Invasion Dissolution of the Rim | SO Invasion of Sluis Van & Denab

[Raphael Gallustrade]

Raphael didn't know quite what he'd been expecting.

One trooper went down, as he blasted them with his blaster pistol, rolled and shot another. There were so many soldiers and ghouls... He rolled out of the way of another shot, opening fire with his blaster pistol. It was another one down, but he was starting to run out of room. The bridge was small, there weren't very many places to take cover, and he could only dodge for so long.

There were so many points of danger that the Force was throwing at him, and his lightsaber suddenly ignited, as he began with a soresu stance. One after another, blaster bolts deflected in different directions, as he started to fall back. There were more than he'd expected. He switched to shii-cho deflection, sending the bolts right back at the sith. Several were hit and they fell back a little. That's when it happened. The batlike sithspawn were first. He could feel a strange sensation in the Force to them. He held the lightsaber above his head to keep them from gettig to close, and blasted another soldier or two. Though, he couldn't deny that those bats like creatures did look quite fluffy.

Then the sky suddenly turned black, sound vanished. He looked around, a small breath kkept him froom panicking. There were many times where he'd been thankful for her lesson of survival. While he didn't want to use the dark side, what he'd actually taught him was how to survive, even in the worst of times. It was taking such a lesson and moving it in a way that he culd use, even now, though, that made the difference in knowledge and application.

He could practically feel the dark emanating, oozing, from... whatever she'd done. It felt... so very familiar. It was like coming home, in some ways. It was, perhaps, the worst thing about having recieved such training, the feeling and call.

Then, however, came the eyes. So many white specks enlargd and opened, showing eyes, that then began to ooze with black, that covered the ground. Immediately back hands began to reach at him. Still he breathed, leaping back onto a slightly higher ground, holding the bats at bay with his lightsaber held above him.

He wasn't injured, at least not beyond the bats that had scratched his head. He was in a fair bit of danger. He needed to think. He knew that she was far more skilled and better trained in the Force. His only real advantage was the strength that he'd gathered from his meditations at both Qi-Ko and Ambria's nexi. From what he was seeing, her own skill and repertoire had expanded, while his... Well, he'd not expanded early as much as he'd normaly wish, for something like this. Still, the longer that he put this off, the worse that it would be. Something kept bringing them together, either in conflict or as teacher and student.

As he began to move in the direction that these hands seemed more or less happy to guide him towards, he wondered what this interaction would be. He'd be prepared for it, nonetheless. Annoyingly, he could feel the excitement from seeing her again. He wondered if his mind would ever be fullly free of her influence.

Jax Thio Adeline Noctua

 

[Rajan Harpal]

FIRES OF SUSEVFI​

---

"If you knew who I was, you would not have gotten in my way."

"It doesn't matter if you're the Ghost of Bane himself. We do not back down, and we will not give up our home," Mirolai replied, as Empyrean blocked her blade. Rajan's strikes were momentarily halted as the Sith used an odd Dark side power against him. He felt fear tempting to bubble up inside him, trying to turn into physical pain to harm him. But Rajan was Jensaarai. He was no stranger to the Dark side, and each Defender was trained to the fullest to resist the pull of the Darkness. It was a tool that can be used, but it should only be used for the Light, lest one succumb to the control of the Darkness, like the Sith had.

Rajan used the Fear and converted it to power, ramping up his reflexes. He struck out with both lightfoils in a flurry of blows, hoping to catch Empyrean off guard as he struck out towards Jared Starchaser outside. Instead of hitting the red-armored Jensaarai, the dark cloud hit one off his own Sith followers.

Rajan had still felt pain from Empyrean's Dark Force attack, but he successfully shrugged off the brunt of it. "Your powers won't affect us like they would others. We remain in control. You have allowed yourself to be lost to the Darkness."

---

Darth Empyrean​

 

[Veylin Torque]

Wayward Children Privateering Company
Aboard the Dream Chaser

​

Veylin Torque felt somewhat like a rodent running at the feet of clashing Nexu.

The Dream Chaser spiraled around the transports it had been tasked to defend, trying to be everywhere at once as squadrons of fighters and fighter-bombers swarmed in and out of the area. Sixteen laser cannons blazed away, swiveling and firing at anything that came into range.

Had the Dream Chaser been alone, they'd have been ashes and debris. But the stars were thick with more than enemies. Allies had turned out in great numbers, fighting valiantly against titans.

On the bridge of the Dream Chaser, the only sound heard was the manipulation of controls, the flipping of switches, and the pressing of buttons. That, and the background sound of the ship's roaring engines, and the vibrations created by the force feedback upon the shield generators whenever an object or bolt of energy splashed against the field envelope.

Amidst this orchestra of quiet violence, Veylin contemplated the people fighting and dying all around him. Not the enemy, but the allies who had come here to help evacuate a world before it was consumed. They were not here for pay. They were not here for glory.

They were here to save lives. To give their lives in exchange.

It was noble. Nobler than what the Wayward Children did.

Veylin took a moment to think about that.

About the death of better men and women.

He reminded himself that his role was not that of the hero. He was a plumber. A taxi driver. A doorman. He needed to keep his crew alive and paid. Any other good he did was a bonus. And he could not afford to make noble sacrifices.

The Dream Chaser continued to fire, and heroes and villains continued to die all around it.

---

Mig Gred Gred Aloy Vizsla Vizsla Nyles Kote Kote Kaia Starchaser Starchaser Darth Athora Athora Django Parata Parata Amelia von Sorenn von Sorenn

 

[Michael Hightower]

​

---

Location: Space in the Surabi system near the Planet Susevfi

---

Tags:

Allies: Darth Athora

Enemies: Amelia von Sorenn | Veylin Torque | Mig Gred | Quauhtli Sacul | Aloy Vizsla | Nyles Kote

---

They said that power would attract power, at least that had laways been the case in Petty Officer Ian Guerny’s life. The grizzeld Vetran had seen it before had seen it all play out before so many times. One lord of the sith, one military fleet inevitably brought another in opposition. And no two powers could exist without friction, without that tension boiling over into some kind of conflict some kind of war.

It was the same now.

It was as if the presence of the sith fleet drew others like a lodestone, filling spaces with thousands of tons of metal aimed at eradicating them.

“You know, if you look at this from another way, we should be honoured that so many people are trying to stop us. They’re scared, of us, of the end of their petty wars and conflicts. I mean look at it, look how many Mandos have come scuttling out of the woodwork. What do they ever add to the galaxy but war,what good are they? When we’re done there’s gonna be no place for them and they know it, running scared.”

There was a half turn on the Flag Captain’s part, an icy look that quieted the engineer as he subsided, muttering to himself.

“I’m just saying...ya’know...”

The man’s voice trailed off under the red-haired woman’s icy gaze seemed to pin him to his chair, greying hair bowing over his console, the bridge silent for a moment before the soft whisper of voices rose to fill the void as everyone turned back to there work, leaving a startled Alexi confused about the altercation, about what had just happened. He knew that disrupting communication on the bridge was never a good idea, but this reaction seemed out of place, as if something else was going on. SOme history he wasn’t party to. Questioning eyes turned to face the senior communications rating next to him, an arched eyebrow greeted by a shake of the head.

“Naught for you to worry bout lad, it’s ancient history. We fought them before, laid waste to their homeworld too, but that was a different time, a different military. We weren’t naught but chaff for them lordies. The untold legions they’d throw at their enemies to be cut down so they could get to where they needed to be. Them light sticks are pretty but can’t do nothing if they can’t get close, so better to throw some of us under the bus as a meatshield. We made the galaxy shake we did, and some people like that there Petty Officer, they can’t but live in the past. Memories of greatness.”

Fingers flew across the keyboard in front of him as memories flashed in front of Greyson’s eyes for a moment before he shook his head, throwing away the recollection of a time when he wasn’t much older than the young’un infront of him.

“Aye, we carved up the galaxy like you wouldn’t believe but...we were the faceless legion. I saw some things back then but...we were a horde, an unstoppable wave but so split up, so fractured. You followed the commander, the lord who brought your loyalty. Then he came along, and them like him, they forged us into something more, a real military. Not loyal to a specific lord but to the military, the throne and one another. Still, some people can’t help but remember the good old days through a rose-coloured visor.”

The eyes he turned to the head of the bridge were filled with respect before he turned back to look at his young charge.

“I’ve gotta say, I prefer this, look at that, we got so many ships, so many fleets arrayed against us but no-one panicking, breaking off, everyone’s maintaining formation and waiting for us to give them commands. The Legate may come up with the plan but it’s upto us to make it happen, and it them who has to fight. He and themlot, they gave us something different, you didn’t know us back then but they gave us pride in ourselves.”

The man’s speech was cut short as the the gigantic ship facing them began to move, cutting through space as the smaller fleets that had jumped in began to engage the Sith fleet. Commands began to fly and suddenly the communications department was too busy for talk as the Legate’s voice broke through the hubbub of conversations that filled the bridge.

“Captain, move the Mons Mors forward to engage the Trade League’s dreadnought, all weapons to fire at range as they come to bear. Communications, orders to the fleet, we’ll split our forces here, the second destroyer division and 1st cruiser division will break off into taskforce 2 under the command of Commodore Thackerman on the Nether’s Voice. Their orders are to move up and engage the Alliance Fleet. Task force three under Commodore Stiles on the Archlight will consist of the first and third destroyed divisions, the second cruiser division and second carrier division. Task force three will engage the Mandalorian fleets.”

