Invasion Oderint Dum Metuant | The First Order Invasion of Galactic Alliance held Mustafar Hex

[Samka Derith]

Location: Undisclosed, somewhere in First Order Space

The Supreme Leader of the First Order watched with a disgruntled expression as the console at the far end of the room flashed red.

ERROR​

DATA STREAM INTERRUPTED​

​

He took another sip of the fine red wine from his glass, noticing how withered his fingers looked as he did so.

The Ren had achieved a partial success it seemed. What data they had from Lard Vader was usable but a partial success was not a success. He fancied himself a fair man so he would wait to listen before passing judgement on his 'children'. Only then would there be appropiate punishments.

A set back perhaps but not an ending. Darth Vader had been turned to the Dark Side by the stories told of the power of Darth Plagueis. The power to prevent death. Lord Vader had never stopped looking, the information he held on prolonging life, whatever it was, would be in his hands soon enough.

If there was one thing Sieger Ren was determined to never do - it was to die.

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Objective: Have Fun Storming The Castle
Allies in Vicinity: [member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Samka Derith"]
Directly Engaging: [member="Taryc Ap'Irae"] | [member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Elpsis Elaris"]

Spoiler

Allies At Location: [member="Castor Ren"] | [member="Zmej Ren"] | [member="Kyrel Ren"] |[member="Mishel Ren"] | [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] KoR/FO
Enemies At Location: [member="Jamie Pyne"] | [member="Sarge Potteiger"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Vitha Sat-thuron"] | [member="Liliane"] | [member="Ty Rellius"] | [member="Kimiko"]

Gear: In signature

((NPCing Samka Derith per permission of her writer here))

Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Samka fall back in obvious pain, although no new wounds appeared to explain the expression and cries of pain from the girl. Knowing all too well the power of illusions pushed upon one’s mind, Ara was merely glad that the other Knight was clear of the debris that fell from the ceiling in larger, more dangerous chunks as she and Connor increased their pull. A fireball raged from Samka’s opponent’s hand, the edges of the flames brushing past as the girl fell away.

Her left hand clenched tighter and twisted, spurring the obsidian, rock, magma, and pipes above to break free from the cavern. The hellish sounds of twisting metal and collapsing rock mixed with the sound of blaster fire. The knight’s gaze shot over to the two others in the room as they retreated, bolters aimed at herself and Connor, rounds of explosive ammo aimed in their direction.

An explosion of rock and metal sent the girl flying back, the sting of superheated shards of rock cutting through the fabric of her armor and stinging her face with shallow cuts. Her instinctual move to throw her arm in front of her eyes saved her face from further damage, her forearm on fire from a multitude of cuts and embedded obsidian.

A thought extinguished her saber, the hilt falling from her hand as she dropped to one knee, hands in front of her to ward of the shockwaves from the wild shots and the created cave-in. She was tapped out, the force eluding her grasp even in this nexus of darkness, her armor and skin the only barrier between her and the collapsing cavern.

The roar of falling boulders and debris grew to deafening levels as rock and metal settled, the only sound she could make out that of her own heartbeat as she waited for the aftermath of the battle.

Suddenly the room went silent, save for the small sounds of pebbles and bubbling magma. She couldn’t feel past her elbows, a quick glance showing shredded fabric and bent duraplast, angry red skin covered in abrasions visible through the breaks in the fabric. Her face burned from heat and many small scratches, a few drops of blood tracing slow trails down her cheeks and over her jaw. Aching to wipe the blood away, she reached down and retrieved the saber hilt instead, hissing as her battered hands sent veins of lightening through her nerves.

She liked it better when her arms and hands were numb.

A forced laugh drew her attention to the man a few yards away, his helmet smoking on the ground, his own armor having seen better days. A cursory glance revealed no major injuries, the Knight letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Regardless of where they stood personally, a knot of fear loosened knowing he, and Samka beyond him, were both safe and seemingly in one piece. She let herself fall to both knees, every muscle and bone aching with the expended effort and the heat swirling around them.

A quick glance around the room had one corner of the girl’s mouth quirking into an amused smirk, the stalagmites of crystals glowing against themagma, but no other tunnel opening apparent.

”Was this the extent of your plan or did you also have a way to get us out?”

The quip was out of her mouth even as the disciple lay back and subsequently passed out. Whether he heard her or not, she was unsure. The connection between them burned slow and steady, he was in no immediate danger. Her gaze locked with the red eyes of the purple-haired knight a distance away from them.

