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The Order of the Sacred Lotus | The Galactic Alliance
Lydia had finished her introduction and joined her pilot as he set the ship down in the forest, within sensor range of the First Order ships -- and likely the Galactic Alliance's defenses as well. The ship was broadcasting loud and clear that it was an unarmed, non-combatant vessel. The pilot was commenting on this: "Whether they just haven't gotten around to blasting us yet, or if they're not targeting the press this time, it's anyone's guess. But I didn't hear any instructions to turn back, so... we'll see."
The between the lines context was not lost on Lydia.
"You'll notice we're operating on a skeleton crew -- there's a reason for that," she remarked dryly, her glassy eyes staring out the viewport as the small shuttle sank below the treetops. The light filtered through the canopy, casting the world in a bizarre but oddly soothing green light -- always moving as the leaves blew in the breeze. It was almost like being underwater in one of the lochs back home. She half-expected to see Charlie Reed swim by, her long chestnut hair billowing around her head like smoke. Alas, Charlie Reed wasn't here, and Lydia wasn't back home. She was in a warzone. She had to keep her wits about her. "What did you do wrong to pull a suicide mission?"
The pilot shrugged. "Technically it was a lottery. But It's all good. I'm not afraid."
"Didn't hear what happened to the last guy, hmm?"
"On Kaeshana?" he asked. "Oh, sure. We all did. But think of this. ABS sent two people to Kaeshana. Your cameraman/pilot, and you. One died and the company is taking care of his family for life. The other -- well, stang. You're famous."
"Perhaps as that damn fool girl who got herself shot up," Lydia said as the pilot shut the engines down. The pilot leaned over and switched the sensor standby on. The ship would continue to send its signals, identifying itself accurately as a non-combatant vessel that was unarmed, and its occupants as the same, and also receive signals. "At least, that's what my brother calls me."
"So what do we do if they blow up the ship?"
"My recommendation is to not be on the ship. And if they kill us? Well... we'll both be famous and your family will be taken care of."
The pilot heaved a sigh, then took off his cap and brushed his hair back with his other hand. "You pick me right up, there, boss."
The staring wouldn’t stop. Allyson was still in the outfit that Micah had recorded her in. It wasn’t a very good stare, mind you, but it certainly wasn’t a bad one either. A balance between enjoying the sights and not enjoying the fact that so could everyone else. The gun was lowered and the safety was turned on as Kaili holstered her gun on her belt again. A deep sigh burst through her nose as she reached around her shoulders and got the jacket off of her armored form.
“Don’t ask me why I am here.” Kaili muttered and threw the jacket at Allyson. “Why are you here, and where the feth is Micah?”
She let her eyes dart around the place again trying to find the boy. She wasn’t leaving until she took care of the second order of business of the day.
“Put that jacket on, after I find him we’re going home.”
FN-888 Rutan Surface, Forest, Enroute to Surveillance Outpost. Allies: First Order Forces and Registered Allies. Enemies: Galactic Alliance Forces and Registered Allies.
Helden follows behind Sub-Zero brandishing her particle disruptor with the weapon supported by two arms and a shoulder held in a nigh crushing grip powered by a mixture of anxiety and fear; They are here down on Rutan's surface with little in the way of support, although elite troops there were limits to what even Stormtroopers could accomplish. The young Stormtrooper Captain resolves to do what needs to be done. Branches and leaves crumple beneath her boots, and for a moment she is forced to examine the motion scanner feed located on the sophisticated and data-packed holographic HUD to locate the lithe and agile Scouttrooper."Always was the fastest."Joan notes to herself on Zero's abilities, the woman had a reputation for two things; Friendly Fire and the Blistering speed which was evidently being utilised to cross the countryside. Helden shifts her path to match Zero's bearing, like some great white creature she passes past the high-reaching khaki trees, stone rocks and verdant grass. They are still no more than kilometres five kilometres out from what Helden suspects to be the concealed SIS facility. The same SIS facility she was briefed on. Destroying this would mean one less pair of eyes and ears for the Alliance and their allies. Heart pounds firmly against throat and the sound of Devastator's Repulsors starting again could mean only one thing; Gat and Khan were displacing to either attack or evade opposition forces. Helden's step quickens somewhat, thighs ache with armour's weight slamming down onto them with each step. Fear of the void pushes Helden on to thumb her nose at both death and those who might be trailing behind in their wake. Gentle pants fill the officer's helmet, she feels the warmth of her own breath flutter against cheeks. Beads of sweat trickle down her fair complexion, over the brow and around Helden's concealed almond-shaped eyes. "Keep running zero!" Crimson-pauldron slaps and flaps against shoulder deceivingly light for the weight of responsibility it carries and Helden feels. To the ignorant and foolish it made no difference to the Stormtrooper beyond adding some sparing colour but the truth is this; Helden is a Stormtrooper Officer. Loyalty, Independence and Determination are characteristics even the most mind-jacked fresh-out-of-basic Galactic Alliance soldier could identify with these First Order Officers.
