Skirmish Incoming Storm [TSE vs. SJO - Velmor]

[Sol Stazi]

BIOTAG - MAJOR SOL STAZI
ALLIANCE PATHFINDER
OUTPOST ZULU
IFF TAGS: Romi Jade Riamah
SITH OPPRESSORS: Ruek Tast (engaging) TE-236 Grand Moff Aut-X Skorvek Poker

---

"Standby. Lost target," Major Stazi scanned the outcrop for any sign of life, "Reacquired. Low crawling west ten meters, you got her?"

"I tally," the sluissi hissed.

"Fire."

He could feel the close thump of fragmentation followed by strangled cries. His troopers dying.

Sol glanced over, "Trick is not to miss."

"You want a sssshot?"

"Just frag the-"

Snake Eyes was dead before he could finish. He stared down at his former comrade. Clean shot. Burned right through his scope. Some distant memory of a younger duros mourned while the pathfinder in control searched for anything of practical use. He stripped the dead sluissi commando of power packs and thermal dets. Overhead Sol heard a familiar whine.

He crested the trench behind cover in a sense. The Sith hover tank loomed before him and this close its repulsorlifts were nearly deafeaning. He took a running leap and cried out as his fresh wound nearly cost him his grip. Awkwardly Sol clambered up the side before jamming an anti-security blade in its top hatch followed by a gently tossed explosive.

After a few seconds the tank erupted in flames nearly costing his grip again. Somehow the repulsor vehicle's engines chugged along and Major Stazi peeked out along the side. He raked the sniper's last known position with some short bursts from his Firelance.

 

[Caedyn Arenais]

Nearby Allies: Reggie Faayare , Ura Iolar & Jessica Med-Beq .
Opposition: Lord Venari , Vallaro Kindall , Leon Amun & Haro Lergo .
Current Location: Den Velmor Castle.
Inventory: Bo Staff | Jedi Armor | Lightsaber.

“Well, I can talk to one person right now".
​

Caedyn Arenais couldn't hear the communication between Ura Iolar and Reggie Faayare, yet he had sense a subtle shift in the force through Ura's exertion of energies the moment the connection had opened and the Padawan had responded. "What's their situation?" Caedyn asked as they continued to move on their objective; they were closing in quickly, making good progress.​

"There's a strong likelihood that the opposition has sensed us coming, if things are stable on their end, see if they can't reroute us some troops providing the civilians have been cleared" he suggested, stepping then into the view of the Castle and staring up at the massive structure. It was indeed very much a fortress.

Inhaling deeply, Caedyn steadied himself for what could be awaiting them. It was easy enough to assume they were walking into an ambush, but guess work wasn't going to be helpful there. No sense giving into fears or anxiety where there were those that fed off of such things. "Any word of Master Med-Beq?" He asked further, turning to glance back to Ura briefly; "We may be outnumbered here".

"Guard up, Ura" he further encouraged before taking the first step in what would turn into a dash across the adjacent street and towards the Castle entrance.

 

[TE-236]

Objective: Outpost Zulu
Tags: Grand Moff Aut-X Sol Stazi Romi Jade Ruek Tast Poker

Gin continued to watch the battle unfold, running through the data feeding constantly into his head, running calculations, and making plans. He watched the droids fight against the Jedi. The good thing with droids is, they don't surrender, they will fight to the last shell and blaster bolt before giving in. No surrender. Only tactical retreats for regrouping. That's what separates droids from organics, droids don't care about their own lives or their own safety, as they know that they will be rebuilt and remade, ready to go again. Droids also know that their minds will always be saved. So droids have no reason to fear death or their own personal safety, allowing them to go to greater lengths than organic soldiers would go.

Gin ran through the calculations in his head.

Commando droid brigades 1138, 246, and 795, initiate flanking maneuvers on the Jedi forces, cut them off from the rest of their forces.

