Invasion I'm On A Boat [OS-Republic Invasion of Manaan]

[Matsu Xiangu]

LOCATION: Ahto West Central - on bridge, approaching failing blast doors
OBJECTIVE ONE: Destroy blast doors, proceed to generator.
ALLIES: Team R ([member="Reverance"], [member="Logan of Little Coruscant"]), Team V, Team H, [member="Vrag"]
FOES: [member="Spark Finn"], Republic

Did she need a hand – oh, har har!

Matsu had a sense of humor and one side of her mouth curled in a sardonic smile as the woman appeared, armor stained in spatters of blood and brain. The dead lay around her in a ring – pulp and mush, ribs sticking up like edges of gruesome crowns from those she’d laid flat in their resistance…nothing would stop her now, not if she’d lost an arm to win this planet.

She nodded as the woman took to defending from Matsu’s right, shouting back over the sound of Vong hissing towards the blast doors. “Yes – we need to get through those blast doors, but someone inside keeps using the turrets as we get closer!” She’d lost any more detonators she might have had during the duel with Rekali, the spear-drive she’d been on the receiving end of scattering her explosives to the ocean below. She was about to ask if Vrag had anything on her when the sound of the blast doors moaning as they bent under pressure of the Vong acid-spit caught her ears. Standing in one place for too long was suicide and she made good on that adage, moving along the remainder of the bridge and resorting to the Force entirely to combat the remaining Jedi to make up for the dent in her already lacking saber combat. She would be useful only at range from this point out.

The second door was falling as they approached, bowing under the weight of an assault of Vong drunk on the effects of their success and the fumes of their handiwork but as she’d suspected the turrets fired to brilliant life before they could get close enough to take advantage of the gap forming ever so slowly as the Vong worked on the second door.

“Cover me,” she shouted over the din of battle, judging by the way the stranger fought that there was little she found daunting. Prepared to stop at a sign that she was about to have a hole put through her - thought she found it unlikely, the Vong horde drawing the majority of fire as they attacked all that was left of the generator's protection besides Jedi themselves - she lifted her remaining arm and gripped the base of the turret closest to her with the Force as tightly as she could, pouring anger, rage…revenge, she’s dying down there…in to her effort to pull the turret from its moorings.

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Location: Ahto City, Kolto Facility
Allies: [member="Kian Karr"] - [member="James Mathison"] - [member="Qae Shena"] - [member="Corvus Raaf"] - The Republic
Enemies: [member="Xilo Gale"] - [member="Viktor Romanov"] - One Sith
Objective 2: Hold the Kolto Facility

Varus felt Xilo's presence moving overhead as clearly as he could see him with his own two eyes if the room had been lit up. The man was still quick, despite his missing limb which only seemed to drive him further and harder. It was something Varus did not at all understand, and he might have tried to had he had a moment to afford himself in order to contemplate it. His time was drawing thinner and thinner, however, only afforded split seconds by his enemies to react, though they wouldn't have given him even that much had they had the choice.

The spear Varus had drawn towards Xilo's back was now coming at him, and with the force now guiding his movements, he flicked his head to the right, the weapon passing just inches from his neck and skipping across the metal floor like the others. The next moment there had been another beam shot at him as Xilo aimed at him from behind execution style as he was still kneeling down.

In an attempt to avoid certain defeat , Varus threw himself back towards his left, diving face down against the floor. The beam of energy cut through the metal right where Varus had been kneeling as he slid away, untouched, on the metal floor. As he slid to a stop he rolled over on his back and propped himself up on his elbows his blue eyes finally opened again. There was a sober, calm glare which found Xilo who was brandishing his blaster, still aiming at him.

That's when he felt Kian's presence. That split second he knew Kian would attempt to bring him salvation from this defenseless moment. He was relieved, but the driving evil that had befallen this remnant of a man was far too concerning for him to be overjoyed by the thought of reinforcements.

 

[Vrag]

LOCATION: Ahto West Central [on bridge, approaching the second blast doors]
OBJECTIVE 1:

• Destroy blast doors
• Proceed to hyper-buoyancy generator

ALLIES: Team R [ [member="Matsu Xiangu"] | [member="Reverance"] | [member="Logan of Little Coruscant"]] Team V, Team H
ENEMIES: [member="Spark Finn"], [member="Qun Vell"] | Republic

____________________________________________________​

​

A blood-stained smile formed on the Sith's lips as the two of them worked in tandem, one unleashing debilitating attacks through the Force while the armored firrereo mowed down any and all soldiers who dared approach them. With ample help from the Vong and the horde of undead — Vrag did her best not to think about all the movies she'd seen made about that particular scenario — the first blast door gave up under their relentless assault, and the massive wave of Sith forces spilled into the corridor ahead. The Acolyte winced in sympathy as the turrets turned on the blood-drunk creatures, raining fire and death upon them. Their numbers were great, though, and despite some songs that try to attest to the opposite, numbers do, in fact, matter.

She acknowledged with a shout of her own and shifted her stance to the more suitable Soresu as she kept track of the petite woman with the corner of her eye. Whatever resistance the Republic soldiers had hoped to put up this side of the door had been effectively quelled by the onslaught of Sith troops, and Vrag grinned along with the Yuuzhan Vong beside her as her tightly contained rage threatened to overtake her. It was the fleeting image of her unlikely partner's severed limb that kept her anchored and steady as she deflected the stray bolts, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

She couldn't help but be impressed with the Sith Lord's offhand display of raw power as the dark haired woman curled her clawed fingers missing low-sailing shot that burned the side of her knee.

"Kark!" she growled out between clenched teeth, redoubling her efforts and forcing her gaze away from the squealing jumble of metal the turret was turning into at an alarming rate; well, alarming for the 'Pubs on the other side of the ajar door, anyway.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

LOCATION: Ahto City Proper - NORTH
OBJECTIVE 1 ( One ): Protect the Hyper-Buoyancy Generator from incoming Sith forces. | Engage [member="Xhexania"]
ALLIES: Republic & TEAM BRAVO

FOES: Team H [NORTH]

• [member="Xhexania"] | DUEL

Music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persist_app=1&v=7_Qaq6FtoGs
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"...take my hand and we can walk away from this together..." Xhexania's words swirled and twisted around in Sera's mind like a provocative dance immediately before the collapse of the building. She was certain that this was some kind of wretched trap to force her guard down. She was determined not to let that happen. Fate though, is a terrible charlatan, and had other plans altogether...

"Look at this Xhex!” A man spoke with eager anticipation. Who is that? Sera couldn’t open her eyes, they pained her more than she could believe. The floor beneath her was cool, relaxing, soothing. Her body was burning from the overwhelming surge of electric current she endured only a moment ago, coupled with being hammered by falling concrete and steel. She tried desperately to locate a single point of her body that did not in some way ache with which she could cling to, simply to know what a brief reprieve would be like. Her head twitched, eyes jolting open for a moment. Vision glossy, the tears lingering about like crystalized droplets of rain made it difficult to make out the figure in the dark ruins of the building. "We have ourselves a Jedi without-" She shifted her body, the sting of a thousand needles piercing her side forced her focus away from the shadowy figure speaking to see what the cause of her distress was. It was more important, she was already dead, what difference would it make what he had to say? "- her weapon and appears near death."

