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"The High Regent has engaged with the Alliance fleet!"
"Jedi are attempting to breach the upper atmosphere. Do not let them break through to the shipyards or the Citadel. The ritual must succeed at all costs!"
Orders, warnings, commands. They rang through Danton's skull like a hundred hammered bells and he struggled not to shatter at their sound. Staring at the map, it was obvious to anyone what was happening. Exegol was under attack and the Galactic Alliance had come to destroy everything.
He should've expected this, seen it in his visions and dreams, so why was he still surprised?
He had heard the Wrath's outcry, soul-sick and enraged. He'd felt the Citadel's foundations rattle under his feet. What remained of the Maw hung by a thread, and there was not much else for Danton to do than listen and obey the commands of his masters. His duty was to stand guard outside the ritual perimeter, to ensure no one infiltrated the Forbidden District before the Avatars stepped forth from the Netherworld and laid waste to their enemies.
That was his task. That was his sole purpose. To kill Jedi.
His eyes lifted skyward. Lightning cracked through the clouds, and for a split moment, Danton could have sworn he saw a ship descending the surface his way. It was only then that he smiled. Oh, this was going to be exciting. He could just feel it.
——————
Allies: The Brotherhood of the Maw
Enemies: Jadcasa Leesib, Strike Team Tano
"The birthplace of darkness." Henna murmured to herself, awestruck.
There were no viewports within the meditation garden, but the Jedi master didn't need them. For years, she had cultivated the unseen eye - and the sight had become so much clearer since the revelation over Selvaris. A thousand eyes of the past lent her their vision, the force a focusing lens. Exegol loomed in the distance. If Tython was balance, this was anything but. Webs of corruption permeated the ground. Like a mirror to her home, it too sung a siren's song - but instead of harmony, it was a tune of greed and rage, beckoning one to the first sin.
It was an affirmation that the seer had made the correct choice by staying aboard Prosperity. She would need to offer the order resolve against the darkness, unwavering. The distance their bond would be a challenge to maintain, but better than allowing herself to falter under the oppressively atmosphere. The strands of fate were tightening. There was no mercy to be had - all rode on the outcome of today's battle. The scales would be balanced again.
So Henna focused on Jedi, shining like torches against the night, and went to work weaving their meld.
The bond reached for Lightpoint Station first. Allowing Asmundr Varobalder
to touch her conscious was instinctive. The Seer was a beacon, working the same techniques she used today since the rebirth of the New Jedi Order. His connections to others proved invaluable as the bond expanded. Zark San Tekka
, close to her mentor's heart, followed him almost instantly. A thread snaked to encompass Valery Noble
and Kahlil Noble
. The Sword of the Jedi had her own battle to fight, but her presence would surely offer hope to those in need.
The unseen barrier extended, capturing Strike Team Kenobi next. Jasper Kai'el
led with confidence and purpose. Even coming face to face with the enemy would not give pause. A sense of pride would touch him, momentarily. The ferocity of light embodied their Order wholly. In tune, Calix of Thyrsus would know he was not alone in his headstrong approach.
The master's focus shifted downward, to those planetside. Windu, just landing, offered their own set of experienced soldiers - and the importance of their mission was a storm cloud above them. An invisible hand would touch Amani Serys
, offering Henna's peace for the knight to use as she would. The same was offered to Ala Quin
and Caedyn Arenais. There was a certainty in their success - the seer knew, and she offered what reassurance she could.
Beyond them stood the lone soldiers in the night, embroiled in their own paths. Warmth would touch Kat Decoria
, bolstering the soldier. It was then she sensed a vaguely familiar padawan. Light flickering, Thalia Senn
braved Exegol by herself. A moment's hesitation considered the risk. The battle meld was a dangerous thing with one slipping, but what was right push Henna to wrap the girl in the bond nevertheless. You have already proved yourself stronger than it, Thalia. We are with you... we will not let you fall again.
As one, the Jedi would meet Exegol with the strength of one another to stem the tides of darkness.
It was almost poetic, the cacophony of destruction that echoed through even the floors of the citadel. She did not know how the battle would go, how many would die, or who would live to fight another day. Darth Carnifex
had came to her only hours before to argue with her over something as futile as escaping 'while she could' - she appreciated the care that was rarely shown to others but at this point it was too little, too late. Perhaps her cousin had thought she was preparing to die for her cause, the truth of the matter would be a concept alien to him for sure, but the revelation that her end was an expected one garnered a begrudging acceptance nonetheless. She had shed her robes after her return from Selvaris, left her lightsaber behind on the vongformed world, and instead dressed herself all in black - a dress, this time, fit for a funeral rather than robes for war.
This was the end, after all.
Honor guards that had been placed at her side from the moment she had seized power in the Maw were scattered across the room, dead. Killed by her own hands, robbed of their lives as they were made into the Dark Lord's last meal. She was a monster, the very thing she had set out to destroy: a tyrant by another name, a murderer of countless millions, and a despot of the lowest order. Power had been her crutch, a tool to lean on when her life had spiraled out of control and the limb that had been love was broken. For all her gains, for all the power she'd consumed and the lives she had destroyed, nothing she had wanted had ever fallen into her lap - in fact every last thing she'd ever tried to take by force had slipped out from her fingers like grains of sand in a hot breeze. Even freedom, the last goal she had left to her, was nearly out of reach - to die on her feet, fighting, as would have been expected of her, was the fate that the force had desired for her, for all Sith and their dark side analogues.
Fate was a cruel mistress, not just for her, and it was one she was unwilling to obey.
"Even if it will be the last thing I do."
She brandished her sword, a weapon meant to deal with the light that acted as an anathema to her very existence, that curiously doubled as her own bane. It was named in mockery for the blind devotion to the force and now it would be her own unmaking, albeit in a way that would rob her oppressor of its divine providence by giving her the only thing she had left.
Wearing the light, robelike armor - combat robes - that had been made for her at Kyyrk’s suggestion was still a tad strange even after several occasions of use. That wasn’t to say she was prone to living in traditional robes, either: blending in had usually been the name of the game in her work, and that classical force-user getup was anything but inconspicuous, even if it did provide considerable ease of movement. What she wore today wasn’t loose like those traditional robes, but still minimally restrictive, having largely been made of armourweave and leather for the base. A passive invulnerability honed over most of her years would also prove to be a considerable boon on this day which was thoroughly in progress.
After emerging from hyperspace and linking up with the advance force that she had been assigned to, things had moved forward very quickly. Many instances of her life had included following the seeming whims of the Force, such as the one that led her here; often these ‘whims’ pulled her right into the face of trouble, and this time it was no different. In fact, it could be said this was considerably worse, but that wasn’t a notion she was about to entertain. Now simply wasn’t the time. Maybe later over a drink, with those that came out the other side still breathing.
An opportunity to forge connections outside of the bonds of conflict. She knew none of the other faces on this ‘boat’, nor did she know anyone at all in any of the many pieces that summed the forces of this final assault, nor amongst the denizens of the Sith which mounted the defense of this hell they were to walk into, but she knew light from darkness as well as the lines in her palms. Almost as well. She had narrowly escaped that fateful day, and it had been a lot of work to lessen the feeling of guilt; learning that the Jedi persisted, era after era beyond that point, did not completely absolve the feeling, but it helped. Only time and continuing to take up the good work would whittle away the rest. Succeeding here would only help more.
