Dominion Gunboat Diplomacy | EE Dominion of Bakura

[Frontier Tenacity]

​

Troubled and bloody, the history of the Unknown Regions is… And scant few rays of light shine their way through its darkness.

For many years, the planet of Bakura has found itself under the yoke of the First Order, its people stripped of their freedom, its famous technology repurposed for war and put to use in the service of evil, arming the dark power’s military. After years of occupation, after the devastation left behind by the Ssi-Ruuvi invaders which brought the Supreme Leader’s regime to an end, Bakura finally saw the first few glimmers of hope.

Freed from their overlords, the planet rebuilt itself, rebuilt its economy, its factories once again churning out their famous repulsorlift coils for the civilian market and gradually discovered a new and better path for its society, the human inhabitants and Kurtzen natives showing signs of finally reconciling their differences. Sadly for the Bakurans, this brief spring would not last long.

The First Order’s demise left behind a power vacuum. Nearby, on the harsh and remote planet of Kalidan, a new totalitarian regime, even darker, more militaristic, had finally stirred, seeking to fill it. United under their enigmatic Sith ruler, the Eternal Empire’s armies of fanatics march forward, given purpose by their Emperor’s dreadful command, by two words which caused silence to fall upon even the liveliest of gatherings, at their mere, whispered mention. Drawn to the planet by the same factories that have caused others to conquer and twist and enslave it in the past, the much-feared, ghostly warships of the Eternal Navy finally emerged from hyperspace above the world, sweeping aside its meager defenses with ease.

To the Imperials, Bakura was important for many more reasons than just its factories. It was the gateway to the nearby Sanctuary Pipeline, key to the Empire’s economic ambitions. It was also their first conquest, their first step outside the Imperial Heartland as a true galactic power. Thus, they wanted to send a message, to set an example, that they were not to be trifled with.

And so, they issued an ultimatum to the planet. Surrender and accept Imperial annexation, or suffer the Eternal Empire’s terrible wrath. Seeing no other solution, the planet’s provisional government had no choice but to negotiate terms, though it was clear that they would inevitably bend the knee. Out in the streets of Salis D’aar, however, the situation was different, as many of the ancient capital’s inhabitants, were unwilling to accept capitulation as eagerly as their government had. Having tasted freedom for the first time since the First Order’s occupation, they wouldn’t be so easily coerced into giving it up…

Objectives:​

​

Though Bakura’s politicians have been backed into a corner, the Imperial forces in their orbit and descending into their streets, making it clear that there was no way for the planet to retain its independence and when faced with the threat of dire repercussions, they have wisely chosen to capitulate. A delegation of Imperial officials has been dispatched to the Bakur Memorial Building, the planet’s governmental headquarters, to discuss terms of surrender.

While the politicians are discussing terms of surrender, the city’s inhabitants are not so eager to welcome their new Imperial overlords. Indignant that their government capitulated so easily, the people have staged a gathering to protest the occupation, with the support of the Party for Freedom, one of the main opposition factions on the Bakuran political scene. Enraged, the Imperial military has ordered its soldiers to disperse the crowd, using deadly force against those whom, it its view, have committed a political crime.

Imperial soldiers now converge upon the gathering, while death squads hunt down the leaders of the political party that is backing them. Fortunately for these idealistic politicians and leaders, there is still hope. The Eclipse Rebellion, an organization dedicated to combating the rise of the Eternal Empire, have reached out and offered to evacuate them and as many of the protesters as possible, to a safe location offworld.

• Objective IIa (Imperial Loyalists): Soldiers and agents of the Empire have been ordered to crush this defiant gathering, killing the protesters and detaining their leaders so that they may be put on trial and made an example of.
• Objective IIb (Eclipse Rebels): With the Empire out in full force, the rebels find themselves facing the difficult challenge of saving as many people as possible from the Imperials’ wrath and find some way to sneak them past the Imperial blockade above the planet.

For those who care little for either ideology, flags, or government, the subjugation of Bakura presents rare and profitable opportunities. There are a million and one ways for these criminals to fatten their pockets from the misery of the besieged planet, most lucrative of which being knowledge of the locations of the hidden rebel safehouses and landing pads scattered throughout the city and its outskirts. Stumbling upon this information has presented the Black Sun with a unique opportunity to either blackmail the rebels into giving up precious knowledge of hidden hyperspace routes through the region, sell the information to the Empire. Suddenly, its a buyers’ market and regardless of which side they pick, one thing is clear. The outcome of the ongoing manhunt, will be decided by whatever option benefits the criminals more.

Objective IV: BYOO​

Links​

• Bakura
• Bakur Memorial Building
• Salis D'aar

Spoiler: Tag List

Aaran Tafo || Adelle Bastiel || Alondra Lareina || Alwine Daye || Alyva Terrix || Anton Delane || Arturo Braga || Azazel || Bachus || Carter Tymon || Centiro || Cero Pax || Charlotte Knyte || Caulder Dune || Darth Aion || Ecthelion Aiglos || Eirene || Eryn || @Fimrati || Formorta || Goonch Bagarius Yarrelli || Ilsa Visel || Ingrid L'lerim || James Cerensp || Jardann Lancus || Juggernaut || Kainan Wolfe || Kalic Daws || Karma Jayne || Kerstan Blackmoore || Khorde Drago || Lanebsa || Loreena Arenais-Valhoun || Lorelai Ventira || Lyla Quinn || Malicar || Mythos || Nekana Quane || Nerulic || RadioWhisper || Ranik Delmont || Rath Exigo || Shandria Navin || Taozi Fuyuan || Tela Uolmi || Tiberius Bayne || Vidalu Na'an || Viktor Goetz || Tsavong Kraal || Vyra Silara || Will Westender || Wulf Orlock || Xiomar Ren || Mitth'rae'leios || Broka the Hutt || Karisa || Servelus Zambrano || Kai'El

 

[Anton Delane]

Location: Above Bakura
Objective: Assimilation​

Bakura, a planet of lush plains, vast forests, and beautiful mountains. It was often compared to Alderaan in its beauty. Time and time again it had been controlled and its resources used by one empire or another. As fate would dictate a new Empire would rise to claim it. This Empire made no attempt to pretend to come as defenders of peace and justice. This was an Empire of strength, unity and power, and it's will would not be denied.


It was with speed and precision that the fleet exited hyperspace and moved into positions around the planet. The massive bulk of ships soon had initiated a blockade of the planet, blocking off hyperspace routes. Interdictors fired up their generators, and fighters were launched to protect the larger ships. At the center of the fleet was a singular Invictus-Class Battlecruiser, it's nose pierced space like a terrible spear of wrath and destruction. Onboard the bridge, a singular man paced back and forth.1


He was dressed impeccably in a crisp, and clean Admiral's uniform. His long dark hair was pulled back into a firm bun so it stayed out of the way. The beard that adorned his face was well trimmed and groomed. Brown eyes stared coldly out the view port at the planet ahead. “Arm all weapons. Shields up, move alert to yellow status. All hands to battle stations, prepare for combat. I want fighters and interceptors deployed, scan each ship, and do not allow them to pass through. I want commandos boarded onto shuttles and transports, ready to board any unwilling craft. Bombers, prepare to assist in disabling any craft attempting to flee. However, no one is to fire without commands approval!” Anton's voice boomed across the bridge, and his crew rushed to obey. All ships prepared for an invasion, and to keep anything from escaping. They were well trained and obeyed without hesitation.