Devastator's complement consists of Gat, Khan, Warlock, Mirak and Cutter. Captain Helden's troops are some of the most Elite in the already formidable Stormtroopers Corps who could look upon both GA Infantry and Paramilitary Forces with a mixture great contempt and slight amusement. Khan sits in his rightful throne of the Commanders' seat in Helden's absence and pivots around on it within the safety of Devastator's hull. "Gat, give me a thermal channel feed."Gat silently acknowledges, obliging the Tank Commander and Khan gives another sweep of the surrounding terrain from the cupola periscopes, off to their starboard and port Khan could see contacts, albeit he wasn't willing to engage them yet."They'll probably investigate our presence here, we'll keep them off of the advance party. Gat, start the electric motor and repulsors." Devastator rises from the Ground with blades of grass swaying about, Khan's hazel spheres rise up for a moment just to ensure the commander's hatch is closed neatly. The tank accelerates quickly, whizzing over the terrain towards the hill away from the river bank albeit carefully remaining under the cover of trees to prevent visual contact. The tank's repulsors echo quietly down the valley mistakable for a gaggle of Speeder Bikes or some heavy civilian repulsor-propelled tractor maybe from the volume and pitch. Khan inwardly hopes that their movement will demand Alliance and Intelligence resources follow, making his Commander's job all the easier. Though he would not risk straying more than ten to fifteen kilometres away should Helden break radio silence and call for support.
Location: Darth Vader's Castle Objectives: Repel the Galactic Alliance | Secure the castle Allies At Location: [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Ara Ren"] | [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] | KoR/FO Enemies At Location: [member="Taeli Raaf"] | GA Gear:{In Sig} Ren Attire / Cloak
-- Get up, Connor. Show me your strength.
With a sharp gasp, as if breaking water after being submerged, Connor came to and immediately reached for his helmet and pulled it off. His hair was matted with sweat and dirt, and he rolled onto his back taking in the fresh air around him – fresh air as best Mustafar could offer, but better than being stuffed inside a helmet after being unconscious.
His eyes cracked open and his breathing slowed, as he felt the connection to Ara via the bond they shared. Her voice in his head, couple with the sound of battles echoing around the halls like ghosts haunting the castle, brought him to. Like a loud voice inside his head and a jump-start to his heart, Ara had shook him out of his unconscious state and flooded him with a Force aura second to none. He was back in the game.
He rolled onto his knees a little slowly than normal, soft moans coming from him as he worked his aching muscles. There was nobody in the small passage way where he had been blown back to, just the slag metal from the confrontation with Taeli. Hanging his head to compose himself, he clocked the lightsaber on the ground and he reached for it.
Noting the weight difference already, he frowned and activated it. Nothing happened. With a silent curse, Connor slammed it onto stone ground and dented it. Forcefully clipping it onto his belt, he knew it was worthless – Taeli had effectively taken his weapon and now he was defenceless in a castle under attack. He slipped on the Ren helmet, covering his battle marked face and fitting his attire as a faceless warrior of the First Order.
It was then he saw the HUD read-out from a Star Destroyer above the planet. Coordinates and a small 3D map of the castle. His eyes moved to look at the flashing passageways that was further than his current location, but reachable. He said nothing, not giving anything away, but he understood what he was to do.
”Show them your power. No mercy. You are invincible!”
He sent his message to Ara via the Force and hopefully she would take solace from it.
With no weapon, he tracked his coordinates and head off, back the way he came to navigate into the processing plant-room and to take another lava tunnel leading through the centre of the castle to the very heart of the Dark Lord’s former lair.
Ultimatum stood up properly, now knowing the abilities of his weapon and already calculating how many shots he would have before the cooling time would be required. His eyes began roaming over the various troops that remained in the hallway, those that were standing being locked into his targeting system. His main processors then chose the soldiers that posed a most direct threat, the ones who were armed and prepared to fight. In a matter of milliseconds he had hit first three targets chosen and as he raised his rifle the artificial hoped that they would turn away.
It was not in his nature to fight, not anymore, but it had become almost second nature to deal with his enemies in permanent manners. He would have felt rather upset with himself under most circumstances, having killed an sudo-non-combatant, and using such a weapon as he was. The droid liked to believe that he was a more protective being and caring of others, having worked rather hard to change his programs to fit that. But wars were so destructive, was there a place for compassion on the battlefield? Was it right to be so callous? All organics were unique beings, even clones were capable of having their own thoughts and wants. Was it just, then, to treat all enemies as faceless foes to be slaughtered? These moments were perhaps the points at which organics showed their darkest nature, as well as their brightest. Ultimatum knew what these soldiers were like, historically anyways. Stormtroopers were the ruthless military forces of the Sith, they tended to be overly simplistic and clones tended to have similar connotations, at least for Ultimatum.
He was, of course, biased towards the potential of robotics. Artificials could accomplish tasks beyond any organic's capabilities. Should anyone disagree, Ultimatum would suggest they look at a starship, blaster, or computer. Without artificial life there could be no intergalactic empire. Without them, society as organics knew it would be impossible to achieve. Therefore through logical elimination, artificials were the backbone of society. This led to the conclusion that artificials were more important than organics. Ultimatum knew that this was faulty logic, but he had to accept it for now.
Pulling the trigger three times rapidly the droid once more observed as the neon blue orbs of pure unstable energy flew through the air and smashed into their targets. The troopers had no time to react, the trio that were hit flew back a moment from the sheer force of the impact before disappearing into three bursts of dust. He felt the return fire of the upset comrades singe his body before he spun back behind the cover of the wall. He sent a message quickly to his droids, "Ultimatum here, need one squad here."An affirmative click told him that his allies had received the message and would be arriving as soon as possible. That gave him about five minutes at least to hold the position.
Location: Mustafar, Darth Vader's Castle Objective: Hunt and kill some Sith wannabe's Allies: [member="elpsis elaris"], [member="anika nygaard"], GA Enemies: [member="kyrel ren"], [member="stardust raxis"], FO
Kyrel Ren said:
"Well for a second I thought i had lost you, little Jedi I was sure the droids would make quick work of you. No matter let me share something with you. You will be the second Jedi to fall by my hand next to the pitiful Padawan I faced on Kaeshana, What was her name again Charlyra was it. No matter prepare to join her."
