Invasion Hubris of Empires | The Cold War | Invasion of Ilum [Empire vs. Alliance]

[Sōla Taan]

​

"Its over behind the Empire lines parked where the troop transports are, and unlike you I'm not build for stealth" Grendel said "Also whats the plan when we get to my ship?"

So many questions. The urge to roll her eyes was almost too strong to ignore.

Sola searched the horizon for the lines he'd mentioned, eyes squinted, but to no avail. All she could see was white- the wreckage had kicked up a truly unholy amount of snow that even now blotted out the sky. When her eyes proved too inept to pierce the icy gloom, she turned readily to the Force. She stretched her senses wide, like a Shyyyo spreading its wings, and pierced the cloudy veil. There was that same, ancient anger from the Neti, but beneath it, as if a chorus, she sensed the chaotic song of violence.

Even as the hallowed scar gaped wider and wider and the earth shuddered as if in pain, even as massive drills and hastily-erected command buildings fell beneath the chasm, even as the planet thrashed and quaked, the violence did not stop. If anything, it increased, the song rising to a bellowing pitch and a frenetic pace. She hunted for familiar notes within that song, but it was too discordant.

She sharpened her focus, narrowed her search to more mundane materials, and...there. Ahh, blast!

There were no Imperial lines. The wreckage of the GA capital ship and the widening of the massive scar carved into the face of Ilum had seen to that. But maybe, just maybe, the ship was still there.

"The planet is literally cracking to bits and you're worried about stealth? You think the Imps are gonna be guarding transports after that," she said, gesturing to the massive wreckage smoking and smoldering in a massive crater. "When we get to your ship, unless it somehow operates differently from every other ship in the galaxy, we're going to fly it away from Ilum. You can drop me off on the nearest civilized planet. Please," she added after a pause, not one to be overly rude on purpose...even to a former enemy.

Maybe she'd sense someone she recognized on the way. That was her hope, anyway.

​

 

[Sid Berik]

Allies: NIO l FN-999
Enemies: Galactic Alliance l Sara Roche
Objective: STAB

Rain Fire

Spoiler: MAP

The war did not exist here.

The galaxy did not exist here.

The petty politics that brought these men and women against each other did not exist here.

There was only one truth here, one absolute unflinching fact. That it was kill- or be killed.

The Stormtroopers attacked the trenches with renewed violence, reverence and a desire for revenge for their burning comrades.

Sid entered the trench network, shotgun in hand. His violence was only second to the violence around them. The shotgun, in close quarters, served him well. It tore through the Alliance Marines, caught off-guard by the Stormtroopers tenacity, ripping them to shreds. Literally. Rifles, pistols, would punch holes in people. Shotguns would take a chunk of your enemy and throw it six feet away.

The shotgun was low on ammo, eight shells left in the tube. Sid used all eight of them, wiping out nearly a squad's worth of the advancing Alliance troops on his own alone. There were a mix of the troopers, Marines and Alliance Soldiers and a few what appeared to be militia members. A burning TIE fighter screeched overhead, crashing into the trench network. Following it, was the screech of a low-flying X-wing- that was also burning, on fire. It crashed somewhere in the distance, based on the sound alone.

Gritting his teeth, Sid pushed forward, turning a corner to a communications trench. An Alliance soldier with a chaingun stood there. He leveled the shotgun at her, and fir-

Click.

"Shit!"

Sid threw the shotgun at her, and withdrew his fighting knife, and charged- the blade pointed downward. He went to push against her, prevent her from using that terrifying weapon in her grasp, and engage her in close combat. The young man charged, screaming beneath the helmet. Around the pair, the war raged on, in the skies, in the heavens, and all through the trenches they found themselves in.

​

 

[Shai Maji]

ILUM | TELLAN LAKE
ALLIES: Enclave | GA
ENEMIES: The Empire
ENGAGING: DECEASED Erskine Barran
GEAR: In bio | Basilisk War Droid | shield

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN​

Their strikes ceased before they could find their respective targets, but they were still ready to continue. At least until massive chunks of ice burst open along the lake. The ice beneath them continued to crack and fracture, sending a desperate fear up Shai’s spine. Her sword hand started to shake as she looked down at the ice… and the cold depths below.

'Three options! One, we both die here like idiots - two, we take it to the shallows an' finish it near the snow - or three, we talk! But I also ask that you consider this.... No matter what is chosen in the end, I'll understand. We're both warriors after all, an' we both know that none o' this is your fault.'

Her gaze shot up to look at him as she fought back against the paralyzing fear seeping into her soul. Another loud crack rumbled beneath them, spurring her on to sheathe her sword and wrap her arms around his waist before she blasted off just in time. The fight was over.