Anton's body was still....tight. The clone form was having trouble adjusting to his force power. While to the rest of the galaxy he was an Admiral, the Lord Commander had to learn to adjust quickly. His Emperor demanded such. While the land of the living was....cold, death had not diminished his duty to his Emperor in the slightest. Especially with the damned Republic returning...his job simply wasn't finished. This was the first step. “Open a transmission on all public frequencies.” The Sephi moved to the holocomm unit and a broadcast began.


“People of Bakura. I am Admiral Delane of the Eternal Empire. I come in the name of the Eternal One, Emperor Darth Tacitus. Whether I come as friend of foe, depends on your actions. Bend or break, the choice is yours, and yours alone. You have survived countless centuries, it would be a shame to end this winning streak now. Right now, all of our weapons are coming online. My Ships composite laser is charging, and will be aimed at a city of my choosing. Life or death....obedience or foolish resistance. They go hand in hand.”


He adjusted his gaze to look right into the holocam at this point. “All ships, surrender for inspection. Do not attempt to flee. Obedience will bring you life. People of the planet, do not rebel or rise up. Stay in your homes, stay close to your families and do not allow your emotions to interfere. Keep your children safe. We will be negotiating with your politicians. The less your rebel, the less you resist, the better your position will be, the more freedoms you will have, the more you will prosper. The better the life of your children, and family. We are not here to strip you of life, but to enhance it. Resist however....and I will not hesitate to begin making examples. That is all. Choose wisely.”


The transmission cut off, and the man moved towards the Captain. “Captain, prepare my shuttle and an escort. Begin to land troops. Respond to any provocation immediately. The choice lies with them. You are in charge. Do not fail me.” The Captain snapped into a salute. “Of course, Admiral.” Anton moved away, and boarded the transport. It lifted off, soon after, with fighters acting as escorts as the Admiral left to begin...negotiations. They would surrender without conditions....or they would burn. Either they would allow the Empire to take over every aspect of their lives....or the planet would be an example. Either way, it was their first step in conquest.


All around his shuttle, countless drop ships moved towards the planets surface, fighters buzzed civilian ships, scanning their cargo and passengers, and those who tried to defy were detained...usually with force. Fingers tapped on his chair, as a malevolent grin spread across his face: As much as he had enjoyed his peace....he had missed the hunt.

Tags: Aaran Tafo || Adelle Bastiel || Alondra Lareina || Alwine Daye || Alyva Terrix || Anton Delane || Arturo Braga || Azazel || Bachus || Carter Tymon || Centiro || Cero Pax || Charlotte Knyte || Caulder Dune || Darth Aion || Ecthelion Aiglos || Eirene || Eryn || @Fimrati || Formorta || Goonch Bagarius Yarrelli || Ilsa Visel || Ingrid L'lerim || James Cerensp || Jardann Lancus || Juggernaut || Kainan Wolfe || Kalic Daws || Karma Jayne || Kerstan Blackmoore || Khorde Drago || Lanebsa || Loreena Arenais-Valhoun || Lorelai Ventira || Lyla Quinn || Malicar || Mythos || Nekana Quane || Nerulic || RadioWhisper || Ranik Delmont || Rath Exigo || Shandria Navin || Taozi Fuyuan || Tela Uolmi || Tiberius Bayne || Vidalu Na'an || Viktor Goetz || Tsavong Kraal || Vyra Silara || Will Westender || Wulf Orlock || Xiomar Ren || Mitth'rae'leios || Broka the Hutt || Karisa || Servelus Zambrano || @Kai’el || Kaine Hamilton

 

[Carter Tymon]

Objective: Interception​

Above Bakura
Hangar Bay

One could almost call the aura across the ship chaotic. A clean, organized chaos. Hundreds of different personnel running to where they needed to be, to do what they needed to do. In the middle of it all was Carter, jogging down a corridor with the two other comrades in his flight. They were all dressed in identical flight suits, carrying their helmets under their arms. The only differing feature was the lightsaber that swung with each step at Carter's hip. The trio took a sudden right turn and the entrance to the hangar bay came into view. A slight smile eased its way onto Carter's face.

Almost in unison, the three members of the flight climbed into their respective ships, all three being I-3A Lance Fighters. Carter flicked switches and pushed buttons incredibly quickly, and the fighter came to life. The cockpit closed above him as he coordinated takeoff over the comms. Less than five minutes after the scramble order came in, Carter and his flight were airborne. Carter was aware of how much traffic they would need to avoid now that the invasion was underway. Immediately as he left the hanger he pushed the stick down to avoid another fighter, and his two comrades follow closely behind.

Slightly frustrated already due to a fighter essentially buzzing the hanger exit, Carter began to scan the airspace for a civilian ship that had not already been intercepted. It took but a few moments until he laid eyes on a small freighter that seemed to have just left the surface. "Small freighter. Follow close. Let's intercept." Carter instructed to his two comrades in almost broken High Nelvaanian. Carter had found that short, to the point sentences worked best in this new language, especially in serious situations. The two barked their replies over the comms immediately as Carter was locking the freighter into his ship's computer. Once locked, he began to lead his comrades to intercept the ship and scan their cargo.

 

[Ilsa Visel]

GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY

27th "Drachen" Ultranaut Regiment
Colonel Ilsa Visel​

• Bakura

MODDELL SECTOR | CITY OUTSKIRTS
OBJECTIVE I | HOSTILE TAKEOVER
TAGS: Everyone

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​

COLONEL ILSA VISEL
The moment the Eternal Navy had entered the system, the rapid deployment began. Tanks, artillery, soldiers and everything alike had been dropped just outside the outskirts of the city. All important factors of a regiment to be sure but predominantly a show of force. Ilsa had set up camp in a natural rock formation, high enough to view the city but easily defendable if necessary, she turns to her Lt. Colonels, "I want the artillery on standby far enough behind us that they're safe but not too far they can't fire. The armour and mounted units should be patrolling around the borders of the city, setting up a perimeter, nothing enters or leaves without permission though we should only cover the southern hemisphere of the city as we don't want to stretch ourselves too thin. Security will stay with me, support will be on standby and I want all 3 of the infantry battalions to move into the city and start taking control, a show of force if you will. Understood?" "Yes, Sir!" they shouted back, immediately exiting the command tent to dispatch orders.

Ilsa exits the tent, heading towards the edge of the cliff she had her regiment perch upon. As she looks upon the city she couldn't help but grin a little, "About time" she muttered to herself...

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

Post #1
Attn: Anton Delane || Vyra Silara || Ilsa Visel || Carter Tymon || Open
​

Space stretched, as if struggling against a great weight. It buckled and heaved and bent and then, broke as the fleet tore itself out of hyperspace and maneuvered into the orbit of the unlucky planet. Flanked by several Adjudicator-class Star Destroyers and numerous smaller escorts, a metal behemoth nearly five kilometers long, cast its dark shadow over the lush world below, a foreboding reminder to the planet's inhabitants that they were fated to once again fall under the influence of a Dark power, willingly or not.

The ENS Invictus, legendary flagship of Darth Tacitus, which had brought ruin and destruction to countless unlucky worlds all over the galaxy, from Tatooine, all those years ago, to Copero, Kuat and so many others, had now come to Bakura, to deliver its dark lord so that he may demand subservience from the planet.

