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

[Zark San Tekka]

ANV CITY OF ASHES
BATTLEGROUP ANDOR
Pa'Kar Sang Liedran Kathause Jadwiga Drozd
Ignacious Korvan Velran Kilran Gallius Orcana

ANV City of Ashes​	Hyperspace​
ANV Consecration​	Hyperspace​
ANV Justicar​	Hyperspace​
ANV Sanctity​	Hyperspace​
ANV Sulon​	Hyperspace​
ANV Centax​	Hyperspace​
ANV Gus Talon​	Hyperspace​
Hammerhead Squadron​	Hyperspace​

Master San Tekka gazed out the aging Starhawk's main viewport into hyperspace. It was not a quick journey from the Core Worlds but the Jedi crusader could feel engines pushed beyond safe tolerances thrumming beneath his boots. Buried memories of half-forgotten wars rose to haunt him. Dead tyrants.

Once sterling armor now worn and dented by constant battle adorned weary shoulders. Senior navy crew surrounded Zark minding stations or delivering reports to their commanding officer. Captain Aftab Bashir was a mon cal veteran of both the Stygian and Unknown Regions campaigns.

"Master Jedi," his voice was grave, "We have lost contact with the Courageous."

"I feel a great disturbance in the Force."

Zark closed his eyes. It was as if thousands of voices cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. He feared something terrible had happened on Ilum.

 

[Justice Lesan]

Wearing: xxx
Weapon: xxx
Arm: xxx
Enemies: Sharad Dhavale

It was about the moment when all the weapons were trained on him that Justice realized this might have been a bad idea. A loud voice identified his presence, almost as if he were nervous. That was a comforting thought as the young padawan had not ever thought about others getting as nervous as he did when it came to battle. Whatever it was did not last long as more blaster bolts than he could manage came his way. At least he had a twin bladed saber which allowed him enough time to make due by twirling it about to create a protective barrier.

“This is where learning shatterpoint from Judah would have been a good idea.”

Why did he need that skill as an archeologist? Well he seemed to have a pretty good idea why now. If he knew that skill, applied appropriately to the tank, would have rendered it immobile. Instead Justice had to fight off troops and figure out how to disable the best.

A force push was quickly launched at those who were shooting at him, before he called back out on the comms.

<<< “Another round please!” >>>

Fortunately they heard him, and the air support came by for another pass.

“Alright now, if I were an engine on this thing, where would I be….”

Without waiting, Justice started jabbing at the tank with his lightsaber hoping to strike it lucky.
​

 

[Shai Maji]

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

VOR Í VAGLASKÓGI​

Shai stared with wide eyes and a shattered heart at the old Woad as he stood there for a moment, unable to move or do anything as he sheathed his sword. For a moment, it was like he didn’t even care about the shot. Just another flesh wound for the invincible Galidraani Lord-Regent.

'Heh! Poetic.... The things we do for a better future, eh?'

Shai said nothing in return, too broken to move a muscle as she looked up at him. Her hands hovered halfway up as she expected him to collapse, but he simply kept standing like a sentinel in front of her. Nothing could bring him down, a simple blaster shot was unworthy to claim his life.

'But still, I understand.... Mind as I said, we both know that none of this is your faul-'

A bloody cough interrupted him, and finally his strength failed him as he came crashing down. Shai was right there to catch him. Her arms wrapped around him as she gently lowered into the snow and rested him in her lap. ”I’m-I’m sorry… sir, I’m so sorry…” She whispered as she frantically pulled her medpack from her belt and opened it up to try and treat the wound she inflicted. There was no saving him. No reaction force could be quick enough, even if she did call for help over his commlink.

She made her choice, now it was time to bear the consequences. All she could do now was ease his pain with bacta patches and a shot to ease his pain. She quickly shot the injector into his neck and tossed it aside as she continued to apply whatever she could to the holes in his sides.

She didn’t even realize what he was busy with until he tried to ignite his lighter. Her hands came to a halt as she watched him light a cigarra for the both of them. She stared at the offered gifts in bewilderment, until she finally accepted them. She took a sip from the flask and held it out to him, helping him to take a hearty sip if needed. With a shaky breath she looked up and took a drag from the cigarra as she stared out over the shattered lake along with him.

Sinking into the frozen depths of that lake was a better fate than what she had to endure now.

Her cigarra shrunk in record time as she subconsciously tried to find some sort of comfort in the moment. ”I have to do it.” She choked out, hugging him against her. ”They-they won’t… they won’t forgive me if I don’t…” She rested her head against his as she shoved the spent cigarra into the snow beside them. The carnage and brutality between the Empire and the Galactic Alliance became nothing more than an unpleasant echo in the background. The blissful ignorance they all lived in. To not be where she was now. To have taken the life of a mentor in hopes of reclaiming what she lost. Her clan, her people, her family... she made a promise to the Alliance long ago, and the Mandalorian people before that, to stand by them and protect them.

She never expected that such a promise would pit her against her closest friends.