Super Battle Droid Division A-46, reinforce the left flank, eliminate Jedi forces targeting outer wall defenses

Hyena squadron G34-FJ9, carpet bomb large enemy gatherings, and target Jedi dropships and starfighters

Battle Droid squads D-34 through D-40, reinforce 28th Armor Division

28th Armor Division, advance. Crush their forces

Gin sent those messages out. Then, he noticed a tank explode. He saw the soldier who did it. Running through a database, he confirmed it was Major Sol Stazi , a highly-trained Alliance Pathfinder. How interesting. The Duros was well accomplished, with a good track record. This would be, interesting. He would need to find a way to incapacitate Major Stazi, or the Jedi chances of winning would increase. Gin pressed a button on his console. "Destroyers, activate." Near the back, three squads of droidekas activated. They rolled out, moving into the battlefield.

This would be a most entertaining fight.

 

[Wyatt Morga]

While her blade cut the table, leaving it split - Wyatt did exactly what he had planned to do, sending his blade jutting through the remains of it with an expertly precise stab directly at the wrist of her lightsaber hand. His blade was just thin enough to have put a perfect hole in her wrist - disabling it for the remainder of the fight were it to land; but either ways his blade moved back towards him, then out once more; striking at her limbs in the hope to goad her into a saber lock.​

​

Between all these cadences and pushes, he spoke - as though there was no effort in his movements. The tell tale sign he was a master of the Makashi he was enacting - with fist still gripped tight behind his back.​

​

“If bringing a low republic and a dying Order lower was your idea of Balance, then I’m not sure a discussion about it is for the best.”, he mused between his deft strikes.​

​

“The Light is balance - it is the neutrality of it, the center of it all that is safe; as too much proactive ‘goodness’ leads back to the Dark, with Lord Hoth as a perfect example. Emotion is the antithesis to balance - and to the Sith. Teaching that is the key to Balance, Taeli - even if it isn’t perfect, it is the most ensurable way to stop ambitious upstart force sensitives from starting yet another facist empire founded on ‘order’ at the cost of billions of sentients lives.”, he offered as his blade moved to stab at her forward foot - then travel quickly to her inner thigh of the opposite leg.​

​

Taeli Raaf │ Allyson Locke​

 

[Lirka Ka]

Allies: TSE and any friends
Enemies: SJO and any friends
Location: Den Velmor
Tag: Beltran Rarr Kaine Australis

Lirka's weapon of choice was that bizarre and near-impractical blade of Sephi design, it surged out the finest artistry from it's every movement: it crafted by the minds of ancients, and was intended to be purely used by such. It's many grips gave a simple advantage of Lirka being able to let go of one but keep some modicum of control over the weapon, or in this case, prevent herself from immediately falling into uselessness as the blaster bolts surged into the dark plate that covered her form.

Except for those ever common weaknesses held by all who lived in their armor.

It was a fine strike. Brutish, and lacking any sort of artistic grace. She expected such things from a Mandalorian, her one hand pulled away from it's grip on the weapon whilst the other fell to the ground alongside the weapon. Blood firing out from her severed wrist, some of the spray catching into the runes of her armor: once again showing their dark purpose. Though she was immediately surprised much more by the burst of energy that melted her armor in a beam, the molten colors splashing out onto the ground and liquefying any of her under-suit caught by it. She had become familiar to that feeling, as the material and her skin fused together in agonizing unison. But pain was enlightenment, after all. It showed her that she was still alive, that the void had not reclaimed her yet. A low laugh came from the distortion of her helmet, she had lost this day, of that there was no doubt: but the Jedi-Bootlicker had help this time, that didn't count in the long run.