To the Eternal Emperor, standing at his usual post at the head of the battle management console, dressed in his immaculate white uniform which stood out sharply amongst the predominantly black attire of the other officers, felt completely at home on the bridge, after so many years of commanding the massive battlecruiser, giving a sympathetic look to the cinnamon-haired beauty by his side. He understood how she must have been feeling, on the bridge of this warship, amongst an invasion fleet which stood poised to subjugate an entire planet, by force if need be. He would have felt out of place and out of his element, too, if the roles were reversed and he understood her reservations about the Empire and its policies. In truth, he hated the things he did as much as she hated them, but what he wanted and what he was required to do, were two entirely different things.

What he wanted was a simple life, away from the power and the politics, the wars and tragedies of the galaxy, a simple, better life he could share with Vyra, free to express the things he felt for her, things which circumstances had pushed both of them to deny. What he was required to do, was to decide who lived and died and choose the most efficient course of action to drag the galaxy back from the edge of disaster, the course which resulted in the least amount of casualties. It was his duty, his burden to bear and so, he would bear it, like everyone in the Empire bore the burdens of their responsibilities. And so, he kept quiet, about his feelings, about everything. Despite the connection he shared with her, he knew that their engagement hurt her, forcing her into a difficult position at the head of an Empire the kind of which she had opposed all her life. The hand of fate was cruel, like that, tending to twist even the most beautiful things into a tragedy, like it twisted their love into a political engagement for the purpose of preventing a slaughter. He didn't want to hurt her further by bringing up his complicated feelings, especially not in a moment like this.

So, he banished these thoughts from his mind, focusing instead on the task at hand. As soon as the ship fell into its assigned position in orbit and Admiral Delane delivered the ultimatum from the bridge of his own battlecruiser, sister-ship to the Invictus, the Emperor led his entourage down into the belly of the massive flagship, to the waiting Styx-class dropships, which stood there, fueled and ready to go, like a pack of wolves about to pounce on some unsuspecting prey. To the assembled soldiers and officers who were awaiting their deployment orders, he paused to speak a few words, also transmitted to the rest of the fleet and to the planet below. "<Today is a great day for the Empire, a day we all have been working towards for a long time. This first conquest marks the culmination of our efforts, of all the hardship we endured for so many years. Today, we bring Imperial order and enlightenment to a world sunken in the fetid swamp of democratic corruption, freeing it from the shackles of materialism and allowing it to ascend,>" he said in High Nelvaanian, his tone proving the conviction behind his words. "<The leaders of this planet, have seen reason, have seen fit to accept the enlightenment which we bring as we uplift their world from the obscurity of chaos and anarchy and into the great, ordered society we have created and so, they shall be spared the Empire's righteous wrath.>"

"<However, down on Bakura, there may still be those who are too corrupt, too blind to see the great blessings which the Eternal Empire is about to bestow upon their planet. Like the vile, cancerous tumor that they are, they shall be excised, cast into the fire and burned to ashes. In this society, this perfect nation that we are building, there is no room for their depravity.>"

"<Now, let us set forth, let us descend to Bakura so that we may raise the flag of the Eternal Empire, the crimson flag of Infinite Conquest over this broken world, to undo the disastrous imbalance into which it has fallen and restore the natural order it so desperately needs. Long live the Empire,>" the Sith Lord concluded ominously. Casting one last glance at the assembled soldiers, officials and a slightly longer one at his fiancé, he strode forward boldly, boarding the first dropship with his Wolfguards, stopping only to hold out a taloned hand for her to grip.

 

[Wulf Orlock]

Post #2 (Tacitus Alt)
Attn: Ilsa Visel || Open
​

Savages. Short-sighted, degenerate, summerworlder savages. That was the thought which crossed the Fieldmarshall's mind when his subordinates informed him of the crowds gathering in the city's main square. These brain-addled Bakurans were given a chance to become part of something greater, yet, when offered the Empire's greatness, these damnable cowards chose defiance. "Vazh'kaden," was the Fieldmarshall's reaction, a single word, a Kalidani insult spat out in disgust which, roughly translated from High Nelvaanian, meant something along the lines of 'civilian trash' and perfectly described what the man thought of them and their damnable protest.

It seemed that the Bakurans needed to be taught a lesson and the Fieldmarshall was perfectly willing to teach it to them. "<Deploy one company of infantry to the square,>" he ordered one of his underlings in High Nelvaanian. the harsh, precise language of the Imperials. "<I shall personally command this operation,>" the Fieldmarshall informed, marching out of the command tent amongst the lines of improvised encampments deployed at the outskirts of the city.

Over in the main square, the atmosphere was tense. Approximately one hundred Imperial Ultranauts, divided at the mouths of the avenues which served as the main entrances into the square, silently stared down the assembled masses of thousands of protesters. One would think that the malcontents would simply rush the soldiers which corralled them, except the Imperials were equipped with sturdy body armor and heavy rifles which could cut down hundreds of the amassed activists if they tried, thus violence had yet to erupt. The inaction of the Imperials did, however, embolden the city's inhabitants, who were coming out of their homes and joining the protesters in ever greater numbers.

Chants calling for the Empire's withdrawal and supportive of democracy, echoed across the square, as thousands of Bakurans condemned the Empire's actions. Protesters waved placards and shouted slogans, occasionally hurling insults at the Imperial soldiers who stood like silent statues, seemingly awaiting orders. It would not take long for things to change, however. Suddenly, their comlinks died as the Empire's forces jammed civilian transmissions throughout the city. For a few, brief moments, their chants were interrupted by confusion and alarm, as those who were in the middle of conversations over the airwaves, were suddenly and inexplicably cut off from their families and friends, thus leaving them in the dark about the column of military vehicles that was advancing up the main avenue, heading their way

 

[Viktor Goetz]

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Attn: Wulf Orlock | Ilsa Visel | Open
Equipment: x1 Sk-UL Mk3.3 "Shadow" Armor, x1 KC-47 Hybrid Strike Rifle with attached Lucius-pattern Bayonet, x2 KC-95 Blaster Pistols, 1x KC-T80 40mm Grenade Launcher with T-289 Gas Grenades
Attachment: x1 Blackwatch Psi Corps Agent, x1 Platoon (30) of 3rd Regiment "Saurus's Shadow" Ultranauts with attached heavy weapons support fireteam (10), x4 KV-1807 'Armadillo' Armored Personnel Carrier armed with KC-T80 40mm Grenade Launcher with T-289 Gas Grenades, x1 Gamma Series Titan-pattern Armored Heavy Transport

As one of the Barons of the Eternal Empire, Viktor Goetz was required by his imperial oath to assist any large-scale military endeavors. While he did not have a specific responsibility as delegated by a superior officer in the Eternal Army, his expertise and assistance was called upon as a member of the Committee for Public Works and an official within for the Office of Finance. Smooth planetary transitions had always been Viktor's expertise, mainly through pure coercion, torture, cruelty, propaganda, and straight-up brainwashing. The Blackwatch Psi Corps Agents and Operatives who worked with him were always delighted, as Viktor freely indulged their every whim of cruelty and brutality, and then some.

His current mission was to seize members of key financial institutions on the planet and ensure the quick transition from public and private banks to the Eternal Empire's own state-approved banking system: a Local Treasury that fell underneath the Empire's larger National Treasury.

