Campaign Lightsworn Incursion | A Core War Story |

[Credit Wizard]

STAR WARS: LIGHTSWORN INCURSION | A CORE WAR STORY |

It is a time of darkness within the galaxy

The Dark Empire, lead by the insidious Darth Solipsis, dominates vast swaths of space within an iron grip. The Galactic Alliance stands strong against the new threat to the galaxy, having enjoyed long-lasting peace with the end of the Mandalorian-Alliance War and the downfall of the Mandalorian Enclave as a major galactic power.

Countless worlds are now engulfed in chaos, witnessing the devastating toll of the Core War as it spreads from the Core Region of the Galaxy.

As small-scale battles erupt and the New Jedi Order clashes with their adversaries from the New Sith Order, the casualties continue to mount, leaving thousands without employment or lives to return to.

But in the shadows of the great conflict, a new hope emerges. The Lightsworn, a renegade group of Jedi who refuse to bow the whims of the New Jedi Council and their inaction, have gathered to strike against the world of Cademimu V, the Stronghold of the Outer Rim and controlled by the Trade Federation.

Deep within enemy territory, a secret that could turn the tides of the war in the Empire's favor.

The Trade Federation, known for its ruthless pursuit of profit at any costs, have been developing an advanced Power Generator, for the Emperor's Military. With the new source of energy, the Dark Empire could grow even stronger than the Alliance, their fleets able to strike fear into the hearts of those who oppose them.

Although, such a secret has not remained hidden from the eyes of the Lightsworn.

They must avoid the formidable armada of Tambor Pattern Lucrehulk Class Battleships, hanging overhead and infilitrate the stronghold to destroy the rector, cutting off the Empire's new source of power.

With the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance, the Lightsworn must act swiftly and decisively.

 

[Kyric]

Set Your Heart Ablaze
Aces High
A Core Wars Story

The infinite stretch of hyperspace came to a rather abrupt end as the Lucrehulk-armada manifested before Kyric's very eye. He still hadn't adapted to one-eyed living, which made piloting his X-Wing all the more dangerous. Thankfully, his trusty BD unit had been modified decades prior by his father to act as a second in the cockpit. That made the Big Chieftain perfect for the role of surrogate-visual-receptor.

"Alright, little guy, things are about to get messy." Kyric pressed forward on the sticks and fell into a dive.

The attacking forces timed their approach only seconds behind an approaching meteor shower. While these space rocks proved little threat to the armada, it was the cargo hidden behind it that the Trade Federation's attackers hoped to be their undoing.

Sequestered within a HEAVILY-MODIFIED Davro-class light freighter, the Lightsworn stood ready to assault the dreaded Power Generator and slow the inexorable push of the Dark Side.

Kyric tapped his commlink. "This is the Kid chimin' in." The kiffar yanked back on the controls and leveled out beneath the freighter. "We're lookin' at several Lucrehulks here." Hundreds, or maybe thousands, of Vulture Droids detached from the battleships and opened fire on the starfighter escort weaving around the debris. "And somethin' north of too many droid-fighters flyin' our way."

Kyric veered off the debris barrier and drew some of the swarm his way. The rest zeroed in on the most apparent threats.

Lightsworn ships!

Swordmistress of my Dreams: Aelina Corsanis

 

[Teegota Tuuk]

The flickering glow of the holographic table danced across the copper colored pressure suit, highlighting the intricate mechanics of its design as the mechanisms within it hissed and squealed in the dimly lit chamber as methane was delivered into awaiting lungs.

Deep beneath the surface of the planet of Cademimu V, the members of the Trade Federation Occupational Council had convened for their daily briefing, their shadows looming large on the walls as they discussed the latest reports and updates.

The atmosphere remained tranquil, except for the audible alarm emanating from a nearby terminal. A pair of OOM Pilot Battle Droids were stationed at the controls, their metallic fingers deftly pressing buttons and accessing stored files.

"Sir, we have received a priority signal from our blockade. It appears that spatial debris has entered the system, accompanied by multiple squadrons of unidentified starfighter crafts. We have initiated interception protocols using droid starfighters," responded the battle droid. However, unlike the distinctive high-pitched accent commonly associated with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, its voice resonated with the monotone tone reminiscent of the Trade Federation's previous vocabulators.

"AWEERROROOR - The Galactic Alliance would never attack Trade Federation property, not without violating our corporate neutrality. And the fleet is too small to be from our rivals within the ranks of the Dark Empire." The Skakoan said, adjusting the pressure suit control module, to regain some voice clarity. The Galactic Alliance was preoccupied with defensive strategies, making it unlikely for them to launch a sudden attack on the Trade Federation. The Ruling Council's adversaries would likely deploy a more substantial force in response.

"Bring up display screens and alert all units within our city sector!" - An additional order was given, as the Pilot Battle Droids clicked some buttons, as multiple monitors illuminated the underground chamber. The screens showcased the positioning of the blockade around the planet, and the predicted path of the spatial debris.

"Roger, Roger. Alerting all units within Sub-Section D-2999-SD. Prepare for combat orders." The droid replied, taking a brief pause to ensure the correct protocols and data sequences were implemented in order to gain access to the Central Droid Computer, which was responsible for overseeing operations in this specific area of the city.

