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

[Michael Barran]

6th post PAGE CLAIM!!!! GET SUM!!! GET SUM!!! GET SUM!!!

HUBRIS OF EMPIRES
AN AGE OF STRIFE STORY

CAIRN_ONE
IMPERIAL KNIGHT OF SERENNO
DRUID-GRANDMASTER OF THE HIGHLAND BROTHERHOOD

Belligerents
(IMPAF Vs. GADF)

Saul Vandron Kriegan Tavlar FN-999 Hall Mannarra Bex Tarring Delilah Jones
Aoki-Barran Mira Margo Liaeris Orik Dakari Sid Berik Sars Sarad Sabe Aner
Wolfram Triko

Shai Maji Aaran Tafo Mylo Thorne Kaul "Joker" Emos Sara Roche
Shar Sieu Kragr Krayt Cale Gunderson Aleksandr Stirsea Nida Perl

BORN OF BRIGHT STARS I: SURVIVING FORMER ALLIES - PART 6

FOB: Reverence, Western Kyber Mountains,
The Hallowed Scar, Ilum (Spring of 877 ABY)

19 Minutes Before Erskine's Resurrection....

<"McBain to Cairn One! We're in position now, just below the ridge to avoid detection as ordered. As soon as the next round of artillery goes in, we're on 'em like a rash.... An' rumour has it you've gone an' covered yersel in the family-warpaint, this true? Please be true, please be true-">

<"Aye, an' it's starting to take effect.... Could be wavin' bye-bye t'Michael for a bit soon.">
<"Yaldy! Barran's at it again! Fair play though - but how ye feelin', nae overdose-worries or...?">

<"Nah, mate. Nothin' like that on this end. Heartrate's steady, internals feel fine.... Feels weird though, but also kinda therapeutic - but enough o' that! Lets show the Coruscantine swine what warfare really looks like! Cairn One out!">
​

With every available Main Battle-Tank, Infantry Fighting-Vehicle variant and Repulsorlift Technical in play, with nought but the Armoured Personnel-Carriers remaining within FOB: Reverence's makeshift hangars, all operators left behind the HASCO line were left alone with all the anti-vehicle equipment and a vast majority of the small-arms ammo pack supplies. And thus without the declawed feeling present to gnaw at the others, all those preparing Sally-Plan: Echo in the absence of the Cataphracts and likes were quite comfortable with the tools they had left to fight with; a small blessing for the risks that all were incurring in the region by then, and much like the other Goidels serving in the Imperial Armed Forces, the Highlanders were all quite happy to accept any and all blessings wherever they could be found.

'Oooft! Seein' all sorts now.... Wait-'

What happened to-​

'No....'

But as soon as the superweapon, the Bendu and the crashing Star Destroyer set everything into motion, that same level of confidence in the survival of the armoured counterattack would diminish for a while, but the tanks held, the snowy terrain beneath their treads refused to budge, even after the second application of the superweapon. And yet, in the chemical enhancement of his abilities, the Lord-Colonel felt a familiar pulse slowing to halt from the western watchtower; but in the horror of his realisation, the entity in his soul decided it was time to act, compelled by powers too great for the Wanderer's mind to comprehend yet.

Do not struggle, Michael.... If you behave, you may yet see him alive again.​

'We were preparing for the fight of a lifetime by the way-you know what? Not looking a gifthorse in the mouth this time, but this isn't the last time we'll be working together either.... Greater things to be done now.'

Looking forward to it, Wanderer. Now shut up and let me appease some gods already!
​

Guard-Leftenant Maitland would be the first to catch onto what was happening by the west gate at the time, hearing a comically loud yelp of apprehension before turning to see the painted Druid running off into the snowstorm beyond, prompting the junior officer to turn back and shout,'Mckidd! HERE, McKIDD!!!! Barran's ran off westward!', as soon as his Company Commander was found among the crowd. The Guard-Captain would respond in silent shock, raising eyebrows with shoulders shrugged as soon as his mind processed what was being shouted to him from across the hangar-access courtyard, to which Maitland loudly pondered,'A MATTER WAE THE AULD-YIN, PERHAPS?!?!', making a clear passing reference to the Lord-Regent in his usual broad, lilting Highlander brogue.

But in the moment he saw his superior officer turning sheet white in his realisation, the young Guard-Leftenant turned flush in a fit of rage, such that spewed frothy spittle into the air as he roared,'FETHING - IDIOOOOOOT!!!!', knowing that Lord Erskine's order to stand down had proven costly. The outcome they all feared would happen in the event they fully obeyed the old man's orders, knowing and stating vehemently that this wasn't the time for such dreamy caper, and in their dutybound obligation to obeying the orders of the Lord-Regent on Ilum, it had proven disastrous for their efforts, and perhaps even disastrous for their collective life-expectancy as a result.

'McKIDD!!!! MARK MY FETHING WORDS - IF THE OLD MAN DIES, YOU DIE!!!! AM I MAKING MYSELF PERFECTLY CLEAR, SIR?!?!'

BORN OF BRIGHT STARS I: SURVIVING FORMER ALLIES - PART 7

Tellan Lake, The Kyber Range Mountains,
5km West of the Hallowed Scar, Ilum (Early-Spring of 877 ABY)

2 Minutes Before Erskine Resurrection....

'I'd say you better start talkin' or get lost.'​

Smiling with a polite chuckle, it was quickly obvious to the entity as to why Goidels would get on well with warriors like this, and if Shai were to have the good sense to see it for herself in these moments, perhaps it might have been obvious that both the entity and the gods who watched through him liked the attitude. Toughness, as a trait, was seen to be good for mortals through the eyes of their observers, especially in the three tribes of Galidraan III, for the attribute itself had proven to be quite the varied, yet sturdy umbrella of behavioural philosophies.

