Dominion Heart of Darkness- Republic Dominion of Byss

[Alana Sunrider]

Theme



The time had finally come. Everything was coming together. Kalist. Kuat.Odik. Kampe. The puppeteer behind the curtains had revealed themselves on the eve of their triumph. The Frozen Hand. The Knights of Nox. Sith-Imperial cultists who forged the Imperial remnant forces into an organized, obedient, and dangerous foe, with ambition more than anything they had anticipated.


Turn the Deep Core into a Dark Side nexus. The scale of such a feat was impossible to imagine and the cost in lives was horrifying. It unsettled Alana to the depths of her soul. There was no time for an extended military campaign. That was following them to root them out of the ancient fortress world. But the 1st Expeditionary Fleet was tied up elsewhere along the Core for now, following along as rapidly as possible.


The Republic couldn’t afford to wait for them to finish their campaigns. The galaxy couldn’t afford that. Who knew what the ripple effects of such a massive Dark Side nexus would have throughout the galaxy? The balance would be forever disrupted. They had assembled what number of Jedi they could muster from the front-lines, accompanied by a team of commandos, to do the impossible. Infiltrate the Frozen Hand. Defeat the Sith. Stop the ritual.

Of course, then they would need to get out. Escape a planet as deep in the Core as one could get, surrounded by complicated hyperspace routes, anomalies, and other navigation hazards. One committed to the Sith-Imperial cause and filled with the most loyal, dedicated soldiers to the dark order. Ones willing to aid in ritual murder at an unprecedented scale.





“Landing in five!” Alana called out to the rest of the team. There was only one way in. A slaver’s ship they’d captured and joined a convoy of such ships, crewed by Imperials or mercenaries willing to do anything for credits. They would have to slip in undercover and make for the citadel, infiltrating without detection, finding the Sith behind the plot, and put an end to this. Darkness radiated out from it in the Force. “Gear up, everyone. We’re going in.” She tightened her own coat, making sure that her lightsabers were hidden deep within. They couldn't risk being spotted and the chances of being detected in the Force were slim. The very air was heavy with the Dark Side. She suspected even those not sensitive to the Force were capable of feeling it.

Elsewhere along the Byss-Prakith Hyperlane

The 1st Expeditionary Fleet had been engaged in operations all across the Core and Midrim border. Kampe. Prakith. Odik. They had been stretched to their limit and taken heavy casualties. They weren't prepared for a war of this scale, certainly not against a foe as horrific and ruthless as the Frozen Hand. Kidnapping entire cities was something not seen for years. And the rumor was that they were all to be sacrificed? Every solider and sailor in the fleet was exhausted, pushed to the brink of despair and collapse. Even Grand Admiral Tiana Marr was feeling the strain. The supreme commanding officer of the Grand Navy, promoted after the Kuat debacle to ensure some form of high command that could actually follow Senatorial command and order her subordinates, was a shorter human woman with graying hair, but her eyes still shone keen. She had gathered all the forces the Grand Navy and Grand Army could muster and put in plans for a final, last-ditch assault against Byss to buy time for the strike team. Risky, since Byss was heavily defended with hypervelocity guns on the planetary surface, a strong planetary shield-gate, and a still formidable fleet, backed up by Force-knew-who-many mercenary and slaver scumbags.

However, that wasn't the true risk. She had come to realize something that the rest of her admiralty and high command peers had not. The very act of bringing in the fleet and army served the purposes of the Sith, regardless of whether or not the Republic claimed victory on the field of battle. The Dark Side grew stronger with violence, warfare, and death. By attacking, they were feeding what could very well be the means of their destruction. It was a clever strategy of the Sith. Use the Republic ideals against them. They could not afford to stand back and not get involved, not with tens of thousands of civilians abducted from their homes. They had to act. But in doing so, they were giving strength to the enemy and feeding the very ritual that would consume them.

A military victory was possible, but it could cost them the war. But what choice did they have? She turned to the captain of her ship. "Open a channel. All ships." There was a brief pause as the channel was opened and Grand Admiral watched her vision of herself come to life.

