Mission Operation Scimitar | An Age of Strife Story - Pt. 2

[Kav Canthar]

R A N C O R
THE EMPIRE
EN ROUTE TO VEROLEEM
ALLIES: Hal Vaiken | Margo Liaeris | Lily Stevens | Leto Karazyn | Katja Javik | Castor E-196 | Kriegan Tavlar
ENEMIES: Chiss Forces
ENGAGING: N/A
GEAR: Commando Armor | Z-6 Rotary Blaster Cannon | TL-50 Heavy Repeater | C-10 Heavy Blaster Pistol | Phase-Knife | Grenade loadout

Kav glanced over to Reaper - Lily - and raised an eyebrow.

"Drowned?" The tall human asked, as he nodded slowly. "Well. Damn."

There wasn't much opportunity to expand on that particular tidbit, before Sarge took the floor and activated the briefing table display. From where Kav stood, helmet tucked, he heard the boss mention to pack what could be carried, then assigned Stalker to demo. That was fine. Kav had no problem not carrying high explosives, or at least the kind that were vulnerable to catching a blaster bolt and reacting... violently.

"Copy that," Kav said as he turned back to the crate and picked out some smaller, less volatile det-charges, and packed them away. "Just in case."

SCAR watched as the boss outlined the mission to come, Kav listened as each member was given their orders, and assigned to a smaller fireteam. There would be multiple approaches, it seemed like, with each pair infiltrating from different subterranean entries. Phantom and Spectre to shaft A, Castor and Kriegan to shaft B, Reaper and Sarge to shaft C and--

Say it. Say it. Say it.

--Stalker and Rancor to parade Door. Almost. Kav smirked, as he nodded, then glanced across to the other large female humanoid he had been assigned. The heavy didn't know too much about his fellow SCAR members, not intricate personal details anyway, but there had been word that Margo was enhanced. Not too dissimilar to Kav, in some ways, though his genetics had been bred over generations - whereas hers had been outright altered, at least according to word of mouth.

Kav would ask at some point.

"Frontal assault? You got it," The muscular human said with a wink to Stalker. "Sure the two of us can knock real loud on that door for you all."

With a pause, Rancor glanced back to the supply crate... he reached over to grab several more power cells and packs, just in case. Kav didn't take any more explosives, he figured the det-charges would be enough to breach the main entry if it was needed. Besides, Sarge explicitly mentioned not cutting the team off by going overboard with the demo...

"You got it, Sarge, we'll keep the door open nice and wide for all to wander home through."

Reaper smirked and muttered a joke, to which Kav glanced her way - then back to Margo - with his own lop-sided grin.

"Oh yeah? Threatening me with a good time, huh."

Either way, Rancor was ready. This would be his first mission with SCAR, he had prepared for this for most of his military career, and now he had the opportunity to be on the business end of SCAR operations. He couldn't wait...

 

[Sycamore Warrey]

Tags: Sahar​

The first search of the day, as such things so often were, found itself to be as fruitless as a Tatooine orchard. Not that such an outcome came as a surprise. Yet, utterly unsurprised or not, it was an unwelcome one.

How wonderfully simple it all would have been if the first house in the suburbs of Malidris turned out to be the hive that the Knighthood was looking for. Alas, it hadn’t even been an outpost. The locals who called such a place home had likely fled at the first sighting of an Imperial ship strafing overhead.

All to be found in such a place was hastily scattered belongings, ransacked closets and an utter lack of anything even remotely of interest in the sphere of dark occult contraband. No strange symbols painted on the walls in blood. No lexicons of dark secrets laying out upon a table amidst a shrine. Nothing.

Sycamore stepped back outside to the hiss of the door, and a trace of movement drew his attention. The sight of the face was but for the fraction of a second, leaving only the sight of their hooded cloak about them to obscure their features.

Their garb was enough to tell him two things. One, they were most certainly an Imperial Knight. Likely an Inquisitor. Second, they were moving with a purpose that gave the impression they had a clearer idea about where to venture than he.
Two wonderful reasons to join forces as Sycamore saw it.

“Inquisitor! Inquisitor, wait up!” Sycamore exclaimed, jogging to close the distance between them, and to ultimately fall in alongside them if their current pace remained consistent.

“How fortunate to find a friendly face out here.” Sycamore mused, as if finding a compatriot in the recently claimed area was as lucky as finding buried treasure out and about by sheer happenstance. “We’ve not met before.” Now this was stated as fact. “Paladin Sycamore Warrey. Where are we off to?” That, too, as stated matter of factly. As if he’d delivered and subsequently accepted his own invitation to…well, wherever they were off to.

 

[Ashkur Kilslee]

315th Flight Wing
3rd Squadron
2-Flight
4x TIE/INx Interceptor

With the arrival of other Star Destroyers and their fighter complements, Ashkur was able to refocus on his prey, no longer serving as a screen breaking apart the incoming fighters for the main swarm of TIEs, the interceptor flight became hunters - weapons honed to kill. Ashkur smiled a predatorial smile - These Chiss were good - some of them well-outclassed anyone else in his wing, but he was going to show them what a skyhopper jockey from Dantooine could do.

"6 and 7, Keep Element and stick with the wing. 8, Take lead of our element." The pilot watched as his wingman sped up ahead of him, keeping a loose echelon. Suddenly a pair of Clawcraft attached themselves to the lead interceptor, seemingly ignoring the predator behind them. Ashkur stuck tight to the lead clawcraft, matching his movements as the clawcraft tried to match Cyclone 8's movements. The clawcraft's wingman pulled off the throttle to take a position behind him, but Ashkur kept his ship jinking and jabbing just enough to avoid the flurry of red bolts flying around him. Closing his eyes for a moment, Ashkur side-slipped the Interceptor, the Clawcraft's momentum and suprise pulling it ahead of him as the Interceptor slowed and pulled off to the side. Jerking his ship back into it's original vector, Ashkur depressed the trigger, the bolts causing the Clawcraft to explode in a Nova.

