"The Steward of Imperium"
POST IV
THE_CLAYMORE
1ST EXILED-GALIDRAANI DIVISION
2ND GALIDRAANI ARMOURED-VOLUNTEER BRIGADE,"BLUE-HEART BRIGADE"
OBJECTIVE 3: Remnants of Dust
Taskforce LIONHEART: Willan Tal Konrad Bolter Enedina Tal
ALLIES (NIO/GA): Irveric Tavlar Noel Strasza Tulan Kor Fisk Kamer DT-0800
Cotan Sar'andor Captain Raith Suri Vullen Kal Ostan Zirell Marxon Master Zoryu
ENEMIES (TSE/CIS): Irina Volkov Valen Taeli Raaf The Amalgam Laertia Io
Maple Harte
CALLSIGN: BLUE-HEART ALPHA
Custom Blaster-Pistol | Basket-Hilted Vibrosword Claymore
A BARRAN WASTELAND - The Grand-Marshall II
Having overheard,'Good pick...', muttered as he was still pointing out the map-projections that revealed his plans to Cotan, Erskine afforded himself an appreciative nod in Cotan's direction whilst still in the full flow of his explanation. And by the time the hipflask had been pocketed, and when his quick rundown had been concluded soon after, the Grand-Marshall's bared sword-scabbard sitting at the higher-notch on his belt also revealed the rest of the lightsabre's design when he sat down to gaze on the holographics himself; the lightsabre's grip was basket-hilted, just like the Vibrosword Claymore that Lord Brennan Barran had left on Archais for his Lord-Nephew to find.
As Sar'andor leaned back on the comm-link unit behind him to get a better view for the entire field-of-battle, his hands set to work, enhancing in on their current 2km-squared vicinity and studying the wide, incomplete crescent of Gowrie's first-wave front-lines. Leaving the projection alone after leaving it set to show all the friendly/opposing blips in play, Cotan folded his arms and pondered on it for a moment before turning his gaze back to Erskine, appreciatively muttering,'Devious', with a nod as his eyes returned to the holographics lighting his eyes with all the secrets his new acquaintances daren't have revealed until the time was right. A moment later, Cotan snapped out of his immersive state of flow to make eye-contact with Erskine again as he continued,'I like it. Hope it doesn't cost you too many people, though—I'd rather they all get to go home, rather than be remembered as heroes.', immediately switching from his endearingly-sociable exterior, then almost immediately to raw sincerity halfway through the process of expressing his views on the matter.
This realistic view on the cost of war, and just as intensely, the contrasting wish to avert it as much as humanly possible had taken the Brigadier-General by surprise; the knowing look the Grand Marshall had given him was rife with the losses he was carrying in his heart of hearts, completely lacking in the naivety of youthful self-assuredness, throwing the Woad-born for a loop he was in no real condition to be ready for. To start with, it had been a while since Erskine heard such talk from his already-extensive pool of known colleagues and allied-associates, as they all knew that Barran was still grieving the death of his Battalion 2-IC; yet everyone around him had been avoiding such talk since Bastion, both to work at their best and focus on the tasks in front of them, and to avoid the still-touchy subject of the ICBM that atomized Lord Erskine's best promotion-prospects at the time.
Not here Cotan. You'll be welcome to mention the matter again when all is said an' done the-day, though I'll no-doubt recall recent-events ruefully.
Interrupting their mutual affirmation of contrasting resolve and empathy, Sar'andor and Barran were both interrupted by the sound of new opposing blips appearing on the map-projections, then the collective rumbling of enemy-ships flying overhead towards the enemy armoured-division. It didn't take a genius to surmise what was going on, and Erskine's prediction in his looped-message to all GA units in the area was becoming true; it looked like it would turn out to be,"A Riot of Lightsabres", after all, and Cotan was not at all impressed by the Sith-Imperials' lack of unpredictability in their actions. Erskine, however, remained unfazed by the latest developments as Cotan switched his gaze back-and-forth between the Blue-Heart commander and the latest blip-additions, watching along with Sar'andor as their contents drove out to bolster the Sith-Imperials' farthest rear-flank in the east. Standing up, the Grand Marshall looked once more through the viewports as he vented with peak disdain towards his force-sensitive opponents,'Bloody hell. Really? It's like they have this sixth sense that says I'm here specifically.'