"Comrades, friends, family forged in the fires war and our belief in this dream, this Republic. We now stand on the precipice of destruction. We have no choice but to commit ourselves to this fight. Not just for the Republic, but for every man, woman, and child who has been taken from their homes during this horrific crisis. We must put ourselves into the very jaws of death, the coldest heart of darkness and evil in memory. All of us have family, loved ones, parents, children, and spouses taken by this Frozen Hand. Even now, their plot is in the final stages and their evil machinations on the verge of coming to fruition. We may all be killed in this assault. Even if we break their fleet, annihilate their army, and grind this horrific perversion of a government into stardust, but that ritual is completed, we will lose. Our homes will be darkened by this Sith magic and corrupted beyond recognition, made uninhabitable, and if the heart of the galaxy is devoured, so to will the galaxy. Every enemy we kill will hasten the fulfillment of their ritual. Every one of us who falls will hasten the fulfillment of this ritual. But what choice have? To turn away as innocents are slaughtered? Never. We are the Republic and we will not stand by as unimaginable evil festers on our borders, preys on our people, devours our family. We have but one answer to that. All ships, jump to hyperspeed on my mark. For the galaxy! For the Republic!"

She turned and nodded. The communication shut down. She strode to the command console. "Three...two...one... jump."

And all around her, hundreds of ships bearing the insignia of the Republic, flying under the golden and blue banner, vanished. Gone to fight a battle that was impossible to win. ​

 

[Sayja Kelestrin]

As the Republic fleet began to make their fateful jump, another ship formed up with them: a nasty OPA Pilgrim-class expeditionary battleship. It had OPA codes, but it flew the flag of an independent planetary defense force.

"Republic, this is General Sayja Kelestrin aboard the Icarii National Ship Selestrine. Here to lend a hand."

There was backstory here. The OPA had been tangling with a First Order splinter group called the Dosuun Hegemony. Sayja had cracked a spy on Bespin, and he'd revealed a link between the Hegemony and the Frozen Hand.

A proxy war, it looked like. Nox had the testicular fortitude to take on both the Republic and, indirectly, the Outer Rim. Taking Byss could make a strategic difference for the OPA.

The INV Selestrine transmitted the particulars to the Republic Grand Admiral and formed up for the jump to Byss.

 

[The Monster]

Sergei simply sat in the back of the ship the whole trip. He'd shown that he was definitely someone who had a little more skill than your average soldier or shock trooper, and his mercenary background was a perfect cover to send him on the mission's advance team. And he didn't even have to lie about it either. He was a body guard, pure and simple, for the person leading the mission called Alana Sunrider. And she was a Jedi of some sort, whatever that meant. He didn't bother with the details, as it didn't really matter to him who she was. Just that she was his charge, and this was supposed to be covert. He saw her check her jacket, hiding away her laser swords below which was another thing that puzzled Sergei. Why restrict yourself to such niche weapons? He shook his head lightly as it was announced they were on approach. It wouldn't really matter for now anyways. They had a mission to do, a simple one really. Find whatever was causing this, and put it down. Sergei snickered to himself quietly under his helmet as he remembered one of his late instructors.

The important things are always simple. And the simple things are always hard.

If only keeping them alive had been that simple. Sergei simply approached the lady in full combat armor, nodding as he kept an outward professional appearance. On the outside, the towering merc practically bled confidence, professionalism, and discipline. Underneath though, even he felt that cold slip up his spine. He'd been on more than his fair share of impossible missions at home, but not once did he literally get the feeling of the air in his suit go cold. So he was definitely afraid. He wasn't going to show it, or let it affect him, but he was most certainly afraid. He wondered if the mysterious woman felt the same way. But he put that thought aside as he took up a position to her side as standard for a protection detail. His rifle, pistol, knife and grenades were prepped, so he felt confident that he could pull off whatever he needed. He sent up a silent prayer to whoever might be listening that they not short change his luck just yet. As he knew he'd need more than a little to pull this off.

 

[Alana Sunrider]

Jedi Knights, Jedi Masters, Republic Commandos, and some freelancers that money could hire. It was the best they could manage. The best the Republic could hope for. The only hope they had. The defenses on Byss were too formidable for an assault to get through in time to stop the ritual. Already, she could feel the Force churning with the Dark Side. It was stronger than anything she'd experienced. Even when the spirits on Ambria had attempted to possess her.

It was disrupting her connection to the Force. Clouding her senses. But fortunately, she didn't need to be overly specific about where to go. All she needed to do was go where the Dark Side was the strongest. She peered around the landing pad and gestured to the team. "We better get moving. I can already feel the ritual beginning to take effect. This whole system is a Dark Side nexus. Clouding everything."

Her eyes rested on a tall building, where the Darkness seemed almost visible in the sky. "There. That's the one. We need to get inside and end it." She looked to her companion. The Monster , she was getting the sense that the man was a bit of a bodyguard. His attention seemed focused mostly on her and not in the way many young men seemed to pay attention to her. If anything, it was disconcertingly professional.