The words of others in the combat shuttle snapped Oriadne out of the roil in her mind, and she readjusted her grip on the rail, switching arms in a moment of steadiness on the otherwise tumultuous descent, and minutely shifted her stance, accordingly for whatever comfort that would afford as the shuttle sought to make contact with the surface.
"…This is it."
“For them, it is,”she replied in an unshakeable voice, then turning her gaze from the forward view to the others on the transport deck with a firm smile; as the sense of peace touched each of those receptive to it, she added more: “I look forward to getting to know you all better on the other side of this.”
FINAL ECLIPSE The Galactic Alliance will annihilate Exegol. // START: FEBUARY 1ST - END: MARCH 1ST // IT ENDS HERE. Valiens Nantaris "How vast a resolve must these people have, time and time again, to face hardship and horror and tragedy and terror, and still take up the mantle of freedom?" -...
FINAL ECLIPSE The Galactic Alliance will annihilate Exegol. // START: FEBUARY 1ST - END: MARCH 1ST // IT ENDS HERE. Valiens Nantaris "How vast a resolve must these people have, time and time again, to face hardship and horror and tragedy and terror, and still take up the mantle of freedom?" -...
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Eina, as always, saw the world differently. For her, Realspace, or the Netherworld, was not just the way people or the creatures living here saw it. For her, it is colourful, vibrant and different. She was able to see and sense the auras of others, see into the Force, and see worlds in ways that others could not. She was never among the living, in fact she wasn't even sure she could ever be called alive. After all, Ashla created her from two dead souls. It is true that the woman's mother was only temporarily dead, but that does not change the essence. And if her mother was mentioned…
In the Force, she immediately felt her mother's power when she was doing something in a remote part of Exegol. That was quite telling for Avatar. The woman had actually woken up and was now trying to get free. Anyone else would have rushed there, but not Eina. She inherited this from her mother, that work and duty come before family. However, the Dark Three was high on the priority list. They were much more important than anything else, since the lives of billions were at stake, in the case of Ingrid L'lerim, fewer people would die if she got hurt. So it wasn't difficult to set priorities.
Although she had spent a lot of time with the members of the Ashlan Crusade, she still had a hard time accepting and dealing with the fact that she was being treated as a religious figure. She never considered herself special because she was a member of another race and because she was born in a special way. In other words, she was created because Ashla created her, as she later created Eisa. After all that had happened, she was still not religious. She acknowledged Ashla's existence and was now part of the Oversoul, but did not consider her a goddess. She still remained an atheist.
"You were on Panatha and later on Kalidan, I remember your name and am grateful for the help you gave to the Eternal Empire and the Galaxy." she told him honestly.
At the further words, the woman gently shook her head and smiled kindly.
"I would never ask a living person to do anything that would put you or your soul in danger. But the Avatars are coming and that's really why I'm here, Lord Aron. If they come over, it will be my job to send them back to where they came from and where they belong. I trust that they are weaker in this world than in the Netherworld, especially when they arrive. That way there will be a better chance of me, of us returning them." she told him.
She had no false illusions that she or they could kill them, these were ancient entities, very, very old.
"I will not ask you for anything, in fact, I will offer my help to you. I'll help protect your people so that as few die as possible, and I'll do my best so that the Avatars can consume as few souls as possible from the Maw's people." she promised, because for her every soul counted equally.
Blood trickled down lips over the chin and down the neck of a face painted black and white like a skull. Bright white Teeth stained red from the dead heart it had just bitten into. Burning sulfuric orange eyes stared at the heart in it's hand, a hand with long black nails sharpened to points. Blood ran down the hand that was painted black, blood mixing with the paint causing it to smear further down the arm. The arm had fresh cuts all down it where Magickal symbols had been etched into the flesh. All cross the body symbols had been cut into he flesh most of them fresh still bleeding. The eyes then panned down at the Maw soldiers body it was hunched over. The free hand reached up and pushed down the eyelids of dead body.
"Tu es maintenant à moi." Your power is now mine said in the Dathomiri Tongue by the diminutive creature that was eating the dead Maw Soldiers heart at just slightly over a whispher. All around the skull faced creature was a dozen bodies Mixed with Alliance and Maw warriors. The creature was wearing white rags of tattered clothing that use to be white but now were stained with blood, dirt, and black paint. The skin was carved in many Magickal symbols. The creatures hair raven stained with dirt and blood wild and falling just below the shoulder blades in length.
It felt the chaotic storm that was brewing on Exegol all around it, it was feeding on it. Like a spider it's web had been cast the moment they had stepped on Exegol. It could feel the beating hearts in it's head, feel the life that was fleeting all around. Death was coming, pain and suffering came first though. Yet this creature was the Psycho Witch'ari Tegan Starfall the self-proclaimed God of Destruction. It saw into the dark and knew every monster hiding there. Black fingernails grappled around the heart in it's hand and squeezed hard until it turned to dust. The Ash falling down unto the dead Maw soldier's body.
"Tous les empires se transforment en cendres." All Empires turn to cinder she said to herself again just above a whisper. "Le cycle ne se termine jamais." The Cycle never ends it goes on forever repeating at nausea. So many Cycles had she seen always end and restarting in the same ways. The new Destroyed the old just to have the Old return and destroy the new. Nothing changed how many Sith Empires would there be before people would realize they where all the same thing. The Maw had been infected by the Sith Rot they thought they had destroyed and now it destroyed them. The same thing had happened to the Witches of Dathomir and many other dark cults. Always the degenerate code and religious dogma of the sith infected them ate at them and destroyed them allowing the Empires of Old to return.
She then felt life approaching her she needed to kill more, her ritual needed to grow stronger. She didn't care who she killed she needed to fuel her power. It was time for this cycle to end at least for her the rest of the Galaxy be damned. She slowly turned around like some hunched over wild primate as she felt someone walking into the old carnival grounds she had been preparing her ritual in the forbidden districts. As she felt life approaching she grabbed a utility belt off a corpse, two sabers of a couple of other corpses, two frag grenades, and Blaster and holster. She quickly put them on her persons and stood up her full figure coming to all of 4′10″ (1.47m). Her feet were bare as she began to walk forward her eyes burning brightly but she stopped for a moment she felt a familiar presences it was still a ways away but she could sense him Jand Talo
. A wicked smirk crossed the evil little gremlins face but first she would deal with the new arrivals. She headed in the direction of Val Drutin as Darth Malum of House Marr
and his crew where a little further away from her.
Forbidden District Outskirts - Airfield
Writing With: Thelma Goth
In many ways, the Maw was the ideal place for Marrow in his current state. Power was glorified, violence relished in, and murders left uninvestigated. It was the perfect place to feed and regain his strength.
The invasion, on the other hand, promised short-term feasting and long-term uncertainty.
He had already feasted on a pair of invaders. Scouts. GADF, their uniforms said. He did not much care, though in a moment of heightened lucidity, he began toying with the idea of stealing a shuttle and making his escape. Things were spiralling out of control, after all. Not all killing grounds made for good hunting grounds.
That moment passed when he caught a scent. Prey. Connected prey. Too tempting to overlook. Abandoning the dead scouts, he began crawling out of the wrecked starship and onto its 'roof', a gleam of excitement in his black eyes.
Strictly speaking, the wreck in question was upside down, having been flipped to gut it off components.
Dozen upon dozens of starfighters poured from the hangers of the Alliance Ascendant, tiny points of light against the dark background of space. The swarms of small craft formed into their wings and squadrons with rehearsed choreography in the space between the allied fleet, which grew with every passing moment, one of the largest assemblies of vessels since the start of the Second Great Hyperspace War.