The battle was over, now they had to find a way out.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

L O C A T I O N​

Mustafar Ashflats - Wreck of the FIV Frontrunner​

A L L I E S
[member="Irajah Ven"] | [member="Pharazon Draken"] | [member="Rexus Wenck"]

E N E M I E S​

[member="Choli Vyn"]​

"They're pulling back," Natasi said into her communicator, her eyes not turning away from the wreck of the Frontrunner. "Everyone, withdraw! The reactor is about to go!" She shoved Shorty away from his position, put her hand on his back to propel him away from the wreck. They dodged blaster bolts -- somehow -- ducking and weaving, occasionally tripping. Natasi went down when a blaster bolt nearly clipped her leg, sending a blast of powdery black ash and soot up in front of her. She slammed to the ground hard, her helmet skittering away. There was no time to pick it up now, and while her identity would now be visible, she wasn't sure anyone would care at this point. No one knew what an explosion of the Frontrunner's reactor would do under these conditions. No one wanted to be the poor bastard who was standing to close when it went.

Shorty wasn't so lucky. He took a shot to the chest and went down hard on a rock. He was winded, a head wound gushed from where it hit the rock. Natasi stopped and shouted at him to "Get up! We're almost there!" He looked up at her, dazed, disoriented. Natasi was tempted to shoot him then and there -- like a wounded horse -- like the coward he was -- but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She couldn't leave him laying there, either. She dropped to her knees, pulled his arm over her shoulder, and struggled to her feet. He was almost twice her weight, and her legs and back shrieked a painful protest. She herself let out an undignified grunt. "Stand up, Shorty!" she ordered, looking over her shoulder at the Frontrunner as flames continued to burst from its interior.

Lieutenant Mondel was almost certainly dead inside, along with those troops that couldn't safely be moved. She grunted again and propelled herself forward with everything she had. Another one of [member="Rexus Wenck"]'s men came scrambling towards them and Natasi shouted at him to "Help me! He'll live if we can get him to safety!" With the load lightened, they were able to double-time it to the nearest command speeder, where they hauled Shorty inside. The command tanks were not luxurious or medical transports, but he 'd be better off there than in a jolting, jerking tank that was taking fire.

"Thank you," Natasi told the other soldier, who simply nodded and continued on his way. She unholstered her blaster and continued moving forward, shifting around to the front of the command speeder where she would get an update on the battle. As she climbed in, static erupted from the speakers and the command display momentarily shimmered, flickered, and went out before coming back. She didn't need to look outside to know that the Frontrunner's reactor had gone. The speeder jolted in the shockwave. She wiped the back of her hand across her forehead; blood smeared, the wound having opened again. "Dr. Ven will be furious," she muttered to the tank's communications officer, who looked back at her blankly.

Natasi popped the top hatch and hauled herself up to look out, her dark eyes sweeping the scene from behind soot-stained skin. Surveying the horrors of war that surrounded her -- from the savagery of [member="Rexus Wenck"] to the agony of [member="Pharazon Draken"], from the terrible whoops of satisfaction as Allied forces went down to anguished cries of despair as tanks and the men inside went up in flames -- Natasi's greatest wish was that she was not on Mustafar, but somewhere safe and quiet and warm. The horrors of war were overwhelming. But the words came unbidden to Natasi's mind as quickly as she imagined herself in her office, away from the ugly, sulfuric hellscape of Mustafar. She didn't remember where she had heard them before -- college, perhaps, some philosophy course. They would eat at her for the rest of her life.

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."



It was a damning indictment that would hang over her head for the rest of this war.

She cleared her throat as she dropped down into the cabin again and sealed the lid. "Set course for the mining facility," she said grimly, wiping blood out of her eye. "If we cannot hold it, we will lay waste to it. Tell the others."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

​

Vader's Castle​

Allies: [member="Taryc Ap'Irae"] [member="Elpsis Elaris"]​

Enemies: [member="Ara Ren"] [member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Samka Derith"]​

​

Directly Engaging: Cascading rock and debris​

Gear: In signature​

​

She deflected the attacks from the Ren girl, moving back in careful measure... until Connor and the Ren got the bright idea to bring the house down... literally. Rock and debris started raining down as the ceiling to the cavern gave way to the combined power of the Knights and Connor. A protective bubble formed around Taeli, her concentration going into holding it against the avalanche that was coming down around all of them. Honestly, out of all the ideas Connor had... this took the cake and the entire banquet with it.

Heat and fumes filled the air, dust settling over everything as the collapse finally stopped. She was surrounded by rock, and while her barrier had held, she obviously had not been fast enough as parts of her armor were dented and she was aching from several bruises where rocks had hit her. Her hair was also frizzing from the heat released from the magma reaction. She could feel her two allies were alive, and the Ren were also alive still as well... although Connor felt like he had passed out. Her mind probed around and it would seem the Ren were in part of the cavern with no exit. Hmm, they seemed to need some help.