The man took a deep breath, eyes flicking around the screen that showed the various fleets manoeuvring. There was a risk to any strategy, especially one which allowed the various forces arrayed against them to fall

“Orders to the Commodores, both task forces are to fight holding actions, don’t let yourselves be dragged into a fight we don’t want. We’re outnumbered here, both by the number of enemy fleets and their variety, but I believe the First Legion will prove superior. Ships are to engage at range where possible until the Mons Mors or the Lord Admiral have dealt with their targets and can fall upon the enemy forces to shatter them. All ships are to launch fighters”

It was like a dance, a ballet, the ships shifting in their courses, tracks sliding past one another. It was a sign of their training, their discipline that the crews manning their ships could plot courses that slid through one another’s trajectories so smoothly, without crashing or needing to constantly readjust their courses. No panic or worry about being sent into battle against superior numbers, just the smooth efficiency of a well trained navy about to do battle. Slowly, the three groups split, the task forces taking position to cover the Dreadnought’s flanks as a lightshow of lasers and energy torpedoes flashed out to bridge the distance, connecting the fleets and their targets.

---

Spoiler: Fleet Composition

Fleet Composition​

Flagship (10km)

[ 100 | 100 ] Mons Mors

1st Battle Cruiser Division (10km)

[ 100 | 100 ] Nether’s Voice Monger Class Sith Star Cruiser
[ 100 | 100 ] Archlight Monger Class Sith Star Cruiser

1st Heavy Destroyer Division (10km)

[ 100 | 100 ] Svalinn Svalinn Class Destroyer
[ 100 | 100 ] Stormbringer Svalinn Class Destroyer
[ 100 | 100 ] Gladiator SD-9s “Khan” Sith Star Destroyer
[ 100 | 100 ] Raider SD-9s “Khan” Sith Star Destroyer
[ 100 | 100 ] Unbroken SD-584 “Leviathan” Class Star Destroyer

2nd Heavy Destroyer Division (10km)

[ 100 | 100 ] Dauntless Svalinn Class Destroyer
[ 100 | 100 ] Gracious Svalinn Class Destroyer
[ 100 | 100 ] Infernal SD-9s “Khan” Sith Star Destroyer
[ 100 | 100 ] Fortune SD-9s “Khan” Sith Star Destroyer
[ 100 | 100 ] Tidebreaker SD-584 “Leviathan” Class Star Destroyer

3rd Heavy Destroyer Division (10km)

[ 100 | 100 ] Vigilant Svalinn Class Destroyer
[ 100 | 100 ] Audacious Svalinn Class Destroyer
[ 100 | 100 ] Tyrant SD-9s “Khan” Sith Star Destroyer
[ 100 | 100 ] Omen SD-9s “Khan” Sith Star Destroyer
[ 100 | 100 ] Thunderbolt SD-584 “Leviathan” Class Star Destroyer

1st Carrier Division (3km)

[ 100 | 100 ] Void’s Grace Us-hrok Izai (Gesture of Promise)
[ 100 | 100 ] Adder Us-hrok Izai (Gesture of Promise)

2nd Carrier Division (3km)

[ 100 | 100 ] Thunderbird Us-hrok Izai (Gesture of Promise)
[ 100 | 100 ] Pathfinder Us-hrok Izai (Gesture of Promise)

1st Heavy Cruiser Division (4170km)

[ 100 | 100 ] Saberblade SC-07 "Lussk" Class Assault Cruiser
[ 100 | 100 ] Insurgent SC-07 "Lussk" Class Assault Cruiser
[ 100 | 100 ] Javelin SC-07 "Lussk" Class Assault Cruiser
[ 100 | 100 ] Triumph Drommund-Class Heavy Siege Cruiser
[ 100 | 100 ] Aurora Drommund-Class Heavy Siege Cruiser

2nd Heavy Cruiser Division (4170km)

[ 100 | 100 ] Challenger SC-07 "Lussk" Class Assault Cruiser
[ 100 | 100 ] Cataphract SC-07 "Lussk" Class Assault Cruiser
[ 100 | 100 ] Harbringer SC-07 "Lussk" Class Assault Cruiser
[ 100 | 100 ] Achilles Drommund-Class Heavy Siege Cruiser
[ 100 | 100 ] Gauntlet Drommund-Class Heavy Siege Cruiser

---

Spoiler: TLDR

Fleet split into three formations and moved to engage with combatants.
Formation 1 (Mons Mors) Engaging Speranza
Formation 2 Engaging GA
Formation 3 Engaging Mandalorians.

---

 

[Quintessa]

Location: Yumfla - Susevfi
Objective: I - Fires of Susevfi
Dialogue Legend: <<Ghoul-Speak>> │ “Galactic Basic” │ <”ur-Kittât”>
Tag: Darth Strosius Valery Noble

Time slowed to a crawl as Quintessa studied the masked Sith’s reaction to her words, having resorted to reading his body mannerisms rather than any kind of shifts that may or may not have registered in his facial expressions. In that, her frustration only grew more intense, causing her anger to simmer within her core as the dark side manifested a luminescent glint in her bloodthirsty gaze. In her mind, killing the Wonosa High Priest would not be overly difficult. However, she knew that taking such an action now, even in the midst of a battle that the Sith appeared to be winning, would not only be ill-advised, but might also earn her censure.

Nevertheless, Quintessa was right on the edge of doing it anyway. The tiny Asa’nyx gave a small, defeated sigh, then started to reach for her weapon, though she never came anywhere close to completing it or even reach the midpoint of the action.

Since that was when a telekinetic wave of force struck them both.

Small as she was, Quintessa was easily thrown off of her feet by the blast. Fortunately, her dark side-enhanced acrobatic talents saw her righted in mid-air, allowing her to land on her feet some distance away, with an additional hand on the ground to steady herself. That was when she looked up, at which point the familiar, yet hated figure that her eyes registered brought her anger to a head.

Valery Noble.

Right on cue, her memories of Uvatar II came rushing back. Her legs, hacked off owing to a mistimed jump. She was lucky then, that her God possessed such a mastery of cloning technology, as such an injury might have otherwise seen an end to her career as a Sith and perhaps, an end to her life as well. Instead, Quintessa had recovered and in doing so, she had overcome the worst prospects—that she might never run again.

And yet, in spite of the mortal terror, panic, and humiliation she had felt then, Quintessa allowed herself to embrace the conflicting wave of emotions as they came, so that she might harness them as a font of power. She quickly rose back up onto both feet, before calling Passion and Prejudice into her grasp and igniting both of the weapons, revealing circular rings of fiery fuchsia and galvanic cyan.

As much as she still wanted to kill the Wonosa High Priest, such a conflict seemed juvenile now, in the face of such a hated anathema.

<“Looks like playtime will have to wait, Ali.”> Quintessa hissed in guttural ur-Kittât. Then, the tiny Sith lashed out, heaving Passion towards the Jedi with all the speed of a bullet in flight from a little more than 18 meters away, the throw aimed in such a way that it threatened to decapitate the Sword of the Jedi outright.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Pulsiva Bodysuit
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • FAE/M-02 Energized Gauntlet Vibroblade (2) - L/R
  • Force Artifacts
    
    • Spirit Anchor
    • Amulet of Many
    • Jin'Wodasir (2)
  • Utility
    
    • Supernal Infusion
    • FAE/U-01 “Serenity” Anti-Signal Field System
    • Poison Vials
• Dancer’s Wheels
• Passion and Prejudice

 

[Mig Gred]

Spoiler: Music

Fleet: Aranar-class Orbital Defense Battlecruiser (Aranar 92/100), 2x Dragonsnake-class Picket Cruisers (Blixus 80/100, Loth-Wolf 90/100), 8x GF-4 Stinger Multirole Fighter squadrons, 4x Viper "Blackbird II" Special Operations Interceptor squadrons, 4x Directorate "Ghost" Viper Interceptor squadrons, 6x HA-3 Hutthound squadrons

Evac Fleet: Various freighters, heavily modified slavers ships, and transports

Mig head tight as fire began to rain in, and the soon Sith ships began to approach from both sides. "Divide flak fire, and perp our other broadside for fire. Show them this girl's got more firepower." At his words, the other broadside of the Aranar began to open up on the approaching portion of the main Sith fleet. Everything at this point would begin to fire, the focus on any ships moving to attack any escorts from one side, and the main Sith fleet coming to fight again from the other. In Mig's mind, this wasn't Concord Dawn. No trick weapons made by demagolkas that are just as devestating to it's own side. Just a good old fashion brawl. Talthix had gotten to work making sure the flak cover was effective, and making things more difficult for the Sith fighters.

The Mandalorian fighters meanwhile seemed to be in a mad dash. Stingers were proving their name, with the clan able to bring even more to bare than their old TwinTails, and the Ghost Vipers quickly engaging their boosted engines to chase down Sith fighters that wanted to take escorts ships as a prize. The Hutthounds were only now taking off, laden with heavy torpedo modules. Meanwhile Blackbirds joined the Stingers in engaging in any dogfights.

The battle was really on now.

Spoiler: Fleet Actions

• Aranar opens fire from both sides.
• Fighters engage in dogfights and chasing down Sith fighters after evac ships.
• Hutthounds begin launching.

Darth Athora Django Parata Amelia von Sorenn Michael Hightower

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
ALLIES: OPEN
ENEMIES: Ruus Kote (directly engaging)

"You don't call...you don't write...I thought you were dead. Please tell me you aren't here for the reason we both know you are."

Gerwald stopped and flashed his former employee a familiar wolfish grin. It had not been since their battle with the Maw on Rhand that the pair had worked together. It was one of the few times Gerwald had relied on the dark side to save countless lives. While he believed in balance the path and journey the former Lord Commander had taken led him closer from the neutral position he had once held.

In truth, Gerwald had long abandoned that position. His loyalty to Srina Talon found him following her to places he never thought he would ever be. The torture he had suffered at the hands of Darth Prazutis had made the wolf develop a hatred for the sadistic and twisted acts Sith could be capable of. Using the dark side was one thing, but following the Sith, becoming one…

…it had started long before Prazutis nearly killed him. It began when he met Naedira and opened himself up to her philosophy. She had been the first to teach him the Sith Code. Srina had been the one to cultivate it.

“Dead… no. Lost maybe.”