Her still operational hand launched out, it's claws moving from the more bizarre move of pulling away the Mandalorian's helmet. If she could not taste victory over this lot, she could at the very least relish making the Mandalorian share in her agony. To see a glimpse into Enlightenment, even if he was an impossible being to truly save.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Interrupting Taeli's and Wyatt's fun.​

The place was abandoned and Allyson quickly moved to the next phase. Through the Force, Allyson heard Wyatt Morga 's voice. The woman he was encountering was Taeli Raaf , the woman who betrayed the Alliance. Her name burned through Allyson as she remembered those that she had lost because of the betrayal and the war with the Sith. Fury was uncontrolled until Allyson remembered her center and exhaled. Doing so allowed the K’paur hybrid to relax and focus her mind. Taeli didn’t deserve to live, but she wasn’t the point on this mission.​

Fine. Allyson responded finally to Wyatt and she used the camera feed to help guide her through the empty facility. She needed to get to Wyatt, she knew how dangerous Taeli was. She fooled so many into trusting her and thinking she was one of them.​

Heavy footsteps pushed around the corners of the facility quickly, repulsors and the force pushed the Corellian towards the entrance. Turning the final corner, she came face to face with the combat between the Sith Lord and the Jedi Grandmaster. Blocking the way she came in, Allyson removed the ranger field pistol form her thigh and pointed it towards Taeli’s back. She couldn’t shoot yet, Wyatt was too close to her. She needed to wait for an opening or go into close range.​

 

[Lord Venari]

Location: Den Velmor Castle
Allies: TSE, Vallaro Kindall , Leon Amun , Haro Lergo
Enemies: Caedyn Arenais, Ura Iolar , other SJO forces & their allies, Apostate forces

---

A chorus of blaster fire and high yield explosives swept through the capital, smoky skies grew darker by the minute and atop the tallest of structures, Velmor Castle, a Sith Lord paced, seething bogan energy. Slowly, his legion worked their way up the castle pushing the ranks of the Silver Forces closer and closer to the roof, a haven they were unaware no longer existed. Instead replaced by Venari's troop.

"Clear, though it's only a matter of time until more arrive, I can't Imagine that they would be too pleased at the fact we've set up camp in their house"

"They were fools for ever believing the castle, "their house,"" Venari replied, he looked to his Sith Mandalorian ally and continued, "seal off all rooftop access save the main entrance, I want to funnel their remaining forces up here." The Sith Lord then turned to Vallaro, "make some preparations for the Silvers below. Wouldn't want to dull the mood upon their arrival,"

Then he felt it, a familiar twinge in the periphery of his mind's eye. A final spark of light in the ever-consuming shadow that took Velmor Castle. Venari approached the parapet lining the edge of the castle top and scanned the grounds below. Two Jedi were scurrying as rodents toward the castle entrance. One of them he recognized as a nuisance from his recent foray to Terminus.

"You are a persistent one," he said under breath.

Venari took to the parapet; with the one arm raised he snatched loose rubble and the many Silver corpses that littered the roof with a telekinetic grasp. Then with the forward thrust of his arm, death and debris rained on the advancing Jedi, Caedyn Arenais & Ura Iolar . There would be no words, only a message of what awaited the duo should they continue with their futile cause.

Staring down at his prey, Venari took up his comlink, "Major Waldar, the castle will be ours soon. Prepare the AA batteries and their transports for departure. By my next contact we shall have the castle," he commanded.

"It will be done, my Lord," the colonel replied.

Venari then lowered the communicator and regarded the others, "We have special guests coming, whip up something special would you all? I do like to be a courteous host."

 

[Leon Amun]

C:\Location: Den Velmor Castle
C:\Allies: TSE, Lord Venari Vallaro Kindall Haro Lergo
C:\Enemies: Ura Iolar Caedyn Arenais Jessica Med-Beq Reggie Faayare
C:\Equipment:

Spoiler

Lightsaber, Vibroaxe , x2 Combat knives , Olga , Hand Cannon , Blaster pistol , x3 Grenade , x3 Detonator, Armor

"seal off all rooftop access save the main entrance, I want to funnel their remaining forces up here."