"8. I'm coming back to help yo-" Before he could even finish his sentence, Ashkur's eyes were diverted off to the distance. Doing his best to continue pursuit of the fighter hot on his wingman's tail, he nonetheless watched as Cyclone 7's portside was peppered with bolts, thankfully not enough to penetrate his shields, while 6 was off chasing a lone outlander. Sending a deadly accurate volley of shots into the Clawcraft following his own wingman, Ashkur growled in an angry, dark tone as he keyed his mic back on, "6, Get the frakking hell back to your element right now - and I've got words for you in Briefing C if you survive this mission."
​

 

[Lucien Dooku]

OBJ III - Huntin Cultists, getting ambushed. fun times.
Tish Cowen | Open to other Knights

​

---

---

END TRANSMISSION

A squad of shuttles touched down outside a vacant city, long since abandoned by the Chiss after numerous infiltrations by the native Iridonian partisans. The city itself was of inconsequential value to the Empire, but the reports intercepted by the Imperial Security Bureau had suggested that the Chiss were facing down not just partisans, but the rumored cultists that were plaguing their defensive lines over the past few weeks of their occupation.

A double column of stormtroopers exited the lead shuttle first, each squad expanding outwards to form a perimeter for the Knights exiting the shuttle. They were presented with a ghost town; stalls were abandoned on the sides of the street, debris of once intact buildings littered the side walks, and a plethora of blue-skinned corpses dotted the horizon-- stripped clean of both weapons and gear. Some were killed with blasters, or slugthrowers, while others were visibly eviscerated by melee weapons of several kinds-- including the tell-tale sign of plasma cutting and searing through flesh.

Among the fallen were many Iridonians, some more visibly identifiable as potential cultists, while others seeming to be nothing more than civilians caught in the crossfire. He ordered the troopers to cover the bodies, a few of them retrieving a handful of reserve tarps from the shuttle to complete the task. It was the least they could do after bringing this conflict to their world, and until the conflict had ended, the bodies would have to remain on the street. Even if the Chiss themselves had been the aggressors, it was clear to Lucien as it was to many that the Empire itself had sowed the seeds for the inevitable acts of sedition against the Imperial state.

He shifted away from his thoughts, the sudden shifting of an individual on the very edge of his peripheral drawing his attention. The intense flash of a blaster proceeded a bolt impacting the side of a Stormtrooper's helmet. The eerie calm of the once dead city ended in seconds as a crescendo of blasters rained down on the Knights and their retinue of Stormtroopers, who reacted to the ambush as efficiently as one would expect.

Lucien unclipped his weapon from his hip, impassive at the bolts flying with purpose around his head, their enemies seemingly targeting him in specific.

"I was expecting something a bit more drastic, and perhaps a saber wielder or two coming out to play."

Luc spoke up, a comm channel opening up between him and the Knights present. Lucien remained stalwart against the continued attempts to focus him down with fire, the brilliance of his lightsaber finally erupting to life to aid in the deflecting back of the occasional too-close-for-home shot.

An agonizing scream of one of his men turned his attention away from the bolts raining down upon him, centering his gaze down the opposite end of the street. A dozen of black-robed individuals brandished a mixture of crimson-colored lightsabers and ancient-pattern bladed weapons. They rushed forwards to cut down the first wave of Stormtroopers in their path, and Lucien moved to intercept them at once, directing the surviving troopers back towards the ranged battle happening elsewhere around their position. The weight of two lightsabers hammered down upon his singular blade, their comrades rushing forwards to gang up on the rest of the Knights.

"Spoke too soon."​

 

[Zorah Fel]

Lucien Dooku | Tish Cowen | @Knights​

The transport touched down almost silently, and the shuttle doors hissed open, spewing forth rows of stormtroopers. Then came the Knights, Zorah among them, encased in their battle armor, and behind them came King Dooku himself, Rurik’s heir and the Warden of the Empire.

Zorah felt out of place. Fel blood or not, she was only a Knight-Errant, and freshly appointed at that- she had not earned a place among the Warden’s guard, and it rankled. Politics had seen her placed in the squad rather than merit, and she hated it.

But that was neither here nor there. The ‘how’ and ‘why’ didn’t matter now. Only the mission.

The city was a graveyard, silent and empty. Corpses littered the streets and fouled the air. She sensed a strange sharpness to the silent stillness, like the tense quiet before a storm, and curled her hand around the hilt of her saber. Beneath her helmet, her eyes narrowed. Something flashed in the distance-

!​

A shrieking bolt of red plasma splattered against a trooper’s helmet- her lightsaber flared to life almost on its own.

“AMBUSH!”

The air rent with blaster bolts. The knights, Zorah included, closed around the Warden like an iron shield, repelling the incoming fire as the stormtroopers sought cover.

<”I was expecting something a bit more drastic,"> said the Warden, <"and perhaps a saber wielder or two coming out to play.”>

As if summoned by his words, a dozen robed beings appeared at the end of the street; a few of them gripped wicked blades of fell make, but some of them brandished lightsabers, the crimson blades like pulsing scars.

The cultists, for that was surely what they were, carved through the stormtrooper lines, and the bold King Lucien rushed to meet them. Zorah hesitated for only a moment before she sprinted after him, stubbornly pressing through the first battle jitters that plagued her.

The Force is my Weapon, and I am the weapon of the Empire. She was only a Knight-Errant...but she was also a Fel, and her conviction was pure and her heart was true. In the service of the Empire, she believed she could do anything.

Her blade clashed against another- the wielder was a tall, burly Zabrak, his skin patterned with tattoo-like scars and markings. She struck out with her free hand, activating the shield in her gauntlet as she backhanded him in the face.

He leaned away as she struck him, easing the pressure on her blade, and just in time- she curved it into the path of a cowardly attack at her flank, twisted away from another, and loosed a vicious snap kick at the first Zabrak’s privates.

The fight was on.
​

 

[Leto Venau]

Hal Vaiken Katja Javik Lily Stevens Kav Canthar Margo Liaeris Castor E-196 Kriegan Tavlar
​

Frankly, Leto remained unbothered by his role in the mission. It was rare that the Imperial ever was. He was simple in that sense, and maybe another sense too. The Amaxine knew warfare and little else, unable to consider much more worth value. The Imperial desire for finer ammenities was lost on what was relative to a barbaric butcher that found a certain thrill when the heat of a blaster bolt scorched skin, or a knife tore into a flesh - his own, or otherwise.

It was with an inclined brow and features that mentioned a disagreement that the stormtrooper settled dark eyes onto Katja. "Then you've not paid attention," he muttered faintly to the woman with a smirk on the rise. In terms of fried, yes, less so when it concerned an added stimulation. The SCAR medic knew all about that though, what with his insistence on an extra payload of combat stimulants; few eased the mind, rather sent it into overdrive. Enhancements, and no one need say no to that.

