Annihilation Head of the Snake: BotM Annihilation of Csilla

[Kyrel Ren]

Location: Csilla, Bunker
Enemies: Liza Kaeli
Equipment: Kyrel's Necrochasis, Vader's Bane Lightsaber, Kyrel's Armor


There was an unsettling, eerie silence within the bunker, as Kyrel watched outside seeing the approaching speeder come up. With a commanding officer from the looks of it, a woman. The hulking behemoth only waited within the darkness, for what was inside was horrors that only made seem his path of carnage on the snowy ground only seem to be a cake walk in comparison. The undead monstrosity only sought two things from the measly band of Chiss that came before him. The consumption of flesh from them all, and of course their deaths.

Even admitting to himself, that he had grown tired of such games of cat and mouse. Perhaps it would be easier to simply reveal himself, for the monster was more than capable of dealing with just a band of soldiers who seemed in over they're heads if they thought they could simply march in to take the gun that was within the bunker to use against his fellow Maw forces. Kyrel was destined to make sure that didn't happen and to see that the coming prophecy could come to pass, and all he wanted to do was to indulge himself in even more mindless carnage. Even as the group of soldiers kept inching just a little closer.

Finally, Kyrel could not handle such waiting any longer. This time emerging by using the Force to toss a hunk of metal towards those that were advancing. A crimson blade emerged from the darkness with a snap hiss, advancing towards the group. The wanton bloodlust was still on his mind, and he craved the death of all those that stood in the way of his grand vision. The red blade in his hand Already encountering incoming fire from multiple troops, left only Kyrel to toy with his foes. Dancing bolts back from left to right as he slowly advanced. Cutting down the nearest Soldier he could find. Now is where he could tell where the real fun would begin, as he slowly begins cutting a bloody swathe of carnage.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Gear: Equipment: Armour, Hold-out Bolter, Shotgun, Grenades, Sidearm, Sabre, Ion Paddle Beamer, Cryo-Ban Gun.
Darth Maleva

It began as a sharp pain inside her skull. It was akin to a sharp blade being driven through her brain to carve through it. Countless burning shards were sent in all directions when the dagger shattered. Feeling the mental assault press against her mind, Elpsis fought back. Her counter was instinctual, namely trying to slam the power of her mind into that of the Sith Lady.

But the shards burrowed inside her subconscious, trying to draw out deeply buried fears and horrors. Elpsis let out a savage, animalistic scream. A myriad images and sensations assailed. The more rational part of her mind understood that they were illusions. But that part was under heavy assault, and she was in pain from the stab wound.

It brought her back to the torture chambers of Serene Springs, the propaganda gulag of the Dominion of Light's Jedi Inquisition. Nights spent in a dark, squalid cell, chained like an animal while rats bit her. A collar around her neck, sending electrical surges through her body any time she tried to use the Force for something as basic as seeing. Constant loud noise to keep her from finding sleep. Diona's armoured form looming above her when she begged for food and water. "Say the Jedi Code," the Inquisitor commanded, face so rigid it might have been carved out of granite.

"Confess your sins," Inquisitor Lea spoke serenly, while hot water was poured down her throat. "Confess," she repeated, while Elpsis dangled in the air, hands tied behind her back and strapped to a tree, shoulder breaking. "Confess." Feelings of humiliation surged through her, as her identity was strapped from her. Elpsis clad in Jedi robes, gun in hand as she stood over the corpse of a Firemane pilot. "I am Jedi Roxane. I serve the Light," the puppet that bore her face said robotically, while what was left of Elpsis screamed inside, but there was no one there to hear. The Grand Inquisitor touched her cheek, with a gloating smile. "You will serve the Dominion well, Padawan."

"I broke you. I broke you all," she yelled. But the phantoms did not go away. And amidst all this, she heard the laughter of the Sith Lord Xerexes, her father, as he sunk his talons into her mind. "We are with you, child. We will always be with you, no matter how far you run, no matter how of your own blood you shed in a vain quest to wash away your sins. So unfortunate. If only you'd learned the lessons I gave you. But you're just a stupid little girl who never learned. Let me show you again." Her cries of fury became animal howls, as the visions tried to rip away her sanity. She was incandescent - more fury than woman - and in her rage, she projected fire in all directions, heedless of who and what she hit. Fire would sweep towards Maleva, but also the Brothers and Elpsis' own comrades.

Mawists were set aflame, but Elpsis' comrades also had to scramble to protect themselves or evade the wave of heat and light. A cry of anger and pain was heard when Natalie was struck by flame. The operative rolled on the ground, trying to put out the fire. The scent of cooked flesh could be smelt in the air.

Shikoba hurried towards the rebel. Her mind pushed the flames away and she placed her hand upon the wounded Natalie, trying to still the pain. "Red, get a grip or I'll shoot you myself!" the Essionian shouted. Meanwhile Nyssa and Rhea provided cover against the horde of Mawists who were closing in on them. With blade, gun, the Force and sheer fury, the duo tried to stem the tide. "Ma'am, fight the Sith! I know you can," Rhea called out, her own armour and blade bloody.

Roaring in anger, Nyssa clove an attacker from shoulder to belly before smashing her cybernetic fist into another Brother's skull. "Focus on the enemy, girl, or do you want to frakking die? And stay away from the flames. She has to fight her battle herself. Diona, get over here." Deep down, the Pureblood felt concern for her, but she could not show it or falter. She lacked the mental powers to reach out. Elpsis was not weak; she would be able to handle it. And someone had to hold the line. So she did, throwing herself into the fight, even as a slug round struck her.

Elpsis heard her friend's cry, but she was losing herself in a void. Then she felt another presence brush against her mind. A very familiar one. Destroy her, she hurt you, the voices commanded her. Elpsis, it's me. Diona. Elpsis shook her head, trying to fight against the intrusion. You hurt me. You tortured me, she snarled.

Yes, I did. I offered you my life for that. But will you take it at the command of a Sith? Be a puppet again? Do your duty. the ex-Jedi's responded over the mental link, voice calm and serene despite the raging storm. She reached out, trying to forge a link. Kill her, kill them, kill, kill, the voices thundered.

But the Tephriki was helping Elpsis push back against the visions. Her words resonated with the confused pyromancer, and gave her a measure of clarity. But in the process, trying to help Elpsis recover her equilibrium had left Diona open. A Mawist struck her with a brutal telekinetic blow and as she reeled in pain he thrust his blade towards her.

 

[Syd Celsius]

"You are no Phoenix!" Syd shouted as her armor allowed her to resist the terrible waves of psychic darkness, her body's flesh only rippling a little bit. But she still got short flashes of the suffering Tegan Starfall had endured...

Syd snorted in disgust as she flew towards her. What were such images meant to evoke? Pity? She'd become a Victimizer.

Syd let go of her indignation. Partly because Syd knew however innocent Tegan was once upon a time, she was what she was now, and partly because Syd knew she had to be stopped.

But her real worry suddenly became @Starlin as he tapped his anger and rage to try and utterly destroy her spirit. Syd was horrified. She was trying to draw him to the darkness. And it was working.

STARLIN! Starlin, NO! Let go of your anger! She's trying to turn you! What you are doing is an aberration of The Dark Side! STARLIN!

His eyes were black like Phyre's when she channeled the darkness to its maximum in her body.

She had not forgotten what he had done for her at Dantooine, how he had intervened to save her from herself.

Syd now sought to do the same for him.

She launched a Force pull with all her might at his direction, which would almost certainly pull him out of the way of Tegan's strange telekinesis attack, the focus having gone from 'Fething Murder Tegan' to 'Don't let Starlin destroy himself with the Darkness.'

She was wary of any trick Tegan might use at this point, and made sure to whisper a spell over her own body, causing purple flames to erupt across it, that would dampen any further Dark Attack.

Starlin, calm yourself! I know you couldn't save the child, but you mustn't do this in response, or she wins by default. Please, listen to me...I trusted you at Dantooine because you were right. Trust me here, now because I am right.

Starlin Rand

 

[FN-999]

​

LOCATION: CSILLA - NIO TRENCHES
ARTILLERY: 30/12
ALLIES: NIO & CO | In relative proximity of Aerarii Tithe | Enedina Tal / DECEASED Erskine Barran / Major Bennett Hall / Halketh / Tyrell Lockhart / Ziroka
ENEMIES: DA MAW | FN and NPC units directly engaging Maestus | Engaging walkers and NPC units under Lirka Ka / The Mongrel
EQUIPMENT: In Signature + Carbine Rifle

PAX IMPERIUM
N I N E S

A sudden, violent explosion shook the area behind the third line of trenches, right where the Alliance's Vice Chancellor had been evacuated to.
​

The lieutenant legion commander was now at a critical crossroad. Would he continue to command and gather reinforcements from his bunker, or would he himself rush out and throw his considerable experience at the elites of the Maw? He first analyzed the situation in front of them. Thanks to a coordinated artillery effort, several of the droid walkers had toppled and were rapidly sinking into the thick mud where the first trench line once lay. For now, the advance of the Maw forces would be safely delayed enough for him to temporarily depart the bunker.