I like this one....
In-tune with our ways, though seemingly without knowing.

Interesting. Very interesting.​

It was needed to survive the harsh weathers, the harsh inclines, the harsh gravitational pull at the tops of high-altitude villages and last but not least, to survive the harshest of aggressions at the hands of their neighbouring tribes or clans alike. This had been the life of the archetypal Goidel for centuries before that day, that which wasn't too far removed from the Mandalorian clans and the creed-formed culture they nurtured therein, but in this entity's cluelessness on the subject, he saw similarities and compatibilities between cultures that wasn't often seen in peoples foreign to Galidraan III. But the bridge between existential realms, for as long as Erskine and Shai were there to inhabit the entity's space, had been bloodied; otherwise an unforgivable offence in sight of the divine Goidelic ancients, that which had been committed by the armoured being personally, the Druidic spirit could do nothing but look away with a sneer as the will of the gods twisted the arm of the hand they were forcing.

'First, he arises in a haze.... Then I bring his agony - and I need you ready for his agony.'
'First, he arises in a haze.... Then I bring his agony - and I need you ready for his agony.'

The pulsating light of Lord Michael's irises was very much visible by then, contrasted well by the blank, white snowfall around them as glowing blue held the gaze of glowing red, though the emotional reactions to the blood, the Mandalorian's presence and the deceased hero to whom this entity was still deeply bonded with; like the very father of Michael's entity rested within the corpse of the bearded man at his feet, a connection that greatly affected the spirit hidden within the Druid, all contributing to the wild shuffle of emotions that fuelled the brightness of the glow in the entity's eyes.

'Your fire is your salvation - but agony heals, so do not DARE interfere.... He must suffer to live again.'
'Your fire is your salvation - but agony heals, so do not DARE interfere.... He must suffer to live again.'

And suffer he shall.... ​

Then without warning, the spirit sprang forth with a pounce and used Lord Michael's right hand to snatch and clamp down around the Lord-Regent's mouth, kneeling down and bringing himself at a level, face-to-face staredown with the Mandalorian, almost daring Shai to defy him as the right-hand built pressure around the light emanating from the tattoo-covered palm. And within seconds, the pressure could be felt like thuds beneath their boots, increasing with dangerous levels of air-tension until Lord Erskine's heartbeat slowly began to cancel out the light, briefly opening his eyes to the snowy skies above before closing his eyelids in return to a safer, (though no doubt still dangerously deep) comatose state by the time the entity stood up and backed away from his own handiwork.

The unfortunate, slain by another of his sort, then revived at the behest of the killer?​

It started with the early grimaces of pain reaching through to the stupor, intensifying into groans and cussing under-breath, but the writhing, conscious agonies were quick to follow. First they were quiet, albeit under the conditions that yielded groans of greater desperation, but then the semi-conscious Lord-Regent began hammer-fist the ground with his cybernetic arm, thumping, rolling, writhing and feebly kicking the snows at his feet until he cried out in poorly-stifled anguish eventually. And yet, the aches of resurrection continued to get worse as the wound itself began to illuminate in a frightening blue glow from deep within Lord Erskine's stomach, giving Shai no other option but to hold his arms back to keep him from clawing at the wound instinctively, all the while dealing with increasingly loud screams from a level of pain the old Woad had ever known before.

My dear Celestials, look upon this travesty and tell me this isn't a bad omen.
​

And yet, much to the relief of everyone present, though not half as much as the Lord-Regent no doubt, the pain had proven too much for a threshold of great renown, rendering old Barran unconscious just moments after Maji's intervention. Kneeling away from the blood once more, the glowing-eyed entity looked on in maintained silence whilst the Mandalorian checked for the Woad's pulse in a panic, only daring to sigh with relief as soon as a stable heartrate had been assured and double-checked for good measure.

It is not in our nature to gamble with the destinies of others.​

The old man was alive, though barely.

But it was enough, and would be for a time - though the lower-half of his anatomy would be too weak to support the weight of a torso, arms and head for a while.

'It is done. The old man will live - and the spirits of his ancestors have been appeased.'
'It is done. The old man will live - and the spirits of his ancestors have been appeased.'

The tics and twitches of the entity's movements were once again poorly disguised as his head turned to find the Druid-Mask nearby, showing more obviously as his animalistic, near-ghastly mannerisms were exhibited in the careful, reverent process of picking the mask up again. However, the servant of the gods stopped just before he lifted the mask to Michael's face, pausing as his thumbs ran across the contours and curves of the antlers adorning it, inhaling with visible intensity through the Druid's nostrils and exhaling the same way as he looked on the human's mask with a strange air of admiration.

But the entity had to snap out from his awestruck trance eventually, and when the glowing blues crossed paths with the glowing reds once more, the mask remained in his hands; teetering on the very precipice of meeting and adorning the dreaming Druid's face, and as it nestled in the delicate, loving hold of his tattoo-covered hands, the spirit acting through Lord Michael then bowed his head before the gilded stag's head was finally placed where it belonged. The window of opportunity had been caught just in time, the gods were appeased, and the one with the glowing eyes appeared to be relieved, though still appearing as wary as any would in such circumstances. However, the entity understood this distrust, choosing instead not to force the issue, and in the silent gesture of kindness, would remain beholden to his wordlessness as Shai was given a moment to process the rollercoaster she had just been put through.

Peace to a wordlessness of her own, some much-needed quiet in a warzone, and a blissful moment of calm as the Mandalorian watched over the unconscious Lord-Regent for a while.