The ice continued to tumble and burst across the lake, finally consuming the very place where they just stood a few seconds ago. Shai gripped him tightly against her as she aimed for the shoreline, hoping that the Imperials did not open fire as her HUD warned her of several target locks. Fortunately, they quickly realized who she carried with her. The jetpack slowed and Shai pulled back to set them both down gently on the shoreline, merely a stone’s throw away from Erskine’s base. Her visor looked up at him as her grip loosened somewhat. The fight was over… but her mission was not.

”I’m sorry.”

A golden light flashed beside him, and the crack of a blaster tore through the air between them. She removed her right vambrace from his side, where her integrated blaster tore a hole through him from left to right.

She took another step back as a trembling hand pulled her helmet off, allowing her to look into his eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. ”I… I’m so sorry…” She whimpered, tensing up to catch him if he fell.

 

[Zoraya Ives-Ayres]

The Empire
COMPNOR
Imperial Security Bureau
Equipment: Armour, Pistol, Vibroknife, Thermal Detonators x2, Stun Grenade, EMP Grenade
Engaging: stimky Amani Serys

​

It was certainly helping but she didn't want to admit it. Admitting it would make her a traitor and she didn't believe herself to be one but the black and white view of the Empire tainted those loyal to it and recently her faith in it had been wavering, not helped by their actions today.

"You made your choice the same as me. The Padawans didn't." She replied, clearly unable to see from the other's viewpoint. Trying to come to some sort of understanding would be difficult, if not impossible. Still, it was all just words. It was difficult to try and justify the actions of her people when footage showed them systematically and mercilessly hunting Jedi down.

There were no words. No excuses.

Her gaze shifted to the Jedi to see her reaction but the pair barely had time to process what they were witnessing before the ground shook violently. "What is-" She began before the room collapsed and moments later she was on the floor.

With a groan, she rolled onto her back. "Yeah." She replied through a grimace. She pushed herself into a sitting position with one hand before inspecting her other wrist, tenderly. She didn't ask the Jedi if she was okay but spared a glance in her direction to see if she was.

"Go and get your Padawans." She told her in a deflated tone, the closest thing to a thanks that she would offer. Zoraya knew what the Empire considered treason but she was still figuring out where she drew her own line. After months of confinement under the torture of a Sith Lord, the capture had acted as a purgatory. A year ago she would have had no qualms about killing the Jedi as soon as she had stepped through the door but now everything was grey.

After a moment of hesitation, she rolled an EMP grenade on the floor towards the Jedi. "Here. They rely on electronics." She offered. "We all do." She added, reminding herself that she was still part of the group of people that she was giving instructions on how best to defeat. Though the stakes were different. Her allies would stop at nothing to eradicate the Jedi but the Jedi would be merciful.

 

[Iris Arani]

Iris.

"You can feel them too, can't you?"

They hurt. They're afraid.

"They're strong. .. Ah, I really wanted to help."

Then help.

Iris bit back a snicker as the rubble around her shifted again. She barely had room to stand now. Soon, she wouldn't even be able to sit like she was. All she could do was delay it. Hope someone might be able to dig her out. Would they be able to, with everything that was going on? So many fights, so much hurt. Even betrayal? Her world of colors shined as bright as ever around her.

".. You think I can?"

The gem beside her dimly flashed it's shades of colors. Domxite never left her side now. Not after everything that happened.

I'll help.

The glow grew, and with it, the weight around her lessened.

Help them.

She nodded, ever so faintly. With the burden quite literally lifted from her shoulders, Iris focused elsewhere. The colors around. All the colors, all the people fighting, dying. Troopers, soldiers. Too many to count, too many to focus on. She wouldn't be able to reach them all, but there were some she still could. Those that came with her, those she could see even with the chaos around. The most she could do was send a simple feeling, and hope through it they might survive.

Hope.

Hal Vaiken | Corin Trenor | Jand Talo | Silas Westgard | Nida Perl | Thalia Senn | Kai Bamarri | Jem Fossk | Cailen Corso | Kara Jade | Jasper Kai'el | Gabriel Pryce | Calix of Thyrsus | Sōla Taan

 

[Korvan Toldreyn]

​

​

Valery Noble Dagon Kaze | Rakaan Horne Sahar​

The taste of iron mingled with sorrow as Rakaan's fist cracked across his jaw. Korvan bit down and tasted blood, and the punch almost felt as severe as the strike to his heart had been when his student had left. The Jedi master might have expected another strike to follow, another attempt by his old pupil to cut him down, but no such attack came. The ground underfoot shook as debris began to collide with it, shattered and shaken as it broke beneath colossal chunks of durasteel.

