanks to her nature as Ersansyr; but she was more than merely a Songbird of the Sith. The rhythm of the song kept her grounded in the moment, pouring all of herself into the next second, the next strike, the next verse; with such effort, the darkness was more easily warded off, too.​

​

It helped, of course, that she found a profound meaning to the war chant in the circumstances she found herself in now.​

​

"Kandosii sa ka'rta, Vode an.
Coruscanta a'den mhi, Vode an.
Bal kote, darasuum kote,
Jorso'ran kando a tome.
Sa kyr'am nau tracyn kad, Vode an."​

​

| Friendly | Corazona von Ascania
| Hostile | Jogon Isar ​

 

[Ryana mina]

Tags: allies Jonyna Si Arla Rodarch Kaleleon
Enemies: Darth Centax Valkoryen SCAR Eiric Ardos Katia Alkas

Ryana tried her best to dodge blaster fire and redirect fire to imperials she could sense darksiders in the temple she wasn't able to help at the moment or the foreseeable future as she fought troopers to the best of her ability. When she heard the tie fighters coming in and started blasting she managed to wiggle out of fighting two imperials dodging their attacks crudly but effectively as she took cover behind a pillar as they made their run by.

As she caught her breath she noticed an imperial turn the corner stabbing the man watching him drop She felt nothing by the man's passing as she continued doing what she had done fighting imperials.