Exhaling slowly, the rubble around her started to shift away as she began clearing herself a path to exit from her shell. He really needed to think his plans through more, he really really did.

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

[member="Kriel Firin"]

(Sorry, I thought I had posted. It's been a long week >.<)

So the duel went, saber's clashing in the entryway to a castle set above inhospitable obsidian and lava. Or, perhaps it was magma. Likely both, given the fiery nature of this deathworld. As focused as he was, he could sense his opponent was too, and there came the inevitable moment wherein his opponent realized what he was up against. That wasn't confidence speaking, but merely the acknowledgment that a preferred fighting style was easy to figure out.

But Sarge hadn't learned bladework to rely solely on it. A blade swept in for his left knee, and the only thing he could do there was block - so when the next blow came as he re-positioned the saber, he moved his right leg back so that he could pivot his torso out of the way; though the blade clipped his chestplate and took a chunk of metal off it.

Stabilizing himself, he suddenly threw his left shoulder forward, powered armor propelling him - and his elbow - towards Kriel's face so that he could give the man a knock to the head before shifting into a downward cross-slash from Kriel's left shoulder to his right hip, using the momentum from his forward charge to add power to an already strong swing.

Suddenly, the Jedi was on the offensive.

 

[Kaili Talith]

https://gfycat.com/WholeLeanEmperorpenguin​

​

[Kaili's Armor] [Serenity of Inari]

​

​

[member="Allyson Locke"] [member="Micah Talith"] [member=Vexen] [member=FN-888] [member=FN-4077]

​

Kaili on the other hand did not stifle laughter. Taking a few moments to move further away from Allyson and to create another flank she eventually stepped out of the brush with her slugthrower raised. There was not a single word slipping from the blonde’s lips, not a single syllable or sound as she kept her gun pointed at the soldier with the red pauldron. They were First Order from the looks of it. It was hard to mistake the sleek white armor for little else than a stormtrooper, but this one wasn’t alone. Kaili felt the force buzz with life, digital life, in the distance. Someone or something was around to help this one.
Maybe the tank. Kaili shot a look at Allyson and then Micah before setting her sights on the trooper again.
“Where’s the tank?” The girl inquired. “I know it’s somewhere around here.”
Her finger shifted onto the trigger.

​

 

[Kriel Firin]

[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

Spoiler

The two were still sizing each other out. This suggested it would be an even contest — or at very least a long one. Neither was reckless enough to take an unwarranted risk and both were experienced enough to wait for the correct moment to press an opening as opposed to wait for one.

And that moment was not now.

So Talon Ren saw his first swing blocked and felt the reverberations of the solid contact and was genuinely surprised when his opponent chose to avoid the second blow as opposed to deflect or block it. The result was a chunk of armour being removed — but other than the cost of repair, it amounted to nothing consequential. At least not in terms of health.

But what it did mean was that the light-sider was clearly not a simple Soresu user, prepared to parry and wait indefinitely. He was clearly keen to mix things up and shift the momentum whenever possible. Which was a tactic that could go one of two ways. Forms were devised for a reason and to mix and match was a bold move.

Bold negative when you underplayed the Form’s strength and bold positive when you confused the opponent. Often it was a blend of both and only time could tell the true nature of the pros and the cons.

And the immediate plus was that, as Talon Ren considered these options, his opponent used his body as opposed to his saber to seize the upper hand. Talon Ren’s head snapped back with the force of the blow from the other man’s elbow. An unguarded face might show signs of the attack — at very least a broken nose or cheekbone. An unguarded elbow on a helmet might see the elbow joint damaged. But the trade-off of armour meant neither suffered any lasting damage.

But Talon Ren expected the light-sider to keep coming and so backed away, using the momentum of the attack to aid his short retreat. It was a wise move as a saber blade swung perilously close to his torso, catching the armour in a couple of places — the circuitry below the surface of the suit fizzing and spitting as it was severed.

Smiling behind the mask, the Knight of Ren concentrated on the small amounts of pain the lacerations had caused and used it to fuel his connection to the Force.

“Is that all you’ve got?” he asked — his voice impassive and inhuman through his vocaliser. If the light-sider wanted to take the upper hand, Talon Ren was keen to see how the Soresu user would fare. So a little encouragement seemed entirely in order.