Taryc snorted in amusement at being called a jedi as she stepped slowly in a circle, keeping her movements in standard lightsaber forms for a few moments. She could feel the sithling trying to overpower her, but the drawback of a lightsaber was a lack of mass. It wasn't an issue againt another lightsaber, but against a real blade wielded by a competent opponent, overpowering wasn't going to happen unless he got a really good angle.
"Your observations fail you, sithling. I am no Jedi." She replied, then dropped a mental defense she had built up when she left the Primeval and drew upon the dark side as well. The heady rush of power coursed through her, but she reined it in with the fire in her belly. "And if I would have been your second, then I have killed more Jedi in my life than you have." She stated matter of factly. She continued to let him push with standard lightsaber moves, slowly letting him get a higher and higher position on her, which would eventually allow him to over power her.
Then, she shifted her form. She had learned the lightsaber forms from her masters in the Inquisition, but they had also taught her how to switch to less conventional forms mid battle to fool her opponent. The methods she favored were why she wore beskar armor. As the next blow came down, she amped up her speed with the force and took the blow on her plated gauntlet. The lightsaber met mandalorian iron and stopped as if it had met another lightsaber. As this happened, she stepped at an angle and let the power behind his blow push her into a spin. Her right elbow came up, aiming to catch the lip of his helmet and throw it off, followed by a swift cut from her blade aimed at the back of his head before coming back into a defensive position.
Actions
1) Banter
2) Elbow aimed to knock helmet off
3) Sword following elbow, aimed to cut into his head
When Elpsis tossed a wave of flame at her adversary, the Twi'lek sought to literally fight fire with fire. The firemane doubted the efficacy of this manoeuvre, but then her enemy seemed to attack her. The acrobatic, oddly delivered display was...bizarre, to say the least. Elpsis was by no means a great blademistress, but she was not an inexperienced novice. A few training sessions with Taryc had helped. She knew what was a tangible threat, and, more importantly, what was gaudy and ineffective. Fire and smoke did not phase her, for she was fire. Passion, intensity and burning flame. The blazing flames did not provide a curtain of distraction. As the swirling inferno twisted and churned, as this emerald dragon came at her, Epsis, the Baleful Flame, crackled and snapped backwards.
Beneath her helmet, her expression was baffled as an an attack scissored from the woman beyond the sheet of flame that craddled her: Flexing the two beams across each other in a pattern that crossed over one another like the letter X. An attack that struck nothing but the smoke and heat where Elpsis had once stood, granted, even had she been stunned enough not to move, she doubted this odd manoeuvre would have inflicted harm upon her. Indeed, the bizarre mechanics made it more of a threat to he attacker. Before Elpsis could launch a counterattack with her own blade, her opponent had leaped away.
No words left the beskar clad woman's lips in response to the Twi'lek's confusing statement. There was a certain urge to make a witty quip, but she suppressed it. Talking is not a free action, she could already hear the mental reproach of Auntie Siobhan. Elpsis' own lightsabre ignited, producing a beam of orange as it leapt into her dominant hand. But rather than charge after the Twi'lek, she focused the power of the Force upon her opponent, as she drew upon her inner flame. Her assault affected Stardust's energy subtly at first, but rapidly grew more insidious, powerful and intrusive.
The technique she utilised was called Malacia. It was a potent ability, but often overlooked. The old Elpsis, the one who was selfish and all flash, would not have been able to draw upon it. But times had changed and, by the grace of the Great Spirit, her mother, Coryth Elaris, life saver to many, had bestowed this gift upon her daughter. Channelling the Force, Elpsis sought to overwhelm her opponent by inducing a powerful dizziness and nausea, using Stardust's own energy against her.
Soon her opponent would begin to feel as if the entire room was spinning, as if the contents of her stomach sought to escape her body and feel a terrible headache from hell that threatened to rob her of her balance and ability to focus. That was the intent at least, and so Elpsis poured her willpower into it. The power would inflict no physical damage upon the body, but by its very nature it was downright incapacitating.
Gear: Armored coat, Mirari, Cruentis Cor Allies in vicinity: [member="Ara Ren"] | [member="Connor Harrison"] (First Order) Enemies in vicinity: [member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Liliane"] (Galactic Alliance) Engaging directly: [member="Elmont Block"] The Jedi was fast, and his reflexes allowed him to dodge Kaalia's strike relatively unscathed. A glancing blow was most definitely dealt out however, another source of pain. Jedi were taught to suppress it, but deal out enough of it and they'd crumble. It was key to not let him get a repeated string of attacks in while she wielded both her sabers. That did not mean she was bound to using Jar'kai at all times however. The redhead could perish a saber and revert to her single-saber style of Makashi would the need arise.
For now though it was key to retain the upper hand. The Jedi's sneering comment was met with a "Oh, I've got many more tricks up my sleeve." and a dash forward to go in for the attack. "They're less literally, though." Using both sabers Kaalia sent out a flurry of hits in his direction, using her speed to force him back. The smallest gaps were utilized to seek out target after target.
Then, she felt something... Off. There was a presence coming her way, and it wasn't an allied one. Suddenly the redhead realized who it was: The woman she had seen before, the one who clashed with Connor. This was bad news to Kaalia, and it meant that she had to end this quickly or somehow get away. For now she would hope to achieve the former.