He rose his dark helmet by the lip and slipped it over his head, the once clear voice turned muffled. "I suppose we'll see about that," his role often afforded him utter isolation in areas no normal soldier would dare dream find themselves in, teamwork was a lesser skill. In a voice rich in mockery, Leto ended his earlier sentence with faux respect. "Sergeant."

 

[Tish Cowen]

I N Q U I S I T O R

THE EMPIRE
STREETS | IRIDONIA
TAG: Lucien Dooku | Zorah Fel | Open

SURVIVAL​

It was quiet.

Too quiet for the Inquisitor's liking. Violet eyes screened the area as Raina stepped out of the shuttle alongside Lucien and other Knights.

Bodies littered the streets as they entered what could only be described as a ghost town - Chiss and Iridonians alike. But the hair on the witch's arms were still standing on end as her eyes swept over the bodies that were cut down by a saber. Everything deathly quiet.

But it changed with the flash of a blaster.

“AMBUSH!”

Raina's argent blade sprang to life to deflect the bolts that came her way.

"I was expecting something a bit more drastic, and perhaps a saber wielder or two coming out to play."

"Are you ever satisfied, Dooku?" she asked him as she returned a bolt to its sender.

But it seemed he had cursed the situation by saying that.

The scream drew all their attention. And there, coming down the street, were the ones they had been looking for, complete with being decked out in the stereotypical edge-robes that seemed to move with cultists and Dark-Siders.

"Spoke too soon."

"You don't say." the heir to Demici as she sent a powerful blast in the direction of a conglomerate of assailants. She then darted forward in a blur of argent to meet one of the creepers head on.

In her peripheral, she saw one of the Errants getting assailed by more than one cultist. Without breaking stride against her own cultist, she hurled a ball of bright flame in the second Zabrak's direction just as he was about to engage the Errant again to at least slow him down.

"Stay vigilant, Young Knight!"

 

[Katja Javik]

The Empire
SCAR Squadron
Hal Vaiken | Lily Stevens | Margo Liaeris | Leto Karazyn | Kav Canthar | Kriegan Tavlar | Castor E-196

​

She was familiar with his type; the stoic and abrasive personality that she had encountered among other troopers, though at least with most of them there seemed to be a mutual respect, even if begrudging, she wasn't sure the same could be said at present. It reminded her of a conversation she had had with Kriegan about the grating people they oftentimes worked with - Today was an example of that.

It wasn't as though she had known Leto all that long but she cared about him the same as the others, even if his mockery did string. It was at least the minimum requirement for her role that she cared for her squad. It was all of their responsibility to look out for each other but she had the extra responsibility of being the difference between life and death if a mission went wrong, though she expected there not to be quite so much drama on their current mission. She at least wanted no physical harm to come to Leto, even if she didn't particularly enjoy his company.

She raised an eyebrow at his vaguely threatening comment but was still slightly smiling, not taking him too seriously. His comments were little more than jabs that rarely provoked a reaction from her. Instead, she just shook her head as if dismissing his mockery and followed suit in placing on her own helmet, taking a few moments to ensure the filter was functioning properly.

"I think we should stick together the whole time, if possible. It sounds dangerous enough down there even without exchanging blaster fire. If anything goes wrong then at least we have the other nearby." She told him, more as a reminder that they were supposed to work as a team more than anything. She didn't know what to expect from him but her hopes weren't very high.

 

[FN-999]

R E B O R N
THE 908TH​

Objective: Finish what we started
Location: Iridonia, suburbs of Malidris
In Proximity Of: 908th Legion | 501st Legion | Huang Shoushan | Nukth Kelga'an | Petra Dunstan | Ruaridh Aodh | Open to cooperation
Engaging: Chiss & Dark Force Elements

As FN-999 suspected, the Chiss had dug themselves firmly into Malidris.
​

Almost immediately as they entered the urban limits of the capital city, gunfire rang out from almost every building in a half-kilometer radius, all directed at the 908th's armored vanguard. Fortunately, they had anticipated heavy urban resistance, and it did not take long for the wounded and healthy alike to find cover among the city sprawl.

[Hammers, this is Lieutenant Mithrope, 3rd Scouts. I'll be relaying key targets and dangers as your walkers continue into the city. Stay tuned for more.]

Onboard the six AT-AT walkers, a sense of anticipation was in the air. The opening skirmishes were too minor to get distracted by, with casualties still very low. However, the deeper they traveled into Malidris, the heavier Chiss resistance would become, and the 908th still lacked intelligence on whether or not the Chiss had heavy weapons. Perhaps they even had AT-ATs of their own, moving out to intercept the 908th. For now, the experienced walker commanders could not rule any situation out.

[All Hammers, STOP! Landmine 20 clicks ahead!]

One by one, the AT-AT line ground to a halt.

[Mithrope, this is Hammer 44. How long do you think it'll take to disarm the mine? We're sitting ducks out here!]

[Fortunately, the mine's a captured Imperial model. It's pretty big, but it should only take us about ten minutes to disarm. Ask Nines to bring up reinforcements to cover your blindspots while you wait.]

Back in the inner suburbs, FN-999 and several advisors stood around a holoprojector inside their command shuttle.

So far, the advance was going as expected, with the AT-AT line forming the vanguard and the main infantry formations following behind in an arc. The exact Chiss positions were still unknown, and their numbers could only be estimated. The heaviest resistance was being pitted against the vanguard, which took light casualties before returning fire.

All of a sudden, something caught FN-999's eye.

[All Hammers, this is Nines. Why have you stopped your advance?]

[Nines, this is Hammer 46. The scouts found a landmine 20 clicks ahead of Hammer 43, so we're stopping while they disarm it. Requesting reinforcements for the disarmers and our walkers while we wait.]

[Request granted, reinforcements pending. I'll see what we can spare, and they should be over in a few minutes. Nines, out.]

[Bigfoot, this is Nines. The vanguard's paused to defuse a mine ahead of the walkers. Do you have any spare companies to cover their op?]

[Nines, this is Bigfoot. Unfortunately, every company on the front already has multistep orders underway and cannot be freed. We could take companies away from the artillery backline, but that would make them sitting ducks for Chiss flankers.]