The form of Rakaan retreated, taking the opportunity to retreat. Without hesitation, the old teacher chased after him, ducking this way and that to avoid the flotsam of the battle in orbit as it fell. Rakaan leapt away from them, slipping into the mines, and though he was behind, Korvan was intent to catch up - he didn't even seem to notice Valery as she lagged behind, intent on chasing after the boy.

He reached the mines, but it was not long before the walls wound this way and that, making it near impossible to follow Rakaan directly once eyesight had been lost. Instead, he could but focus on that presence, on the painful familiarity of him. He could focus on the pain, the sorrow and the anger that permeated through the caverns, his steps slowing as he continued on through rough-hewn caverns used to rip Ilum's bounty from its core.

There was a strange silence here, a twisted silence that contrasted so greatly with the cacophonous clash outside. Nought but echoing footsteps and the hum of his lightsaber could be heard as he turned his gaze this way and that, closing his eyes for a few brief moments which stretched into long minutes, focusing on the boy.

On - for all intents and purposes - his son.

"I'm not going anywhere, Rakaan - not this time."​

 

[Dagon Kaze]

Valery Noble Korvan Toldreyn
Sahar Rakaan Horne
​

Staring into her eyes so close, so intimate, in the field of battle felt like a deja vu. Years younger and with a hundred scars less carving their faces and bodies. Fighting against a common foe together bound by a kindle of affection found in the darkest of days. It was gone in a heartbeat. The momentary lapse of reason gave her the opportunity to drive hard, steeled fists into his face and send him tumbling away. He rolled away from immediate danger only for the floor beneath his back to suddenly disappear as he fell into a pit wide open by a destroyed drill and concealed by layers of snow.

A repugnant snap greeted his heavy landing. Something in his back had snapped cracking a loud groan from his mouth. Ears rang, muffling the clatter of vibroblades and whistling of blaster bolts above. The Jedi's eyes lifted open to a world of darkness. A blackness so murk it seemed to suffocate the light from above. Slowly, Dagon staggered back up on his feet. Aches burning with each motion, plaguing the Jedi's vandalized body. Each step forward felt like a sledgehammer pounding against his waist. He looked up to the meager rays of light above, all so distant.

Unreachable.

The noise in his ears began to clear and the pandemonium of battle began taking a discernible shape. The cacophony unraveled as his senses touched against the empyrean, feeling every thread of life around. Each chaotic note of war became a recognizable word or emotion. What he could not see, nor hear -- he could feel. Soldiers drowning in puddles of their own blood, eyes protruding from cracked visors, drunk in a stupor as their bearers drew their last breath. A raging storm summoned with the cries of the planet as death desecrated its sanctity. Wounded, it lashed against the evil that sought its end. Lines of Jedi, the true servants of the Force, extinguished in the blink of an eye. Anguish and despair weaved through the fabric of every heart and soul.

Upwards.

A numb, gloved hand fell on a frozen rock protruding from the pit's walls of ice.

Climb.

A dead foot punched through the ice.

Climb.

Jem, Corin.

Climb.

Valery, Korvan.

Climb.

Yula, Denon.

Climb.

The Jedi and the Alliance.

Climb.

The galaxy.

Climb.

The Force.

Bleeding digits grasped a shakey rock... and his hand slipped.

Fallin--

A numb hand seized the edge like the talons of a famished hawk.

PULL.

A bloodied, hunched man rose from the depths of the pit, brushing with a tired hand the sweat-matted raven locks from his face. Blue eyes shot straight at Imperial Knight finishing off a trio of Jedi wayseekers. One with the Force, and the Force with them.

"That all you could do?" a cold taunt escaped the Jedi Knight's lips, the fury seeking to boil him from within was tempered by a steeled composure he'd struggled to find in the past.

Duty called. ​

 

[Osarla Ridor]

GENERAL RIDOR
222ND NOVA CORPS | 512TH LEGION | 312 ATTACK BATALLION
ILUM | DRILL SITE | NORTH POINT MINING AREA

​

Through the biting cold, ozone and burnt flesh manage to find their way between snowflakes. Osarla’s jab struck true, although her opponent seemed unphased. The warrior in Osarla gloried in this, like a roar growing her belly.

Suddenly, the pins and needles in the base of her foot tingled their way up her shin, making the ground feel further and further away. Incredible strength kicked down on her knee against her armour, crunching the material into her flesh and forcing her to kneel. She gasped loudly, sucking in snow and wind. Her lungs burned from the cold.

Then, her vision erupted into kaleidoscopic technicolour. Mind-shattering pain. Like someone had gone into her skull and squeezed all their might into her brain. Osarla’s teeth gnashed together, growling through it. One of ther head tails was compromised, and it was crushing her ability to think clearly.

Through the rolling, foggy mist of obliterating agony, The Force bellowed at her. Flashes of fear, despair, panic, grief. One of her fists punched into the ground.