​

.

 

[Kornon]

Kyric | Teegota Tuuk
​

The world below did not seem so corrupt at a glance -- but greed was a sin only shown in flashes, moments of weakness of the greedy, yet persistent in its evil under the surface. Progress in technology, too, could easily be warped to evil use. The Trade Federations, servants of the Dark, would be served the same justice as their masters. That the Alliance continued to allow their existence spoke to the corruption that even the other supposed defenders of the Light now suffered.

<"These ones need only make landfall, Young Karis,"> he said over the comm. Alongside a cadre of Lightsworn and the Knights of Barab, he awaited their arrival on the surface. Their freighters shot down alongside the meteors and debris, hidden only for a short time as the mechanical gaze of their enemies honed in on them. Vulture Droids in their hundreds swarmed closer, trying to find the Lightsworn convoy -- some missed, some collided with the meteors.

Others hit.

Laser blasts hammered the rear shields, some technological wonder allowing the droid to stay locked on the stealth freighter. As the vessel rocked from the impacts, Kornon reached out, the Force wrapping around the starfighter's frame, then inside -- and he crushed something important.

But the last blasts came through, punching a hole in the left engine as they broke atmosphere. While most of the convoy stayed tight to get to their landing zones, Kornon's freighter burned closer to their target, barely limping within a kilometer of the rest of the Lightsworn forces.

"To this one!" And he raised his hands once more, lending his strength to the hull of their vessel, solidifying it and protecting its occupants. Moments later they were grounded. Most were pressed tight to their seatbelts. Their skidding stop was followed by groans of pain -- a joyous sound. His fellows yet lived to fight.

Kornon was first, cutting through the warped hull to free his comrades. But as soon as they rose from the wreckage, their enemy marched to meet them, a wall of grey metal: Super Battle Droids. His saber rose to the sky.

"The enemy knows neither Light nor Life -- let these ones fulfill their roles as teachers!" And he charged into the sea of blaster fire that awaited.

 

[Alaric]

Kyric | Kornon | Teegota Tuuk
​

I had not killed at Dromund Kaas.

But I had watched death unfold, as death does, one always leading to another.

I think perhaps I had been a fool to go with the Lightsworn to that place, but my eyes were open now.

When I had learned of our next assault, I was not so reserved. Droids, soulless slaves to a corporate empire, were not killed in the same way a living being was. If it meant sticking it to the Sith, I would destroy as many droids as the Lightsworn commanded me to.

Though my pacifism ostracized me from the radical Jedi, I believed the righteousness in their cause all the same. All the work my parents had done to ensure the Sith would never return to Dromund Kaas had been undone, a dozen times over. If I did not stand against that, who would? And if if I sat by, who would perish as a result?

I had wondered if our X-Wings were stolen from the Alliance, and if such a crime would be outweighed by what we were doing today. I felt as though it certainly would, and the furious hope wielded by the other rogue Jedi vindicated that.

As the immense swarm of droid starfighters bore down on our escort group, I saw Kyric begin drawing them away. The rest swarmed us, and as I unleashed a barrage of blaster fire into the cluster so dense I hardly needed to aim, I could feel a visceral enjoyment as they exploded.

Was that wrong? I knew there were no living pilots to be killed in those ships, and that with each one destroyed I was protecting friends... family. Perhaps it was here that I could shine. I couldn't deny feeling that cathartic release that seemed to flow through the Lightsworn as they crusaded, a feeling my father had many times reminisced upon in my childhood...

​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Ship: Stealth-X
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

It had been some time since she last flew her Stealth-X. Developed during her time as a Jedi Shadow, it offered her a way to reach the surface without drawing too much attention from the fleet in orbit. Her real target was down there — a newly developed Power Generator with unknown specifications. But one rumored to be capable of providing enormous amounts of powers for whatever machine of destruction used it.

She needed to know more about it, preferably destroy it, and perhaps learn about other ongoing projects. Every bit of intel would help the Alliance in their war against the Empire.

After entering the system, her X-wing switched S-foils to attack position. On sensors, she detected others attempting to reach the planet, and they had already drawn enemy attention. But rather than diving into that chaos, she focused on what she detected on the surface. Not far away from her target, she detected a ship that had gone down, and enemy droids were swarming the location.

That would be her target.

Piercing through the atmosphere, Valery flew overhead and unleashed a barrage of cannon fire to offer Kornon and the others down below some assistance. She knew it'd draw droid fighters to her, but she was confident that she'd make her way down eventually. For now, she circled back around and readied her cannons for another strafing run.

Teegota Tuuk Credit Wizard Open​

 

[Credit Wizard]

STAR WARS: LIGHTSWORN INCURSION | A CORE WAR STORY |

Valery Noble Alaric Kyric Kornon ​

The Battle of Cademimu V had begun...

Quad turbolaser fire streaked across the orbit as the Trade Federation Armada composed of several Tambor Pattern Lucrehulk Class Battleships, attempted to halt the invasion force before they could land within the planet-wide city.