“Eclipse, I say again, Eclipse.”
On Chaar’s command, the starfighters dove into the Red Honeycomb Zone toward the Brotherhood world of Exegol. The larger Alliance vessels would follow them through, guided by a stolen Warfinder procured by IVI
once the starfighters had established a beachhead.
Revenant Squadron was the tip of the spear. Chaar cycled extra power to his shields as he dove into the stormy nebula, ducking and diving his B-wing between debris. No amount of hours in the simulator could prepare a pilot for a run through the ever-changing Honeycomb. Flicking his gaze between the Wayfinder signal and the storm outside, Chaar was flying as much by instinct as anything.
While the flight through the nebula was wild, it was short-lived. Revenant Squadron and the other Alliance and allied starfighters were soon on the other side, only to face an even greater challenge - the Brotherhood fleet.
“You know the plan,” Chaar declared as he locked his S-foils into the attack position.
Any other commander would call out the mission’s objectives over open comms, but not the Umbaran. He’d spend weeks drilling his wing commanders and squadron leaders on the mission - clear a path for the boarders and drop ships, and keep the enemy away from Lightpoint. The massive Jedi space station was the key to his whole invasion. If his pilots needed reminding why they were here, they didn't deserve to see the mission through.
But, something had changed as Shihon. An awakening, a realisation that there was more to the mission than glory and accolades. There was no true glory in fighting only for yourself if it was at the expense of those you flew with. Revenant Squadron was his family, an acceptance Chaar should have reached years ago. Today, he fought for those friends.
Uncharacteristically, he reopened his Component Commander channel to the Alliance starfighters to offer a rare word of encouragement.
Silhana Cadera Lynne Tal’kira aka Lady Orchid
Alor'ad (Captain), member of the Clan Cadera; Bounty Hunter, Headmistress of the House Orchid and The Bounty Hunters' Guild
FINAL ECLIPSE The Galactic Alliance will annihilate Exegol. // START: FEBUARY 1ST - END: MARCH 1ST // IT ENDS HERE. Valiens Nantaris "How vast a resolve must these people have, time and time again, to face hardship and horror and tragedy and terror, and still take up the mantle of freedom?" -...
Final Eclipse Shadow & Bone N. Kelga'an, Banshee-Actual The Empire Third Sector Defence Forces First Anaxsi Free Brigade -- Second TodHusars Regiment 'Banshee' Company IV Berzingue From Anaxes Ultimate Sprint -- Part I Interacting with: Aron Gowrie Eina L'lerim-Vandiir 878, Donnager...
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One thing is for sure, I really hated this planet. The tiny probe droids were unusable due to the storms in the atmosphere and the fact that the place was highly magnetic due to the metals. With that much power, I could have turned off all the sensors and other systems, because they won't be useful. I was sure that with that much force I could even take off my helmet and throw it away. I didn't know how much it would interfere with the systems and sensors. If the location can interfere with any technology, then only the mechanical parts of the armour will work, nothing with technology.
I have to say, these were not the best views. However, this was precisely the reason why I did not fly all the way up to the plateau, but instead landed in a safer place. I didn't want to crash because I was flying into an ion storm. The plateau was rather bleak and desolate; it reminded me a lot of the place where we first met, only there… Well, there was more of a volcanic setting. This reminded me more of a desert place.
If it hadn't been me, but someone else, someone who wasn't so interested in a personal duel and had ended the fight in some other way, he might have called for an orbital bombardment. Blow up the entire plateau, along with Kralmus. I was much more sophisticated and more interested in the environment. I always tried to work with the least possible damage, because if I didn't care about other people, or their goods, or even nature, then I wouldn't be better than those I hunted.
What I have learned so far about Karlmus Orr is that he has no respect for the concept of a fair fight and tries to use mean methods and mean tricks against others. I was prepared for this; I did not know whether he expected that I should come after him, or that someone else should find him that day; but I tried to prepare myself for the fact that he would set traps here. Wherever the man was, I would have always expected that. After all, he had already set a trap on the Devourer for anyone who would have gone to free the prisoners. I hoped to avoid the traps this time. Especially as I expected them to.
But the truth is, I was not at all prepared for anything like what he had in store for me. One thing's for sure, Kralmus is extremely resourceful and crazy. True, these two things were not mutually exclusive and only made my opponent more dangerous. There was no way to predict what he was going to do. Only the end result was certain, he would cook me or fry me and eat me in the end, if he had already killed me. Although I think I would have even assumed he would start eating someone alive...
But back to the traps and how I expected them. Just not one I've come across. After one step, I heard a metallic sound as I stepped not on a stone or the ground, but on a metal plate. I would have moved on when the next moment I felt that I couldn't move and it was much harder to breathe. My systems immediately indicated that the gravity had increased by at least eight times. To be in the armour, and hold the weapons it was too much and I fell to my knees gasping for air.
I knew what it was, a well-known trap among bounty hunters… and that I had to get out of range before I died. I could hardly move, all my muscles were screaming in pain from the pressure of gravity… and I was scrambling to get out of the trap's range on all fours.
Ira's battlegroup stood in the void of space ready and waiting for the enemy to hit the planet, they had already formed up in to a rough wedge formation hopefully facing where the enemy would come from. Ira was feeling trepidation it had been many years since he'd taken part in a battle as large as the one to come but the captain turned Angel took the myriad of feelings as a good thing it meant he was still alive. Closing his eyes for a moment Ira felt Bellum Canis around him, he could feel everything going on in the massive ship from Holy Knights going through last minute checks of the transport craft all the way to crewmen going about their business.
He'd already gone through the battle plan with his allies it was Ira's job to plunge deep into the enemies formations and cause chaos with broadsides and boarding parties weather his battlegroup would be able to get that close was another matter entirely, from what Ira had heard the opposing fleet that was coming was massive however they would not find Ira wanting.
She had abandoned this all, left the Maw and Rhand bull crude behind her. Sith, Jedi, and whatever insane ideology the Galaxy thought was cool this week. Even the Imperials that had taken her adoptive homeworld of Dathomir hadn't matter in a year or more now. She had forgotten about the war and the petty blood feud Michael Barran
had declared on each other. All of this had been left behind her she had chosen life over endless bloodshed decide to travel the Galaxy with the bounty Hunter @ Lancer "Deadlock" Inek . Yet all roads eventually led you back home or to your roots. She was born in Hell fire and she new she would die in it as that all she ever knew.
A projected image of Farun a Rhand sorcerer she had worked with many times came up beside her as looked down on the battlefield from a small spire on one of the ruins in the western courtyard. He looked down where Khaos's eyes where peering. "The Sorcerer's are all here ready for your orders a thousand strong." Khaos just nodded as she looked down on imperial, Maw, and Alliance camps with a smattering of other groups. She then looked towards the citadel for a moment before returning her eyes to the main battle grounds or at least where it would all start. In her mind she was think of the best strategy she knew what the goal was but how to get there was the tricky part.
Farun spoke again. "We could let them do the heavy lifting." He said pointing to one of the imperial encampments. "Let them take on the Maw forces, then while they are engaged strike." It could work Khaos thought to herself but a bit messy as the Imperials would no doubt consider them Maw as they had been up until this point. It would have been a lot easier if her Mother Tegan Starfall
hadn't declared everyone fit for death. Then again the Maw didn't know they had gone rogue yet, it was a boon and a curse. "Alright, as they fully engage the Maw have Braktus bring in the heavies from the north and start laying waste heavy equipment on the battle field."