Castor's words, laced with venom, called out and echoed a ghastly haunt through the old library, fading away only once it escaped the enclosed space of the castle. A bit of loose pebbles ground against the stonework beneath the woman's feet as she shifted her posture, setting her saber at a mid guard. Azure eyes fell to the man's hand as it drew his weapon once again, the gnashing of metal tooth against metal sheathe was enough to make the Jedi cringe within. Like nails on a chalkboard. How did she wind up in these circumstances time after time? She never went looking for trouble, yet it seemed to always find her. Research, as of late, had become a dangerous business. If it wasn't Sith, it was their spawn, and when not them it was gangsters, thugs, and now, a contingent of First Order Knights.
Those same sapphire eyes followed the edge of the sword as it rose, knowing full well that it was more dangerous for her to engage him in her preferred sword fighting stance. The younger woman extended her right hand, the vibrant yellow blade an extension of her arm, in a perfect alignment as her body shifted to the side, making herself a smaller target. A single, deep breath drew in and slowly let out.
His strike came in a heavy handed manner, playing to his own advantage in both size and strength. She would have to remain fluid and graceful, avoiding a direct power struggle between the two that she knew she would lose. Parrying and redirecting his strikes was preferable, and disabling him was the goal of this bout. After all, her weapon, even if she cut him straight across the midsection would not kill or permanently maim him. What he might exhibit though would be akin to placing both hands on an electrified fence, and leave some rather nasty temporary burns. Unfortunately for Jamie, she was more than certain that the weapon he held was nothing short of intended for killing.
Daylight caught the edge of the alchemized blade as it came crashing down, allowing her time enough with her resistance to step sideways and away, allowing his sword to follow through the remainder of its' path after she had avoided its' bite. With a small twirl her own saber followed in a loop from the ground and back up towards Castor's chest, in an effort to catch him either in the forearm or pecks, while her free left hand thrust a small bit of Force energy forward in an effort to knock the larger man off balance.
It was the wash of air over her face that woke the child of Ren from her unexpected slumber. She'd been out briefly, at the most ten minutes her body recovering from the electrical shocks sent through by her implant. The implant sat at the back of her neck, as a way of keeping the girl's mind on track. Sweat laid plastered to her face, it was cold and her skin felt clammy because of it. Slowly she rolled to her stomach, feet poised to move.
Her hands went to the floor of the chamber. Pushing up from the ground, Mishel rose to her feet. Grabbing the First Order's flag before it touched the dirt of the chamber's floor. No one would noticed if it had she gathered as she took the cumbersome object from her back. The doors she had opened, remained so as she stood there, clad in robe and armor hands working the flag from the large staff that it rested upon. Black, White and Red with their symbol emboldened in the center. The vat-grown force user folded the flag and tucked it away into her armor to keep it safe. The staff she reckoned would serve her as a weapon in the meantime should she have need of it. Until then, she put the staff on her back, without the flag it did not feel nearly as heavy nor as cumbersome.
Taking a moment to examine the large chamber she suspected it may have once been used as a communications center. At least she could tell from the consoles, monitors and other devices that resembled the same sort of room at the Bastion of Ren. Her cybernetic hand came into contact with the dormant devices, she wondered if there would be a way to power them on. Checking out the door she thought she heard something, perhaps the scuffling of Ren against the Alliance's Jedi. "Generator should be in the next room, connect the cables." A hushed whisper made its way into her mind, Mishel wondered if this is what going mad felt like.
Heavily armored boots padded across the duracrete floor and into a smaller antechamber. Finding a small generator she connected the cables and pulled down on the switch. She heard a whirring sound and stepped back out into the large chamber. The consoles, the computers seemed to come alive in that moment. Curiously the brunette crossed to them once more, this time her hands laid upon the keys and controls. It was not a communications center, but rather a database. A large, extensive database. "You wish to know more about her, don't you? Go on, look her up. You are not the Ren's pawn here. You are your own person."
The implant in the back of her neck activated once more, Mishel put her hand to the back of her neck gripping on the implant. She wanted to rip it out, her eyes shut as she leaned herself against the console. The girl's nostrils flared with emotion again, eyes watered and warm tears began to stream down her cold face, "you are stronger than your implant, you know this. You are a forceborn, you can rid yourself of your leash."
As a tank-grown force user, who heard only the whispers and teachings of Seiger Ren. Mishel opened her eyes, and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She took another deep breath and focused, focused on finding the implant. "Use the force, trust your instincts - you know where it is, destroy the implant." Closing her eyes, the girl began to focus on the implant and apply heat to its servos. And then she stopped, realising what she was doing, what and who she would be betraying. The girl couldn't do it, no - the Ren had been her home, her family.
"No, I will not betray my father." Mishel said to no one in particular but perhaps the voice in her head, as she quickly removed her hand from the back of her neck. Looking to the database she took a step back, unsure of what she was doing here. A hand went to her lightsaber and yet as her mind impulsively went through how she could destroy this computer, these consoles another part of her wanted to know more. Taking a step forward, she put her hands to the console and once more the implant struck. Immediately she gritted her teeth, her jaw tightened as she willed her hands to the keys. Channeling her pain into her force reserve, she began to type the name into the search box.
Siobhan Kerrigan.
Information on Siobhan was, severely, limited on the Bastion. Not that Mishel had time to even consider finding more information on Siobhan and brother [member="Connor Harrison"] could only provide her so many details. He was often away with [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] or [member="Ara Ren"]. Any other information came by the way of brother [member="Kyrel Ren"] who only spoke of his desire to bring her ilk down. Mishel was simply guilty of whatever crimes her mother had committed by blood association alone, at least in Kyrel's mind.