 

[Ultimatum]

Location: Mustafar
Objective: Mining Facility
Allies: [member="HK-36"], Six-O, [member="Tarion Daemora"], [member="Celestia Tremaine"], [member="Draco Vereen"]
Enemies: [member="Commander Lusk"], [member="Rolf Amsel"], [member="Pharazon Draken"], @Arthan Corvax, [member="AR-3752"], [member="Natasi Fortan"], [member="Rexus"] Wenck, [member="Preliat Mantis"]

Ultimatum fired once more, cutting down another of the advancing troopers before realizing that he had a message from HK. The older droid was warning him of oncoming soldiers and the need to regroup and set up more troops. There was a lost of work ahead most definitely, not the least of which was getting out of the tight confines of the station and to an area where he could more reliably plan. A war was not won solely by foot soldiers after all, grunts needed a commander to coordinate their attack. It was a symbiosis that was overlooked by some, but nonetheless integral to the conducting of warfare.

The droid retreated back down the side hallway, silently apologizing to the men he left behind to face the immediate threat. Ultimatum knew that this was not the only threat and that it was necessary that he abandoned this fight in order to help control the war outside. Nonetheless, it was a betrayal, one that could cost them their lives, though he doubted that it would. He believed that the allies were more than capable of handling themselves and he hoped that it would prove true.

The corridors were fairly simple in layout, making it easier for the attackers to move about. There was no maze here, and if the invaders had done sufficient reconnaissance they might even be aware of the route to the command center of the facility. Ultimatum was glad then that the traps were in place, though they made his attempt to locate an exit far more difficult as he wished to avoid the greater threats.

As he moved, he sent a reply to HK's question, "I am moving towards the outside of the facility right now. The soldiers I have will close in on the team pushing through." Ultimatum hoped that the incursion team would find themselves at least somewhat overrun by the defenders that were heading their way. It would have to do until Ultimatum could ascertain a better picture of the situation.

 

[Xandyr Carrick]

Vilin had his cane on the table before him. When he got worked up he liked to rock it back and forth on the the table. His senior officers knew that you could learn a lot about the mood of the devaronian commodore from what he did with the cane.

Around the table were holograms of many senior GADF officers. There was a Jedi Marshall representing Rhen and several political figures. Many from the Alliance had served the Republic as it was crushed by the One Sith. They had learned to keep their military mobile. As such an Alliance Command HQ was little more than some stationary vessels and temporary ground bases connected by secure bearers.

In the table were the last of the wargaming results. Huge effort had been out into investigating every possibility. The end result was clear. With the main sector fleet tied up at the gravitational anomaly mounting a hasty defence of the sector would be far too costly. Barkesh and Rutan were reasonably secure but already First Order fleets were arriving to prove the defences. Forces on Mustafar were already falling back. The King of Senali had been in the discussion for long periods. The Alliance had saved his daughter and he was prepared to dedicate all his forces to the fight. But the Commanders here were practical. They knew that hitting the First Order where they were vulnerable was more effective than a war of attrition with their military machine.

Vilin knew where it was going now, he could see Nemo Tan preparing to make the decision. The Mon Calamari sighed and then looked around the room. Local forced in the Alliance would either be sent underground to lay the groundwork for the resistance or they would join the GADF forces in the organised withdraw.

“Order the retreat. Keep harassing their lines and the world shields up to make an organised retreat to Karfeddion. Order the fleet at Asmeru to either finish off the First Order or disengage where they can.”

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Rexus Wenck"] | [member="Asmus Janes"] | [member="Elliot Locke"] | [member="Alyce Hawke"]

With blood trickling down her temples, Lieutenant Commander Vyn went sliding down the side of her U-Wing. The explosion nearby from the downed Frontrunner sent a massive concussion wave through the ashflats. Choli barely had enough time to squeeze herself in between the mangled durasteel of her U-Wing and the deep trench it had carved earlier during the crash.

She did her best to make herself as small as she could, feeling the wash of heat flow over her. Her ears popped, likely ruptured now from the concussion as well as the cacophony of the battle. Unaware of the Alliance Triumvirate pulling back forces, the lone Rogue did her best to try and keep herself conscious.

So much for staying out of the hospital, she thought to herself, wincing and grimacing in pain. Yup, definitely broke some ribs. The irony being that she had only just barely been discharged from the hospital after the events of Skor.

"Heh." came her short, bloody laugh. A wad of crimson spit was spat out onto the ground. While she couldn't quite hear well, she knew she had little time. Hopefully Black One or any other the Alliance Forces would be able to find her.

Otherwise, well... she already had to deal with a missing month. She sure as hell wasn't going to with another.

 

[Micah Talith]

https://gfycat.com/WholeLeanEmperorpenguin​

R U T A N
Allies:[member="Vexen"] [member="Allyson Locke"] [member="Kaili Talith"] [member="Kellyn Muir"]
Enemies: | [member="FN-888"] [member="FN-4077"]

"Commander," a cry called out from Vie's right. He gave a half turn, locking a hardened gaze at his Security officer.