The bright flashes of energy illuminated the darkness of space, as Hundreds, or maybe thousands, of Vulture Droids surged forth like an tide of mechanical might from awaiting hanger bays towards the squadrons of enemy craft and the spatial debris heading towards the system.

The intense barrage of firepower from both sides filled the air with a cacophony of explosions and destruction, as the fate of the Power Generator, hung in the balance. The roar of the ion-enhanced engines ripped through space, as a part of the swarm followed Kyric 's starfighter craft, looking to take him down.

The intense chase around the battleships was like a deadly dance, with Kyric skillfully able to maneuver the ship even against the best droid brains that the Trade Federation could buy.

"Send in the Tri-Fighters, to disrupt the enemy's forward momentum. We will not allow any further transports from reaching the planet." The mecahnical voice of the Tactical Droid said on the bridge of the Trade Federation Flagship.

The crimson eyes carefully observed the tactical screens as the entire battlefield unfolded before them, witnessing smaller vessels successfully navigating through the formidable blockade to land on the surface.

The Swarm had evolved, as Phloc-Arophocc Droid Tri-Fighters came from the donut-shaped hanger bays, having been held in reserve until the right moment. The Tri-Fighters moved forward to engage Alaric and Kyric 's advance, utilizing their advanced droid intelligence to maneuver through enemy cannon fire and distractions.

The landing zone was rough for Kornon , as the Super Battle Droids advanced towards the Lightsworn Team, even through the thick smoke of Valery Noble 's x-wing strafing runs.

They had no morale or self-preservation, like human opponents would, so they would carry on advancing until the last circuit was destroyed. The droids moved with mechanical precision, their red eyes glowing menacingly in the darkness of the battlefield.

Despite the relentless onslaught, Kornon and his team stood their ground, determined to advance at all costs. The sound of blaster fire echoed through the air, creating a symphony of chaos and destruction.

The sound of Anti-aircraft Guns rocked the air, as round after round was deployed to halt Valery Noble .

 

[Kyric]

Set Your Heart Ablaze
Fight Alongside
A Core Wars Story

<"These ones need only make landfall, Young Karis.">

<"I tell you what! I'll cover you, so you keep our boys alive!"> Kyric called back over their shared commlink. He yanked back on the sticks and veered directly into the oncoming path of Vulture Droids with reckless abandon. BD-8 beeped a swift series of chirps recounting weak zones across the droid craft.

The X-Wing unleashed a torrent of fire into the approaching horde. Starfighters burst as engines ignited, but even a cheap droid could plot a proper course along a vector. Many wove around the Jedi Knight's fighter in a bid to surround him and overwhelm him. He yanked hard to the right and rolled up and over the debris field shielding Kornon and their allies. Explosions ripped around the field as their crafts burst on solid stone or came into contact with the old X-Wing's weapon systems.

The Big Chieftain whirred an erratic warning to Kyric. His gaze dropped to the blue-white screen constructed into the console. It flashed an angry red color, warning the boy of an impending attack.

"Chit. Chit. Chit."

Kyric tried and failed to shake his pursuers. He was simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of Vulture Droids still approaching from the Lucrehulk armada. He felt his ship rock as enemy fire glanced off one of his port wings. Durasteel gave way to electric wiring, which burst into flame, only to immediately vanish within the vacuum of space.

More shots hit, and for a moment, Kyric knew in his heart of hearts he was a dead man.

And then a series of eruptions burst behind him and a wave of excitement crashed over the boy. It took Kyric a moment to realize it was not his excitement, but that of Alaric, who deftly wove a path of destruction through the vultures.

<"Yes!"> Kyric shouted into his commlink. <"Let's go, Al! Get 'er done!">

Pushing his starfighter back into a straight dive, Kyric fell in line with the damaged freighter Kornon rode to the streets below. The kiffar set his ion-torpedoes a-flyin' and watched one of the droid's wings shatter on impact. The force of the explosion ripped it into the path of more, and within seconds, a small string of explosions lit up the sky around the starfighter escort.

<"Master Kornon and his men are on the ground, so I'm off to decommission the general. I'll cut y'all a path off-world, so go blow that reactor sky high, yeah?"> Kyric half-reported, half-told the others. He didn't really wait for an answer either–he was a man of action with a clear objective before him. He shifted course and rounded back into a starward climb toward the blockade, dipping, dodging, and weaving through the durasteel storm of Vulture Droids deadset on his demise.

"C'mon!" the kiffar howled into the void of his cockpit. "Show me what you can really do." He yanked back on his thrusters and shot forward at an impossible speed. The force of gravity pinned him to his seat, pulling back at the skin of his face as if to unmask the boy by the most painful means imaginable, but Kyric didn't hold the pace for long. He stole this play right out of his brother's bag, and he knew better than anyone if Damien didn't overdo it, the Jedi sure as hell shouldn't. So, Kyric killed his momentum once he broke through the first wave of droids and curved toward the lead Lucrehulk's hangar.

This also happened to be the exact moment the Tri-Fighter's burst from the hangar and zeroed in on the starfighters.