Sar'andor's gaze then found focus when his right periphery noticed the comm-link unit behind the stool he'd just stood away from, but the Grand Marshall was still trying to be polite enough to cast a quick sidelong glance back at the Lord-Commander again to say,'Care if I take your comms for a moment? Maybe it'll help make sure they listen to your relay.', already moving for a comm-device that required no permission from the Brigadier-General to use. Erskine's mind had turned back to the blips on his top-down view of the front-line from the ACV's newly-attained place among the weakened center, and he had noticed that those Sith-Imperials who were baiting him forward had finally committed beyond the point of no-return, and were pushing towards their position with the heaviest-hitting elements of their division's predominantly-mechanised roster.
Well ah'm no stoppin' ye.... But ah will be needin' t'use that soon, though.
'All Galactic Alliance forces and Jedi within range of the Blue-Heart Brigade, this is Grand Marshal and Circle Councilor Cotan Sar'andor confirming the looped transmission. We've got Sith forces landing groundside trying to surround the city; they're caught in the middle, but they've got actual saber-jockeys with them, and I'm going to need all the help I can get dealing with that side of things. All the rest of you, follow along the Blue-Heart's strategy as best you can until the situation dictates otherwise, and may the Force be with you.'
Turning back to the Brigadier-General, the Grand Marshall was looking at the grips to both his melee-weapons, gazing on hilt of the secondary sword, patiently waiting behind the basket-hilted grip for his lightsabre for (what the Blue-Heart Galidraani assumed was-) last-ditch offensive options in combat. Sar'andor had seemingly taken his time to register Barran's passing appreciation for the sword that accompanied the sabre, but made a point of mentioning it to conclude with insight as to what it was that Cotan's preferred mode of warfare was. 'Not a vibrosword, A bit more old school, a lot more esoteric.', the Grand Marshall muttered politely as he drew the blade a few inches from it's ornate scabbard, revealing a celestial blue glow emanating from the blade before sheathing it again and turning back to address the Brigadier-General with a mannered, though once-again light-hearted demeanour.
'Once you're in as close as you're comfortable with the ACV getting, just pop the hatch open again and watch your heads. I'll jump out and try to distract that Sith as much as possible—maybe even draw any more of them to me that I can, give all your boys the best possible chance. The tactics are your forte, not mine, after all. I'm just good at swinging a swo—hey, wait, did you say Barran? You aren't related to the Ollis that's been raiding Sith border worlds for a few years, are you? He helped me get out of there once, I got stuck in a bad spot between two fleets trying to hunt me down, and he launched a big distraction to get me out of there. Absolutely massive lad.'
The surprises were rolling out quick and fast with the Grand-Marshall, but the latest brought a wheezing fit of laughter that took time to quell with a struggling effort to keep a straight face in replying, nodding before he exclaimed,'Aye, of course I'm related to Ollis! He's my Lord-Cousin after all, and I his. He's the wildest Barran of my generation, and by a country mile too; just like his father, Lord Brennan.'. If Sar'andor ever had a moment of absolute assured-safety among the Blue-Hearts, this would probably have been the main catalyst. To meet and fight alongside one Laird of the Woads kept them from distrusting him, but meeting and fighting alongside two Lairds of the Woads assured absolute trust-and-reverence with the working-class soldiers of Galidraan 3; more-specifically meaning non-coms and Commoner-Captains alike would have time for the likes of Cotan, especially when news of his befriending two Blue-Heart lords of the same clan had spread to the ranks.
'It's a grand idea, sir.', Barran continued, pausing to offer hand-gestures that invited Sar'andor to sit by the map-holographics once more, though such was accepted with a look of begrudging-curiosity. As Cotan raised a querying eyebrow in anticipation, Erskine smirked for a moment before concluding his reply, turning his gaze towards the enhanced view of the advancing enemy-contingent on the top-down view as he pitched his idea,'An' I'll be the first to open the hatch for you on every single occasion, but only if it's done for the first time - from - here. That's less than 800 metres behind our current frontline position, an' as we're speaking, their best ordnance is currently hurtling towards us at top-speed. So, if you have time to increase your life-expectancy, an' drink s'more, ah'd like to knock your enemies down a peg or two. Choose the whiskey, choose the best time imaginable to jump out that side door o'er there.'
<"This is Scout Leader,
Watchmen are en-route to cripple their armor from the northeast.