'Make me proud, Shai. That's all I ask.'

”I will.” She declared with a broken voice. ”I promise. I promise I will.” She sobbed as she held him tighter with her cheek against his head. She could hear his heart slowing, the life draining from him as she held him. The smell of his blood did nothing to phase her. All she cared about was that powerful heart of gold slowing with every beat.

The last few moments were quickly slipping by. In a frantic last attempt at comfort, she drew the blade from his belt and wrapped his right hand around it as she rested the basket-hilt over his heart. The final beats came and went, life finally leaving his eyes as the Woad drew his last breath. Her crimson gaze was locked onto the lake as the floodgates broke open, and the mighty Wardog was reduced to nothing but a weeping wreck as she gently closed his eyes.

She knew that his camp was watching. The only reason she could think of for them to not open fire on her was the fear of hitting their commanding officer. By all accounts, she should have gotten a bolt to the back of her head by now… and yet, there she was. Wishing that such a fate was in store for her. But as movement in the corner of her eye drew her attention, any wishes or thoughts disappeared as she drew a pistol and took aim at the figure.

Her eyes went wide at the ethereal figure standing over them. Her shaking hand dropped the pistol as she clung to Erskine like a lost child.

'You....'
'You....'

She recognized the voice, and as the figure removed his mask, she recognized the face underneath as well. It was him. But something wasn’t right. Michael Barran was standing over them, but it didn’t feel like she was looking at the Lord-Regent’s son. As if reading her mind, he shook his head.

'Michael sleeps.... But if I told you I could bring his father back - what would you say?'
'Michael sleeps.... But If I told you I could bring his father back - what would you say?'

Shai was speechless for a moment. Unsure of what to do or say to him. She came to Ilum to kill him, but every aspect of her being screamed at her to turn back. Killing the Lord-Regent was a tactical move, a way to rob the Empire from their most powerful asset. And yet, she found herself wanting to go to the farthest corners of the galaxy in search of a way to bring him back. To give him that second chance she got on Tython.

”I’d say you better start talkin’ or get lost.” She muttered with a sniff as she glared up at the young Woad, shifting slightly as if to protect Erskine from whatever took over Michael’s body..

 

[Sylus (Γ059)]

█████ - Rama-Actual
IMPERIAL SECURITY BUREAU
TASK FORCE ████
Kyber Mountains, Ilum
TAGS: Cale Gunderson Aleksandr Stirsea Kai Bamarri
Equipment: 2x REC-VKN/01 "Tekko" - Pattern Vibroknuckler, 2x BH-Specter Slicer Vibroknife, 1x Hekler'Kok Survival Machete, 1x Sonic Detonator, 1x CK-60 01x Disruptor Carbine, 1x LS-1 Angry Owl Light Sniper Rifle, Hellion-class Commando Armour Mk I

CompForce: 51/80

Kai fell to the ground and rolled, managing to find some cover behind a rock. He was screaming internally from the pain, but managed to keep his mouth shut.

Reaching out with the Force, he traced the path of the bullet that had hit him, finding Five-Eight. Part of him wanted to kill him outright, simply crush him in his telekinetic grip. Instead, he touched the trooper’s mind, attempting to stun him into unconsciousness.

The CompForce section leader had seen a few things in his time, but had the good fortune to avoid being the target of ire of the powers wielded by Jedi and Sith alike. Five-Eight had been determined to lead his men well into this battle, but alas, one can only prepare so much against the power of the Force.

Five-Eight fell against the wall of the trench, struggling to give a command, say anything. His limbs felt like stone.

"Keep up t... the fire, trooper! Don't let h- let him fo... focus-"

"Fireteam Alpha, suppress the bastards on us, Beta, move through, hit the ones going for Aleks, Gamma, you're with Alpha! Go on my mark, you'll know!" The orders flowed naturally, and Cale kept himself calm and centered. He reached out, found a hunk of debris, and gave it a nudge. The sheet of plating crashed down onto the COMPNOR line, and the two teams of Alliance marines moved without question, bursting through the trench and taking up positions to lay down fire on the Imperials sighting up Aleks and Kai whilst the others followed up Cale's improvised orbital strike with a torrent of gunfire.

The assault troopers braced and moved back slightly; they took the brunt of the Alliance assault, making use of the new cover formed by the shower of debris. The commander of this group could see on his tracker that their ISB commander was busy with another Jedi; for now they would move to suppress and hold the one-armed Jedi and the soldiers by taking cover and maintaining fire to pin them down.

Some of the Alliance soldiers were trying to leapfrog the position to intervene in Sylus' fight; a group of CompForce troopers detached and fired at those Marines, trying to slow their advance and distract them as long as possible. Every piece of effort counted, and every trooper knew he played a part in the inevitable victory of the New Order.

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.