Above her, the glow of something huge lit the clouds gold on gray.

White skies turned black.

“No!” Debris littered from the skies, falling like the snow flurries that Ilum was known for. Harsh and black, their trajectory was coming right for her and Tortuga company.

The impact was colossal.

The snow around the caves went from an expanse of perfect-white snow to an expanding circle of eerie blue, grey and fire and then spewed white and black into the sky.

With all the pain travelling through her, the air did not come easy. Not even enough breath to make her vocal chord buzz. Just move her lips noiselessly in the shape of Gabe’s name, and then Sion’s with a maternal grip of horror.

Smaller, but not small, parts of the great Star Destroyer broke apart and rained down. She couldn’t see each one, but she felt them. She felt death. The death of her men. Bug was out here, Reporter..brick...

They hadn't been crushed on Ziost. A huge part of her hoped, against the odds, they weren't crushed here, either.

She forced herself to stand, temporarily abandoning the intensity of the duel in favour of her purpose: To protect. A Jedi was to protect life. A General had to protect her army.

Through a wincing groan and the residual pain in her head tail and knee, her arms lifted to erect a shimmering, blue barrier over the immediate area. It wouldn’t be enough to stop the fal of debris but perhaps slow it.

<Get into the caverns! Tortuga Company fall back!>

Those of you that are left...

Overhead, a colossal botanical emerged. Its power expansive, great, and infinite. The clouds roiled and swirled about it, but Osarla struggled with the weight of worlds instead of taking time to appreciate the marvel of The Bendu. For all her years, she thought it was just a myth. A creature that omnipotent couldn’t possibly reveal itself…

But there it was.

And it was angry.

Glaring through her struggle, Osarla tried to track the attention of her opponent. Her heart ached, her brain was pounding. Did this warrior still want more?

<This foiling your plans too?>

---

ALLIES | GA | NJO | | INDIRECT BUT SORT OF PROXIMITY AROUND THE CAVERNS AND DIG SITE| Zhea Nox | Varen Ardos | Sion Lorray | Gabriel Pryce | Varen Ardos
FOES | THE EMPIRE | Enyo Typhos

 

[Julius Sedaire]

​

Location: Ilum
Equipment: Jedi Armor | Jed-Cred | Warden Cloak | Rings: 1 & 2 | Aing-Tii Arm | Green Sword Lightsaber | Bryar Pistol
Allies: Calix of Thyrsus
Opposing: Castor E-196

A jetpack roared, and then the figure who had been sniping at them was seen clearly. The caves shook and roared, unstable, and Julius smiled. Not many were used to his particular talents, so the soldier was performing the wiser course. With a look to his Padawan, he nodded. Calix had seen this tactic before, and would know the look. In addition to training the lad daily in combat and personal defense in a variety of methods, he had been recently teaching the boy to work in tandem with others. Preparation work for learning to lead troops and relief efforts, a position Jedi find themselves in all too often, despite efforts otherwise.

With a rippling of the Force around them, the Corellian was suddenly behind the veteran soldier, and lunging for the back of his right knee with his lightsaber, and firing at his left side with his bryar. One or the other would hit, to some extent. It was a favorite and practiced tactic when using the techniques of Fold Space from the Aing-Tii. That or teleporting in and punching the opponent in the nose or groin. As he had told Calix, if you were fighting fair you weren't really fighting. But still, to perhaps his detriment, neither blow were with lethal or vicious intent. The aim was to sever or disable a limb, and render the opponent a non-threat.

Then he felt it. The Force tremored, and his concentration wavered. A presence unlike anything ever experienced before. Something awakened. And something else cried out as the caves shook again, more debris falling, but this from something other than the sabotage.

 

[Hal Vaiken]

IMPERIAL SPECIAL FORCES
SCAR SQUADRON
Lily Stevens Castor E-196 Kriegan Tavlar Katja Javik Margo Liaeris
ENGAGING: Jand Talo Iris Arani Corin Trenor

​

The brief window of reprieve from the restless Jedi gave the heaving SCAR trooper the opportunity to find his second wind. Or rather -- inject it. Sarge plucked a gloved hand into a half-shattered compartment of the damaged chestplate, pulled out a stimpack, and punched his thigh at the joint where there was no armor. He breathed in deep, the rush of energy soon to course through his veins, numbing the pain and giving him a last surge of strength to fight. Given all SCAR troopers entered into combat with a dose of a stimpak mixture, the commander knew he was edging close to an overdose.

The weariness in his eyes disappeared just as an invisible force crashed at him, fumbling his footwork and the follow-up evasive measures. Eyes widened in surprise as the blade managed to cut through the duraplast kneepad leaving a trail of crimson in his wake and a limp to burden his movement. A thin, surgical slice with such ease meant a mono-molecular edge. Last time Sarge had his hands on those was a garrote around a Sith-Imperial trooper's throat.