She started working her way through the shadows, pausing as guards or whatever passed their way. A slight wave of her hand was enough to direct their attention away to something else as she wound her way through the alleyways. Above, the shield flickered in the night. No way to tell when the fleet would arrive, or if it would. But, she had a feeling they would know when they did. Things would turn into chaos. Perhaps they could get the shield down once the ritual was completed. otherwise, they could split the team. One for each. Try and neutralize the defenses before the fleet would arrive. Make it easier. Minimize Republic casualties. But that wouldn't matter if the ritual went through.

 

[Elisea Apollodor]

Elisea was way out of her element and she knew that, but someone had to stop the Sith. In the years since she had departed the First Order since she had lived on Monastery, she had found that there were ways to stop the Sith. One might think that as someone who was not sensitive to the Force this would be an impossible task, however; one would neglect the fact that the Force is in all living things. If you cannot see it does it mean that it does not exist? One cannot see an atom and yet it is there. In the same way, this too is the Force, and so she hurried those she could into a shelter.​

​

It would have to hold for now. An underground shelter that was as old as the terrain around them it seemed. A simple traveler who had been traveling the galaxy, Elisea could have escaped - she could have been self-serving and left it all behind. Then she gathered, she would have been no better than the Sith. Although she refused to take-up arms, Elisea would not hesitate to put her body between the innocent and those who meant them harm. ​

 

[Hoid Hallafax]

OOC: Welcome to the Dominion of Byss, the final arc of the short Flashpoint Dominion Series "The Frozen Hand" For this we have several objectives and want to include both Jedi and NFU in on the fun. A powerful Sith artifact is being created in the Citadel of Darth Moridin. While stopping the ritual is the main goal of the Jedi and NFU soldiers fighting alongside them, the system and the Republic will never be safe with Lord Nox on the run. Defeat him and his fleet and destroy or contain the artifact! We thank you for your participation and hope to see you return for more stories moving forward!

The dom will be slightly DM'd, partially by this account, and partially by a second Republic Storyteller. We hope you have fun!​

Darth Xul​

Byss - Moridin's Citadel
Republic Objective: Defeat the Sith Acolytes and stop the ritual

1. Capture Darth Xul alive if possible
2. Secure finished or unfinished "Heart of Palpatine"

She felt it, like a flicker in the darkness as they approached. Enemies of the Sith for a over a thousand generations...The Jedi were here. But they were too late. The Heart of Palpatine was nearly complete. A dozen of her Sith acolytes and alchemical experts were huddled around the pit of pitiful souls they were to use for the ritual. The pit glowed a faint green as the Sith chanted the ancient language, each line leading to a crescendo of power that would soon be hers. Byss itself had long been restored as an celestial object centuries ago by the Republic and Vong technology that saw a vibrant resurgence to many the Galaxy's dead planets and systems. But the dark energies that had called the system home for a thousand years ever lingered. Pockets of the darkness were spread throughout the system, floating aimlessly or attached to specific areas. After all, one of the greatest military defeats in all of history had happened here, snuffing out the lives of countless Sith loyalists, citizens, and the life of one of the most powerful Sith Lords to ever live, Darth Sidious himself.

A not insignificant portion of this dark power, this pain, resided on the newly formed planet itself with dozens of rumors and theories of how it came to this place. Darth Moridin sensed it and that is why, she thought, he built his grand citadel here. And so it was here that she had deigned it that the ritual would take place, coalescing all of the strands and shards of Dark energy into one singular object which she alone would control. With it, she would even destroy the likes of Emperor Carnifex, the dredge of a man who was content to lay with women and flaunt his power while not actually achieving anything more than his contemporaries. With the Heart of Palpatine at her command she would invoke the right of Kaggath and wrench the Sith from his cold, dead, withered hands.

Already the forces of Darkness were starting to swirl around the planet, blanketing the world in a malicious thunderstorm. Its lighting strikes struck down buildings in cities thousands of kilometers away from the citadel. The time was almost upon them.