[I understand. Thank you, Bigfoot.]

FN-999 then cut the comms and sighed aloud to himself.

"How are we going to reinforce the vanguard?" thought FN-999 aloud. "We're committed everywhere and now we've got even more to deal with."

"Honestly, the vanguard might not need reinforcement." replied a nearby sergeant. "We've already got a full battalion up there, plus six walkers. That's more than enough to take an entire district. Do they really need support?"

"Then am I supposed to disregard my own scouts and walker crews?" replied FN-999. "Honestly, this is stressing me out. No matter who I move, somewhere's gonna be undermanned."

"What about STRIDER?" asked a lieutenant stationed at a computer to FN-999's right. "The 501st unit assigned to us is a special forces unit that excels at infiltration, analogous to our ReComs. Perhaps they could buy the vanguard some time."

FN-999 paused for a moment to consider the idea. The 908th's Reborn Commandos, or ReComs, were among the newest special forces programs authorized by FN-999, modeled on the Storm Commandos but generally working closer to the front lines. Currently, the 908th's three ReCom companies were scattered throughout its ranks, softening up the Chiss for the main infantry line. If a similar unit protected the 908th's vanguard, perhaps they would have time to successfully defuse the mine.

"Commander Nines, you have a call-" began the sergeant.

"Put it on hold." ordered FN-999. "I've got some orders to relay."

"Lieutenant, who is STRIDER's commanding officer?"

"General Vandron split the command, sir." replied the lieutenant. "STRIDER's COs are Captain Carin and Lieutenant Aodh."

"Very well, thank you." replied FN-999.

[Captain Carin and Lieutenant Aodh of STRIDER, this is Lieutenant Colonel Nines. The 908th's vanguard is stalled because of a landmine placed in front of the walkers that will take 10-15 minutes for the bomb squad to defuse. I'd like STRIDER to assist in defending the bomb squad and AT-ATs until the bomb is defused. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Nines, out.]

"Now what was the call for?" asked FN-999.

"It's from the TodHusars." replied the sergeant.

"Ah, the Galidraani." responded FN-999, a grin emerging beneath his helmet. "Just who we need."

After a few seconds of statics, the holotable finally displayed the picture of a man in a StormTrooper's armour -- FN-999 . The two Anaxsis stayed at attention for a couple of seconds, in order to salute the officer, and then Nukth started to introduce themselves:

« Glad t'see you, Commander. 'Am Captain Nukth Kelga'an, and this Captain Elward Reising. We're from the TodHusars Corps, and we'll represent Yinchorr Garrison durin' Operation: Scimitar. I've heard your walkers were on the way for Malidris, so I think it will soon be time for our units t'be deployed, won't it? We've got two TodHusars companies ready t'be parachuted from their dropships -- callsigns Banshee an' Goldish. You just have t'tell us when it'll be time to deploy, and our dropships can reach the atmosphere within a dozen of miniutes. »

[Thank you, Captains. I would like to use each of your paratrooper companies to assist in a separate encirclement on the 908th's flanks. Banshee will be assigned to site "A", and Goldish will be given site "B", both in advance of the 908th's flank units. The coordinates of each will be uploaded and sent to your vessel shortly. Begin paradrops as soon as the coordinates of both landing sites are received. If you're too slow, you will land right on top of the 908th instead of in front of it, and any opportunity to encircle will be lost. Good luck out there.]

At FN-999's prompting, the coordinates of two roughly circular landing sites were uploaded onto the tactical map: site A on top of a large open-air parking lot, and site B on top of a major thoroughfare with slight overlap into surrounding buildings.

As he turned to receive new combat reports, FN-999 felt an unpleasant sensation course through his entire body. It had the opposite effect on his surrounding aides, who suddenly began to work more diligently and confidently than before.

"Battle meditation." muttered FN-999. "Send a squad to guard the meditating Knight. Do NOT distract them."​

 

[Jorus Fel]

T H E _ E M P I R E
501st STORMTROOPER LEGION
OPERATION SCIMITAR
IT'S TREASON THEN
Siyndacha Aerin

Sympathy for the Devil
​

While the bulk of the 501st had been redeployed across the Southern border to reinforce any skirmishes against the Alliance or fend off potential incursions, certain elements of the Legion had been drafted to putting out the fires of a treasonous rebellion. STRIDER and co had been attached under the operational command of the Baron of the Empire and his legion -- the famed 908th, but this particular squad had pulled the shortest straw.

[[COMMISSIONED TO THE ORDER OF IMPERIAL KNIGHTS :: LADY AERIN]]
​

"You've got to be shitting me." Smokes set the datapad down, dully glaring at the rest of the squad. Or what remained of it anyway. Five out of eight good-for-nothing green beans that had miraculously survived Ilum while their more veteran, experienced comrades had fallen.

"What'd ya expect? It's in the name." Mantell smirked, a deck of cards shuffling in his hands.

"More like a Curse rather than a Joke." Eisley murmured, then jerked his head at Credit. "C'mon, Cred, pay up -- I called it."

"Next shore leave, man, I swear." (Bad) Credit whined in response. "See, I got this thing goin' back on Dubrillion with a cousin of mine. Bout to make me a load of cash. You hear about Underworld Credi--"

"That's another point on your debt, Cred." Jorus, Scion of House Fel, Heir to the Empire, First to be Disinherited, but most commonly known as simply Bookie noted down on his datapad.

"Command couldn't have just deployed us on Thyrsus while they get our numbers back on track. Ain't no way the Core rebels would ever dare against the Thyrsians. Tsk, the places we could visit--" Smokes shook his head before his voice trailed off interrupted by the sound of steel clanking against steel heralding the arrival of a white-haired figure inside the idle transport.

A confused silence befell the stormtroopers before Fel reluctantly stumped the cigarette away and stood up. "Attention." he muttered, then the rest of the squad followed standing up to attention at the Knight's arrival. Their backs snapped erect as the months upon months of discipline training on Fort Rex suddenly materialized, despite the inner reluctance.
​

 

[Hal Vaiken]

IMPERIAL SPECIAL FORCES
SCAR SQUADRON
Lily Stevens Margo Liaeris Castor E-196 Kriegan Tavlar Katja Javik Kav Canthar

​

Sometimes, just sometimes, Sarge wondered whether a prerequisite to joining SCAR was to be a mental asylum card holder. A stimjunkie, a stimjunkie enabler, a walking fortress that wants to make love to heavy repeaters, and two soldiers that had the emotional spectrum of a gonk droid. That left him and Reaper, and she's the one who shot her father to prove her loyalty to the Empire.

