Operation Silent Night

[Tydeus of Tion]

​

The Leviathan-class monitor Laras slid through space, utterly silent. The control room of the operations compartment was abuzz with activity.

“Coming in range of Panathan scanners.”

“SCD status?” Asked the captain, peering over the shoulder of one officer.

“Active and functioning at full capacity, sir.”

The SCD, or Stygium Cloaking Device, made the hundred meter long ship invisible to scanners and the naked eye. Such a device could be defeated by the active searching of a crystal-gravfield trap, but the Leviathan was also equipped with a gravitic modulator to counter the CGT. Combining the former two with tight beam engines, ion bafflers, reflec coating and a host of other systems made the SoroSuub Monitor the cutting edge of Alliance stealth technology.

“Bring us in.”

Utilizing only passive sensors, the Leviathan crept toward the blue-ringed orb of Panatha.

“Arm torpedoes.”

In the torpedo room, which normally housed anti-capship assault concussion missiles, the ‘ordnance’ began clambering into the tubes: two men in full orbital insertion suits. Others waited behind them.

Jedi Master Ryan Korr took a deep breath inside his fully vacuum sealed suit from where he lay inside the tube. Underneath the suit he wore only traditional robes and heavy cloak. He needed to move fast and light and when need be present himself inconspicuously. For the past week he had been training in reducing the size of his Force signature to a pinprick.

They’d assured him that the personal deflector shields on the insertion suits would prevent him from burning to a crisp on entering atmosphere. He hoped they were right.

“Torpedoes ready, sir.”

“Launch.”

The sudden acceleration and subsequent G-forces nearly caused Ryan to black out. His stomach climbed into his throat and he tasted bile. The sudden silence of the void was deafening and all he heard was his panicked, adrenaline clogged breaths. And then the giant sphere of Panatha was looming before him. He grit his teeth.

Somewhere out there in the blackness with him was [member="Jacen Voidstalker"] and a handful of other individuals chosen specifically for this mission. Alliance command issued strict orders to maintain radio silence until they reached the landing zone. And Korr couldn’t risk stretching out to sense their presences.

He felt a terrible sense of isolation in this vast vacuum as he dropped toward the most feared fortress planet in the galaxy.

[member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Darth Prazutis"] | [member="Aela Talith"] | [member="Zark"] | [member="Aerion Ivelisse"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

// Outer Rim Territories \\​

Pacanth Reach, Panatha System, Panatha​

A thick blanket of clouds hung low across the desolate landscape surrounding the vile citadel of the Zambranos as moisture from the distant jungles condenses into thick storm clouds that would herald the onset of showers and downpours that would quench the land. However; it was very rare for such rainfall to reach the outskirts of the massive mountain that served as the God-King's castle, although on this night the sentries that routinely patrolled the many parapets and high rises of the castle found themselves peppered by a light drizzle, puddles forming in the more earthen courtyards. In a few more hours the light of the rising Pacanth sun would greet the changing of the guard, but for now the weary guards continued on their predetermined paths like obedient automatons, the occasional yawn the only indication that these men and women were of flesh and blood rather than metal plating and circuitry.

High above at the very apex of the mountain were the regal quarters of the Zambrano family, and on the northern slope was the personal quarters of the God-King himself. Heavily furbished with the most decorative and ornate Epicanthix idolatry, one would expect something more spartan and grotesque for a man who had caused so much misery in the galaxy, spread so much chaos and destruction. But where were the hanging bodies? The flayed corpses stuck to the walls and the myriad of skulls? Such macabre decorations were better reserved for the dungeons, where intimidation and fear were the Dark Lord's most loyal allies. Up here at the roof of the world existed only regal splendor, exotic pieces of art imported from all across the known galaxy, and trinkets from long lost societies. Perhaps the closest thing that tied the room to the darkness of its occupant were the bronze busts of long dead Sith Lords that dominated whatever room they were situated in.

Speaking of the Dark Lord, the God-King of the Epicanthix, where was he? Was he busily at work, maiming another Jedi? Tearing out a skull from some hapless victim to display on his altar? No, nothing so devious. He was in bed, the silken sheet pulled up around his muscular frame and the voluptuous silhouette of his wife, burdened with child yet again. The Dark Lord had no fear in his own home, no worries of assassins sneaking in the dead of night to slit his throat or that of his kin. Yet, despite the security he maintained he did not lose himself completely to the sweet embrace of sleep, for as his body recuperated and recovered from the latest battle or campaign his mind ever expanded out to survey all that he ruled. There wasn't much on Panatha that the Dark Lord did not bare witness to, but for those who sought to infiltrate his world he may yet overlook.