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Lord Geradius Nox
​

Byss - The Frozen Hand
Republic Objective: Defeat Lord Nox and his Fleet

1. Capture him alive if possible​
2. Secure "The Frozen Hand" ​

As the Republic fleet dropped out of hyperspace ship by ship and Nox felt a leap of excitement in his heart. The Republic had new vessels, only slightly more numerous than before. It was of no consequence to him though. When his Knights of Nox completed their ritual he would be immortal and he would have his true body back again, finally free from the metal prison he called home. All over, scarred skin itched and burned, no matter how much cream and ointment the medical droids applied. Daily baths in bacta and long hours of sleep in Force induced trances kept him strong and his mind sharp though. Now he had one goal, push back the Republic and their invasion force for as long as possible, no, until the ritual was complete. Then not even the might of Emperor Carnifex could stop him. For too long he and his Sith lackeys had ruled the Tingle Arm, content with that and that alone. They'd abandoned a perfectly positioned military force, ready to take the Core at a moments' notice to toy with Mandalorians of all peoples and now only death awaited he and his like upon return home.

Well no longer would those who could not touch the mystical powers of the Force have to fear him. No. Nox would grip him by his throat, pulled down to his knees and-

"Sir, y-you're damaging the console." Nox's eyes widened in surprise as he was brought out of his fantasy. He looked down at his metal hands and saw that the command table console was slightly sparking, now dimmed and non-functional.

"Fetch a new table. Quickly." he said. "Launch fighters and prepare for battle. All ships should be at battle stations. We move to engage as soon as they are in range, ans then we push the attack."

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​

Syn Bright
​

Byss - Just Outside Moridin's Citadel - Marshland
Republic Objective: Kill or Capture Syn Bright

1. Turn Syn back to the Light​
2. Capture him to be brought to Justice by the Jedi Order​

He could feel the Darkness swirling around him now. The Ritual was in its final stages and his Master would soon be the one true Dark Lady of the Sith. He looked down at his prosthetic arm and reflected on all that it had taken to get here. The sacrifices, the heartbreak, the betrayals. The Jedi had left him to die and in that moment only the Darkness had welcomed him and saved him and nursed him back to health. When he found Xul he had been smitten by her control of the Darkness and was easily seduced by her. He knew it, but it did not bother him any less than the scars he bore because with that seduction he now held power even greater than his former Master. That, he was sure of.

Overhead he saw a few small ships, burning with the light of the Force, and knew his time was coming. He would probably die here, in these marshes. But he would die free from the shackles of the Jedi, in love, and fighting for something or someone he truly believed in. Sevearl Dark Acolytes were with him, including Xul's second in command. They all watched the ships with anticipation and would leap when they landed.

Elisea Korrado Alana Sunrider The Monster Sayja Kelestrin​

 

[Jerec Asyr]

OUTSIDE MORIDIN'S CITADEL
OBJECTIVE ONE (MORE OR LESS): EX-WIFE

Tuyala Joori, briefly Tuyala Asyr, went by Darth Xul these days. He'd seen her at the prison camp on Odik, but she hadn't seen him. The tattoos were new, for 'sometime in the last decade since we broke up hard on Nar Shaddaa' values of new. She looked great.

The independent freighter Infinity's Free had slipped down onto Byss a couple of days ago. Word on the street and a gigantic interstellar military campaign both suggested Byss was getting hit soon. That meant Jerec was running out of time to find his ex and, well...

He tried to manage his expectations. As he crouched in the ruined fen outside the Citadel, feeling supernaturally cold, those expectations decreased from 'talk sense into her' to 'get a kiss or something before she and the Jedi annihilate each other.'

And maybe apologize for the thing on Tatooine while he was at it. She'd probably never forgiven him for that.


Republic Muse

 

[Josiah Miller]

Location : Byss
Objective : Steal the Frozen hand
Tags : Republic Muse | Elisea Korrado | Alana Sunrider | The Monster | Sayja Kelestrin | Jerec Asyr

As the Republic Fleet jumped out of hyperspace a trio of Donnager-Class Star Destroyers baring the Republic insignia arrived over Byss. Desguised as Republic Warships these Donnagers were infact Directorate warships for the Directorate had taken interest in the Frozen Hand's Armada and had sights on it's flagship , the Frozen Hand seeing it as a potential addition to their every growing arsenal. Soon Natian Sanorge the Head of the Directory of Intelligence soon sent Josiah Miller to Byss to secure the Warship. As the Donnagers exited hyperspace Josiah Miller and his men headed for the hangar where Josiah Miller would brief his men on the mission.

What was the mission , well it was simple. Using modified Droch-Class Boarding Ships in which were capable of holding 8 Troopers , Josiah Miller and his troops from all three Donnagers would board the Frozen Hand and would move forth to secure the vessel by taking out any defenders. Once the vessel was secured it would be moved to Jakku where it would join the ever growing Armada of the Directorate. With 18 Boarding Ships at his disposal (6 per Donnager) , Josiah was quite confident that he would be able to seize the ship and hopefully there would not be any interference from the Republic as tensions were rising following Kuat.