That's the normal here.

"Cut the chatter to a minimum." he ordered, although knowing too well that as soon as they split that order would fall on deaf ears.

The ramp of the Corvette hissed wide open and the blazing rays of the sun illuminated the cold voids of SCAR Squadron's visors. Tumbleweeds rolled by, welcoming the special forces unit to the barren world of Veroleem. A dusty tower in the distance, seemingly abandoned, protruded from the desolate, rocky desert that was the horizon. The hoist house.

"Spread out and move out." he said, shuffling from behind the great walls that were the backs of Rancor and Stalker. "Weapons free, soldiers -- kill anything that moves."

Each team had its objective.

Now comes the 'easy' part. Completing them. ​

​

 

[Lucien Dooku]

OBJ III - Huntin Cultists, getting ambushed. fun times.
Tish Cowen | Zorah Fel | Open to other Knights

​

---

---

END TRANSMISSION

The ambush in itself wasn't the most brilliant maneuver he'd ever seen pulled, but the tenacity of the Cultists and their partisan allies made up for the lack of cohesive training on the part of the Zabraks without swords, axes or lightsabers. One would expect these factors to compound into the stormtroopers under his command ending the assault shortly after, but they were outnumbered by a heavy margin, and more firepower was falling onto their positions with each exchange of blaster fire that completed.

BOOM!


A sharp whistle snapped across the sky, right before the impact of several mortar rounds hit their position and delivered a mixture of dust, debris and men entering into the air at once. A cadence of explosive impacts began targeting their location, some of the shells colliding against nearby buildings, whilst others harmlessly landing between each side's respective fields of fire.

"They're landing rounds off-vector by several meters--"

The crackling collision of two lightsabers broke up his response as the two cultists accosting him continued to try and put the Knight into the ground. Crimson blades swept downwards upon him from either side, the Iridonians beneath the robes acting in unison to cut him down. They moved almost perfectly in sync, leaving little room for error in the process. It was almost the perfect maneuver to use against a more skilled opponent, yet their calculations would not see their attempt any success in the end.

He did not step backwards as they moved on the attack, instead choosing to meet one of his assailants first with a sudden boost of force-imbued speed.. As the Iridonian kept his guard high, Lucien naturally kept his form low, skidding past the Cultist on the heel of one of his boots. The blade of his weapon cut clean through the side of the man's abdomen in the process, and the second man's momentum was shattered in the process.

He smirked, opening up a private channel to all the Knights around him.

<"...As I was saying. They've got fire support droppin' rounds off-vector by a few meters. Once they've got some corrections from any spotters at the front, it's going to get a bit louder around here.">

An enraged Zabrak could be heard feintly in the background towards the end, the Cultist who'd just seen his comrade cut down with minimal effort, seemingly not taking it on the chin very well. He charged Luc, tactics being left in the end in favor of the strength brought about by emotions empowered by the dark side of the force. There was fear in the Cultists eyes, behind their attempt to wholeheartedly commit to reckless abandon. He could sense a hint of doubt in the Cultists mind-- about their cause, for one, but mostly regarding his prospects of being alive.

"You made your choice."


The words entered the man's mind in an instant, delivered from none other than the individual whose amber eyes pierced deep into the recesses of his mind. The Cultist was brought to a stop, the Knight's hand being brought to the fore in place of his saber. The Zabrak's feet were lifted off the ground, and within the blink of an eye his body went flying through the air as if he were an extension of the air itself. It only came to an end upon the heavy impact of flesh upon duracrete, and a lifeless cultist's body hitting the ground with another bone-breaking impact.

<"Raina, Zorah."> He reopened their shared comm channel once more. Luc's eyes drifted across to the younger Knight, his curiosity over the unknown relative of his half-brother being piqued. The impact of high explosive mortar shells support brought his curiosity to a close, his mind returning to the objective at hand.

<"We're going on a little adventure, if you two can finish warming up.">

​

 

[Kav Canthar]

R A N C O R
THE EMPIRE
EN ROUTE TO VEROLEEM
ALLIES: Hal Vaiken | Margo Liaeris | Lily Stevens | Leto Karazyn | Katja Javik | Castor E-196 | Kriegan Tavlar
ENEMIES: Chiss Forces
ENGAGING: N/A
GEAR: Commando Armor | Z-6 Rotary Blaster Cannon | TL-50 Heavy Repeater | C-10 Heavy Blaster Pistol | Phase-Knife | Grenade loadout

When Sarge snapped to cut the chatter, Rancor gave a yikes expression to Reaper as he slipped the helmet over his head, then proceeded to pay attention for any final details or updates. None seemed forthcoming, so the heavy was basically ready for the landing - which happened, smoothly and with some skill from the pilots - before the rampway opened.

As the HUD in his helmet adapted to the change in lighting, and revealed the desolate wastes of the planet, Rancor decided on the best weapon.

The TL-50.

The heavy repeater had impressive firepower, was accurate to up to 750 meters, and would easily handle most infantry concerns across no man's land. And it was, too. The expanse to the distant tower - the hoist house - wasn't exactly close. While it wasn't too big an issue to cross the gap, there remained a lot of potential for ambush or defensive measure, especially since the Chiss were sneaky little bastards.

"On point," Rancor said through his helmet. "Keeping eyes forward."

The others in SCAR would handle flanks.

With a quick twist of an arm, the TL-50 was unslung and brought to bear, as Rancor began to stomp across the dusty ground, his eyes - and weapon - scanning the field of view directly before him. He maintained some space from the others, so they weren't clustered, and moved at pace in traveling overwatch - mainly because he didn't fancy being caught in the middle of nowhere, so offense forward was the only option.

SCAR would keep up, Rancor didn't doubt it.

"Moving."

 

[Leto Venau]

Hal Vaiken Katja Javik Lily Stevens Kav Canthar Margo Liaeris Castor E-196 Kriegan Tavlar
​

"Got it, Princess." He rudely remarked, the reinforced and onyx coated plastoid left to face towards the exit rather than Spectre. "Stick by me, do as I do, and all will be well." Part of Leto remembered the last time a similar speech was offered to an Imperial; it ended in a red mist and a ball of mishapen plastoid, only so much as a raised eyebrow from what amounted to a psychotic stim addict. He was likely fuelled up at the time.