As soon as she said that Farun interrupted with a quip. "You know he really isn't happy you have in charge of Swarm Droids and Tanks. He wants to be down there in the think of things." Khaos just smirked to say of course he does the giant loved the thick of it. "He will have to do with what he is given he is the only one I trust in that position. When he comes in dropping the heavies, Grahm and the scarred men come the east but hold back on the surprise that will act as clean up."
"And what of us? Do you want us to act as support?" Farun asked. "No we need an opening hopefully Braktus and Grahm can give you that. You know your orders from on high, I can't change them even if I wanted to. A lot of people are going to die here today, people I know some of them are good people others are bastards that deserve it. I will act as support if need be you just be ready for your push plus we have the surprise ready if I have to pull the trigger early I will." With that Farun disappeared to go pass on the orders. Khaos continued watching the camps wonder where that one bastard might be hiding. Even though she had put all this behind her she wanted to see Michael suffer just one last laugh before it all ended.
Nathan slept on the cheap mattress of the barely restored main office aboard the Luxury Station close to the Qi-Ko System. It orbited the main star at a safe, survivable distance.
His nightmares dominated his sleep. Images of his wife Lysandra being mummified as her soul was devoured by Darth Phyre.
His green eyes opened as a case of gear was dropped next to his Mattress by Moya Virtu
.
Nathan rose, rubbed his eyes. Moya had watched him scream in his sleep occasionally.
"What's this?" Nathan asked.
"New gear." she answered.
He opened the case, pulled out a set of armored robes, the armored parts were colored black, the robes parts a dark blue.
"Where'd you get it?" Nathan asked.
"You really should look at the inventory of the groups you join." she chided. "I ordered one on your behalf."
Nathan spotted a dark blue temple guard mask.
"I see you've deduced I had a Temple Guard in the Family..." Nathan said with a scowl. "Didn't I warn you about not attempting a psychoanalysis of me?"
Moya snorted. "I didn't need to use my admittedly extensive Database on the subject for you. Your demeanor gives it away. Only Temple Guard training does that. But you're a...what, second, third generation product of an extremely archaic variant of it. One practiced on ancient Ession and later abandoned because the results were too good for their own good."
"I should have known to be suspicious when I saw you bringing home all those history books." Nathan muttered.
Moya shrugged. "We may not be friends, Nathan, but we can't work together hating each other."
"I don't hate you." Nathan corrected. "I see you merely as the product of my Master's failed gambit, put in a compromised position when it's programming was given conflicting orders. Whose emotions got in the way of logic and doing the right thing."
Nathan lowered his gaze.
"Your mistakes are similar to my own." he added bitterly.
"What were yours, Nathan?" Moya asked.
"Primarily? One, singular moment of spite." Nathan answered, grabbing a scavenged training Lightsaber Staff with Non-Lethal white blades.
Moya took that as a cue and grabbed her own training Lightsaber.
Nathan had been surprising her the last few days, with how quickly he picked up on Lightsaber techniques. Of course, given he was Laertia's father, she supposed she shouldn't be as surprised as she was.
He had even recently developed the ability to jump with the Force so she had begun showing him the basics of Ataru.
As she expected, his aggressive mindset had taken to it easily and she found that as sloppy at it as he was, even she found him cagey enough to employ more caution than usual, especially when he was using a saberstaff. She defeated him in every bout of course but he was starting to get closer and closer to scoring a glancing blow. But what sabotaged his ability to use it was his lack of Force Speed. But it's aggression could still be used to a limited degree so it's basics were useful to know as she spun and somersaulted around and away and towards her flicking spins of his staff parried by Moya's almost lazy movements in response.
His preference for staff type weapons had also been a hint as to the type of training he had undergone.
Nathan was constantly moving, his father's lessons starting to come back to him more and more as he struck at her as fast as he could, his usual grim expression harder in the light of his vlade
White blades swung through the air, intercepting each other...Moya was caught off guard though by a sudden teleport strike (a nasty habit Laertia had seemingly inherited from him, suddenly vanishing and reappearing next to an exposed side, though troublingly, she noted Nathan was capable of getting MUCH closer to a person than his daughter could when he did this).
The next thing that really caught her by surprise, was when his movements accelerated to a superhuman blur and she was using Force Speed to compensate, noticing he had at last scored a glancing blow on her side. She immediately managed to retaliate by disarming him with an equally swift series of blows and holding him at sword point.
"Laertia cannot run and jump with the Force. You exceed her in this capability...you have an advantage."
"I had the same limitation she did once. All in my bloodline have had it. I...am uncertain how I have overcome it..." Nathan said in an uncertain tone.
"Maybe whatever brought you back rewired your brain." Moya theorized. "Attack me again."
Nathan shook his head. "No more for now Moya. I'm genuinely too exhausted."
Ten minutes later...
Nathan was unable to enjoy the feeling of warm water hitting him as he showered. He rarely enjoyed much of anything these days. He had the same grim face showering as he did eating, as he did fighting.
He exited the barely restored shower stall, dried himself, put on a change of clothes...and found himself in a white void, where he was suddenly wearing the black biker leathers he was normally seen in.
He turned around and saw a familiar face that made him freeze, wearing a white catsuit that was so skintight it looked painted on. It was a face he had seen at a distance as a teenager, cutting down his mother Natalya.
It was the youthful guise of Elaine Tear, now called The Battalion
.
"Hello, Morris. It's been a long time."
"We have nothing to discuss." Nathan snapped, a gasket in his sanity already threatening to blow at the sight of her.
"Now, that's not exactly true, is it? Considering all that we've done to one another."
"I take full responsibility for selling you out to the Cult, and I'm honestly sorry I did it. It would have been better if I had just killed you and dealt with the consequences. Because at least they would have ended with me. But that doesn't change what you are. It doesn't change the fact you murdered my mother and father. It sure as hell doesn't change the fact you took my daughter as your lover. Or that you are a murderous abomination that must be killed now, if only to put you out of your misery."
"Marrying Laertia wasn't about revenge." The Battalion replied calmly. "As hard as this might be for you to believe, she makes me happy."
"You can be happy with her in hell, because I am going to send you both there."
"Really?" The Battalion asked, slinking closer. "Can you do it? Cut down your own child?"
"Yes. She chose the Cult over her own Mother dying to protect her. She deserves you at this point."
"You want to be angry at someone? You should be angry at the Jedi. She was a deadly enemy of this Cult once. She killed us in droves. It took the Jedi Order's Fanaticism to destroy the latest crumbling Sith Empire at the expense of the Bryn'adul wiping out billions on a daily basis for her to see through their lies and come to us for help stopping them when they wouldn't and couldn't be bothered to. Is that something even you, the by-the-booker to end all by-the-bookers, could have tolerated? Admit it, Morris...you'd have told them to go to hell the same way she did."
"Not to the point of murdering other Jedi." Nathan growled, scowl growing into an expression of disgust.
"Are you so sure? You did it where I was concerned..." The Battalion replied slyly. "The capacity was in you. It's just your daughter was more accepting of reality around her. Did your sources also tell you she is directly responsible for the Destruction of two different superweapons? That she took in millions of refugees and trained them up so they wouldn't have to depend on Jedi to protect them? That she destroyed one of the prime headquarters of a Genocidal band of anarchists? What about her actions at Sev Tok causing among the highest Bryn'adul casualties and arguably prevented Kashyyyk from being invaded? You know how she did all that? By casting off the shackles of the Jedi. The same way you helped me cast off mine."