 

[Ariana Du Couteau]

Ariana Du Couteau, Jedi Padawan
Location: Ilum, Crystal Caverns
Objective Two: Hallowed Scar
Action: Help Daisy with yet another attack on Kriegan and stopping one of his
Outfit (Minus the right arm)

The sonic shots that blasted from the Imperial’s pistol were expected, and Ariana braced for the impact. What the young Du Couteau heir had not expected was to see the shattering of her Force shield as her concentration broke. She blinked moments after and as several more well aimed shots followed, Ariana ducked and weaved with as much speed her unsteady legs could provide. Each evasive maneuver Ariana took to dodge between the shots slowed her momentum and through it all Ariana continued in her attempts to concentrate on another Force shield or even bubble.

The fourth shot slammed into her makeshift Force bubble, and as Ariana raised her left arm to brace herself as she attempted to dive for the cover of the ground. The fifth shot didn’t need to break through her Force bubble, instead it ripped across her armour and jacket, she felt her right arm’s stub burst into pain as she crashed into the cavern’s broken floor.

Tears streamed down her face, as she bit down and grinded her teeth, even as she attempted to scurry forward against whatever large cover she could find. The pain continued to flare anytime her right shoulder moved, the agitation alone forced Ariana back down to the ground as she attempted to stand back up to fight. Her helmet was partially cracked along the right side, and the visor also had several pieces missing, like a broken window that gave Ariana a clear sightline of the fight taking place.

Ariana started to climb back up to her knees, and while in her kneeling position, she watched the other Padawan attack the Imperial soldier with determined strikes. But Ariana felt a pang of uneasiness from watching, there was a sense of wrongness that had bubbled at the start of the Imperial attack. Perhaps after the battle she could reflect on the emotions Ariana felt during the battlefield, not her own emotions but those from her fellow Padawans and enemies alike.

She saw the shine of a vibroblade emit from the Imperial’s hand, and with a breathless yell, Ariana stretched out with her left hand and called unto the Force with determined concentration. She had little experience with Force healing, so wasting such attempts with her substandard ability was a waste, but pulling back and against an item held in someone else’s hand? Ariana had pulled tricks like those all her life. Only this time, this was a rather cruel and unforgiving game of keep-away.

Eyes narrowed Ariana focused on grabbing the Imperial’s hand holding the vibroblade and hoping against all odds that the other Padawan could react in time to the attack.
​

|| Ichika Masudo | Kriegan Tavlar ||​

 

[Kragr Krayt]

Objective: Black Ice
Opponent: Saul Vandron | Wolfram Triko | Delilah Jones
Location: Ilum

Everything was in chaos and not the war kind. Cloud speaking monsters, super weapons firing, destroying large-scale parts of the battlefield. In all honesty, one could explain this as Nether-on-Ilum, a part of history that would be remembered for the death of millions.

Having lost the General for a moment, Kragr's HUD alerted him of the man's position and turned around to find the General in a crater, hurt and alone. An iron forced stare locked on to Saul as he grabbed the very heavy 40mm canon and locked it back onto the cuirass rear walking with heavy steps towards the General location.

Saul could hear the mechanical power armour, step for step come closer to his location. Each step cracked the icy ground beneath the weight of the Titan, as over 400 kilos of pure mass neared to bring death and destructive doom down upon the General.

"You should be proud Imp, not many have survived facing me like this" spoke Kragr, getting a better view with the zoom function in his HUD. Kragr could just use his grenade launcher and completely remove the general from Ilum's surface, but he rather wanted to do it up close and personal.

Before Saul's eyes, he would be able to see the flamethrower had been clear of the ice as a heat distortion filled the air around the arm and it was clear that the Mandalorian was going to burn him. "I usually don't find joy in killing, but the thought of killing an Imp does put a smile on my face" stated Kragr as the bloodlust pumped through the Mandalorian's veins.

Fully focused on the General, Saul could watch as the Titan's arm rose and aimed the flamethrower before his entire position was engulfed in flames, everything around Titan blew up in one single massive explosion.

A torrent straight from Haran roared to life, destroying anything in its path with molten fury, sticking to everything it touched. Steam rose up instantly engulfing the entire area in white-hot, suffocating fog as the frozen ground writhed out its pain.

Kragr had been so focused locked on the general that the loud alert of the incoming fighter on his HUD had been ignored, for the death of the General had been more important.

Kragr felt everything shake and hurt, though due to wearing his armour within the power armour, made the impact less damaging to himself... Though that's not to say the Titan fared as well from having Rhypalm-tipped warheads dropped directly on top of it...

"Status report" voiced Kragr, having still a black window to the outside, making him rely on scanners which seemed twitchy at the moment. He finally managed to get some feedback about his Titan and the armour looked to be intact. The different internal systems though? Yeah not so much. Whatever had been dropped did a number of many of the systems as it clearly was not a normal type of flames that had wreaked havoc on the TItan's frame.

No matter.

Right before the General's eyes, in the torrent of flames, he heard the Titan raise, standing at its full height. However, the liquid flames had managed to hit some systems, causing the Titan to crash into a kneeling position with a closed fist.

Everything was quiet from the Titan until the dome and top of the chest opened and out came Kragr and landed in front of the massive beast of armour. What followed was the Titan closing and locking and the giant Mandalorian pulled a blaster along with activating an energy shield and walked towards the General getting within range so that if another warhead dropped, it would more than likely hit Saul too.

 

[Amani Serys]

Objective II
Allies: Iris Arani
Equipment: In bio (ft. EMP grenade, ty Zoraya)

There was no response. Not in words, at least. But the emotions were there. The presence was there. More than enough to spur Amani into action. Iris was in danger, as were the other padawans. If she had her say in the matter, they'd all be getting out of here unscathed. She'd find a way to settle for just alive, though.