Sylus dodged Aleks' first wild swings, moving under his guard. When the dust cleared and Aleks readied his defence, Sylus moved in immediately, vibroknuckles at the ready. Enhanced speed powered his strikes and kicks, looking to sweep Aleks off his feet while his knuckles struck forward in rapid jabs, aiming for vital areas. Stepping into his guard, the Jedi would have trouble turning his blade inwards, unless he kept moving, which suited Sylus just fine as it allowed them to move into areas with untouched debris and improvised weapons.

 

[Jand Talo]

HUBRIS OF EMPIRES
Equipment

Blood was drawn, the longsword sang as it whistled through the air, leaving a trail of crimson from the trooper's knee.

Good.

Jand wasn't so overconfident to assume the fight was going his way, he wouldn't underestimate his opponent. The trooper had already displayed great skill, able to juggle the Padawans opposing him as a group, even if they weren't necessarily working as a unified team. It was a shame, as Jand could see the potential, but a mixture of factors had resulted in the Padawans being less effective against the single foe. And now Iris was gone, Corin was recovering on the ground, and Jand was facing the Imperial... there was some hope, he supposed, that Corin would have the opportunity to try and find or assist Iris.

Maintain focus.

The trooper aimed his tech-glove, which Jand anticipated would be another repulse, as the item began to charge up. The Padawan remained crouched, ready to spring with the impact... but it never came. Instead, Jand found himself pulled toward the trooper, as the glove activated some kind of tractor function!

But then time seemed to slow...

Hope.

Comfort.

Support.

The Force.​

It was Iris - she was helping, sending out waves of the Force, which reinvigorated the Nagai. A burst that affected him mentally and physically, like a comforting presence of hopefulness and support, which also meant she was alive. That was good, Jand was glad. And that sensation passed over the pale Padawan in mere fractions of moments.

...and then time seemed to resume, as Jand was yanked forward.

From behind the trooper, Jand's dark eyes caught a glimpse of Corin rushing toward the pair fighting, clearly intent on an attack. That meant Jand was in a position to provide an opening - and so, as the trooper's other fist lashed out for a heavy punch, the Padawan twisted his body as his boots scraped the rocky ground and presented his left shoulder, which took the brunt of the impact with a crunch.

"Agh!"

It felt exactly like one expected, with a metal fist hitting flesh and bone. The robes did little. Jand knew the limb was severely injured, perhaps broken, but until he had a chance to use the shoulder - and find out, one way or the other - it was only a wave of intense pain. The Nagai gritted his teeth, as he counterattacked with a slash of his longsword, aimed for the trooper's torso with a down-to-high cross slash; and while the weapon was incredibly sharp, it was made for cutting, not stabbing...

Jand hoped the trooper was too distracted now.

Jand hoped Corin had his opening.

Allies: Corin Trenor | Iris Arani
Engaging: Hal Vaiken​

 

[Castor E-196]

Master Sergeant Castor E-196
Imperial Navy Special Forces Command; Attached to SCAR​

Objective: n e u t r a l i z e
Allies: Hal Vaiken Lily Stevens Margo Liaeris Kriegan Tavlar
Enemies: Julius Sedaire Calix of Thyrsus

Shutting down his lightsaber, the boy returned it to the magnetic plate on his armor. In its place, the boy drew his blaster.

The afro-headed youth fired two bursts of three shots each. Between his shots and his master's attacks, they would hopefully catch their target in a crossfire.

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.

This was outside parameters.

Castor reacted to the sudden displacement of the older Jedi, whirling around. The lightsaber barely missed as Castor twisted, the blade scorching a mark across his knee armour as he fired his jetpack backwards. Julius' overcharged Bryar pistol blasts struck Castor's RAMPART armour hard, the energy shields taking the brunt of the damage.

Worse however was Calix, who opened fire at Castor from his rear. The ELITE managed to dodge once he realised the trick the pair had pulled, but enough shots had struck to bypass the overtaxed shields. Now his jetpack was definitely damaged, and Castor was forced to land on his feet near Calix. He was vulnerable now, the shields taking precious seconds to recharge.

Time to switch things up, he decided. Two against one was hard to win, but he could make use of other factors. The place began to shake again, and Castor aimed upwards, Castor fired at the ceiling, causing stalactites to fall, and the cave ceiling to groan concerningly loud.

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.

As the last of the red bolts shot out, the small tibana cartridge at the back popped off, its charge exhausted. He'd have to load a new cartridge before he could fire again.

Unknown to him, Julius was just then experiencing the after-effects of the superweapon and Ilum's own response. Castor only knew that the old man had stopped firing for a moment and the young Padawan was out of shots. Seizing on the opportunity, he sprinted forward with inhuman speed, power-multiplying circuits in his armour and his biological enhancements propelling him to clear the gap between he and Calix in the blink of an eye. He drew his Vibroknife and Pistol, firing at close-range and lunging with his knife at the Padawan, more than 800 pounds of armour and muscle driving the knife towards the Padawan at a dead sprint-

 

[Marcad]

C R E S T F A L L E N
THE EMPIRE
ILUM
Dominik Borra | Driver

A chance to prove himself, to remove the title of Crestfallen the late Rurik Fel dubbed him. A title of disgrace and dishonor for this who fell low to the Dark. A chance of redemption to cleanse away the scars that haunted him.