Perhaps Ruus would know what the wolf meant by that. After the Confederacy fell many had been displaced. Gerwald had spent time on Stewjon seeing to their safety while others traveled and rebuilt in the far reaches of wild space. Gerwald had tried to follow, but it had not been his home. The pull to keep his promise to Naedira would not allow him to settle.

It had led him into the arms of the Sith Order.

Why?

Srina Talon was there.

His eyes fell to where Ruus’ eyes were meant to be.

“You know why I am here.”

Gerwald took a step forward.

“Are you going to try and stop me? We do not have to be enemies today.”

 

[Astrid pentoghast]

Location: Dagobah temple
Objective: kill the jedi
Tags: Rhiza Dural Annika Starfire

Astrid used another nightsister spell quickly chanting as rhiza blocked her blade as astrids feet became locked to the ground through magical ichor to give her more leverage against rhiza when rhiza blocked. With her lightsaber so when the jedi tried to force push the witch away failed propelling rhiza away. Astrid smirked at the comment about her being a witch "I'll enjoy turning you into a soulless zombie I may let your soul rest in peace" she said as she stopped concentrating on the nightsister spell that secured her in her current position.

Aa rhiza drew her second weapon Astrid smirked the jedi charged trying to aim for astrids own lightsaber The weapon Astrid hated letting it get destroyed as Astrid teleported behind rhiza as Astrid Conjured a force blast of darkside power aimed at rhizas chest/upper back area.

 

[Elise Ahana-Gwyneira]

Equipment
Armor	Beskar'gam.
Melee Weapons	Tar'Nau, Bes'manda Beskad.
	Copad'kal, "Ambition", personal Mandalorian Kal.
	Kada'yr, Mandalorian Kal.
	Breshig War Forge Consolidated K-02M Kal.
	The Royal Dragon, lightsaber.
	Entrenching Tool.
Pistols	DXN-57 Breachlight blaster pistol.
	KSTR-20 Borealis Heavy Blaster Pistol.
	ENCL-21 Ra'ntisr Heavy Blaster Pistol.
	Mandalorian Ripper Pistol MK.II.
Other
	Mother's Root seeds [In secured bottle stored in belt.]
	Ground Mother's Root toxin [In secured bottle stored in belt.]

Squadron Text Colors:
- Elise Vizsla: Red.
- Olivia Vizsla: Crimson.
- Ori'ramikad Rodarch: Lime.
- Choruk Ordo: Light Blue.
- Vhekad Rook: Brown.
- Dinui Krayt: Orange.
- Azalea Rodarch: Pink.

Darion Kithero

Cyan colored text indicates an illusion.

Kark!

Elise was forced to dart. She leapt out of the way as flame erupted out. Her opponent had figured out that an attack was coming, and he acted well in response. Elise's red kama flowed as she de-cloaked, her Mandalorian dagger still in hand. Beneath her buy'ce, she grimaced. Of course things could never be too easy.

Meanwhile, the undead crawled up the sides of the buildings, clamoring to find the snipers in their perches. Dinui opted to put her rifle away, instead favoring a light repeating blaster and unleashing hell upon the zombies climbing below her. As she mowed down the hoard coming for her, Choruk activated his jetpack and flew to a higher spot to continue sniping from there. The rest of the squad was holding their own, Ori was calm as always, firing his Mandalorian Ripper rifle with skill and accuracy. Vhekad was eager, switching between his vibrohammer and his light repeating rifle to get the job done. Azalea was struggling more, as she frequently had to weave out of range as she fired her Mandalorian Ripper pistols. Dinui took out the monkey bar swinging zombies after her. She reloaded her rifle before leaping down to join the others, covering Azalea where she struggled. Meanwhile, Olivia remained stealthed as she watched Elise's battle, more concerned for the true nature of her mission than her squad mates...

"A bold move. Though boldness does not equate to shrewdness."

Elise put her knife away, reaching for the pistols on her hip. <"I don't know what you're thinking, sending this hoard towards the refugee camp. It's a vile and cowardly move. I'll give you one chance-">

She drew her Borealis cyro-ban pistol, pointing it at the commander, <"Call it off.">

 

[Darth Carnifex]

His eyes tracked her movement as she leapt from the tree, the blue flame consuming it in a matter of seconds. What was truly strange about the fire was that it exuded no heat, but rather seemed to be the absence of heat; devouring all energy as it burned. What remained of the tree toppled over into a heap of entropic embers, moisture evaporating within the dirt as the last remnants of flame burnt out.

"Destiny calls, Locke, will you answer?"

He didn't draw His saber just yet, He was waiting. She again vanished into thin air, the Force cloaking her against the muddled backdrop of greens and browns. But the ground was soft from the moisture of the humid environment around them, her own weight would betray her. Still, she was quick and agile, and fired off a shot before He could do anything to stop her. The explosion was loud and close, heat rising up with the advent of flame to scorched the air with bright yellows and oranges. The Dark Side leapt to His defense, sparing Him the worst of the blast, and His armor handled the rest.

The time had come for extreme vigilance. This was no mere Jedi, this was Allyson Locke; the Shadow. His perception swept out from His body like many thousands of arms, reaching across space to tap into a greater spatial awareness than was afforded His physical senses. Those same senses rang out in alarm as He pivoted on the spit, the Shadow's reinforced bow striking the sides of His knees rather than their back. His hand lashed out, hilt slipping comfortably in His palm as a pillar of manifest sunfire snapped forth from the emitter.

He swung to injure and to maim, but withheld the killing instinct that often animated His actions. He would want to disarm Allyson Locke, literally if necessary, before He would seek to end her life.

Allyson Locke ​

 

[Nathan Bloodscrawl]

(THIS plays)


904 and 424 knew only chaos as Commodore Helix tried to kill them all.

His DC-15A fired again and again, his strength barely enough to control the rifle on Semi-Auto as he fought back the enhanced Droid hoards. The only saving grace was that even after so many centuries, his rifle's notorious ability to destroy Droids remained almost as reliable as ever. There is a reason the DC-15A is a Fett Clone's best friend.

424 had fitted his own 15A with a makeshift sling and used the tripod as a makeshift foregrip as he fired on full auto. He saw his clone brothers fall all around them even as they fought to the death against the droids, consumed by blue flames or hails of blaster bolts. Three gunships dropped from the sky in seconds, exploding across the swamp, though the Clone Pilots on those ships, not fools by any means, had tried to steer their crashing vehicles into the enemy tanks. But another crashed, this time very close by, with an impact that threw both off their feet. His suit felt like an oven from the ambient temperature, and he struggled to breath as yet another gunship went down, but not before using it's missiles and composite beam laser ball turrets to swat down a massive amount of missile fire and kill a dozen or so of the vulture droids.

904 got out his comlink.

"All remaining gunships! Weave through the trees!" he ordered, coughing.

"ARE YOU MENTAL?!" one of the pilots screamed.

"You're too exposed!" 904 shouted.

"We'd barely be able to maneuver!" the Pilot shouted back.

"You'll last longer using the canopy for cover than you will above it. And you MIGHT just take a few of those starfighters with you!" 904 barked. "It's your only chance!"

The gunships that remained, eight in total, all dived into a partly burning canopy, scratching their hulls, each second of desperation to prevent the starfighters above from getting a lock on them made them go as fast and as low as they dared, zig-zagging through giant gnarltrees partly on fire as they opened fire on the Droid's below, especially the B2H Droids that were slaughtering clones left and right, heavy and large, and next to impossible to miss with their gunships Anti Personnel turrets, while The Composite Beam gunners used their exceptional Eyesight to start dead-eyeing enemy starfighters, even as their pilots used every desperate trick in their arsenal to stay dodging and weaving through the Banestrike tanks attempts to destroy them through the trees, railgun fire ripping through trunks like they were paper.

The giant droids waded through flames, their rockets and repeaters shredding through clones who fearlessly attacked it. That was probably the Clones biggest strength at the moment other than their guerilla tactics...most soldiers would have been utterly panicking. Instead, for every loss, every setback, many of the Clones on the ground, reacted rationally and intelligently.

When they started loosing Droidekas, the Troopers formed in groups of three, set their weapons to burst, and alternated their fire as they carefully engaged Helix's Droidekas, flanking them as it focused on the Droideka it was attacking, and whittling it's shield down with their ion bolts just enough that their own crappy Droideka managed to break the shield and damage some of the newer model internals, while other Defense Troopers, far more savvy, waited for it's shield to lower when one tried to move and then unloaded, burst one or two into flames, even as dozens of their own got turned into paste by the fearsome weapons the newer model carried. One of the older Droidekas in a rare fit of inspiration rolled at top speed on a small natural hill in the swamp, flying off it and literally hitting the ground rolling onto a small patch behind one of new Droidekas and unloaded on it from the side while the clones overwhelmed it's shielding from the front with their ion bolts, rapidly destroying it

But the radiation from the Phosphorus substance was starting to get to the Clones, and only frantic anti radiation medication from medkits, rapidly being used up in the madness, kept certain vital squads going, while others started to collapse from sickness. Something needed to change, fast. Every Defense Trooper knew it as they faced Helix's legions.

They needed to be pretty much suicidal if they wanted to slow this army.

904 struggled up as one of the B2H Droids noticed him in the inferno. 464 engaged the heavily armored Droid at it's joints just as the thing started to fire, because logically it stood to reason the joints, while definitely armored, had armor that was less thick than what was around it.

464 was barely able to start cracking it before being forced to run for his life as it began firing it's twin repeaters and rockets.

The cacophony of explosions and blaster fire that chased 464 was a storm of annihilation that melted dirt and splintered trees and flash evaporated puddles, inferno streams erupting from it's arms to chase 464, distracted only a moment by 904 burst firing at it's head, diving afterward to avoid repeater fire. The momentary distraction saved 464's life as it's rocket targeting caused one of its launches to go astray, a rocket only managing to catch 464 at the absolute edge of a blast, which still knocked him to the ground.

464 turned around just in time to see it readjust one of its weapon arms for him.