Viktor, of course, had his own plans and under the guise of faster integration--and to be fair, if he had honest intents, would be a reasonable objective--, he hoped to scour the safes and deposits of the major banking institutions. Private property deeds would be seized and distributed out to Imperial citizens based on merit, but the re-distribution of property would only be possible if property rights were collectively seized and centralized. A few of the more lucrative properties would get missing in the scuffle and end up in Viktor's hands, where he would hold onto them until after the re-distribution was completed and rightfully claim them as part of his merits. In addition, rare artifacts and materials would also occasionally be found, and while he had no interest in Force-imbued items, the Emperor and Wardens of the Shroud would bestow favor upon him every time he acquired and turned them in. Finally, rare technologies and blueprints were also vital in developing better Imperial military equipment as information and scientific advancements were the lifeline of maintaining a strong technological advantage over their enemies. Banks would be the safest location on Bakura, especially during years of turmoil and war, as the greed of bankers and banking clans was one of the galaxy's safest and absolute guarantees.

Unfortunately for these bankers and banking clans, however, Viktor and the Eternal Empire cared little about the repercussions. It was already the Eternal Empire versus the rest of the galaxy, with a few like-minded Sith or Imperial peers and allies. The wrath of the wealthy and bloated economic institutions was nothing compared to the blood-thirsting blade of the Empire's military might.

Reaching the reserves and treasury building of Bakura's planetary government, Viktor stepped out of his APC alongside his Ultranaut brethern and approached.

The response of Bakura's planetary government's Ministry of Finance was lukewarm at best, and they assumed that the main government leaders would give them enough time with the surrender process to shelter and hide away the government's wealth. Or at least, this is what Viktor would do and so, he assumed that the Bakurans, if they had any sense of resistance, would do. Unfortunately, as soon as the Eternal Empire declared an invasion on Bakura, he headed straight for the reserves and treasury building of Bakura's planetary government. He would not let these greedy rats or the local resistance lead to a lose of the Empire's potential wealth. He also certainly could not let them take away the best parts of the treasury as well, as those prizes were his and his alone. Before his arrival, a perimeter was already established with heavy weaponry provided by his platoon's ten-man support fireteam, with five KC-M5 Heavy Machineguns established on overwatch positions completely surrounding the treasury building.

"Execute anyone who isn't prostrating by the time they are in line of sight. Execute anyone who tries to flee. If you let one of these rats escape, I will execute you for incompetence. Intelligence reports indicate that there are five hundred and nine government officials and soldiers within the building. One rifle has enough to kill them all, so I expect thirty to be sufficient in slaughtering all of them if necessary. Got it?"

The Ultranauts shouted in unison, "Yes sir."

And they proceeded to follow Viktor toward the entrance of the treasury building. As soon as a group of twenty soldiers approached them, the Ultranauts behind them immediately gunned them down before storming the front entrance of the building. While the building was made with only the main, front entrance in order to ensure maximum security of the vast deposits of credits, rare metals, and valuables inside, it transformed the building from a secured facility into an executioner's block with no escape.

 

[Mythos]

Hearts and minds... That was the codename of the operation that the OS designated for Atrisia. Mythos had learned much about wining over a populace and it wasnt hard, it was just hard for the regular Sith that followed common Sith codes and their branches. Mythos was no common Sith.

Objective IV
The Construction of Mythos' Great Bazaar
Freighters lined up the sky far from the heat of the conflict, each one of them stuffed full of the wonders that Mythos' great barges contained. Many straight from Mythos City and others from Shadowport Rexus. Above them all was the Magnus Class Battlecruiser home of the Sith Lord commanding it all.

Workers began setting everything up, three hundred miles of shops, merchants, trade and businesses that roamed the Old Sith King. They came from far and near, merchant kings and common beggars alike, all following the trail of Mythos' many conquests and operations that they could easily take advantage of. This was another of those operations but this was the largest in scale that He had done entirely out of His own accord.

By sunrise the tents were as vast as cities, the many goods were lowered on the Clifford's and more like rain from a durasteel sky. By noon the buzz was already lit, jobs were opened and shops were in business. The smell of cooked meats was so powerful pilots could smell it at low altitudes.

In the command center of the Magnus all seemed calm and calculated, almost like a day off. In the massive black steeled chair smoke billowed from His lips in rings that flew in an almost rythmical and hypnotic pattern. The sweet smell of Dark Bota permeated the entire dock and the smoke was so thick one could baerly see past ones own hands.

Before Mythos was a holographic display of the Bazaar and its construction, every lot inhabbited was lined and every lot yet to be filled was designated for their reserved patrons. A cut of every rented lot was given to The Twin Empires and another cut was to Mythos' own pocket.

The center of the Bazaar was reserved for Mythos' own personal tent, one to dwarf all others and lined with the treasures of Atrisia and more. It was far from prepared, it was far too early, but when it was Mythos would make his grand entrance.

"I will bathe the sunrise in Gold, let's see how reluctant they are then."​

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Objective: IIb

Lori frowned as she watched what was happening from the window of her hotel room. She had come to Bakura to visit family friends and given that they were sovereign, it was safe.

But it no longer was.

The protest chants, the large crowds, all of it had caught her attention. Looking skyward she saw the movements of ships in orbit. It was a blockade. This was much like when the Sith Empire took over Commenor. Lori had escaped that seige and blockade. Maybe this time she'll be lucky again.

Lori pulled out her commlink. "Arla, we've gotta get out of here. Maybe get as many out as we can too. How many can we fit in Jaster's Sparrow?"

The voice of her assassin droid disguised as a human came through on the other end. ~Depending on their size, we could fit maybe fifty people. No one would be comfortable though, so our jump would gave to be small.~ Arla was with the Jaster's Sparrow now. In safe environments, Lori often had her stay with the Mantis-class ship.

"Alright. I'll get as many as I can. Get to the outskirts. We'll escape like we did on Commenor. Underground."

~Lori, be careful. You're not a princess anymore, so you're not a high valued tar-~ The signal broke off then as communications were jammed. Oh no....

Quickly she grabbed her jacket and slipped it on, then holstered her two blasters on either thigh. Lori slung her backpack over her shoulders. It was filled with spare clothes, energy packs for her blasters, food, water and her datapad. All of her trap supplies were on her ship. Hopefully Arla would get to her soon. Did her twin brother Caedyn Arenais go through such heated situations? She wasn't sure.

A moment later Lori was down the lift and out of the building. She took note of where the sewer entrances were and then joined the crowds of protestors. It was eerie to see some of the Eternal Empire soldiers just standing there. None of it gave her a good feeling. She knew a good trap when she saw one.

Lori squeezed her way in amongst a group of the protesters that had younglings with them."This isn't good. I have a ship...if we can just get to it....Staying here would mean prison or death. Come with me and we'll get help. I know people with fleets. They just jammed our signals. We have to break the blockade to get word out. Come with me please." She couldn't speak too loudly, lest she draw the attention of the Eternal Empire soldiers.

 

[Cero Pax]

ATTN: Wulf Orlock , Ilsa Visel , Viktor Goetz
EQUIPMENT: Beskar'gam, RSKF-44, 9118 Heavy Carbine, ABC Scrambler Pods[3x], Concussion Grenades[2x Sonic]
OBJECTIVE: II
"This is gonna be a messy one.", Cero remarked as he looked down over the main square, watching the massive crowd of onlookers, protesters, and bystanders that'd been penned within the block by the Eternal Empire's shock troopers, the Ultranauts. Even from his spot, a rooftop of one of the overlooking buildings, he could get bits and pieces of what individuals said. More than a few swears, some slurs. Others chanted, about freedom, about democracy, about justice. A few still even tried taunting the the unflinching Ultranauts, unaware that, at the literal snap of a finger from superiors, the soldiers would slaughter and everyone of them, like livestock on farm.

