Operation Hammerfall | Invasion of Mandalore and Concord Dawn [TSE/UCM]

[Aedan Miles]

Location: Sundari
Allies: UCM
Enemies: TSE
Objective: Fade into the abyss
Theme: I'm Dangerous by Everlove

Aedan sighed as he heard the screaming and yelling looking up in the cantina he was in as it was abandoned. Sighing the once great pirate king lifted the cup in his hands and downed it swiftly letting the alcohol burn down his throat before he stood taking the helmet of his old Beskar'gam and fitting it over his head taking up the staff that rested against the counter top of the cantina. He had seen the ride and fall of governments and empires before little of it meant much to him nor would this one in the long run. Warnings had been made and Protocol Death's Sleep had been enacted anyone who sought them out would find the majority of Clan Akaata gone. They had vanished into the void of the abyss once more as was their wont to do when things took a turn. They had yet to find a cause worthy of standing when it fell but Aedan had one more task to do. For to long would he be remembered if he just vanished without a sign no he needed to work this perfectly. As such the man moved carrying the staff with him as he walked outside looking up at the sky as ships and men rained upon the surface it was a sign that the Sith had grown tired of the stalling of the Council there was little the War Master could do to stop this after all when those who guided the people decided not to fight what could one do.

He shock his head as he turned and made his way away from the palace to the border of the city releasing his restraints on his power as he clenched his right fist the Ring of Deimos-Chaabar seeming to pulse on his hand as the force pulsed through him rapidly. At his waist an odd sword hung but as he walked he reached down drawing it and bringing the sword to the head of the staff combining the two pieces of his newest weapon the Scythe of Bikadinir'Chaabar giving the weapon some experimental swings before letting it rest against his shoulders. Hanging from his waist was a large pitch black tube of metal that seemed to devour the light. It was his newest lightsaber and within it rested the specialized gem A Pirate's Delight that was created for him by an old friend.

Onward the man walked the force seeming to hang heavy around him fear effecting the few civilians that were still making their way to shelters causing them to run faster. He reached the edge of the city and looked up taking a moment to gather his power within himself he reached out towards a trio of dropships that were descending near each other before finally his eyes snapped open wide. His mismatched eyes seeming to glow behind his helmet as he exerted his strength in the force to grab hold of the dropships and start to crush them and the men within them the blood in his body seeming to sing as exerted his power for the first time in what felt like far to long. Finally he lowered his hands letting the remains of the dropships drop from the sky as he let his head tilt back farther and he exhaled under his helmet.

 

[BobertEZ]

Location: New Keldabe
Objective: Destroy New Keldabe
Allies: [member="Darth Vitium"] | [member="Tehkyram"]
Enemies: [member="Mishka Larraq"] | [member="Arla Ordo"] | [member="Gilamar Skirata"]

It was a glorious sight to witness the Karkarodon lead such a massacre, even if such sight was viewed from a distance. Atop a large building that appeared to have once been a trader's post, Raptious stood, lightsaber ignited and pointing their forces, number in the hundreds of thousands, towards the larger portion of the city.

New Keldabe was bright and gleaming, hundreds of adverts still streaming across the cityscape, and thousands more lying destroyed and sparking with broken flames. With quick leaps and bounds, the Sith Lord crossed several buildings before falling down into the streets, the sheer force of their drop denting the ground and sending shockwaves outward. Several of the city's defenders muttered at the gilded Darth who only responded with a smirk under their helmet, and, with reflexes that should have been impossible for a creature slightly over eleven feet in height, lashed forward with their saber, slicing two of the Mandalorians in half at their waist, albeit barely due to the strong nature of Beskar.

"I'm going to need a stronger weapon after this," they muttered to themselves after dispatching the last few with equal difficulty in breaking through the Beskar armor.

A downward swing onto a prone and crawling enemy ended the brief skirmish, just as a pack of Wyverns flew overhead. Quickly rising to their feet, Raptious sheathed the lightsaber and moved down the street, several squadrons of Legionaries in tow. Eventually, after a few minutes of minor skirmishes, the Darth at last came upon one of their allies, a smile forming on their face at the sight of fellow Darth, Vitium, dispatching several defenders by herself, enraptured with the smoothness of her combat form.

Before Raptious could comment on the battle, their attention was quickly turned to the barrage of blaster fire from a rather large group of armed citizens and proper Mandalorians that had somehow followed the Sith from behind.

As the firefight between the group and the Sith's own Legionaries, Raptious turned around and ignited their saber in one swift motion. The Darth swung quickly and rapidly to deflect the blaster fire, carefully avoiding overextending their counter swings and riposting the Mandalorians armed with vibroblades, stopping the attempts to strike them down. Quickly, Raptious leaped into proper combat, slicing down many within seconds. However, a harsh lunge into the sternum of a defender resulted in their saber being lodged in the flesh and muscle and Beskar, forcing Raptious to briefly fight unarmed.

Raptious fought like an asylum inmate, crushing bone and cartilage and at one point ripped the nose off of a helmet-less Mandalorian who barely missed the Sith's stomach with a stab attempt. Once enough room had been made, the Darth used the force to retrieve their saber which had fallen with its victim and pierced the ground. The pull was strenuous, if for nothing else than the forced split concentration between retrieval and defense.

Once the saber finally flew free from its prison, incidentally slicing the victim from their sternum through their groin, Raptious adopted an Ochs stance, holding the blade across their head, elbows bent and ready to strike. An older civilian on their left, one that was possibly fleeing Vitium who was scant five yards away beyond the corner of the buildings, made the first move to strike Raptious out of her way, but found her body sliced in half instantly.

The sudden dozens of armed citizens and yet even more Mandalorians would not suffer that same fate, and even Raptious, for all their power both natural and now augmented, knew that such a fight was not in their favor.

Thus, with a voice as sharp and clear as the finest ice blade, Darth Raptious shouted: "ASSIST ME, MY KIN!"

 

[Vaulkhar]

Location: Planetside
Allies: The Sith Empire
Enemies: United Clans of Mandalore
Objective: Keep Old Man Zambrano alive!

Vaulkhar ignored the hulking mass of the red giant. While he understood the sentiment and genuine logic behind the words, the Dark Lord held the empire together. In the eyes of the halfbreed, no Sith Lord was powerful enough to maintain the control Darth Carnifex had on the empire. Ultimately, his death would likely be the undoing of all accomplished thus far. Therefore, he would strive to ensure the survival of his father before any other objective. It was the primary reason Vaukhar agreed to join the vanguard in the first place.

Alkor's action piqued the halfbreed's interest as the man pushed himself into motion. In a series of explosive movement, the spear flew forth from the Dark Jedi and embedded into the exterior of the dome. Alkor's words rang out towards them and Vaulkhar raised his left arm. A stream of electricity surged towards the man and his spear in a bright swathe of chaotic energy. It slammed into the spear, channeled further by the force infused energy.

Vaulkhar then tilted his head to the side and awaited whatever came next.


[member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Constantinius Zambrano"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Scherezade deWinter"]
[member="Funami Teriyaki"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Kezeroth the Hateful"] | [member="Charlyra Araano"]
[member="Hush Sarad"] | [member="Mira Rekali"] | [member="Nicair Claden"] | [member="Vash Windrider"]
[member="Taru Cadera"] | [member="Kaalia Pavanos"] | [member="Adenn Kyramud"]
[member="Jor Kvall"] | [member="Ra Vizsla"] | [member="Lorale Farmar"] | [member="Kor Vexen"]
[member="Sith Muse"] | [member="Kaine Australis"] | [member="Darth Vitium"]

 

[Alkor Centaris]

The blade sank deep, groaning and creaking against the immense resistance of the dome. This was its entire purpose. To breach even the most dense of armors, to pierce even the most defended of foes. The Serpent hissed with glee as Alkor's words rang out, and he was subsequently rewarded with a pulsating stream of deadly electricity, which the spear drank in greedily.

But, the impact was already a preset condition. The metal, suffused with volatile dark side energies and now, imbued with even more by the efforts of [member="Vaulkhar"], sent the shockwave streaming through beskar, superheating the metal around it and eating through the low-end melting point of the metal like it was little more than third rate steel. But the electricity had to jump somewhere else- that was how electrons worked. The went from positive, to negative, then back in a circuit. There was only one direction to go.