Metal shrapnel had pierced her side at a concerning depth forcing a moderate amount of bleeding. Nothing to do about it here. That's gonna need a medic if I manage to.... The man's bloodthirsty saber erupted in a flash of crimson, savoring the opportunity to exterminate the young Twi'lek, and claiming the kill for himself rather than his female counterpart. Sera looked up to see the faces of her killers. Everything she had worked for, stolen away, and for what? She coughed, a bit of blood dabbled the floor as it was expelled from somewhere in her body. The man raised his blade ever so slowly, an unforgettable smirk of pure hatred mixed with satisfaction painted his visage. A moment later, time seemed to slow, and her head seared with pain, the presence of the Sith's dark perversion forcing its way into her. If the circumstances were not so grave, she would have attempted to guard herself. There was no sense in expelling any more energy, simply to stop this one from getting her final words in. She winced again, feeling as though there was a blade cutting through the center of her mind. "You fought like a true warrior, brave in the face of death and you managed to wound me, quite an accomplishment in that. But alas, your time is drawing near,"

Then came the swing. She tensed up, eyes squinting closed. She heard a lightsaber piercing something. The man shouted in agony. How is that possible? Sera opened her eyes. The glitter of Xhexania's own blade had forced its way through his back, exiting his upper chest, still gleaming as she announced her treachery. "I promised you Rhan that I would be the death of you...and I never break my promises you fool!" What is happening? She saved me? Why? Why would she kill her own? Seraphina continued listening from the ground. "I know...I know, I murdered him. But in all fairness, he was one of my more powerful rivals and he was going to kill you while you laid there defenseless. That is not the true Sith way." Sera looked to Xhexania, her eyes in partial disbelief as to what just happened, and in utter fear as to what this meant for her. Speaking in a near whisper as she lay on the floor, attempting to regain some bit of composure "You killed him...For what? Judging by your hatred toward me and the rest of the Jedi, he seemed to be your ally. Did you really kill him simply because you wanted no interruptions?" She turned her head and spit, expunging the collected blood along the inside of her mouth before continuing, "Had he not walked in, you mean to tell me you would not have taken the final blow after the explosion and cave in?" She shook her head, "Forgive me for my disbelief Xhexania, I am very grateful to still be breathing, but I just don't see you recinding your opportunity for the sake of an honorable kill."

Smiling half-heartedly, Sera pressed her arms against the floor, lifting her weight slowly up as the dust and debris drifted off of her body. She had never before felt so heavy, and she was still completely unsure of what the Sith planned to do, or if she still even had a chance to get out of here alive. One could hope at least. "So....either you can help me get out of here and we can finish this later or I can leave you here to die. Choose now for my patience is thinning fast!" She groaned as she finished sitting up, looking around for the first time at their concrete tomb, a number of bodies lying about. She stood slowly, keeping her eyes focused on the Sith that she whole heartedly did not trust. Taking a few slow steps, the pain in her side reminded her that she was not in any kind of condition to argue. "I don't exactly have any choice, so lets find a way out of here." Scanning the floor for her weapons, she limped over to the broken one first, then the functional saber. "I'm taking my weapons. Given my current state, and our situation, I assume that won't be a problem?"

The corridors were completely sealed, and the roof had caved. It was going to take a substantial amount of energy to move the layers of concrete that blocked any and all of the exits. Sera sighed, looking towards the corridor that they had come from "Well, we can't go that way, who knows what state the fire is in back there, and I'm even less interested in burning to death." She looked toward the blocked corridor leading further in. "Perhaps there's another way out that way? Give me a hand lifting the debris? This is going to take some time." With that, Sera began focusing what energy she had left to spare on the rubble blocking the corridor, slowly shifting and lifting portions as she moved it aside, pausing in between to take long, winded breaths.

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Location: Ahto North
Objective: 1
Allies: One Sith
Enemies: Republic

With the Northern turrets down, Vaas' Blackblade Guard was free to make an assault on the generator.

Overlord Vaas informed the Sith forces, including [member="Vrag"], through their closed comm channel of his movements. "The Blackblade Guard is moving in on the hyperbuoyancy generator from the North. Over."

Still in his armored H-MAT walker, Vaas along with other One Sith walkers led the vanguard for his forces. He blasted republic defense bunkers with his walker's enormous cannon, creating sprawling heaps of charred, lifeless bodies in his wake and allowing a portion of his ground forces less impeded movement across the bridge. The Republic troops who were still alive were now being pressed from three sides - the North, the West, and the South. Vaas continued to lay down cannon fire as his walker moved across the bridge. Soon, he would be at the generator doors.

 

[Kyrana Gould]

Location: High Orbit, Manaan

Objective: Objective 3 - Eliminate the Sith fleet; command ship

Allies: [member="Keanu Shan"] | [member="Camellia Swift"] | [member="Lira Dajenn"] | [member="Sabena Shai"]

Enemies: [member="Alicia Drey"] | [member="Mordecai Zambrano"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"] | [member="Harley"]

Spoiler

Initial Republic Fleet – 1510 metres
(Blue is shield strength, green is hull. Shield recovers slowly each post when not under attack.)
1 x Redoubt Class Cruiser – Adamant. With upgrade package – 52 Interceptors. 30 interceptors
40/95 +10 ABOUT TO RAM THE IMMORTAL
1 x Metellos Class Frigate – Liberator. 64 fighters. 44 fighters.
80/100 -20
1 x Dorin Class Corvette – Cornet. 0 attack craft
0/0 DESTROYED
1 x Taboon Class Corvette – Torrent. 24 fighters. 18 fighters.
80/100 -20
2 x Jabiim Class Corvette – Splinter, Outrider. 8 fighters each, total 16.
60/100 +10 -20 Splinter 5 fighters
80/100 -20 Outrider 4 fighters
Total: 156 attack craft. 101 attack craft.