Eh. This kind of contract wasn't usually his preferred one. Not because of what it entailed though. He'd dealt with rebellions before, on both sides. He'd help commit acts that some saw as terrorism, and others as freedom fighting. He'd help break marshal law, and at other points, instill it. No the problem didn't lie with the why's, the who's, or the what's. The problem was personal. His clan had a rule against shooting unarmed men. Not killing, it should be noted, just shooting. It wasn't honorable. And just a brief scan of just a portion of the crowd would reveal a lot of them were indeed unarmed. That meant if he had to get involved, he'd either need to pick his shots ultra-selectively, or fight each and every person he encountered. It'd be enjoyable for a bit, but after probably the 200th person, it'd become a task.

He sighed at his options, when his rangefinder began tracking movement outside of the crowds, in the buildings on the opposite sides of the square. "Well, well..." Something that his experiences had thought him that crowds were often times just the distraction. They drew the attention of the greater powers, while others worked behind the scenes on the secondary and even tertiary objectives. This scenario seemed like a setup for an ambush. All it'd take would be for a signal, something to set it all off. Like for example, a communication blackout, followed by the sound of gunfire echoing in the distance.

All at once, the square exploded, both figuratively, and metaphorically. The figures in the buildings moved towards the windows, and fired multiple rockets, each aimed at a section of Ultranauts, which exploded. They were followed by smoke grenades, which served to blanket the area in a thick cloud. Confusion and yelling broke out as gunshots were fired and screams were heard. "Here we go." Amongst the chaos, he was able to make a group moving through the crowd, towards the buildings. They'd been among the loudest of the protesters, likely leaders of some sort. He suppose they made for good targets, if any.

With his goal set, Cero stood up from the ledge, and leapt forward, his jetpack activating and carrying him towards the thick of the chaos in a controlled descent, landing and beginning to move through the confusion.

 

[Taozi Fuyuan]

Tags: Wulf Orlock Viktor Goetz Loreena Arenais-Valhoun
Objective: Stop a massacre.​

As the Fuyuan landed upon Bakura, Taozi contemplated her next course of action. She and her clan was hired once more for medical services by the Eternal Empire, though there was still mistrust among her vod towards their employers.

Well. Taozi couldn't blame them.

A sigh escaped her lips as the flagship of her fleet touched down upon the foreign soil, and one of her right-hand assistants approached her with a datapad of information regarding the situation. Already the people of Bakura was displeased with the Empire's encroachment on their home. Would it ease them to see her in armor, or simple doctor's scrubs? Pink eyes narrowed as she read further, before looking up to address her clan.

"The people of Bakura are ready for rebellion, and if they follow through it will see them killed. I want a small group of us to placate and remove as many civilians from danger as possible, but whoever takes part must be extremely secretive about it. The rest of us will set up a medical station for the Empire near the protest.

We will not fail the people of Bakura. We will not fail anyone ever again. Draar tug'yc."

"Draar tug'yc."

"Oya."

The members of Clan Tal gave solemn nods and quiet responses in return, before they got to work. It did not take them long to get organized, and soon enough Taozi was leading her clan through the streets toward the protest, medical and humanitarian supplies in tow.

 

[Kalic Daws]

View attachment 261
Loreena Arenais-Valhoun Taozi Fuyuan Ilsa Visel Wulf Orlock Viktor Goetz Cero Pax

Kalic looked outside from the landing area he had landed the Starcrest at, his T-21 slung over his shoulder. His Q7 droid, G3-D9 "Jee" watched on as well, letting out a worried whistle as she turned er optic up.

"I know. This isn't good." He continued to look out, seeing a familiar face in the crowd. The woman planning to rebel. He had decided to join up with her band, and help them out where he could. Looked like today might just be a day to help. He hopped off his perch, looking to Jee. "Get her ready for takeoff. We may need to book it." The droid whistled and flew into the modified Y-Wing as Kalic went out.

He moved through the crowds, trying to get to where he saw Loreena. Once he spotted her again though, he carefully walked up, not wanting to draw attention. "Well... this isn't the best of situations. Any plans for this?" He spoke quietly, not wanting to tip off anyone to what he was.

 

[Broka the Hutt]

After making a meeting on Jilrua with the old Grada'la the Hutt, Broka left the efforts to make relations with fellow Hutts to his trusted Lieutenants. Despite the attempts at making a Black Sun dominion over the planet failing, improving relations with the Hutts of Jilura are still a good initiative for his Kajiedic. After receiving word that Black Sun has joined with the Eternal Empire that was rising in the Unknown Regions, Broka became intrigued. An empire that is driven by conquest and military exploits would be one to not mess with indeed, and, since he is aligned with Black Sun, he already has an in with this new power which, in the perspective of a Hutt Lord, are great potential clients. With the invasion or annexation of Bakura was certain to be a way to ingratiate his organization with the new clients, as well as make a profit. He knew of the rebel safe houses through his connections in the Underworld. Other criminal organizations on Nar-Shaddaa were already profiteering off of a few of the rebel groups; it really was no secret in Hutt Space. Yet, for some reason, the Eternal Empire was not truly aware of these safe houses. Broka wondered what to do with this information. He could make a fortune by either selling the information to his counterparts already blockading Bakura, or he could use it to extort the rebels for a protection money. Maybe both could work, the great Hutt thought. Therfore, after his meeting with Grada'la ended, he was shuttled to his great Chelandion, the Grancha Nem'ro. Then, after the great Hutt was comfortable, his escorted cruiser jumped into hyperspace to Bakura.

When his "fleet" arrived at Bakura, he was greeted with the sight of several giant cruisers of the Eternal Empire. His ships stopped at a position behind the great warships in order to not raise any concerns (the symbols of both his Kajiedic and Black Sun help assure such). From this position, the new arrivals then saw Imperial fighters intercepting any ships that would leave the planet. Broka felt that this sight was plenty of observation. He heard of the situation of the surface already, and did not need to quickly get information on those happenings. The local government of this world was weak, making it easy to exploit. The resisting populous, would be easy to gain a pass to the surface. Thus, he patched his ship's holo-communicator to the frequency of the larger command ships. Then, in his language of Huttese, he sent the message to the Eternal Empire's command ships.

"<To any of the Eternal Empire commanders that here this; I am the great Broka the Hutt. Lord of the Nem'ro Kajiedic, King of Jiguuna, and Lord of the Nar-Shaddaa skyline. I am here to aid the effort to take Bakura for the Eternal Empire on behalf of Black Sun, and the Hutt Cartels. On behalf of Black Sun, I am here to assist in your efforts to gain control over this world. I invite you to my ship so we can discuss business in a more comfortable setting. My only request from you is that you here my proposal in order to allow my people to help quell violence in the cities of this world. Better underworld mercenaries than your own soldiers that could be used for much higher tasks. Come to my ship, and we can talk about this matter properly.>"

After sending his proposal to the Eternal Empire's commanders, Broka then returned to his throne on the ship. The atmosphere in the grand chamber of his ship was that of a jovial cantina. His men were either drinking, or finding means of biding time until they have a new duty for their boss. All Broka can do now, is wait for those on the receiving end of his message to respond.

Anton Delane Kainan Wolfe Tiberius Bayne

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Objective: IIb

Kalic Daws Taozi Fuyuan Cero Pax

"How do we know we can trust you?" A voice in the group questioned.

"Because I care about Bakuul! It shouldn't be surpressed under any iron boot. I had this happen to my own homeworld and a bunch of us escaped to liberate our world months later. So we need to get you out!" Lori was stubborn. But she didn't know how stubborn they were. "If anything, at least have the younglings come with me..."