Chaos grew across Ilum since the first blaster bolts. Enough chaos which awakened something within the planet. Enough to say it was the climax of battle and to see which side’s momentum would prevail.

The caverns were crumbling, their structure compromised from the rampaging destruction. Many were within and it would be a tactical to entrap any Alliance soldiers; be crushed by the ice. Much like a group of operators that were pursuing fleeing Imperials, whether soldiers or engineers responsible for stripping Ilum.

A violet lightsaber glared at them as the Mirialan approached the two soldiers. They could either dare and fight, or cower back where they would most likely be crushed by the ice.

 

[Margo Liaeris]

STALKER

Objective: Hubris of Empires
Location: Ilum - Subterranean Tunnel
Tags:

​

SCAR: Hal Vaiken | Kriegan Tavlar | Castor E-196 | Lily Stevens | Katja Javik

​

NJO: Jem Fossk | Cailen Corso

Battle of Heroes

As the particle blast erupted forth from Margo’s barrel, the wash of plasma at first made the SCAR trooper think she had finished the job with the fleeing female Jedi. Cailen’s leap forward, and the shield he cast in desperation had changed things.

Taken aback, Margo broke stride no more than ten meters away, slowly lowering her blaster pistol. A quick glance at her HUD display within her helmet indicated that she was woefully separated from her squad, who were all engaged in pitch battles of their own. It was just her, and the two Jedi before her.

A nagging feeling prodded the back of her mind, but she was too deep within the throes of her killer instinct. There was no thought behind her actions; only cold and... primal instinct.

"Jem! Jem, please, you have to get out of here!"]

"Go! Now!"

She watched as the younger padawan shouted; no, begged for his companion to flee. The impact of the starship above caused the tunnel behind them to begin collapsing, which elicited a predatory grin from behind the black-hued mask adorning Margo’s head. “No.” Margo’s voice sounded... off, had anyone who had known her been present. Her tone was low, and... dangerous.

“You... both of you.” She slowly holstered her pistol, and tossed her vibroblade into her right hand. “Will die.”

Suddenly, with a burst of seemingly unnatural speed by virtue of her enhanced strength, the SCAR trooper charged the 10 meters between her and Cailen. Her sword came in high, swinging down from a quick overhead slash directed toward the left side of the padawan’s collarbone.

Yet, the seemingly direct and straightforward attack was not the only threat the padawan would face. As their blades clashed, stray rocks began to fall in their midst, and Margo used the tactical distraction to pivot and lash out with her left fist encased in a crushgaunt; aiming a jab into his abdomen.

 

[Simon Meinrad]

C A V A L I E R
THE EMPIRE
ILUM

COLD​

So it would come to this? He gave her a choice, a chance to make a difference; a real difference and not like the delusions of the Jedi. Instead she rejected his offer, displaying to him how lost and confused she was from the teachings of the Jedi. So much potential and this was how she valued her gifts?

A shame, truly.

"I give you a last chance to walk away, Simon. Please take it."

And even yet, she continued to dissuade his efforts. What was that saying of the Jedi? There is no ignorance, there is wisdom? Very pompous and pretentious to laugh at, though he did not bother doing so. It was depressing to have it consume Zhea.

“And I, too, gave you a chance.”

Neither would retreat from their objectives which meant…

With speed in his steps, bridging the gap between them, his lightsaber was raised in that familiar technique of Djem So. She knew too well the warrior within him, always opting and preferring offense than be passive with a form like Soresu. His lightsaber came down like an avalanche on Zhea.

“You forced my hand, Zhea.”

OLD FRIEND
Zhea Nox ​

 

[Sōla Taan]

​

Beyond the hallowed scar, on the fringes of the massive crater caused by the still flaming wreckage of the Courageous, amidst blood and fire and smoke, they found a relatively intact landing zone swarming with Imps, assailed by a small force of GA soldiers. Sola followed in Grendel's wake when he rushed the Imps, flitting about in his massive shadow. She could feel his anger brewing like a storm- the Mando roared out his fury, the sound like the thunderous bass of clapping thunder, and barreled through the thin Imperial battle lines like a wrecking ball, his wicked axes dealing death with every swing.

... 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.

Sola stopped short, and the world stopped too; her connection to the Force belied her age, but her control of it did not. Time itself seemed to pause as the space between her heart beats stretched into eternity. And in that space, Sola saw.

A bright, multi-pointed glow began to dominate the skies of ilum, with a singular point of convergence blazing angrily like a volatile star about to turn nova. Within moments, the superweapon would discharge again - this time the beam slicing the very molecules within the planet’s atmosphere downward toward the massive tree-like ‘Bendu’ tearing through both Imperial and Alliance forces alike. The smell of ozone would fill the air, with the sound of a thousand thunder claps occurring at once as the beam surged forth.