Nathan was silent, stomach turning at the poison exiting the lips of the corrupted Elaine and into his ears, which had a disturbing ring of truth to them.
"You were expecting hatred, weren't you? No. I'm grateful to you." The Battalion said sincerely, smiling. "The Cult stripped away all the lies. Allowed me to be me. Allowed your daughter to be herself. Her truest self. This is not The Gulag Era, Morris. Things are not as they once were. Even the Cult has changed to a degree...why are you fighting on the Jedi's side anymore? They haven't changed. They're the same arrogant bastards they were before and during the Plague. The 400 year darkness taught them absolutely nothing."
Nathan was silent.
"Darth Solipsis never understood the true folly in his ritual on Tython, trying to rewrite everything so the Darkness triumphs constantly... Reality already does that. This is the Galaxy where the Jedi Order can ultimately never win. There's so many places for the darkness to hide and fester it's an eternal game of whack-a-gizka that the Jedi Order has been reduced to. You can buy Alchemized Items by Mail Order. If that is not a sign they have completely failed, nothing is. Please, Morris. Why fight the inevitable? You'll be a gopher at best amongst them."
"Better a gopher than a monster." Nathan responded quietly.
"We'll see if you still believe that after a few years of trying to work for them." The Battalion countered slinking closer. "Provided you last that long."
Nathan flinched as The Battalion clasped his shoulders.
"I tried to save your life once, and you refused to listen. And where did it lead you?" The Battalion questioned. "To your personal ruin and damnation. Why repeat the mistakes of the past? Why not make a clean break with it? I can feel your boiling hatred of the Cult. All we did is what we do best: We took your little plan, and we turned it on itself (I'M NOT WEARING HOCKEY PADS!: 700 XP)."
Nathan felt sick to his stomach.
"I don't want to destroy you, Morris. And for what it's worth, I genuinely do apologize for what happened in the Nightingale Plains...you would be welcome amongst us. You would no longer be trapped by the Jedi Way. No longer stuck in cold, just solitude."
"I'm going to kill all of you." Nathan replied icily and quietly, voice barely above a whisper.
The Battalion looked at him with a gaze that disturbingly reminded Nathan of empathy.
"Your daughter vowed the same things once. And as with her, we shall let the hypocrisy and arrogance of your own allies do our arguing for us." The Battalion replied. "But if you would fight us...then it is no challenge to kill you now. I would rather face you at full power. Perhaps Exegol will give you perspective on why your loyalties are misplaced. Or perhaps you shall die there, having bitten off more than you can chew. Either way..."
She clasped his head before he could pull away and Nathan was jolted back to reality, having been standing stock still in the shower room.
He shook his head, cursing...The Battalion had unlocked a few memories.
I want you at your full strength, Morris... he heard her whisper in his head. Consider this an investment in the duel of a lifetime down the road...
(Fallen Order Upgrade Sound Plays)
(Nathan has recovered lost abilities and gained new ones, though both training with Moya and interference by The Battalion)
Power: FORCE JUMP
Allows user to jump to supernatural degrees. As skill grows, greater heights can be reached and surfaces can be rebounded off of.
Power: FORCE SPEED
Allows user to move supernaturally fast. As skill grows, greater speeds can be reached and vertically aligned surfaces can be run on for a short time
Skill: NIMAN
Sixth Form of Lightsaber Combat. Most balanced of the styles. Tends to incorporate the Force into attacks
Skill: ATARU
Fourth form of Lightsaber Combat, incorporating almost pure offense and acrobatics
Nathan left that shower incredibly disturbed.
Present...
Landing on the outskirts of the Forbidden Zone with a bunch of GADF soldiers via drop pods, a fully disguised Nathan, still a fringe member of multiple groups including the Wild Knights of the RTL, wasted no time getting shot at. The blue blades of his saberstaff, lent themselves very easily to blaster bolt deflection, Nathan's response passive as he used Form three, deflecting the bolts back at their source as he advanced through the streets, the Soldiers behind him taking shots at whoever his deflected bolts missed as they made their way to the citadel, being part of an advance team to breach and search and destroy.
Nathan's staff was more of a shield than a weapon, focused more on protecting his allies than killing his enemies as they got closer amidst the brutal fighting...but already they had lost a few. Nathan had never been to such a place of sheer evil other than Korriban.
Location: Exegol, Hon Zduul Plateau Engaging: Silhana Cadera
Kralmus reveals a hidden bonfire and lights it, preparing to cook and eat Silhana
He approaches her with his repulse-hand raised, intending to use it in combination with the gravity trap to crush her to death
"Now, now, Pinkie," Kralmus chided, clucking his tongue like a scolding schoolteacher. "Is that any way to greet an old friend?"
The cannibal laughed - a high, shrill, nasal sound that seemed at odds with his hulking physique. He emerged from the crevasse like a spider scuttling out of its burrow, drawn by the vibrations of prey trapped in its web. The mad Mandalorian was even more heavily armed than usual - a two-handed vibroaxe slung across his back, a pair of contained energy axes belted at his hips, pistols strapped to his armored thighs, and a bandolier full of grenades and other nasty tricks across his chest. There was no point in holding anything back, after all. This was the end - of the Maw, of Exegol, and of Kralmus Orr. There was no tomorrow, so why not set off the whole firework show at once?
"I hear you've been looking for me," he went on, walking unhurriedly across the plateau to where she was trapped. "I'm flattered." He chuckled again, a mad little giggle. There had been hints of rationality in him before, some sliver of self-preservation left in his animalistic mind, but that was gone now. He had accepted that there was no escape, that his fate was decided. Now all he cared about was taking one last bite out of the galaxy on the way down, leaving behind as much misery and blood as he could in a final feth you to those who had cornered him. "You've even thoughtfully tenderized yourself for me," he said, watching Silhana struggle in the crushing gravity trap.
"So kind of you. A man's last meal is important, you know. It ought to be perfect."
Kralmus stopped halfway across the rocky outcrop and reached down, into the ashen dust. His armored hand closed over the edge of the camouflage tarp he had laid there, and he pulled it away, revealing what he'd been hiding: a huge cooking pit had been dug into the plateau, four meters in diameter. He must have blasted it out of the rock with explosives. It was full of wooden kindling, a bonfire just below the surface. He was a traditionalist - he liked that woodsmoke flavor on the sentient meat he devoured. "I brought the firewood all the way from Evaar'la Yaim," he told Silhana, a note of pride in his voice. "You'll roast over pine logs from where we first met. Romantic, no?"
The cannibal pulled an incendiary grenade from his bandolier, primed it, and dropped it into the middle of the bonfire.
Whoooooooosh. The wood caught flame instantly, bathing the plateau in flickering firelight, casting sinister shadows against the rock walls. Kralmus turned and walked away from the cooking pit, stalking toward Silhana once more. His weapons remained holstered, but he raised one hand - the very hand that had been blown off, along with his entire forearm, by a grenade back on Argovia. The cybernetic replacement for that limb was a repulse-hand, a horrific gravity weapon that could shred flesh and pulverize bone, rigged to function through his beskar gauntlet. Combined with the force of the gravity trap, it would surely crush Silhana to pulp unless she managed to escape.
"I want you inside me," Kralmus whispered, drooling a little in his helmet. He raised the repulse-hand.