A deep breath. Focus. Conviction. Amani pressed her palm against the rubble as if trying to reach out to Iris; Tethering herself to that connection, letting it ground her. Whisperings of the Force coalesced into something greater. The debris rumbled, shifting and cracking like another quake was beginning. But instead of breaking in, the rubble was becoming lighter, as Amani fought against gravity to free her friend from this makeshift cairn.

 

[Sahar]

Sahar|Imperial Knights|Ilum
Tags:// Dagon Kaze Rakaan Horne Valery Noble Korvan Toldreyn

"That all you could do?"- Dagon Kaze

Those words stung harder than she cared to admit as they pulled her out of her frenzied assault; Sahar came to as she realised that the Wookiee she had fought was now but a pile of severed limbs and cauterised gore and had long stopped fighting back as it succumbed to the Kandarans lightsaber. She sighed loudly, turning sharp to face down Dagon who stood below the ridge and had seemingly survived his little tumble to Sahars chagrin.

"You don't know me; you never did; whatever it was back then was just a distraction."

Maybe it was, perhaps it wasn't; whatever it had been merely blinded her from the duty she had for the order, little flings being not one of them as it deviated Sahar from the proper path. She wouldn't make that mistake again.

"You caused this."

She pointed a figure to the three dead Jedi, smirking softly as she took note of Dagon's posture and crumbling stoic shield that he always liked to put up. It was cute but it didn't work on her.

"I waited so long for this, to remove your filth from the world of the living, you'll join them in death, Dagon. I'll see to it myself if it means ripping the Jedi order apart to see you breathe your last."

Wasting no time, she jumped on him with an overhead saber strike before following up with several quick slashes and stabs before aiming a kick at his chest. ​

 

[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

Danger spiked, shaking him from his shock as his opponent went for his padawan, impressively so in such armor, with a speed most would struggle to match. But it took Julius half a second to see it and the same to react. The lightsaber in his hands came up and suddenly expanded to pike/spear length and hissed as a second blade shunted out of the pommel and he took a few steps forward, blurring with speed during this movement, the Force swelling around him as he lanced the 'saber directly at the achille's heel of his opponent, again intent on serious injury but not lethality.

As a secondary thought, when the spear left his hand the blaster rose in the other and snapped off a shot that would likely go far above the opponent, intent on maybe knocking debris free and into the path of his opponent. The silver white-haired man had a brow slicked with sweat as he prepared another cartridge for his Bryar, with his now free hand, not wasting time to see what the outcome was, but conserving his strength instead of folding to be right in the thick of it again. Legs churning faster than possible even in his youth, the Force sped him along at a speed roughly equivalent to or above his opponent, playing catch up as he reloaded.

 

[Orik Dakari]

Operation Black Ice
908th Legion, 303rd Forward Security Battalion, 1st Company, 1st Platoon, Section 1
Location: FOB Reverence, Western Kyber Mountains, ILUM
Objective: REPEL AMBUSH Return to safety
Equipment: Snow Armor
Tags: Michael Barran Shai Maji​

Standing watch as their comrades went about repairing the damaged, torn track with the help of the technicians from the 908th, they would depart from their current position and head towards F.O.B Reverence with all due haste; The initial shock and the damage of the Alliance’s ambush weathered, the surviving and combat effective elements of the initial convoy intended to relieve the friendly, Imperial forces stationed in the mines were sent Reverence in preparation for a counter attack.

Upon reaching their rendezvous point at the F.O.B, the men of the 3rd platoon of the 181st Armored would take a moment to refit and re-arm their armored vehicle, and refreshen, getting a quick rest in while they ate a small portion of their rations before eventually rolling out again; this time, they would be taking the fight to the enemy.

Sergeant Orik Dakari shook hands with the tank commander as they parted ways at FOB Reverence; while he went to get access to a long-range communicator to talk to OP Bravo 8, he gave orders to his MPs and Stormtroopers to start assisting in security operations, liaising with the Galidraani guards.

With the battlefield situation, however, the base's comms officers told Orik he would have to wait at least an hour to get access, and so he joined his men, who had congregated in an empty corner of the vehicle bay, taking a breather, an island of tired calm in the midst of tense and constant milling about of the base's personnel while the battle continued to unfold. While he should be scrambling to find some official task for his men to do, Orik was frankly too tired and spent to push his men again so soon.

'McKIDD!!!! MARK MY FETHING WORDS - IF THE OLD MAN DIES, YOU DIE!!!! AM I MAKING MYSELF PERFECTLY CLEAR, SIR?!?!'

Of course, this was only ever a temporary theft of peace, and base security went on high alert.

"OI! Yer th' provosts from the observation post aye!?" A Galidraani officer ran up to the group, in between shouting orders to his men across the vehicle bay.

Orik nodded, signalling to his men to get to their feet.

"We've just arrived from assisting the convoy-"

"Aye aye, that dinnae matter noo. Grab your gear, we got a situation."

The next few minutes were a blur; Orik's men formed up and dashing to the security post of the base, tanks and men moving about at a hurried pace, search parties leaving the base and driving hard into the snow.

"Sarge, I can't really understand these guys, but something's bad, right?" Teph whispered over the comms.

"Just let me handle the talking."

"Mount up! Search party six, mount up!" Another of the guards, this one with a thinner accent, signalled to the group that Orik and his men were assembled with to enter the APCs that stopped near the formation. The nearest gate, a secondary one, trundled open while the comms blared to life. Orik and his men followed into the vehicle, taking up their seats inside and waiting apprehensively.

As the vehicle buttoned up and moved off with haste, the commander of the search party, the Leftenant from before, remained at the far end of the infantry compartment and looked down at a holoslate in hand.