A god had seemingly arisen from its deep slumber upon the planet; intent on protecting a legendary planet of old from being pillaged of its natural bounty.

And another god forged of metal and imbued with unimaginable power...

Would see it dead.

No. No, no, no, no-

For perhaps the first time in her short life, Sola knew true fear. Not for herself, but for what the future might hold, for the atrocities the Empire would commit on the innocent and undeserving, the defenseless masses of the galaxy. The feeling was like a knife in her gut, barbed and twisted. She hated it.

Righteous, indignant fury rose to fight the fear, great and bright and burning. How dare they?! The Force surged in her-

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.

And then came hope. Soft as wind and faint as a whisper, but vast and endless and full of life. The anger left her as swiftly as it had come. Hope filled the void, hope and faith- seeds that could move mountains. For a second, Sola had forgotten herself, forgotten who she was, forgotten what she was.

The hope reminded her. The faith grounded her. I am a Jedi. I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me.

"I leave this place to you then Jedi," he said, his voice echoing in the minds of the Force-sensitive on this planet. He was unknowable, unkillable by the likes of these. He had ascended past being a Jedi Master long ago when he came to understand the truth of the Force. Even still, it would be a long, long while before he would see this place again he knew.

The Bendu Neti, once a scholar of the Jedi and crafter of lightsabers drew on the Force as he had never had before. The tree he made to attack the Jedi and the Imperials shuddered as it expanded and grew and grew. Yggdrasil who had given his word to the Jedi that he would protect Ilum as it replenished its store of kyber, Yggdrasil who promised that a thousand more generations of Jedi would be able to partake of Ilum's bounty, Yggdrasil once Jedi Master on the High Council now of the Bendu reached and channeled a tutaminis never before seen.

"Ah," he said to himself as the energy of the blast spread through his now many limbs and trunk. "I am, unknowable, unkillable by the likes of you," he said. "But my children, my children are another matter." The energy was far too great. Much greater than he'd anticipated. Maybe he would die. But that would be alright. He'd lived a hundred lifetimes, and he would live a thousand more like this one in the Force.

The rumbling voice of the Bendu echoed in her mind, even as planet-shattering energies tore through the air, and hope and faith blossomed from seeds to stars. Sola felt warm. Loved. Cherished. It reminded her of her years in the creche. Icy wetness trailed down her face, and she sniffled. Am I...crying?

She cast out with her senses, stretching her mind wide. Where was her family? She barely knew some of them, but they were Jedi nonetheless. They were with her, and she with them, even if they didn't know it. In that moment, in the space between heartbeats, in that timeless forever, she could feel everything. So much violence, so much death...

Still, her hope burned strong.

The tree maintained its glow from when the weapon struck its apex and now as the light began to fade the once barren branches began to explode to life, the only lush green on the entire planet. The leaves rustled as he and Pyek landed among the newly life-abundant branches.

"What happened?" Pyek sputtered between mouthfuls of leaves and twigs.

"The Force gave us a miracle," Pa'Kar muttered. He could feel in the Force that the damage had not been fully contained. The initial shockwave had likely been strong enough to send tanks and hundreds of people in the area into the air like they were. Unlike he and Pyek, they would only have the cold icy earth of Ilum to greet them. Explosions in the distance confirmed his thoughts as tanks and walkers began to fall from the sky. He could smell the ozone as well and he knew that munitions fires and heat flash fires from the initial heat of the blast likely raged across the surface of the Hallowed Scar. Machinery above the surface could be slagged or otherwise made inoperable. The mess the Courageous caused on the surface was...Well, it was nothing in comparison to the aftermath of whatever weapon the Imperials were using.

But such violence could not be contained. Not fully. In the wake of ultimate destruction, life bloomed, unfurling like a flower beneath the sun. She could see, like motes of dust dancing through the air, the life energies spreading around Ilum, like pollen cast on the wind.

The shockwave hit and the planet roared. Sola braced herself in the Force as a monstrous wave of ice and rock and snow fell over the trenches, swallowing them up.

​

 

[Grendel Krayt]

Sōla Taan​

Having laid low the last of the Imps, Grendel's anger abated for the time being, turned towards the Jedi and noticed tears running down her cheeks for what reason Grendel knew not.

Without warning the planet began heaving like a stuck beast, seeing an avalanche of ice, snow and rock coming right for them. Unsure of what to do Grendel used his body to shield the Jedi in a wall of Beskar and flesh just as the avalanche hit them

 

[Iris Arani]

Iris stayed deep in her focus and meditation. Focused on helping how she could trapped within. It was Domxite who 'spoke'. Emotion, complex and direct, flowed towards Amani. Relief, concern, affirmation. Iris had long learned how to actually understand her friend, but the Gem didn't speak. They needed help, for sure.

Amani Serys

 

[Zhea Nox]

ECLIPSE
CAVERNS | ILUM
ALLIES: Varen Ardos | Osarla Ridor | Gabriel Pryce | NJO | GA | ENCLAVE
ENEMIES: Aschwin Vethres | TE
ENGAGING: Simon Meinrad
GEAR: Lightsaber | Collapsible Force-imbued staff | Cortosis-weave Undershirt | Phrik Pauldron and vambraces

INNOCENT WARRIOR​

"And I, too, gave you a chance."