"Oh. Oh no." Kyric turned his vessel onto its side and flew through a steady swarm of blaster fire. The advanced fighters fanned out, approaching him at a dozen different angles. Transparisteel fissured on opposite sides of the cockpit from glancing blows that caught the kiffar mid-swing from one end of the widening net to the other.

<"Hey, Al! Whatcha got for me, here?"> Kyric's mirthful tone cut through Alaric's commlink. <"This might take two Jedi.">

Fellow Lightsworn Incursion Enjoyers: Aelina Corsanis | Alaric | Credit Wizard | Kornon
Honorary Mentions: Damien Dooku

 

[Shute Gunray]

Big Boi Supreme
Moneytalks
Bernard | Sol Dara
​

Sitting aloft his palanquin, carried by a squadron of four HEAVILY MODIFIED Magna Guard, Shute Gunray watched the battle above with keen disinterest. His hands were elbow deep in a Jumbo-Extra Large Bucket of extra crispy Thyrsian Fried Chicken. It had been many years since the Master of Ren was disbarred from the Senate and left only a pittance of his former freedoms enjoyed via diplomatic immunity, and he yearned to strike back against those responsible.

The Jedi.

"To think, they chose ME to handle negotiations. As if the Jedi were capable of thinking their way out of a cardboard box, let alone proper negotiations. My stomach churns at the thought."

Shute Gunray stood slowly, his joints creaking and groaning from the excess weight that made up the Tower of Power. A great obsidian axe sat beneath his palanquin, locked in place by magnetic latches to keep it hidden away from the curious observer. The Neimoidian Titan watched his magna guards struggle to balance the palanquin between them. This brought on feelings of joy. Even the suffering of the inorganic slaves twisted to the whims of the Trade Federation felt euphoric to his engorged brain.

His heart beat faster.

Some would say the egregious amount of fast food the partnered owner of Huttaburger consumed may have clogged certain pathways in Shute's heart, forcing it to work four times as hard to pump blood to his gigantic body. Others, such as the illustrious and unerring minds of Gat Tambor , Otto Blank , and Teegota Tuuk knew the truth of the morbidly obese monster.

The only thing Shute Gunray hungered for more than a triple bantha burger was the suffering of others–specifically, that of the accursed Jedi who flaunted their ill-gained power and bath robes with little forethought. How much he would enjoy speaking circles around their pathetic negotiator before crushing her broccoli-green body to a pulp.

 

[Alaric]

Kyric | Kornon | Teegota Tuuk | Valery Noble | Aelina Corsanis
​

The swarm was growing larger by the second as the tri-fighters zipped from the hangar and onto Kyric's tail. I kept straight and narrow against the oncoming assault of tri-fighters baring down on my own ship. They didn't seem to be stopping even as my blaster cannons shredded a few of them like paper. At the last moment before I impacted the swarm, I plunged the fighter downwards out of the way.

Without having to account for the price of life, it was no wonder that the Trade Federation's private army was churned out endlessly, of course owing to the profiteering they were conducting on both sides of the war. That was crime enough against the innocents living the daily horrors of the Empire's war machine, even without the reactor we had come to destroy.

Careening back up and over my previous position and the now dispersing swarm, my shots were far less effective on the less dense group of ships. I'd been flying starfighters for years in my travels across the outer rim territories, but I was no Alliance flyboy.

<I'm with you, Karis.> I responded over the comms as my fighter barreled through the rapidly thickening cloud of debris from the droid ships. I veered the starfighter towards Kyric, then opened my line to the astromech droid I'd been paired up with for the mission.

<R9, can you link up targeting systems with The Big Chieftain? There's too many to take alone.>

The droid gave a friendly beep-boop in agreement, and Kyric's droid would receive the message: we've got your back.

 

[Teegota Tuuk]

Bymb glided around the Council Chamber, observing the Battle of Cademimu V as it unfolded both in orbit and on the surface. The tension in the room was palpable as fingers interlocked, marking each Vulture Droid destroyed by Alaric and Kyric and Super Battle Droids destroyed by Kornon as the credit costs were slowly ticking up and up. ​

The Council members watched in silence, having sent Shute Gunray to deal with the Jedi Intruders, their expressions a mix of concern and determination as they strategized their next move. Despite the grim situation, there was a sense of unity united by greed among them, a shared resolve to defend their claimed world at all costs. ​

​

As the battle raged on, Bymb watched as the monitors picked up an unknown x-wing on the radar, running air-to-ground support, as droid supported Anti-aircraft Guns fired shell after shell into the air. ​

​

Its occupant was unknown to him - Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined that it was none other than Valery Noble , the esteemed Grandmaster of the New Jedi Order. Should her presence come known, it would pose a grave threat to the Federation's proclaimed neutrality in the midst of the Core War. ​

​

"That's an x-wing model !!!!, The Galactic Alliance stands alone as the only major faction to use such vessels for their combat assignments." AT. Viceroy Hemborr said outloud catching a fine-tuned glint as the starfighter raced across the security cameras, causing the other members of the Council to become concerned. ​