"Major ST-9032, I am assigning you temporary command of the 459th Regiment." stated FN-999. "I'm leaving to ensure the safety of the Vice-Chancellor. And whenever you can, please execute a Priority-3 Evacuation Order for all allies."

The lieutenant legion commander promptly rushed to the small armory built into the command bunker, hastily equipping his stormtrooper armor over his officer's uniform and placing his sword on his hip belt. He also grabbed a large rifle, its powerful magazine essential for dealing with elite opponents. Using his master key to unlock the bunker door once more, the lieutenant legion commander departed the confined chamber, followed by two of his troopers as escorts.

The cold was the first sensation to slam upon the trio, followed by the noise. The underground command bunker had proven relatively quiet and thermally insulated, and the feel of the front was a shock that reinvigorated FN-999. Rising up to the surface, the trio found themselves in the third trench line, small groups of troopers occasionally rushing by. The trio climbed up the back of the trench, emerging in a snow-covered field that extended nearly a kilometer before opening up into a cave system descending far below ground level.

Immediately, the aftermath of the blast caught the eyes of the trio.

A cloud of smoke rose perhaps two hundred meters behind the third trench line, piles of rubble and bent steel where troop transports had once been. Steady blaster fire indicated that the squad defending the Vice Chancellor was still intact and fighting, but the lieutenant legion commander's doubts were starting to grow. If the Maw's elites could do such significant damage so quickly, then what good would a few stormtroopers, himself included, do at stopping their advance?

Yet FN-999 reminded himself that there was no time for doubt. Even the sacrifice of one trooper was far more meaningful than a cowardly retreat, and the life of one of the most valuable diplomats of the Galactic Alliance was on the line. A lifetime ago, he would have found himself personally delivering the killing blow. However, the times had clearly changed. The First Order and Galactic Alliance had both risen from the ashes of collapse as dual phoenixes, yet the New Imperials bore no major hostilities against either faction. Consequently, as an extension of the Imperator's will, FN-999 would have to temporarily abandon any personal grievances and stop the savage slaughter enforced by a foe far worse than the Alliance had ever been to him.

The trio trudged through the snow, thicker behind the trenches and the thick of battle. Eventually, the heat of the explosion melted enough snow that their trek was faster, and within seconds they were in firing range. About twenty meters in front of him was a female with a lightsaber raised, her back turned to him. Exploiting the opening while he still could, FN-999 fired several shots from his rifle towards the center of her back.

While her commander begun a brutal battle outside, a certain Major ST-9032 activated the comms of the command bunker and reached out to all allied units in and around the trenches, as well as some of the closest commanders in space.

[All friendly units, this is Major ST-9032 of the 459th Regiment. I am authorized by my commander, Lieutenant Legion Commander FN-999 of the 459th Regiment, to initiate a Priority-3 Evacuation Order for all allied units on Csilla's surface within a twenty kilometer radius of the 459th's triple trench line. This order is in effect due to the completion of our assigned mission. Barely a minute ago, a report came in from Chiss allies saying that the last group of civilians have been evacuated offworld from the underground city our trench lines defend. Furthermore, it is increasingly unsafe to remain occupied on Csilla with the Maw's superweapon active in orbit. I repeat, our assigned defensive mission has been successfully accomplished, and no further value will be gained for remaining in this area.]

[As a reminder of the protocol of Priority-3 Evacuation Orders, all allied units within the given radius are to stay in their current entrenched position and beat back the hostile advance until sufficient evacuation craft have arrived to guarantee the safe departure of every single soldier from the planet. However, diplomats and valuable personnel may request early departure.]

[The aforementioned Priority-3 Evacuation Order is now in effect. Requesting evacuation craft to retrieve our good lads and vehicles on the front.]

 

[Teica Giraan]

[Location: Several Sectors away from Csilla - ANV Hawk -- C.I.C]
[Commander Giraan standing by]
[Direct Relevancy: Constantine Oliva ]
​

Useless. Cowardly. Selfish.

The words were for her, for her decisions, for her involvement in it all. They repeated through her mind, torturing her, taunting her. But she didn't try to stop them, didn't try to deny any of it, and that was the worst part. Teica's hands clenched, her breathing accelerating to keep up with the three words that danced about her.

It continued, until the sound of a voice made it to her ears and brought her out, if only temporarily.

"Commander...I'm going to give you a mild sedative, okay?" An ensign looked up at her, med kit in front.

"Go ahead..." Teica grimaced for a second, but relaxed ever so slightly as the pain fled her legs. The physical pain, that was.

Useless.

Here she was, a commander without a ship on another officer's bridge, someone who had no purpose anymore, who couldn't fulfil a purpose anymore. No longer did she have the safety of the Resolution, no longer did she have her own command. The most she could do was sit and set an example. Even then, she couldn't go a minute without tears fighting to escape.

Cowardly.

Constantine had ordered the jump out. Teica had allowed it. She never protested, never offered anything else, just sat and watched; ready to leave her crew and her colleagues to die around Csilla. The worst part of it all was that she didn't want to come back. Pockets of the Resolution's crew, friends, allies, all giving their lives in a hopeless struggle against annihilation, and she didn't want to go back.

Selfish.

She couldn't face her own death, but she was more than able to order others to their own. She kept ordering loyal, and brave heroes to the jaws of pain and suffering. For what? The commander refused to answer the question, a decision that only served to confirm it all to her.

Teica winced, eyes now looking at the bloodied mess surrounding her leg, watching the blood seep down and down. A memory of the Namadii Corridor, haunting her. Her hand glided along her face, hesitantly stopping as she began to feel the scar on her cheek. A memory of Corellia, of the violence-plagued depths that she only narrowly escaped. Now down to her left palm, she stared straight into the scars of Ziost. And finally, back to her leg, now decorated with new memories of Csilla.

"You should be fine now. The bacta's working through, but I don't want you stressing the leg out. Okay?"

"Yes, yes, thank you. Thank you..." The commander took a deep breath, and looked back at the ensign, "What's..what's the situation in sick bay?"

"From your crew, ma'am...Two fatalities...Twelve injuries, seven severe."

"Oh gods...Oh gods..." She choked back a new wave of tears in a hopeless attempt at piecing together a broken mask of bravery, "Go...Go tend to the others...please."

Useless. Teica raised her head, and nodded to herself. Cowardly. Another nod. Selfish...

Before she could answer herself, the commodore had arrived, standing with the composure that she severely lacked; with the purpose, the bravery, the selflessness she lacked. But that was what he allowed his crew to see, and she knew that deep below, Constantine was being tortured with the same words as she was, if not more.

 

[DECEASED Erskine Barran]

POST V
GALIDRAAN FREE-STATE

OBJECTIVE 1: HELL FROZEN OVER

COMMONWEALTH FORCES: Enedina Tal Konrad Bolter Major Bennett Hall
Tyrell Lockhart Alais Kaun

ALLIES: Irveric Tavlar Tyrell Paxxus Halketh Tulan Kor
FN-999 Gallius Orcana Albrecht F. Herlock Julian Qar

Aerarii Tithe Liza Korum Krov
Himm'vaun'merek Kaleleon Ziroka

ENEMIES: Kascalion Giedfield Lirka Ka Kyrel Ren The Mongrel
Maestus Khaostra Devoid Chimera UX-0626

CALLSIGN: BLUE-HEART ALPHA

Erskine's Loadout

Primary: Custom Blaster-Pistol (Right-hip Holster - left-or-right hand draw)
Secondary: Basket-Hilted Vibrosword Claymore (Left-hip Sheathe - right hand wielding)
Last Ditch/Second-Blade: Fairbairn Vibroknife (Right-hip Sheathe - right-or-left hand wielding)
Pocket-Weapons: Gifted Brass-Knuckles from the Guv'Nah (Both Trouser-Pockets - akimbo wielding)

Blue-Heart Brigade (Mechanized/Artillery/Infantry)

201 Repulsorlift Tanks
5 AT-ATs
12 AFVs
5 MLVs
1 Coy. Riflemen
3 Plat. Combat Engineers
1 Coy. Field-Medics

Support: Tal's Fighting-First Brigade (Mechanized/Artillery/Infantry)

220 Cataphract Tanks
20 AFVs
5 MLVs
5 Predator Launch-Platforms
1 Coy. Elite Guardsmen
1 Coy. Elite Engineers

The Stormchaser III

<"Wendall to Blue-Heart Alpha! I think you'll want to take a look at our undead allies, Milord. Our friendly zombies have some living allies among them, quite the odd sight to say the least. Bionic arms on one of 'em, looks like Carlaci Corps cybernetics.... In fact I'm sure of it! And the bloke's doing quite well despite the crucible he's in, so what are your orders regarding this one then?">
Wait a minute, is that - Strasza's man? Oh, great.... If he dies on my watch, I'm a karkin' dead man walking.