"We have confirmed that a First Order Fleet has arrived." the Security Officer's throat bobbed."They are already striking at the world shield -- at this rate we will not be able to maintain it."

Vie gave a grim nod; although that would not compare to the news the Comm officer would reveal not a few seconds later.

"We have received word from the Alliance Triumvirate." Dora, the Togruta SIS comm officer appeared to have lost a shade or two of color. Beads of sweat forming over her brow.

"They are pulling back their forces at the request of the King of Rutan. The King of Senali has already been in talks and in order to mitigate any civilian casualties, they are falling back."

Vie's jaw gave a flex. He knew what this meant. If the Alliance were drawing back their forces, there was no way for SIS to be able to hold their sensor outpost.

"Initiate Operation Turk Alpha." it was a command that SIS were to use in the event all venues of defense were lost. A complete data wipe and fry of electronics.

"Set the course for evacuations. All agents are to go dark and rendezvous at their designated cell coordinates."

"Aye sir."

Not a second passed before Vie gave a punch of his fist into the console in front of him. Anger went lancing through his body. This would change things. He knew it. But they were not going to go down without a fight.

----

OUTSIDE THE DARKSKY SHIELD

Well, things certainly got into the sort of altercation that Micah wasn't quite keen on diving into.

Anytime [member="Kaili Talith"] came into the mix, his head was likely to get pounded into the sand. She might be younger by a year or so, but the girl could go from zero to sixty in no time flat. Hopefully she was wearing her ring.

"You have got to be kidding me." Micah would utter under his breath.

"Come on!" he would yell out to the rest, dropping [member="FN-888"] and sending another surge of telekinetic power over towards the First Order soldiers. If they could get some space between them --

That's when an alarm seemed to echo throughout the area. It was the ongoing motion of the SIS base going through their cleansing and evac procedures.

"Let's just get out of here," he shouted out to the others.

 

[Erinyes Draclau]

MUSTAFAR - DARTH VADER RUINS

It wasn't the call Grand Marshal Omai Rhen wanted; yet it was the one he could understand. Alliance Forces were to pull back from Mustafar, Barkhesh, Rutan, and Asmeru. While the New Jedi Order were able to clean a path into the ruins, it wasn't without a price. Many lay dead, either due to the droids or through the poisonous gas that had lingered. Yet those who were able to survive now would be the key to determining just what was the reactant. They would be ready for the next time this gas or anything similar were used against Alliance Forces.

"Pull back all forces," He would command, the landing pad and the entrance of the ruins secured for the Alliance Forces to evacuate from.

"We will rendezvous on Karfeddion."

Staring out across the glow of the lava, Grand Marshal Rhen's visage was a hard, stoic mask.

What have they done?

 

[Aeron Kreelan]

[SIZE=9pt]

[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=9pt]All art credit for banners to FO people who made them![/SIZE]​

[SIZE=9pt]BARKHESH | SOUTH PLAINS | GA BASE/CONVOY ROUTE AIRSPACE[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]ALLIES: Galactic Alliance and Outer Rim Coalition[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Aeron Kreelan [member="Michael Sardun"] [member="Alyce Hawke"] [member="Dax Fyre"] [member="Grozkalla"] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]ENEMIES: First Order[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt][member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Jude Falkrowe"] [member="Lydia Finn-Camden"] [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]

---

[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The news Commander Seo received was not the good news he anticipated. No, it was the news that infuriated him. However, orders were orders and they all knew their place and protocols to enact with that final degree. [/SIZE]

As Aeron managed to detangle herself from beach bums arms - with a mighty thrust against his shoulders - the Omega Pyre Prex managed to struggle into a half kneeling position. The groans of pain and the mentioning of [member="Jude Falkrowe"] that there were other ways to ensure the 'goods' would be free from entangling with any other woman flew over Aeron's head.

Well okay, not really, a flabbergasted expression at the poor FOSB intel agent in the fetal position summarized her thoughts. The guy was karking nuts! However, in between the waves of fear coming off the Sith's artifact and the scrambled command of evacuation and pulling back of GADF and pyre forces, Aeron managed to get herself up.

GADF forces now were in full evacuation mode, utilizing the time before any of the First Order main fleet would arrive to start neutralizing and frying any GADF information and technology that they had to leave behind. There would be a few agents that would linger, melting into the population to gather intel.

"You're crazy." Aeron huffed out, glaring at Jude who apparently still had stars in his eyes that had nothing to do with being kneed in the groin. A hand came reaching out, grabbing at Aeron's own. That prompted a cry of pain; one she had to hold her tongue on as an Omega Pyre soldier cried out.

"We are retreating, Prex." perhaps if Jude could hear past his pain, he'd get the rank of his fire woman.

"Orders are to evacuate and rendezvous at Polis Massa."