Once briefing his men , Josiah Miller and his troops headed for their Ships and prepared to board the enemy Battlecruiser. As the Boarding Ships were launched , Josiah Miller saw the battle unfold in front of him. Fighters and Bombers duking it out in space , while Republic Vessels began to close in on the Frozen Hand Fleet. Soon Josiah Miller and his men's Boarding Ships would soon approach the Battlecruiser escorted by Tie/D Automated Fighters as they took out any Fighters standing in their way. Soon Josiah Miller and his men would be onboard of the Frozen Hand and soon that Battlecruiser would be theirs. It was only a matter of time.

 

[Ilya Ganoese]

Darth Berrenon​

Byss - Inside the Citadel of Moridin, Temporary Command Bunker
Republic Objective: Kill or Capture Darth Berrenon

1. Defeat Darth Berrenon, take him alive or strike him down if you can't
2. Eliminate the Forces protecting Moridin's Citadel

Two rows of trenches lined the fortress’ northern and southern gates where the ground was solid enough to not collapse in on itself. The main roads leading to the Citadel’s broken gates were in a state of dire disrepair, but they still presented the best means of approaching it. If the enemies of the Frozen Hand wished to force their way inside, these would be the paths they were forced to take. The marshlands possessed only a few narrow pathways stable enough for anyone trying to reach the citadel, able to carry maybe a few individuals, but too cumbrous for any strike force large enough to take the Citadel.

The Hand had taken this into consideration while they prepared the Citadel. Most of their defences were concentrated around the trenches situated in front of its main gates. Particle beam cannons, light turbolasers, heavy laser cannons all pointed at the narrow roads protected by makeshift barricades built upon the ruins of the Citadel’s once great walls. Smaller heavy blaster emplacements stood just outside the walls lining Citadel. They were concentrated in greatest numbers around the gates, a handful overlooked the marshes and lakes, however. Any repulsorlift vehicles attempting to cross the marshes would find themselves the targets of high-gravity traps and could be quickly dealt with by the Citadel’s defenders. The traps were sizeable enough to knock out any speeder and tank, but wouldn’t recognise individual troops. Furthermore, a repulsorlift jammer sat within a guarded section of the Citadel, ready to disable any and all repulsorlift vehicles just in case the traps were somehow disarmed.

The Hand had come prepared for a siege. As the Republic’s ships appeared in orbit, the Citadel’s shield dome activated, a beam of energy projecting upwards where it parted in all directions, eventually descending to meet the ground a good distance outside the ruined walls. The shield generators would defend its occupants from barrages of energy and high-velocity projectiles but would allow anything slow enough to pass.

The dark acolytes were restless with anticipation. Their ultimate plan, the destruction of the Light within the Core, would soon be realised. The Sith’s power would grow to be unmatched within the galaxy. Not even the pretenders in the galactic north would be able to stand before The Frozen Hand. Darth Berrenon could practically feel the skulls of the spineless warriors of the Republic within his fist. He waited atop a building that had been partially reconstructed to serve as a forward command base within the Citadel. Sharp claws clutched the massive war axe they carried more tightly. His prey would come to him, soon enough. A red tentacle twitched on his face as he watched the sky. The Quarren grimaced. For a brief moment, he thought he'd caught the presence of the Light within the air.

Jerec Asyr Josiah Miller Elisea Korrado Alana Sunrider The Monster Sayja Kelestrin​

 

[Jerec Asyr]

Oathbreaker's Theatre

The front gate of Moridin's Citadel looked forbidding, hungry, and definitely unsuitable for one lonely spacer. Jerec took a hard look at the defenders and the guns. At least the fighting hadn't started here just yet.

He let out a shaky breath, put his hands up, and walked out of cover. Many, many guns pointed his way.

"My name's Jerec Asyr," he called out. "I'm not armed, I'm not a Forcer, and I can almost guarantee Darth Xul is gonna want to kill me personally."

 

[Ilya Ganoese]

Jerec Asyr

Silence met the spacer at first, the Frozen Hand’s troops were disciplined enough to await the command of a superior before they opened fire. What harm could a single individual do when at the mercy of firepower grand enough to vaporise an entire army?

Darth Berrenon’s laugh broke the silence, an ugly rumbling noise and utterly devoid of any humour. He leapt off the command bunker and towards the main gate.