Gold Squadron seemed like a good bunch, friendly enough and not showing any disdain for the new commander that had been foisted on them at the last moment. When Jack had found them, they were in a small hut they'd constructed between four parked Y-Wings. Some lay on bunks, some sat on crates, but they were all present. He went around and spoke with each of them in turn, and tried to answer their questions. Only one, that from a young pilot from Corellia, a man named Orj Tainer, Gold Nine, bore a group answer. "Sir, we're going to Exegol. Do you think we can survive what's coming?"
Jack nodded, and answered confidently. "Yes, we can. We're a team, and we're gonna look out for each other. Exegol is just another place. No matter how dark and dangerous it gets, none of us will face it alone. We've got this." Nods from the older more experienced pilots backed up their new commander. The younger pilots took in the advice, which was soon to be tested in battle.
Now
Between the masses of capital ships posturing to exchange fire, the lightning crackling across Exegol's thick atmosphere, and the unnatural dim glow of local space, Exegol was not for the faint hearted. Jack actually found the responsibility of command to be a relief under these circumstances, he didn't have time or luxury of his own fears. He had to manage his squadron, and keep them on task. He began to feel the sense of dread lift, and be replaced with a feeling of calm resolve. He couldn't know it was Jedi Battle Meditation affecting him and his squadron, but it was there. He did feel a bit better. Which was good, because targets were coming up.
Their squadron of Y-Wings could have been easily lost among the thousands of starfighters and capital ships now packing into local Exegol space. Minutes after their arrival, ships were still coming out of lightspeed. Both the side of the Galactic Alliance and the side of the opposition were clearly throwing everything into this battle. Jack hoped it would be enough, that those in charge knew what they were doing, and that the side of light and good and freedom won the day. He and Gold Squadron would do their small part in the large plan.
Enemy fighters were on them as the fleets clashed above the home of the Sith. Well drilled, the Y-wings avoided the close passes of the TIEs, allowing their escorts, the X-wings and assorted fighters to deal with their enemy counterparts. The Y-wings were rugged and durable, and they were not for the fighter screen. Jack held his course, checking to see that all eleven craft were still with him. They were. More TIEs came at them, and A-wings slashed through and past the bombers, keeping the way clear.
Gold Nine broke radio silence acrosss the squadron frequency. "We've got this. It's just one more battle, isn't it. We've got this." He too was feeling the positive effect of the Battle Meditation, and so Jack went easy on the young pilot. "Appreciate the sentiments, Nine. Now, let's see to our first business of the day." Jack, with Ria's astromech wizardry, sent the target coordinates to his squadron. Now they could all see their target on their own monitors. It was a big target. But it was what the Y-wings were designed and built to destroy.
Jack spoke over the Command frequency. "This is Gold Leader. We are starting our attack run." Twelve Y-wings bored in towards their primary target. An enemy command ship. Exegol and the titanic battle raging above it spread out below them, and above them. Local space was packed with capital ships and swarms of fightercraft. Each had their own mission to achieve today on behalf of the Galactic Alliance. He brought his Y-wing onto a level course, holding his nose on the target. The final approach was the most vulnerable point of any bombing run. This was it. They were committed now.
Ziare Dyarron | Keilara Kala'myr | Mercy | Freedom Mongrel's Shadow and his widow; Matriarch of the Scar Hounds Tribe; Guardian of Mongrel's armour and sword
FINAL ECLIPSE The Galactic Alliance will annihilate Exegol. // START: FEBUARY 1ST - END: MARCH 1ST // IT ENDS HERE. Valiens Nantaris "How vast a resolve must these people have, time and time again, to face hardship and horror and tragedy and terror, and still take up the mantle of freedom?" -...
Final Eclipse Shadow & Bone N. Kelga'an, Banshee-Actual The Empire Third Sector Defence Forces First Anaxsi Free Brigade -- Second TodHusars Regiment 'Banshee' Company IV Berzingue From Anaxes Ultimate Sprint -- Part I Interacting with: Aron Gowrie Eina L'lerim-Vandiir 878, Donnager...
Final Eclipse Shadow & Bone N. Kelga'an, Banshee-Actual The Empire Third Sector Defence Forces First Anaxsi Free Brigade -- Second TodHusars Regiment 'Banshee' Company IV Berzingue From Anaxes Ultimate Sprint -- Part I Interacting with: Aron Gowrie Eina L'lerim-Vandiir 878, Donnager...
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~ Mercy ~
Manifold didn't answer, but he didn't need to; even though I wasn't Force sensitive, I only belonged to the Force-attunement category, despite that I felt things. Mostly because I actually had Force-based abilities back in the Nether. Maybe just because Freedom was once an Omni drone. I do not know; nor whether that previous state is responsible for my having some sense of the Force. Or that my mother was a Sith Lord. True, I owe my telepathic abilities to her, and no one else. Umbaran DNA with which he changed himself. I hated her as much as I hated Tu'teggacha.
And yet I owe the greatest meaning of my life to those whom I hated. If it wasn't for the Taskmaster, I would never have woken up. Without my mother, I would never have had telepathic and empathic abilities, and Asher and I would never have become close. We probably never wanted each other. True, then I would not have suffered like this, I would have only accepted his death; maybe I would have challenged Thomas because I would think it was my place to lead the Scar Hounds Tribe. There were so many maybes; I didn't know what would have happened then either. It didn't matter, it wasn't going to happen. And I didn't play with the idea either.
When I sensed his approach, I stood to the side so he wouldn't bump into me. Moments later he was here. He didn't even say hello, but from his words it seemed that I didn't even need to tell him where we had to go, because he already knew. Of course, the Taskmaster was a Force user, as was the Manifold. And the former drone is quite powerful, so it was able to sense him when they were on the same planet. I didn't even think about that before. But at least this way we won't lose Tu'teggacha. I was able to track where he was through the twins, but Manifold being able to track the man exactly is even more accurate.
I thought we would have a few more minutes to talk things over before going into the compound where I had been held for weeks before the birth of the twins, where they had saved my life. But it seemed not, as Manifold had already opened another portal on the wall of the lobby. I really didn't care if Tu'teggacha died, although if he was a drone and could suffer for a long time, it would be more poetic justice. However, since we didn't have much time, before we left I touched the drone's arm to make it pay attention to me, while I took something out of one of the pockets of my armour. I've been preparing in advance for the past few days.
"One moment, Manifold. Before we go, I want to give you this. If I were to die, I don't want you to be left without a salary, to be alone. This is Freedom, I have already separated her from myself. If you want, you can melt her into yourself, just break the crystal on yourself and she will become one with you. Or build her a body in the gardens and put her in it. In that case, she will be a normal drone again and... and the two of you can rebuild your body together." I held out a soul crystal with a purple glow to Manifold, it was partially glowed and a soul swirled inside it, one part of me, Freedom. "She's not corrupted, so you don't have to be alone anymore."
Freedom was Force-sensitive and a Force-user, so Manifold could probably easily identify her and know that I wasn't lying and that she was really getting what I promised. When he took the crystal, I took out the two rift-blades and stepped through the portal to the familiar place. I began to telepathically search for Taskmaster, then headed in the direction I sensed him and the twins. Alarms would probably be going off in no time, so I had already notified him of our arrival…
~ The Shadow War will end today, Tu'teggacha. Did you really think I was going to leave the twins here with you? And I brought with me two gentlemen who hate you as much as I do. Today you face all the horrors you have done. ~ I told him telepathically.
~ Keilara ~ "You're just as handsome in real life as you are in the mind palace." I laughed through tears as he held me tight.