"Listen up; we have a Code Grey on the Regent; the old man is missing, and so is Cairn One. Last seen movement of the last one is up the northern pass; we'll be taking Trail 2-3. For our provost guests it should be the trail marked on your HUDs, just sync up with the APC's data stream."

Orik looked around the transport; apart from the dozen or so of his men were a few of the Galidraani guards, most notably a few medics.

"We have a medical emergency plan?"

"Aye, if our party comes across the VIPs, you will hold perimeter while we bring them into the side bay," the officer knocked on an internal door of the transport compartment.

"Medical equipment set up, and several medics to administer first aid. While you hold perimeter, ROE is shoot to kill; assassins or kidnappers are a high possibility."

The Goidels in the APC muttered amongst themselves. The possibility of harm to the Lord Regent was not taken lightly. The suddenness of the situation and its import was too much for Orik to fully process immediately; the assassination of the Lord Regent on the battlefield in a brewing war with a neighbouring superpower was... quite a lot. But he knew his duty, and readied himself for anything.

:: This is Wardog. I need an immediate emergency evacuation on Erskine's position. ::

She pinged the location to whoever was on the channel, but as she continued to stare at him, she needed to add more. They needed to understand the gravity of the situation.

:: And one more thing. A warning to his officers, his superiors, the ISB listening to this channel, everyone. If he gets in the turret of a tank, if he is allowed into a command tent, if he is allowed to even look at a map… I'll karkin' butcher every single person in this legion, this kriffin' army… I'll kill you all. ::

"We got a signal... it's patchy; radioman, clean it up."

"Looks like we got a ping too."

"Yeah, looks like we're heading towards Tellan Lake."

The transport continued onwards, breaking off from its original path, winding across the mountains, search sensors now on full blast. Almost as soon as Tellan Lake showed up on the HUD map, the vehicle screeched to a halt.

"We have movement, get a move on!"

The transport's doors swung open and the Orik's men rushed out, Stormtroopers and MPs sharing the same armour for once. Already they could see what the Guard commander meant; there was someone in the distance, moving through the snow, carrying someone. Leading the medics, Orik and his men hurried over. There was no mistaking it: it was the painted druid himself, who Orik realised he had crossed paths with on New Aldera. In his arms he held the Lord-Regent, his body battered and worryingly still.

Michael Barran seemed unsurprised to see the soldiers; he handed off his father to the medics, who immediately carried him on a stretcher back into the internal medical unit of the transport at a hurried pace. Orik and his men fanned out and took overwatch positions, sending two of them to escort the medics back to the transport, while the rest followed Michael's slower pace back to the transport. The Goidels seemed too busy with Erskine to ask Michael of the situation, and when Orik motioned to the Guard commander he made a gesture that implied Orik should deal with it while he brought the medics into the transport first. No doubt they might have worried about his reaction to the guard failing to protect Erskine. Well, not the first time Orik might receive the ire of Michael, though he expected the Lord to have forgotten about their brief encounter by now.

"Lord Barran, what is your status? Are you in need of medical aid, and what's the situation?" he asked as he followed close to Michael, broadcasting from his helmet, the latter remark referring to the possibility of danger in the immediate viscinity.

 

[Judah Lesan]

.

Wearing: xxx
Weapon: xxx x2
Allies: Caltin Vanagor | Caedyn Arenais | Domina Prime
Enemies: Koda Fett | Varm Nul

…and…

Koda Fett collided with him mid air. Judah knew it had been a roll of the proverbial dice by trying to make a jump for it, but it had been the path he opted for. There was too much noise around him for a stealth approach, and yet they needed it. Judah had to get on the other side of the wall and stop it. At least while they were flying through air with the greatest of ease, Judah could try and short circuit the jet pack.

“Here goes nothing,” Judah said as he ignited his lightsaber and tried to jam it into the engine.

 

[Sōla Taan]

​

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​

In a brilliant display of valor and honor, Grendel Krayt used his own body as a shield to protect Sola from the avalanche. Not long ago, he had been trying to kill her. She had sensed his intent, and resolved herself to the same. Now he was trying to save her life.

Her enemy had become her ally. But she had another ally, a greater ally, great and luminous and beautiful; it was life and death and everything in between and everything after. Its energy surrounded them, bound them, every living thing that existed merely one small part of a vastly grander whole.

Its energy surrounded them.

Sola let go of her sight and senses- the Force had claimed them, and she didn't need them anyway. Not for this. The energy she needed was already there, surrounding them. She only had to give it shape and make it firm- she drew inspiration from Grendel, tugged on that lofty emotion that had bloomed as she felt his massive arms close over her. He had shielded her, so she would shield him in turn.

As the wave of stone and steel and ice hit, a shimmering shield blossomed to life, forming around the crouched Mandalorian. Inside, the world was still and silent.

Eventually, the avalanche passed. Buried beneath the snow, still encased in the Force shield, Sola lifted them up and out of what might have been their grave. She never considered Grendel's weight, nor that she might not have the strength to lift him- she did it without regard or consideration, trusting, as she always had, in the immense power of the Living Force. She was only a conduit, a vessel, a tool, even- if the Force were a painter, and reality a painting, then she was the brush.

But she was tired. Nearly exhausted. It showed in her eyes, in the drooping slant of her shoulders. She needed a moment to recover. Just a moment.

"You protected me from the avalanche," she said between breaths, craning her neck to look directly into the t-visor of his helmet. "Thank you." And then she passed out.

​

 

[Gabriel Pryce]

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

Gabe's body twitched, the residual energy of electric judgment over-stimulating muscles. He couldn't feel it though. He couldn't feel anything. He didn't even know where he was anymore. Gabe groaned as the Force shifted around him.

Wake up.