Republic Reinforcements – 6500 metres
1 x Remembrance Class Battlecruiser – Destiny. 24 fighters.
70/95 +15 -24 -5
1 x Warhammer Star Destroyer – The Ebbing Heart. 60 fighters, 12 bombers. (Commanded by Camellia Swift)
86/100 +10
1 x Avenger Assault Star Destroyer – Righteous. 12 bombers. 7 bombers
100/100
2 x Azalus Flak Frigate – Dart, Javelin. 0 attack craft.
24/100 Dart -76
100/100 Javelin
2 x Metellos Carrier Frigate – Swiftsure, Radiant. 52 fighters, 12 bombers each. Total 128.
100/100 Swiftsure 10 bombers
100/100 Radiant 8 bombers
Total 188 fighters, 60 bombers. 37 bombers

Grand Total Both Forces: 344 attack craft (gunships and dropships not included)

“Sir, the enemy are breaking through! We can’t hold-!” The message was cut off by a scream, then static.
Captain Gates stared in silence at the battle for a few seconds. A look at the monitor confirmed his fears. The Sith had broken in, and their warriors and Vong were everywhere in the lower levels, heading for the bridge.
He turned to the anxious bridge crew. “The ship will be lost, but we can ensure it does not fall into enemy hands. Order all crew to evacuate the ship except for the marines. Bridge staff, if we wish to go, you may. You have ten seconds from when I finish before the blastdoors seal. If you wish to stay here with me, know you are going to your death. However, with the Sith outside, chances are that any escape craft will be targeted. Get me a line to the Admiral.”
This done, Admiral Stahlmann appeared. “Captain?”
“The ship is being lost to enemy boarders, sir. I am going to engage Lance Protocol.”
The Admiral paused, then nodded. “May the Force be with you. Authorisation confirmed. You know your destination?”
“Yes, sir. It’s been an honour, Admiral.”
“And likewise, Captain.”
They saluted, and the channel died.
Captain Gates went to the helm and entered a series of controls. The ship’s engines began to power the cruiser forward, travelling straight towards its intended target.
He turned back to the crew to find they were all still there. “We are with you to the end, sir,” his XO said.
Gates took a deep breath, then hit the controls to seal the bridge in two layers of blast shields. It would hold them long enough for the ship’s task to be complete.
“All power to engines and shields. Cease fire.”

Slowly, inexorably, their target came into view – The Immortal’s rear. The massive ship, reversing backwards, would never be able to dodge or fire on the doomed cruiser coming from its rear.

Captain Gates methodically sabotaged the controls, locking the course to aim at the wall of a Sith flagship.
With this done, he charged his blaster pistol and waited for the Sith to come….

XXX

With the Lance Protocol engaged, control of the Patrol Fleet fell to Captain Lavina Wright on board the Metellos Frigate Liberator.
They had been reforming their fighters and moving forward to engage the enemy frigates when suddenly a shockwave hit them.
“Sir, they’ve activated the Dovin Basals!” a crewer called.
The ship rocked. These ships had Inertial Compensators, but not as big or as advanced as on the capital ships. However, they were enough to prevent the ship being torn apart, but shield losses were still inevitable. Fortunately the enemy had spread their attack over the entire fleet rather than one specific ship.
“All guns, open fire on the enemy frigates!”

Meanwhile the surviving fighters had regrouped and now shot upwards on the Y axis, over the top of the Vong carriers and frigates so they could dive down and engage the fighters and bombers attacking the Republic fleet soon.

XXX

In the main Republic fleet the frigates had moved forward to support with flak fire against the Vong fighters. However, the unfortunate Dart was subject to a full volley by the Dark Blade and lost nearly all its shields. It dived down below the plane, trying to evade the Dark Blade’s attentions.

The escorts opened fire though, providing covering fire for the MC180.

XXX

It was indeed fortunate that the Sith had so few bombers. With a squadron having been dispatched to Manaan by Darth Arcanix, and another still presumably returning from helping destroy the Cornet, there were few deliver the crucial strike. There, they were opposed by the fighters from the Ebbing Heart and by the flak defences of the MC180. They did manage to get some shots in, but crucially they only damaged the one of the three shield generators rather than destroy it.

XXX

On board the Destiny, the MC180 flagship, the Vong fighters could be seen swooping in. They would be there very soon.
“Captain, give them a blast of the GAMhttp://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Gravitic_Amplitude_Modulator now!”
As the Vong fighters came in, the Gravitic Amplitude Modulator would fire into life, presenting a formidable gravity shear to the oncoming fighters, and also disrupting their connection with the Yammosks. The effect, at close range, would be much, much stronger now.
As the enemy fighters would be presumably reeling, in came the 104 fighters from the Metellos frigates to oppose them. Their job was to hit the now uncoordinated Vong attack craft and prevent them getting close to the flagship.

XXX

The flagship, meanwhile, took a heavy blast of fire from the Immortal and Dark Blade as it descended down. However, as the Sith ships were reversing, especially the Immortal, it wouldn’t be able to track the moving Command Ship without changing its direction of reverse.
Thus, the Destiny dived down again, going under the Immortal again. However, this time it didn’t go straight under, but moved out to the side, passing to the side, then moving across perpendicular (but below) the Immortal, raking it as it moved east to west. Every so often it would change course, heading west to east, moving just faster than the target so it stayed directly beneath. The only way the Immortal, which only had weapons on the front, could stop it would be to stop reversing and turn downwards. This will give it even more time to use all its guns to pound the underside of the Immortal. Thus, those hundreds of heavy turbolasers, ion cannons, missiles and so on would be slamming up into the Immortal’s belly. Even its shield could not last long.

XXX

The Ebbing Heart and Righteous meanwhile, currently untargeted, moved into position. As they had come in, both had used their powerful front guns – 5 heavy hypervelocity cannons on the Righteous and the heavy turbolasers on the Ebbing Heart blasted at the Immortal before they began their next move.
Since the Immortal had no side weapons and was reversing straight, they could move up along its sides at very close range and simply blast it with broadsides. They could literally sit on its flank and unload heavy turbolasers, assault concussion missiles and ion cannons into the Immortal and there was nothing it could do to stop them except, again, to stop reversing and turn to face one of them. But these ships were quicker and could probably escape the full wrath of the Sith flagship with little harm done.
Even the Immortal could not sustain such a punishment for long.

Meanwhile, the Adamant was approaching swiftly….

SUMMARY:

• Adamant being overrun by Sith boarders. Going to ram the Immortal from the rear. Arrives next post. Harley has an escape pod or shuttle nearby she can use to escape.
• Patrol fleet affected by the Dovin Basals and lose shield, but effect spread across whole contingent.
• Patrol fleet firing on Wake and Tombstone which have depleted shields according to previous post.
• Patrol fleet interceptors moved high over the top of the Sith carriers and frigates, out of range, so they can charge down and assist their comrades next turn.
• Dart takes a beating from a Dark Blade, performing radical manoeuvres to escape the Dark Blade’s attention.
• Other escorts providing flak fire to help the MC180.
• Vong bombers, fewer in number than would be expected, damage one of the MC180’s shield generators, rather than destroy it. Heavy flak and fighter attacks on bombers to counter.
• MC180 uses GAM on oncoming fighters to disrupt and knock them about a bit. 104 fighters from the two Metellos frigates launch an attack into the disrupted Vong.
• MC180 moves again under the horizontal plane, firing up at the Immortal, zig-zagging to stay underneath the ship so it can only fire back by stoping its reverse and tilting (or yawing) down.
• Avenger and Warhammer fire their front weapons into the Immortal then move alongside, keeping pace with it and blast it with broadsides of all their hundreds of heavy weapons and dozens of missile launchers.
• 1/3 engaged bombers, as per conversation with Melakoth, in exchange for some carried over damage to the Immortal next post. This is sort of a retro-edit.