Murmurs filled the group around her, unheard in the distance by the shouts in the protest crowd.

The sight of Kalic caught Lori by surprise. She smiled as she saw him. At least she wasn't alone in this. "We need to get underground. There' a blockade above and communications are cut off. It's an invasion. I may be able to maneuver my ship past the blockade." Or at least hide out until the invading force is gone. She could hide well enough.

Her eyes turned to the group near her. Some of the mothers and their younglings seemed to move closer to her side. But that was when the rockets started firing. An assault started by the Bakurans had begun. Lori watched as chaos erupted around them. "We gotta move! Follow me!" She turned on her heel and ushered them through. Some chose to follow but some did not. They only needed to reach the sewer entrances that she saw earlier. At least most of the action seemed to be on the other side. But that didn't mean that they weren't being watched.

 

[Race Tolsen]

Location: Entering Orbit Aboard the HMIS loopn
Objective: Ensure Eternal Imperial Dominance
​

The career change hadn't gone exactly as planned. Instead of enjoying, fresh bread tea aboard his personal Resurgent Class Battlecruiser, a vintage, Race found himself swearing alliegnce to yet another Emperor. Typical.

And so as the Pharaoh Class Battlecruiser insertrd itself into orbit around the planet, he tightened his arms on the rests of his command throne. His first fuirld assignment in the service of a new Empire. How lovely.

However, his forces seemed to be late to the party, for as he looked out of the bridge view he saw dozens of Imperial Vessels engaged in an active blockade of the planet preventing Cargo Ships and freighter's from getting in.

"Admiral Tolsen, shall I order the fleet to fall into formation?" Asked the Captain of the Hyperion. "Yes. Contact the fleet. I am taking command" he replied, in a cold and solemn voice. It was time to meet the locals

Anton Delane , @Darth Tacticus

​

 

[Wulf Orlock]

Objective: IIa
Post #3 (Tacitus Alt)
Attn: Loreena Arenais-Valhoun || Ilsa Visel || Viktor Goetz || Kalic Daws || Taozi Fuyuan || Cero Pax
​

As Loreena Arenais-Valhoun and her group were trying to make their exit, a convoy of military vehicles approached from the south avenue, the rumbling of engines audible even over the sounds of the fighting taking place on the other side of the square. Commanded by a single Xiphos-pattern Infantry Fighting Vehicle, it consisted of four Warthogs and a pair of Armadillo APCs, a single Foxhound Light Attack Vehicle leading the way into the square.

"<Sir,>" one of the soldiers in the lead vehicle reported over the comlink. "<There is a group of civilians blocking the path. Looks unintentional,>" the report announced. Pushing a button on the command console, the Fieldmarshall switched over to the visual feed from the Foxhound. Yes, likely the group had become separated from the main mass of protesters during the initial panic following the, trying to flee, only to freeze in fear once they realized they were now exposed, a convoy of military vehicles bearing down on them.

"<Inconsequential,>" responded the Fieldmarshall. "<Proceed ahead, no stopping or slowing down,>" he ordered in a dismissive tone, as if telling the soldiers to drive through a field of grass. Fanning out as they entered the square, the military vehicles plowed right into the group of panicking civilians at a steady speed. Immediately, screams arose at the south exit, screams of fear, screams of pain. Panicked civilians trampled eachother as they tried to flee, some tripped and fell and were crushed by the heavy wheels and treads of the armored vehicles. Those who managed to get out of the way, pushed back into the main body of protesters, like a surge, as those in the front sought to give as wide a berth as possible to the Imperials. Some people fainted and were trampled, others suffocated amidst the press of bodies. And the now-cleared portion of square was littered with the mangled forms of what were once people, now reduced to torn flesh and crushed bone by the military convoy.

Finally, the vehicles stopped, forming a line that blocked the protesters from running out into the main avenue. Hatches opened and soldiers rushed out, the soldiers who were already guarding the exit, advancing to link up with their reinforcements. Repeating blasters and heavy machineguns were deployed in a crossfire pattern, to mow down the crowds, or just spray plasma and metal across the assembled mass or protesters. For a few brief moments, silence seemed to fell as one last man stepped out of the IFV, a dark-haired man in his mid-to-late twenties, wearing the brown uniform with black fur padding on his shoulders and collar, no other adornments other than the insignia which identified him as a high-ranking officer and the crimson armband that he wore over the left sleeve of his coat. With hard, cold eyes, he scanned the frightened civilians, nostrils flaring in disgust.

"I am Fieldmarshall Wulf Orlock of the Sixteenth Armored Division," he announced himself in a heavily accented, but grammatically correct Galactic Basic. The man was young, very young to hold such a position, yet he had a hard edge about him which suggested that his was not a political promotion, or that he at least had a wealth of military experience. Anyone familiar with the history of the recent unification of Kalidan, might recognize the name, along with the monicker associated with it: the butcher. "And I am here to deliver the Empire's justice," he said ominously. "How can you be so blind, that you can not see what blessing the Eternal Empire has bestowed upon your planet? How can you be so short-sighted, so... inferior?" he accused, spitting the words out with a mixture of contempt and disgust. "The Empire which has come here to bring you order and purpose and who's generosity you have repaid with sedition and defiance, crimes for which you shall be punished in accordance with Imperial law concerning occupied worlds" the Fieldmarshall declared. "In accordance with the Counterinsurgency Act, article four, subsection three, I hereby strip you of your civil rights and sentence you to summary execution," he announced with terrible finality. Raising his comlink, he spoke his orders to his troops "<Weapons free, fire at will.>"

The Ultranauts' compliance was swift and merciless. The sounds of fighting coming from the other side of the square, were joined by the sounds of Imperial blasters and machinegun. And then, by the screams of the wounded and the dying.

 

[LE-03 (Leigh)]

Empire shuttles, Leigh reflected, were not meant for beings of her size. The droid hulked about in the tiny ship's main space as it made its way through the atmosphere of Bakura, buffeted by the winds the other troop shuttles kicked up in their wake, and wished desperately she could fit herself into the cockpit instead of needing Na'an to take the controls. However, it would not have been logical to request more lenient accommodations, when they were already receiving something close to special treatment. The future Empress, after all, had already ensured that she and Na'an would be able to go to Bakura to provide security for the negotiations, and had gone far enough to acquire them a private shuttle to do so. Either Vyra Silara was so convinced of the nobility of her lord's cause on this world that she thought they would return with the same conviction...or her desperation to retain her old friend's affections ran deeper than she would admit in front of a mere droid.

Either way, LE-03 and her partner had a shuttle to themselves, and were joining the forces being sent to ground on Bakura.

She checked the comms again, her map algorithm spinning to keep track of the new orders being sent out to the troops. The orders of the Lord Commander were fairly routine, if somewhat harsher than Galactic standard. Since the planet's leaders had already surrendered, ostensibly the troops where there to establish a presence, a sense of continuity in the transition. However, the mention of potential resistance, not to mention the personalized plea to Bakura's citizenry, was not entirely masked.

With nothing else to focus on, Leigh's calculations of of the situation generated what amounted to a vague feeling of dread.

Then the shuttle's public comm crackled to life with a different voice altogether.