Couldn't he get a few more minutes? An image was starting to take hold in his mind. He was back home on Corellia. One of the droids had just finished making breakfast and he could smell a pot of caf from his room, the aroma inviting and mysterious. An erzu was standing up using his front paws to hang on to Gabe's bed. His eyes were expectant, waiting.

Wake up.

A familiar warmth fluttered in his chest, a blue light shone in the center of the erzu's black eyes.

Wake up.

"I leave this place to you then Jedi,"

Gabe's eyes snapped open, a surge of power running through him. The last words of the Bendu had fueled him with a second wind. Cold tears trickled down his cheeks. Why was he crying? He could feel the loss in the Force, the absence as if something was gone from this world that had been there for ages upon ages. Something the Imperials had killed.

He released that anger, the hate, and all of the sorrow he felt into the Force letting it swallow up those feelings and he countered the telekinetic blast from the Knight with his own. Gabe didn't remember standing but he found himself falling to one knee. WIth an outstretched hand he called his lightsaber back to him and lit the blue blade.

"I will not let you destroy this world," He said between shaky gasps. "Not any more than you already have." He didn't know if he could even stand. His body was steaming still from the heat of the Knight's lightning making contact with the icy air.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

“Only a fool would underestimate a man with nothing to lose.”-Lance Conrad​

That hurt…

It always does.

To build up and expend such an amount of energy is not only not an easy thing to do, but it takes a lot out of someone. Mind you, Caltin was not out of the fight, but he was feeling the effects of what he had done all over his body and was noticeably slower (still fast but compared to his reactions beforehand). He was not the only Jedi hurt, Caedyn would be fine once he had the chance to reset his shoulder with a free moment. That also meant that the Mandalorian Mercenary was now flying around with impunity.

The only thing that he could concern himself about right now was where Judah and D I M A were. The big man had to trust that they were more than capable of handling themselves, so he decided to draw more attention to himself and charge at a squad of Stormtroopers to keep their attention. Then the collision could be heard. There was the Shadow, he had this...

Where was that Duro?

Momentarily, the big man was startled by feeling the surge of energy down on the planet that was a result of only one entity. Bendu was on the scene. Then he could feel the rumble of the superweapon firing again. That tore it! That was the last time these bucketheads…

Haven’t heard that phrase in awhile.

… would get the chance to fire it. Taking a second to switch from “Conservator” to “Vanguard” the big man telescoped the cylinder to “Pike” length and engaged both the “Permafrost” and the “Blue/White/Purple” blades (both sides) and began to charge. He may not make it himself, but his attack on the Stormtroopers and Marines was to serve the purpose of pulling more at him and away from anyone who could make a break for it.

Make no mistake, he was going for the Superweapon, but his pace was more deliberate. In fact there was something else he could do. Saber to his backhand, the big man focused what pent up energy he had left and slammed his fist into the ground. The expending electrical energy should not only send a wave of energy at the Stormtroopers but hopefully short out the lighting in the immediate area.

TAGS:
FRIENDS: Judah Lesan | Caedyn Arenais | Domina Prime | Galactic Alliance and Allies
ALLIES ON RECKONING: Minerva Fhirdiad | Jos Krayt
FOES: @Koda Fett | @Varm Nul | The Galactic Empire.

Spoiler: Personal effects

"Vanguard" (Secondary - Long Handle)

"CONSERVATOR" (Primary - Long Handle)
HK-88 Robes, Battle Armor,Toraynor-Henkan(mind crystal added) Advanced Jedi Utility Belt
Starship: Spectre, (NC-1000 X-wing (Jedi Variant) in the hangar, Dilorian, and Bike both in the cargo bay, the late Karki Eusith's Armor, Shield, Temple Guard Lightsaber mounted on the wall)
Sanctuary Island

 

[Grendel Krayt]

Sōla Taan​

Pain that's what he had expected, unimaginable pain but noting came. Opening his eyes he saw they were surrounded by a shield of unknown origin, Grendel assumed it was the Jedi's doing. They were safe for the mos t aside from being tossed from side side, eventually the shaking stopped and they began to rise out of the detritus. Having finally beached the surface the shield came down with clearly very tired Jedi.

"You protected me from the avalanche," she said between breaths, craning her neck to look directly into the t-visor of his helmet. "Thank you." And then she passed out.

Luckily the avalanche had carried them very close to the landing pads only about 100 meters away, picking up the tiny Jedi as gently as possible Grendel cradled the Jedi in one of his massive arms and only know did he realize just how young she was. Having made a decision Grendel carried the Jedi to his ship The Bucket and vowing if anyone tried to stop him they would die a violent death. placing the Jedi down on a spare bed he entered the cockpit and spent a message to the man in charge of this chit show one Saul Vandron .

Grendel understood the the man was very busy and so had only sent a message, the gist of the message was Grendel defecting and if anyone came for him he would ensure that they would die a violent and messy death. And with that Grendel began to take off.

 

[Bex Tarring]

Friendlies: Forces of the Empire DECEASED Erskine Barran Michael Barran Hall Mannarra Lily Stevens [OPEN]
Hostiles: Forces of the Galactic Alliance Kelly T. Perris [OPEN]

---^>^>^>^>^>^>---
Major General Bex Tarring
Bramber Division
Fourth Brigade Mobile HQ
1st Battalion
IMPAF Controlled Territories
ILUM
​

The deafening thunder of impact could be heard from even this great a distance, a sure sign that the salvo had been a tactical success. There would be little doubt that the overwhelming firepower sustained by the falling ordnance would turn the tide in favour of the Imperial war machine.

Lord-Captain Polegate was smiling. He was almost gleeful at the thought of the GA forces running for cover in the open terrain, smashed to pieces by the hell-storm that had rained down on them.