"Got it." she said with a nod. A flash of umber and blonde hair with oceanic eyes was the last thing Jude Falkrowe would see as the woman departed.

 

[Rexus Wenck]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a8ANDoOv4M

Objective: Evict Mustafar's Former Tenants.
Allies: [member="Natasi Fortan"] | [member="Pharazon Draken"]
Enemies: [member="Asmus Janes"] | [member="Choli Vyn"]
Loadout: First Order Officers Uniform| First Order Officers Greatcoat| 2x VX Grenades| Riot Baton| 1x Nerve Injector| T-7 Ion Disruptor | SE-44C Blaster Pistol.

Rexus Wenck crossed the ashflats at an alarming pace. The stormtrooper had a jump in his step, and an evil glint in his eye. This was somewhat disturbed by his comms going off in his ear. "Capn', the Alliance, they're pulling back!" Twigg roared in his ear, "Their troops are retreating!" The stormtrooper sergeant reported.

"Keep up the work lads." Rexus snapped over an open channel, "I'll be with you in a moment, got some business I need to finish up." He barked, "If they're retreating, y'know what this means." He added, "Today, the Alliance rues the day they attacked us. Today, begins their downfall."

The squad officers erupted into cheers and laughter at the captains commentary. As the sergeants rallied their troops to now charge the retreating GADF troops, Rexus moved closer to the damaged U-Wing. In his hand, he held a VX gas grenade. From his mouth, hung a cigarette, a small fleck of Mon Calamari brain roasting at the end of it. If the Alliance was retreating, then Rexus had best clean up the trash. The only way he knew how.

Rexus examined the wreck, and walked on top of the ship, he couldn't see any signs of stirring. Until out of the corner of his eyes, he caught her. Coughing blood up into a ditch, the stormtrooper snarled at the survivor, and raised his grenade. If there was one thing Rexus Wenck was going to do to the young pilot, is he was going to make it a slow, agonising death. "Looks like you're fresh outta luck," Rexus sardonically began, "It's kinda funny you're gonna share your grave with the Alliance."

 

[H3xle]

​

Location: Mustafar skies over Mining Facility
Allies: [member="Elliot Locke"] | [member="Choli Vyn"] [member="Asmus janes"]
Enemies: [member="Rexus Wenck"] [member="Natasi Fortan"] [member="Pharazon Draken"]

Order of Battle

Spoiler

3 X-Wings (1 PC flown, 2 NPC Rogue Squadron Pilots)
2 Cobra Class Gunships (Hyper capable, with Mk-IV HBD Droids inside)
2 M47 Illria Class Dropships (Mk-IV HBD Droids inside)

Not all of the Alliance forces had begun pulling back. Rogues were notoriously resistant to commands that would have them leave someone behind. Alyce and her small force was still present, and still searching for Choli.

"HBD-Four-Twelve to Rogue Eight, we have located the U-Wing. First Order forces are converging, aerial support is required for exfiltration of Lieutenant Choli Vyn." She heard over her comm, she acknowledged and had her small force converge. The two cobra class gunships arrived first, firing warning shots short of where Rexus was approaching Choli, one hovering above and behind each of them.

Then the three updated X-Wings arrived, and Alyce put hers into a hover, holding the aiming reticle over the stormtrooper approaching Choli.

"You have less than a minute to pull back from this soldier before I perforate you with fighter grade weaponry, stormie." She said over her external speakers. None of her people were firing yet, but if the stormtroopers had good enough sensors in their armor, they would know that they had visual weapons lock on them. "I've got a small force coming in to pick her up, you back off enough to let us grab her and you won't go home in a tiny box."

 

[Asmus Janes]

Location: Mustafar skies over Mining Facility
ALLIES: [member="Elliot Locke"] | [member="Choli Vyn"] [member="Alyce Hawke"]
ENEMIES: [member="Rexus Wenck"] [member="Natasi Fortan"] [member="Pharazon Draken"]
Gear: TX-110 and blaster in Sig, Sniper Drone

[
His ship dipped beneath an outcrop several hundred metres away from Choli. He switched his left hand to the repulsors controlling vertical thrust. His craft emerged from behind it and he squeezed the trigger. The repeating cannon cut out an arc beyond the downer craft throwing up a shield of superheated rocks, dust and debris.
“Make tracks Vyn, my direction, heading three four by seven.”

[
"They're pulling back," Natasi said into her communicator, her eyes not turning away from the wreck of the Frontrunner. "Everyone, withdraw! The reactor is about to go!" She shoved Shorty away from his position, put her hand on his back to propel him away from the wreck.
​

Asmus has already swept the ground behind Choli's downed craft with laser fire and the First Order forces had, for the most part, taken cover to survive the reactor of the down frigate going critical. The forward troopers might find themselves isolated for a short period. Asmus’ shields still shimmered from the energy absorbed from the blast, but his main targeting screen came back online.