That was all Leon needed to hear before he spun around and headed off to the opposite side of the building to perform the common military practice. Opting to save his explosives for the real fight, the armored giant his his body to tear in and destroy the other entrances to the top of the room, leaving only rubble in it's place. It didn't take The Murderhawke, long to finish his mission and once he was done he went back to check his equipment one last time, making sure weapons were reloaded, ammo was sufficient and armor in optimal condition.

"I'll start out with some covering fire from Olga the minute they arrive, make sure you're not in the path of fire" Leon reminded his team mates as he slammed a new power cell into the rotary cannon. The Mandalorian found that with Olga he could play an exceptionally fun game with force users and see how long it took before they were unable to block the torrent of blaster fire with their lightsabers. While the game didn't always end in his favor, The Murderhawke did find that at least tired a majority of his opponents out before they would have to engage in close quarters combat.

"We have special guests coming, whip up something special would you all? I do like to be a courteous host."

With those words from his comrade there came a wave of confusion. Leon was sure they were about to fight Jedi for the stakes of the castle but why did his trusted Sith companion want them to feed their enemies first? Leon was not about to argue with the confusing ways of the Sith and assumed it was some sort of ritual they prepared before a duel, maybe they enjoyed fighting their enemies at full strength. Whatever the reason for it, Leon marched over and grabbed a large crate of rations that the Silver Jedi had landed on the roof. With little effort The giant ran forward and launched the crate directly at the area he saw Venari throwing the rubble. Of course Leon wasn't even sure the contents of the crate would even be intact after impact but at least the sentiment was there. "There was nothing to bake with so rationals shall have to do"

After the crate made its explosive impact on the ground, sending chunks of durasteel and rations everywhere The Mandalorian bellowed his challenge to those below "THE MURDERHAWKE DEMANDS SATISFACTION"

 

[Reggie Faayare]

Objective: Protect the children
Allies: Jessica Med-Beq | Ura Iolar | Caedyn Arenais
Enemies: The Sith Empire | Hont Atellies

Reggie was glad that his friend recognized him during this chaos. "Got it. I'll see if I can make my way to you once I get the civilians with me to safety." It was then that he heard the arrival of troops, with their commander's orders making it clear that they weren't friendly. That complicated things. "Uh, Ura? A little change of plans, there seems to be a decent sized group of soldiers that just arrived at my position. I'll still try to meet with you and the others. as soon as possible, and i'll keep you updated through the force."

Reggie looked out the door to see what he was working with. This surely was a problem, but he could make an escape with the group of civilians he had since it wasn't too large. He couldn't fight them now though, not alone. Reggie would have to act quick before some of the troops arrived at the building he was in, so he motioned for the civilians to come his way. "Alright everyone, we're going to have to move quickly very soon. I'm going to create some cover. Once I move out the door, move towards the alley near us. The adults will lead the way until I make it back to the front." Reggie spoke to the kids in a manner that wouldn't scare them, as well as gave the adults, which were only three not including himself, the plan of action. Reggie would take them to the area where Ura seemed to be since he knew there were Rangers in the area. He would just have to make sure they weren't followed in the process. Fortunately, the Padawan had a plan.

The padawan grabbed one of the grenades he had with him and rotated the red ring so it would go off in 5 seconds after the pin was pulled. Reggie pulled the pin, pushed opened the door, and threw it a good distance between him and the soldiers that were checking the buildings. The grenade went off, smoke exploding in the area he threw it at. With that, two of the adults ran out first, followed by the kids and another adult watching the children's backs. The soldier's within the smoke wouldn't be able to see, and since the smoke provides some protection from blaster fire, they shouldn't be able to get a good shot at him. Reggie took his staff and attack some of the troops that weren't covered by the smoke, who were beginning to turn towards him. He knocked down two of them with the staff and use the force to push a group of them aside. With that, the padawan started to run so he could catch up with the civilians.

It didn't take long for him to catch up. Now he had to make sure they made it to the others, and he hoped he made a big enough distraction to get away from those troops. He kept his eyes out for them though, just in case some of them did manage to follow them. Reggie took out his lightsaber, ready to deflect any attacks that may come their way if they did find them.