"<Today is a great day for the Empire, a day we all have been working towards for a long time. This first conquest marks the culmination of our efforts, of all the hardship we endured for so many years. Today, we bring Imperial order and enlightenment to a world sunken in the fetid swamp of democratic corruption, freeing it from the shackles of materialism and allowing it to ascend,>" he said in High Nelvaanian, his tone proving the conviction behind his words. "<The leaders of this planet, have seen reason, have seen fit to accept the enlightenment which we bring as we uplift their world from the obscurity of chaos and anarchy and into the great, ordered society we have created and so, they shall be spared the Empire's righteous wrath.>"​

"<However, down on Bakura, there may still be those who are too corrupt, too blind to see the great blessings which the Eternal Empire is about to bestow upon their planet. Like the vile, cancerous tumor that they are, they shall be excised, cast into the fire and burned to ashes. In this society, this perfect nation that we are building, there is no room for their depravity.>"

"<Now, let us set forth, let us descend to Bakura so that we may raise the flag of the Eternal Empire, the crimson flag of Infinite Conquest over this broken world, to undo the disastrous imbalance into which it has fallen and restore the natural order it so desperately needs. Long live the Empire,>"

Leigh listened to the Emperor's speech quietly, that dread escalating and sharpening with every word. She was not aware if her partner had learned enough High Nelvaanian to understand the full speech, but the probability that the words 'cast into the fire and burned to ashes' were in her vocabulary were more than 70 percent. The transmission, too, ended with an even more ominous sound--the sharp moment of static, then silence of comms being cut.

Even to a droid, the context was obvious. Emperor Tacitus' speech was meant to be his final words to any citizens of Bakura who dared oppose his rule--the citizens that, in all probability, were the 'cancerous tumor' he meant to excise once and for all.

"Na'an," she said suddenly, "How much of that last transmission were you able to understand?"

In a spare bit of memory, she was already drawing alternate routes once they made it to ground.

Vyra Silara | Kainan Wolfe | Wulf Orlock | Loreena Arenais-Valhoun | Taozi Fuyuan | Vidalu Na'an​

 

[Adelle Bastiel]

Objective: IIa
Post #3 (Tacitus Alt)
Attn: Loreena Arenais-Valhoun || Ilsa Visel || Viktor Goetz || Kalic Daws || Taozi Fuyuan || Cero Pax
​

As Loreena Arenais-Valhoun and her group were trying to make their exit, a convoy of military vehicles approached from the south avenue, the rumbling of engines audible even over the sounds of the fighting taking place on the other side of the square. Commanded by a single Xiphos-pattern Infantry Fighting Vehicle, it consisted of four Warthogs and a pair of Armadillo APCs, a single Foxhound Light Attack Vehicle leading the way into the square.

"<Sir,>" one of the soldiers in the lead vehicle reported over the comlink. "<There is a group of civilians blocking the path. Looks unintentional,>" the report announced. Pushing a button on the command console, the Fieldmarshall switched over to the visual feed from the Foxhound. Yes, likely the group had become separated from the main mass of protesters during the initial panic following the, trying to flee, only to freeze in fear once they realized they were now exposed, a convoy of military vehicles bearing down on them.

"<Inconsequential,>" responded the Fieldmarshall. "<Proceed ahead, no stopping or slowing down,>" he ordered in a dismissive tone, as if telling the soldiers to drive through a field of grass. Fanning out as they entered the square, the military vehicles plowed right into the group of panicking civilians at a steady speed. Immediately, screams arose at the south exit, screams of fear, screams of pain. Panicked civilians trampled eachother as they tried to flee, some tripped and fell and were crushed by the heavy wheels and treads of the armored vehicles. Those who managed to get out of the way, pushed back into the main body of protesters, like a surge, as those in the front sought to give as wide a berth as possible to the Imperials. Some people fainted and were trampled, others suffocated amidst the press of bodies. And the now-cleared portion of square was littered with the mangled forms of what were once people, now reduced to torn flesh and crushed bone by the military convoy.

Finally, the vehicles stopped, forming a line that blocked the protesters from running out into the main avenue. Hatches opened and soldiers rushed out, the soldiers who were already guarding the exit, advancing to link up with their reinforcements. Repeating blasters and heavy machineguns were deployed in a crossfire pattern, to mow down the crowds, or just spray plasma and metal across the assembled mass or protesters. For a few brief moments, silence seemed to fell as one last man stepped out of the IFV, a dark-haired man in his mid-to-late twenties, wearing the brown uniform with black fur padding on his shoulders and collar, no other adornments other than the insignia which identified him as a high-ranking officer and the crimson armband that he wore over the left sleeve of his coat. With hard, cold eyes, he scanned the frightened civilians, nostrils flaring in disgust.

"I am Fieldmarshall Wulf Orlock of the Sixteenth Armored Division," he announced himself in a heavily accented, but grammatically correct Galactic Basic. The man was young, very young to hold such a position, yet he had a hard edge about him which suggested that his was not a political promotion, or that he at least had a wealth of military experience. Anyone familiar with the history of the recent unification of Kalidan, might recognize the name, along with the monicker associated with it: the butcher. "And I am here to deliver the Empire's justice," he said ominously. "How can you be so blind, that you can not see what blessing the Eternal Empire has bestowed upon your planet? How can you be so short-sighted, so... inferior?" he accused, spitting the words out with a mixture of contempt and disgust. "The Empire which has come here to bring you order and purpose and who's generosity you have repaid with sedition and defiance, crimes for which you shall be punished in accordance with Imperial law concerning occupied worlds" the Fieldmarshall declared. "In accordance with the Counterinsurgency Act, article four, subsection three, I hereby strip you of your civil rights and sentence you to summary execution," he announced with terrible finality. Raising his comlink, he spoke his orders to his troops "<Weapons free, fire at will.>"

The Ultranauts' compliance was swift and merciless. The sounds of fighting coming from the other side of the square, were joined by the sounds of Imperial blasters and machinegun. And then, by the screams of the wounded and the dying.

This was not what she'd had in mind when she snuck off to help Bakuura resist.

This commander had to either be religiously fanatical of his Empire or a kriffing lunatic. Recovering from the shock of sudden rockets and smoke bombs, Adelle took a deep breath even as she felt the trigger pulls of dozens of unquestioning soldiers. All but invisible, a shield of Force energy formed around the group of protestors behind her as she tried to use Absorb on every blaster bolt pointed her way. The military had the main roads covered but a city like this had thousands of alleys, trails, and shortcuts. For outlanders, even highly trained soldiers like Ultranauts, it'd be impossible to cover them all. Adelle drew on more power from the Force, impressing images of these alleys and side passages into the minds of the people behind her. Most sprinted for them while those panicking ran into the firing lines of waiting soldiers. Other citizens dodged into alleys although Adelle would guess that more than three-quarters' of those protesting in the square had been executed.

No. Massacred.

Adelle ducked into an alley herself, feeling like she should do more but knowing that trying to take on a whole brigade was suicide. Yes, there had been the violent rioters, the rebels. The ones she had meant to help organize into an effective resistance. But there had been far more of peaceful protestors, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and killed for someone else's crime. For all her flaws, for all of the past mistakes Adelle still held her responsible for, there was no way the Lady Silara could abide this. She would know of this. She would know of Field Marshal Wulf Orlock's utter brutality and noncompliance with general orders. Rebels were military targets. Not swaths of civilians. A Field Marshal should know better.

This would only fan the flames of rebellion. Not quell it.

The rest of the city was chaos. With the first blasters fired, those angry enough to rebel started fighting back, and with the Empire's wholesale purge, even the families shut up in their homes were no longer safe. Adelle checked the mask on her face, making sure the seal hadn't broken and jumped into a burning building. Whether the rebels had set fire to it or the Imps had started blasting flamethrowers indiscriminately, she couldn't say. But these people didn't deserve to die. She searched through the building even as it started to crumble from the blaze. One here, a child here, a young couple there, an older man blockaded in a refresher. Bodies, charred and smoking, lay on the ground far more often than survivors. All told, six survivors and some sort of pet canine.