​

"If the Galactic Alliance were to uncover our existence here, our affiliation with the Dark Empire would be revealed to the Federal Assembly." - Neimoidian Councilor said, speaking up from the table as the others nodded along in agreement. "We must eliminate that ship, regardless of the expenses incurred. The disappearance of its occupant can be conveniently attributed to an unfortunate incident that occurred during work." - a Muun Investment Banker suggested from the opposite side of the table. ​

​

"Send in the D1 Series Aerial Battle Droids from our old Techno Union stockpiles to converge on that ship ! " Hemborr said, to the two OOM Pilot Battle Droids standing nearby, as they relayed the communication down the data-chain to the landing platforms located nearby. The sound of flight occured, as the battle droids sprung from the warehouses. ​

​

Several squadrons of D1 Series Aerial Battle Droids made their way on a direct intercept course with Valery Noble . ​

 

[Tyrus Vastor]

Tags: Kyric Kornon Alaric Teegota Tuuk Valery Noble Aelina Corsanis
| | |
​

With a flourish, Tyrus ignited his lightsaber. The blade sprang to life, a sharp arc of violet hue that hummed deeply. He charged forward, the lightsaber becoming a blur of purple light and motion. Each sweep of his blade was precise and fluid, no doubt proof of his refined swordsmanship. As he eased deeper into this advanced form, Tyrus's movements became almost hypnotic, his connection to the Force guiding him with a preternatural flow.

It looks like its raining down plasma.

Blaster bolts crisscrossed the air, but Tyrus moved with an uncanny rhythm, deflecting them with his lightsaber in a flurry of violet sparks and flashes of light. In his off hand a Mandalorian Ripper boomed intermittently with each pull of the trigger, taking down foes with a new strange accuracy.

The Force flowed through him, sharpening Tyrus's instincts, allowing him to anticipate attacks before they happened and see occasional weak points midst the fray of combat. The further he climbed up the mental stages of Vapaad, the more ferocious he became. Sidestepping incoming fire, his lightsaber carved through the air to intercept bolts that seemed destined for his comrades. In specific a Barbel that was now adjacent to him. If memory serves me right this Kornon? Another blaster bolt was fired in the Korun's and Barabel's direction. Almost unconciously Lor Pelek intercepted it and sent it panning off the ground. " Hey! Korn! Whats the hold up Old timer?!" Tyrus jested before firing off a torrent of slugs into a group of Super Battle Droids. Each pull of the trigger the Mandalorian Ripper jerked and was repositioned for the next shot and telekinetically propelled the projectiles past the limits of perception.

​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Ship: Stealth-X
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

There it was.

A single strafing run had drawn attention from the surface below. Heavy anti-air guns were opening up en masse in response, causing explosions to erupt all around her fighter. Without the Force's guidance, there was no hope of getting through this hellstorm, but even with its strength, it wouldn't be easy. An intense focus was demanded of her, and after several passes of raining cannon fire down upon the enemy, it seemed as if she'd push through.

But the guns firing from below were only the beginning.

A series of red dots suddenly appeared on her sensors, and while that wasn't strange in the middle of a battle, their trajectories were alarming. Several squadron's worth of enemy aerial battle-droids were all coming for her specifically, hinting at a more coordinated effort to take her down. It was a sign to her to pull away from those fighting the army of droids on the surface — she wasn't going to risk drawing more enemy units to their location.

A sharp turn brought her face-to-face with the first swarm, and her targeting computer immediately got to work. Guided by the Force, it picked its targets, before she released her target-seeking cluster missiles on them. An intense series of explosions followed, as some enemy units were blown apart, but it still wasn't enough. Her cannons roared and tore apart anything in their path as well, but there were too many of them.

Enemy battle-droids surrounded her and returned fire. Bolts struck her shields and clipped past her wings and cockpit, slowly deteriorating whatever defenses her X-wing possessed. Another struck an exposed engine shortly after, causing a fire and stream of smoke to erupt from behind her ship.

She was losing control over the X-wing, and after exchanging several more bursts of cannon fire, she could no longer pull up and away from the enemy.

She was going down.

Alaric Tyrus Vastor Teegota Tuuk Kornon Kyric Open​

 

[Sinestra]

Infinite futures swirled and flashed before Sinestra’s eyes as she sat in a deep, meditative trance within the cold halls of the Massassi Temple. With a deft touch of the Force, she began bringing order to the unfathomable and incomprehensive chaos that threatened to submerge her mind into madness.

Pieces of the near future slowly, but surely converged into the familiar towers and spires of Cademimu V. The image remained unmoving as if the Force was preventing her from seeing further. Sinestra tapped into her anger and passion, fanning the flames of the dark side into an inferno that melted the Force’s constraints and bend it to her will.

An ear-splitting shriek echoed through the ethereal before the vision finally relented and rolled onward reluctantly to reveal what the Force had shielding from her terrible gaze: its champions, wielding sabers of blue, green and yellow, assailling a Trade Federation facility, brimming with endless energy from a power core in its depths. Her mindeye hurried through the blurred faces until a pair of dichromatic eyes met hers – the son of the Sword. She glared at the boy with contempt before pulling herself away, bending the vision into the timeline she desired – her Emperor’s grand plan. The Jedi disappeared from her view, replaced by a round table of Neimodians, Skakoans and other aliens, shifting nervously in their seats.