A spatter of comms burst though, not for his ears. He resisted the urge to listen in and flicked his comm, changing the channel out of courtesy to the orders that would no doubt be flying to the ears of Major General Bex Tarring, the Bramber's own hero. Captain Polegate rechecked his timepiece and waited a moment.

A voice clipped through. A second salvo was ordered by the Major General. Tarring wants the message to be heard loud and clear, it seems.

He barked the same sequence of events.

<4 Company, this is 4-4. Adjust fire, over>

-----------------

<Grid reference DF 363 367, over>

-----------------

<Target is LZ, dropships and enemy buildings, over>

-----------------

<Danger close, two clicks>

-----------------

<This is 4-4 HQ, for 181 HQ, over. Second Fire for effect operational. Danger close, two clicks.>

-----------------

<Missiles in effect, 2 rounds out.>

-----------------

<Shot, over>​

The tremendous and thunderous artillery pieces opened up once again, a burst of supersonic might that catapulted across the sky towards the now firey and distraught Alliance LZs. Comms chatter was alight, talk of falling debris and ships. Polegate had only his orders.

He waited a moment before hearing the reply.

<Shout, out>​

<This is Bramber One. Polegate, I want those bastards wiped from the face of the planet. Make it happen now. Fire the third salvo.>

The General himself giving orders was always something that made him stand a little taller. This is the man who had faced down the Maw with his own blaster on Tython, the man that led companies of Cataphracts into the fray on countless worlds. He was a hero to the men of Bramber and Thames.

Polegate flicked his comms and started the sequence yet again.

<4 Company, this is 4-4. Adjust fire, over>​

Spoiler: Fourth Brigade, First Battalion, Fourth Company

1 HQ Vehicle
3 Cataphract Tanks
15 MLV with Predator Batteries
4 APC (120 infantry assigned)

 

[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:
Nine

The boy had enough strength to counter him after all has his force burst was knocked aside into another wall with the padawan's own telekinetic power. He had to admit privately to himself that the boy showed potential but only by tapping into the power of the dark side of the force for just a brief moment. "You have neither the ability nor the drive to defeat me, boy. Just another child sent to fight in the new jedi order's wars of religion." He said taunting him for just a brief moment as he watched him struggle the stand and hold his blade against him.

His eyes glowed white and swirled with anger for just a brief moment amongst the smoke and dust of the cave but not once did he actually tap into the natural strength of the dark side of the force. He wasn't so weak willed as the jedi to simply fall into the dark side's allure simply for an increase in power. His emotions remained in check as a pure storm within the force. Bringing a armored hand to his face to wipe away the blood currently pouring from it as it left red smears across his features. A single flick of his hand down send the small droplets of blood spirling away into the icy and snowy ground.

Aschwin had managed to recover a bit from the previous fight; as he moved forward with an almost blinding speed and began to swing his curved lightsaber at the boy almost like a dance as the blade tip struck and struck; across the length of the padawan's blade. It was almost as if he was dancing instead of actually fighting with the grace and power behind each strike. He was confident that he could overwhelm the padawan without a second thought due to him having more energy reserves than him at this time.

"The order has given up on you, my friend. They see you as nothing more than a disposable pawn in their religious games."

He said with a firm voice as his blade moved in a swish motion.

​

 

[Cailen Corso]

INVASION OF ILUM
Hubris of Empires #2

Location: Hallowed Scar, Ilum
Tags: Jem Fossk; Margo Liaeris
Objective: #2 Hallowed Scar; Survive
Soundtrack: Raining Fire

The Force barrier was enough to block the particle beams, but its shimmering aura quickly began to fade. Within moments, it had dissipated completely, leaving nothing but fearful anticipation between the young Jedi and the SCAR trooper before him.

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

In a burst of inhuman speed, Margo Liaeris was upon him, bringing her vibroblade down hard overhead. Once again, Cailen's reactions seemed to be heightened. The Force was commanding his muscles, directing his attention. It had been a long time since he felt that comfort, but the satisfaction was short-lived. He ignited his lightsaber, a brilliant cyan glow reflecting off the ice and snow around him. He brought the saber up crosswise just in time to catch the searing-hot vibroblade.

The block was successful, but the overhead stance left the Padawan’s torso exposed - an opportunity the SCAR trooper took advantage of. She slammed her fist into the boy’s side, cracking one of his ribs. Cailen gasped sharply, the gut-wrenching crack reverberating through his chest. He gritted his teeth, standing his ground despite the pain.

“Not today!” he said as he pushed back hard, shoving the Imperial back.

With both hands gripping the hilt, Cailen lunged forward with a downward counter-slash.

 

[Varm Nul]

ONAGER II-CLASS STAR DESTROYER
Equipment (in Possessions) | Post #5

Varm Nul slid across the ground like a discarded sack of fruit.

When he stopped, the Dorus groaned and blinked his red eyes, he was at the hangar entry. He was greeted to the sight of a stormtrooper above him, but the helmet was half-crushed and only a portion of the humanoid remained. With a grunt, Varm Nul pushed the - now defunct - humanoid shield off, then sat up. He saw the battle waging in the hangar bay, with Fett rocketing above with two Jedi latched onto him, as well as the armored tendril beast that continued to cut swaths through Imperial forces.

But, the gunslinger's eyes zeroed in on the cause of his battered physicality.

The big Jedi.

"You'll pay for that, Jedi scum."

With a growl, Varm Nul pushed to his feet, as he readjusted his grip on the two blasters in hand. He aimed them - the rapid-fire LL-30 and the acid-slug firing KD-30 - and began to shoot at the big humanoid again, but this time from further away. That meant the bounty hunter was at the advantage, presumably out of range of those smashing Force blasts. Even as he fired, Varm Nul watched the Jedi release bursts of electricity, as the energy began to play havoc on the lighting - and combined with the flickering lights, lightsabers, blaster fire, and other explosions, the hangar bay was almost like some club light show...