Duracrete did not conduct. The spear, however, was wholly created in the image of a Sith Sword. Conduction was in its nature. The lightning rounded the area and jumped back to the blade in a loop, continuing to surge and heat up as Alkor wrenched upward. The blade screeched loudly as hot metal found cold Beskar, and the outer gate of Sundari screamed as steam roiled off the nexus of the two points.

With a lightsaber, simply melting through the doors would have been an exercise in futility.

The blade of his spear was now a yellow-orange, undeniably hot and still perfectly sharp, and sparks jumped across the surface, dancing madly. Only time- and [member="Kaine Australis"] - would decide just what kind of damage had been done.

 

[Mishka Larraq]

Location: New Keldabe
Allies: UCM, [member="Gilamar Skirata"], [member="Arla Ordo"],
Enemies: TSE, [member="Tehkyram"], [member="Darth Vitium"], [member="Lorale Farmar"],
Objective: #GetOffMyLawn
Post: 04

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT7VNCM12G4

Rolling fields gave way to paved road as Mishka's band of farmers and ranchers made their final approach. Dark forms cluttered the sky above the city as Sithspawn monstrosities terrorized the citizens and defenders of the besieged city. Here and there, vod astride Bes'uliik war droids rode into the sky to clash with the beasts, metal claws digging into tortured flesh while powerful weapons blasted at the abominations that returned all favors in kind.

Innumerable Sith soldiers, hideous beasts, and machines of war darted back and forth upon streets choked by debris and bodies, air thick with smoke from numerous small fires. The Sith forces pressed forward into the city, funneled into a maze of streets where their fore-bearers had cleared way before them. Even from here, Mishka could tell that there were vod in the buildings firing down upon pockets of Sith soldiers that had lingered to deal with the locals that had survived the initial push.

Mishka's ears echoed with the sounds of thunder. The world around her shook and trembled as her cavalry galloped towards New Keldabe. A surge of pride and assuredness filled Mishka at the sight of her fellow Mando'ade struggling against the dark legion that had come from the heavens. <We can do this.> Mishka thought as the first of the blaster rounds fwipped passed Mishka's head. More blaster rounds raced towards Mishka and her forces as the rumbling of their approach alerted the outer-most Sith forces to their arrival. As her mount galloped forward, Mishka tightened the straps of the wood and metal shield that adorned her left arm. Then gripping firm the reigns of her beast, with eyes set upon the Sith soldiers that took shelter behind rubble and trembled at their approach, Mishka clutched the hilt of her blade and drew it from its sheath.

The crystallized metal blade glowed fiercely with a yellow-orange light. A wash of emotions pressed against Mishka's awareness as the blade sung with glee and anticipation for the fight to come, eager to bite deep into the flesh of those tainted by the twisted manipulations of the Sith. Thin flashes of memory played at the edge of Mishka's senses. Metal clashing with red lightsaber. Mishka running down royal hallways while Imperial soldiers invaded a city. Blood and ichor spilling forth from the gaping chest of a dieing Terentatek. Mishka's heart swelled with pride, eagerness, and reassurance that spilled forth from her blade as it spoke to her in the manner of its kind.

At the edge of her supernatural senses, Mishka could tell that her blade was also speaking to the vod at her back. Those outside of ysalamiri fields had hearts surging with pride and confidence as they charged the city. To her right, an enormous explosion assaulted her ears as the Myrkava tank fired upon the outer-most Sith forces. This blast was echoed by an explosion ahead of Mishka that obliterated the soldiers that had been cowering behind rubble, as well as destroying the rubble itself. Looming buildings closed in on Mishka on either side as she led her forces onto wide city streets. Another blaster bolt fwipped past Mishka as more Sith soldiers turned to face the rearward threat.

Mishka yanked at her mount and the War Dragon leaped into the air. Beside her, the other riders of Lagartoz and Bes'uliik mirrored her movements and likewise took to the air. Dark forms raced towards them from all directions. Blasters and shock rods tore gaping wounds in the airborne Sithspawn, sending many tumbling from the sky to crush their allies below. Mishka urged her mount to roll sharply to the left. It complied, tucking its wings as it rolled. One of the Sithspawn narrowly missed the beast with its grasping talons. With a firm grip on the handle, Mishka swung as the monster as they passed in the air. She felt the heft of the thing as her blade cut through it with an unnatural ease. Not looking back, Mishka felt as the monster tumbled from the sky behind her, belly ripped in two as her blade radiated the thrill of its first kill of the day.

Beneath her, massive armored juggernauts trampled any Sith soldiers that dared to hold their ground, blaster bolts striking harmlessly against the thick Beskar'kandar of the riders and their mounts. Huge armored heads and thick, powerful horns swung left and right, smashing aside those that were unable to get out of the Bev'uliik's path. Those that survived this wall of flesh and metal found themselves under fire as speeders loaded with armed vod gunned down those that stood as they followed in their brothren's wake. Even from the backs of the lumbering Ori'edee, vod engaged the enemy, firing out with slugthrowers at enemies both airborne and upon the ground. As blaster fire began to pour in their direction, the shield generator adorning the back of an Ori'edee was activated. A powerful ray shield bloomed into life around the beast and spread outward until it stretched from one line of buildings to the other. It did nothing to stop the flow of soldiers, beasts, or sithspawn in and out of the area, nor did it stop the projectiles of the Mando'ade's slugthrowers. But it did stop cold the innumerable blaster and blaster cannon bolts that rained upon the Mando'ade Cavalry unit.

Any lingering sense of dread washed from Mishka as she glanced at her friends, her family, and her neighbors as they fought upon the ground beneath her, terrorizing the Sith invaders with the might of their concentrated counter-assault. This street, at least, belonged to the Mando'ade. And as Mishka laid low another of the aerial sithspawn, she let her supernatural senses range wide as she sought out a target worthy of their ferocity.

Forces

Spoiler

(99x) Mixed Mandalorian Infantry, (36x) Trained Mandalorian Vornskr
(18x) Napna Vornskr Riders, (12x) Bev'uliik Ramikade, (7x) Kuryida Edee Riders
(9x) Lagartoz War Dragon Riders, (36x) Bes'uliik War Droid Riders
(4x) Ori'akaan Shukure, (1x) Myrkava MBT and Crew

 

[Adenn Kyramud]

Location: Sundari
Equipment: In BIO under "Things always with Adenn" armor and main gun in sig.
Tags: [member="Darth Prazutis"] [member="Taru Cadera"] [member="Nicair Claden"] [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Valdus Bral"] [member="Funami Teriyaki"] [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Vaulkhar"] [member="Constantinius Zambrano"]
Allies: UCM and Defenders
Enemies: TSE and Attackers
Links: Beskad Elite(x20), Beskad Warriors(x100), Hell's Angel, Gunner, Protektrak(x10), AT-AD(x200), Hanger Complexes, Magnaguards(x10), Never Again, Krayt Dragons(x2), Tracyn dragons, E'care- is shooting explosive slug thrower shells that explode on contact
OOC Note: Will be dropping my fleeting area since I've seen a lack of fleeting over Mandalore, hehe. If anyone does end up fleeting there, just @ me please in a DM so I know about it. I don't get all the tags to every post.

​

[media]​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKZRAyPHYxQ​

[/media]​

​

Adenn nodded to Valdus, saluting him with a clang of his fist against his chest plate. His efforts would be needed, turning to Kaine, Adenn did the same thing again. The people in this room were his vode through and through. Nodding to Nicair and Taru, Adenn turned to Gunner to get a report on his forces in the city. Their heavy vehicles moved with the ones under Valdus' command. There weren't all that many of them left, not after Tanaab, and several of those at Tanaab had been borrowed from Kaine anyways. Now was the perfect time to give them back. That wasn't what Gunner focused on for his reports though. He instead spoke of the clan members setting up in the city, around the palace, and inside it.

The palace would soon be the most heavily and defended building in the city, no small feat with every Mandalorian out there being armed and dangerous. Nodding in thanks to Gunner, Adenn turned his attention to a mural on the wall. It was an older picture, dating back since very nearly the first conflicts between Mandalorians and force users. It was no doubt priceless and part of the history of the Mandalorians. Turning slowly in a circle, ignoring everyone in the room for a moment, Adenn took note of all the images, murals, and other parts of the past of Mandalore. Even though they ultimately weren't all that useful to the Mandalorians in war time, they sure did carry a lot of history. Sighing, Adenn turned to look out once more, watching the fighting that was going on in the city. He longed to be there, but he also knew the fighting would come here soon enough, and they'd need someone to fight as a figurehead.