But now they were tears of happiness and joy; I think it was the most beautiful and wonderful experience of my life when we first touched each other's hands and then embraced each other. The first time I could finally really feel the warmth of his body, his delicate and soft embrace, his scent. For these minutes, we were like an ordinary everyday couple, normal people. Now I didn't disappear after a few moments, the ring helped me too. For a long time, I wanted to cry from happiness that it finally happened. It's the most ordinary thing to someone else, but it meant everything to us. Also the beginning of a new life. The Maw took everything from him, the Sith from me.
But we did it, we beat them, even if only in our own way. I have not read or heard of many people who were able to do this. And I felt that for the first time his desire to live that I missed so much had returned. Maybe he hadn't dared to hope for it until now, but now here was the physical proof that it was possible. I kissed her gently before I spoke. Thanks to the bond between the two of us, I could almost feel what he was thinking on my skin, and it was so nice to feel the warmth of his body and his scent. It's really her scent and not just what we imagined.
"It's just the beginning if you endure another move to get into a new mind… Mercy wanted them to clone a body for Asher once they left the Maw. We can do this, for you too. A raw clone, about thirty years old when the Maw took you. Mercy can transfer you there and you get everything back. And he would do the same to me, a clone of this body. We could really be free, just us, and then not only would the twins be there, but we could also have our own children." I told him daydreaming and blushing a little.
This didn't seem impossible either, but an achievable goal. And Mercy was getting better at moving minds and personalities. Because she removed Freedom. This gave Kallan and I even more space, if I may say so. Like when a blanket is changed to an even bigger one and you can stretch under it. This meant we could get even stronger over time… And finally, we come to the final day, when Mercy faces off against Tu'teggacha.
~ I know it's over soon. But I'm still afraid of that, and I worry about you. Now that our dream is so close and for the first time I really see the possibility of it not being just a dream but a reality… ~ I told him.
I smiled at his words about what will happen when this is over. How I wanted this. To be with him in such a way that we don't have to be afraid anymore, just relax and enjoy each other's company and our life together. I returned his smile, even though I wasn't happy about the darkness.
~ So be it! I am with you even in the dark, I follow you wherever you go. And I'll do my best to get you out of there, like I always do. I will not let darkness and hatred consume you. I won't let you become a monster because you are the most decent and honest person I know. I will not leave you alone in these minutes either, I will support you, I will be with you and I will try to protect you, at any cost. ~ I whispered and stroked his face with my hand. ~ Remember, you are not alone and we are one. You are not alone anymore and you never will be, you don't have to walk this journey and path alone. No matter what will happen, we'll do it together. ~
'Something tells me it's going to get a little spicy this time, perhaps even Tython-spicy - good job we landed close to the action.... Makes it easier to bug out when if we complete our objective, though I dare say that's the only certainty we can rely on here.'- Michael Barran
Sahar listened to the man with her arms crossed, watching intently ahead; she knew his father from the various moribund posters that had doted the imperial streets for many years; you could hardly escape Erskine, even when you were a knight. The Galidraani elder was larger than life and had been one of imperialism's most stalwart sons, a figure she greatly admired and respected.
"Hmmm, you don't say," she muttered under her breath, looking to either side where other knights flanked her. It had been a while since Sahar had graced the battlefield, having been reprimanded and sent into exile for a time for showing a lack of respect towards other imperial generals and repeatedly disobeying orders to get at those who she had a vendetta against, real or perceived. She'd proven her penance for such stupidity and returned with a bigger vengeance than ever before. They'd learn to fear her again like Kyell did, as Dagon did. They'd come to know who she was again.
There was little to do on the transport aside from waiting. Wait for the surface of Exegol to emerge, wait for the shuttle door to slide open and spill them onto the battlefield. The closer they drew, the more poignant the ichor of the Dark became. A rigid, courtly upbringing kept Cora from squirming in her seat uncomfortably. Xa Fel and Selvaris had reeked of the Dark as well, and she'd managed to survive them.
Steady, meditative breathing kept her upright and focused. The Padawan drew strength from the Light of her allies, and for now it kept the nerves to the periphery of her mind.
Cora met Jand’s less than enthused gaze with a gracious smile, unable to help the spark of surprise that flickered across her expression. She'd gotten the impression that the Nagai was not her biggest fan, so it was nice to see him coming around.
The corner of her polite smile twitched, but it did not otherwise falter.
"Thank you, Jand. I'll keep that in mind."
A hollow smile for a vague sentiment.
“Let us all complete our respective tasks swiftly and return to Coruscant in one piece.”
Jand seemed subtly comfortable with Silas and Ichika Masudo
, which indeed confirmed that he was capable of emotion. The elder Padawan had likely been paired with her due to his superior experience. She would've much preferred to work with Silas, but wouldn't let her mild displeasure hinder their mission.
The shuttle rocked to a halt, and the door hissed open to deposit Strike Team Tano onto the outskirts of the forbidden district. Sounds of combat could already be heard further into the fray.
Bringing her hand just above her brow, Cora squinted due east into the distance.
Silhana Cadera Lynne Tal’kira aka Lady Orchid
Alor'ad (Captain), member of the Clan Cadera; Bounty Hunter, Headmistress of the House Orchid and The Bounty Hunters' Guild
FINAL ECLIPSE The Galactic Alliance will annihilate Exegol. // START: FEBUARY 1ST - END: MARCH 1ST // IT ENDS HERE. Valiens Nantaris "How vast a resolve must these people have, time and time again, to face hardship and horror and tragedy and terror, and still take up the mantle of freedom?" -...
Final Eclipse Shadow & Bone N. Kelga'an, Banshee-Actual The Empire Third Sector Defence Forces First Anaxsi Free Brigade -- Second TodHusars Regiment 'Banshee' Company IV Berzingue From Anaxes Ultimate Sprint -- Part I Interacting with: Aron Gowrie Eina L'lerim-Vandiir 878, Donnager...
"Multiple hostile forces detected in orbit!" "The High Regent has engaged with the Alliance fleet!" "Jedi are attempting to breach the upper atmosphere. Do not let them break through to the shipyards or the Citadel. The ritual must succeed at all costs!" Orders, warnings, commands. They rang...
"Multiple hostile forces detected in orbit!" "The High Regent has engaged with the Alliance fleet!" "Jedi are attempting to breach the upper atmosphere. Do not let them break through to the shipyards or the Citadel. The ritual must succeed at all costs!" Orders, warnings, commands. They rang...
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<"I could ask you that too!"> I continued to grumble. <"No lady should be greeted in such an impolite manner!">
Well, not even if they want to eat the Lady. At first I didn't even see where it might be, I only heard the direction of his voice, although it also sounded like it was bouncing off some wall. Okay, I admit that I didn't really pay attention to him because I was trying with all my might to climb out of the gravity field, which wasn't that easy. I have never practised combat or anything else in such extreme conditions. There were extreme conditions, but not so extreme.
Here, it was like my legs had to support nearly 450 kg instead of my usual weight, not to mention that it was like having to wear nearly a hundred kilograms of armour instead of my own. And then I haven't even factored the weight of the various weapons into that. My heart was beating fast, but I felt like I could hardly breathe and I started to feel dizzy. If I pass out, I will surely die. No, not because Kralmus kills me, I think gravity will kill me before he does.
But in the end, I couldn't help but notice him even if I didn't want to. Because he appeared right in the middle of my field of vision and came towards me. He had so many weapons, if I had detonated one of them, all the others would have exploded with it, and he would die in it. I could already see from his movements and body language that he was crazy. I mean, now even more so. And his words revealed that he knew he was going to die today and had nothing to lose. This whole thing here, it was personal. And he will do whatever it takes to cause as much damage and destruction as possible. Even if it only kills me and doesn't harm anyone else.