 

[Meeristali Peradun]

Location: Ahto City - Hyper-Buoyancy Generator - IN THE GENERATOR CONTROL ROOM - Vong (surely to be soon joined by Sith) breaking through in West and one blast door remaining in the South... for probably a moment or two longer, to be broken through by additional Sith.
Objective: Protect the Hyper-Buoyancy Generator from One Sith Forces; Engage enemy hostiles in whatever manner possible
Allies: TGR | TJO | [member="Spark Finn"] | [member="Qun Vell"] | [member="Sarge Potteiger"] | [member="Tracyn"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Korsan Rung"] | [member="Sanya Val Lerium"] | [member="Patricia Susan Garter"]
Foes: TOS | [member="Darth Nephthys"] | [member="Darth Carach"] | [member="Reverance"] | [member="Matsu Xiangu"] | [member="Logan of Little Coruscant"] | [member="Nick Gamastar"]

In one minute, they were assured of two Sith, just two Sith breaking through at the South point. That was one thing, and could be handled to a certain extent - though with being honest, he couldn't be absolutely sure of that. This was the first time he had even been within half a galaxy close to any Sith that he was aware of, and here they were breaking down doors between them and him, one drunk basilisk, and a blonde haired, intelligent little slicer who had just gained the knowledge of barriers.

And then the West. A whole host of creatures he had not yet laid eyes on in his entire life ripped through the first door not unlike how his own claws would decimate leather when in his feline form, and then they were upon the second door, wearing through it like a hot needle through flesh in a matter of a few minutes. His tail flicked sharply, teeth clenched so tightly and his brilliant orange eyes narrowed shifting from west to south to Qun to Spark and back. Ears primed to every groan of the metal, every unnatural sound, he plucked the hilt from his belt and flicked the lightsaber to life, a violet-blue blade spilling out in an instant with a wzzt-crack and then...

...he waited.

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Location: Ahto City - South Side
Objective: Protect Generators
Allies: [member="Meeristali Peradun"] [member="Spark Finn"] [member="Tracyn"]
Enemies: [member="Darth Carach"] [member="Darth Nephthys"]

Sarge continued moving towards the South Side of the Generators, unaware of where he was truly headed. He was just following the trail of battle.

 

[Beowoof]

Location: Fleet battlezone
Objective: Protect [member="Keanu Shan"] and make haste for the Immortal
Allies: Keanu Shan; [member="Friedrich Stahlmann"]; [member="Camellia Swift"]; Republic people
Foes: Whoever brought that Hutt-slow orbital weapons cache

"Yeah, I got an idea," Sressechka replied. "It's risky business, but if they haven't killed you yet..." Who was she kidding? This was her first actual military engagement. Like she knew what she was doing! Granted, one does not get assigned to an XJ-9 starcraft for nothing, but either inexperience or boldness would be her guide--just as it always had been for her and her big brother.

Nudging the nose of her X-Wing fighter over to the edge of the orbital brawl, Blue Five continued to stray from her original squadron and pace with Chatter towards the monstrous flagship of the intruding navy. Two of her squadmates chased after her, probably to try to protect her from her own stupidity. But if Chatter was going to stick with her, then Sressi was going to continue throttling for that beast dead ahead. "We can sidle up to The Ebbing Heart and torpedo this thing in the stern. Should make it holler and draw their squadrons away from their attack runs. Then we scram and watch the fleet have its way with that ginormous thing." She paused, musing over her plan for a moment. Hopefully, this guy did not realize she was a rookie. "I know I just made that up, but it should be awesome!"

Fingers crossed.

 

[Invicta Zambrano]

Location: Ahto East, moving inward towards the center of the city.
Objective: Objective I
Allies: One Sith

• Team V [East]: [member="Darth Vitium"] | [member="Darth Vornskr"], some husband you turned out to be | [member="Ire'Rain Sekairo"] | [member="Khallesh"]

Enemies: Republic

• [member="VlPER"] (You're not on my good list either, bby )

Music: None.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

There would be no satisfaction given to the Jedi, she noted distantly, maintaining a silence befitting an Empress and an energy vampire in the face of such odds. There was no whimper nor any scream as agony wracked her ruined body and set a towering inferno to her senses. Weak mental fingers grasped futilely for any scrap of energy she could use to free herself. But her command of the Force was imperfect and splintering, and what remained of her vampiric abilities now sought only to keep the bastard from tearing out her throat.

Kaine's voice was not the warm, impassioned timbre she was accustomed to. Nor was his laughter the same sound she'd eventually come to adore during the time they'd been wed. It was cold, implacable, impersonal, echoing from the seeming vast depths of a helmet that shielded his face from damage but also from her sight. The lightsaber pressed tighter against the back of her head and Invicta simply stared forward at her Master and husband.

The Empress watched, emerald eyes nearly lifeless when compared to the vibrancy they normally contained, as the Grandmaster bartered her life for Kaine's withdrawal from the battlefield. She felt Viper's claws tighten around her neck, rending into the tender flesh, sending blood coursing down her armored chest. The darkness approached on tiny, silent feet, creeping in at the edges of her vision in spite of her efforts to drive it back. It simply crept faster, taunting her lack of power and her inability to do anything to save herself.

What remained of her blood slowed to a crawl in her veins and felt as if it were about to freeze. She knew, even as the words fell past Kaine's lips, what Viper would do. Her husband had his coveted prize. Invicta was of no more use to him...it was a thing she could understand, even as she knew how the Dark Lord's vision drove him. For one singular, brief moment, however, pain was visible in her gaze, giving rise to the tidal wave that drove her last breath from her chest.

A moment later, and it was gone, her gaze flat and unfocused, unwilling to look at her husband any longer.

 

[Camellia Swift]

Location: Above Manaan, in formation with Admiral Stahlmann's Fleet, aboard the Warhammer Destroyer: The Ebbing Heart

Objective: Eliminate the Sith Fleet/Command Ship

Allies: [member="Friedrich Stahlmann"] [member="Lira Dajenn"] [member="Sabena Shai"] [member="Keanu Shan"] [member="Sressechka"]

Enemies: [member="Darth Arcanix"] [member="Alicia Drey"] [member="Mordecai Zambrano"] [member="Melakoth Tyrin"]

The Admiral was. . . . brilliant. Camellia would have to admit that even in a test simulator she would not wish to go up against him. The man was far too aggressive for her own tastes, the headlong plunge into the Sith Fleet to make the quickest motion to get behind the Immortal Dreadnought before them was risky business. Should the enemy have better tracking systems and more coordination from the beginning of the battle they might have done more damage against their ships before they reached the safe zone, and thankfully enough that lack of direction had saved them from whatever that monstrous command ship of the Sith's had been trying to pull off when its power readings spiked. However, not everything was going well really. After all the Republic had lost a ship and valiant crew already, and from the looks of it they were about to lose another. The Rendili woman still seethed from the destruction of the Cornet along with Commander Dale and the crew. If the Adamant was soon to join them, Camellia hoped they would pay the Sith back thrice over.