Turning to Gunner again, Adenn motioned to all the picutres and murals.
"Have these secured and brought to the vault. History will remember Mandalore and her defenders, but it will also have the visual to remember that past. We will ensure it and defend it, along with our planet. They cannot and will not erase us, kill us, or truly defeat us. For our aliit, for Mandalore."

Gunner saluted before setting about his new task even as Adenn focused on new things. Turning, he walked out and to the balcony that overlooked the city and from which so many speeches had been made in days long past. Now though, the view he saw was one of conflict, nothing unusual to see for a Mandalorian. Looking out, Adenn saw the enemy entering the city in several areas, saw people fighting, and saw the carnage the Sith were causing. Adenn swore then that he'd repay them for this, after he repayed others for their carnage to Mandalorian planets. But this and to Mandalore? That would be repayed 10 times over, so Adenn swore.

That repayment could start now though. Grinning slightly, Adenn detached his new gun, the E'care(in sig), and switched it to its sniper variant. It took a few moments where Adenn was rather exposed, but he didn't care, and no shots truly came close to him. Once the gun was switched to its sniper form, he went to the edge, took a knee, and began to aim through the sniper scope. Running a finger along the handle of the beautifully crafted handle, Adenn made sure his gun was secured on the railing while he aimed at the head of an officer. Breathing out, Adenn squeezed the trigger and an explosive slug shot out of the gun, silent as a whisper. In the distance the officer he had been aiming at was suddenly a head shorter and the 2 squads he had been leading scrambled around in a panic, even as their NCOs tried to regain order. Sneering at them, Adenn took aim at the sergeants and in relatively quick succession dispatched them both.

Grinning as the squads practically collapsed in panic, Adenn switched his retical to the rest of the city, looking for more targets. He had 2 shots left before he had to reload, and he'd make them count. Scanning the battlefield, he saw things that made his anger grow towards the Sith. The death of a youngling and his parents just one of many things Adenn swore to avenge. Turning his gaze further, Adenn was suddenly looking through a whole in the dome, Adenn spotted the new forces coming from the outside. A legion of blackclad figures, Adenn assumed they were to look intimidating, something that didn't work for him. Sneering at them, Adenn looked for any officers or someone who looked important out there.

Adenn quickly spotted several important looking figures, they were large and hulking, no doubt Zambranos by their size. Sneering at them from behind his scope, Adenn took careful aim, taking account of distance and drop off, all while aiming at one of them in particular([member="Constantinius Zambrano"]). Still sneering, Adenn breathed out before squeezing off a shot. The shot was aimed for the neck area or higher, aiming to hit the obvious weak point most necks were. The explosive slug sailed out, once more in a shot that was silent as a whisper, even as Adenn kept his aim on the same person. A few moments later when Adenn deemed enough time had passed, he fired the second shot at his target. The targeting retical would've moved as his target moved, still aiming towards that weak point. Letting out his breath, Adenn would watch for the effects of his two shots even as he began the slow reload. It'd take some work, but he kept an eye on the enemy leadership even as he reloaded the gun.

Mandalorian Overview​

Sundari City was besieged by the TSE and its valiant Mandalorian defenders were ready to repel the attackers. They had made a bunker out of every house, fortress every complex, and castle of every so called high rise. At its center is Sundari Palace, heart of the city and the most heavily defended building in the entire city. Troops had set up defenses around it and within it. Members of every clan were present, at least those loyal to the UCM, and they would defend the city with their lives.

On the outskirts of the city, [member="Valdus Bral"] and some others have set up defenses, mainly vehicles, but there is also a battle line of sorts from the local populace. Note: Valdus' line is inside the city itself, but on the outskirts. Behind them in the inner city are more beings, more from [member="Kaine Australis"] now(to my knowledge), and they have set themselves up to defend this area more. Alongside them are warriors from Clan Mortui, and other clans. Finally, before the palace itself, was another line of defenses. The Mandalorians had set up fall back positions, resupply points, and everything needed to fight and defend the place. Inside barricades were erected, turrets deployed, and soldiers rushed about to get ready for the inevitable attack.

All in all, Sundari city and the palace are being protected by many, many Mandalorians, all willing to lay down their lives to defend Mandalore.

 

[Darth Assimilus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwY6kIncUtM​

Location: Planetside, Dome exterior
Allies: Sith Empire: [member="Alkor Centaris"] [member="Vaulkhar"]
Enemies: United Clans of Mandalore [member="Kaine Australis"]
Objective: Huff and puff
Equipment: Rapture Cannon Mk.1, HAVOC Magma Cannon and rest in Sig

Alkor raised his voice, calling out to the Sith behind him. "LIGHT IT UP." Anyone who had seen the blade on his back could have easily identified it as a Sith Sword. And everyone knows what Sith Swords did to Electricity...

Gazing at the sudden voice and shout for support Kezeroth squinted and grimaced. The dome that surrounded the city of Sundari was quite impregnable or regarded as such and yet this Sith solder by the looks seemed to of started something of interest. It was nothing incredible but it was a start. A wound. A crack and fissure. Something the red giant could work with after careful examination. Onward he pressed forward tracking through the sands. Each step bringing more and more clarity to the scene.

Almost summoning the force of his power to be shot across the distance into the spear entombed into the wall, Kezeroth revoked his aid after sensing something or someone else answer the call.

The boy from before?

Alkor's action piqued the halfbreed's interest as the man pushed himself into motion. In a series of explosive movement, the spear flew forth from the Dark Jedi and embedded into the exterior of the dome. Alkor's words rang out towards them and Vaulkhar raised his left arm. A stream of electricity surged towards the man and his spear in a bright swathe of chaotic energy. It slammed into the spear, channeled further by the force infused energy.

The light of flashing crackling energy danced across the short distance coming to a halting crash with the spear embedded into the domes exterior. Electrical currents could be observed in micro pulses travelling across the metal. Inner psyche and mental response augmented by force rage the armored Gen'dai removed his helmet with a simple sweep and attached it to his magno-clamp on his belt. He knew what needed to occur in order for this dome to be breached. Kezeroth did not need the force to close the distance between him at the soldier in question [member="Alkor Centaris"]. Long powerful strides served the armored giant well.

" Hah! And the mandalorians said it was impregnable. I'll impregnate the schutta." he remarked observing the somewhat minuscule damage caused in the dome. The Gen'dais face would be found strikingly similar for the spear wielding soldier. The face of [member="Saverok"] with the only notable difference being youth and a red skin color. Perhaps the man would recognize resemblance, As for Kezeroth himself he knew nothing of the man he was assisting and quite frankly did not care. His deep voice continued to address him. " Stand back...And cover your ears." The Gen'dais voice shifted in pitch and bass as he ended with his warning. Eyes glowing red and the force swelling all around him. His chest puffing out as if to assert his dominance or take in a deep breath, that was the motion. Gen'dai biologically did not need to breathe and had no lungs so what came next was a rather interesting spectacle to behold.

The darkside twisted, turned and burned from within. Slamming his Sith sword against the dome with the savage brute force and wild strikes. The sword rebounded off the dome three times with no real effect. It stirred question. What was the point of that?! Then with a burst of power and smoldering span of negative emotions the Gen'dai sith lord threw forth his voice with a slam against the dome barrier. Force bellow.

​

The initial sound of voice clashing against metal was as thunder. Sand in the immediate area scattered escaping the relentless onslaught of sound waves focusing with each passing second. The immediate action gave the impression that it could of held the authority of creating a sandstorm. Shattering shock waves pulsed across the sands, shifting the ground and then into the dome exterior itself. Honing the scream into the general area of the small cracks seeking to physically rip apart the dome with sonic waves. With the beskar itself already breached and being assaulted with a endless waves of high intensity vibrations, how much could the other materials within take before weakening.

With no need to breathe, as long as Kezeroth was not interrupted. The horrid force of sound clashing and vibrating the dome would persist to be heard.

Inside and out.

 

[Darth Kentarch]

Location: Sundari
Allies: UCM, [member="Ra Vizsla"]
Enemies: TSE
Objective: Defend the city
Equipment: Sith Robes, Sith Lightsaber, Sword.