“You wear your weakness on your sleeve. Wise.” The brute bellowed in response, walking to the main gate. “My master would be pleased to add you to our sacrifices. Take him to the pit.”

Two of the Frozen Hands’ troopers approached the man with stun cuffs, ready to take him to the pit where the ritual would be conducted so his life force could be added to the Heart of Palpatine.

 

[Jerec Asyr]

Oathbreaker's Theatre

Jerec flinched (and sort of kept flinching) as a big red Quarren Sith jumped off a friggin building and approached. Up came a couple troopers, a little closer than the Quarren. They cuffed Jerec, really unnecessarily hard, and shoved him through the gate and the shield and so forth.

The Heart of Palpatine was nearly complete. A dozen of her Sith acolytes and alchemical experts were huddled around the pit of pitiful souls they were to use for the ritual. The pit glowed a faint green as the Sith chanted the ancient language, each line leading to a crescendo of power that would soon be hers.​

Large pit, people inside. Green glow. A dozen chanting Sith. An impregnable fortress. A Quarren Sith marauder with excessively large teeth.

And Jerec's crimson, tattooed, Twi'lek ex-wife. Even without her new Sith paraphernalia, she'd still have been the scariest thing around.

"Hey Tuyala," he said to Darth Xul, and waved with his cuffed hands as the troopers dragged him up. "Been a while."

Something twitched under his jacket. Fortunately he had both arms in front of him, which kind of disguised the motion. They hadn't searched him, thank feth. He'd told the truth about not carrying any weapons, and scanners wouldn't pick up any on him.

 

[Zavier Octavious Delane]

This never happened

 

[Zavier Octavious Delane]

​

Location: RNS Skywalker
Objective: Assault Frozen Hand Armies
Tags: The Grand Army Of The Republic


General Zavier Delane stood tall in the main hangar of the Republic warship Skywalker, his black cape flowing in the pale white light. He had adapted to the Republic's custom of military command, his legion having adapted to his style as well. The 187th Shock Legion had performed beautifully in the last engagement against the Frozen Hand and Zavier had no doubt they would so again.

"General, Captain Anderson reports that it is safe for us to begin the assault. He recommends that our pilots attempt to stay with the Starfighter Corps. as the Frozen Hand has opened fire on the fleet" reported Zavier's second in command, Marshal Commander Taylor, a descendent of the Jango Fett clones. It was a wonder that the man had chosen to fight for the Republic considering the last time his family fought for the Republic, millions of them died.

The man was a true inspiration. "Good. Load the transports. Let's get this over with" he replied, beginning the short walk to the LAAT that was positioned near him. The Republic land invasion had begun.

 

[Zahara Myneto]

Location: RNS Liberty
Objective: Crush Frozen Hand Fleets
Tags: Republic Muse

The Liberty sliced out of hyperspace like a sleet dagger, that is if daggers had turbolasers. The warship immediately fired it's vast weapons array as soon as it came within range of the Sith-Imperial Warships. Zahara tightened his hands on his command console as the warships began to bear the full might of the enemy fleet.

"Destroy those fighters! Concentrate rear shields! Deploy fighters" he screamed. The heat of Battle had begun almost immediately as the Republic Fleet exited hyperspace and so far the casualties had been moderate. However, ruthless fighting was what the Sith used tlgrow stronger.

There had to be a way for them to stop the bloodshed. But how?

 

[The Monster]

"We better get moving. I can already feel the ritual beginning to take effect. This whole system is a Dark Side nexus. Clouding everything."

Her eyes rested on a tall building, where the Darkness seemed almost visible in the sky. "There. That's the one. We need to get inside and end it." She looked to her companion.

Sergei didn't respond to Alana initially when she explained the whole dark side nexus thing. Firstly because while he could feel the atmosphere in the air, he'd been on more suicide missions than he could count. And most of them had that foreboding sense of defeat and death on them just like this one. Granted this one was more than a little extreme compared to his experience, but still relate-able nonetheless. But that lead into the second and more important reason he didn't really respond. He really didn't have a clue as to what the force was. He just assumed it was some weird religion that some people practiced to extremes. And Sergei didn't hold much confidence in religions, as he didn't believe in any god or unifying "force". There were good people, and bad people, and a lot of times because there wasn't enough good people, bad won. And he wasn't going to leave it up to some incompetent as to whether he won or lost, lived or died. He would seize victory with his own strength and skill. He stopped as the lady had gotten ahead of him as he was lost in thought for a moment, and quickly but quietly caught up. He was still getting used to all of this. The new tech, new peoples, new everything. It was still a culture shock. He saw the lady stop and seemed to be pondering whether or not to go after the giant shield and split the team. Sergei simply rested an armored glove on her shoulder and spoke calmly and quietly like he would to one of his long lost team members.