Heavy bolts from a salvaged E-Web turret being fired by 904 slammed into one of it's rocket launcher ports, the intense energy causing one of the rockets to detonate within the barrel just as it launched.

A powerful explosion of blue phosphorus within the Droid momentarily staggered it, the substance doing all sorts of ongoing havoc to its internals as it as 904 abandoned the E-Web as it sent a powerful stream of flames where he had been previously, engulfing the E-Web in fire.

464's last tossed cold grenade sailed through the air, perfectly timed as it detonated on the still active flamethrower, super freezing the outer casing, then being hit by 464's rifle fire.

Half the Droid's Torso was covered in flames as it lost it's arm in the ensuing explosion, but it still kept coming, it's malfunctioning rocket fire splintering tree trunks and quaking the ground close by, angrily swiping at them with it's remaining arm

"IT WON'T FETHIN' DIE!" 464 shouted as they ran from it, the Droid now having gone berserk and actively chasing them

904 turned around and poured fire on the gaping hole in it's flaming torso, both of them outflanking and further aggravating it's internal damage as they shot it again and again.

"I'm almost out!"464 yelled.

Sprays of fire from a continuous beam greeted still active launchers, energy traveling down launch tubes just as they armed.

The top half of the Droid exploded as its own payload was detonated from within. It toppled into a heap and did not move.

904 turned, saw a crashed LAAT, a heavily wounded Clone Trooper in one of its ball turrets coughing blood. 904 and 464 ran to him, and tore open the smashed turret compartment.

"Thanks, Brother." 904 said.

The Clone couldn't respond, too injured. He fell dead a moment later.

"None Shall Pass." 464 said quietly, clutching his side. Then his comlink went active and he hit the receive button.

"Sir, our forces report our heavy weapons personnel are under attack everywhere by Commando Droids. " said the Clone on the other end. "We've lost eight so far at last count, along with their squads. They're using Holoprojectors to get close."

"Tell all your boys to spread the word. Start asking for response phrases. The ones that were ingrained into us during training. If they get the authentication wrong when challenged, blast 'em. Check their shadows. Holograms can hide a lot but not the actual shape."

464 advised, his helmet and armor heavily damaged. 904 already saw signs of Radiation Damage on exposed patches of 464's skin. He almost certainly had it himself.

"Anything else?"

"The tanks are massing up, advancing over the mines. Gunships are engaging artillery."

"Copy. Stand by. Out." 464 grunted, turning to an exhausted 904.

"We are being overwhelmed at all fronts. I estimate several minutes or less before we lose the swamps." 464 said.

"It's time to trigger Phase Two. It's the only way we can still buy time for the Dagobah Temple," 904 replied.

"Very well then..."464 said before getting back on the comlink.

"All Clone Forces...Dew it..." he said.

"Get ready. This place is gonna turn into an even bigger hell hole than it already is..." 904 warned.


Meanwhile...

Every time the AV-7's fired, a squad of Droids fell.

Just four and a surviving bunker had helped to choke the entire advance of the Forces of Commodore Helix , flooding the air and ground with concussion rockets, and grenade fire even as Defoliators exploded on the ground in the distance, wiping out whole squads at once.

As the gunships had advanced, the gunner, having the same excellent sense of Marksmanship with the Artillery that he did with the rifle, started dead eyeing the Gunships and bombers. The gunships were tough, and while he took out about half a dozen bombers, he only managed to down two gunships after about four our five shots a piece before he had to consider bailing, as the next two on their way, would get here.

The second bunker was running out of rockets. The whole swamp had turned into the medical ward attack from Aliens, what with the Commando Droids running around, acting all superhuman as they diced apart enemy commanders, though the Clones were taking heavy advantage of the terrain luring some of the bigger Droids, such as the B2H Droids, into covered over pits of quicksand they had marked out covertly earlier, fading into the fog, even taking advantage of some of the less intense flames to confuse targeting sensors to line up better shots at weaker droids, some of the surviving Droidekas on their side aiding to cut down weaker enemy droids that seemed to be coming from everywhere.

One artillery cannon met total annihilation from an endless barrage, Clone survivors savagely defending even the wreckage even as they were cut down themselves eventually.

The Artillery cannon directly ahead of the droids managed to blast apart a few more air clusters of Droids before it's operator bailed to survive the incoming barrage.

And then all hell broke loose.

The set charges on the very large and tall trees burst, toppling them onto tanks, while charges set ahead of Helix's all but unstoppable army buried at select points burst and created large sinkholes in which whole squads of droids fell into. The Clones who had survived the very edge of this event formed up on the fallen trees, now at a naturally elevated position. even as strafing runs from their hyenas continued to kill whole platoons.

That was when the buried EP-750X Warheads they had had their personnel frantically bury while their brothers died to buy them time were set off. Most of the snipers in the trees were dead by this point, either killed by by missile barrages, phosphorus, or strafing attacks from above. Almost all of the gunships had been shot down.

The buried Droid Buster warheads went off right in the largest mass of tanks, even as Clones continued to be slaughtered, though their almost total fearlessness allowed them to kill many droids before falling.

That was when the whole swamp where the droids were most heavily massed came under attack from above, disruptor cannon fire from above blasting away at tanks,

The Wild Knights of the Trade League, in stealthed Starfighters, had arrived. Three in total, but as soon as their strafing run was done, they began blasting Condors out of the sky, two focusing on starfighters, one focusing on the gunships trying to target the last two artillery cannons. The Clones had no time to celebrate, for the loss of five hundred and eighty clones total in spite of their heroic (and highly, highly organized) defensive retreat that had felled many droids even while their own numbers were whittled down gradually meant that every last clone remaining was in truly desperate straits...

Commodore Helix

 

[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Fires of Susfvi
Equipment: Lightsaber, Sword, Dagger, Robes
Tags: Valery Noble / Quintessa
----------------------------------------------

His masked gaze narrowed at the speedster for a moment as she walked beside him, with the gall to mock him on top of it. Given her height all it would take was one quick flick of his wrist to cleave her neck from the rest of her body and rid himself of her annoyance. There was the chance that such a strike would fail due to her incredible speed, one that even managed to surpass his own enhanced senses, but the temptation to attempt it was hardly dulled even with that in mind.

Darth Strosius kept moving forward whilst pretending to ignore Quintessa all the while, idly trying to distract himself from her probing remarks by imagining her body strung up on one of the lampposts that they passed by. A fate that all Kainites and their wretched master deserved. And one that the little gremlin at his side seemed intent on being the first subject of if she kept up her incessant pestering.

When her tone grew genuinely aggressive he glanced back down at her with a raised eyebrow, and expression that quickly shifted into a glare as she all but berated and shamed him. He could ignore and bear many scathing remarks, but he would not stomach insults from a diminutive Kainite of all things. Time to find a good lamppost then. "Well if you want to ask her that question yourself..." He pivoted slightly to face Quintessa, raising his blades as his mask glinted in the light of the besieged city. "I'd more than happy to send you-"

His venom laced words faltered for a moment as he caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye, his head cocking to the side just enough to watch a familiar Jedi hit the ground and send both Sith flying through the air. Kainites and Jedi banding together to ruin his day. How typical. The masked man twisted his body through the air and stabbed his lightsaber into the street, holding on tight to stop his momentum as he feet hit the ground. He was thrown back a bit thankfully he was nothing if not quick to recover.

Darth Strosius pulled his lightsaber from the ground and rolled his shoulders as he adopted an aggressive stance, glaring daggers at the Jedi. "I really should have just killed you back on Felucia to save myself the trouble!" This would make the third time he had crossed paths with this particular one and he intended for it to be the last. There would be no running this time.

He glanced back at Quintessa as she spoke up once more before hurling one of her weapons at the Jedi, idly tracking the path of the chakram as it soared past him for a moment before his gaze returned to his enemy. Well, to one of them. In any other circumstance he'd love nothing more than to sit back and let his two foes fight amongst themselves before coming in and ridding himself of two annoyances in one fell swoop, but unfortunately it seemed as though he would not have that luxury. Besides Kainites weren't any good at killing Jedi, otherwise the Sith Empire would still be standing.

In order to capitalize on the thrown weapon, Darth Strosius advanced in a flanking maneuver towards the Jedi. If he could close the gap fast enough and aim his strike well then there was a chance that the Jedi would have to choose between dodging or deflecting the chakram and holding him off. Either way there would still be one attack coming towards her when she would already be occupied with another. With that in mind he sprung forward and brought both blades up in a slashing motion towards her side when he moved in close enough for a strike.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

"Last I recalled, all you do is run whenever we meet," Valery quipped at Darth Strosius after she rose back up from her explosive landing. The blast had created some distance and announced herself, but she wasn't too surprised that it hadn't done much more than that. While caught up in their bickering, they weren't untrained Apprentices who were easily distracted even in combat zones like this.

This fight was going to be a far more intense one.

"Perhaps your friend might want to be careful. Before she ends up having to fight alone," Valery added while she held her two lightsabers at the ready. The two Sith Lords had made it obvious that they didn't trust each other, and without her interference, they likely would have fought. Did their shared hatred and history with her outweigh the anger that had been growing between them?

With her words, she hoped to spark seeds of doubt to turn them against each other.

Quintessa was the first to make an aggressive move, and threw her lightsaber chakram into a spinning arc straight for her neck. At the same time, Darth Strosius moved to flank her, and in that very moment, time stood still. She knew what they were doing, lashing out at her at once from different angles. They hoped to exploit their numerical advantage, and it was the right thing to do, but they had also created distance between themselves.

Valery waited as a result and assumed a defensive stance, her two lightsabers held around waist level and the blades crossed inwards to cover herself. The Chakram was upon her not a second later, and so was Darth Strosius. His lightsabers swept up towards her side, aiming to lash out right as Quintessa's weapon made its deadly arc for her neck.

Then she phased.