'Barran to Cataphract One! Just keep peppering the enemy line and work your way uphill around them, I'll pick this,"Bloke", up personally!'

<"Copy that, Milord. And good luck in punching through to the Carlaci Corpsman on your own, as you'll definitely be in need of it. Swarming with marauders and mutants of all variety in there, so punch through at full speed and with that LMG blazing red hot. Cataphract One out!">

Lord Erskine couldn't help but chuckle ruefully to himself, as he knew what leaving Julian there would mean for his own life-expectancy, growling,'Kaun, my apologies for the momentary lapse in composure - but I know that man over there. I also know how frightening his wife is, so leaving 'im there is absolutely out of the question.', with anger in smirking jest as the others chuckled light-heartedly around him. When Alais understood the situation with a hearty chuckle of her own at his closing comment, the Brigaidier-General relented on himself before straightening his posture in his seat once more, looking at the map-holographics and picking his best angle to punch through before pondering on what was the best following course of action. After punching through the enemy line to reach Julian Qar's position, Barran would need to make his best effort to join Johnstone in providing enough cover for Kaun (or any of his willing crewmen) to snatch the commander of the Carlaci contingent's field-medics and throw him into the ACV.

'FINALLY! The Lord-Commander picks a spot to attempt this madness! GAWN IN FOO-MALKY!!!! FOR LORD BARRAN, LORD TAL AND TAVLAR - IMPERATOR!!!'

'WE BLEED FOR THE NEW ORDER!!!'
'WE BLEED FOR THE NEW ORDER!!!'
'WE BLEED FOR THE NEW ORDER!!!'
'WE BLEED FOR THE NEW ORDER!!!'

A simple curving sequence marked on the top-down view, depicted clear as day on the holographic display, was all that Deaney needed to drive the Saga through the desired weak point in the long line of hostilities on the snowy mountain slope. The marked-out curving arc of advance had been sent direct to a miniature version of Barran's display on the ACV-driver's dashboard, making everything easier to explain than having to do so shouting over the engine's roar, saving Barran vital time to reload his SA-35 and focus his attention on the impending rescue-attempt with better focus on which aspects to address first. Leaning back in his seat as the safety was clicked off the Free-State's main battle-rifle in his hands, the Lord-Commander of the Blue-Hearts used his free hand to pick out his chosen assistants for the task.

It wouldn't be an easy endeavour by any means, and certainly not with the constant risk of being slaughtered hanging over their heads, but everyone within the Saga's well-armoured shell was spoiling for the adrenal thrill of the rescue-attempt's most chaotic elements. Despite this, the Woad-born leader knew he would need to choose from his most level-headed subordinates, but felt like there was only one logical choice for the task of snatching up the bearded medic; although he gritted his teeth at the thought of putting his friend's daughter in harm's way, Erskine knew he'd be covering her rescue attempt with rapid-fire pressure from both his SA-35 and Johnstone's mounted LMG, so Alais would quite possibly be safer than Barran ever could be in such instances.

'Leftenant Kaun! I need you to snatch up this fellow I referred to before, though something tells me the fellow's out here with something to prove. You may have to wrestle him aboard if he protests the rescue-attempt but rest assured, I'll be there to cover you. Plus Johnstone above will rain hell on anything trying to get at us, plenty breathing-room to strongarm him aboard. Not letting the famed Strasza eviscerate me over the personal choices of 'er husband, not today. And for that matter, not ever.'

Without even so much as a word in reply, the (soon to be promoted above the rank of) Leftenant nodded with a slight snort of mirth and finally reached for her exosuit without pausing on the dangers of the task; not that Alais needed to, the tech she'd be relying on had deflector-shielding and power enough to subdue their evacuee if the need arose as Lord Erskine suspected. The Lord-Commander did not know the full intricacies of the exo-suit's design, but he knew that whatever the fast-track Leftenant was capable of, the suit itself could make easy work of amplifying her abilities to frightening proportions, something that Barran was growing all the more eager to see for himself.

The Stormchaser IV

'Brace, BRAAAACE!!!'

And in with a thudding succession of sickening bone-shattering micro-impacts they went, breaking through a small layer of idled Moon Children and friendly zombies to reach their cyborg ally in time, though Julian had been doing remarkably well to hold his own in the melee. Making an admirable show of his own brand of ultraviolence, the acts of Qar had begun to endear Barran to the savage struggler that ripped and tore at everything their fanatical enemies had in their possession to throw at Julian and everyone around him, but the Brigadier-General was still perpetually aware of the horrible deaths he'd leaving the others to in the gifted mind's stead. Carlac, Anaxes, the 409th Regiment, Csilla and even Galidraan would have plenty corpses to count before the end of the day, but the Woad-born Laird would expel all such thoughts for a time; such heartache only gave way to more of the same, and worse.

'Murdo, the Sloane door! Now!', the Brigadier-General barked with warlike urgency, shouldering his SA-35 properly as the Saga's sliding door opened before them. As soon as the door itself locked into it's open position with a metallic clunk, Murdoch's rifle would be shouldered like his commander's and Kaun was standing with a sprinter's poise, and when the senior-crewman had taken a knee to better his aim, Deaney had brought the ACV to an engine-rumbling halt. This was the tiny window of opportunity they had been awaiting for, and it showed; rushing out with aggression, Erskine had put down two Moon Children in his successful attempt to cover Alais' approach, and was already aiming for the head of another when the sound of LMG fire rang out from behind him, already ripping through Barran's intended target as they continued to close the gap between themselves and the gifted field-surgeon.

'JULIAN!!! WE'RE PULLING YOU OFF THE LINE!!!', Lord Erskine roared over the din and commotion around them, with Murdoch joining in the Blue-Heart covering action for Alais and whatever course of action she took to get Julian in the ACV safely. The Lord-Commander himself would have a few confirmatory remarks to offer his new acquaintance on the matter, such that would be well overheard by the crewmen inside and outside of the Saga's Sloane-door, and in that moment, it was obvious that Barran would allow no dissent on the matter whatsoever as he exclaimed,'Alright, Leftenant! Now or never, knock 'im out if you have to - then get 'im inside the ACV as safely, and as soon as possible! ENGAGE!'

The Kellas II

'Every operable vehicle is upright with engines restarted now, Milord. We're aw good t'get shiftin' fae here on in!'

Commoner Leftenant Reed had marched through snow and wind from the engineers' dugout to find his unfazed mentor, gazing out into the frozen north beyond as he pondered on the overall wellbeing of the Archasians fighting under the Imperator's banner; though they were fighting miles in the distance beyond, the bicoloured flashes on the blizzard-horizon told the Westcape ruffian all he needed to know of which fates his Lord-Major was dwelling on in particular, seeing the unwavering urge to push through the ridgetop defences as easy as he could see the white of Gowrie right eye in that moment. Taking a swig from his Stranruen-822 bottle, Lord Aron snapped out of it long enough to hand the aged Tuath-rye to his adjutant before turning to reply,'Excellent, now get ti yer ACV! You'll be needed at yer best soon, so get that shoulder relocated before we get moving. Understood?'

'Loud an' clear, Milord. Hangin' by the comm-link unit 'til the command comes through.... That - that's quite moreish, so it is! Save us some for later-'

<"-Baird to Blue-Heart Bravo! It appears their leader is in the open, and currently being attacked by allied duellists who can't be identified properly yet. How do we proceed, Milord? Requesting permission to take the shot at the first opportunity.">

The latest news had surprised the Kellas, firstly due to the fact that allied duellists had travelled so far out of their way to fight the one who'd coordinated the indomitable effort on the ridgetop from before; also by the fact they'd somehow found the Tuath laird's intended opponent in the snowstorms, and lastly, at the realisation that they'd somehow managed it without any help from any of the mechanised or commando units on the ground. However, what had snapped Gowrie from his stillness and his surprise was the verbalised intentions of Barran's Guard-Captain, bringing risks to the fore that Lord Aron was in no mood to be presented with in such circumstances.