Perhaps she would get her wish.

Camellia kept Stahlmann's orders to the letter as her ship followed his battle plan in formation with the Avenger class star destroyer. The forward guns of both vessels pounded away at the enemy's rear while the MC-180 drew their attention. All three of their ships were annoying flies who had no intention of holding still, moving in tandem and yet different courses. The MC-180 took the belly while The Ebbing Heart and Avenger moved from the rear to the sides and back, broadsides blasting away at the enemy. Meanwhile Camellia's eyes tracked the tactical display as her fighters engaged the enemy bombers and vong craft. The enclosure net worked well and cut into the enemy, though not as well as it would if they weren't vong, but then the Admiral's GAM maneuver took care of that as they threw the opposing squadrons into disarray, making them much more vulnerable to their own units as the other fighters arrived.

Summary
-Attacks the Immortal from the rear and sides following the formation
-Fighters engaged with the Sith
-Shields continue regenerating
96/100
100/100

 

[Ire'Rain Sekairo]

LOCATION: Ahto City East
OBJECTIVE: 1; Figure out what she missed
ALLIES: Team V: [member="Invicta Zambrano"], [member="Darth Vornskr"], [member="Darth Vitium"]
ENEMIES: Jedi

It seemed like she had just been standing there awkwardly for ten minutes. But enough had happened for someone to write out 15ish pages. How had that happened? Seriously? Well... let's just say that her mind (cough writer cough) got distracted and any attempt to bug her (cough mentions cough) had failed. If anyone asked her about it now, she would profusely apologize before screeching something about finals (school). Then she'd ask for someone to explain to her what she missed. But that wasn't happening. Instead she was nodding quietly, as if Invicta had just spoken to her. Not much longer she realized that everyone was (Kung Fu) fighting. Well. How much had she missed? Apparently a lot. Boy... she felt bad. There was so much she could have done! It was to late to change things now though...

So she holstered her shotgun and pulled out her lightsaber. Someone was going come for her eventually. If not... well... she could find someone to thwack regardless.

{OOC: Try to type out the mentions for me instead of copy and pasting. I've gotten 2 notifications since page 11, maybe three. Also I sincerely apologize for disappearing! Schoolwork got in my way, I wasn't able to read through everything, and then I forgot I was involved in this... Sorry about that guys. Either way I'm back now.}

 

[Khallesh]

Location: Eastern streets
Objective 1: Bring Down Padawan
Allies: None
Foes: [member="Whisps"]

The amphistaff was a hardy beast. Able to wrap itself around a lightsaber blade without harm. That said, it was in no way immune to trauma. It took the first blow, keeping it's grip and injecting a hefty dose of venom. But as the blows rained down upon it, the creature relinquished its grip and snaked away.

With a flick of her wrist Khallesh snapped the amphistaff back to her. A quick gesture and it went rigid and she said her grip down the shaft. It displayed the awesome versatility of the weapon. First venom-tipped spear, then whip, and now quarterstaff.

Her enemy's reticence to go on the offensive was both disappointing and frustrating the young Yuuzhan Vong. She shifted her footing, bringing her left leg around. The left arm followed in a low arc as she pulled back on the right. The tail of her amphistaff came swinging around and up, a swift blow aiming for the side of his head.

 

[Caleb Brolen]

Location:Behind Enemy Lines
Objective: Take this guy down
Allies: Republic
Enemy:[member="Yusan Fenn"]

I was halfway through the courtyard cutting down Sith and Vong that got close to me. I was right in front of the cannon when I felt that something was coming to me and fast. In the next moment there was a guy standing in front of me. I could tell that he was force sensitive but what side was he on. To determine that I used the new Echolocation Master Natalja taught me. I felt the force around me and it all turned to different colors to symbolize different aura. The guy in front of me was grey or (as I like to call it) undecided. Then I remembered what my Master taught me about auras that its not about the color of the aura but the past of the person your viewing. I drew my lightsaber upward into a waited position and said "Who are you"

 

[Ire'Rain Sekairo]

LOCATION: Ahto City East
OBJECTIVE: 1; Save the Empress, Fast
ALLIES: Team V: [member="Darth Vornskr"], [member="Invicta Zambrano"], Sith
ENEMIES: Republic, [member="VlPER"], [member="Kiskla Grayson"]
MUSIC: Cancer by My Chemical Romance

Doing nothing for awhile meant that people ignored you. Sort of. There were Republic soldiers around her, some had even tried to attack her. Her comrades had kept her alive this long. Though her natural instincts had assisted her in some semi-conscious dodging. That was good news. But so far she had done little to assist her 'fellow' Sith. What would her betters think of this?... If she didn't pick up her pace she would likely find herself with a blade through her chest. Likely Kaine's. Perhaps he'd have another of his servants do it instead. Would he consider her worthy enough to fall by his weapon?... Ire pushed the thought away as she surveyed the surrounding area. Corpses were scattered across the ground. There was so much blood. Empty shells lay next to scorch marks. Chaos. That's what this was. Horrible, utter chaos. For once the Epicanthix didn't find it beautiful. What she was seeing wasn't glorious or wondrous- it was war. The same thing that had torn apart her family for generations. She looked on anyway. A single Republic warrior got up, having just choked an enemy, looking about for his next opponent. In his eyes was fear. Sorrow. Why did he do this? Did he hate the One Sith?...

When his gaze met Ire's he frowned. The start of a tear started to form in his eyes. Quietly the apprentice put away her lightsaber. Shock registered in the man's eyes. Was she going to let him go? When she gestured for him to come forward he got his answer. Without a weapon he was doomed. Regardless he threw himself at her. All it took for her to win was for her prosthetic hand to latch onto his throat. There was no time for him to be in pain. Yet she still saw the horror in his eyes. The sorrow. The holy, wretched fear. And she knew. In that moment she understood him. Her mind reached out to latch onto what remained of his. Nothing was gained from it. He was gone. But she didn't drop him yet. She couldn't. He did not hate what was in front of him. Never really had. Then why? Why had he fought for so long? Why did he keep going even when he was out of ammo?... He had loved what was behind him. The Republic. This planet was a home to him. It represented everything he cherished... now it was burning. Ire found herself crying as she thought about it. Little droplets of water were the only indications of her emotions- her face was otherwise bare. Just as always.

These feelings would carry her through the day. She would use them. They would fuel her until all of her enemies lay dead. Unbreathing. Just as the man who lay so limply on the ground, almost as if he were simply sleeping. Quietly the femme fatale resumed her search of the battlefield. Potential targets were everywhere. Jedi, citizens, military alike. Going for the second option would be pointless. Most of the third was currently occupied by Vong and Blackblade forces. Which left the first... Yes. That would do. She would tear into them. How wondrous it wouldn't be... A deep growl left her throat when she saw what was going on. Her mistress, her Empress, locked in the grip of a Knight. Surely Kaine would come to her rescue?... No... he had been preoccupied with another Master. And even if he hadn't been... this was Vornskr we were talking about. Sacrificing his wife would likely mean nothing to him. It was up to Ire to save her. Our Angel pulled out her shotgun with a deep growl. Now she would prove herself! Now they would all feel the wrath of the Sekairo clan! Once again her house would have glory!