Where Darth Strosius would have expected some form of contact, he instead swept through air and passed right through the Jedi Master, hopefully bringing him into the arc of the Chakram and at a loss of balance. Valery moved at the same time, bringing herself away from the spinning weapon and through the Sith Lord's body, before her physical bonds restored and it was her turn to lash out. She didn't hold back and hoped he had lost his footing, as she exploded towards him to close the distance. Both her blades slashed towards his rear with a Vornskr's ferocity, attempting to wreak havoc on his back and cut him down while he was separated from his ally.

Darth Strosius Quintessa ​

 

[Mia Monroe]

Liorra​

Mia wasn't here just because of the state Liorra had returned to her from Dxun. Getting beat was part of growing, it was part of developing as a warrior. What concerned her was that bitterness and anger that lay in the loss. she didn't want to point out that Mia had gutted plenty of sith with a beskad, that if she had stayed, she would have died. And Mia wasn't sure how she would handle that. Little Liorra had waltzed into her lief much like Elise had, utterly unexpected yet drawing from her the maternal instinct she had been lacking with her own child.

Mia let out a sigh as Liorra bounded away from her. "Ad'ika..." she shook her head following after Liorra at a calm pace. she'd find Coren Starchaser when this was all done, she was pretty sure they would need a drink for one, and for another, she needed to know what had happened to old circles. Catchign up with the girl, she caught her arm "Liorra, I need you to pause for a moment." she placed both hands on the girls shoulders. "You are not going into this fight alone. Today we fight together, I watch your back, you watch mine. No more running off to try and prove something. We are stronger together."

 

[Nyles Kote]

Friendly Units:

• SB-01 Darasuum Morut-class Super-heavy Battlecarrier Darasuum Morut (flagship) 96 | 100
  • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Morut Me'sen'ika Solus 100 | 100
  • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Morut Me'sen'ika T'ad 100 | 100
  • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Morut Me'sen'ika Ehn 100 | 100
  • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Morut Me'sen'ika Cuir 100 | 100
  • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Morut Me'sen'ika Rayshe'a 100 | 100
  • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Morut Me'sen'ika Resol 100 | 100
  • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Morut Me'sen'ika E'tad 100 | 100
  • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Morut Me'sen'ika Sh'ehn 100 | 100
• 2x HB-01 Adenn Kyr'am-class Heavy Battlecarrier
  • Gra'tua 94 | 100
    • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Gra'tua Me'sen'ika Solus 100 | 100
    • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Gra'tua Me'sen'ika T'ad 100 | 100
    • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Gra'tua Me'sen'ika Ehn 100 | 100
    • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Gra'tua Me'sen'ika Cuir 100 | 100
    • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Gra'tua Me'sen'ika Rayshe'a 100 | 100
    • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Gra'tua Me'sen'ika Resol 100 | 100
  • Verdyc 94 | 100
    • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Verdyc Me'sen'ika Solus 100 | 100
    • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Verdyc Me'sen'ika T'ad 100 | 100
    • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Verdyc Me'sen'ika Ehn 100 | 100
    • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Verdyc Me'sen'ika Cuir 100 | 100
    • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Verdyc Me'sen'ika Rayshe'a 100 | 100
    • HC-03M Kyramud-class Heavy Multi-role Corvette Verdyc Me'sen'ika Resol 100 | 100

Units in Reserve: None that will arrive in time.
Ally Tag(s): Veylin Torque | Mig Gred | Django Parata | Aloy Vizsla | Kaia Starchaser | RTL and Allied Fleet
Enemy Tag(s): Michael Hightower | TSO Fleet

Equipment

• Armor:
  • Verd'jurkad'gam
  • 'Ysalamiri Birikad' Nutrient Frame
  • Vambrace Weapons:
    • TBP-01V Tractor-Pressor Beam Projector
    • PC-05V Plasma Caster
      • Plasma Gas Medium Cannister (1)
    • MML-01V Miniaturized Missile Launcher
      • Cretanr'ika-class Guided Plasma Micro-missile (4)
      • Striilir'ika-class Brilliant Micro-missile (4)
    • CP-03V CryoBan Projector
  • Back-mounted:
    
    • A-03S Verpine Shatter Autocannon
• Implant(s):​
  • 'Alr' Pilot Enhancement Package
  • 'Gar Tkiriyr' Neural Interface
• Melee:
  • B-01M Beskad
  • K-02M Kal (2)
• Sidearm(s)
  • LRH-5A Verpine Shatter Pistol w/ 'Kyrayc Sur'haai' 1-4x Short Range Optic
• Rifle(s):
  • RR-04B Ripper Rifle w/ 1-12x Medium Range Optic and UGL-02 Underbarrel Grenade Launcher
• Explosives:
  • Flex-5 Detonite Tape (1 roll)
  • Smoke Grenades (3)
  • Flash-Bang Grenades (3)
  • Class-A Thermal Detonator (2)

Nyles was only vaguely aware of the current responses from their allies. He let out a tired sigh at the warning from Clan Gred to stay away from their flak. Nyles was almost sure that the warning was meant for allied fighter squadrons and larger vessels rather than any of the large battlecruisers present, his own included. He'd heard many a great thing about Clan Gred and their naval combat talents, he'd very much hate to be disappointed, especially since he was relying on that reputed talent to take them through the battle.

The Manda display adjusted as the MMOL-03C modular mass-driver ordnance launcher turrets magnetically cold-launched a quartet of Dar'dabida-class assault-grade suppression missiles into the void between his ships and the enemy fleet. The Morut's sensor suite could barely track the stealthy missiles as they separated from each other for maximum coverage and then detonated. The Morut didn't even really catch the spread of tiny voidstone dust as it spread out across the battlefield.

The company kept a very close track of those of its employees, contractors and subcontractors that were either force users or showed signs of force sensitivity. No one on the Morut was. None of them could tell the difference. Any force sensitives probably could, and Nyles was sure that the sensor suite on the Sith Flagship almost certainly was as well. He had no intention of leaving it at that, however, and his previous orders bad reflected as much.

Another glance at the display showed the Nuhaatyc Chekar-class nullification pods, all twelve that were launched, split into two groups of four and eight on their terminal phase approach as they burned silently and invisibly towards the aperture of the Mors Mons' main weapon and where the Gar Strill Force Detectors on the three Strill Securities vessels seemed to indicate there was either use of the force or some manner of force imbued object present. The Gar Strill was sensitive enough to differentiate between the ship's hull that for some reason that he didn't even want to comprehend, also had a signature, and other elements on the ship that apparently did as well.

Nyles was tempted to fire Jetii'dral Oya'karur b' Beviin-class sabots into the abomination, but knew better. With the shields still functioning as strong as their sensors were indicating, there was no way in haran that'd be worthwhile. He could see the massive vessel turn its attention to the RTL flagship, the Speranza. He hoped that maybe the Speranza would be able to weaken the shields enough for them to deliver a few solid strikes of their own. He didn't fancy their chances of having enough ordnance to damage that behemoth and damage the accompanying Sith fleet. Of course, they had their own problems presently.

"Alor, enemy ships on an attack vector," reminded Anni Kyrdol, his ever reliant operations officer. Nyles glanced at the enemy ships on the tactical display and took a steadying breath to focus his thoughts. All of the enemy ships engaging them bar one were lighter tonnage than his ships, that meant that they had the advantage of maneuverability once they closed distance. Their weapon systems for the most part were Jaeger manufactured and as per their intelligence reports were still very much effective at this range.

He bit back a curse at noticing a few ships that bore the unmistakable hallmarks of Locke and Key design. It would have been nice to not have to have cost their client, but John Locke had to live with his business decisions just as they had to live with theirs.

Nyles took a breath, glancing around at the bridge. The Sith fleet's initial weapons fire splashed over their shields. The ship held steady, too much bulk to shake even from this much enemy weapons fire. He knew that there was more to come, but he didn't intend to allow them to get many more volleys off.

His hands flew across the command interface of the main tactical display, orders going out over the battlenet as he queued them up. First things first, he was more than content to sit and slug it out with them at this range, he passed on orders to both the Gra'tua and the Verdyc to keep the hostile ships and maximum weapon range. Most of the enemy vessels could easily close distance if they needed, however. Which was why he ordered them to keep their jump capacitors charged in addition. If needed, they'd micro jump to give them space.

While he was confident they could take the punishment the Sith were dealing, he had no intention to do so for longer than was necessary. Next orders were to fire a veritable hail of Dha Werda-class countermeasure gas rockets into the inbound vector of the enemy Star Destroyer analogues, both the anti-energy weapon and nagnol gas variants, set to detonate with enough gas dispersal to either force them to maneuver or fly right through the gas clouds. To that end, the order was also given for both vessels to fire a spread of minelaying shells loaded with seeker and seismic mines from their fore dorsal and ventral HAC-03H heavy accelerator cannon turrets.

That might have bought them some time, but it wouldn't buy them results. Nyles ordered a full spread of twenty four Assault Grade T'barsr-I-class Guided Baradium Cluster Missiles and twenty four Tra'ragir-B-class Assault Brilliant Missiles from both the Grra'tua and the Verdyc at the Lusk-class Assault Cruisers, eight missiles of each type at each enemy vessel. Triple and hex fore, port, starboard and dorsal SAC-02S Super-heavy accelerator cannon and HAC-03H heavy accelerator cannon turrets spat alternating ion and radiation energy torpedo sheathed Ion and Ion Encumbrance rounds at the Drommund-class Heavt Siege Cruisers.

Heavy jamming beams, particularly the ten dorsal and ventral emplacements were ordered to focus on the enemy detachment's flagship, the SD-10s Monger-class Battleruiser, or Sith Star Cruiser as formal records had them listed as. All three main battery guns were directed at the enemy flagship as well with the crew's orders to set Ion sheathe and load APFSDS rounds.