'Gowrie to Guardian One! You will do no such thing, nothing - of - the - sort! Now do I make myself perfectly clear?'

<"Perfectly clear, Milord. Holding fire until further notice. Guardian One out!">

Satisfied with the guard-battalion's general obedience in the face of authority, Gowrie nodded to himself and sneered at the stormy, bicolour-backlit skyline to the north, suddenly thoughtful of the Archaisian additions to the Free-State's high-command, but none quite so much as the stalwart leader of the increasingly-famous Hell's Hammers. Konrad Bolter had proven his worth from the moment his walkers were mobilized to aid in the reconquest of Archais, and had continued to hold his end in every invasion the Imperator deployed the Archaisian contingent to aid each and every new iteration of the Free-State's armed wing, becoming a rightful awardee of the Order of the Lion medal in the process. Aron had grown to respect Konrad greatly, both on and off contested grounds, and his empathy for the Archaisian's hardest struggle yet could do little to stem the tidal force that was his urge to patch through to his favourite colonial colleague.

'Gowrie to Tyrant Actual! Stay in the fight! You hear me, Konrad? "Archaisians Never Die!", isn't that what they say? If you can survive the Shadow Dome on Generis, you can survive anything! Show the galaxy it isn't just a myth - show the cosmos that Archaisians really are too angry to die!'

<"All friendly units, this is Major ST-9032 of the 459th Regiment. I am authorized by my commander, Lieutenant Legion Commander FN-999 of the 459th Regiment, to initiate a Priority-3 Evacuation Order for all allied units on Csilla's surface within a twenty kilometer radius of the 459th's triple trench line. This order is in effect due to the completion of our assigned mission. Barely a minute ago, a report came in from Chiss allies saying that the last group of civilians have been evacuated offworld from the underground city our trench lines defend. Furthermore, it is increasingly unsafe to remain occupied on Csilla with the Maw's superweapon active in orbit. I repeat, our assigned defensive mission has been successfully accomplished, and no further value will be gained for remaining in this area.">

'Oh, right. The superweapon, of course. How could I have forgotten that?'

<"As a reminder of the protocol of Priority-3 Evacuation Orders, all allied units within the given radius are to stay in their current entrenched position and beat back the hostile advance until sufficient evacuation craft have arrived to guarantee the safe departure of every single soldier from the planet. However, diplomats and valuable personnel may request early departure.... The aforementioned Priority-3 Evacuation Order is now in effect. Requesting evacuation craft to retrieve our good lads and vehicles on the front.">
You'd better be quick, Milord. Can't exactly report to or help you if you're just a pile of bony ashes, can I?​

 

[The Major]

The 9th Imperial Battlegroup
First Imperial Shock Trooper Contingent
Stealth Shuttle 109773-AG
Adjutant Officer to Rolf Amsel
MORALE: NEUTRAL
♫

The hours before deployment were the most brutal when it came to her phobia of sailing the void oceans. Didn’t matter what part of the ship Shepard tried to corner herself to, the call of infinity was closer up here on a space vessel than on any deployment on blessed ground. It made dressing in her resurgent armor, recovered from the depths of a derelict Hoth archive, take much longer than what should have been expected from a trooper. Once the various plates and equipment was secured, it turned out to be a remarkably effective security blanket. So much so that when she arrived at the boarding area amid the Lt. Colonel’s pep talk she wasn’t entirely plussed about the ramifications of being late. Nerves made that kind of fear entirely irrelevant.

The Major inconspicuously blended into the line of troopers walking up the shuttles, at least, she was subtle as someone in full suit of ultrachrome armor could be. Not bad for a walking, shiny mirror. Once the good Security Bureau attaché identified Rolf’s position amongst the assemblage she followed a path along that site line until in front of the legendary soldier.

“Can’t believe I had this designed to regulation way back then. Well, at least blasters won’t be an issue, and you can check to make sure nothing is in between your teeth during a fight.” ​

Though it wasn’t typical for the Shock Troopers, it should still be an effective boon once they were at the objective.

Teeming with nervous, dynamic energy, Sybil suppressed a jitter while waiting to see if her candor would be appreciated by the Commanding Officer.

FO comrades-in-arms: Karisa | Korynn Sol-Syna | Rahmmon Barkai | Natasi Fortan | Roudac Gannan | Thorne
Allies: Chiss & defenders
Enemies: BotM & attackers

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi raised an eyebrow at the response back from the New Imperial Order. There seemed a curious, almost studied disdain for the First Order and Natasi herself in their brass and officer corps. Perhaps they judged her and the nation she led by the inconsistencies and vagaries of the now-retired Grand Moff Yvarro. It was quite wrong, of course, but given the circumstances there was really no reason to be concerned with it now. They had a superweapon to stop.

"Understood, Commodore," Natasi said smoothly. "I'm sure that in the heat of battle it has escaped your notice that the First Order fleets are also fighting significantly outsized and growing enemy forces, so reinforcing your position will be quite impossible until they are dealt with. I was merely passing along the strategic advice provided by our tacticians in case you found it helpful. You are of course free to consider it at your leisure. The First Order will press on and will, of course, prioritize shoring up allied positions when we have cleared a path through the fleets that are currently engaging. You may stand by for further communications."

She placed the communications channel on stand-by and returned to the bridge.

"It's Omega all over again," she told Gannan as she returned to his position. "We can hope for collaboration but I rather doubt we can rely on it. Proceed with your plan; as and when it is possible to aid the New Imperial Order and Galactic Alliance's positions we will make every conceivable effort to do so, but not in an act tantamount to suicide."

She turned her attention to the display table, her eyebrows lifting again in a show of concerned skepticism. "Where did those Star Destroyers come from, do you suppose?" Natasi asked, glancing sidelong at Gannan, a note of concern in her voice. "Surely -- stealth on ships that size -- " She frowned thoughtfully and leaned over, bracing herself on the edge of the display.

Interesting, she thought to herself.

Another voice within her whispered: Deadly...

Gallius Orcana | Roudac Gannan

 

[Juliana Alderdice]

STEALTH TROOP TRANSPORT
OBJECTIVE III

Juliana was dazed by the Force-projected vision. It was oppressive, cold, like a heavy, wet blanket. Juliana tried to free herself, tried to battle it, but before she could -- it was gone. She looked at Brec, her eyes wide with fear and trepidation. "You don't think -- " Her voice fell silent, as if something had grasped her throat and was stopping the words. Her eyes darted back and forth from Brec to Matma and she tried not to be afraid. She tried and failed. Juliana began again: "You don't think -- it's a trap?"

The one-eyed raven. The voice. Asleep. What did it mean?

Juliana felt cold. Afraid. But compelled to continue.

Not that they could stop now. The ship was already cutting its way into the superweapon's hull. She could feel others in the Force, determination and violence and fear and bloodlust like a cacophony of radios playing different songs at top volume through the neighboring wall. But there was one song -- quieter, but more sophisticated. She could hear it clearly, but only just. It called to her. It summoned her.

It's a trap, her common sense whispered to her.

The ship lurched to a halt as it connected with the superweapon. Matma was first out; this was true to his nature as the brave Ser Mama. Juliana worried for him; his world and his family were under threat. The call of the dark side would be strong, seductive. If anyone can resist it, it's Ser Matma, she reminded herself. The young woman was next; she performed an agile leap through the seal formed by the hull cutter, landing in a combat roll inside the station, igniting her lightsaber as she came up into a crouch, slashing through the legs of an attacker who had swung on her with a blaster pistol.

Juliana rose to her feet, her pale blue blade cutting through the barrel of another blaster rifle. She aimed a powerful kick, imbued with the Force, at its owner's midsection.

That sensation in the Force grew, like the volume of that alluring song turned up a notch. Where is it coming from? she wondered as she ducked into a doorway to avoid oncoming fire. Can the others feel it, too, or is it just me?

I have to find it...

Brec Gannan | Matma Bernu | Rolf Amsel | The Major | Gren Blidh​

 

[Tegan Starfall]

Post: 7
Objective: Fates Venom
Equipment: Mind Crown | Purple MidNight Duster | Black Ancient Sith armor | Sith Mask | Grav Boots | Eltro Life Gloves | x4 red lightsabers | Forearm Lanvorak | Wrist Laser (toasted) | FWG-5 Flechette Smart Pistol | Boomer | X10 Hypo-syringes | X4 Daggers | Liquid Delirium | A Variety Explosives | Pack of Death sticks | Holopad
Allies: Darth Solipsis | BotM | Csilla go Boom fan Club
Enemies: All the Stars in the Night Sky
Special Tags: Starlin Rand | Syd Celsius

---

Tegan collapsed to the ground but managed to push herself up to sitting, her fiery orange eyes stared through the two. A wicked smile crossed her face white teeth against charred black skin as Rand tried to lash out trying to rend her soul. Tegan didn’t laugh she didn’t have to; she didn’t even have to gloat. She sat there staring at him and Syd. They were both so delusional and blind to their own corruption. They had seen Tegan from the start as purest form of evil not even given a choice to surrender or to stand down.