"Hey, stay focused. Stick together, stay alive,"

He peered ahead and saw what seemed to be a lone figure that was standing guard on the door. Judging that he wasn't flanked by multiple people meant he was probably more than skilled, and was here to simply hold people at bay long enough for them to fail their mission. That, wasn't good. Judging by their number as well, someone would have to push ahead, past him while the other held him at bay. And if the people beyond were even half as strong as he was, well, Sergei knew that he wouldn't probably be well equipped to kill all of them. He looked at the lady and back at the figure, and spoke slowly as he knew the most effective way forward.... and he didn't relish the thought either.

"There's a guard at the door. He looks like one of yours, but I get the feeling he's not on our side. I have an idea, but you're not going to like it. Someone has to draw his attention. And the other is going to have get past him while this happens. This is the part you're probably not going to like. You probably know how to handle more like him than I do. Which is why you'll have to go, unless you have a better idea,"

Alana Sunrider

 

[Hoid Hallafax]

Darth Xul​

Byss - Moridin's Citadel
Republic Objective: Defeat the Sith Acolytes and stop the ritual

1. Capture Darth Xul alive if possible
2. Secure finished or unfinished "Heart of Palpatine"

Ships were already in orbit and smaller vessels were making their way towards the Citadel. Darth Berrenon and her apprentice were more than enough to keep whatever meager assault they sent busy. If their lives were forfeit to the Republic, then so be it. All of them served her at the end of the day. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, allowing the darkness to flow through her as it continued to be siphoned into the cyber at the center of their ritual. Yes...She could see it now. The sea green hue of the kyber crystal was fading as the cultists continued the mass bleeding. They had chosen a rather strong kyber...That coupled with its size meant it was taking longer than expected to fully bleed before it could accept the Dark Side fully as intended.

Two troopers walked to her, each carrying blasters in one hand and the arm of a prisoner in another. She had told them that no one should disturb her as she prepared for the ritual, but she supposed even her ranks had idiots among them. Probably some fool general attempting to garner her favor.

"What is it," she said as she turned to face them. Before she could finish the turn a familiar voice sent a shiver down her spine. "Who told you this scavenger trash was worth bringing to me?" She drew her lightsaber in a flash, a fear tactic to quickly get answers. Both were either too loyal or too stupid to answer. Her eye twitched in irritation.

"Emperor's Black Bones there isn't enough time in the Galaxy to deal with you," she hissed under her breath. "What do you want?" she spat, "Quickly. We can always use another sacrifice but your face irks me to the point where I might just cut you down instead if you test my patience."

Jerec Asyr

Lord Geradius Nox​

Byss - The Frozen Hand
Republic Objective: Defeat Lord Nox and his Fleet

1. Capture him alive if possible​
2. Secure "The Frozen Hand" ​

Fleet

Spoiler

The Frozen Hand
Xo'Xaan II-class Star Destroyer [6]
Pellaeon III-Class Star Destroyer [Dozens]
EF96 Nebulon-A Escort Frigate [Dozens]
Updated Preator Battlecruiser [Several]
Donnager-Class Destroyer [Dozens]

The battle was in full swing now. Turbolasers painted the inky black of space in vibrant blues, greens, and reds as the two enemy fleets slugged it out. Not one to stand back and watch the assault he had ordered the Frozen Hand to lead the battle, taking center stage in a line of powerful warships. They took up a loose triangle formation while the enemy vessels were still out of brawling range, creating a deadly cone of devastating firepower. There was a beauty to this, Nox mused. The smaller vessels like the frigates and the Donnagers were more than enough to hold off the fighters, not to mention their own screens.

"Sir, the Republic destroyers have launched boarding pods!"

"From that far away? What are those lunatics doing? Order our fighters to intercept and order our stormtrooper legion to be prepared for anti-boarding actions. You should alert the Knights of Nox as well." The last part he said with a bit of pride. To tame a legion of Sith warriors took considerable will, even for a Force user like Emperor Carnifex. For a man like him to do so was nothing short of extraordinary he knew. It renewed the sense that he was special and that he alone held the will to bring the Galaxy under one united fist.

"Any gunner that letts a boarding pod through will be executed," he finished flatly. The commander didn't hesitate to relay his Lord's orders.