A better term than 'high', he often noted.

His blaster settled neatly into his gloved hands as SCAR disembarked, his booted feet shuffled across the open terain of Veroleem. His own objective in mind as he waved Katja forwards, "You're on me, come on." He needlessly reminded.

 

[Katja Javik]

The Empire
SCAR Squadron
Hal Vaiken | Lily Stevens | Margo Liaeris | Leto Karazyn | Kav Canthar | Kriegan Tavlar | Castor E-196

​

It wasn't difficult to keep chatter to a minimum while paired with one of the most condescending members of the squad whose demeanour wasn't exactly enticing her into conversation. She had been treating him as her equal but he evidently didn't feel the need to reciprocate, not even respecting her enough to look at her while he addressed her.

Still, she wasn't about to pick a fight with him. It was just another day working with SCAR. "I'll do what I need to." She replied - an indirect disagreement to his order to follow his lead.

Katja stepped out after the two mountainous members of the squad ahead of her moved ahead to reveal the dusty landscape. She gave a frustrated sigh upon seeing her teammate beckon her towards him, designating himself as the impromptu leader of the pair in a display of arrogance.

She jogged the few metres it took to catch up with him and walk alongside, drawing one of her pistols into her hand as she did. Using their memory of the blueprint they had been shown, they advanced towards their dedicated shaft which was highlighted on her HUD once she neared.

She opted for silence rather than getting belittled again.

 

[Julius Haskler]

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R E X _ T R E M E N D A E

Tag: Ignacious Korvan​

To those on Korvan's bridge, the Moff was staring into the abyss of space, waiting for the Grand Moff to have a moment for him. But for himself, and for all those on Yinchorr, he was merely reading the reports he was getting from every corner of space, overseeing a multitude of operations across the galaxy, until Korvan was available. He thought of himself as a straightforward individual and liked to say that he was no deceiver. However, he still enjoyed the possibility these holograms gave him to coat his activities with mystery. It was just preferable to have a clear view of Korvan's bridge, even though he paid more attention to things of equal importance.

Unusually, the matters that drew his attention were of logistical concern: making sure the clones promised to the Western Frontier were on their way, coordinating their arrival with the relevant worlds, and inscribing in the imperial central database the schematics of their obsolete, if not very useful, war matériel, so that the worlds garrisoned were able to repair and replace the losses of the clones.

All the while, Haskler was also receiving flux, since Yinchorr had been designated to house some very important prisoners of Chiss origin. The Anaxsi were not treating their prisoners like on Prefsbelt, to say the least, and Julius had made it very clear that the Chiss would be given a humane, if harsh, treatment. The modest carceral capabilities of the world allowed for such measures to be taken.

And then, there was the task of monitoring the prisoners of the Alliance that had fallen under Anaxsi custody during the recent battles and making sure they would serve a purpose or another. Most wouldn't get the opportunity to leave the planet ever again, but some could play a role in favour of the Empire…

When Korvan ended his incessant stream of orders towards his fleet, Julius felt the silence sink deep in him. It reminded him of the time when Orcana had been commanding the fleet in his presence, long before the Moff had to lock him up after Ilum.
Jumping on the opportunity, Haskler turned to Korvan and reactivated communication, thinking of exchanging some pleasantries before getting into the more serious affairs of the day.

"Grand Moff Korvan! I must commend you on your promotion. The title of Grand Admiral is deserved, after the campaigns you led on every front, for the Empire. This makes you the most powerful man in the Western Reaches… both on administrative and military matters. One would say it is the revival of the Warlords we are witnessing…
He paused for a moment, carefully choosing his next words. Korvan was in full ascension, now, and it would be unwise to offend him for no reason. Haskler was worried about the position he had obtained, but he was not stupid enough to lose the last potential allies he had in the Moff Council.
However, I believe the situation to be very different, and until the phenomenon is generalised, the administrative layout Emperor Fel had secured will not be threatened. And it will endure as long as the clones that are sent to you can stay in garrison on the worlds you assign them."

He paused again. Crisis averted. It was worrying enough to see the Empire clawing to life on every front, and he did not wish to add civil war to the never-ending hurricane of instability that threatened the very basis of their nation. No. Instead, strengthening the web of alliances that made the Moffs allies of one another was the only thing to do for the moment.

"If I might ask, Grand Moff… What is the status of the weapon that was deployed on Ilum? My reports were… inconclusive, and I wanted to make sure it had been destroyed. The small dockyards of Yinchorr would have trouble repairing the superweapon, and you know how the engineers at Dalness are touchy about technological secrets. Moreover, I think it would be against us if such weapons resurfaced during the war. They are the only things capable of escalating the conflict with the Alliance… and I don't want the Empire to reign over a field of ruins, be they stuffed with Jedi bones. What is your opinion on the matter?"

---

---

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[Castor E-196]

Master Sergeant Castor E-196
Imperial Navy Special Forces Command; Attached to SCAR​

Objective: clear the barracks and engineering bay. retrieve intel
Allies: A: Katja Javik Leto Karazyn || B: Castor E-196 Kriegan Tavlar || C: Lily Stevens Hal Vaiken || D: Kav Canthar Margo Liaeris

The ramp of the Corvette hissed wide open and the blazing rays of the sun illuminated the cold voids of SCAR Squadron's visors. Tumbleweeds rolled by, welcoming the special forces unit to the barren world of Veroleem. A dusty tower in the distance, seemingly abandoned, protruded from the desolate, rocky desert that was the horizon. The hoist house.

"Spread out and move out." he said, shuffling from behind the great walls that were the backs of Rancor and Stalker. "Weapons free, soldiers -- kill anything that moves."

While Kav Canthar and Margo Liaeris strode into the open towards the tower's front entrance, Castor and Kriegan's squad cut to the side, disappearing into the dust thrown up by the corvette. The group rushed past a rising crest of desert rock that marked a wide arc around the tower. Situated some distance from the tower proper was a deployment exit cut into the top of the hard rock that overlooked the tower's featureless plain.