Nasty business.

Hampered and caught off-guard, the SCAR trooper's arm instinctively jolted forth. The glove whirring blue once, but this time it yanked, aiming to pull the Nagai boy for Sarge's other fist of steel to crack his face open.​

 

[Gabriel Pryce]

Allies: Varen Ardos | Osarla Ridor | Zhea Nox
Enemies: Aschwin Vethres
Battle Meditation: Iris Arani

The caves were slick with ice and gnarled with roots and the like as he rushed down the now well-lit stone corridor. Jagged and encrusted with Kyber unseen until now it was a wonderful sight to behold. But he had to focus. His heart was pumping and his friend was in danger, but he had to focus. The words of master Vanagor echoed through his mind as he ran, letting the Force guide his awareness.

If you are not aware of your surroundings, you are worthless in a fight.

His hand planted on the top of a larger root and he vaulted over, feet first. As he did he was brought back to that day on the Prosperity. His feet landed with the grace of a Corellian Sand-Panther, a group of white-clad stormtroopers in his way. They must have gotten lost when that last big quake happened. Maybe they had run here from the roots.

"It's just a kid!" one said, raising his blaster.

The Jedi are to respect life, in any form, and only take life when necessary.

Gabe released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and extinguished his lightsaber, not missing a step. One shot. Two. He dodged, the Force giving him an unnatural ability to sense the future in brief glimpses.

I am not going to teach you a single lightsaber form. I am not going to teach you a single Martial Arts form. If you trust me, and you pay attention, I’m going to teach you techniques that mesh everything together and do so fluently.

His arms moved in a flurry. He felt one of the stormtrooper's arms break. A sweeping kick and a swift palm strike to the breather and the other was down as well. It was over in a matter of seconds.

If you let me, I’m going to teach you in a way that you won’t learn one form specifically. You won’t have to. You will be able to hold off the greatest JuYo offensive flurry, counter the most dangerous Makashi cuts, dodge those infamous Hawk-Bat slashes, and take your opponent down seamlessly… and do it without breaking a sweat.

He felt a rush of pride, rushing on from the downed and groaning stormtroopers. He didn't have time to admire his work though. He heard a voice echo through the chamber, saw a light at the end of the tunnel. With a snap-hiss Gabe's blade came to life and he leaped from the cave opening, over a root and without missing a beat attacked the Knight in a flurry of Fast Style Ataru strikes. There was a confidence in him, a flame burning, stoked by something. Gabe couldn't put his finger on it, but it felt as if the Force was a hypermatter reactor in the pit of his stomach fueling this new burst of energy. He felt the heat of his kyber in his palm, the chill of the caverns on his skin, and the slick surface beneath his feet. There were no words to describe this exuberant feeling. But he was not so experienced a duelist that he could banter. Even with this focus, it was all he could do to keep the Knight where he was. He couldn't even spare a moment to glance at Varen to see how he was doing.

 

[Saul Vandron]

F I S T _ O F _ T H E _ E M P I R E
501st STORMTROOPER LEGION
HUBRIS OF EMPIRES
BLACK ICE
Kragr Krayt Wolfram Triko
Delilah Jones

Valhalla Calling​

The cruiser crashing in the distance erupted a volcano of debris and a shockwave so powerful that Saul was reminiscent of the Base Delta Zera of Carlac. Almost instantaneously, as if in response to the desecration of the planet, Ilum seemed to lash out with the skies turning black and a tempest was unleashed upon the battlefield - the world's pain made manifest.

The cataclysm had snatched even the trained warrior's attention -- a rookie mistake, only for the wild beeping of an incoming homed missile in his helmet to grab Saul's focus back to the present, immediate threat. His eyes widening behind the visor, realizing the momentary lapse of focus would cost him dearly.

His life.

A shower of debris pummeled the levitating general and the incoming missile, the latter exploding in premature detonation battering Saul and hurling him into a heavy crash. His armor screeched against the icy surface as it slid to a painful halt into a crater. A loud noise whistled before dying out, indicating the complete destruction of the repulsorboots. They had become nothing more than common sabatons.

Saul hissed in pain as he discarded a few pieces of his armor, thrashed and scorched beyond recognition. The wounds on the surface of his flesh were minor but the internal hemorrhage was evident on the grimace of his face. He felt as if an AT-AT had stepped over him. Twice. Then had collapsed over him and exploded. The cryoban rifle was nowhere to be found, surely lost in the crash, but the anti-tank rifle remained over his back. Whether it still functioned remained a mystery.