Ra Vizsla rushed off atop his basilisk war droid, likely to nearest engagement that needed his attention. Kentarch watched him go for a moment, then gazed out at the battle itself. The sky was already torn, filling with smoke as anti-air fire, fighters, and dropships whom danced about in a frenzy. Yet many ships would fall to the ground in wrecks of fire and twisted metal. The ground was charred from these wrecks and bombardment, turning the yellow-white sands to grey and black while thousands upon thousands of imperials marched on the city. Then there was a massive explosion in the distance as a nuclear weapon was detonated somewhere outside the city, further blackening the sky.

The world to come in his vision. It was already happening, unfolding before him. Kentarch realized he needed to get moving.

It did not take long for him to infiltrate the city of Sundari. Kentarch moved quickly and used cover to his advantage. A master of several stealth techniques, Kentarch was able to move unseen to both Imperial or Mandalorian forces. No point in him dramatically announcing his presence. With a quick observation, the Sith noted a few drop pods had crashed through the dome and into the city. Likely kill teams or agents looking to disrupt Mandalorian forces inside the dome.

Stopping for a brief moment to get his bearings, form some alleyway someone took a shot at him. Kentarch's lightsaber came to life and deflected the blaster bolt away, then he turned to face his attacker. It was some kid. A young Mandalorian boy with a blaster rifle. It was clear the child mistook the Sith Lord as an enemy, one of the many invading Imperials. With quick use of the force Kentarch tugged the blaster rifle from the boy's hands, the weapon landed on the ground slid to Kentarch's feet. The boy seemed startled by the use of the force and how quickly he lost the blaster.

"Stop!" A Mandalorian woman shouted and emerged from an alley. "He's just a boy, my son, please don't hurt him."

There was a difference between mercy and restraint. Defeating a superior opponent in a fight was one thing. Confronting a real challenge and overcoming it was part of being a Sith, the way to increase one's power and gain strength. But killing a child that was not a threat was simply disgusting, it served no real purpose. There was on old teaching among the Sith that honor was a fool's prize, but Kentarch preferred the teaching of another sith lord. Strength that is never touched by ruthlessness is touchingly irresponsible.

"I'm not one of the Empire's Sith. I fight against them." Kentarch said picking up the blaster and handing it to the woman. "Make sure your son does not get a hold of this again. Do you know a way to a shelter or evacuation point?" Kentarch asked and the woman nodded. "Try and get there quickly." The woman and child ran off. Kentarch watched them go.

It was hard to tell how much time had passed since his entrance into the city. The sounds of battle drew closer as Kentarch made his way further into the city. Signs of small skirmishes became increasingly more apparent, likely from recon teams and infiltrators. Although Kentarch stumbled upon the grisly scene of a child who's skull had been crushed. It was a revolting sight, the typical work of the Sith Empire. He noticed a man who had been shot a point-blank or near point-blank range as well. His thoughts went back to the drop pods he'd seen earlier. He was willing to bet he could find who was responsible for this.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Objective: Sundari
Location: Landing in the inner city
Allies: TSE & Allies | [member="Bedrovelse Hevn"]
Enemies: UCM | [member="Ra Vizsla"]
Wearing: Armor | Pathfinder Boots | The Forgemaster's Ring | Ring of Stasis | Sofitor
Wielding: 8 Nozhi Blades | 2 Czerka knives | 2 Nastirci Combat Knives | Copero's Wail | Fire and Smoke (lightsabers) | Combat Gauntlets | Knight Obsidian Sword | 2 TOTT-001 Arc Light Blaster | 2 Dissuader K-30 Pistols with Glitter Bullets | Pouch of Vita Stones
Post: Four

Perhaps it was not a llama-butt shape after all. Now that she looked at it again, it more resembled a large heart. Or a human butt. Or the face of one super well known individual within the Confederacy whose name started with the letter… Yeah, let's not go there. Scherezade wrinkled her nose, looking up at the sky. The whole dome thing looked weird; she was used to it being more… Transparent?

Shaking her head, she smacked her holomap device against the wall, hoping it would make it work. Against all her expectations, it did not. Sighing, she pocketed the device, having learned during her work with the Ministry of Secrets that you did not leave tech behind, even it malfunctioned. Who knew what sort of people the Mandalorians had that could hack it and extract sensitive information out of it. Not that she could imagine what sort of sensitive information would be in a device that held the capital city's holomap, but some risks were better not taken.

Closing her eyes, Scherezade inhaled deeply – but it was not her physical nose that she was using to pick scents up right there and then. Scherezade was a Blood Hound, which let her smell people, species, and blood lines out, among other things. Unless severed from the Force, it was incredibly hard to sneak up on her, for she could smell the blood that resided in the bodies of those who approached. And right there and then, she smelled a lot of it.

The city was teeming with life. And as the saying went – there were no Mandalorian civilians. That meant that Scherezade would be completely within her right and not be coming any war crimes if she randomly decided to find an orphanage and set it on fire along with all the children inside of it. No one would bat their eyelashes if she broke some jetpacks and hung Mandalorians from the ceiling and cooked them inside their own beskar. There were more options of course, but the saddest thing about it all was that the body count she would rack up by the end of the day would be completely and utterly meaningless. Kill no Mandalorian or kill a million – unless they could kick them off their own homeworld, it would be an empty gesture.

Scherezade shrugged and whistled a cheerful tune, one of her Nozhi blades sliding into her left hand, ready to be thrown into the neck of any surprise tuna can that would show up in her field of vision. The mesh of her armor was drawn over her face, protecting it from any potential danger that she might have inhaled or wanted to screw her face up.

And then she almost immediately paused.

There was a scent that she had not expected to find her, just as she had not expected to come across any other Confederates. Of course, she'd known [member="Alkor Centaris"] had been aboard the ship – she picked the scent of his blood up there but paid it no mind. After all, he was a Knight Commander and they had several different agreements with the Sith. But other people to do the heavy lifting? She hadn't thought any Confederate would've signed up for that.

She'd been wrong. But in all the good ways.

"You?"

Peeling the mesh from her face, glowing green eyes befell him as she broke into a smile. "Hey Hevn!" she greeted him cheerfully, as though she had not a care in the world. So different than that night on Coruscant, when she'd been a little broken mess with a mean right punch, "Fancy seeing you here! Will we be commencing the kicking of the tuna can butt together today?"

 

[Bedrovelse Hevn]

Objective: Mandalore
Location: Sundari, Mandalore
Allies: TSE + allies | [member="Scherezade deWinter"]
Enemies: UCM + Allies | [member="Ra Vizsla"] | [member="Darth Kentarch"] | [member="Nicair Claden"]

Thunder rolled through the dome as the Mandalorian artillery let completely loose on friend and foe alike. A hail of bombs was racing towards the street and he didn’t even have time to register her words. He charges at Scherezade with powerful bounding legs that clear the gap in but a moment. As he reached her the bombs struck. A growling mechanical roar rips from his throat as he uses his superior frame to eclipse her.

Force armor bleeds down from his head, over his body, down to his boots. Most force users knew how to protect themselves with the force in some shape or form but It was Hevn’s most used and most powerful force maneuver. His heels dig in hard enough to crack the earth at his feet as the explosion nearest rocks against his will.

He stares firmly at Sherezade. His icy blue eyes had bled into a toxic ring of red and yellow. His hatred for the Mandalorians escalates the power of his armor up to a level he’d scarcely touched. They had a special place in his heart. A special place in hell. They were all going to suffer as they never had, and he was determined to deliver on the Exarch’s orders to destroy them. He had never burned like this in his entire life. He had never burned through his entire being as he did now. Like a witch at the stake, laughing into the sky, he welcomes it. The power of the dark side floods him and holds firmly.

Fire. A flash so bright it’s blinding. That fire races up his back and he shields Scherezade from the hellish blaze blowing around them. He was so close they could have kissed, to make sure the pocket was adequate for her safety. Rocks thrown towards his broad back smash against the barely visible glimmer of power coating his body, while the others pulverize chunks of buildings, and scatter around them. Smoke swallows the pair up and he grabs her hand.

With a somewhat forceful tug he encourages her to follow, “Don’t let go.” He didn’t need to drag her as she followed his lead. Once inside he collapses to a knee, and starts to catch his breath. He pulls Phantasmagoria from his hip, releasing Scherezade, and it screams through the force. It wails for blood and death. It begins to dig its power of darkness into Hevn and stir his blood lust and anger. He stays focused, carving a rune into the floor of the building. The rune of choice appears to be an eyeball like shape, and he punches the tip of his Sith katana into the center of it.