Indigo eyes shifted, twisting with the darkside, turning a bright orange. 'I will break him. I have to break him,' she thought, gathering the force. No gazes appeared to be on her. Of course not. Everyone had other people to focus on. She'd have to be quick though. Otherwise these fights would end- and she could be a new target. How awful would that be? If she was interrupted there was a chance that Invicta would die. Ire'Rain wanted to save her. Wait... that was wrong. This wasn't a want. It was a need. Saving her was now #1 on her to-do list. Until she was safe or dead it would stay that way. With that in mind she allowed tunnel vision to take her over. All she could see, all she could feel, was Viper and the Zambranos. Some traces of others were noticeable. Barely. Mostly the emotions of others could be noted. These would carry her. They would fuel her. They had to. Force flowed through her, swirling about her body, filling every part of her. She felt herself slipping away. Out of existence. Or at least that's what it felt like. This was how she preferred to enter the White Current. By refusing to be a part of reality. Circe Savan had taught her how to do this. She had just... put her own twist on it.

At her current level she was unable to be completely invisible or fully hide her presence in the force. However she could make it very hard to notice her. This was what she worked on first. Her breaths came in slow. Deep. Both eyes closed together, perfectly in sync. Blocking out all exterior noises she focused on the sound of the air moving. In. Out. In. Out. There was a sort of emptiness. No longer could she hear the gunfire. Couldn't feel the dust swirl around her. Not even in the slightest. All that remained was her and the force. Together they were to dance. Her mind worked hard, pushing out all unnecessary thoughts, imagining herself disappearing. One second she saw herself standing in the city. Battles waged on around her. Then she noted the people moving around her, avoiding her, the current that was existence pushing them aside. They didn't notice her. Finally she took one last sharp intake of breath... 'watching' as her form became little more than a shimmer to those present. Another few seconds passed before she couldn't see herself at all.

She was gone, immersed in the White Current, 'non-existent' outside of it.

Or at least that was what it felt like. She knew she would still have to be careful. With an extra layer of stealth she slowly stalked forward, weaving around the combatants, dodging stray blades and bolts with ease, a graceful woman in a sea of blood. It felt like a dance. The way she had to slide, rotate, shifting parts of herself by centimeters, narrowly avoiding detection. All was going well. It took but a few moments to get close enough to her enemy for her work to be done. She arrived just in time to hear Kaine refuse to step down. 'Of course he won't back down...' she thought with a frown. But there wasn't any time to be bitter. She had to rescue her Empress. Rage was building up inside her at an alarming rate. Both hands were clenched tightly into fists, knuckles burning white. This was unacceptable! Who did this boy think he was? Holding a woman like this captive? Using her as a bargaining chip? It wasn't honorable at all. Then again... neither were most Sith. Yet another reason the Sekairo disliked her Masters. They, however, were leading her to what she wanted. For now. At this point her loyalty was with the one who had a saber pointed at the back of her head.

Ire reached out with the force. Casting illusions was what she truly excelled at. Now she turned her focus to VIPER with a twisted grin. What would she do to get him to give in? What horrible things would she show him? Something shocking would work best... Ah. Yes, that would do. The rogue apprentice liked to pretend her mind was a fortress, as were those of others. Even this Jedi had a mighty castle. But she would break it all the same. Just as she had done with many different people. In her thoughts she pictured his as older, a work mainly made of stone, built up big and strong. That felt right. She was to siege it without exhausting herself. There wasn't much time. Still she had to be subtle, lest he notice her. Fourteen 'demons' (the mental representations of her most common hallucinations) flew swiftly about the building. They circled Viper's 'fortress'. Every one searched for a gap in his mental defenses. Any time one was spotted they rushed for it and tried to push on it. In time they would hopefully worm their way into his mind...

Time was short. Ire worked as hard as she could, feeling a single drop of sweat run down her forehead. Her goal was fairly simple... at least in the terms of illusions: She wanted Invicta to appear as a Jedi youngling. The royal woman was to appear as a mere childe, crying, struggling in Viper's grip, whimpering in his grasp. Oh, how the poor kid would scream, begging him to let her go. Why was he doing this to her?!? Why did he want to hurt her? They were both Jedi! "L-Let me... let me go... please..." It sounded like a youngster. Such a horrible sight... Even worse 'the kid' was starting to 'bleed' around her neck. Viper was hurting her! Of course... it was all a lie. Just a false vision conjured up by Ire- one she wasn't sure how much the Knight would see. Just in case she had her shotgun ready. Pointed right at that back of his...

If he was going to kill Invicta then Ire was going to kill him.
(Or at least that was the plan...)

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Location 3: Ahto City Proper-North
Objective: Destroy the Hyper-Buoyancy Gnerator
Engage [member="Seraphina Shel'tah]
Allies: Team H: Ahto North [member="Darth Helios"], [member="Skorn Draclau"], [member="Bellona Vel"], [member="Nulgath Zardai"], [member="Xhexania"]
Enemies: [member="Reid Anaxoid"] [member="Ket Van-Derveld"] [member="Seraphina Shel'tah] [member="Odeyseis"] [member="Slate Estrada"] [member="Nefertari Sovint"]



"Ally? What a strange sounding word to attach to a Sith. Ally, there are no true allies among the Sith...there is perhaps respect for one another at arm's length....even some sort of partnerships of various kinds but ally....no. There is much you do not comprehend about the Order of the Sith. As for killing that thing, he would have done the same to me if roles been reversed," Xhexania replied while gazing into the blood on the floor as if she could see the future of things to come. It was nothing short of a miracle, or perhaps it was this Jedi's fate to remain alive, that the Twi'lek had not succumb to her wounds. "As I've already stated, Jedi, I do not kill defenseless opponents....which includes you at the moment. And you can keep your gratitude....for now. Now let us see about moving that rubble"

Xhexania looked at the several slabs of durasteel and broken chunks of concrete that stood between her and freedom of this wretched place. She would have fond memories of this day, which was far from over, but none greater in knowing that she had faced her first Jedi and though it did not turn out like she had envisioned, she would grow stronger mentally from this experience. Taking her cue from the Jedi, she extended her hands out in front of her, focused her mind, and began to move the chunks and steel away one piece at a time. Though her connection to the Force was strong, and her connection to the Dark Side even stronger, she was still in the learning stages of using her energy conservatively. She was exhausted from the fight with the Jedi and her wound seemed to be a constant reminder of it.

When the final piece of the concrete puzzle had been removed, an opening had been revealed displaying carnage all along the corridor. Smoke, small pockets of fire, broken machinery, shattered glass, tattered papers, and bodies seem to be the collection that was this corridor's inventory. Other than what laid before them, it seemed this corridor had fallen silent minus the small crackling sounds emitting from the fires. The duo were not completely free but their chances had greatly improved. Xhexania nodded her head in the direction of the Jedi and began to walk down the corridor.