From the start they had gone on the attack not noticing every action Tegan had taken was in defense, to protect herself from being killed. They failed to notice that in their unrelenting violence Tegan’s body had been ravaged by there attacks while they had minor scraps and bruises. They didn’t notice that Tegan never once attempted to stop them from saving the children either. That and with the first child she even had her men stand down whom Syd in turn killed in cold blood.


The vision she had shown them of her first life wasn’t to collect pity or sympathy. It was to show them corruption happens when you turn into the very monsters that torture you. You become the very thing you hate and want dead. You become blinded by vengeance and revenge blind to the corruption that consumes you. The dead chiss child, died because Syd was hell bent on killing Tegan. She could have chosen to protect that child try to keep them safe but instead Syd had wanted nothing more then to incinerate Tegan.


Tegan just stared at them they didn’t see the darkness that was already consuming them both of them. Her teeth chattered with words her speech breath heavy and raspy. “You came here looking for a fight, the moment you stepped off your transport I could feel it.” She said as she coughed for a moment. “You both had nothing but bloodlust in your hearts. I remind you I did not attack you, you attacked me first. Despite the fact I had my men stand aside and was willing to let you save the child.” Her eyes shot to Syd for just the briefest of seconds. “You killed them in cold blood.” She doubted they would think to hard about it and find someway to justify it in their minds that was the sign of true corruption you always justified your actions. You always had to be the right but that was the thing about she realized the monster she was, she didn’t need to justify it she knew she dark and evil even though she had her reasons for it.


“I know you’re going to say but you’re on this weapon of mass destruction, there are thousands of beings on this station most of which are being forced to be here against their will.” Even if Tegan wasn’t counted among them there was no real way telling who was and was not being forced to be here. There was no way of telling which soldiers where here just to feed their families and who was here because they believed in the cause. “I mean I didn’t build this weapon and I’m not the one pulling the trigger.” True Tegan didn’t care what happened to Csilla and its people, but apathy was not a crime.


“I know you’re going to say but the children with bombs in their stomachs. You attacked before you even knew that.” Her eyes looking to Rand as Syd tried to pull him away from the edge of darkness both had so easily jumped over blindly in the pursuit and need to kill her. The game had been rigged from the sight and neither of them realized it had played out exactly how Tegan had darksighted earlier in the day. “I am evil but really you are no better than me, you sought vengeance and murder even when I stepped aside and offered you the chance to save a life.” Tegan just coughed she didn’t laugh or cackle, She knew her end at least in this body was nearing its end.

 

[Starlin Rand]

Objective: Duel of the Fates
Location: Revealing his deepest fears
Gear: Armor | Shoto
Tags: Syd Celsius | Tegan Starfall (engaging)

A blast of the Force jerked Starlin backwards. He hit the wall hard and then fell to the floor, gasping for air. The impact had knocked the breath from his lungs.

It took him a moment to realize Syd had done it. Her voice surrounded him, calling his name, pleading with him to come back from the brink of the abyss. Tegan spoke too, her words filled with venom.

“You came here looking for a fight, the moment you stepped off your transport I could feel it.”

“Please, listen to me… I trusted you at Dantooine because you were right.”

Starlin’s heart clenched at the mention of Dantooine. He never should’ve been there. It was a mistake, one that had cost him his hand and had nearly caused him to give up his dreams. He had been wrong.

“You both had nothing but bloodlust in your hearts.”

“Trust me here, now because I am right.”

Both of the women’s eyes glowed fiery orange, Syd’s with an unnatural light, Tegan’s with sulphuric corruption. Their faces swam before Starlin, whose body was burning. His armor and his weapon smoldered, revolting against the darkness within him.

At that moment, he hated them both. Even Syd. Especially Syd. After all, Tegan was nothing to him but an opponent, an obstacle to be overcome to complete this mission. But Syd? Syd was his master, had been for the past five years. Their relationship was far deeper, with much more complexity for the darkness to exploit.

“You could’ve protected the child while I was saving the others,” he said, struggling to his feet. Frustration, anger, and other ugly, negative feelings towards Syd which he had buried deep inside came bubbling up to the surface, hideous as molten slime. “I followed you to Dantooine, even when I knew it was wrong. We were both wrong, Syd. Now you’re bringing it up and asking me to trust you, because you’re right?”

Tears streamed down his cheeks, hot and stinging. The red fury and black hatred still festered, but all of it was tangled up in blue. His eyes were blue again, blue as the lightsaber he had given up in hopes of saving a Sith. He hated Syd because he loved her, yet she had brought him suffering and shame.

“I stopped you on Dantooine because you were about to attack a Jedi. Someone we shouldn’t have been fighting in the first place.” He pointed to Tegan. “But she is not a Jedi. She is a monster, a beast that needs to be put down—now!”

He lunged forward, fighting any attempts Syd might have made to stop him. Three phrik blades emerged from between the knuckles of his prosthetic right hand as he swung his fist, stabbing them into the center of the wounded Tegan’s chest in what would be a killing blow.

 

[Aerarii Tithe]

LOCATION: Command bunker, Csilla
OBJECTIVE: I - Hell Frozen Over
OPPONENT: Maestus
ALLIES: Julian Qar | Enedina Tal | Tyrell Lockhart | FN-999 | DECEASED Erskine Barran | GA | NIO | Chiss
ENEMIES: The Mongrel | Chimera | BOTM | Sith
KIT: Lesser Ring of the Protected Mind | Visions of Gold | Taxman’s Embrace | Limited Liability | Attire
POST: IV

The warriors of the Brotherhood fell upon Tithe and his protectors in a bloodied frenzy, a rabid display of untamed violence the likes of which he had never born witness to, not even in the darkest days of the Third Imperial Civil War. While the Sith were fulled in combat by hatred, the energy behind the Brotherhood was even more primal in nature. Their animalistic and inhumane march across the battlefield was a wave of indiscriminate killing which showed no signs of letting up.

Tithe’s close protection team and the 409th valiantly stood their ground. Orders were yelled over the raging sounds of the battle and the allied forces tried to establish a sense of cohesion amid the chaos. But not even the heavy helmets of his protectors, equipped with aural dampeners, could dim the screams as the enemy cut down the New Imperial Order and Galactic Alliance soldiers. For every crazed Brotherhood warrior killed, three defenders fell.

Aerarii Tithe had no intention of adding his name to the honour roll for the fallen.

On hands and knees, the Vice Chancellor scampered, clambering over friendly and enemies bodies as he made his way toward to nearest trench as inconspicuously as possible. His dishonourable retreat relied on the honour of others - with the New Imperial and Alliance soldiers providing plenty of high-value targets, he hoped that staying low and inoffensive would give him leave. He had no doubt the marauders could slay every soul they found on the battlefield, but he hedged his bets that they would focus on the most dangerous enemies first before they came for the civilians.

Of course, even a hedged bet could come undone.

The thrum of a lightsaber and a simple challenge cut through the noise of the battlefield and stopped Tithe in his tracks. Looking back, his eyes met those of a red-skinned tattooed Twi’lek. His stomach dropped as she pointed her purple energy blade toward him in a challenge. Tithe couldn’t tell if the numbness which began to envelop his body was the cold winds of Csilla or the fact he was looking at his own doom.

A hail of blaster fire brought the moment to an abrupt end. Snapping his head around, Tithe spied FN-999 and two of his troopers laying down covering fire.

The Aargauun had survived as long as he had by being an expert at spotting an opening in the market, and right now, the New Imperial Stormtroopers firing on @Maetus were a welcomed new entrant to his portfolio. Without a second thought, the Vice Chancellor clambered to his feet and covered the remaining distance to the nearby trench. He half-leapt, half-stumbled into the frozen ditch, only narrowly avoiding falling over in the pools of blood that slicked the frozen floor.

A call came over his comlink that an evacuation had been called. He wanted to take a moment to catch his breath and get his bearings, but the evacuation was his only chance at escape. He also had a sinking feeling that @Maetus wouldn’t simply give up the hunt.

Gathering his coat tightly around him, Tithe hurried down the trench.