Don't splatter us on our way there, over.">
The latest interruption on the comm-link was one that would need to be answered, Lord Erskine had recognised the callsign as a subordinate of the cyborg-woman he'd fought alongside just a short few days before. Noel's forces would be greatly needed in the impending fight, so Erskine took a brief second to walk by his ACV's esteemed guest and say,'Just a moment, it appears I have some coordinating to get done... We can pick this discussion up when I'm done rabbiting-on wi the comm-link, aw'right?', before picking up the receiver with a quick snatch from it's port. Inhaling a deep breath of air, and readying himself to begin his most-daring act as a field-commander by that point, Barran stared through the right-viewport and beyond as he drawled,'Barran to Scout Leader! Glad to have you with us, but you're gonna need to run fast if you want the best action. Push straight west, sprint south, then west again as according to the bearings we're sending you now. You'll be right behind the same people we're fighting now. Good luck! Blue-Heart Alpha out!'
Switching channels to that of his Lord-Captain, Erskine turned to face the mass of blips following the frontline's center-segment as they beat a fighting retreat, muttering to Cotan,'I know how you feel about incurring unnecessary losses in war, mate. But trust this, one signal could save untold numbers if I time it correctly.', as he anxiously watched their approach to the marked zone to counterattack from. There was a red circle-clip at the half-way point, and before long it became the subject of his fixation, glowing a pulsating orange as Erskine clicked a hold on the receiver and said,'Barran to Guardian One! Engage the slow-retreat in the center! Keep up with the ACV and keep time with the riflemen!'
<"Rhone to Blue-Heart Alpha! Copy that, we've got QM's ready to blow the first batch of bait-charges. Just enough resistance for the Sith-Imperials to warrant advancing farther, Milord. We all trust the plan, right down to the last marksman. Guardian One out!">
A BARRAN WASTELAND - A Message for the Imperator
'Right, is the file compressed an' ready, Private Grant? Good.... Stand by-'
Rolling backward, in an aggressive fighting-retreat alongside the riflemen, APC's, Guardsmen and the re-established QM-Sharpshooter company, the Lord-Major's bait had well and truly been bitten, but Erskine hadn't the time to look through the front view-ports as the ACV engaged their fire-and-maneuver's lead in full-reverse; ACV One was backing-off ahead of the others and still applying LMG-pressure to cover against the charging enemy stormtroopers, spotted out in front of the armoured division's central push screening the Sith-Imperials' center-pushing advance. All in the faux-weakened center who were busy focusing on the unseen-threats (and hostile-contact of a more-tangible nature) were leaving the rest of the thinking to the one who was required the most-intensely to do so, and Barran was proving to be quite the active communicator in the retreat.
'Barran to Enigma Actual! Excuse my improper use of the comm-links; I'm keeping the channels private as I go, but I won't be comm-link coordinating in this op with any such aims of ingratiation or endearment, my only function here today is to provide you with the only help I have it in my power to provide.' Lord Erskine began, pausing to click his fingers at the comm-link assistant behind him before turning back to resume his previous attention-standing position. As soon as his eyes made contact with the recording-light once more, the Brigadier-General cleared his throat before exclaiming over the hostilities outside,'By now - excuse the noise, Engima-Actual! Just a momen- alright, by now you'll have received a compressed file containing every possible visual-representation of the western approach to New Adasta. All my map-holographics, and all the known enemy-positions found by my surveillance-droids, can be found in there.'
Erskine stopped a moment, considering the best conclusion to put forth with the duellist's latest circumstances in mind; their approach to the orange-blip marker between the first and second waves of Blue-Heart assault noted to still be a little distance away, so the Brigadier-Commander was glad to be using his time wisely, even though he was acting far beyond his paygrade. Deciding for the honest approach expected of his ilk, Barran decided to comment on the latest flashing blips with a curt politeness in mentioning,'The orange and white circles are markers for two different stages of a maneuver I'm currently laying dangerous groundwork towards, and by the time I reach the white circle, the overreaching center of the Sith-Imperial's frontlines will be in a nasty little bind indeed. The enemy center's commander, the one we just so happen to be baiting - is a fledgling-Sith warrior, out for the blood of one Grand-Marshall Cotan Sar'andor as it happens.... Your approach will be covered as far as the white blip, and we would be honoured if you joined us in the crucible. Blue-Heart Alpha out!'
<"Rhone to Blue-Heart Alpha! We are crossing the orange-blip threshold! Maintaining fighting-retreat for now, but we really need to pick up the pace! Guardian One out!">
Good comm-skills, Rhone. But you really need to wait a moment for this.... It is going to be glorious, my young friend.
'Barran to Blue-Heart Bravo! It's time, Gowrie! Implement movement-order: ANTIQUITY!!! TURN THEIR BACKS TO THE EAST AN' FOLD THE FLANKS ON OUR WESTERN AXIS!!!! GO - GO - GO!!!'
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