Cursing under his breath, the general slowly turned over on his chest and crawled to peek over the crater. :: Nine Line-- Rhypalm... big... siegebuster. Near my position... can't miss it. :: Saul uttered through staggered breaths. :: Be... precise. :: the threat in his voice was unmistakable.

He'd find out who was beneath all that steel, even via his charred teeth.​

 

[Aschwin Vethres]

​

Aschwin Cassirer Vethres
Imperial Knight Templar
Heir of House Vethres
Shield of Bal Talmshaa
Commander of the 293rd

Location: World of Ilum ; North Point Mining Chasm
Direct Tags: Varen Ardos ; Gabriel Pryce
Equipment:
Addlehorn Armor
Aschwin Curved Lightsaber
Post Number:
Seven

The flurry of action was intense even for the experienced Imperial Knight as Gabriel Pryce had returned with a new found energy to engage him one on one while his other opponent was currently out of commission for the time being. The padawan had come at him in such an intense motion that he was stunned for just a brief moment before the sparks of two lightsabers clashing over and over again about 30 times so far could be heard within the chamber even over the loud fighting of the stormtroopers behind him trying to handle the root situation. Having no choice but to grip his curved lightsaber with both hands as the boy had managed to put him on the backfoot for just a brief moment and then putting the padawan on the back foot as well in a series of back and forth action.

Aschwin was at a clear disadvantage when it came to protecting himself from Ataru and it took every inch of his focus to avoid being wounded. His armor was cut several times with long slashes upon its's surface during the rapid flurry of motion between the two using his templar school training to keep up with the aggressive form with his own semi-aggressive strikes. His curved lightsaber moved with his body like a well balanced tool while the padawan's blade was like a sledgehammer from different directions. "You have strength boy, but it will not be enough to save you or your pathetic friend." Aschwin said during a brief moment of a clash between them. Using his superior strength and heavy armor to win such a clash.

Raising his left hand as a powerful stream of Emerald Lightning otherwise known as Electric Judgement towards the padawan. Looking to overwhelm him with shear force powers instead of a duel which had sapped a considerable amount of energy from him due to Makashi being particular vulnerable to Ataru even for a templar knight such as himself.

The Sound of footsteps alerted him for just a brief moment as the familiar sight of Commander Peck made himself known with a rush of 293rd Heavy Shock Infantry and Stormtroopers behind him entering from a side cavern that was collapsed. The Commander saw the engagement with the padawan and briefly considered helping his superior but a small glance at the Imperial Knight was all that was needed. His forces moved to help the defensive line reorganize themselves for the fight with the kyber roots.





​

 

[Cordé Sabo]

STRIKE TEAM YSALAMIRI || DULCET
ILUM | THE JEDI TEMPLE | HALLWAYS

Illuminated by blue, Cordé could barely perceive the obvious distress that overtook the Jedi's countenance. Belatedly, she realized it was in response to the number of dead her task force had created.

She grunted, shifting to peel her knees under her and ready herself to stand and get out of here. Sitting was impractical with a war going on — sitting would just add her to the death toll.

With the caves grumbling, the blasterfire ongoing, and the distant din of warfare, time was not on their side. And while she knew how to remedy a dislocated shoulder, she'd done it hundreds of times to others, she'd never done it to herself. Even the trial of pushing it back to the socket, a gentle nudge from her hand to the bone, made her wince. She could do it swiftly, sharply, but...last time...just a brief interaction had remedied her thoroughly.

"I just need to get it back in the socket." Cordé instructed, gesturing with her good hand the direction her limp shoulder was to go.

"Yes, thank you. But we don't have much time. If it doesn't work, I can just...grit through it."

She smirked, despite all the stress.

"And thanks for asking this time."

---

ALLIES | GA | NJO | TFY | UP ABOVE AND NO LONGER IN PROXIMITY Dominik Borra | Tiric Sar'andor | Driver
DROP-IN VISIT | Sion Lorray
FOES | THE EMPIRE | Zalo

 

[Constantine Oliva]

Relynia Sorrene Gallius Orcana​

“Sir,” A lieutenant answered the CAG. “We’ve been hit by an imperial super weapon. The Revenge briefly lost power to maintain shields. The Admiral is currently trying to get a handle on the situation.”

He glanced over towards the Rear Admiral, who was receiving a steady stream of reports from other vessels and from the Revenge’s bridge staff.

“It might take a minute before he gets to you, sir.”

A field of debris now dominated the field, dramatically changing the nature of the fight. Each individual battle group now fought to maintain local cohesion, struggling as much against the environment as against the enemy. The 11th, still regrouping after the initial attack, found itself isolated in the rear of the Alliance line.

“Orders, Sir?”

The Bothan had just finished reporting that a large force of unidentified vessels had just arrived from hyperspace, likely Imperial. Their headings indicated an attack pattern that would take them through the 11th. We had to move, and fast.