"Where's those damned reinforcements?"

Nonetheless, Varm Nul squinted and began to fire with highly honed and accurate pistol fire at his target...

Allies: Koda Fett | Stormtroopers
Enemies: Caedyn Arenais | Caltin Vanagor | Judah Lesan | Domina Prime
Nearby: Minerva Fhirdiad | Jos Krayt
Engaging: Caltin Vanagor

Edit: Post count correction.​

 

[Kyell Laysel]

Location: Ilum
Tag: Miri Nimdok Hacks

<Ow, Miri...Ow,> Kyell grumbled as Miri prodded away at his battered face once he was finally released. <I can breathe alright, don't worry,> he said, now with a smile slipping through while she patched him up a little. None of his injuries were all that serious, so he could have kept going without the medical assistance, but he wasn't going to resist it either.

The suggestion he made after was met with some hesitancy, but she also knew how important it was for them to finish their mission. So she agreed and left him behind with Hacks while she moved inside. Nothing of note happened during her time inside the facility with Hacks being completely crippled, so when Miri finally emerged, he stood up and nodded.

<I'll bring our new friend along if you can hold on to the chip and blow this place up,> He said before he turned to Hacks, lifted a hand, and channeled the Force to gently pick her up again, this time to get a safe distance. Once they were far away, he nodded to Miri and watched the facility explode with a grin.

<So...> he began as he admired the flames for a moment. <What now? We bring her away obviously, but I think we could use some rest after. We can head back to our ship and take some time off. What do you say?>

 

[Minerva Fhirdiad]

Onboard the NIV Reckoning​

Objective: Sabotage Imperial super-weapon!
Opposition: Empire l Open
Allies nearby: Caedyn Arenais Caltin Vanagor Domina Prime Judah Lesan
Enemies nearby: Varm Nul Koda Fett
Engaging: Jas Katis

Taking advantage of her jetpack as much as possible Minerva, dodging the merc's shots so far. Even still the Mandalorian's own blaster bolts either missed or were absorbed by the enemy's armor. Not to mention the hired gun kept moving from cover to cover to deny her any opportunity.

This is not working! He's no ordinary thug with a weapon.

Minerva tried to line up another volley but was forced to evade to avoid being shot down by the EMP blasts. While this was happening the ship vibrated, making it clear that the superweapon had fired again. As much as she enjoyed a good fight they had an objective to complete. Keeping her distance high up and constantly moving in random directions Minerva reloaded a new ammo clip.

Simply shooting at the mercenary was not going to pay off, she realized. It was time for an alternative and quickly came up with one. It is extremely risky but she didn't see any other quick solution at the moment. She drew back as if she was going to retreat but suddenly made a mad dive toward Jas at his latest table.

Spinning in the air and avoiding the next emp burst, Minerva actually didn't shoot back with her blaster as she rocket toward his position.

Now!!

Quickly a missile rocket out of the jetpack and toward the makeshift barricade Jas was using. However the jetpack was hit a moment later and Minerva fell, bracing for impact.

With sudden sparks erupting on the jetpack, gravity took its course with Minerva, who crashed to another table in a violent thud. Cursing in her adopted tongue Minerva forced herself to roll out moments later, not able to see results of her own efforts just yet feeling pain spike through her body.

As for the mercenary he would see the missile coming would likely attempt to get out the way. Even then there won't be enough time for him to fully escape being shoved by the force of the blast and endure the hot shrapnel flying out at close range. To say it would be immensely painful is an understatement.

 

[Gabriel Pryce]

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

Never give up, never give in.

The words of wisdom from his mother echoed in his mind as he struggled to stand, his legs like jelly.

"You have neither the ability nor the drive to defeat me, boy. Just another child sent to fight in the new jedi order's wars of religion."

"You came to our world. We didn't ask for this fight!" By the Force, the padawans were on what had amounted to a field trip before the Empire had decided Ilum would be the next target for their evil machinations.

"You came here to fight us," he hissed through gritted teeth as he struggled to stand again. Now that he was awake he was starting to shake off some of the effects of the lightning, but his grip still felt weak and uncertain. Their blades clashed. The Knight's curved lightsaber was strange. He hadn't known that the weapons could change form like that and it was throwing off his sense of scale in between them. Even with the man clearly toying with him, their swordplay almost like running through a lightsaber form, Gabe had trouble keeping up.

"The order has given up on you, my friend. They see you as nothing more than a disposable pawn in their religious games."

"No," Gabe took a glancing blow from the Knight on his own saber as he tucked into a roll, giving him more open ground to work with. Fighting up against a stone wall was not doing him any favors. Gabe didn't know much about the Jedi Order, but he knew for a fact that there weren't enough of them yet to have even one Jedi as merely a pawn.

"You don't know what you're talking about." An image of Osarla and her new padawan walking through the temple flashed through his mind. He quashed the thought and emptied it into the Force. He didn't have time for that. Not now.

 

[Miri Nimdok]

As the facility erupted in a shower of flames and debris, Miri’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “That was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Maybe I shouldn’t have used as much…”

Turning toward the grinning Kyell, Miri rested her hands on her hips. <Not so fast, slick. We were going to help the others once we were done here, remember?>

On the other hand, he had said that before Hacks seized control of his arm and used it to pummel him in the face. Besides, it was hard to resist him when he looked at her like that…

<Okay, fine.> She shrugged. <Let’s blow this popsicle stand.>

Kyell Laysel Hacks​