“ Shias mus is wisa diu waria dari zûtaosini.” His words are laced with the power to conjure his spell. The Spell of Concealment. It was stealth in its most complete form, and Hevn was forced to master the mother of all stealth spells to be able to hide his essence from force users. There was no sentient eye, scanner, or reach of the force that could pierce the bubble cast around the circle. Anyone who was close enough to investigate an etched eye in battle would surely feel the fury of the Pale Dragon and the Firestarter before such proximity was allowed.

He mutters the words in High Sith a dozen times before the spell takes hold, and he grabs her once more to pull her into it. She could not be allowed without his physical contact welcoming her inside his effort to protect them. He could breathe now, and they could speak. Spells held their power after focus and casting was already achieved. The feat of his shield had drained enough of his reserves to stall for the dark side to roll back into hide tide before leaping to any further displays of his power. “You all right? Whatever happens, we do this together.”

[member="Srina Talon"]

 

[Ra Vizsla]

Allies: [member="Darth Kentarch"], Mandalorians
Enemies: [member="Scherezade deWinter"], [member="Bedrovelse Hevn"]


"Fancy seeing you here! Will we be commencing the kicking of the tuna can butt together today?"

“Whatever happens, we do this together.”

What in the faerie-karking seven maws of the Outer Rim...


Ra took off his helmet, finding an outcropping near the sith transport's crash site. He began brushing off his hands, swiping his cloak behind him so he didn't sit on it before leisurely taking place on a large piece of rubble. Ash, soot, and debris was falling from the dome's greater exterior - despite the massive amount of damage being inflicted on it, it would continue to hold.

It was breached, however, as was obvious.

"Sith'ari,"​

​

​

His voice boomed.​

​

​

"You have come to fight. Come, step out of the shadows.​

​

Let us accomplish your goals."​

​

​

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs, patient.​

​

​

[member="Bedrovelse Hevn"] [member="Scherezade deWinter"]​

 

[Amaya Cardei]

​

​

The Siege of Mandalore is underway, while the Mandalorian fleet and Sith-Imperial Armada battle in the void. The power of the Goliath and Behemoth had been enough to wedge a hole in Mandalore's planetary shielding. This paved the way for the Sith-Imperial Legion, led by General [member="Kor Vexen"] to make landfall. Warmaster [member="Kaine Australis"] retaliates with the launch of twelve Sunburst missiles. Of which eleven are shot down by the Sith Empire - while Mandalorian forces led by [member="Valdus Bral"] await the Legion from inside the domed city. Allied forces of the Sith Empire have already begun to make their way inside the city. Among the numbers who have achieved landfall is the Emperor himself [member="Darth Carnifex"] and his Shadow Hand [member="Darth Prazutis"].

Meanwhile outside Sundari, toward New Keldabe as [member="Mishka Larraq"] and [member="Arla Ordo"] race to defend the city. [member="Tehkyram"], [member="Lorale Farmar"] and [member="Darth Vitium"] of the Sith Empire, are already well within the city.

As for Concord Dawn Colonel [member="Joycelyn Zambrano"] manages to slip past the ensuing fleet battle between the Sith-Imperial Armada and Mandalorian forces led by [member="Mig Gred"]'s fleet. A gravity well created by the Mandalorians has not only eliminated part of the Sith-Imperial presence there but also their own numbers. Severely damaged Gred's fleet must now prepare as reinforcements are inbound for the Sith Empire. To hold the line until these reinforcements arrive is Commodore @Irilius Tiam and his fleet who will not only have to face Gred's forces but [member="Quell Rook"]'s as well.

As the Siege begins to take shape it is clear that the fighting shall continue to be intense, and so the battle continues to rage...

"Commodore Almeyda's forces have been defeated..."

"Well then," replied Rear Admiral Solieau as she crossed the trenches of her ship, the HIMS Defender, a Dowager-class battleship as it crossed the void. "I suppose we'll just have to make up for Almeyda's incompetence." A glint of sulfur along with the Rear Admiral's eyes. "Status of the kineitc weapons?"

Captain Haakenson stated in return, "online and active."

"Good, inform Tiam he's to hold the line and be ready."

They would not fail in their mission as Almeyda had.

Yet - as the Mandalorian forces suffered from Almeyda's suicidal charge, the Commodore's section while adrift had a force field around it. Whilst, the Ablek had finally made it to grounds a handful of the Sith-loyal clans were enough. Swoop bikes pulled from the damaged vessel were looked over first before it was determined that they would have to set out on foot. Finding the enemy would be another matter entirely, but for now, they moved toward the sounds of battle. And the small force of Starfighters that had landed on the Third Moon, were now setting about in their own small fire fight with the criminal population there.

Lord Admiral Raaf had only smiled at the message she had received from her wife [member="Taeli Raaf"].

The HIMS Elidibus along with a small contingent of forces from 7th Fleet were now on their way to Mandalore, and with them? A gift.

A gift for the Mandalorians, it was time that the Sith Empire repaid them - after all, it wasn't so many moons ago when the Mandalorians gave Dromund Kaas a gift that it would never forget. As such, it would only be polite for the Sith to give back just a portion of the gift that the Mandalorians had given them. It would not be the only gift however, they managed to find enough of these gifts to share with the Mandalorians as a whole. They had traveled such a long way and now it would only be a matter of time before the Sith-Imperial Armada's reinforcements over Mandalore arrived with this gift...

From Dromund Kaas, with Love.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Location: Sundari
Objective: Infiltrate Sundar and mess stuff up.
TSE: [member="Vash Windrider"] [member="Darth Carnifex"]
UCM: [member="Kaine Australis"]

The darkness of an enclosed tunnel surrounded them as they proceeded up through the drain pipe. The assassins were watchful as they advanced, watching, listening, feeling the tremors beneath them. Now and then, they could feel the Force return to them as they passed out of the bubbles of the Ysalamir clusters. Yet they knew they could not linger in those comfortable places.

They had to press onward, always onward.

Ophidia stopped, putting a hand on the one behind her as a signal for them all to stop. She clicked her tongue and wiggled her fingers, asking one of the assassins to hand her their grenade. The spherical object settled in her palm as she eyed the distance. She could hear a drip that broke the rest of the pattern. Listening closely, she heard the drip again, two drips, a wave. The Rattataki turned the sphere in her hand and pressed the button on top. It did not blink, but she could feel it vibrate. She held it for a moment and let the vibration mount before throwing it in the direction of the sounds. A sharp, blue flash signalled the detonation of the ion grenade. That would cut off most audiovisual and communications equipment.

As soon as it flashed, the assassins launched themselves forward. The tunnel lit with red as bloodshine blades were activated and fell upon the surprised patrol. Ophidia was not one of those who had leapt forward first. Instead, she had kept her eyes on their surroundings. Knowing it was safe, she walked up to inspect the dead. Two humanoids and a machine had fallen before they knew what had hit them.

“We are getting closer.” “There will be more up ahead.”

The sabres winked out, casting them in new darkness. Ophidia took first position again.

“There should be a fork up ahead. Go second, then up.”

She started ahead, swift and quiet. She could hear the joining of two streams up ahead. She stopped just shy of the fork and touched where they joined. She felt something beneath her fingers, metal. There was a text on it, but while she could make out the shapes she could not read it. She made a quick sound, a rattle of her tongue against her breath. In response one of the assassins came up behind her. Ophidia lead her hand to the metal and let her read.

“Is it?” “Yes. A hundred more meters and then straight up should get us there”

A smile spread over Ophidia’s lips as she sent their mandalorian assassin down the left path and followed shortly behind. This pipe was smaller, forcing them to crawl, while one assassin stayed behind to watch the other pipe. Ophidia stopped a few steps behind their guide and looked where she pointed. There was nothing there but sheer wall.

“Up under Her Majesty’s skirts” “Excellent work miss Wren.”