“We can use the debris field to our advantage. I want any tractor beams we have to begin reshaping pur local area to maximize the chance for an ambush. We can use the force from concussion missiles to help get things moving.”

“Yessir,” came the expected acknowledgement as my orders were relayed.

"The Warspite and the Revenge will lead the ambush, with the Emancipators providing heavy firepower. Hold the corvettes and Raptor in reserve, they won't do us much good in these close quarters."

I turned, glancing around the bridge. I’d heard the Air Group Commander enter, but hadn’t had the chance to respond immediately. Signaling her to approach, I finally addressed her.

“Captain Sorrene, how would you recommend we use our strike craft given the current situation? Can’t be too complicated, we don’t have much time.”


That last part was truer than I’d have liked. There wasn’t much time to get into formation before the Imperial ships got in range. The upcoming fight was going to be a brutal one--and the ranges the debris was forcing us to engage at there wasn’t much chance of missing. We’d need to maximize every advantage we had to split their force and take it down in parts.

253rd Line​

Revenge​	Preparing Ambush
Glory	Preparing Ambush
Triumph	Preparing Ambush
Adventure	Heavily Damaged Withdrawing
Raptor	Preparing Ambush
5 Oswaft-Class Corvettes	Preparing Ambush

72nd Line​

Warspite​	Preparing Ambush
Defiance	Preparing Ambush
Endurance	Destroyed
Firebrand	Preparing Ambush
Majestic	Destroyed
4 Lateran-Class Corvettes	Preparing Ambush
Oberon	Preparing Ambush

​

 

[Delilah Jones]

DAGGER-6
LIEUTENANT
THE EMPIRE
OVER KYBER MOUNTAINS | ILUM

ALLIES: Liam Docherty | DECEASED Erskine Barran | Bex Tarring | Saul Vandron | Hall Mannarra | TE
ENEMIES: GA | NJO
ENGAGING: Kragr Krayt
GEAR: Armour | Pistol | 2x Vibroknives | TIE

RAISE HELL​

"Shhhhhhiiiiit!"

The Vanguard shook with the shockwave of the destroyer hitting the ground, Del clenching her teeth to keep it from careening out of control. She really didn't feel like another crash on a frozen world. Once was enough.

: Nine Line-- Rhypalm... big... siegebuster. Near my position... can't miss it. Be... precise. ::

Her comms crackled with the jagged breaths of the 501st General as the Vanguard stabilised. Del's eyes darted toward the tac-map to see his position flashing on it.
<Copy that. On my way.> she replied as she gunned the TIE, the ions howling menacingly over the battlefield toward his coordinates. It was a bloody narrow gap for a line, but it was try or court-martial. So the fighter sped to the area.

And sure as shit there was the behemothnstarting to fill up her viewport as it marched toward a crater that blipped with the veteran's location.
<Incoming, General. Stay low.>
Thank the stars the Vanguard had brilliant precision, unlike some of the older models.

With a roaring howl, the TIE swooped down and Del released the hatches to unleash hell on the behemoth while the Heavy Lasers whirred out an equal chaos as she passed over the Siegebuster for extra insurance.

The Rhypalm-tipped warheads delivered a crippling blow to the area directly around the Titan, the liquid igniting upon impact. A torrent straight from Haran roared to life, destroying anything in its path with molten fury, sticking to everything it touched on. Steam rose up instantly engulfing the entire area in white-hot, suffocating fog as the frozen ground writhed out its pain.
"Never can get right used to that." Del breathed to herself as she made a berth with the Vanguard to see the destructive path of what she had just unleashed. Its devastating power always made her skin crawl. Though she had a feeling that she should hang around the area just in case.

<Package dropped, Sir.>

 

[Aleksandr Stirsea]

Tags
Jedi Folk: Cale Gunderson | Kai Bamarri
Engaging: Sylus (Γ059)​

Calling out to Jedi, Sylus advanced, Lightsaber-resistant vibroknucklers humming. Grabbing an arm-sized piece of dense debris that had fallen out of the sky, Sylus could feel his enhancements really kick in now; time seemed to slow as he broke into a sprint, alchemical adrenaline and twisted muscle fibres pumping with tainted blood as he swung the 100-pound weight down on Aleksandr from behind, the improvised weapon clearing the space between them in the blink of an eye with astonishing speed.

In a fight, hesitation meant death. This wasn't a new lesson to Aleksandr. He'd been fighting all his life. Street rats live and die by brawls. They make their keep through violence, or they learn to be violent to keep what they make. He wasn't an urchin anymore, but that killer instinct had never quite gone away. Life in the Outer Rim could do that to a man. Danger lurked behind every corner, and one never knew what they might find on the other side of a hyperspace jump.