Nyles, however, had not forgotten his own vessel. He snapped off a quick series of orders verbally even as he went about issuing orders over the Manda to the Gra'tua and the Verdyc, "Emri, order all corvettes to fire standard missile spread, half Tbarsr, half Tra'ragir. Target the enemy flagship. The sooner it's out of the fight, the better. Order flight control on all ships to keep ours back. Let PD deal with them till they close. Order our Ram'ser bombers to fire on the enemy flagship as well. Send that shabuir to haran! Gorse, get the main battery on that shabuir. Set ion sheathe and load APFSDS. All four guns. Give me a full salvo of Tbarsr and Tra'ragir, ion variants. Make sure the missiles hit first. All accelerator cannon batteries are to set ion sheathe and load ion and ion encumbrance rounds. If that shabuir's shields aren't down, make him wish they were. Anni, all jamming beams on the enemy flagship, blind him!"

A chorus of "'lek, tra'alor'an" answered him. The bridge became a quiet buzz interrupted only by the sounds coming from the consoles as the crew went to work. The only interruption came when the deck rumbled beneath them as the main batteries discharged. It was at that point that Nyles felt particularly inspired to repeat a phrase that their alor was particularly fond of using, "Ib'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur!" The chorus of "Oya!" that answered him was enough indication that the bridge crew felt the same.

Summary

• The Morut fires four voidstone suppression missiles, dispersing voidstone dust across the gap between the two fleets in hopes of interfering with wide-scale force-based detection and comms tech on the Mors Mons.
• The Morut launches nullification pods, with four aimed for the aperture of the main weapon on the Mors Mons and eight aimed for subsystems that have a presence in the force that are not the ship's hull itself.
• Nagnol and anti-laser aerosol + blaster dampener gas rockets are fired ahead of the two destroyer divisions.
• Minelaying shells disperse seismic and seeker mines (linked in paragraph when mentioned) ahead of the destroyer divisions (in progress, guns still firing).
• Twenty four assult-grade ion cluster missiles and twenty four assault grade ion missiles are fired at the Lusk-class Cruisers, eight each. Each cluster missile has eight concussion missile sized submunitions.
• Triple and hex heavy and super-heavy accelerator cannons on the two accompanying Strill battlecruisers fire at the Drommund-class Siege Cruisers, one BC at at each cruiser.
• Heavy jamming beams from the flagship and the two battlecruisers are directed at the task force flagship, the Archlight Monger Battlecruiser.
• Main battery on the Morut and the two battlecruisers fire ion energy torpedo sheathed APFSDS rounds at the task force flagship.
• Strill fighters pull back to the relative safety of the immediate AO around their carriers.
• Ram'ser bombers fire eight assault-grade cluster ion missiles and eight assault-grade ion missiles at the task force flagship per squadron, 12 squadrons total.
• The full complement of corvettes, 20 total fire eight assault-grade cluster ion missiles and eight assault-grade ion missiles at the task force flagship
• Twenty four assult-grade ion cluster missiles and twenty four assault grade ion missiles are fired at the task force flagship by the Morut.
• Triple and hex heavy and super-heavy accelerator cannons on the two accompanying Strill battlecruisers fire at the task force flagship by the Morut.

 

[Quintessa]

Location: Yumfla - Susevfi
Objective: I - Fires of Susevfi
Dialogue Legend: <<Ghoul-Speak>> │ “Galactic Basic” │ <”ur-Kittât”>
Tag: Darth Strosius Valery Noble

Passion raced past the masked Sith at the speed of a bullet just before he moved to flank the Battlemaster. For that reason, Quintessa sensed that it would be nearly impossible for Strosius to overtake the flying weapon before it reached the Jedi. Such a feat would have required speed that even the speedster herself did not possess. As such, she considered the risk of “friendly” fire to be relatively low. Even so, there was still a small chance that her weapon might be reflected back towards her “partner”. For that, she hoped that the kinetic force carried by the speeding lightchakram would make attempting to do so an unattractive, dangerous prospect.

Nevertheless, Quintessa still realized that it would not be impossible for the Jedi to not turn both her own and Strosius’ attacks against them.

It almost happened then, when the Battlemaster phased through Passion—her form rendered immaterial for a brief moment. Quintessa growled, but she had seen her use the power before, to devastating effect.

From here on, she would have to be careful.

And so, Quintessa deactivated Prejudice and instead pulled out her old weapons—the Wheels. They had far more utility than her lightchakrams and would be more suited for this particular engagement. Meanwhile, after the Jedi had phased through it, Passion came to a rest a little more than 300 meters away from the fight. For the moment, the tiny Asa’nyx was unconcerned for the weapon.

She had bigger priorities now.

As soon as she pulled it from her back, Quintessa hurled a chakram out from her right hand. The throw sent the bladed disc whipping through the air in a deceptive arc such that the weapon initially seemed to be committed on a course to take out the Jedi’s right knee, before abruptly banking low and to the left, leveled in such a way that it might seem as if the Asa'nyx had merely missed her throw.

However, the true target of Quintessa's attack was the lamppost behind the Jedi.

The bladed disc ripped through the base of the pole, at which point Quintessa immediately seized telekinetic control of the structure, before swiftly yanking it down with the aim of bonking the top of the Battlemaster’s unprotected head with it.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Pulsiva Bodysuit
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • FAE/M-02 Energized Gauntlet Vibroblade (2) - L/R
  • Force Artifacts
    
    • Spirit Anchor
    • Amulet of Many
    • Jin'Wodasir (2)
  • Utility
    
    • Supernal Infusion
    • FAE/U-01 “Serenity” Anti-Signal Field System
    • Poison Vials
• Dancer’s Wheels
• Passion and Prejudice

 

[Liorra]

​

Liorra had scarcely heard Mia say, ad'ika.

Bound and determined to prove herself she was reaching the edges of the swamp when the al'verde grabbed her by the arm. Liorra's first instinct was to try and wretch her arm away from the person who grabbed her. Mia, however, pulled her around and then placed her own hands on the girl's shoulders. Lio's face concealed beneath the helmet, expressions masked by the t-shaped visor hid the way the teenager searched Mia's eyes. Searching for answers, something, anything that would give her a reason to bolt.

When it didn't arrive, the girls' shoulders slumped somewhat dejectedly. She wanted to say that she could handle it on her own, but Dxun proved otherwise. Instead Lio turned her gaze away from Mia, her fists bundled tightly, she said nothing and pulled away from the al'verde and turned toward the edges of the swamp once more. It was if anything a silent agreement that she'd comply. It pushed the bitterness down, if albeit for a moment. "Ogir cuyir bathas kubanr laam olar," Lio mentioned plainly gesturing ahead of them, and then pointed down to tracks left behind, perhaps by troopers, but certainly not any animal on Dagobah.

Silence fell between the two of them, Lio followed the steps, crouching down beneath the vegetation that lay around them. The teen took hold of her binocs as she knelt down into the dense green flora around them, Lio went quiet for a moment or two, gestured toward a set of Sith troopers. Handing the binocs over to Mia, Lio began to manipulate the plants around the troopers, sending vines to act as snakes. "Ni kumeh jima temya'r bat Dwed bal gi'a akaanir." In the blink of an eye she had the vines pull the troopers up toward the trees. "Ibi'tuur Ni malyasa'yr gar serim ibac hiibir va."

Mia Monroe​

 

[Vera Mina]

Wearing: Spy Gear

Armed With: Laser Knife, Kal, Talon Vibrodagger (2), Explosive Knives (8)

Equipment: ICE Breakers, Computer Spikes, Electronic Lockpicking kit

Objective: Fires of Susevfi

Days earlier...


"I have severe misgivings about your proposal..." Nathan Bloodscrawl said in a cross manner with his Fiance, Vera. She held a goblet of human blood in her hand, sipping it carefully. It had been taken from an Assassin that had broken into her estate on Coruscant last week. Nathan didn't object: Anyone trying to kill his Fiance dug their own grave. They had been dead the moment they took the Job.

"To which part?" she asked as she sat across from him in the dining area of her personal quarters aboard a Centurion Class Battle Cruiser in Trade League Space, known as "Atrisian Sunset". Nathan had started joining her for dinner instead of eating on his own more and more

"All of it. The very idea of becoming one of those creatures is something no one should want."

"Hold on, now..." she rejoined calmly, knowing how much of a touchy subject this was with him.

"When my mother created me and West, she gave me abilities that were not so different from the Force Spawn you so despise. Nowadays, I honestly have come to believe my design was an attempt to mimic such beings. Why do you not object to this aspect of me, when what I propose to adapt to myself is essentially just more of the same?"

"Because, Vera, no matter the face you wear, you are still you. I know exactly who is behind each of your guises. You 'upgrade' yourself into something like Syd, I would never be certain I would be truly talking to you anymore."

"Ah. And you want to be 'certain' you are talking to me. I'm touched, really..." Vera replied taking another delicate sip from her goblet, the red staining her lower lip, a dabble of napkin getting it off.

"Vera, even you could not be fully certain you are still you..."

Vera chuckled a bit.

"Something amuses you?" he asked.

"The fact you believe a transformation for me is so cut and dried..." Vera replied with a small smirk. "Really, Nathan, do you think someone like me, with my design, can initiate trillions of physical changes at a cellular level, and not be fundamentally different from who they normally are once the transformation is complete?"

"But you still have your memories and your own objectives. You still have control over the process--"

"The base is there, certainly..." Vera admitted. "Across every face I wear, I do indeed retain my memories, objectives, and desire for power and superiority...but how I experience, interact with, and perceive each is not at all how I perceive them in this form. It really does change for me. I have to approach the same problem quite differently depending on my current guise, and that causes me to develop habits, thought processes that I do not retain when I am as I am now. Remember that time I strangled you on the Battlefield in my mercenary disguise? Not at all what I would have done to test you if I had been using another form."

Vera studied Nathan's silence as he considered her words. In contrast to her own refined tastes, He had ordered a Double Pepperoni Pizza, and was half done with his second slice. She had eaten some of it with him in an attempt at showing solidarity.