 

[Brec Gannan]

STEALTH TROOP TRANSPORT > PK-1 MERCY INTERIOR
OBJECTIVE III:
DUEL OF THE FATES

Equipment: In possessions tab

The traversal through the space battle near Csilla was, in a word, daunting. Brec had a good degree of ability in the Force, he had been trained from a young age in preparation for service to the Knights of Ren, so trusting the Force to see him through some tough situations was easier nowadays. Still, when the superweapon began firing, Star Destroyers and all sorts of vessels began exploding in spectacular fashion, and all that separated Brec from the death of space was a small troop transport that was cloaked?

Well, even the Force seemed like it lacked.

Suppose if we explode, I could Force levitate through space to the station... The Imperial Knight thought to himself, as he glanced to the others onboard with him. Nah. Doubt that would work.

Thankfully, Brec was on the vessel with the amazing pilot. Chit knew the Imperial Knight lacked the skills for such fancy flying. And before long, the group had reached the hull of the superweapon base, where the troop transports attached and began boring through with corusca gem-tipped drilling attachments. One-time use. Once they were spent, they wouldn't slice through anything again, but that wasn't a problem when it was - likely - a one way trip. There didn't really seem to be an exit strategy, should the station explode, save return to the troop transports that would hopefully still be attached to the hull and cloaked.

From across the way, Juliana Alderdice asked about it all being a trap, with a visibly shaken expression on her face.

"Definitely is," Brec said simply, as he shrugged in the restraints of his flight chair. "They know we're coming. They might not know where, since we're visibly cloaked and all that, but they definitely know we're near the station right now. Don't bother hiding in the Force, there's too much going on, too much power in this area of space... just embrace the power, absorb it, and channel as much as you can for what's coming."

The Force, especially on the superweapon, was like a tornado of activity. Through the mystical power that flowed throughout the galaxy, it was being used like a literal vortex on that station, as all kinds of Force sensitive beings harnessed the energy and used it how they needed. It was actually surprising just how many sentients were present and connected through it. Light side, dark side, in between. Well, at least the Imperial Knights of the First Order had arrived, and they sure as kark planned to help shift the balance against the Maw and their horde.

And then the hull cutters finished. Brec slapped the release on his harness, stood, and was behind Matma Bernu as the Chiss burst through the hull partition with a roar of defiance. There was the sound of blaster fire, as lightsabers thrummed in response. Juliana Alderdice was through next, as she rolled out of the transport and started to slash with her weapon ignited, before going on the offensive against other marauders with blaster weaponry. The fight was well and truly started, and they were doing great. The Chiss Knight was using all of his combat prowess, clearly intent on pushing the advance - as well he, and they, should.

Hm.

Brec stepped out of the hole in the hull, the edges still sizzled and glowed orange, as he unclipped his lightsaber from his belt and held it firmly in his right gloved hand. His eyes were narrowed, as he focused, his gaze shifted left to right down the corridor where battle was engaged in. A laser bolt arced toward the Sentinel, before it caught the edge of his pauldron and ricocheted into the hull harmlessly. Brec didn't flinch. The Force was calling him, drawing him, even amid the shouts and screams of combat--

There.

--and through the Force, Brec saw a small, barely perceptible line. It was glowing, translucent, not visible to the naked eye. A shatterpoint, a crack in the possibilities of the future, a place where an action could change many - or few - things. But it was enough to get Brec's attention, enough to warrant his focus, and so he knew it was something he had to follow for better or worse. With a press of the activator on his weapon, his lightsaber roared to life - literally - as a very loud howl began to echo through the corridors, the Krayt Dragon pearl used in the weapon releasing the sound. The sky blue blade glowed bright, far brighter than most lightsabers, and it took no effort for the Sentinel to twist to his right and swat away two blaster bolts with a diagonal block of his blade; and promptly sent them sailing back toward the two that had fired them, where the bolts impacted against marauder chests and they toppled backward with cries of pain.

"This way, to the right," Brec called, as he continued to follow that invisible strand. "Something... something is this way. What's the status of the Ninth Troopers? Did they successfully breach?"

Hopefully someone would communicate the status of the 9th over the comm, preferably the Lt. Colonel in charge Rolf Amsel . However, with his weapon ignited and the howl it gave gaining attention, Brec became more offensive. He began to move along the corridor, as he dodged and weaved, parried and slashed; he cut a path through the grunts the Maw had to offer, as he kept the awareness of the writhing, translucent line in his minds vision, sure beyond a doubt that it was something important, something he had to reach... and hopefully the others followed.

Allies: Juliana Alderdice | The Major | Rolf Amsel | Matma Bernu
Enemies: Gren Blidh​

 

[Elle Mors]

Csilla Ground

ARE YOU TEN YEARS AGO?​

She'd already started walking when Sylvia spoke, the grip tightening on the hilt of her lightsaber to channel her stress into something else to keep herself from breaking down so openly. "Wait." She said, words cutting through her like a knife, tugging on her shoulder like a desperate hand - she turned, willed by emotion, moisture pooling at the corners of her eyes as the feeling floating freely through the air began to get to her. She spoke again, her words rushed and her hands a blur as she reached for something, white noise overtaking Elle's ears as the feelings heightened, body language reaching her eyes far better than sound ever could have traveled to her ears now.

A shaken hand reached out, the distance now between them far enough that she couldn't have bridged the distance without walking back, and pulled on what she held out, the chip, with the force. "Thank you." Was all she managed to say, the small piece of technology floating through the air into her own outstretched hand, while Sylvia stumbled through her words. The conflicting nature of their parting was taking its toll on her, that empathic link slowly opening now that the two had opened themselves back up to the other again. It took the full weight of her self control to turn herself back around and not act on impulse, the urge to give in to the desire that she felt so strongly rolling over her. "I'll see you soon, Sylv. I promise." She said while she lifted the hand she was gripping the chip with to gesture a wave without looking back, knowing the expression on her face no longer matched the nonchalant tone of her voice or sureness of her actions.

Slipping the chip down into the recesses of one of her pockets, jostling around the miniature commslink she had in doing so, the streams of thought that normally occupied her quickly overtook her. Green eyes swept over the landscape when she emerged from the spaceport, physically determining which would be the best avenue for her to return to the starfighter she'd flown to Csilla while she mentally sparred with herself, fighting back the urge to let her emotions cloud her judgment. 'They need me more than I need her,' was the dominant thought that guided her now, instilling the one singular facet of her that had kept her a Jedi for so long - that though she may have desires, wants, needs, it was the need of others without the agency, the ability, to provide for themselves that overrode her own. Glancing up towards the sky as she let the force guide her back to her ship her verdant gaze looked for the culprit of this robbed agency for the Chiss people, the resolve to set things right cemented now in her heart.

"There will be no second Alderaan." She whispered, turning her head back down from the clouds and towards the direction of the fighter she'd inevitably board to ride off Csilla. 'The Brotherhood of the Maw?' She questioned internally, the sight of her antiquated A-wing coming into view.

'I'm coming.'

Sylvia Virtos

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

Silent Skies
Elle Mors

---

​

Ellie turned back around, but the parting felt different now. The permanence Sylvia feared before had dissipated, bringing a new clarity to her thoughts. What had felt like an overdue goodbye minutes ago now felt like a first step towards reforging what they once had. Battles still raged, both in the outside world and inside her head, but in the latter the lines were now clearly drawn. While Sylvia was going to be fighting that internal battle, she would keep Ellie in her thoughts. Despite the spacer's worries for the blonde, she still smiled.

Sylvia had always admired her courage. She herself wasn't nearly as brave.

"May the Force be with you, Ellie." Of course Sylvia remembered her wish to follow the Jedi path.

The woman simply watched Ellie go for a little while as the boarding ramp of her ship lowered behind her. When the sound of metal hitting metal filled the nearly-empty hangar and the hydraulics ceased she took a deep breath, the last of the cold Csilla air. She turned on her heel and ascended up the ramp, where a droid awaited her. It beeped curiously, clearly blissfully ignorant of the state of peril the planet was in.

"It's because we gotta go, Spark," Sylvia responded off-handedly to the droid's binary inquiry, her focus primarily placed on getting into the pilot's seat right away. "Maniacs are trying to kill the entire planet."

The spacer wouldn't even take the time to shed her jacket. Instead she rushed through the main area and straight into the cockpit, then plopped down into the pilot's seat. No time was wasted firing up the ship's systems, either. "Set coordinates for Eshan," she ordered to Spark as she fired up the engines, but unlike normally she decided to disregard running diagnostics. Enough time had been wasted already.

The ship lifted off the ground, left the hangar, then shot into orbit. Only when the countless white streaks of light were visible before her did Sylvia breathe a sigh of relief. She was safe. Now came her own battle. The decision.