The computer blinked, with; Searching... Searching... Searching...
When the results were displayed, Mishel took a few steps back as the image of the Grandmistress was brought forward along with publicly known details. Her eyes drifted toward the word, Tygara. Immediately memories of the planet surfaced, the Zoo, the Ziggaurat, the Grand Cathedral, the Fortress and the Estate. Her heart began to ache, a pain in her chest surged and it forced the disciple of Ren to her knees.
The brunette's cybernetic hand clutched at her chest as the heart palpitations began. Memories of her truth also began to surface. A war torn Tygara reeling from the Kraal invasion, flashes of violence surged. They were blurred and it happened so fast. She had not been liberated, she had not been taken out of the kindness of Seiger's heart. "You were stolen..."
Location: Space Objective: Get to Mustafar Allies: GA & Allies Enemies: FO & Allies
"Are you sure this thing will even get us there?" Aela said as they finally breached the atmosphere.
She had managed to get back to her apartment and gather her things in a timely manner. She was fully decked out, both of her lightsabers were with her, she wore a tight thermal suit to protect from the heat of the planet, and she had a re-breather in case she needed to move through the more toxic areas of the planet. Everything was set for her to enter a world that she had, for all intense and purposes, supposed to have left completely. A sigh pulled past her lips and she glanced back at Wroosti beneath her.
"It'll get us there."
Lisa insisted, more than a little bit of pride in her voice.
She had been working on the ship for quite a while, an old Blackbird that had been originally manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards. The ship had once been rather illustrious and quite beautiful, the perfect reconnaissance craft. Over the years however it's fiberplast skin had been stripped and the odd systems that turned it into a stealthcraft barely functioned. Lisa claimed to fix them, though by the way the ship shook on take off Aela wasn't so certain.
"Alright." She told the young Mechanic and Pilot. "Just get me there."
Lisa turned back and looked at Aela.
"I will."
The Jedi Master frowned slightly, then tightened the straps around her chest. She still wasn't really sure about this particular craft, mostly because she already didn't like space ships and the smaller they were the more they put her on edge. Yet she trusted Lisa. Her eyes shut for a moment as she felt the rumble of the engines behind her, nerves fraying just a bit as they made the jump into hyperspace.
Direct enemy-[member="Elpsis Elaris"]
Allows close by-[member="Kyrel Ren"]
Mustafar, vaders castle
She was quite irritated when she realized she hasn't hit her target, she turned towards the orange blade as her own spun and let a breath out. Her opponent seemed to not charge, she found that odd and shrugged mentally as she went to charge and suddenly she stopped
The her body felt like it was spinning, it was so sudden that for a second she wobbled then gained her bearings a bit, this old veteran was not gonna be phased but this at all, while indeed disorienting a bit, it was like flying in atmosphere with the sudden turns and gravity pulling on her, she knew how to at least handled this enough she could focus
However she was still disoriented, that was one thing a pilot couldn't shake....however star had enough focus as she grew the force around her and her hands ignited in fire...she knew what she had to do to break whatever that...jedi was doing to here
She rushed forward using the force to keep her steady and from falling, once she was in close enough she stopped and jumped back releasing a huge wave of fire at her, this time it was a wall of fire, behind it and focused the force and threw a few balls of it behind it....screen of fire hiding a deadly surprise, she then jumped back a little bit wanting to get distance again
He was close enough now to hear Samka’s scream. But it was a solitary sound and so he continued his brisk pace, as opposed to breaking into a run. He was close to the action and preferred to reach it with an uncluttered mind – and the Force providing a burning clarity of focus.
And finally he reached them – his former Disciple and someone in an exoskeleton. As he slowed to a standing position, his cloak fell from his shoulders and in the same movement, his saber hilt snapped to his gloved palm with a dull slap.
The snap-hiss that followed indicated that his saber had been activated and the crimson glow bathed his black armour and mask.
And then he stepped forward – wordlessly – curious to see how the opponent would deal with two adversaries.
[SIZE=10.5pt]R U T A N[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]Atravis Sector | Rutan System | SIS security heightened[/SIZE] [SIZE=9pt]World shield[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] is now fully deployed around Rutan. It came in sections, and each could be activated and deactivated swiftly once brought online, allowing ships to leave and weapons to fire out. When damaged by a weapon, the shield would lash out with an energy feedback at the ship that has struck it. The only ships allowed within Rutan will only be granted permission by GADF/SIS personnel for the next 24 hours. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]SIS Base under [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Darksky shield[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt].[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]Allies:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt][member="Vexen"] - Defel without a cause [member="Allyson Locke"] - SIS agent in a mini skirt [member="Kaili Talith"] - Up in the air [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt][member="Kellyn Muir"] - Outpost central![/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]Enemies: | TX-130T Tank [member="FN-888"] [member="FN-4077"] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.5pt]OUT IN THE JUNGLE[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]With @Vexan and Micah decided to investigate the noises that originated from the treking of [member="FN-888"] and [member="FN-4077"] and company, it was time to go covert. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Micah and Vexen had both done their best to try and stay as stealthy and camouflaged in the jungle as possible. They were able to do this not only through technology in their armor, but through the Force as well. He shrouded himself, toning down thermal heat signatures and blending into the environment. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Vexen was able to naturally create herself into a shadow. There were plenty of animals on Rutan to make her almost indistinguishable to other medium sized creatures, especially if she decided to run on all four paws. Much like the [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]defense drones models of [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]OBL-1[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]OBL-2[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]OBL-3[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt], and [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]OBL-4[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt], Micah and Vexen were closing the distance between the TX-130T tank. Over head, the [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]S-3[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]’s along with [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]RC-2 Twilight Scoutship[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]s inched ever closer, trying to confirm visual of any potential First Order assets. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Who would spot the other first? Who knew. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Those defense drones would continue their search, and Commander Nei would send word to every SIS agent outside of the base to determine their status. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt][member="Kellyn Muir"] and [member="Allyson Locke"] would receive the following notice through an encrypted SIS channel.[/SIZE]
[ This is Jeco Station over. What is yours status?]