Capris had either failed or was still in the process of hunting down the young Jedi, but he was not the sole piece of the equation in the vision – the Trade Federation’s council on Cademimu were also revealed to be a key piece to her Emperor’s machinations. She was too far to involve herself directly, so she had to find someone else to do her bidding.

Standing back up on her feet, Sinestra produced her datapad from a small compartment in her light armor. The information she sought would usually be inaccessible, but she was of the Dark Side Elite, the Emperor’s Chosen; even the enigmatic schemes of the New Sith Order were partially available to her. After several minutes of browsing through endless streams of information, the seer found what she was looking for.

Almost.

Of all the possible assets the Empire possessed across its realm, there was only a mere Sith Acolyte on Cademimu V currently that may complete her goals. Not strong enough to achieve Capris’ task – the son of the Sword would be an insurmountable challenge for the acolyte – but possibly adequate just enough to exfill the Trade Federation’s Occupation Council from harm’s way. The odds were all against him, but this was the hand Sinestra had been given. She had no choice but to play it.

Her fingers danced on the datapad’s screen, sending a message of high importance to the acolyte.

Tags: Kyric Kornon Alaric Teegota Tuuk Valery Noble Aelina Corsanis Shute Gunray Tyrus Vastor Credit Wizard

 

[Darth Defias]

You will immediately abandon what you are currently doing and leave with haste to the Trade Federation’s facility. You are to extract to safety the Federation’s council from the Jedi’s assault.

Fail to follow these orders and you fail the Emperor.

• Sinestra

Attachments: TF Facility Coordinates.holomap

The neon letters of Sub-Section D-2999-SD glowed behind a lone, dark figure’s back, casting a large shadow across half a dozen rooftops up ahead. Donned in a light Sith cuirass over a black tunic flowing from a cape concealing half his face, Defias watched over the ensuing battle below from his vantage point.

It was his first time away from the cold halls of the Carlac Academy and the calculative gaze of its Overseer, Lord Neveon. Sent to Cademimu V on a mission to dismantle a small crime outfit, the task was abandoned the moment he had received a transmission from Sinestra, one of the Emperor’s chosen — the so-called Dark Side Elite.

Why him? The question filled his mind as he traversed the planet-city towards the coordinates received from Sinestra’s message. His ruminations bore no answers and quickly evaporated the moment his eyes caught the familiar glows of lightsabers in the distance; the blades dancing in tune to the rhythm of blasterter fire.

He glanced down at his sheathed Sith sword, its weight a constant reminder he was still not worthy of a lightsaber and the apprenticeship under a Sith Master. Perhaps this mission would help elevate his status among his peers… or be culled as Lord Neveon had warned.

As Defias was about set forth towards the Federation’s facility a heap of metal crashed down on the rooftop, skidding to a halt across the permacrete with a loud shriek and a flashy display of sparks. His hand dropped from the hilt of his sword at the sight of the broken D1 Aerial Battle Droid. In his past life on Raxus Prime, Defias had scavenged and salvaged a wide array of Techno Union products. The Aerial Droid included.

An idea sprang in his mind.

He produced a miniature fusioncutter from his utility belt and a hidden vibroblade strapped to his lower leg, and began working on the scrap remains of the droid. Defias brutishly chopped the droid in half, leaving its upper chassis and the long limbs that turned into wings. After several minutes of working on the droid like a surgeon, the scrap of metal’s wings lit up alive with a buzz.

Defias picked from inside his utility belt pouches a scomp link and plugged into the mainframe’s socket. A series of beeps and boops followed before the droid’s barely functioning vocabulator finally sparked to life: <“Restart complete. Awaiting commands.”>

A smug smirk tugged wide the corner of the acolyte’s lips. With a brutish lift, Defias tossed the droid’s salvaged remains over his back and lumbered to the edge of the rooftop.

“Get me to the Trade Federation’s facility now.” he ordered and jumped into the neon-lit abyss below.

<”Roger, roger.”> the set of repulsors kicked in and the droid entered flight mode, swooping in further low before ascending back up.

The cityscape flashed before Defias’ eyes in a blur of wind and color as they soared towards the battle. Adrenaline surged through his body, overwhelming him with energy. As he neared the battlefield and the combatants began to take shape and form, Defias shut his eyes close and drew in several deep breaths as he had been taught. Let the Force guide your actions.

One.

Two.

Three.

“Fire!”

<”Roger, roger!”>

An onslaught of blaster fire from above was unleashed on the flank of the charging Jedi as the unconventional duo of acolyte and droid – the PEAK SYMBIOSIS OF MAN AND MACHINE, SINGULARITY ITSELF – swooped in like a bird of prey.

Direct Tag: Tyrus Vastor Kornon + whoever else charging like a mad dog
Indirect tag: Alaric Valery Noble Aelina Corsanis Kyric
FRIENDOS: Teegota Tuuk Shute Gunray Credit Wizard

 

[Bernard]

AGGRESSIVE NEGOTIATIONS​

Fellow actors in the scene: Sol Dara and THE LUXURIOUS Shute Gunray
Cademimu V, Lucrehulk in orbit
Negotiation chambers

[ Numbers on the Boards ]​

It was a common negotiation tactic to make the other party wait, but this was starting to be ridiculous.