Quinn or Ellie. To whom did Sylvia's heart belong?

 

[Darth Maleva]

Elpsis Kerrigan
​

Maleva saw the reflection of the torture through the force. A grin crossed her face with the spell's success, but faded in an instant as balls of flame took the area. She dove, attempting to get away, but they were everywhere. One met her shoulder, kissing her exposed neck. A primal scream escaped as she fell to the steel floor. The brothers did not hesitate in filling the void the two powerhouses left. Mawists surrounded her, their savage weapons swinging in wide arcs. The sith lord could feel the attempts of the woman to break away from the tendrils, and Maleva didn't fight back. She only blinked.

In an instant, the ship around her fell away. The iron ceiling was replaced by a crimson sky. Where heathens had stood were black, groaning beings instead. Their cries of anguish raised the hairs on Maleva's neck, but she moved through them with ease. No lost soul dared challenged her. Finally, she came upon the pools of black she so desired. They bubbled at her greeting, the tar-like substance riveting with power.

"Rise." She demanded, staring into the dark substance.

The only answer was one of sheer defiance as even the bubbles stopped. The pool stood still, unwilling to answer her call. Maleva's nostrils flared. Anger cursed thick in her blood. A foot slid back through the dead grasses, her torso bending inward. Her hands moved up. The chaos responded to her movements willingly, attracted to the anger she radiated. The black liquid flew up in a haste, revealing the being's true form. A dark mass, evershifting, with pale glowing eyes. The lesser demons in the smaller pools that littered the field took a hint. One by one, they too rose, their fear palpable. Maleva's gaze moved to meet the one she commanded, unyielding.

"You will aid me."

Silence came again. As she stared into the glowing orbs, she began to transfer her own will. On the other side, the spell's power of the witch waned almost entirely, but Maleva accepted it. The demon began to roar as the power pushed against him. The small movements grew wider, lashing out against her. One landed on her leg, burning through the duraplast, scarring the ashen skin. Maleva wielded the pain, forcing the monster further, until finally, he bowed.

Sizizodzow, echoed the great form. Master.

Another blink, and the ship surrounded her once more. The fight raged on, but Maleva pulled her power away from the witch, then turned to the three apparitions that had appeared around her.

"Kulil."

The forms surged forth, no hesitancy in their brutishness. Maleva took a deep breath, looking to her opponent once more, the cruel smile appearing again.​

 

[Elle Mors]

Csilla Ground, entering Csilla Space

LIFE / VIDA​

The hatch opened with a hiss to reveal the single, worn, leather-clad flight seat. She climbed in without a word, the duraglass panels shielding her from the glare of light that beamed down from the sky above, silence filtering in when the hatch lowered itself down over her, sealing her off from the outside world while her fingers moved almost without conscious thought to each of the numerous switches and buttons to activate the small craft. Lost in thought, her breathing slowing as the ambient hiss of a hydraulic lock reverberated across the cramped cockpit, Elle's gaze settled on a little keepsake she'd been holding onto since she'd left home so long ago - a fragment of the lightsaber she'd had as an acolyte. It reminded her of the dark past she'd escaped from, the whispers of its taunting memories reminding her of who she had been and what she might become if she let herself fall into the trap so many others had been captivated by with the rise of darker galactic powers.

More importantly, it reminded her of who she needed to be - what she needed to be.

The sensation of lowering gravity, which was paired shortly after by its heightening through the artificial gravity generated by the interior of the craft, pulled her out of this reverie and brought her gaze up and out into the dark void of space beyond, the sight of a receding Csilla visible at her peripherals. The corners of her lips pulled up and back into a small smile, eyebrows knitting with focus as she prepared herself for the first real challenge she would face in a long time, disregarding the emotional rollercoaster she'd just gone through. Despite the promising future she'd held as a Sith hopeful during the time she spent in the academy, as a Jedi she'd only receded back into herself and kept from doing anything ambitious - associating bold and reckless behavior with the dark side. Now, channeling the hope she'd gained from the reunion she had just made with her past, Ellie understood the difference between the path she'd abandoned and the road that led to a brighter future.

The endless sea of space, as disorienting as its horizon-less nature could be, brought the peace she needed to her heart and gave focus to what she needed to set her mind on in the now. A massive station lumbered through the vast expanse, illuminated by the system's star and surrounded by the warring fleets of the planet's defenders and its aggressors, and her eyes were on it the moment it came into her view. "Wish I was a better shot." She muttered, knowing she'd have to board the station in-person rather than pull off some incredible maneuver that far more capable Jedi and their forceless contemporaries had in the past with their own spacecrafts. Lacking a droid to guide her, Ellie put the totality of her focus into making certain she'd make it to the superweapon for boarding and avoiding the wandering shots of the enemy and misplaced firing of potential allies as she flew towards the behemoth.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Gear: Equipment: Armour, Hold-out Bolter, Shotgun, Grenades, Sidearm, Sabre, Ion Paddle Beamer, Cryo-Ban Gun.
Darth Maleva

Heat built in Elpsis' chest, fire and rage. After fear came anger. It was a very familiar fury. The one she had felt on Tephrike when she broke her chains and cast down her tormentors. No one could chain her. Not anymore. Not ever. The landscape around her had shifted. Seemingly, a crimson sky had manifested. She felt dark power at work as the Sith sorceress worked her magic to summon hellspawn. The auras of the demons three were dark and vile. Their intent was obvious.

Elpsis smiled grimly, and surrendered herself to the Eternal Flame when the apparitions struck. She dodged one blow, but the second apparition was quick and sharp talons lacerated her thigh, cutting deep enough to draw dark viscera from her muscle. Pain shot up to her body, searing into her brain and causing her to buckle. The pain went beyond the physical, though that was bad enough.

She cartwheeled to evade a savage blow, but when she looked up, she did not see the formless, ethereal shape of earlier. Instead she saw Xerexes. He stared at her with the same smug, cruel face she had grown to fear and loathe. His eyes were a sulfuric yellow. "All roads lead back to me, daughter," he said smugly. Then another demon struck her face across the face, sending her sprawling. Blood dripped down her features.

The next blow she caught. Pain, fury and her inner fire fed the Gauntler of Emberslight. All roads lead to me killing you. The being screeched in agony, its features shifting between those of an ethereal entity of the void and that of Xerexes, as Elpsis pulled and ripped his 'arm' off. Then she slammed her clenched fist into its face. Again and again. His form was extinguished.

Tainted, black blood dripped from her wounds. She reeled from the strike of the second demon, whose horrible screech felt akin to a sonic detonation, slamming into her skull. The third demon had not been idle. While its comrade battered her mental walls, it manifested long, powerful tendrils. Suddenly Elpsis was seized in their powerful grip. She tried to grab her lightsabre, and slashed. But though a tendril was hacked off, it only tightened its grip, choking her. The pyromancer struggled for air, darkness closing in around her.

All the while, the mental pressure slamming against her head intensified. Then suddenly there was a loud screech when a Force imbued sword, its blade pulsing with power, pierced the back of the creature choking Elpsis. The demon howled, but it was run through and its black form dissipated, revealing Rhea, bloody and bruised. The pair shared a nod of acknowledgement. The time for thank yous would be later.

One demon was still in play. "I've got this. Help the others," Elpsis growled. Pain radiated from her injured thigh and the demon sliced at her with its talons, but pyromancer smote it with a savage blow. The apparition tried to get away, but energy surged through her as she grabbed. Inferno clove through it and it returned to the ether that had spawned it. Her cold eyes fell upon the Sith Lady.

xxx

Natalie had officially had enough of Force magic. First, Elpsis burnt her - accidentally, but still. Then there was a blood red sky for a moment, and now there were weird demon creatures. The fire had left her in a lot of pain. She could feel Shikoba's icy touch on her shoulder. It made her hairs stand up and put her on edge, sending a chill down her spine. "Your burns are serious," the wood elf said in her high-pitched, slightly eerie voice.
"Tell me something I don't know," Natalie growled. "Do your thing. I just need to use a gun." They were on a battlefield, after all. They had dragged themselves to a corner, but up ahead Diona and Nyssa were fighting.

"I hear the wails. She is debating whether to reap your soul or not," Shikoba continued. Natalie was about to yell something scatological, then the Vashyada's features seemed to transform. Maybe it was just the Essionian's mind deceiving her, but she found himself staring into a face that was partly normal, and partly resembled a skull stripped of flesh. One of her eyes was as bright as a blue star and burnt like ice.