Rogue Eight might have afforded the troopers a warning, but Janes had no such plans as the figure emerged on the hull of the X-Wing. Particularly with the fact that the sadistic trooper seemed to have no respect for the usual conventions on dealing with defenceless, wounded combatants. And the fact that Choli had been the baby of the Rogue squadron under his watch.

Has hands shifted over the controls, raising the X-Wing into a good firing position once more and squeezing the trigger. The nose-mounted repeater span up and spat a stream of green boots in his direction. He thumbed the launcher and fired a missile to strike the ground a safe forty metres beyond the downed U-Wing to give them more cover.

His nose tilted towards the ground and repulsor thrummed as he pressed forwards, the sniper drone dropped from below the hull of his ship to find a firing position as Asmus considered a rather foolish move. Choli hadn't replied to his comm, so he was forced to go to her.​

 

[Choli Vyn]

[SIZE=9pt]Choli’s lungs felt as if they were on fire. The combination of the heat radiating from Mustafar’s surface along with the acrid smoke did a number on her sensitive lungs. It didn’t help that her senses were out of sorts, her ear drums ruptured from the ensuing blast. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]She didn’t even quite register the towering figure over the ridge facing her, grenade of some sort held aloft within the palm of his hand. The surrounding glow of the lava and the nearby electrical fires from the crash and the battle gave him deep, grave shadows along his First Order Stormtrooper armor. Soot, mud, and grit were smeared over the duraplast, splattered blood from the Alliance lives he had claimed from the downed pilots below.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]A scramble of feet and legs sent the Rogue pilot back, the bloodied and wearied pilot glancing up. Mental clarity came in the form of the Force surging in danger sense. This was bad, very bad. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The roar from [/SIZE][member="Alyce Hawke"][SIZE=9pt] ‘s warning and [member="Asmus Janes"] own starfighter in pursuit. A crackle at her comm called her to answer, but the gruff glib taunt from [member="Rexus Wenck"] had her full attention. She had enough hearing through the buzzing whine going through her head to recognize the deadly intent that coated his words.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Yeah… I don’t think so.” she sputtered out, and quick draw brought her QQ-83N Sidearm up. It was a particle beam Projector with two modes, lethal and stun, amalgamated by a standard energy rectification mechanism. Safety off, lethal stun, from this distance, Choli went for aiming at the Storm Troopers chest. The beam was comparable in damage output to a heavy blaster pistol with a small area of effect detonation on impact.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Truth be told, she didn’t even wait to see if it hit, Choli scrammed, moving to get out of the way and out of the trench, pain lancing through her body as she continued to send volley after volley at the stormtrooper. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]That’s when Asmus and Alyce would be able to see her then. She wasn’t dead. She was alive.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]For now. [/SIZE]

 

[Rexus Wenck]

Objective: Kill Choli Vyn.
Enemies: The late [member="Choli Vyn"] | [member="Asmus Janes"] | [member="Alyce Hawke"]
Loadout: First Order Officers Uniform| First Order Officers Greatcoat| 1x VX Grenades| Riot Baton| 1x Nerve Injector| T-7 Ion Disruptor | SE-44C Blaster Pistol.

Rexus Wenck made a cutting figure in the First Order officers uniform. The greatcoat flowed from his back as he advanced towards Vyn. The trooper largely ignored the X-wings, and incoming dropships. If anything, their warnings strengthened his resolve. If the Alliance were to lose this one, measly pilot, it seemed to him at least, that it would demoralise them. Armed with this knowledge, the trooper advanced sadistically. While the Alliance was busy, trying to act tough, the Gundark Gunners turned their attention to the ships overhead.

Volley's of ion fire, and blaster fire aimed to down the imposing fighters. "GA, kark off!" Twigg bellowed, "Run you cowards, run!" Twigg roared, as the troopers aimed to destroy the remaining Alliance presence. The stormtroopers took cover around the wrecks of tanks and Alliance gunships as they tore through their limited air capacity with their heavy ordinance.

While his subordinates engaged Alyce Hawke's forces, Rexus continued to move forward. The trooper was caught by surprise by her action. He raised his cybernetic arm, and felt the bolts impact against the durasteel frame. The stormtrooper staggered. The mechanical arm, was largely inoperable now. Rexus could lift it, and the thumb and index finger were operable. The trooper continued forward the woman, with her staggering away, and blindly firing at the captain. Some shots were close, but most resembled that of a desperate animal.