Equipment: Staff |Stun pistol | Energy Buckler | Gas Grenades

 

[Caedyn Arenais]

Nearby Allies: Reggie Faayare & Ura Iolar .
Opposition: Lord Venari , Vallaro Kindall , Leon Amun & Haro Lergo .
Current Location: Den Velmor Fortress.

"THE MURDERHAWKE DEMANDS SATISFACTION".​

Whoever had taken the roof did not seem too eager to meet their new guests. As Caedyn and Ura Iolar were on the move across the clearing towards the entrance of the great Velmor Fortress, several large objects came crashing down from the roof, hitting the ground around them and exploding in wood, metal and biological substance (Were they wasting good food? Really!).

"Ura! Take cover!" Caedyn yelled in alarm, lifting his hands skyward to form a temporary roof of telekinetic force just in time for one of the large crates full of metal components, large and heavy steel that could've likely killed them on impact, instead smashing against the Force Barrier he had established over the two.

In a lull of falling debris, the entrance to the fortress opened and so did the fire from imperial troops looking to deter their arrival. "Blast it all!.." Caedyn cursed under his breath, forced to break their shield in search for his Lightsaber once more and raising his guard, deflecting bolt after bolt that came close to hitting them.

Forcing their way to close proximity with the hostiles, Caedyn's strikes were precisely accurate, targeting the legs, forearms and rifles themselves with disarming and non-fatal blows. Every swing of his blade would bring further remorse following the battles end, yet in the moment he had no time to endanger himself with feelings of guilt and sadness, relying on his Jedi training to resist such negativity until he would later be able to tend to the trauma in the privacy of his own company.

With the first initial wave of their greeting party disabled and agonizing over their loss on the floor, Caedyn looked to ensure Ura was still with him before moving into the vast facility intent on making their way to the roof to find those who had tried to rain down on them.

 

[Ura Iolar]

Caedyn Arenais Reggie Faayare Lord Venari Vallaro Kindall Leon Amun Haro Lergo

Ura looked at Caedyn when he asked what the situation was, but he could probably feel the worry that had come over her. "Right. Try not to die at the end of this." She then looked at the Knight, closing her eyes for a second.

"Wish I could say they weren't in a bind, but looks like help may not be coming soon. I haven't heard from Master Med-Beq, and Reggie's running into issues." When the Knight told Ura to be on her guard, she formed a small shield on her left arm with a Force Barrier, similar to the one that ran down her right when she ignited her saber. The Lervon looked around, focused on her surroundings. Then everything began floating. "Oh poodoo." Everything came down, and Ura braced, only to hear the debris impact a Force Barrier.

She then looked around. The door was open? Troopers! Ura quickly went onto the defensive, blocking shots with her lightsaber before starting to charge up with Caedyn. She focused more on disarmament, but the Lervon had to admit she could be a bit more aggressive in a fight than others. She was militia trained after all, and combined with Yurb's history.... She kept any anger she had at bay. One trooper did almost jump Caedyn, but Ura was quick, shifting onto what looked like a Razor-Tail TIger from her homeworld and attacking the poor soul.

She looked back at Caedyn, shifting back to her more human-like form before igniting her lightsaber again. "I really don't like troopers," she said bluntly as she followed behind.

 

[Thaelius]

Location: Bridge, The Vindicator, Geosynchronous Orbit
Objective: Receive Abducted Children For Transport; Defeat Enemy Presence
Tags: All Those Present
Allies: The Sith Empire
Enemies: Irveric Tavlar , Traitors, Jedi

Thaelius' aggregated expression seemed to unerve the crew of the Vengeance Class Battlecruiser Vindicator. In his opinion, it should have. The fight on the ground was reckless and unorthodox. It wasn't worthy of recognition in the Sith Archives.