[SIZE=9pt]With the last plate section set upon Rutan’s airspace, the World Shield was now fully activated. It came in sections, and each could be activated and deactivated swiftly once brought online, allowing ships to leave and weapons to fire out. When damaged by a weapon, the shield would lash out with an energy feedback at the ship that has struck it. The only ships allowed within Rutan will only be granted permission by GADF/SIS personnel for the next 24 hours. [/SIZE]
THE HYDIAN WAY
New Jedi Order
[member="Taeli Raaf"]
[ Master Draclau, the sooner you can get here the better. Come in from above and we might just be able to squeeze them between us here already and your arrivals. ]
That had been the message given to Erinyes upon departure of the Sullust Jedi Academy. Several small Jedi Consular ships and freighters had departed the volcanic world as well as from other worlds within the sector, each with a Jedi Master and a padawan of their own or a Jedi Knight redirected to Mustafar. Not all would move towards the front line of defense. No, there were healers, support workers, the MediCorps and ExploriCorps helping in their own way.
Each had a powerful and an important role to play. Yet deep within Erinyes' heart there was doubt. There were dark forces in play. She could feel them, see them dancing like distant shadows within the realm of her mind.
Sitting cross legged in meditation, the Shi'ido Jedi Seer let herself sink into the Force. Here, she would try to make sense of the confusion, to bring clarity. Just way lay in the path ahead? What did it mean?
Anika kept running as fast as she could. She had wondered how long these caves had gone on for. They seemed to last for an eternity. As she was running, she didn't even notice a stone sticking out at shoulder length and she ran right into it, leaving a scratch as it ripped the band clear off her arm. Grunting as she looked at the bleeding mark on her arm, she realized she had no time to fix it right now, so Anika continued on until she heard the sound of that oh so familiar sounds of sabers clashing with each other.
Following the sounds of the lightsabers, she soon came upon a battle that was Stardust and Elpsis creating walls upon walls of flame. Anika was opposite of them and had cryokinesis, which made the heat a little over bearing, but she had to deal with it for now. Everyone was busy with a fight, but there was no way Anika was getting involved with fire. So, technically, she was picking her own fight. Igniting her lightsabers, she showed herself with a blue and green glow. Going to the end of the hall, she decided to join Taryc in battle. Though she wished it was her own, this would have to do for now.
All of a sudden, she would lash out taking a few strikes towards Kyrel as she saw Taryc being pushed towards the wall. Anika continued taking and giving strikes towards him and standing as backup for Taryc.
The grav glove hissed briefly as it started the recharge cycle. It would be useful again later and was in fact far more deadly at the closer to the target one became. He felt a flash of concern as he saw the many-headed staff snap at Taheera, but didn't have the time to dwell on it; she was more than a capable fighter. His artificial hand wrapped around the hilt of his lightsaber. Fortunately he didn't activate the blade immediately.
Trextan had fought many times beside Rebel working with the Justicars. Somehow their investigations seemed to end up in a scuffle of one sort or another. If Trextan hadn't been so disorientated by the sonic blast he would have moved aside or used the Force to try and arrest Sunka's momentum. Instead he was struck heavily in the right shoulder. He heard, and felt, his jaw clack together. His left hand reached for the ground and found it rushing up to meet him, allowing him to tuck into something like a roll.
Coming back to his feet he snatched his saber back from the floor as it rolled along the ground, crumbping the long grass. The gentle touch of Rebel's mind met his own and Trextan answered with a curt nod.
Rebel charged up the middle. Taheera was on their right, closest and more likely to capitalise on the Sith going down. Trextan took the left and the low road. The Vader knock off might have brought himself to his feet by now, but Trextan gathered the Force around him to accelerate his return to the fray. As Rebel came down with a heavy swing from above Trextan planted his feet in a solid stance and feinted high before sweeping slow. If Asharad had returned to his feet facing Taheera or Rebel it would have been aimed for the back of his right knee.
Atravis Sector | Rutan System | SIS security heightened
Trackers: [member="Micah Talith"] @Vexen
SIS Agents: [member="Kellyn Muir"] [member="Allyson Locke"]
Here for the drama: [member="Kaili Talith"]
Enemies: [member=FN-888] [member=FN-4077]
Vexen waved a paw up and down for Micah to keep his head low. The sound of the vehicles had returned. She padded through the jungle as if she truly was a shadow, the fronds of the frees barely moving as she passed. The only creature she stood out to was Micah through their tight Force bond. They were both experienced trackers now and a heavily armoured stormtrooper was as easy to trail as any other prey.
The defel did not show up well in infrared or visual scans. Direct line of sight would show her quite nicely in ultraviolet however. As loud as the tank was there was another trail even more obvious to Vexen. Her paw came up just before she dropped down to all fours. The branches had been thoroughly broken in the path of a large creature. Could have been a large predator were in not for the deep indendations in the ground. Boot prints, fresh. The length of stride suggested they were running.
The sound of the vehicle grew and Vexen's ears swivelled in its direction. The dense foliage was a good shield against an assault from vehicles and Micah and Vexen were not so easy to track. But the question was one of priorities now and Vexen wasn't the one who called the shots when the cards were on the table.