Bernard grumbled as he stood at the viewport.

The loud ticking of an archaic clicked with every second that changed on the chrono's display. Why they chose to make an electronic chrono tick was beyond Bernard, but they had. Futher, the temperature within the room had been set ever so slightly too high. Not enough to be unbearable, but barely creeping into the realm of uncomfortable. The light fixtures above glared an off-blue tone that registered as far too harsh through an Arkanian's eye.

"When is this piece of garbage getting here. I'm getting tired of waiting," Bernard scowled, in part at the treatment he and Sol were receiving, and in part at the black patch covering his right eye.

His wounds still had not fully healed, which was why he was here, in a negotiation room with a green Padawan, rather than out there joining the battle. He'd protested, even pulling rank, but ultimately the words of the green Padawan and Kyric had swayed him over to take it easier. It had been a compromise anyway, they'd wanted him to stay behind entirely.

As if he'd ever let that happen.

Bernard tapped his foot impatietly against the metal floor. The quiet tap, tap, tap echoed through the room.

 

[Kornon]

Tyrus Vastor Darth Defias | Valery Noble Teegota Tuuk
​

The Knights of Barab surged forward, Kornon and his kin entering a brutal melee with their iron opponents. Sabers rose and fell, heavy knives tore droids limb from limb. Tough as the chassis of a droid might be, a Barabel's scales were tougher -- blaster bolts struck them and they fell, only to rise again with renewed focus.

Of their number, Kornon's technique was the most impressive, entering the fray as a barrier of blades, near the pinnacle of Shien. Every blaster bolt that came within a meter of him was returned to its sender. Every droid that he could reach was felled near-instantly.

Progress though they made, it was slow going, the sea of steel resisting their every step. A strafing run from an X-wing above accelerated their advance, if only for a moment as the fallen ranks replenished themselves; nonetheless, a battle cry rose from the Barabels' ranks. His fellow Lightsworn, Tyrus Vastor, fought valiantly forward, his Vaapad becoming more deadly with each swing of his saber. The other Jedi chastised him, as though they could move any faster.

"Patience is a virtue," Kornon said. But as they slowed yet again, his brow furrowed. "As is decisiveness. Allow this one to part them."

He stepped back, his fellows covering him for a moment as he gathered his strength. He took a broken Super Battle Droid and raised it, then spun once, twice, and launched it like a missile down the centre of the droid's lines ahead. The first droid burst like a bubble, shrapnel launched in all directions -- and the next was the same, and the next, and the next. In its wake a telekinetic wave pushed dozens of droids aside, tearing a hole through the centre of the droid army's lines, and a path forward for the Lightsworn.

"Forward! No droid can stop these ones!" His saber raised, he charged forward-

Only for a droid to roar into the fray from the sky, showering him in blaster bolts. He stopped, saber only a moment too later as three bolts struck his chest, sending him stumbling. But it was not merely the droid but the man attached to it. Darkness surrounded him, nascent yet growing. Kornon resolved to purge it here and now.

He flung up a hand, the Force surging forward to push the man-droid-mount off course and to ground.

 

[Aerarii Tithe]

TRADE FEDERATION COUNCIL CHAMBERS // CADEMIMU V
ASSETS: Teegota Tuuk | Shute Gunray | Darth Defias
LIABILITIES: Poor people [OPEN]

Another new upstart was trying to upset the balance of the markets.

Aerarii Tithe joined his affluent peers in the command centre. While he carried the role of Imperial Treasurer for the Dark Empire, his first loyalty was always to his credits. If these space monks thought they could threaten Tithe’s earnings, they had much to learn.

The Lightsworn were a curious market competitor. The Jedi revivalists sought to return their Order to what they saw as its noble roots. They had put the New Jedi Order on notice over their handling of the war with the Dark Empire. Seeing them in action would provide valuable market insights if the Trade Federation ever had to face them in battle.

But first, the Federation’s coffers needed to be protected.

“It’s time. Unleash the droid.”

“But, but… Viceroy, have you forgotten Lexrul?”

“I vividly recall the swift and unrelenting retribution it delivered to those 400, ahh, tax avoiders,” Tithe replied. The collateral death of 1,200 innocent bystanders had been unfortunate, but it was the price of enforcing the Federation’s chokehold on its purse worlds. Tax avoidance had been down 93 per cent since the incident.

A massive blastdoor on the outer wall of the Trade Federation complex began to rise ominously. A giant bipedal figure emerged from the thick cloud of steam, sprayed purely for cosmetic purposes. The ground boomed as the machine strode forward, the durasteel plating buckling under its weight.

The B4 Freedom Battle Droid, the pinnacle of the free market, had entered the fray.

“SOCIALISTS DETECTED ON FEDERATION PROPERTY,” the colossal droid boomed, its voice an unsettling mix between Tithe and Gat Tambor . The droid’s head swivelled as its propriety FREEDOM_RADAR™ scanned the area for threats to the Trade Federation’s credit line.

“THE FREE MARKET MUST BE PROTECTED.”