"Have you ever wondered why The Jedi fear the Dark Side? I mean truly fear it? I understand they believe it to be evil and sinister but there was a time when the Sith were not around and yet, the galaxy still experienced evil...some evil worse than what the Sith ever brought. I think their fears are based on the notion of not really understanding it." Xhexania shoots the limping Jedi a sideways glance to see if she has the Twi'lek's attention. "You think we Sith are nothing more than a barbaric Order hell bent on controlling the galaxy...or that we do not have feelings. I had someone in the Order I was once close to. She was almost perfect in everything she set her mind to. In fact, she was more than my equal. We became friends, or at least what passes as friendship, and she helped me with my struggles and I with hers. She would have made a great Sith....but a Jedi's blade put an end to that. Even Sith know the concepts of loss and grief. Jedi are not allowed to grieve cause such wounds lead to pain and so forth and so forth. I'm sure you wish you could grieve for your fallen brothers and sisters."

Silence remained between the two as they passed from one section through another unopposed. Xhexania took another glance at the Jedi and her wound. "You should have that checked before infection sits in. The path of the Dark Side leads to freedom...even peace. Have you ever wondered why the Sith and Jedi have fought so much over the years? Both sides want peace, to live their lives free of tyranny and yet they grasp for one another's throat every chance they get. Jedi preach we are evil and we preach the Jedi are weak. You asked me why I kill....and I shall educate you on that and why all Sith kill."

Collecting her thoughts as they walked, Xhexania was about to make a very convincing pointe, perhaps even open this Jedi's eyes to the truth. "I kill for survival. Just as you should...like all species should and in some cases do. There are more type of species in the galaxy than I can count...even some yet undiscovered on planets. Every species, including humans and Twi'leks, is filled with an abundance of members or numbers. But there is only one of me...just as there is only one of you. To put it plainly, Jedi. You and I are endangered. When we die...we become extinct. No matter what deeds we performed, good or ill, in life, eventually they will fade into distant memories. One day you and I will rise through our ranks and become Masters and Lords. Others will seek us out for our knowledge and wisdom and that will change everything for us. We die...we still become extinct. However, our teachings will be our legacy. Even in death we are still reshaping the galaxy."

Xhexania stops walking and put her left hand on the Jedi's right shoulder. Xhexania just stares at her for a few fleeting minutes then says, "But in order for all this to pass you must be allowed to think for yourself. To become your own person, to be an individual and not just another brown robe toting fanatic. You need to reach out and embrace your life. The Dark Side does not teach the concept of evil....it preaches the desire to be yourself. Perhaps there are those that abuse it or fail to grasp its meaning but is that not the case with everything in life? I know...you know...that there is something far greater for you to achieve than simply following orders and burying your true self away. Perhaps you fear the Dark Side because you fear yourself. You fear having a life that is your own. You fear of having your own ideas and fear the judgement from your peers for expressing you own ideas, especially if you question the Jedi teachings. I'm Sith and a daughter of the Dark Side and yet I saved your life. And yet, you are Jedi and here you are walking with me, your sworn enemy based on your teachings. I'm not saying if you seek out the Dark Side you won't fall. You may never fall to the Dark Side but at least you will understand it, perhaps even embrace it. Perhaps the appeal of it is something you desire but fear to acknowledge. Whatever the outcome one thing will ring true, when you die...you will die achieving something far greater than wisdom, power, or knowledge. You will die free and with an open mind."

Xhexania removes her hand and continues walking...

 

[Hailey Sosis]

Location: in pain on the enemy ship
Allies: [member="Mordecai Zambrano"]
Enemies: [member="Friedrich Stahlmann"]

Troops had moved forward, and would soon be trying to overrun the bridge. She was no longer capable of fighting, till she had her shoulder seen to. The medic started giving her first aid, to stop the bleeding. She sensed something in the force, though she unsure what she could sense, as she was not that well trained yet. Then a voice came over the sith commanders com link, Commander yarik this is The Immortal, that ship you're on is looks like it's trying to rams us. Harley told the Commander, Go and take engineering and stop the engines. He nodded, and sent troops towards engineering. This was a race against time know, and they all knew it. The medic then evacuated, harley on to shuttle she was needed medical treatment. As her shoulder blade had pierced by that bayonet, and she could move it. She also knew if the troops cut the power, the ship would be destroyed as precaution. So did most of the troops, who know charging down the bridge and the engine room.

 

[Slate Estrada]

LOCATION: Ahto City Proper - NORTH
OBJECTIVE 1 ( One ): Protect the Hyper-Buoyancy Generator from incoming Sith forces. | Engage Xhexania
ALLIES: Republic & TEAM BRAVO:
[member="Odeyseis"]
[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]
[member="Reid Anaxoid"]
[member="Ket Van-Derveld"]
[member="Nefertari Sovint"]

FOES: Team H [NORTH]:
[member="Darth Helios"]
[member="Skorn Draclau"]
[member="Nulgath Zardai"]
[member="Xhexania"]
[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

The situation was worsening, the turrets that were previously meant to help with the defence were gone. Now Slate and his men only had a bridge between them and the enemy. However, it was not all over.

Still recovering from the blast that hit above him from a long distance walker, the Sergeant Major stood. "Argghh!" He groaned from the small amounts of shrapnel buried in his back. Looking towards the explosives expert, Slate issued his order "Blow that bridge! I don't want anything getting across!" Following his order was a small explosions coming from under the bridge, followed by another, and another. The Sith infantry stopped in confusion before they fell into the dark abyss. That should slow the ground units, the walkers would still be a problem.

Pointing at the dropship that was in the process of landing, Slate ordered half of his men onto it. He then gestured for the dropship to deploy the men behind the walkers and therefore sandwiching them between the now split Republic force. This was a risking move, it would leave the defence at the blast doors dwindling.

As his men loaded the ramp to the dropship, Slate continued his accurate fire on the Sith tropps that were unable to cross the all consuming hole. Like he expected the soldiers returned fire, although all effort was in vain as neither force would stop until the line was broken. Poking his head out, Slate was able to see the dropship fly over the walker unit at over 600 meters. It circled the unit before coming in for a landing out of the range of the walkers. Eventhough this would mean that the soldiers couldnt fire until they got closer, this was the safer option.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Location: Ocean Near Ahto City
Objective: Two, focused on the departing Progenitor
Enemies: Conscience; also, [member="Vaudin Miir"]
Allies: [member="Darth Praelior"], [member="Darth Vivaldi"]

Slowly, the Progenitor's transport began to move away, and to her dawning horror she found an outlet for all the strength and rage and hunger that she'd gathered and stored up since the start of this fight. Maybe this was the actual Progenitor, or maybe another had grown in the Dark Age; history couldn't say. Regardless, the being was ancient, and deserved better.