An eldritch incantation left her lips as she called upon the spirits. Her touch was deathly cold. Necrotic energies flowed through her and crawled over him. Natalie winced, trying to keep sound from leaving her throat even though the healing process was...unpleasant. "Behind you!" she called out when she saw a figure moving in the shadows.

Shikoba did not seem fazed, then suddenly turned when one of the Brothers charged, sword drawn. And found himself staring into a visage even more demonic than the one Natalie had looked at. For a moment he seemed frozen, as if paralysed, then he scampered away. "I see spirits trailing behind him. I think his number's up," Shikoba remarked.

Diona was not able to dodge enough to avoid the blade, with her injury from the telekinetic assault. Rather than run her through, it stabbed her in the side, hitting an area where the plating was vulnerable and drawing blood and pain from her. Her attacker, seeing her drop, raised his blade to follow through with a strike to end her.

She grit teeth, and in an act of will, paralysing energy surged from her. For just a moment his arm was frozen. He broke the spell, but it was just enough time for her to fire her hold-out bolter. Boom. He was sprayed with buckshot. The backlash caused pain to shoot through her. Her foe cried out in fury, his blade falling from his grasp. Lightning struck her, but she took it. Her own Force Imbued blade in hand, she ripped his throat away in an arcing cut.

Nyssa was fighting up ahead, surrounded by corpses. The Pureblood had been tearing through Mawist marauders with the fury of the possessed, but was bleeding and getting overwhelmed. Diona did not like her and would not particularly care if the Sithling perished...but she was in her unit. She had sworn an oath, for what it was worth.

Pull back. Light. Diona communicated. The Pureblood seemed to understand. Marauders gave pursuit, and blinding light emanated from Diona's bruised hand. Not pyromancy, but Force blind. Then she launched herself into the fray. Nyssa was covered in blood and gore, breathing heavily. "Just the two us now, Jedi. Holding the line," she growled. "What fun. Just a moment."

Diona gave no response. Instead she threw herself into battle. She traded blows, slew, punched, she reeled under enemy strikes, being forced to give ground. The Mawists closed in and as she was backed up against a wall and felt her strength receding, she was about to demand that Nyssa pitch in. Then she felt dark energies radiate from the Pureblood, causing a chill. It was accompanied by an animalistic growl.

Nyssa' right gauntlet was retracted, revealing a bloody palm. Beside her stood an ethereal entity that resembled a large canine. An aura of the Force surrounded it, radiating primal hunger, and bloodlust. Some cultists recoiled. With her bloody hand, Nyssa scratched it behind the ears, then whistled. "Sic 'em, boy!" The first marauder who was unlucky enough to be pounced got his throat torn out.

 

[Syd Celsius]

Syd intervened, using a Force pull to yank his hand off target from Tegan Starfall , the claws slashing open Syd's side instead. Glowing blood and bits of muscle tissue leaked out of it, and Syd yelped in pain but made sure to keep herself guarded against Tegan attempting anything.

"Dantooine was my fault. The Sith is a monster, and yes she deserves to die. No matter her accusations of bloodthirst. Because she was perfectly happy to see those children to her deaths, and while she may not have built the station, she is aiding the ones who did to destroy a planet. Striking her down with overwhelming force is one thing. But striking her down full of hatred and fury...that isn't how it should be done. She is playing you, Starlin. She's trying to twist your compassion and righteous indignation into something worse. I regret not saving the child but that spell was a threat to both of us. She's a powerful caster. Its not just one person we are trying to save today!"

Syd shut off her sabers, letting Starlin know she didn't want to fight him, and leaving herself much more vulnerable to an attack from Tegan.

"Dantooine was a tragedy, Rand. I won't deny that. I failed you that day in a lot of ways, and for that I am deeply sorry. You do have a right to be angry. But I never claimed to be perfect. In fact..."

Syd steeled herself. Starlin was at his worst crisis point yet and she had to get through to him or Tegan would win in her own way.

"I know what Tegan is trying to do to you...I know because a long time ago, in what seems like a galaxy far, far away...I was made from something even more vile than she was..."

It was not the ideal way to reveal it, and Syd loathed herself for doing this now but she needed some way to shock him out of his present course of action. She kept an eye on Tegan, prepared to utter a curse if she so much as twitched.

"I was created, this much is true, by The Man in White...but I was made from someone really, truly awful, Starlin. I didn't know that for a long time. And when I learned who...I have spent every day looking for an absolution I know will never come. I apologize for not telling you. But you looked up to me when we first met...I'd never had that before...I was frightened of losing that, and I was weak, so I didn't tell you. So maybe its me you're really angry at. But don't start down the path my old self walked. Because once you give into that hatred and fury, its...its like you and the deathsticks Starlin...only there was no one to give me the chance to walk away from that on my own. I had to be forced away. But you still have a choice, Starlin. More than I ever did. Please...please hear me. Even if you never trust me afterward again, or look up to me...please don't go down that path. Please avoid my evils. Kill if you must, but not out of hatred or fury...or it will become easier to do it from that point forward. Let go of that hate...please." Syd pleaded, shame and regret pulsing off her aura. The cat was out of the bag now...

Starlin Rand

 

[Constantine Oliva]

Teica Giraan​

My bridge crew was hard at work, checking in with other surviving vessels, monitoring Hawk’s systems and supplies, and how long left in the jump. Hak gave me a quick salute of acknowledgement and returned to his duties. Teica looked like she was trying her best to hold it together. At a glance, or to a less observant eye, she’d have certainly seemed just fine. But I could see the distant expression, and I as I took a few long strides towards her, the droplets of water in her eye. I leaned in, to whisper words of encouragement.

“I understand. You’re doing amazing.”

Better than I was.

I took the final few steps to my own command chair, and sat.

“How long left in the jump?”

“About 20 minutes, sir.”

I leaned back, closing my eye. Only then did I realize how exhausted I was. I hadn’t slept well before the battle, and now I felt it. But it was so much more. It was the strain of trying to keep the Line going, keeping myself together and failing. The loss of friends. The knowledge that I’d failed. I fell asleep, faster than I had in a long time, but it wouldn’t last long, nor would it be restful.

I was aboard a space station, orbiting a planet. I knew the planet I was watching instantly. My home, Anaxes. The station was one I knew well, having spent much of my days in the academy aboard it. But something was off. Flashes of light flared across the window, reds and blues. Slowly, the station moved and I saw why. A fierce battle was taking place, hundreds of vessels locked in a hellish struggle. At the center of it all was Mercy. Beams came together in its main dish, and hurtled towards the planet below.

Suddenly I was on the ground, standing in a hallway that was both familiar and foreign, a place I’d seen so many times in my dreams, and only fragments of it in life. I wandered through it, finding my way to a similarly dreamlike courtyard. Impossibly recognizable and frustratingly unknowable. I watched as a pillar of bloody light descended, igniting the sky. The ground cracked, blossoming trees burst into flames. I tried to scream, but no sound escaped by shaking lips. Pained faces flashed, friends, siblings, teachers, colleagues, people I’d not seen in years. All screaming, joining in a symphony of destruction. Then silence.​

“Sir?”

I blinked, registering that I was awake.

“We’ve exited Hyperspace. Are you alright, sir?”

It was Hak, standing over me.

“Yes, I’m alright. Just a bad dream.”

Just another nightmare.

“Orders, sir?”

Orders. What would we do now? I blinked a few more times, then forcing myself to stand. What would we do now? We’d already fled. But where would we go? Csilla was certainly lost by now. The image of Anaxes cracking under the Brotherhood’s superweapon flashed in my mind. Could I just abandon Csilla? And what would the Brotherhood do after?

“Back to Alliance space?”

“No,” I could hardly feel myself speak. “We’re going back.”

“O-Okay sir. I’ll relay the order.”

“Once you do, patch me into every ship that’s left. I want everyone to hear this.”

Moments later, my voice was heard across the remnants of the 253rd.

“Csilla will not be the end. The Brotherhood will fight their way to the Core, burning and enslaving everything in their path. They will burn Coruscant. They will burn Anaxes. They will come for Alderaan, for Corellia, for Duros, and Metellos. They will come for your homes, your families, for everything you hold dear. They will burn the Galaxy to the ground unless we stop them here. We must return to the battle. We must fight on, for those you hold dear. We must destroy the Brotherhood, for all those that have already been lost. For your brothers and sisters in arms, for the civilians they died protecting. We may not survive, but I promise you, I will do my damndest to make sure each of you return home. Come with me, and we will see victory!”

Once the transmission ended, I stepped closer to Teica. Once again, we were surrounded by blue and black masses as the Line began to return.

“I’m sorry. We won’t be able to evacuate your men before we begin fighting again. May I request they attempt to help in anyway they can, aboard any ship they’re on?”