Rafters started falling as they found their way out. Adelle sat them in the back alley, between a rusty dumpster and a crumbling stone wall blocking half of the other end of the alley. No need to pull them out into the open with trigger-happy Imps. Among the uniformed and armored Imperials, the thunderous armor platoons, she saw a pair of Mandalorians walking the streets. They seemed to be under their own orders.

Cautiously, Adelle waved a hand and used an old CorSec hand-sign. Ally?

Wulf Orlock | Taozi Fuyuan | Loreena Arenais-Valhoun | Kalic Daws | Cero Pax

 

[Vidalu Na'an]

"I understood enough."

Na'an's knuckles had gone white on the shuttle's cockpit controls from word one. Her High Nelvaanian was a tad rusty, having not needed it since she was about fourteen, but even knowing only every other word of what had just been said was enough. She'd been trying to be patient, to keep an open mind, to believe Her Majesty's loud insistence that the Empire's reputation was mostly a sort of intimidation through branding. She'd even agreed to go on one of the Emperor's conquests, with the understanding that they were there to help keep the peace.

The tone of that last transmission, however, had turned Na'an's blood to ice. The Emperor declaring open war on the citizens of a planet that had already been conquered? That was considerably more than karking 'branding'.

She found herself flicking at the comms in response to the sudden silence that followed. The only broad-spectrum frequency that had not died the minute Tacitus had stopped yapping was the private one coded for the exclusive use of the High Commander; any civilian channels, or even any channels with an ID indicating Bakuran origin, had been scrambled to the point of unusability. Ostensibly there would be other localized comms on the ground for the troops, but while they were in the air, it was effectively radio silence. Her mind spun rapidly, trying to wrap her mind around what few possibilities were available.
"I'm pretty sure," she said, half to herself and half to the droid in the hold, "That if we really wanted to we could get lost on the way to the Empire's navpoint without anyone caring. And in all the chaos, it'll be all we can do to make it back to the ship before Her Majesty kicks up a fuss. Right?"

She turned to crane her neck back towards the hold, and found with a rush of affection that Leigh's dome was already displaying several new sets of coordinates. She'd already prepared enough to give Na'an choices.

"I love the way you read my mind, you know."

She turned back to the controls and hummed a little bit in the back of her throat. While these weren't exactly her ideal meditation conditions, the anticipation of the scene below--knowing what she was about to see and hear--would kick up her heartrate more than enough. With a deep, shaking breath, Na'an opened herself up to the Force, feeling her way downwards to the surface of the planet.

The wind currents around the shuttle, juking them back and forth in an unpredictable path towards an unknown destination. The sound of a woman--women? We will not fail the people of Bakura--not anyone, not ever again--Adelle, my god, keep moving, you must keep moving--I care about Bakuul--the younglings, the younglings, the younglings--
A man--men? Voices as cold--colder, gods, so much colder than the ice in her veins.
This is going to be a messy one.
Weapons free, fire at will.
And then the screaming.

The shuttle dropped like a stone, in a controlled fall towards Bakura's capital.

Taozi Fuyuan | Loreena Arenais-Valhoun | Adelle Bastiel | Cero Pax | Wulf Orlock | Kainan Wolfe | Vyra Silara | LE-03 (Leigh)​

 

[Tiberius Bayne]

Post #4 (Tacitus Alt)
Attn: Broka the Hutt || Anton Delane || Race Tolsen || Open
​

Positioned in orbit on the night-side of Bakura, a third Invictus-class battlecruiser stalked the cold void of space, flanked by a pair of Imperium Ultima-class Star Destroyers along with more recognizable Imperial ships. Those foolish enough to try and run the Imperial blockade, might find themselves checking the battlecruiser's IFF transponder, perhaps out of curiosity. If any did, the name that would have been displayed on the screen, would have sent chills down their spines. The third battlecruiser was none other than the ENS Imperious. Flagship of the Fifth Armada, under the command of none other than Grand Admiral Tiberius Bayne.

A former officer of the Galactic Empire, Bayne was known as a capable and cunning naval commander, who's fleets terrorized Wild Space during his years as a warlord, his infamy reaching as far as Nar Shaddaa, he now served as one of the highest-ranking officers in the Eternal Navy, although his name was not yet all that well-known in the Unknown Regions. But the Grand Admiral had no time to dwell on such things, as command of a blockade was a very busy assignment, indeed. Reports were streaming in continuously from the other fleets in orbit and the Grand Admiral quickly took note of several areas where a fast ship could feasibly break through. Opening a channel to the other two Admirals in orbit, he warned them of the gap. "<Admirals Delane, Tolsen, this is Grand Admiral Bayne,>" he announced himself in High Nelvaanian, the Imperial national language. "<I have identified two potential vulnerabilities in the blockade, where a small and fast enough ship might break through. Redeploy several of your flak cruisers to compensate. Bayne, out,>" he ordered in the flat, emotionless tone for which Eriadu naval officers were known for.

With that out of the way, the Grand Admiral turned his attention to the next item on his mind, the deployment of additional- "<Sir, incoming transmission,>" interrupted the ensign in charge of comms, a confused look on his face. "<Well? Out with it,>" Bayne responded impatiently. "<Sir... it's in Huttese...>" the officer added, to which the Grand Admiral reacted by raising an eyebrow. Luckily, he understood the language, having learned it during his time in Wild Space. "<On screen, ensign,>" he commanded.

True enough, the translucent hologram of a bloated, worm-like creature flickered to life in the air above the command console, identifying it as Broka the Hutt, here on behalf of the Black Sun and Hutt Cartels to... assist the Empire? Well, the reason would soon become apparent. And while was to be expected when dealing with the Hutts, nevertheless, the criminals would not have so brazenly reached out to the Empire, unless they had something expensive to offer, that they thought the Empire would pay an exorbitant amount of money for.

The Grand Admiral responded in High Nelvaanian. "<This is Grand Admiral Tiberius Bayne of the Eternal Navy Ship Imperious, Fifth Armada. I will be there shortly, with an escort. Be aware that should any treachery occur, the Imperious is under orders to destroy your ship,>" he said, delivering the threat as casually as if he were stating what day it was. Soon enough, a pair of blocky dropships along with an escorting squadron of triangular starfighters soon broke away from the hangar of the colossal vessel, swiftly traversing the expanse of space between the Imperial battlecruiser and the Hutt... fleet.

---

The first thing the Grand Admiral noticed upon entering the Hutt ship's grand chamber, was the heavy fumes of alcohol in the air. Next, was that music, the kind they played in shady, run-down cantinas in the less reputable parts of the galaxy. Surrounded as he was by a squad of Ultranauts, the Grand Admiral and his disciplined soldiers were completely out of place, sticking out like a sore thumb amidst the backdrop of rowdy attendees the Hutt surrounded himself with. Ignoring the music and the noise, the Grand Admiral and his men stepped forward, the soldiers falling into formation on his sides, weapons held down, but ready, in case this proved to be a trap. Stopping a good distance away from the Hutt, Bayne wasted no time with pointless banter, although still feigning ignorance to the fact that the crime lord's offer of mercenaries was a ploy. It was just a standard negotiation tactic, meant to distract and dazzle, so that the Hutt may inflate the price of whatever he was selling while appearing to do the exact opposite. "<Well? What is your proposal?>"

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