Thaelius couldn't help but point out the ignorance of the surface commanders as more and more casualties were reported to the fleet in orbit. The blockade was efficient but just shy of perfect. He could blame that on the incompetence of his subordinates who seemed glory and promotion. How pitiful?

"Speaking of incompetent commanders" he muttered to himself as a Holographic image of his second in command appeared on the bridge of the warship. The man in question was Navarch Jarkai, a overweight Quarren official who owed his position to the burecrats of Mon Gala. "Navarch Princeps Ordo, our position where is of very little importance. Might I suggest we prepare for a Base Delta Zero manevour in order to probe our worth to the Emperor?" The man was an idiot to say the least.

"No you fool! Must you be so careless. Follow my orders or I'll find someone who can" Thaelius couldn't believe the suggestion. If the fleet was to perform a Base Delta Zero operation, the blockade would be severed allowing for enemy ships to enter and exit with little ressitince. The idocracy of the fleet was unbelievable. Simply

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Objective: Entertain guests and debate
Location: Lab
Allies: The Sith
Enemies: Wyatt Morga Allyson Locke

Equipment: In signature

A scowl passed across her face as his lightsaber scored a hit along her gauntlet, cutting a shallow groove because of the distraction of the table. Although that wasn't the only reason for her scowl as she deflected and parried his continued attack on her.

She understood Makashi just as well as he did, even if she was using the defensive Soresu form at the moment. She wouldn't be baited into the saber lock, all she would do is keep pivoting and turning his blade away to the sides and away from her body and limbs.

No, her scowl was mainly because of his self-righteousness. He thought Light was the balance by itself? That the absence of emotion could maintain it? How... disappointing. She had hoped this new generation of Jedi would understand...

"Light by itself is not balance," she said quietly, her senses prickling as another Jedi arrived but hadn't engaged yet. "Nor is Darkness by itself. Each must exist at equal strength for there to truly be balance. Tython and Ahch-To are examples I would think would reveal what I say is true."

The hilt of her saber extended suddenly, deflecting away his attack towards her foot, her saberpike revealed.

"But I sense at this moment nothing I say will matter to you. Your mind is made up."

She sighed, leaping away to opposite side of the room, landing gently and still facing Wyatt.

"There are greater threats stirring in the galaxy. The Bryn'adul swarm ever closer. The Shadow Hand has continued the work of Asation, madness of another reality lurking to try and consume our own... and the Emperor seeks to enter the World Between Worlds. He has not figured out the pictograms yet, but he will in time. The Jedi would do well to grow stronger before it is too late."

 

[Wyatt Morga]

“A selfish ideal that forgoes any that lack Force Sensitivity.”, Wyatt mused as the blade scarred her gauntlet.​

​

His assault would not cease in spite of her speech, and while she was smart enough not to end up in a saber lock, he would continue regardless; keeping a Sith Lord on the back foot was a smarter choice than letting her strike back, which Wyatt imagined she might if he continued to flame her emotions of dissapointment in him.​

​

“A fault in an ideal you’re facing the consuquences of now in the New Imperial Order. Those scorned by the idea that the galaxy is solely at the whim of those sensitive to the Force… Another thing the Sith will lose to pride - and another thing to scorn your record, Taeli Raaf.”, he offered with her a frown as the blade doubled back - coming narrowly close to her neck before being deflected.​

​

“Yet - if what you say is true -”, Wyatt offered her as he took a sudden step back; giving ample room for the blaster shot from behind.​

​

“- then consider what you can do. The Jedi are difficult to please - as the Silvers refuse conflict unless reflexive, the Outer Planetary Alliance Jedi have all but lost their footing, and the only ones that remain to fight the Sith are the Core Jedi; in the form of my Order. I can only do so much; but if this is a great concern for you…”​

​

For the first time, Wyatt let his lightsaber disignited with its iconic whirring. His blue eyes burned a hole in Taali - but less so out of anger, or fear, but concentration and intent. For all that the Grandmaster might’ve been thus far, he was a dangerously intense being to be around.​