<"Don't get your hopes up, Kralmus! I'm not doing this for you, I'm trying to make the world safer from people like you!"> I grumbled.
Last meal…
<"I hope you ate a lot before you came here, because that was your last meal, not this one!"> I told him.
I was still sick at the thought of him trying to eat me. I managed to take two steps forward on the platform, but then stopped with gasping. I could feel the sweat running down my back and face from the exertion. But now I seemed to have a few moments, because now he proudly showed me what he had done, and there was a pride in his voice when he told me where the pine came from. A ready kitchen up here on the plateau. It was much crazier than last time. I didn't even injure his head last time. Let's just say it wouldn't have been easy to improve or even worsen his state of mind and his insanity.
<"Oh, so do you like me after all?"> I taunted him. <"But I think that you still have something to improve from romance, a glass of wine, candles... maybe warm bath water sprinkled with rose petals.">
I was still trying to muster up the strength to go on, but it wasn't that easy. Kralmus then lit the fire. I have to say that his attentiveness is surprising. If he did it in a really romantic way, by inviting me to dinner, that is, without me being the main course, I would be impressed, honestly. But the current situation was far from anything romantic. Finally, he turned away from the "kitchen" and walked towards me, raising his hand. This is no joke at all.
I could have said that if he hits me with that, I won't even be good for minced meat, or there will be nothing left of me, because I will explode. It would have been an absurd sentence, even if it were all true. My stomach flipped at his words, but I still tried to mock him. If I remember correctly, he was partially distracted last time by this too, or shared his attention to laugh at them, or to think about what to answer back.
<"I think that in your great hurry you switched the pronouns! Although irrelevant, in both cases my answer is NO!"> I told him.
However, I couldn't go any further, there was only one solution left. It will be roughly a slingshot effect. The jetpack will have to exert a lot more energy here than when I break free, and even if I turn it off, I can still fly quite far and the impact wouldn't be too pleasant. But maybe…
Don't just hurt me, but him too. I turned into Kralmus' direction and looked at his raised hand. The next moment I activated the jet-pack at full power. For the first few moments I had a hard time getting off the ground due to the high gravity, but the moment I was out of range of the trap I suddenly accelerated, much faster than I should have been moving. I flew uncontrollably in the direction of Kralmus…
"We're detecting enemy craft emerging from hyperspace in orbit!"
"Imperial Forces have been detected at the outskirts of the Forbidden District!"
"We have confirmation that several Mawite Warships have been boarded by the Jedi!"
Almost suddenly, the sound of blaster fire and explosions could be heard all around Sularen's Fleet as enemy forces began to clash with Mawite Defenders all around Exegol, both in the atmosphere and on the surface. The Prophet itself was being overwhelmed with numerous alerts, warnings and distress signals as the full might of the Galactic Alliance along with other factions opposed to the Maw descended upon the Throneworld of the Maw. Fortunately for him, Sularen's forces were still far away from most of the fighting as they remained in position above the Forbbiden District where it stood ready to provide close air support to cover the Final Dawn's evacuation as well as to provide nearby Mawite Forces with any support against the advancing forces of the Galactic Alliance.
"So the Galactic Alliance has come, at last" Sularen simply stated. "It's not only the Alliance, sir. We've detected forces from the Empire, the Ashlan Crusade, the Eternal Empire and even the Sith Order." Rackham pointed out. "Of-course, those vultures all want a piece of the Maw. In time they will be shown the price of their greed." Sularen responded. "One of their targets will be our Shipyards within the Forbidden District. Alert all our forces and prepare the fleet for any hostile attack." Sularen said. He then turned to Vonreg and proceeded to speak once more. "Baron, the Alliance must not be allowed to secure starfighter superiority." the High Regent added. "I'll make sure of it, sir" Vonreg responded as he put on his helmet and proceeded to leave the bridge.
Sularen then checked a datapad attached to his command chair to see how much progress his forces had made in the evacuation of the shipyards within the Forbidden District. So far, the evacuation was 78% completed and there had been no sort of interruptions so far, but the High Regent knew too well that the relative ease in which his forces had been able to evacuate the shipyard personnel would not last for long. However with the presence of his large fleet above the Forbidden District, he was certain he would be able to evacuate at least 90% of the shipyard personnel which was more then enough to carry on his plans for Project : Redoubt in the aftermath of the Battle on Exegol.
Then Sularen's datapad started beeping quickly notifying him of an incoming attack. He then looked towards the viewports of the Prophet's Bridge and saw the source of the attack, a squadron of twelve Y-Wings lining up to attack his ship. Throughout the dorsal portion of the Prophet, gun crews began manning their stations as dozens of Point Defense Laser Canons and Ion Canons as well as numerous Autoblasters began aiming at the Y-Wings locking on to their targets and waiting for them to get into range. As soon as they would enter in range of the Prophet, all the Point-Defense Weapons and the Autoblasters would open fire unleashing a barrage of anti-starfighter weaponry upon the attacking Y-Wings in the hopes of annihilating them before they could even land a shot on the Prophet.
"So, it begins..." Sularen said. The fighting had finally reached his forces, and in time, the Galactic Alliance would be reminded of the growing power of the Final Dawn, that regardless of their numerous attempts to break their power, that regardless of how the Maw burned all around them, the Final Dawn would emerge victorious ready to begin it's long journey towards it's ascension as a new galactic superpower. Just as the High Regent had foreseen.
From His vantage point, He could see the Alliance strike teams beginning to take root. Swarms of Mawite cultists and monsters rushed to fill the breeches made by the landing soldiers and Jedi, but their power and skill was woefully inadequate in comparison to the righteous warriors that stood against them. In time, the tide of darkness would be stymied and the gates to the Forbidden District would be taken; the way laid bare for further incursion. It all felt very familiar to the Dark Lord, who had seen many worlds fall to the Jedi in such a manner.
Exegol would be no different, He reckoned.
Still, time would need to be bought in order for His loyalists to secure whatever He required. To that end, the Dark Lord affixed a sneering helmet down over His head and allowed it to lock into place. Power immediately flooded His body, the negative emotions spilling out all across the star system channeling through His helmet and into Him. It was intoxicating, and a lesser Sith would've lost themselves to the sensation, but the Dark Lord was far more experienced than the vast majority of Sith left in the galaxy. He would not succumb.
Leaping down from the citadel ramparts, Carnifex sailed through the air; buoyed by the power of the Dark Side. His landing would not go unnoticed, for the beasts of the Maw made little distinction between friend, foe, or bystander. He scattered those that turned their weapons and talons against Him with a wave, a blast of lightning racing out from His fingertips to reduce them to ash and char. He paid the smoldering corpses little thought, for they were utterly beneath His notice.
It was the Jedi strike team ahead that intrigued the Dark Lord the most, He sensed a few familiar souls among them. Like the predators of His destroyed homeworld, the Dark Lord would stalk the outer edges of the conflict and isolate them, drawing them away, and snuffing them out as He pleased. The first were soldiers, their legs pulled out from under them before they were dragged through the throng of Mawite cultists, their panicked cries cut short by a vicious red blade.
A Jedi fell next, the Dark Lord appearing from the shadows to batter down their defenses, spearing them through the heart before melting back into shadow. When next He deigned to reveal Himself, His crimson blade was swinging down towards a brown-haired Jedi, her back turned towards Him.
) 