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Location: Sundari Palace
Objective: Kill [member="Darth Carnifex"]
Allies: Mandalorians [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Adenn Kyramud"] [member="Darlyn Excron"] @Vevut Bral
Enemies: Sith [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Darth Prazutis"] [member="Taeli Raaf"]

Five Months Prior
“I’m not waking her up, no. I won’t do it. I don’t care if Mandalore is burning, if Yasha doesn’t recover from her injuries she’ll lose these twins. It’ll be on your head, Ambrose. Not mine.” The sound of a scuffle woke her, Ambrose and Doc at Yasha’s door. News again, then. She grunted and rolled her shoulder. Where…

“Get me up, Doc.” Another ache scaled her back, as Yasha pushed at the mattress, her rounding belly sliding along the sheets. Amber eyes stung in the dim light of her suite in the Never Again. Peals of laughter echoed from the living room, as Girak-Kaine & Magnus fumbled around with their toys. The door opened, a beam of light causing Yasha to shut her eyes as Doc, and Ambrose walked in.

Tamar’s calm voice lilted in perfect Epicant, “Keep your noise low. Your mother needs rest!”

For the first time Doc Allard didn’t force a sigh and grab the stims. Yasha remembered the rate of fall in dust particles in the air, the grim set of [member="Ambrose Cadera"]’s jaw. Tuulu growling and leaving the room with the slam of his fist on the wall. Telling the children they woke their mother, as Tamar whisked them away to one of the Never Again’s play areas.

“No.” The Concordian Doctor stood straighter, his own face set behind his white and red painted buy’ce.

“… Doc. Get me moving. I heard you, what needs to be done first? Which system is it?” Yasha shook her head to clear the fatigue. Was it Er’kit? Where in the Mandalorian Clans was another battle, or fire, or call for Mand’alor’s attention? Pushing herself into a sit, Yasha became aware of her growing jealousy toward other women, who woke with their children’s laughter. Who slept through the night while their babies grew in their bellies, and had nothing more to fret over than improving their elder children’s education or joy. Back her mind went, back to the eight year old Ambrose took under his wing. Did she realize more than twenty years later that she’d still be in service to Mandalore?

“Yash’ika…” Ambrose moved first, sitting on the edge of Yasha’s bed aboard the Never Again. “We should diverti to Erebos.”

“… Ere… I have to get to Sundari. My bes’uliik is there, I’ll need it to ride into battle. That’s what it is, isn’t it? Another battle.”

“No. You’re not. Yasha, you’ve been fighting on stims since you were… younger than I as a medical professional want to know. The fact you haven’t lost the babies in your belly is astonishing. You’ve been at this far too long. I won’t do it.” Doc kept his back straight, ready to dive if Yasha called her hammer or spear to bear. One never knew with an angry, pregnant Epicanthix.

“No? You dare say…” Yasha looked past Doc and Ambrose, leaning back on the upholstered headboard. “… it’s been ages since I’ve spent a day with my own children… but there’s always such work to be done.”

“I convened the Council, Yash’ika… you were far too young when you took Ra’s Mantle, and I recognize it was us who pushed you. You’re not kad-danged 20 anymore. You’re pregnant for Kad’s sake. Yasha… the Mandalorians can ask no more of you.” Ambrose passed Yasha a data pad with the Council’s vote, and the well wishes of each member, that she bear her coming twins, and enjoy civilian family life.

“Your duty to Mandalore is done. The moment you say it.” Mand’alor the Infernal was no more.

“Mandalore took such looking after… I’ve been so busy….” Yasha’s eyes couldn’t still on any one word on the document. Arm hugging her protruding belly, Yasha’s face finally crashed.

“Too busy for what, Yash’ika?” Ambrose slunk his hand along her shoulder, “Admit it. Say it aloud, no one will think less of you. Certainly not Ale’ika, she’ll be overjoyed.”

“All this time, it’s the nannies, or Caz and Kaine. I… I want to be a Mother. That’s not wrong, is it? Do you think they’d understand, haven’t I done enough?

I want to go home.”

Ambrose leaned in and kissed her forehead, a tender moment of reflection in the Death Watch commander, who took Yasha from Strider Garon’s Rekr Squad into his own. He’d watched the weight of her mantle crush her joy, eliminate her first love…

… never more than a week’s leave before returning to work after her babies were born. But now, after her injuries on Orinda, and the vongshaping of her arm via Carnifex’s patsy… Manda’yaim would survive without the Infernal.

“I’ll see to it, Yash’ika. Go back to sleep, by the time you wake up, it’ll be morning on Erebos.” It was time for the once-child soldier to hold nothing larger than her children into the night.

Mandalore was burning. In the intervening months since her deposition, Yasha lived on her family’s estate. The first precious weeks of her newborn twins Viggo and Taika’s lives, she was nothing but their mother. Even Adara was sent for, brought home from the Boarding School in Aruetiise space.

Surrounded by none but her spouses and family, Yasha began to let go, and heal. Things had not healed for the Mando’ade. Bickering between the Clans meant no appointed Mand’alor to replace her, yet Yasha remained deaf to it. She was deaf to all but her children’s laughter and their cries for her attention. Cerani was far too talented in keeping the news and reports away from Yasha’s maternal retreat. Ambrose and the Pack were too vicious of guardians for any of the plight of the Mando’ade to get through.

Until @Beth Cadera died in childbirth on Tanaab. The wound refused to close. Her and Cleru’s twins were brought to the Estate, to be raised by Yasha, while she helped Cleru cope with single fatherhood. He would never be alone.

The message came through a back channel years-forgotten. A scientific colleague in the Sith Empire, who acted as a go-between for the Alliance. The plea was simple: ‘Come back. Talk to Carnifex… stop the war. The Sith are coming.’

Yasha set down her stim-caf, kissed her wife [member="Caz Australis"], and went to the armoury one last time. One last moment of duty, before the final return home.

Present Day

The Infernal no more, Yasha walked through the Sundari palace and felt the tension roiling off those left to fight. She set her arm on her husband’s shoulder, leaning her forehead down to give [member="Kaine Australis"] a Keldabe kiss.

The force against them was massive. A killing field of Sith and Black Blades and horrors without limit.

“When [member="Darth Carnifex"] comes, let him to me, ner runi.” In the back of her mind, Yasha knew the folly. Carnifex took no time to rest, like she had. He would hold nothing back. “I can hold him off while… Kain’ik… I love you. Out of everyone on Mandalore, you gave me a life. The kids, Caz… I wouldn’t trade them for all the Yasha-Class mishaps in the Galaxy. Well… to battle, then.”

She shared a private moment with her husband, not alone but close to. Tuulu, dressed in his beskar’kandar stood perilously beside her as they went to the Sundari Palace’s throne room.

The old comm signal for Carnifex pinged a single message.

“Not my planet.” ​

It would be enough to call the Emperor in to the Hell Wolf’s trap.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVUzPwmjSHw​

The Emperor, in stark contrast to all those who now rushed forward, fought valiantly and died ingloriously in the meatgrinder of Sundari's defenses, sat quietly on a nearby rock that overlooked the wide battlefield expanse. In one hand he held aloft his lightsaber, inert yet shimmering with barely restrained power, and in his other, he absently thumbed a circular trinket inscribed with Epicant scripture. A low rumble vibrated within his throat, exuding from his lips as a deep humming that vaguely followed a melody resonating back to his most distant memories of childhood. An artillery shell detonated somewhere off to his left, a shower of uprooted earth, stone, and charred metal cascading around him like snow.

He paid no mind to any of it, his mind was elsewhere at the moment. Searching, yearning...

A trill from his wrist-communication drew his attention back to reality, a single message in Aurebesh rolling across the digital display. The message roused him from his inaction, the Emperor of all Sith rising to his feet as a squadron of Sith fighters ran down a Mandalorian gunship; the latter careening nose-first into the ground about a mile away as its engines exploded from repeated blaster fire. He looked to the commanders that had lingered behind the advancing columns of Legionnaires to stand aside by their Emperor, "Continue the assault, give them no quarter. You will find me in the city."

​

A bubble of churning shadowy energy engulfed the Sith Emperor, shrouding him from view before both he and the bubble disappeared entirely.

Many miles away the Emperor reappeared somewhere up high on the Sundari dome's outer surface, his feet landing firmly against the blasted steel where the Empire's assault had damaged it. Armored fingers clutched for purpose, digging deep rents as he hauled himself up and over into the breach. Down he descended through open-air, a black dot against chaotic flames. His eyes peered distantly through the city, his being disappearing and reappearing as further into the city as he could see. Again and again, the Emperor moved through Sundari, exploiting the brief gaps between the Mandalorian's Bral-field to quickly advance well ahead of his besieging army.