​

“Then consider what you can do. For your ideals. You’re the closest ally to these people, and the most experienced with betrayal from the inside. Do your part in saving your ideal, prove to me and the Jedi that your words have more merit than we know them for.”, he said with a nigh monotonous tone.​

​

“Kill Carnifex and Prazutis, and save the Galaxy - just as you have asked the Jedi to do before you.”​

​

Taeli Raaf │ Allyson Locke​

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson raised an eyebrow; they were talking about the ideals of the force. Despite her being a Jedi or something close to it, Allyson didn't understand this philosophical talk. None of it made sense; to her, the Sith were the bad guys, and they had to pay for the crimes against peace. The pistol remained raised as she took steps forward, closing the distance between her and her target. Their movements were quick, but as she waited, Taeli gave her an opening.

She aimed at Taeli's back and knew where to shoot to kill the woman. The voices of those she had served within the Alliance echoed in her mind. They had died because of this woman's deceit. Allyson wanted to silence the voices, put them to rest, finally, by ending Taeli's life. Yet, her barrel moved to a lower target, the woman's shoulder.

Avoiding saying anything cool at this moment, she fired three shots into Taeli's shoulder and arm. She kept the ranger pistol aimed at the Sith Lord in case the woman decided she wanted to keep fighting.

Taeli Raaf Wyatt Morga

 

[Lord Venari]

Location: Den Velmor Castle
Allies: TSE, Vallaro Kindall , Leon Amun , Haro Lergo
Enemies: Caedyn Arenais , Ura Iolar , other SJO forces & their allies, Apostate forces

---

The shouts of his legionaries over Imperial open comms signaled the approach the Jedi. They hadn't the time to sit and wait. Venari put his comlink aside and turned to his unit.

"Haro, you hold the roof. We're not letting the Silver's reclaim the high ground. Vallaro, Leon, with me. There's a Jedi problem in need of attending," he said with a grin.

Venari entered the upper levels of the castle from the singular entrance Leon had left to funnel their enemies in. Rather now, it would be his malicious band that took the offense. Together they'd tighten the noose on the remaining Silvers. Once the fortress was secured, Den Velmor would be theirs and the last of the potentials could be harvested without delay.

The rangers had retreated upward through the castle after the legion's initial assault. They assumed the roof was secured, their back's safe at the bottom of the connecting staircase. A mistake rectified by Venari's many floating blades thrusting themselves into the back lines of the rangers' defense. Aberrant bolts of lightning coiled through the air and disrupted the exchange of blaster fire between the Silvers and the Legion below. The rangers had settled on a few balconies overlooking an ornate atrium where the Legion had dug in. A vitreous ceiling offered a view of the smoke filled skies.

As bodies began to fall, a few rangers turned to meet their new enemies, "Sith! Sith!" One shouted, the others reacted near instantly. A barrage of blaster fire set on the Sith Lord and his troop. Venari unleashed all of his crimson blades, which diced a half dozen of the rangers apart in a flash. With open hands he deflected the blaster bolts back onto the Silvers as his allies moved in on the opposition.

In a few short moments the level had been cleared. With the balconies unoccupied, Venari peered over the edge. Below his quarry worked through the legion.

"Now is that a proper way to greet your host!" Venari shouted below, "especially after such a warm welcome," he laughed referring to the ranger corpses and debris he'd lobbed at the Jedi and young ally earlier.

Venari leapt over the balcony edge and descended to the grounds below. A cascading darkness before the glimmering light. The Sith Lord approached the Jedi duo with a grin, "I remember you, from Terminus. You made the smart move turning back then. Bought yourself a few more weeks of life. Pity you're so quick to throw it away. Moth to the flames?" He laughed.

"There'll be no running this time." Venari's personal lightsaber floated at his side, accompanied by three other blades. With his open palm he unleashed a torrent of lightning in the duo's direction. The dance between Sith and Jedi, was ready to commence.