The B4 raised both its arms and opened fire with its repeating blaster canons as it advanced toward the Lightsworn landing team.

The market always self-corrected.

 

[Credit Wizard]

STAR WARS: LIGHTSWORN INCURSION | A CORE WAR STORY |

Valery Noble Alaric Kyric Kornon ​

"Sir , two unidentified starfighters are currently on a collision course with the flagship." came the voice of a OOM Pilot Battle Droid, as the tactical screens on board the Tambor Pattern Lucrehulk Class Battleship seperated Alaric and Kyric from the Phloc-Arophocc Droid Tri-Fighters and Vulture Droids with two green traingles. The droid starfighters seemed to be closing in on them rapidly, their red eyes glowing ominously in the vast darkness of space, even while numerous units were being annihilated by the proficient skills of the two pilots.

"The invaders are making an audacious move in a desperate attempt to breach our blockade. The chances of their success are a staggering 10,000 to 1. Bolster our forward deflector shields by a margin of 10% along the hanger bays and redirect, SD-10 and SD-11 Sqaudron to intercept their advance." came the response from the Tactical Droid, caculating that the enemy craft would not be able to pentrate through the wall of turbolaser fire, without suffering extensive damage to their engine systems.

Diverting attention from the central monitor towards the spatial debris and the remnants of the invasion force, it was evident that a widespread landing had occurred across the planet despite efforts to stop it. The information provided by the command center, comfortably assured that the Trade Federation did not sustain any significant losses to its overall military strength throughout the engagement in the city-sectors.

Squadron's SD-10 and SD-11 roared from the hanger bays around the flagship, composed of upgraded Phlac-Arphocc Vulture Droid Starfighters to intercept Kyric and Alaric before they could land within the flagship.

The sound of shells eventually faded, as the Anti-aircraft Guns came to a halt having completed their objective to remove the air-to-ground support of Valery Noble .

The silence that followed was eerie, a stark contrast to the chaos and destruction that had just taken place overhead although it was short-lived as the B4 Freedom Battle Droid came into view, rocking the landing platforms and city streets by its sheer size and weight.

The Barbal Kornon and the Vapaad Master Tyrus Vastor skillfully decimated, cut, and forcefully advanced amidst the ceaseless horde of Super Battle Droids advancing towards them. As they moved with precision and agility, their movements were a sight to behold, almost like a carefully choreographed dance of destruction.

The clang of lightsabers and guns meeting metal echoed through the battlefield, while sparks flew in every direction as they expertly parried and counterattacked. Despite the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, their determination never wavered, and they fought on with unwavering resolve. It was a true testament to their skill and bravery in the face of such adversity.

The rolling sound of Grapple Droidekas and Q-Series Droidekas was not far off into the distance.

 

[Kyric]

Set Your Heart Ablaze
Kickstart My Heart
A Core Wars Story

​

<"I'm with you, Karis.">

Pride swelled within Kyric's chest whenever he heard his family's name. He honed that warmth into focus, his one-eyed gaze flickering across the endless stream of droids whirling around him. BD-8's rapid-fire bleeps and boops never ended as he fed a continuous loop of information to the kiffar behind the sticks. They only paused to alert him of R9's link between the two ships.

"Our ships are synced? Lovin' it!" Kyric said in answer to the little droid's update.

<"I've already taken a few hits, nothin' too serious, but the odds are quickly stackin' against us. If we're gettin' through this, we're gon' have to get mighty loud, Master.">

Not for the first time, Kyric wished his cousins and brother at his side. They were the sort of pilots to come to mind when dangerous dogfights made the agenda.

Explosions ripped him from his musings as Alaric's turbo lasers blasted half a dozen Tri-Fighters from the kiffar's starboard side.

Kyric pressed right through the explosions. He heard a fractured piece of durasteel clip one of his wings and tear a jagged scar across the metal, but he didn't have time to slow down. "Chief, take control of the guns, and don't stop firing until we're in the hangar or D-E-D, you got it?"

| Sure thing, Kid. |

Ion torpedoes burst forth from beneath the X-Wing directly into a pair of Tri-Fighters crisscrossing ahead of the starfighter. Kyric flicked up a lever on the console, pulled egregiously hard to port on the sticks, and began to tunnel violently forward like a corkscrew. He locked the yolk in place and reached out with both hands. His mind sought out the hull of his ship. He envisioned every inch of the durasteel and imagined a sleek barrier forming around it like a second layer of skin.

The first Vulture Droid to contact the barrier rebounded and slammed into a second.

Kyric closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He poured more power into the barrier, filling in the cracks after each impact with an opposing starfighter. "Faster, little dude," he said, straining now as blood began to roll in tiny rivulets from his nostrils. "I can't keep this going much longer."

BD-8 whirred its affirmations and pushed the thrusters to maximum speed. They rocketed like a bullet through the vacuum of space, heralded by a mass of soundless explosions around the makeshift drill. The hangar drew closer with each passing second, and within a few short breaths, the starfighter shot through the narrow tunnel leading to the Lucrehulk's hangar.

​

Fellow Lightsworn Incursion Enjoyers: Alaric | Credit Wizard