For he had been called.

He had no other recourse but to answer.

There came a point where the Emperor could no longer advance through the Dark Side of the Force, and he was made to rely on skills learned long ago to keep moving. Part of his herculean strength had been gifted to him through genetic tinkering rather than through the Dark Side alone, and he put such strength to use to scale sheer building walls and leap long distances, always moving until he, at last, reached the courtyard leading to the Sundari Palace. An entire legion of the Clan's best warriors had been assembled alongside defensive emplacements, chokepoints, and kill-zones designed to inflict maximum suffering before being overrun.

The true enemy of the Mandalorians walked up every step, a Mandalorian officer quickly relaying the Infernal's commands; reinforced by the Warmaster's own, to the warriors who raised their weapons in surprise. In turn, the Emperor harmed not a single one of them as he stalked past him, his eyes fixated further ahead in the Palace he would soon navigate. His every footfall was a tolling of a foul bell, each peel heralding the arrival of the Dark Lord of the Sith until at last they ceased.

And the Emperor stood face-to-face with the Infernal.

[member="Yasha Cadera"] | [member="Kaine Australis"]​

 

[Taru Cadera]

Location: Sundari Royal Palace
Allies: UCM & Friends
Enemy: TSE & their allies
Equipment: Everything in Equipment

Taru was right beside his uncle [member="Adenn Kyramud"] when he went to reconfigure his E'care. He helped to reconfigure the weapon, mainly by supplying Adenn with what he needed when he needed it. Taru could have reconfigured it himself at a much faster rate, seeing as to how he had overseen it's creation in The Armoury's main factory. But it was Adenn's gun, and his to learn and love and use. So Taru only helped.

However, when Adenn went to the balcony to snipe the opposing forces, Taru jumped over the side of the balcony and activated his jet-pack, and did a quick 360º turn about the rooftop. From there, he activated every single one of his sensors. "Diamtayr! An shusha bat. (Imp {referring to the AI's name} All sensors on.)" Almost instantly, Taru felt the systems booting up, and his veiwplate became chaotic for a quick second before siphoning off data into readable portions and away. This way he could see and analyze everything before him. \<\<\ Scanning for all visible organics. Scanning for all hidden organics in field of view. Searching for linked weaponry. 1 weapon found. Scanning for Enemies within range of linked weaponry. Enemy Found. />/>/ The AI was built to speak in Galactic Basic only, but Taru would sooner or later figure out how to reconfigure this inconstancy. Taru did perk up about one thing. The Enemy Found meant that he was within kill range. "Diamtayr ka'yatr ni. (Imp cloak me)" \<\<\ Cloaking now />/>/. With himself fully cloaked, he took his Ash'amur off of his magnetic holster and jumped to the nearest spiral of the farthest tower. Taking aim in the same direction that his Uncle was, He too saw the Zambranos. Not the head Zambrano, and Sith Emperor, but Zambranos nonetheless. Following the trajectory of the bullet which Imp had spotted, he saw the planned fire path, and so decided to shoot around it. No use shooting a dead body. Instead Taru targeted those around [member="Constantinius Zambrano"] , but if the zambrano jumped away from Adenn's shot, there would be an even bigger chance that he would get hit by Taru. Cause lets face it, the Ash'amur shoots huge beams. And if they didn't hit the zambrano or his entourage, they would at the very least put some scary looking holes into the ground or buildings beside them. So Taru shot at the Zambrano's entourage, spraying four well placed shots around the Zambrano and towards the enemy.

The enemy was here, but Taru was here too.

Bal vaii diamtr saca shi kyr'am shekemir
(Where the Devil shoots only death follows) (*Popular Mandalorian Quote*)

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Objective: Solo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD0Yx_WR-ks

Cassiopeia let her hand gently run across the smooth metal of the console. The eerie silence - from the evacuations, or really, many of the students and professors taking up arms if they knew how to fight. In her other hand held a full glass of tihaar, although Manda knew how much of the intense, strong liquor was running through her bloodstream.

She cracked a small grin as she sat down on the stool. How many times had she sat here over the past decade? How much of her life had she dedicated to the research in this institution? Likely, at what cost of her children, [member="Lily-Grace Australis"] and [member="Milla Caranthyr"]? They were both growing up. So fast, so beautiful. They had a future like none other in the galaxy. But they were safe. So far away. She made sure of that as soon as she heard. And they'd be safe, at least.

Her mind drifted, so deep in thought. Was she a monster for the research she did in this institution, perhaps no better than the Sith? Cassiopeia had always striven for her genetic research to be ethical. Did she make mistakes? Of course. Did she act in the interest of the Clans? Always.

She wasn't a fighter. She was an educator, a teacher, a professor... A researcher. She helped terraform Mandalore. Back then, with [member="Yasha Cadera"] and [member="Kaine Australis"]. She... She wiped the tears that formed in her eyes before she poured the rest of the tihaar down her throat. The burn damaged as she shook her head, shaking off the feeling as she slammed the glass down on the counter. This was it, wasn't it? She placed her head in both hands as she thought about Yasha, her closest friend, Kaine, the man who brought her into the Clans, and the many other people who held such a special place in her life and heart.

Tuulu... A beautiful love that, while it had its challenged, flourished. Her kids loved him. Heck, she loved him. Their special, unique love. She closed her eyes as she focused on her last memory with him. The last touch of their kiss...

He was beside Yasha's side. It hurt, but she expected nothing else. It was something she had long accepted. She would toil, alone, in the labs several hundred feet under the University of Sundari. But that was her life, wasn't it? To be alone? Raiz... Dimitri... The thud in her chest spoke volumes to the pain in her heart. It hurt. But pain was temporary. Nothing lasted forever, right? That's what everyone would always say. That's what she had convinced herself years ago. That's what she had to do to survive.

Her mind drifted to her family. Before she became a Mandalorian. Before she became a mother. Her own mother. Man, did she miss her every day. The smell from the kitchen. Her father always asking her to help tinker on their ship. Jacob, her little brother, bouncing around with such happiness. So much life. Cassiopeia wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Alone... But not for forever.

The alliance fell. And the push of the galaxy against the Clans was shown. They wouldn't make it. They could try as much as they might, but... They lost. Cassiopeia had already given up.

Her hand rested on the scanner as it read her palm and fingerprints. "Access granted," a robotic voice echoed in the chamber.

A compartment opened as she reached in and took the small switch-like device. Her hand gripped it, squeezing the device. The only authorized individual who could use the switch. If it was to be activated... It had to be under the direst of circumstances. It could only be her. And it had to be done inside the labs. The direst of circumstances had come to pass... A secret that even Yasha, at least to her knowledge, didn't know about. That is what being prepared does to you. Cassiopeia smirked, shaking her head. Who the frack would've guessed?

"Tuulu?" She asked through the comm piece in her ear. "Are you there?" Her voice quivered, almost breaking, as it echoed through the silence.

 

[Arla Ordo]

Objective - Get Avrum to safety - join comrades
Gear listed in Bio
Allies: [member="Gilamar Skirata"] | [member="Mishka Larraq"]
Enemies [member="Lorale Farmar"] | Sith

As they ran the systems built into Arla's armor began buzzing, letting in broken words and sounds of war. A broken word or two told her there was a concentration of activity in Sundari. Some familiar Clan names managed to filter through giving her a feeling hope for Mandalore.

This was not the first time the Sith had come to Mandalore and it would likely not be the last. But clans were often split by their visits those that believed that association with them gave them position, power and credits and then the others who looked at the dar'jeti and spit. Better to starve than serve those that would use them as footstools.

"ow" Avrum's small voice finally heard. Arla looked down, "what?" He looked up defiantly at her, "you're hurting my hand with your gloves." OH my...she nodded, "I'm sorry Avi lots going on I just need to get you to a ship that gets you off world. You remember what I told you where to go, who to ask for"

His little headed nodded his brilliant intelligent eyes told he what he was thinking, "Your turn will come. Learn what you need to..then you can do the trials and join the ranks of the hammerhands." A small sigh, "yes mam"

A few more turns and they stood in front of the station of first responders she stepped inside only to have all faces rushing towards her, "Are you ok? Do you need assistance?"

"I'm fine" irritation gave her voice an edge which made them pause. "I need to get my son off world. Do you have ship going off with other families? Other...locations...like Sanctuary City?"