"What's coming for you is a real war now. Long term. Extended. No easy exits. And lots and lots of people who want you dead when they realize just how massive the threat you actually pose is, if activating that Clone Army without consulting me is any indication."

"I apologize for not telling you first."

"Nonsense! We have control of a planet now, and a Planet's leadership must be bold. The stuff of legend." Vera asserted. "Besides, your family created that army. It's your legacy. Your birthright...you shouldn't be ashamed for asserting your will on the Galaxy. Your bosses do it all the time."

Vera grabbed another slice and bit into it.

"It doesn't bleed like my normal food...and yet I see why you enjoy it..." she critiqued after chewing.

"Doesn't my action stir any concerns in you at all? That the power could be going to my head?"

"Has it?" Vera asked. "Did you want to activate that army because you want to destroy the Jedi, or take some more territory on a map that you will lose as soon as you die? Do you want to be a gadfly, as your daughter is?"

"No." he answered. Vera's emotional analysis software determined he was telling the truth.

"Then I see no Sith in waiting, my Dear..." Vera replied, placing her goblet on the table.

"Your family chose to be the type who play the game to win. Your daughter plays the game just to play it. There is a world of difference between you and her just on that basis. You know what I see? A great and powerful family just waiting to be revived to take their place in history. A rightful place, earned through bloodshed. House Bloodscrawl could live again. It should live again. Through us..." she emphasized. "And great Houses are built on doing morally questionable stuff...just ask my Mother..."

Nathan was very quiet as Vera took a sip from her Goblet, watching her smile.

"You just leave all the Charisma work to me when it comes to the Clones, Nate. I'll turn them into an army fit for a House of Noble Blood..." she assured confidently.

"Cloning is illegal in the Alliance." He reminded her.

"Only if you are the one actively making them. Under our arrangement we are providing thousands of fighting men gainful employment, hiring them from a defunct faction from before this Alliance was even formed. Which is not even technically untrue. Making me was illegal for my mother to do, yet here we are, months away from tying the knot. Your feet are dipped in the pond of crime..." she replied. "Besides, it's not like the Alliance isn't sinking under the weight of its own hypocrisy and corruption anyway. Demanding equality and fairness in members they only asked to join for sheer material or tactical benefit. The only thing they are concerned about is losing power and face, in that order. Do you really think, with as many enemies as are massing at their borders, they are going to start complaining about a spare army willing to fight to the death for their cause especially since they will have so many problems after surviving an invasion? I dunno about you, but the Ghost Army of Kytrand has a wonderful ring to it."

"Always thinking several steps ahead..." he noted. "I do admire that about you. How utterly pitiless your assessments are..."

"I do try..." she replied coyly. "Now... about those upgrades..."

"I can't stop you, Vera. But if you come into contact with a personality more powerful than your own, I may be forced to destroy you should the persona prove dangerous." He replied coldly.

But then his face softened.

"And I would really not like having to do that."

Vera seemed non plussed. "As a famous singer once put it about relationships like ours...if it's not rough, it isn't fun..."

Nathan struggled to hold back a small chuckle, but Vera could see genuine worry in his eyes she had never observed before.

"Tell you what... let's come back to the issue of Force Spawn at another time. But keep this in mind, Nathan...you are pretty tough, but you're surrounded by and up against superhuman killing machines commanding ethereal powers. Is it really so beyond the pale for me to become an even bigger one than I already am?"

Nathan took a bite of his pizza, chewing as he considered her well thought out (albeit possibly laced with poison) words...


Present...


The Battle for Yumfla raged everywhere as OT-428 led his Clone squad and the surviving remnants of another Clone Trooper squad into battle against hoardes of undead ravaging the streets. Their DC-15A'S we're running very, very low. Most of them were on their last mag as they dispatched the latest mob of zombies, at least in this area, and ducked into an abandoned bank.

There was a buzz from his comlink.

"This is Strill 7, go ahead..." 428 said wearily. He perked up.

"Heads up boys, got news..." he said after the Clone Operator on the other end explained the situation.

"We got ammo resupply heading directly for us...and extra company...some sort of Bacta-Works Corpo Spy..."

"So we gotta baby sit one of Nathan's throat slitters?" 397 complained.

"Apparently this operative outranks us. Not that that's hard to do but this one has the ear of the Boss himself. HVT. Major consequences if we feth up..." 428 warned. "They'll be here in a few minutes."

"What do we do once the Spy gets here?" 062 asked.

"The Spy will tell us. I suspect we are being diverted..." 428 answered. "Hold up here for now. I'll keep a look out..."

428 waited, his clone armor battered and bloody, caked with grime from battling the onslaught of zombies besieging that particular section of Yumfla. The rest of the squad was exhausted, armor equally cracked and battered in areas.

"They're gonna crack Susevfi like a fethin' egg..." 397 observed quietly as he saw the entire city ablaze from a window, starfighters executing strafing runs with plasma munitions on the streets below them. The roar of undead in the distant city blocks. The rumble of each terrible explosion. A thousand horrors for every civilian.

And too few Clones to make much more than a teeny, tiny difference.

"We will be ready next time..." 428 said. "This is just the warm up. We have met the enemy, and they have fallen before our weapons. We are but one squad, yet one of their tanks lie destroyed at our hands. How much more terrible shall our reckoning be with the Sith when next we meet them at full strength? They, whose weapons are so much more advanced than ours? Well, you know what I say, Brothers?" 428 asked his squad rhetorically. "I say the enemy can't pull the trigger if you shoot them in the face."

(Cutaway of Clancy Brown throwing a knife into Jake Busey's hand)

"HAIL!" the Squad shouted back, pumping their fists into the air.

"Boys! LAAT fast approaching!" 397 chirped.

428 headed out first, spotting the Clone pilots in the Cockpit with his range finders, watching as it set down, and the Clone squad quickly got out from it's Cabin, along with a fully equipped pair of Assault Battle Droids, carrying boxes of ammunition, both power cells, grenades, and Tibanna Cannisters, along with repair kits for their armor.

...along with a muscular, slender athlete of a woman in a revealing set of gear that almost resembled carefully placed bandages, with a mop of firey red hair and blue eyes, holstered with slicing equipment and knives.

Despite her beauty, looking at her made him feel immense fear for reasons he didn't understand.

"You the Spy?" 428 asked.

"Is it so obvious? The names Alice." the creature that normally looked like and called itself Vera Mina answered playfully in a way that creeped him out.

"So, what can this Clone Trooper do for you today, Alice?" 428 asked, getting all manner of Slasher Film vibes from her the longer he was around her.

"The Boss wants us to secure data from the Nytesmyth Academy , and then immediately blow up the Academy afterwards to prevent the Sith from acquiring it." Alice answered, pulling out a Holoprojector that showed the academy grounds.

"Your presence is required to support my infiltration, as you are one of the very last squads alive this far out, and the ones with me are all we can spare to help you in our mutual task. There are believed to be Sith present."

428 didn't hesitate to respond. "Let me and the boys at 'em. We'll give those bastards a good old fashioned Sixty-Six."

"That's the Spirit, Soldier. The Corporation appreciates your enthusiasm..." Alice replied, hungering to kill others as painfully as she could, and slowly.

"What's the word on Civ Evac?" 397 asked one of the Clones as he came out of the Bank with the rest of the team.

"The Acclamator is taking heavy fire and the Civilian Evac is nearly complete. But we've taken heavy losses pushing the enemy back from it. The Assault Battle Droids are what's keeping us in the fight for the most part, along with any remaining Snipers. We'll probably only be able to hold the evac site another hour and forty minutes before we have to lift off and destroy Nytesmyth Academy ourselves, but even that estimate is looking generous. Treat it like you only got forty five minutes to do this." the Clone answered back as the squad replenished their ammo.

"What about the Civilians that may still be there?" 062 asked as his armor had sealant patches applied to cracks in his armor by other Clones.

"Too bad for them..." Alice replied. "We not there for a rescue mission. Now let's get going."

5 minutes later...


The Academy was under Assault by Sith Forces, it's bubble shield having been a major surprise, and for that reason, Yumfla's civilian defenders, what was left of the police, and soldiers alike had grown so desperate as to use it as a makeshift fortress. It was one of the last real strongholds in Yumfla. Everything was slowly but surely being overrun. 428 saw it from above. The whole thing.

They would be lucky if they had so much as a half hour to do what needed doing. The whole damn Academy was surrounded, it's grounds on fire from the desperate fighting that had occured after individual Sith warriors had breached the bubble Shield.

The operators in the Continuous Beam Turrets opened up, slicing many soldiers in half with lancing green beans and blowing up a few grenades they had on them in the process, shredding nearby opponents.

The Gunships dived, as it's turret operators blew up a flurry of missiles and heavy repeater fire.

"They got a battery down there!" The LAAT pilot yelled.

"I'll handle it..." Alice hissed as she dived out of the Gunship her repulsor cells kicking in as she fell to the ground fast, only to land gently at the last few meters, her stealth Field going active as soldiers approached

Within seconds the artificial vampire was cutting into them gleefully, cuts appearing with blistering speed across armors, followed by gushes of blood. Her talon daggers emitted no sound due to their design as punctures appeared on panicked chests, and throats opened up. Bodies flung into others violently and bones viciously broken. One screamed as her fangs went into his neck and dragged him around with her teeth before flinging his body with just her head into another of his fellows.

She finally decloaked, a savage, murderous grin on her face as she sprinted towards the battery on all fours, snarling like a lion as the defending Sith Soldiers opened fire on the humanoid abomination as it vanished.

The Soldiers liberally sprayed the ground with blaster and shotgun fire but hit nothing. Then one of them was snatched up into the air and folded to the point his back broke, before being swung like a club at the others as Alice decloaked, fists and feet aided by her repulsor cells, which headed kinetic energy to already superhuman blows, allowing her to pulverize any chest or head her limbs found purchase with. She grabbed a grenade, than used the cells installed in her body to leap a great distance away from the Missile Battery and toss the grenade at the same time. The Explosion was tremendous, shredding all surviving enemies around it.