This was it then - the end of years of knowing one another.

The cerulean blade ignited to meet his argent blade, sparks flying, as the force of his attack drove her back hard.

"You forced my hand, Zhea."

"You have done that yourself, Simon." she gritted as she strained against his blade. But she realised she would run out of time to help her Padawan if she had to tire Simon out the usual way. She could feel Varen's distress in the danger he faced.

So she disengaged her saber while ducking away as his blade hummed past her shoulder, singing the hair on her arm.

Spinning around, she settled into Niman, cerulean blade humming in readiness. At the same time, her free hand shot out to grip a stalagmite with the Force and yanking off most of it to fling it like a spear toward the man she had once been close to.

"You could have walked away, you stupid man!" she cried, tranquility faltering.

 

[FN-999]

Overall Theme

908th Legion - 38th Flametrooper Company​

Manpower: 80/100 1?/100
Orders: Cook padawans Secure the tunnels, assist Imperial Knights
Allies: Empire | Aoki-Barran Mira | Castor E-196 | Hal Vaiken | Kriegan Tavlar | Margo Liaeris | Nuruodo'kal'brast | Zoraya Ives-Ayres
Enemies: GA | Aaran Tafo | @Amani | Ariana Du Couteau | Corin Trenor | Ichika Masudo
Engaging: Zeke Dystra & co. | Open to small groups

With a pained grunt, FN-999 took a step forward on the lower bridge.
​

His muscles ached from his fall, barely holding him upright. Still, he had endured worse. Slowly, walking became easier, his legs more and more properly reacting to the commands of his brain. Even in his addled physical condition, the lieutenant colonel's brain remained alert, reminding him that he was only a single sniper bullet away from death. Gaining his bearings, he realized that the lower bridge terminated about ten meters ahead, leading to a hall with an elevator at the end. With any luck, it would be his ticket back up and across the gap that the upper bridge had spanned before it was struck.

Letting out a deep, pained breath, FN-999 began his journey.

As his body became more and more alert, the legion commander realized that both his firearms were gone, likely dropped in the fall and nowhere in sight. Immediately, he began to look around, searching for any weapon he could use against the Alliance commandos if they still occupied their position.

After a few seconds, the shine of polished steel caught his attention.

Underneath a small pile of rubble was a SFP pistol with a half-empty power cell. Without a word, FN-999 leaned down and pushed the rubble aside, exposing the pistol. Upon lifting it up, his arm muscles almost cramped, and the lieutenant colonel was barely able to restrain himself from dropping the gun. After a few seconds, the pressure on his arm muscles eased, and carrying the pistol became easier.

Still, he was by no means in peak condition.

FN-999 arrived at the elevator, which required no lock or pass to enter. He stepped in and dialed for hall A-23 before the door closed and he began to rise upwards.

[38th, this is Nines. Do you copy?] tried FN-999 one last time.

Nothing but static.

For now, FN-999 would have to assume that he was the only survivor.

As such, he would avenge the fallen.

The elevator opened up, revealing the hallway on the opposite side of the upper bridge that now lay torn in half. About fifteen meters away, two Alliance commandos stood on the remaining portion of the far side of the bridge, seemingly watching their comrades who were still clambering back onto flat ground.

They would not be distracted for long.

FN-999 swung to the side, locked his pistol on the back of one of the commandos, and released a three-round burst of fire.

908th Legion - 4th Flametrooper Battalion​

Manpower: 203/1500
Orders: Secure the mountain pass
Allies: Empire | Aschwin Vethres | Hall Mannarra | Orik Dakari | Saul Vandron | Wolfram Triko
Enemies: GA | Bernard | Ishida Ashina | Dagon Kaze | Mylo Thorne | Shar Sieu | Kelly T. Perris | Sara Roche | Rakaan Horne
Engaging: Sara Roche & co. | Open

EASTERN KYBER MOUNTAINS - PASS OF THE PALADINS

For the first time in his military career, Colonel Silvertongue had no words left to speak.
​

A chunk of debris almost two hundred meters long. An explosion large enough to destroy an entire half-kilometer trench. Over a thousand estimated casualties. Victory in any real sense was now no longer even on the table. At best, it was pyrrhic. At worst, the 4th would go out like the 908th of the pre-Gulag era, dying to the last man. From there, it would only be a matter of time before Alliance forces flooded down the Eastern Kyber and into the mines, ending any hope of further extraction.

There would be no good ending for the 4th Flametrooper Battalion.
​

It was with this cynical realization that Silvertongue found the motivation to speak.

"Is Trench B still intact?" asked Silvertongue, already dreading the possible answers.

"Y-yes." stammered a logistics aide, clearly as surprised as the colonel at their stroke of good fortune.