A woman of light complexion, graying hair, and cautious gray eyes moved forward. "I an get him to Sanctuary City." Arla nodded, "You know who to take him to then there.." A warm smile and a knowing nod, "yes."

Word came through that the Protectors were being mobilized. Arla knew of them but held no position within their ranks where ever they went the battle would be the strongest.

"ba'buir will be waiting you find her" He nodded Arla looked to the woman, "your name"

"Elaina Ordo." oh...relief recognition, "Elaina I trust you with my son."

Avrum looked up to his mother as she began kneeling down. Arla book off her buy'ce settling it to the floor looking at her son. Her only child. A deep breath this is what they fought for a way of life, survival of their customs, and to live another day. "Avi" He jumped into her arms hugging her tightly. She tried not to crush him in her own arms. "I love you Avi. No matter what happens you remember who you are, what you are, and whose child you are."

He only nodded as he put his cheek to hers. "Yes Buir I will remember. We have long memories, we never forget" She nodded again. "yes Ad'ika we never forget." A deep breath. "I have to go." She let go reluctantly as she stared at him taking a picture of him today as he was to go with her.

Arla looked to Elaina no words were needed Arla smiled winked at Avi. She had to believe it was alright that these responders would do as they promised. Arla feeling the tightness in her chest growing slipped on her buy'ce turned and ran out the door.

Avi ran to the door and watched her go. Uncertain of when he would see her again. But his ba'buir would be waiting. Elaina was talking, "I'll take as many as will fit into the ship. It will be landing in three minutes...." She smiled to Avi, "Avrum we need to go if we are to reach safety." A medical ambulance was landing to carry them to the ship. Avi looked at Elaina and then to the direction his mother had gone.

 

[Darth Kentarch]

Location: Sundari
Allies: UCM, [member="Ra Vizsla"]
Enemies: TSE, [member="Bedrovelse Hevn"], [member="Scherezade deWinter"]
Objective: Defend the city
Equipment: Sith Robes, Sith Lightsaber, sword.

The drop pod was rather unremarkable. An infiltrator no doubt, although Kentarch was sure whoever used this pod was no Sith Assassin. Phasma-Class infiltrators would have been more useful. Whoever it was, they decided to make a loud, visible, and sloppy entrance into the city, then butchered some armed locals. It was sloppy work, especially for an attempt to get behind enemy lines. The Sith Lord looked inside at the on-board computer, it was damaged from the impact, but Kentarch learned it was dropped in response to call from the city.

So there is two of them.

Reaching out with the force, Darth Kentarch tried to find anyone who may have some kind of force sensitivity. Similarly his senses probed for Lightsabers, which had their own distinct signature in the force, a lesser known way to get caught by skilled wielder of the force. After a moment he felt a deep and dark presence in the force from 'Phantasmagoria'. Out of instinct Kentarch's head snapped in the direction of the sword and wielder. It was all he needed, the Sith sprinted off to catch his mark. It wasn't long before the signature vanished almost instantaneously. But he was sure there were two individuals and not one. Kentarch himself made no effort to conceal his force signature, at this point he wanted his enemies to know he was coming.

Come, step out of the shadows.

Well it seems we keep running into each other. Kentarch though to himself hearing Ra Vizsla.

Yet an advantage presented itself. Ra was an excellent... distraction. If the the two individuals could be drawn out at Ra's instigating. A Surprise attack would tip the balance easily in Kentarch and Ra's favor. Using force concealment, The Sith Lord ensured his signature was completely buried and masked, including his weapons. Then for his next trick he used force cloak and vanished into thin air. Completely invisible to the naked eye. All he had to do now was get into position.

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Location: Sundari Palace
Objective: Kill her oldest friend
Allies: Mando’ade [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Ra Vizsla"] [member="Cassiopeia Caranthyr"]
Enemies: [member="Darth Carnifex"]

Clang.

Clang.

Clang.

The butt of Yasha’s Longinus spear crashed into the marble floor of the Sundari Throne Room. Nine feet of ori’ramikad wood, Beskar and dovin basal buried in the central spearhead. The same broken spearhead Yasha’s childish fingers clung to in the Netherworld, As she fought her and her mother free of chaos’ grip. Reforged as a wedding present by [member="Kaine Australis"], it was a masterful weapon. Powerful and raucous in its abilities toward the manipulation of gravity.

Clang.

Clang.

Clang.

‘Here. I’m here, Koemi. Find me.’

Caustic light shone through the columns of the reinforced palace. A flood of memories gripping sternly at Yasha’s clenched teeth and jaw.

“Let him pass. Carnifex is mine.” Against the better instinct of the soldiers defending Sundari, Yasha insisted. She knew well Carnifex would carve planets in Twain to get to her.

He always did and for some length of years, Yasha wondered. Reports of a vanishing Behemoth flickering through the city hit Yasha’s ears.

Clang.

Clang.

Reconstructed shoulder sat well in its socket - a gift of healing the last time Yasha saw the Butcher King. Rolling it in her armour, the beskar feathers which sculpted her collar and into the infamous Infernal Wolf Helm rippled with a metallic trill she heard echo across the hall.

The hall where once as a child she guarded [member="Ra Vizsla"], before he told her to run. It was that image which bolstered her now, not the memories the woman had upon the throne and around Mandalore. Watching an aged Gurlanin weary from his wounds call her to take her fellow children and run to safety. Words whispered to the eldest of them... protect my family...

“And if you must kill, take trophies for Mand’alor.” She heard the rumble of his basso voice in her mind. As if he breathed again.

Yasha would make a trophy of Carnifex’s head, and lay it on Ra’s memorial stone. One last bountiful duty for the Undying and his Manda’yaim.

The baffles on the side of the Wolf Helm twitched. Yasha’s crushgaunt reached for the pommel of her songsteel sword, crafted lovingly by her brother Quoron. It clove slavers, Sith and beasts alike into pieces of meat. With it, she defended herself and Darth Carnifex from the Ymir below the ruins of Kaas City. A low growl echoed from her and her companion Tuulu’s throats, the situation with Cassie at the university causing the gurlanin man to twitch.

“Tuulu?” Cassie’s voice crackled through their comms, “Are you there?”

“Go to her. Tuulu, go.” Yasha dared not look at her most stalwart companion, as he cocked his head from one side to the other, readying his rifle.

No words. None were needed. He saw her through war and the perseverent after, and he would see her through now, keeping any heat from the dual to come. Touching the side of his buy’ce, Tuulu cleared his throat.

Clang.

Clang.

“I’m here, ner kar’ta. Cassie? Ni kar’taylir darasuum... darasuum.” His whisper was hoarse, as he took position. Clear the area. Keep heat off the Infernal. His Yasha, who would have been nothing but a garden-crazed botanist had he, Ambrose and the other gurlanin not thrust the duty of Mandalore upon her.

Sounds of violence, grunting and climbing hit their buy’ce’s before the hulking shadow entered the throne room.

There.

“So you are not dead, Koemi...” Yasha craned her head to the side, “Yet.”

The blistering form of her nightmarish once-confidante. Shadow of her childhood, constant of her adulthood, Darth Carnifex was as horrifying now as many warned in the past.

Copious warnings. Everyone from [member="Alexandra Feanor"] to her beloved [member="Kaine Australis"] and [member="Kay Arenais"] warned of Carnifex’s treachery. She saw it, yet saw too another layer.

He waited... withheld his fist until Yasha’s presence was deficit from this very Palace where she’d lived more than half her life. Had his armies and armadas chomped at their halters for his release of their hordes?

“Did you think I would not return to Manda’yaim in her day of need? Did you think...” her voice choked, unaware that Cassie could still hear it through Tuulu’s open comm. “... Koe... what entered your mind? Why?”

The Shadow would always come for the Hell Wolf... but why?

“I was happy! I held my babies in my arms and loved them! Me. I knew what it was like, to be a woman and not a soldier, to wake up after a full night’s sleep to my children needing me! Calling for me! Not Tamar or Caz... why did you have to attack Mandalore? My home?!

Koemi... did you... did you not know I would defend Manda’yaim?” Insistent and guttural, the Infernal’s voice shuddered against the walls of her once-domain. Why, once peace found her, when all she had and all she needed was waking beside her beautiful wife, and watching her babies grow, did the Butcher Emperor call all hazards to arms?

And why did it feel like the worst betrayal of all?