As they approached, Castor spotted a simple sentry outpost located at the top of the incline. He signalled for a stop as he fixed the sniper attachment onto his blaster. Before the sentries could take a look at the sudden movement kicked up by the Corvette in the distance, they fell from a rapid sequence of sniper blasts.

Before their bodies slumped off their outpost, Castor had rushed towards the station, diving into cover, waiting for the alarms while some of Tavlar's men followed after him. No alarms sounded. His armour's sensors detected no motion around him, and he peeked past the rusted barricade to the barren entrance cut into the floor. Nothing. He signalled caution as they fanned out of cover, silently searching the ramshackle outpost built around the deployment entrance cut into the floor of the hard standstone. It was apparent there was only a token force here. Good for the Imperials.

As the soldiers regrouped around the deployment platform, it was clear too that the Chiss had not used this in a long time, which made sense. As a strike fighter base, there was little need for this elevator platform that looked better suited for lifting large armoured vehicles out of hardened underground shelters, though Castor found it amusing someone would build underground shelters in the desert.

"Ventilation Shaft One, huh. Looks more like one of those old bunker elevators to me," one of the soldiers commented.

"A shaft is a shaft. I'll get it working. Standby for descent." Castor strode over to what passed for a control room in the ramshackle huts. It was child's play to crack the controls and spoof authorisation to get the elevator working. A yawning, chilling creak of metal and concrete echoed out into the desert winds as the elevator slowly descended. Castor rejoined Kriegan and his men on the platform as it slowly moved down, out of the baking hot sun and into the shadows down below. Now the real work began.

 

[Nukth Kelga'an]

Operation: Scimitar
It's Treason Then

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THE EMPIRE
THIRD SECTOR DEFENCE FORCES
First Anaxsi Free Brigade -- Second TodHusars Regiment
'Banshee' Company

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- IV -
BERZINGUE FROM ANAXES
The Anaxsi, the Chiss and the Zabrak -- Part. II​

---

Interacting with: FN-999 Huang Shoushan Petra Dunstan Ruaridh Aodh
— 877, Harrier-Class Heavy Cruiser 'Le Téméraire', Iridonian Space

The two Anaxsi officers waited for a couple of seconds before that Lieutenant-Colonel Nines accepted the call coming from 'Le Téméraire'. After describing the situation to the Reborns' commanding officer, who Nukth had only heard about before this day and at this precise moment, the Captain had put his thumbs in his belt in a provocative posture. Through the deformed tons of the holocommunicator settled in the deck's holotable, the Stormtrooper answered the TodHusar:

:: Thank you, Captains. I would like to use each of your paratrooper companies to assist in a separate encirclement on the 908th's flanks. Banshee will be assigned to site "A", and Goldish will be given site "B", both in advance of the 908th's flank units. The coordinates of each will be uploaded and sent to your vessel shortly. Begin paradrops as soon as the coordinates of both landing sites are received. If you're too slow, you will land right on top of the 908th instead of in front of it, and any opportunity to encircle will be lost. Good luck out there. ::

Despite the fact that Nines had been one of the most important figures of the 908th Legion, Captain Kelga'an knew little about his counterpart. If Jerec told him a few anecdotes about the Annihilation of Csilla -- where FN-999 served --, he had never talked about his ways in terms of tactics and strategy. Now, Nukth knew how the man worked -- he could see his strategy being set up on a tactical screen. In Malidris' suburbs, several battalions of the Reborn had been establishing a front and were now moving forward to the centre of the city while Nines' forces spearhead was constituted of six AT-ATs, known as 'Hammers'. Nukth nodded, more for himself than for Nines or his Anaxsi counterpart alongside him. As an officer that studied in one of the best academy within the Galaxy, and because of his typically Anaxsi reputation, he couldn't admit that this plan was brilliant. but he understood how the 908th had been gaining momentum since the establishment of Nines' command.

« Got it, Commander, » he answered while giving a look at the tactical map that displayed on one of the several screen that spangled the deck, « We just received the location of sites A an' B. They'll soon be added to the officers' HUDs and to the main control pannel of the 'Téméraire' in order to make it helpful to the pilotes. The dropships are ready to lift off by now. Thank you, sir -- g'luck to you, too. »

The Captains stood at attention a second or so while the communication was turned off by the operator next to them. Nukth came at rest an instant before his counterpart and turned his head to face his.

« I think Nines has been clear, hasn't it? » he waited for Elward to give him a nod and then added, « Well, we better go, eh? » he faced the operator and ordered, « Stay there until the end of the operation. You'll be my eyes and my ears within this cruiser, Operator. »

« Got it, sieur, » the man answered while drawing a datapad from his ventral pocket.

With a last nod to the TodHusar, Kelga'an motioned Reising to follow him in the turbolift that led to the cruiser's hangars. On the road, the Captain felt tired for a couple of seconds and then it seemed that everything was clearer in his mind. He could easily remember things he had been used to forget during other missions -- like the exact position of the officers on the deck, or the exact number of soldiers he had under his command, that he had only read once. Kelga'an got a look at the second Captain in the cabin and asked him with his gaze. Did he feel the same thing than him? Probably yes. He didn't know how it worked or even how it was possible, but he understood that the Force was capable of many tricks that normal people couldn't even imagine. He wasn't going to complain about this -- it made a certain advantage for the Imperials on Iridonia. He wouldn't let it go like this.

As the lift reached the hangars' level, the two men left the cabin and made a few steps headed for the Zeta-Class Dropships that waited them to lift off. Reising stopped and faced his counterpart, offering his hand to Kelga'an. « G'luck, fraire. We're gonna need it, eh? »

Nukth shook his hand and answered the TodHusar: « For sure, El'. May the wind guide our path in lou céu. » The two Anaxsi came from the same regions on Anaxes, and Nukth knew a couple of words in the local dialect, but not enough to make complete phrases -- such as Elward could. With a last nod, the two Hussars came through two separate ways, reaching their own dropships. As he entered the 'Nivôse', Nukth activated the general comlink for the two companies:

:: Listen up, everyone -- we've got orders from the Reborn. Officers' HUDs have been updated with the location o' two drop points. The Banshees are gonna follow me to point A, while the Goldishes are goin' to site B. Our mission is simple: to secure those points of interest before the arrival of the 908th. In each company, one platoon will be tasked of securisin' the area an' establishin' some kinda barricades to secure the back of the Chiss forces. Remember that they have grown roots there since the first minutes of the assault. The three other platoons are gonna extend our so-called territory with the help of the APCs under platoon-leaders' command. Then, we'll be able to start the encirclement of the Chiss on the Reborns' flanks. ::​

 

[Shoushan]

​

Location: Iridonia ; Suburbs of Malidris
Direct Tags: FN-999 ; Nukth Kelga'an
Tags Nearby: Petra Dunstan ; Ruaridh Aodh
Equipment:
Reinforced Robes
Post Number:
Two

The slow crawl of the AT-AT Line was packed with anticipation he could feel through the living force around him. The sudden vibrations of the troops engaging in subtle conversations with one another to the barking orders of the officer within the walker's command bridge. He could barely pick out the problem that was going on simply hearing the word 'Mine' before it disappeared into the air due to his immense concentration and extension of his power over the 908th Legion and the surrounding forces.