An animal who couldn't delay the inevitable, they were trying to stop the inevitable. Stop what nature had ordained. Wenck's strength would break this weakling. Using his right, throwing arm, Rexus lobbed the VX gas grenade over at the back of Choli's, hoping it landed on her, or at least in front of her. Immediately, the thick oily, amber came bubbling out of it. Whether it came to have actually hit her or not didn't matter. The grenades toxin was designed to be a quick, and efficient killer. Whether through touching the liquid, or even inhaling it, any victim of this insidious weapon would find themselves convulsing, and dying within the minute. Rexus watched on, gently resting his hand on his pistol, and preparing to finish Vyn off if VX didn't do the job.

 

[H3xle]

​

Location: Mustafar skies over Mining Facility
Allies: [member="Elliot Locke"] | [member="Choli Vyn"] [member="Asmus janes"]
Enemies: [member="Rexus Wenck"] [member="Natasi Fortan"] [member="Pharazon Draken"]

Order of Battle

Spoiler

3 X-Wings (1 PC flown, 2 NPC Rogue Squadron Pilots)
2 Cobra Class Gunships (Hyper capable, with Mk-IV HBD Droids inside)
2 M47 Illria Class Dropships (Mk-IV HBD Droids inside)

One did not become a Rogue Squadron pilot by being average, or even exceptional. All of the Rogues were flawed beings who excelled at controlling flying death machines. The specific flying death machines that they tended to pilot were some of the best fighters designed, with active threat assessment sensors built in and more twitchy maneuverability than a sand panther on spice. Alyce was also trained in some expressions of her force power. While she was mostly timid about overt use, when she was flying her body tended to just use it when necessary.

So, as her computer saw the stormtrooper bring the grenade up, her force sense already had her boosting the repulsors and angling her fighter. The trooper released the throw, and it was a perfect execution of a grenade lob, high and far. However, it would never reach its intended target. Alyce's fighter twitched up, lining her top starboard laser cannon with the top of the grenades arc. The third point on that line just also happened to be Rexus Wenck as he continued to stride forward.

Time seemed to slow, Alyce caressed the trigger lightly, sending a single bolt blasting through the air. On its way towards Rexus, it vaporized the grenade and its contents with only a small flash as the grenades casing super heated and the gas annihilated. The bolt continued towards Rexus, but Alyce was done playing nice and ignored the first bolt after the immediate danger to her comrade was gone. She leveled out on the repulsors and opened up with a full blast on Rexus from her starfighters laser cannons.

Her wingmen turned towards the Gundark Gunners and opened fire as well. The ion weaponry targeting them hit their shields, and while they were causing a drain on them quickly, the return fire was still near constant. The Cobra gunships were built even tougher, and took the ion weaponry without even bouncing on their repulsors. They were flying buses, but armed to the teeth, and they began to unload their weaponry on the Gundark Gunners as well.

 

[H3xle]

​

Location: Mustafar, Darth Vader's Castle
Objective: Exit Mustafar
Allies: [member="elpsis elaris"], [member="taeli raaf"], [member="jacen voidstalker"], GA
Enemies: FO

Taryc pulled out into the tunnels as the cavern before them collapsed into ruin. She could still feel the life force from their enemies on the other side of the rock wall, but they had no way of getting to them. Almost mechanically, Taryc turned to go back up to the main entry, where she could still feel some fighting.

'Alliance command to allied forces, we are pulling back. Repeat, we are withdrawing from Mustafar. Dropships inbound for exfiltration.' A message came over the Alliance channel in her helmet. Taryc cursed, then turned to her comrades.

"The Sithlings failed to take the castle, where else have they hit to make us withdraw? Mustafar is a giant ball of lava!" She said, then turned and moved towards the entryway. She led her comrades, holding her bolter in her good hand and balancing it on her left forearm. They met minimal resistance on the way up, but the pain in her arm was becoming more intense as the adrenaline ebbed from her system. As they reached the entryway, Taryc tripped and fell to the floor. There was a soft clunking noise, but it was lost in the scuffle as more of the insidious droids appeared. With help, Taryc stood back up, and they fought a fighting withdrawl to the dropships now waiting outside.

Up they went to the waiting ships, which would leave the system as soon as their forces were aboard. If Taryc hadn't been in such pain, the ordered way the withdraw was being enacted would have struck her as odd. As it were, she was quickly moved to a medical ward, and was sedated before they jumped out of the system.

The clunking noise from the castle turned out to be a grenade canister, having attached itself to the magnetic slot where her bolter usually stayed when she was not using it. After the EOD personnel found it to be inactive, they removed it and brought it to the Alliance armory division. It turned out to be a grenade that still had residue of the gas they had thrown into the entryway. The exodus from Mustafar hex was not going to be a total loss.