"Thank the Force for that." exclaimed the colonel, a brief grin piercing through his solemn expression. "We will die with honor."

"What should we issue to the survivors?" asked the aide.

"Allow me." replied Silvertongue. "Nines has always emphasized flexibility on all levels of operations. I will not let him down."

[[4th, this is Silvertongue. Due to the landing of massive debris, Trench A is compromised. Retreat to Trench B with all haste. Send intel reports on the precise size and shape of the debris, as well as any combat utility, immediately. Until such intel comes in, treat the debris as an impenetrable wall and focus our remaining numbers on defending the gaps. The Alliance now has the numbers advantage. Stay alert. Make Nines proud. Ave Rurik.]]

 

[Valery Noble]

Ilum
Appearance | Outfit | Weapons

​

She couldn't stop, she had to keep moving.

After bursting through the piece of burning debris, Valery ignored the aching of her body, the sound of war all around her, and even the terrible sting of so much unnecessary death echoing through the Force was beyond her focus. Her mind instead reached out, searching for Korvan and Rakaan as they entered the tunnels and moved closer to the caves. The calming presence of the crystals wrapped around her, but there was also great tension she felt up ahead from the other Force users.

Hearing Korvan's voice echo through the halls, Valery followed it until she finally reached the other Jedi Master, and looked around to see where Rakaan had moved to. She could feel him, and after Korvan had called out to him, there was finally a message in return.

"The Empire has done such terrible things," his voice echoed out from an unseen location, "I helped them do such terrible things."

Valery frowned and briefly glanced at Korvan, knowing that this guilt he felt was likely a large contributor to his lack of hope in changing. To an extent, there was truth to it as well. Was regret or taking a different path in the Force again truly enough to make up for all the terrible acts of violence? Sometimes, she felt it wasn't the case, but she still stood behind Rakaan and his redemption as a person.

It wasn't too late.

"It's only ever too late if you submit to it, Rakaan, but you're strong. You can resist." Valery called out and even though there was still some form of danger, she disengaged her blade and only held the hilt within her hand. "You have it in you to change but you must believe in yourself first, and accept who you really are."

"We believe in you."

She separated herself from Korvan and walked around, hoping he'd reveal himself so they could talk face-to-face. There was no need or desire to draw a weapon — all she wanted was to talk with the three of them and guide a lost and broken soul.

Korvan Toldreyn Rakaan Horne | Dagon Kaze Sahar ​

 

[Dominik Borra]

Location: Caverns, Enroute to Mining Operation, Ilum, Unknown Regions
Unit: Task Force Ysalamiri
Equipment: Armor, Thorns, Cross Cryo Projector, Ebony, Ravager, FDS-17A Assault Magrifle
TASK FORCE Y: IVI | Tiric Sar'andor | Driver | Cordé Sabo | Phaineve Halseigh | Vyn Daldoure
ENGAGING: Marcad
ALLY: Driver

The Part Where He Kills You
​

When Corde' gave word that padawans were in trouble, Dominik wanted to abandon this whole mission and go to them. What they were doing here he had no clue, but this area would be absolutely deadly for a group of padawans.

Waiting for Tiric to give orders, the whole world shook. Dominik crouched and put a hand to the ground to keep himself steady, just like everyone else was. Then the world decided shaking wasn't enough, and broke apart. Ice shattered everywhere and the cave came apart in great cracks. He thought the floor might fall out from under him, but it fell out from under Cordé Sabo instead. She hadn't been far from him when it did so. He slid on the ice to the edge, whipping out his alchemized sword and stabbing it into the ground to stop him as his other arm reached out to grab her.

His fingers touched her clothes, but he was still slow. She fell down below, and he heard her grunts of pain. He imagined her lying on the bottom, back broken or a limb twisted. But once everything somewhat settled again, he heard her curse and start to move. "Hang on, We're going to come hel-"

The sound he could never, would never forget, came from behind him. The activation of a lightsaber. Dominik turned and raised his Magrifle, pointing it at the Mirialan with the purple saber. The color was the only thing that made Dominik remember these weren't Sith, that he had orders to arrest them, and keep his finger from instinctively pulling the trigger. The Magrifle rounds would have torn him to literal pieces. The blasted orders to take these guys alive were annoying, but he'd try. His sword was left in the ice, and he remained standing by it.

"Halt!" He cried. He wasn't exactly a police officer, he hadn't really arrested anybody before. If he had taken people alive before in his past, it usually involved rope, a gag, and hog-tying them before tossing them in the trunk of a speeder. "Imperial Knight, you are under arrest by order of the Galactic Alliance! If you do not comply, we will make you comply. And if you struggle further, we will use deadly force and leave you for the ice!" He paused, as he reached behind him and brought out his Cross Cryo Projector. Once it was pointed at him he let his Magrifle fall to his side with the strap attached, then added, "And trust me, I can make good on my promise." Really, using force to make a Force User comply and then deciding to use lethal force could kill both him and Driver. But orders were... orders.

He hoped Carde would be alright down there.