When 428's Squad finally landed the Gunship in the massive blast zone her actions had created, Alice walked up to them, covered in blood, made more horrific somehow by the revealing nature of her gear.

"What exactly are you?" 428 asked as he got off the gunship.

"Expensive. High Maintenance." Alice answered back crisply.

*Cyborg I bet. Or worse...Biot..." 428 thought grimly, glad his Clone Trooper helmet concealed his grimace at the horrible beast in front of him.

"Let's get going. That explosion drove enemy forces back, but only for a while. Looks like it'll be a hot extract."

"My favorite kind..." Alice replied. "Let's get going, shall we?"

428 nodded, and the Clones watched as the LAAT lifted off, momentarily not under heavy fire before walking towards the academy grounds, which had a lovely Eco Architectural feel, now spoiled by the ravages of war. Alice came upon a groundskeeper, who had had his neck broken.

"No strangulation marks. Classic Force Choke kill..." Alice noted. "Sith are on The Campus."

"Why are they still attacking this place so heavily then?" 062 asked.

"Because whoever did this failed, and there is still considerable resistance within the Academy itself. Everyone on the outer perimeter were the ones they could spare to try holding it..." Alice stated. "They were probably about to try and crack the shield with that missile battery when we flew in.

"Where there is one Sith, there is bound to be more." 428 asserted. "Nine Seven, how's your shooting arm?"

"Pretty good sir." 397 answered.

"You're on Sniper duty. Blast until you're out of Tibanna in your rifle." 428 ordered. "Overwatch the Southern perimeter. That was the one under the heaviest attack."

"On it sir."

"You are aware it is your duty to resist any Sith Lord you may encounter?" 428 asked.

"Even at the cost of my Life, sir." 397 confirmed.

"Carry out your orders, then. Good hunting, Soldier..." 428 said as 397 raced off to find a high enough point to spot and tag threats from.

"This data had better be worth it, Throat Slitter..." 428 said curtly to Alice, who only tilted her head to one side in response, blood running down her chin.

"I lost a lot of good men today..." he finished.

"What we are after is in the second Main complex, where all the research labs are..." Alice spoke. "And you will be fully compensated for the numerous difficulties of today."

428 only scoffed at this and set out for the second complex, using cover, while Alice went invisible.

"See you there..." 428 heard her say quietly as she sprinted ahead of them...

 

[Darion Kithero]

Objective 1
Tag: Elise Ahana-Gwyneira

As the flames bloomed, a dart of imperceptible movement caught his attention to a side, before his opponent - or one of them, rather - revealed herself, responding in turn to his words. Seemed this one was /definitely/ one of those prone to lectures, seeing as she outed herself to speak briefly. His steps trailed sidelong.

“Vile, absolutely.” Came the curt reply in turn. He held no illusions that what he was doing was something to be praised, to be looked upon as if a heroic act - at least, not to anyone outside the indoctrinated mindset of the Order. “Cowardly, perhaps so. A regrettable practicality, in the face of War. Unfortunately, this is simply the better result of things.”

Arms spread wide, with a gesture around them, “For this, is when it is controlled. There’ll be survivors. Prisoners. I cannot say the same will hold without that focus onto more pressing issues.” It was hard to tell if it was merely lies to demoralize her, or the truth - nonetheless, there was an air of certainty to his words. The centers doubtlessly held wounded soldiers that would return to the front given the chance, with potential points of escape given long enough. The Order’s doctrine was simply, utter annihilation. His face remained neutral, eyes remaining fixed upon her in a keen manner. As she reached for her pistol, his tense grip on the pike adjusted, tilting his wrists ever so slightly as if to maintain a sure hold.

The undead and Mandalorians were no doubt locked in conflict around them. It seemed handily taken care of until the ‘smarter’ ones showed up with haphazard blaster fire - if only suppressive, it kept them on the move. Their shrouded overseers looked on with veiled amusement, stalking near the center of the newly-regrouped conglomerate of Jen’ari - as if daring the Mandalorains to stray too far and become locked in combat. Upon the repositioning of Choruk, however, came annoyance - with a flick of a wrist, one ripped a piece of debris from a crumbling building, and sent it flying towards them. It was a tense battle, the purest example of quality versus quantity…

“I can ask you to walk away, for the outcome of this battle won’t change anything. We both know we can’t do that.” A wry visage of a grin traced the dull facade that was his face. Amused, maybe, at the offer. Darion wasn’t sure whether to consider it overtly naive, or simply a formality so that she can justify it later. “I certainly appreciate the offer,” Came the drawl, “..but whatever death you would offer would be a mercy compared to a charge for treason.”

Her pistol came up halfway through his response. It was a fight to remain calm and sure, staring at the business end of a barrel, but he did so nonetheless. From her purview, perhaps she had him dead to rights; what use was a melee weapon against a blaster when they hadn’t the Force? By the time the Director finished his statement, that ever-so-slight shift of the wrist decided whether the battle was over before it began.

The barrel of a wrist-laser protruded from said wrist in that very next moment, and opened fire at her outstretched arm, then just in her general direction. He was hoping to catch her off-guard enough to offset the initial rounds, his heart pounding faster as legs carried forward with a burst of speed to close the distance. Should Darion be successful in this, the Pike would viciously thrust forth, hoping to end this quickly so that he may continue his orders undeterred.

 

[Ruus Kote]

Friendly Units:

• 3 squadrons of Busayr-class Heavy Assault Transports
  
  • Lead squadron: I'dadr squadron
  • Ferrying:
    
    • Strill Securities Jurkad Verde Shere'shoy Mechanized Infantry Battlation (one company actively engaging, three in reserve)
    • Strill Securities Jurkad Verde Kad b' Marev Armored Battalion (one company actively engaging, three in reserve)
    • Ruus Kote's HQ Company (actively engaging)
• 3 squadrons of Jai'galaar-class Fighter-bombers
  
  • Lead squadron: Kalikir squadron
• 3 squadrons of Kyr'galaar-class Multi-role Fighters
  
  • Lead squadron: Asmulr squadron

Units in Reserve:

• Strill Securities Jurkad Verde Shere'shoy Mechanized Infantry Battlation (three companies in reserve)
• Strill Securities Jurkad Verde Kad b' Marev Armored Battalion (three companies in reserve)

Ally Tag(s): Nothing pertinent to the wider tactical picture in this post | RTL
Enemy Tag(s): Gerwald Lechner | TSO

Equipment

• Armor:​
  • 'Verd'jurkad'gam'
    • Left Vambrace:
      • NML-02VTB Nano missile Launcher
      • PC-05V Plasma Caster
    • Right Vambrace:
      • TBP-01V Tractor-Pressor Beam Projector
      • MML-01V Miniaturized Missile Launcher
        • 2x Cretanr'ika-lcass Guided Plasma Micro-missile
        • 2x Striilir'ika-class Brilliant Micro-missile
    • Back Mount:
      • A-03S Verpine Shatter Autocannon
• Weapons:
  
  • B-01M Beskad
  • M-06S 'Skirata' Mra'jitr (2)
  • RP-05A Ripper Pistol w/ 'Kyrayc Sur'haai' Short Range Optic
  • AR-2CQB Verpine Assault Rifle w/ UGL-02 Underbarrel Grenade Launcher and 'Kyrayc Sur'haai' Medium Range Optic
• Explosives:
  
  • 3x CryoBan Grenades
  • 3x NOVA40 Plasma Grenade
  • 2x Smoke Grenades
  • 2x Class-A Thermal Detonator
  • 2x Det-Packs
  • Implants:
    
    • 'Verd' Enhancement Package
    • 'Gar Tkiriyr' Neural Interface

Buy'ce gal, buy'ce tal
Verbor'ad ures aliit
Mhi draar baat'i meg'parjii'se
Kote lo'shebs'ul narit.

​

Blank visored stare returned steely eyed gaze. Ruus knew exactly what he meant when he said he'd been lost. They'd all taken the collapse of the CIS differently. The company thankfully had found work and purpose soon afterward. Helping the RTL had been their little project, their way to give back to the galaxy. It had been refreshing to see a group that had a way of running things that reminded them in many ways of the liberties the CIS had given the various systems that had been a part of it. Were there issues? Naturally, but it was a far sight better than what the rest of the galaxy had been up to. This? This was chaos, this was wanton slaughter that the dar'jetii brought everywhere they went. Perhaps there was nothing of the old Gerwald Lechner left after all. Ruus had resolved to try, however, and try he would.

Every instinct in his body told him to snap his weapon up and fire. Saram had once told him that you had essentially a minute once you engaged a force user in combat to kill them or they would regain their footing, adapt, and kill you. Ruus hadn't really fought any force users worth mentioning, but this was Gerwald shabla Lechner. Former Lord Commander of the Knights shabla Obsidian. While Ruus' opinion of the Knights themselves had wavered during the time the company had worked with the CIS, Ruus had seen Gerwald in action.

His armor's Manda module gave him the same advice that Saram had given him all those years ago. Ruus took a breath to steady his thoughts. "We don't," he said after what seemed like an eternity to his enhanced senses, and likely to Gerwald's as well. "We're not here for the credits, we're here because these people had a way of life that made some shabla sense." An audible snorted that came through his helmet speakers as a burst of static punctuated his words. "I'm not here to hold the capital, Gerwald, I'm not even here to stop you and your new burc'ya. Safe corridor for the civilians. That's all I'm asking. The Gerwald Lechner I marched straight into haran with so many times would and nearly did give his life for people like them."

He paused for a moment, watching the other man carefully to gauge any sort of a reaction. Ruus queued up a number of stim shots in his drug injector to go on a single blink-click and warmed up his armor's targeting suite. He had every hope he would be able to get through to Gerwald, but in the event that he didn't, he had to be ready. Ret'lini. "You and I? We lived our lives trying to be good men. Manda knows we've both tried. We've done a lot wrong and neither of us is getting any younger. Let's not add to it."