Zahara Myneto Josiah Miller

 

[Jerec Asyr]

Republic Muse (Darth Xul)

"I just wanted to tell you a couple overdue things, Tuyala. I'm so impressed and proud of you - look at the career you've built. You made it big like we always talked about. The other bit..."

With his hands cuffed it wasn't exactly easy to let the creature slide down out of his jacket, or dig the injector out of his belt, or apply B to A, or keep a grip on A as it thrashed. But he did it all in three seconds flat.

"...I really am sorry about that thing on Tatooine."

Separated from its nutrient cage, the ysalamir had less than a day to live. The sedatives hadn't helped. Neither did the stimulant he'd just injected to wake up the lizard and its Force-power-nullification bubble. The lizard was NOT PLEASED.

Jerec burst through the ring of alchemists and leaped for the kyber crystal. He knew crap all about the Force, but it looked like they were putting a lot of power toward doing... something... and the ysalamir bubble ought to make that... not happen?

 

[Hoid Hallafax]

Darth Xul​

Byss - Moridin's Citadel
Republic Objective: Defeat the Sith Acolytes and stop the ritual

1. Capture Darth Xul alive if possible
2. Secure finished or unfinished "Heart of Palpatine"

In case you were curious what I was listening to

Spoiler

Every fiber of her being wanted to cut him down for what he did. Of course, she knew that was in a much different life. Before the Sith, before the Force even when she was just a girl at Mos Eisley. Before she'd cast off that weak pitiful girl Tuyala. But for some reason feelings she'd thought buried began bubbling up and her dead master's words began to rise to the surface.

"You're still weak. There's still something holding you back."

Jerec's words cut deeper than any sith sword or lightsaber could have. This entire time one of her greatest wishes was that somewhere, in the annals of the Galaxy, that this man, this creature was also hurting and crying too like she had been in the deepest parts of her soul for the last fifteen years. But it appeared that he had been doing the opposite, and that made her sick. She wanted to lash out with the Force, and she tried, but when the lighting left the tips of her fingers it evaporated around him and the troopers. Ysalamari. She cursed loudly in her native tongue as the man barrled forward. She ignited her lightsaber, the crimson blade erupting from the obsidian and electrum hilt like an angry fire with a snap-hiss.

"JEREC ASYR!!!!!!!!" she screamed, venom laced through her voice. But she could bring herself to swing the blade as he ran past, barreling through the acolytes deep in their ritual. The prisoners, dejected and mostly starved, jumped almost in unison as the healthy body fell into their pit of despair. Indeed the ysalamri did something. All at once the miasma-like presence of the Dark Side lifted, or rather was split. It was as if a blade had cut through the Force itself, splitting the connection the ritual was making, scattering the darkness again slowly.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" Without thinking Xul reached into the force, deep into the darkest reaches of her heart and threw her lightsaber as hard as she could at the space junker and the kyber crystal. The ritual could be restarted, but all of their progress had been lost.

Jerec Asyr

 

[Jerec Asyr]

If you're used to playing it fast and loose, denial isn't always conflicted or repressed. Sometimes it's a matter of priorities, things you'd rather not think about because your mind needs to be elsewhere.

As a crystal prospector by trade, Jerec had played with his share of kyber. Right now he opted to forget that kyber explodes.

He also opted to ignore the fact that his ex was probably about to shoot him in the back. Paradoxically, her yelling his name in THAT tone of voice made it easier. It took him back, oh, fifteen years, when they were dumb kids against the galaxy. She'd done better at chasing her big dreams than he had, and that was a fact he didn't ignore.

You destroy someone's life's work, you better do it with your eyes open.

The lightsaber impaled him and pinned him to the crystal. Stressed kyber ruptured against his face, arms, hands. The pain was..something. The ysalamir remained unhappy.

The crystal exploded, a healthy green glow. Later, when Jerec pieced together his memories, he'd figure that the dying ysalamir's bubble protected him from the explosion for a critical couple of seconds before crystal shards took it apart. The explosion embraced the sacrifice victims, a good chunk of Xul's chanting servants, the crystal, and everything else within ten or twenty meters. And a scorched and bloodied Jerec Asyr, who mostly just went flying.

Whether it got Xul was an open question. He opted to think about that question as he crashed to earth and tumbled gracelessly. The cuffs had busted somewhere along the way. Kyber shards stuck in his clothes, skin, and hair, all of which were giving off smoke. When he wheezed for air, smoke came out. Maybe that was the saber hole in his lung.

"Tuyala," he croaked to an indifferent and smoke-roiled sky. "You alive?"


Republic Muse