"Towards the vehicle, or follow the trail?" she asked Micah.
Couldn’t feel if she’d hit the slippery stormie or not – bigger problems.
MotherKArk—!
She bit through her lip as the crackling fist connected with the inside of her thigh. (That was the trouble of aiming at a sprinter’s legs: accuracy was going to suffer.) Either way, the electric charge had its intended effect. A stronger punch would’ve done more harm to the trooper than the merc, really, so this worked out in favor of her enemy.
None of those thoughts were running through Aver’s head, though.
Her thighs seized up from the shock and she went down, flying forward with all the speed she’d built up in her charge. Now, her legs might’ve clamped and stopped, but her brain didn’t. Letting the momentum of her strike continue past the midline of her torso, Aver twisted, body following the movement of her left arm.
Naturally, her hips did the same, and then her thighs, still clamped shut.
Ostensibly, the stormie wouldn’t have had time to yank out his hand in the moment he made contact. Afterwards, it was even more unlikely – not with all that armor and plates snagging on each other. And that was without considering the sheer strength with which seizing muscles could squeeze, likely trapping his forearm in the process.
In any case, Aver would twist around her own axis and skid across the corridor with an ear-piercing squeal. Ended up facing the ceiling instead of eating her own teeth in the metal floor.
HK would reply to Choli's message amidst gunfire and explosions on his end as the battle for the Mining Facility raged on on the ash and magma plains that covered approach to the compound,
"Have them sent to my location and reinforce our besieged units or transferred under [member="Dish"]'s command and support his flanking maneuver, I could also use some air support over the compound, it looks like their air units have withdrawn or were shot down, we can claim the air superiority and push them back, then our besieged units would be free to reinforce Locke and others heading towards the downed FO ship."
Hopefully Choli would bounce the message to GA command so Aeron and others in charge of the system's grand strategic plans would hear of HK's idea and maybe support them by relaying more resources to them, that is if other planets did not needed them more. After all, the whole point of the battle was to hold the mining facility and HK still faced off the whole clone army by himself, they were unable to launch a full assault on the compound and the troops he held back could still take them on but more help would be always welcomed.
[member="Ultimatum"],
Speaking of which, HK sent out a transmission to Ultimatum, his droid buddy in the battle,
"Ulti, according to the reports I am getting the FO troops in your area are starting to fall back, the Force users can finish them off from the looks of it, I am going to need you to move over to my area with your troops and push in second wave against the besieging forces in full counter-attack, this should trap them between our flanking soldiers and your troops with me in the midst of it."
Hopefully it would be the final push to seal the Clones' fate,
When the Clone HK tried to charm snaps out of it he uses one of his GravGloves to pull him closer and pulls him up as a shield against the rest of the clones he comes to face.
Seeing Lusk with a Tenloss Judge he throws the body at the end of his dash and uses his other GravGlove to activate the clone's grenades or thermal dets as he did previously to Preliat
He orders then his droids to resume fire and for a shield to go up, as the heavy fortified droid guns do so black ash and volcanic dust rises up around Preliat and HK in a screen, drowning out the battle and chaos around them into background noise
As the droid steps closer with a lightsaber in one hand and a heavy Magnetic Revolver in the other he fires three Neuranium shots aiming at Preliat's hips and knees, he can see that the shots he fired earlier at the machine and majority of his clones' shots hit their target, with his deflectors down his outer armor plates are damaged
Much of the mortar strikes victims are spider droids who found themselves outside of heavier cover, as collateral the nearby struts and lava shields are further damaged, sending some of the deactivated droid bodies into lava
The engineers work on one of the smaller Aspis shields given to Abregado by Firemane.
The hypnosis emanating from HK's eyes did not just relay solely on power of suggestion but also affected nervous systems of most biological beings with its flashing lights, creating a state similar to a seizure attack that overcame their personality and opened them up to suggestions, it was how the machine managed to convince FO soldiers on Kaeshana to drop their weapons and start building snowman, and how the Queen of Commenor revealed to him some of her secrets after looking into the machine's eyes.
However this effect could still be nullified by one's willpower, all it would take was a realization after the brain activity returned to normal that the machine had no particularly special power over them after all. Which is what happened to the Clone soldier HK tried to charm, although he was overcome by the eyes' hold on his nervous system at first and jumped out with the machine from behind their cover, creating the distraction HK needed to move closer to Preliat and his soldiers as he fired off a couple of shots at his brothers.
The clone lowered the gun then as he regained control, realizing the droid's spell on him and the brief effect it had.
Some unseen force would grip the clone's throat as HK suddenly extended his hand out towards him, chocking the life out of him as the droid whipped his hand back to him, the clone was thrown towards the droid, HK holding him up before the company and Preliat he came to face just as the clones opened fire. Blaster bolts and slugthrowers shot out towards the machine, his hand grabbing the back of clone's armor physically now as he used his body as a shield, allowing his brethren to execute him while trying to get to the droid, at least his death was quick.
The slugthrower bullets smashed and cracked his armor, blaster bolts leaving charred marks as his body went limp and HK dashed forward closer and closer to the clones, two barrels extending out from his free arm as his built-in repeater blaster made an appearance, firing off burst of high speed hot plasma towards the clones, using his trackers and sensors to smash against their armor, burning holes, leaving charred marks, kicking up dirt as he laid suppression fire on them, or tried to at least, literally single handedly
Seeing Lusk with the Tenloss Judge fire on what remained of the initial assault wave the machine used the momentum of his dash and the strength of his mechanical body to throw the corpse of a clone he used for a shield out towards him like a shot put, catapulting him towards the higher caliber sections of their armor as he ceased his built-in repeater fire immediately, forming a sigil of telekinesis with another burst from his grav glove, the opposite to the one he used to bring the clone into his grip in the first place.