Within his mind the force painted him an almost perfect picture of the surroundings beginning with him as the central path before branching out towards other pathway's with each individual ping represented individuals as either allies and enemies on the front line. His power spread to the Legion to carry on fighting with everything they had against the chiss interlopers. While his power slowly eroded the hearts and minds of the enemy ahead into fleeing from the battlefield for the time being. Although there was a stopping point due to the walker's halt in motion.

He could sense the small outline of a mortar station currently being assembled to rain down fire near the crossroads at Point A and B. He could not estimate their range at this time but would send this information through a simple telepathic ping within the mind of Commander FN-999 nearby.

"Motar, Mortar, nearest to Site A. 5 batteries in total."

The simple message said through the force almost like a soft whisper into the commander's mind.

 

[Abeodan Tyiskore Charidot]

The soft glow of hyperspace dimmed as the 400th Talmshaa Fleet exited lightspeed around Shu Torun. "Status, Rear Admiral." Charidot said looking towards the Rear Admiral and his Chief Tactical Advisor on board the NIV Resurgency II. "All vessels have exited hyperspace without issue. All Crew are standing by." Rear Admiral Furn said with a quite confident look on his face. "It appears our forces have already engaged the enemy forces. Prepare to send the 55th Flight Wing to engage the Chiss Clawcraft Compliments ahead. Send Squadron 5 to backup the 3rd Squadron of the 315th Flight Wing " Charidot said as COMSCAN identified the 315th Flight Wing ahead engaging with a complement of Chiss Starfighters. "Affirmative Sir," Rear Admiral Furn replied as the command was issued to the starfighter wing below deck to prepare themselves for immediate deployment.

The roar of TIE Fighters as they exited the Hangers of the NIV Resurgency II could be heard within the vacuum of space.

• Squadron 5 (12 TIE/INx Interceptor) of the 55th Flight Wing has been sent to assist Squadron 3 underneath Ashkur Kilslee

The small tots of dogfights could be seen within the distance from the Bridge of the Resurgency II. Admiral Charidot was confident in the 55th Flight Wing Squadrons to handle any Chiss Clawcraft preventing them from disrupting the shipping convoys from leaving the dockyard above the world. Brushing his mustache for a single moment apparently in thought about his next plan of action. The Chiss Ascendancy had barely been broken during the earlier campaign against them. Although it did show the superiority of the Imperial Military Machine to the galaxy.

"All vessels move forward to engage with the shipping convoys leaving the main dockyard. Send a priority signal to them that the Empire will consider all vessels fleeing the world as enemy combatants and subject to the firepower of the Imperial Navy." Charidot said with a firm tone towards the communication officer who promptly sent his message through an open channel instead of the encrypted naval channel. "Admiral Charidot; are we sure that it a wise move. The Chiss Insurgency may intercept the open transmission and send reinforcements to the world to protect their supply convoys." Rear Admiral Furn replied with concern; the Chiss Insurgency may bring additional reinforcements to the battlefield which would mean that the fleet would have to transition from capturing the convoys to fighting them. "We have the most powerful element of the Imperial Navy in the 43rd Battlegroup. While I do understand your concern the fact of the matter is that the 400th Fleet will be able to stall them in any capacity." Charidot said with barely a look towards the Rear Admiral more focused on wondering what was going through the mind of the Recently Minted Grand Admiral across the way.

One who had risen up the ranks so quickly was either a fool with connections or a military genius. "Admiral, We have received a message back from the shipping convoy directly in front of us. They refuse the cooperate." The communication officer said with a grim look on his face towards the admiral from down below within the crew section. "We have given them a fair warning, all vessel's lock on nearest target. Fire at will and destroy them completely in the name of the empire." Admiral Charidot said. The quietness of space would be suddenly drowned out as the Turbolaser Batteries on board the Resurgency II fired towards the lead vessel of the supply convoy. Before long the turbolaser batteries of the other star destroyers began as well to create a symphony of sound.

• All Vessels of the 400th Talmshaa Fleet have moved forward to engage with the 1st Shipping Convoy
• Admiral Charidot had sent a message of mercy but was refused.
• Fire at Will Order was issued and the shipping convoy is currently being bombarded with turbolaser fire for the time being.

Ignacious Korvan
Julius Haskler

Spoiler: 400th Talmshaa Fleet

Pellaeon III Class Star Destroyer	Current Flagship: NIV Resurgency II [100 | 100 ] Class Ships: NIV Dispatcher [100 | 100 ] NIV Trident [100 | 100 ] NIV Kraken [100 | 100 ]
New Imperial I Class Star Destroyer	NIV Impulse [100 | 100 ] NIV Pioneer [100 | 100 ]
Praefect-Class Star Destroyer	NIV Herald [100 | 100 ] NIV Berserker [100 | 100 ]
Stalwart-Class Carrier	NIV Intruder [100 | 100 ] NIV Paramount [100 | 100 ]
Escolta-Class Frigate	NIV Mercenary [100 | 100 ] NIV Siren [100 | 100 ] NIV Torment [100 | 100 ]
EF 96 Nebulon A Escort Frigate	NIV Glory [100 | 100 ] NIV Persuiter [100 | 100 ] NIV Eternity [100 | 100 ]
TXS Vandal Class Corvette	TXS Vandal Class Corvette NIV Challenger [100 | 100 ] NIV Messenger [100 | 100 ] NIV Deceptor [100 | 100 ]

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