 

[Cale Gunderson]

Objective I
Allies: GA, Aleksandr Stirsea , Kai Bamarri
Enemies: Sylus (Γ059)
_________________________________________________________​

As it turned out, cover for thee was also cover for me. The falling storm seemed to subside as the great warship crashed into the world, rumbling the surface beneath his feet whilst something ancient bellowed through the force, it left the world to them, to the Jedi, before at a great distance, a tree rose to meet the beam of a ferocious weapon of war. Whatever it was, it was with them, for now at least, and if was making bold plays, so would he.

Cale had no intention of being pinned down here, not with such a generous amount of cover.

“Gamma, keep up the fire, Alpha, move to engage!” He barked, even as men fell under the precise fire of the Imperial troops, their comrades choose to fight twice as fiercely in their honor. Cale went first, a burst of inhuman speed carrying him to what once had been the blast door to some bulkhead, then to a cracked hunk of flooring, growing ever closer. As Alpha came over the trench several were cut down, screams punctuating their dying, but others returned the favor in kind from their new firing positions, holding the attention of the Imperials as best as they could.

But the force had provided, Illum might’ve been the world on which they made their weapons, but one did not have to be the Bendu to see the reality of the matter; the entire planet was a weapon, if one knew how to use it. Cale did.

A storm of ice, snow, and rock sprayed into the vision of the Imperials, one group would find a hunk of starship hurtling towards them, but as they no doubt moved to avoid it, something more dangerous dropped into their position from behind it.

Cale’s blade never ignited as he fell on them, a gauntleted hand delivered precise strikes, armored boots swept legs, and quick jabs from his elbow did most of the work. The force only made the years of experience more potent when put into practice, delivering telekinetic hammerblows, crushing weapons in the hands of their wielders, or assisting as Cale grappled and struck.

They fought hard, fought well, but he’d been doing this longer than they had, all of them. Now he was proving it.

All the while, Fireteam Beta continued to exchange fire with those now dedicating themselves to stopping them, the marines giving it their all, taking one of their Imps for every one of their own in the utterly ruthless exchange.

 

[Kai Bamarri]

The stunning of the trooper, while successful, seemed to sap the last of Kai’s strength. The boy slumped, falling face down in the snow, unconscious and blissfully unaware of the battle still raging around him.

//exit thread Sylus (Γ059) Cale Gunderson Aleksandr Stirsea​

 

[Zoraya Ives-Ayres]

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

​

"It's only an EMP." She reassured the Jedi before realising her lack of trust was likely not in the grenade itself but her, which was reasonable. Once upon a time she had manipulative enough to trick her enemies but those days were long gone. The Jedi wouldn't experience any foul play from the agent - not anymore.

Zoraya pushed herself back onto her feet. She didn't say another word to the Jedi, only offering a solemn nod in response to her warning.

I never was safe.

It was no longer a matter of if but when. Now it only depended on how long it would take for her to be identified but she didn't expect to be able to hide from the Empire.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

HALLOWED SCAR, ILLUM:-
Sahar | Korvan Toldreyn Valery Noble Dagon Kaze

To accept who I really am.

It sounded almost pleasant, to believe this war far from his true self. Some cause of a fractured psyche, the whims of the Force twisted to another fate. Some foul outcome from events that were never intended to transpire. To fall onto the belief that these adopted beliefs had been the cause of outside intervention, manipulated, all with a sense of shame and horrid fear of the monster he started to become. It was a decline, a descent into some form of madness. Burdened with hate, with fear. He could not allow himself to become no different to the Sith, rather a Sith in all but name.

But in that moment, as the words echoed inside his mind and soul, Rakaan had come to what was undoubtedly a realisation worth all the fear it earned: this was him, his true self, all with the desire to learn more and become more powerful than any Jedi or Sith in order to vanquish the ancient enemies of his then order once and for all. It started him down this road, yet all it took was the will to hold his ambition at bay. To ensure the fire remained tamed, forbidden to flare, for it could never fade.

The Jedi had always been right about what saw one slip, stumble, fall down the path to the darkside. He experienced it first hand, in the end. Only able to see it for what it was after Rakaan had been able to locate his centre once more. Conflict lingered, albeit faded. He was left unsure of his own fate, of what it would mean, and yet still understood it was all him that lead himself to the here and now. Oh, but Rakaan could lie. He could tell himself it was not him, it was a poison and a sickness that swept him into this life. Down this road. In time, maybe Rakaan could forget his own deception of himself and believe the lie he told. Or it could sit there, a rock in the pit of his stomach, and remain a reminder of what became of those that sought that path instead. Perhaps even believe he is better, better than those that fell too far before the chance came to pull themselves back from the void. If he had done it once, what was to say it could not be done again?

"I know, that's not who I want to be." He ventured closer, even with caution in his step and yet absent all intentions to continue into another battle. Even as a curious thought wondered as to whether he could have felled them both, given a less tumultuous state of mind. "It's not what I am. I want to come back."