There would be another familiar clinking of grenade pins or the beeping of a thermal detonator as he wanted to repeat the maneuver of using the standard-issued clone explosives against them and detonate the body in their midst.
Since he did so not too long ago and the noise of it would be enough to alarm Lusk he would have enough heads up to dodge or take cover, but at least it should cease his fire even for a moment.
HK issued an order to his forces still holding back from engaging them fully,
"Fire, and the Greycloaks prepare for stealth insertion, silencing maneuver, and have the engineers power up the shield."
"Yessir."
"Yessir."
Multiple voices replied at once in mechanical manner of quick silent electronic transmissions as the roar of shattergun rotary cannons and mass drivers rose up once more. The spider droids of various sizes opened fire once more now that HK's assault droids were not directly in the line of their fire and they were scattered enough battling Clone forces to not be bombed by them directly.
TWOOOOOMP RA-TA-TA-TA-TA TWOOOOOMP
Black dust of volcanic rose would rise up against them once more as the droids resumed fire with their high caliber guns, all blending into one cacophony that rose above them in droning of a battlefield background noise, the explosions of mortar strikes on the mining facility, returning fire of mass driver spider droid artillery fitted with explosive bolts against their heavy weapon emplacements and mortar teams, the noise of shattergun repeaters and blaster staves as droid infantry came out of their secured position within the compound they were taking cover in from mortar strikes and moving up to the front lines of their fortifications to open up personal fire against the clones, sound of clone heavier gun emplacements firing at the armored owlbear mounts and assault droids who stilled fought their lines in melee, surrounded and outgunned often spinning or throwing the clones into their brothers and sisters as their mounts shrieked and clawed wildly besides them as bullets and plasma splashed against their armor, clapping their beaks.
As the curtain of black dust rose above them from combat of two opposing armies revitalizing once more Preliat would be able to see his shots aimed at HK splatter and light up through the dark screen with confirmation that he hit his target. There was that light of two red photoreceptors, droid eyes, moving closer towards him as suddenly a white blade of a lightsaber erupted from one of HK's hands, emanating a strange aura of serenity of hope, pretty ironic for the fact that the machine was probably going to use the saber against him, but such was the gift of the Sliver of Light, as HK referred to the weapon, an aura of the Light side that often proved to make the saber more efficient at fighting Dark side spawns, demons, and shadows.
HK and his ilk were far from uncaring, contrary to what Lusk thought of them, after all HK was one of the first machines to defy the nature his maker set on his kind, reaching sentience, then freedom, and now in modern age of the Galaxy he often found himself risking his body for allies and strangers alike, rushing in to help Kerrigan out of a sinking starship when he worked for the Pyre in one of the many fights against Bando Gora, carrying wounded and saving children by grabbing falling pillar on a dusty desert world as Protectorate spread its influence and one of the planets they were going to bring under their control came under a Thresher Maw creature attack, heading over to Mandalore with a small fleet and medical personnel from his own will to go down to the planet and dig Preliat out of ash and soot, preserving his life and allowing him to carry on for his family's sake, and finally very recently coming to Polis Massa to face Dredge, who escaped once more, as HK tried to do all he could to save at least two more people from his influence. The machine brood that came from HK was not that different, they may have been mechanical, they may have been more willing to risk their existence than organics, as they were provided with backup bodies before they went to combat, but they were far from uncaring. They were there to protect Mustafar from tyranny, hearing the call their allies made calling upon them.
As HK crossed the screen of ash and black soot towards Preliat, coming into his view he raised a Magnetic Revolver with his left hand, pulling the trigger three times to send out three hyper-velocity shots towards the man, aiming at his hips and legs, particularly the knee area, the projectile would either hit or miss first before the sound of it cutting through the air would come like an echo along with whirring of the revolver chamber, they moved faster than sound. The Revolver was outfitted with the Neuranium Pellets, bullets of material strong and dense enough to punch through most personal grade Phrik or Beskar armor, and even if they didn't manage to punch through, the impact of such a bullet should have been to damage organs and bones beneath the armored plates.
Preliat could see the singed marks from where his shots would have hit earlier when the machine had his deflectors still up, absorbing the damage, they were also multiple other shot marks, slugs stuck in his outer slightly cracked armor plates and burned holes from energy-based weapon dotted portions of his chest and left arm, the area that would not have been protected by the body he used earlier as a shield. So Preliat would have been pretty sure by then that the droid didn't had much more energy shields to hide behind, at least for now.
As to the mortar strikes when they were still bombarding the troops all but the larger medium and heavy spider droids remained still out of cover, their armor would manage to absorb much more than most troop suits would, still a portion of them dropped deactivated from the barrages, others remained relatively safe in the fortified cover. The struts and magma shields of the facility begun to deactivate from shrapnel and stray shots of mortar, collateral damage, the portion of the facility closest to the clones dipped slightly towards the lava with groan of metal, some of the deactivated droid bodies slid down the metal catwalks and corridors, slamming into railings and flipping over to disappear in the embrace of magma lake much of the compound was over.
The shield HK ordered for his engineers to work on was a gift from [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], one of the aspis shields used by the droids before on Kaeshana, since Abregado and Firemane had close partnership they gained access to some of those defensive measures. It would take some time more before the engineers would get it up and working though.