"And you know," said the little mental voice that was almost her, "what they'll do to her. They'll put her in another sea that burns and blinds her. They'll experiment on her until they find the secrets of maximizing kolto supply and quality. They'll alter her with alchemy, surgery, grafting. They won't be able to resist the possibility of turning her into one of their monsters. She's brought life and joy to billions over millennia, saved more lives than every Jedi in history put together, and with infinitely less judgment. She's one of the things you love most about this world and its people -- the lessons she's taught them, the priorities they've made because of her. Even though you've been gathering strength, you can't stop them taking her any more than you could stop them wrecking the kolto facility or the city around it.

"But you, Selka Ventus, child of mine, are not powerless. You are what you've chosen to be: my heir. Me. When the powerful seek to defile something beautiful and fascinating and unknown, what will you do? What would I do -- what would I be the only one strong enough to do?"

Her tears and snot mixed with the drying blood -- the blood and the spilled kolto and the seawater -- and then she felt a course of action take form in her head. It felt...right. No, not right. There was no such thing as right. It felt the least wrong, with a certainty that instilled inevitability. Her eyes stung with blood. Absently, she hoped Vong and Selkath didn't carry blood-born diseases that could cross to humans, but it was a moment's thought, no more. Today was not, for once, about her.

She took her hands off the controls of the jostling sub and closed her eyes as the Jedi had taught her a lifetime ago. Weakness defined her access to the Force, in virtually every area but one. Summoning the power she'd been building up, she stretched out, past the obfuscating hum of the taozin nodule, past the fear and hate and death of the battle, and found the half-sleeping Progenitor in its departing trophy case. Its soul didn't feel sapient, not in the way sentience was normally defined, but she couldn't avoid thinking that its intelligence surpassed hers in its way. No, not intelligence -- wisdom. If she'd had any facility for minds or medicine she'd have woken it up and asked it what it wanted. She had no such options.

This was a part of Jedi life she'd left behind happily: making decisions for others' lives without their knowledge and consent. 'For their own good' was the watchword, and always had been. But how much of the Jedi life was just about seeking attention and validation? Had Lumiya been right all along -- did true benevolence require being despised and rejected? She'd integrated Velok's audacity cheerfuly, let it guide her out of her troubles. Time to pay the piper, own up to the cost.

As she took the first bite of the Progenitor's life force, an action without motion other than tears, Selka recognized its wisdom. More, its personality. Velok had killed indiscriminately at times, honoring honor only when it suited him; he had never, not for close to two centuries, felt the need to look any random victim in the eye. He'd saved that for special moments. New as she was to killing, Selka couldn't tell whether the instinct for closeness camed from her relative innocence or from a Velok-derived recognizance of a worthy victim. Did it matter where desires came from, if she claimed them as hers and based her actions on them? How much of what she wanted was a choice? Today didn't answer that question, but she couldn't escape its relevance. This was the last thing she wanted to do, but the mercy of Velok was the only way forward.

The Progenitor had a great deal of life to it, if life-force could be quantified. She'd never drained a city or a town, let alone a world like Nihilus, Palpatine or the ancient Sith Emperor. Maybe the Progenitor had as much life as a town, a small one, or less -- but it was qualitatively different from some conglomeration of humanoids, not just quantitatively. Whether that made it easier or harder was another question she couldn't quite answer, not even though she knew a town was beyond her. Consuming the life of the Progenitor cost her, hurt her, and she accepted that as she'd accepted no justice, ever.

The kind of death that began to steal over the departing Progenitor, dragging its tranquilized sleep down into something more permanent, stole the Force from its body as well as its soul. The ancient, massive spirit began dissipating into the currents of the Force by way of Selka's appetite, her mastery of Force drain. Whatever mystical connection or Force-bond lay between the Progenitor, its keepers, its children, Manaan's kolto, maybe the Order of Shasa that Velok had loved so much, that connection washed away. Whatever others might do to its body, they would find the Force ineffective. Raising the Progenitor to some twisted version of life, by Sith magic or other means, would not succeed; in the Force, there would be nothing left to work with. Selka hadn't given her soul just to see petty ambition make it all worthless. Today had seen enough blasphemies.

Mind to mind, she began to sing a Metellos lullaby, straight from the toxic slums where she'd been born. The kind of place where lullabies held peace, freedom from pain...release. On Metellos, parents didn't have sugar to coat the realities they fed their children. The essence of the song ran something like "I'm sorry I couldn't do more, but I love you and I'm here. Dream of better worlds, and dream without pain." She'd forgotten the exact words, the rhythm and rhyme honed by millennia of mothers; if anyone had overheard, she'd have been embarrassed and furious, because her lullaby was poorly worded and atonal. She couldn't sing at the best of times, let alone after crying and during a kill.

Broken verse by broken verse, Selka Ventus sang the Mother of Seas to sleep like an infant.

 

[Vaudin Miir]

Location: DA WATER
Objective: Two
Enemies: [member="Selka Ventus"] [member="Darth Praelior"], [member="Darth Vivaldi"]
Allies: Selkath Computer systems, The Department of Internal affairs, a crazy night on Zeltros...don't ask

Vaudin was the kind of shot that would make most people simply stare in amazement. He didn't boast about it, ok he did but only on occasion. He lined up his sights on the escort ships around the progenators capture craft and began the work of picking them off. HIs wing men joined in the effort then fired controlled shots at the capture craft's engines. They weren't getting away with their plans, not by a long shot. Vaudin didn't really care a bout a giant fish but somethings meant more than there biological classification. That fish was sacred to these people it lived among the kolto rifts and was considered it's source by some, and even though the thought that so many were healed big giant fish gases was intensely amusing he didn't think it was the whole story. Regardless, of what he thought however he was not letting the thing go without a fight.

A signal beeped on his intel communication device saying the republic barracks computer was being hacked and vaudin couldn't help but grin. The fleet who had just gotten files ([member="Darth Arcanix"] [member="Alicia Drey"] [member="Mordecai Zambrano"] [member="Melakoth Tyrin"]) would be getting a wonderful store of information. The unsecured terminal would have uploaded a virus into the system since they were trying to access files that weren't even stored on selkath computers. The files they wanted were either owned by individual corporations or on a closed network in the senate mainframe on not here not now planet. ThEn what could have been the files? Glad you asked that dear reader. The files contained 4000 photos taken during Vaudin's last trip to Zeltros, a grocery list, and an indepth drunken discussion of why the Bantha is nobler than the Nerf down to the deepest details involving mating rituals with photographic evidence.

It was at this time that the rebulic forces at the Rift were joined by the heavy weapons Battalion that was called for on page twelve and the Vong, dive troopers, and [member="Hion the Herglic"]'s security began to have a very bad day.


Selkath 3rd rift Batallion: 800 - 400(from rift facility detonation) - 80 from fighting = 320
Selkath 1st Heavy Weapons Battalion= 800 including 8 attack subs.

Krakana Squadron: 9 strong assaulting progenator theives.