He'd always figured himself lucky, but now, with all that he'd come to learn, he knew that wasn't the truth of it. It was his attunement to the Force that kept him alive on the streets. That brief warning before disaster struck. That extra second to avoid certain death. He felt it again now. If he didn't move he was sure to die. He thanked the Force for that one second.

In the swiftest of motions he pivoted to meet his assailant. His lightsaber thrummed as he swung it in a low arc, bringing it up to face whatever threat had appeared behind him. He hadn't expected a chunk of Star Destroyer to be hurtling at his face, still, he did not flinch. His lightsaber bisected the debris down the middle. It melted into a hail of dust and slag, spraying out into his face and coating his tunic. For a moment he was blinded, his goggles covered by the soot of the explosion. He almost lost his cool, swinging out wildly to keep his opponent at bay.

But that was not the way of a Jedi. He breathed deep, and found his center, sliding into a defensive stance of Niman. He wiped his visor with one hand and coaxed the Imperial with his other. A wordless challenge: Come test the mettle of a Jedi Knight.

 

[Katja Javik]

The Empire
SCAR Squadron
Equipment: Armour, Pistol, Vibroknife, Thermal Detonators x2, Stun Grenade x2, Enforcement Baton
Engaging: Kara Jade
Nearby: Jem Fossk | Silas Westgard | Cailen Corso
Allies: Kriegan Tavlar | Hal Vaiken | Margo Liaeris | Lily Stevens | Castor E-196

​

The tension was tangible as the Jedi made themselves out to be rather slippery targets. SCAR Squadron were used to efficient dispatch but circumstances were prolonging their battle, frustratingly so, as evidenced by her comrade's outburst.

<Spectre, did you see where they went?>

<Yeah, I've got eyes on them.> She replied, their outlines highlighted on her HUD. She briefly offered her comrade a hand to get to her feet before marching off in the direction of the Jedi.

Upon hearing the verbal barrage hurled at the Jedi, Katja's lips curled into a smile. Though she was still one of the newer members of the squad, she was unafraid to test the waters. <Someone piss in your cereal, Reaper?> She briefly teased.

<That girl is all yours, Spectre. Don't let her out of here alive.>

<Loud and clear.> She replied. However, it seemed fate had different plans. As a low rumbling around them grew louder, she ran faster to keep up with the advancing Jedi but stumbled and grabbed the wall when the quake was most violent. It was probably just as well as cracks in the ceiling a little further ahead alerted her to the failing structural integrity which was confirmed when a portion of the tunnel ahead of them collapsed.

The Jedi would get a head start if they had survived, but they wouldn't get away. With any luck, they wouldn't have survived but they usually had some Force voodoo trick up their sleeve.

Still with a hand on the wall for support while the violent shaking began to subside, she walked back the way they had come until their current tunnel met ends with another.

 

[Kyell Laysel]

Location: Ilum
Tag: Miri Nimdok Hacks

Bloodied, beaten to he'll again, and with very little strength left to keep himself conscious, Kyell felt the hand shift down towards his lightsaber. It sparked a sudden rush of fear, but even that wasn't enough to help him resist. The emitter of the lightsaber was pressed against his chin seconds later, and he closed his eyes, hoping that somehow he'd be released.

Luckily, Miri was quick to act and after a brief conversation that only made him even more worried, the arm finally shut down, and Kyell fell forward onto hands and knees, while blood dripped down from his face into the snow. It was the least serious injury he had sustained in a major battle thus far, but the entire world was spinning and he felt terrible.

<Guess that's what I get for saving her life,> he muttered, clearly a little frustrated.

<Thanks, though...> he added as he turned his head to look up at his girlfriend with a faint smile. Kyell had a feeling that burning Hacks alive hadn't been easy on her, so threatening to blow her brains out like that probably wasn't the greatest either. But at the same time, he also felt like she would have done it to save him. It was slightly frightening, but it also just showed how much she cared about him.

<Could you go inside and bring back what we need? I think I need a minute... maybe two.>

 

[Grendel Krayt]

Sōla Taan​

At least she had said please Grendel thought to himself, muttering a string of curses in Mando'a before setting off across the ice fields and ugeing the Jedi to follow. The trek towards the landing pads was fairly uneventful up until they came across an intact part of the trench line that had somehow survived and crewed by Imps. The Imps spotted the odd party fairly quickly and began to open fire on both targets but focusing most of their fire on the giant running towards them.

Grendel for his part was already very angry and let out a bellowing roar before falling on the Imps with a savage fury, anyone unfortunate to be caught up in the initial charge were either cut down by his axes or crushed beneath his massive bulk, and then making his way down the trench with the solo goal to destroy the opponent. Unbeknownst to Grendel one of the Imps had sent a message to command.