Still, he may not have seen the Jedi arriving but the tremor he felt in the darkness he wove so carefully around the world roused him from his stupor. His wife, almost as alert to her surroundings as he was, was also woken from her slumber, and groggily inquired; "What is it?" The Dark Lord swung his legs over the side of his bed, and freed himself from the confines of the sheet that covered him. "A minor nuisance, my love, nothing more. Go back to sleep, I will rejoin you shortly." That seemed to pacify his wife, who quickly readjusted herself beneath the covers and swiftly fell back asleep. With long strides he departed from his shadowy bed chamber, and entered the small antechamber that separated that room from the rest of the quarter. The antechamber was occupied only by a singular wardrobe, which contained several sets of both Kaine and Invicta's casual clothing. Kaine swung open the wooden doors and plucked out a pair for himself, and dressed himself in a timely manner.

He did not yet expect danger, but being roused from his sleep was enough to warrant caution. He entered the main chamber, and tapped a button on the nearby communications panel built into the wall to hail Braxus down at the security station a couple levels below. "I felt a disturbance in the Force, Braxus, initiate a perimeter sweep."

They'd soon discover if anything had breached the castle.

[member="Darth Prazutis"] | [member="Aela Talith"] | [member="Zark"] | [member="Aerion Ivelisse"]​

 

[Aela Talith]

Aela’s heart thundered in her chest.

This was...new.

She had done something like it before, but...well it hadn’t exactly been in a mechanical torpedo meant for something like this, rather it had been on the back of her Drexl Malfegor, swooping down onto Onderon from Dxun. The experience was entirely different, and at least with Malfegor she had a bit of control. Here? No such luck. She was trapped, thrown into a tiny tube and left there.

Despite all of her years of battle, all of her years of fighting Sith, this...this seemed far more terrifying than anything else she had done. Her lips turned into a frown beneath the tight helmet, fingers clenching at her side as she let her thumb stroke over the lightsaber within it’s proper holster. She shifted slightly in the torpedo, then felt the sudden lurch as they were launched from the ship and shot down towards the planet below.

She had no idea how was she was going, but all she could do was pray.

Her stomach dropped, bile filled her throat, but she managed to bite back the vomit that threatened to expel itself into her helmet. All that she could think about was a hope that the odd curse that followed the Talith family didn’t apply to drop pods, that somehow she would be able to make it to the planets surface without dying. Her eyes clenched shut as they breached the atmosphere.

”Kark” Aela said quietly to herself as her knuckles turned white. ”Kark. Kark. Kark.”

She swore over and over again, the ordinarily composed Jedi Master did not enjoy this one bit.


[member="Ryan Korr"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"] | [member="Zark"] | [member="Aerion Ivelisse"]

 

[Kenrath]

FIV HammerShot, Inflictor Class Heavy Cruiser​

Location: Northern First Order Area of Operations​

Objective: Sector Patrol Bakura/Pantha/Firrerre​

Status: Patrolling Sector/Conducting Readiness Drills​

[member="Ryan Korr"] [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Aela Talith"]​

​

​

​

Commander Norin Kellarov was conducting a Sector patrol in his heavy Cruiser as part of the First Order Navy. It was not the most glorious assignment but it was necessary and a part of his duties. Besides it was good for the crew to help build cohesion among the crew.

"Navigation status?"

Norin looked over at the man.

"Sir we are currently an hour past Checkpoint Alpha and two hours from Checkpoint Bravo."

Norin gave the man a nod before turning to his weapons officer.

"Weapons status?"

"Sir all weapons are green."

Norin smiled looking over his crew.............shortly to become the best crew in the First Order Navy. To work towards that end they would run through a few drills. The first would be a readiness drill.

"XO sounds General Quarters."

The XO smiled giving Norin a nod before hitting the intercom and making the Announcement. Norin held a stop watch hitting the button as the announcement was made and timing the different stations. Norin had intentionally left out the part where it was a drill.

 

[Zark San Tekka]

Torpedo Room, Leviathan-class Sullustan Monitor Laras
Panatha System, Pacanth Reach, Outer Rim

He wasn't supposed to be here.

That is to say, he wasn't on board under orders and would soon be absent from his post without leave. But through his contacts in Alliance command the Commodore had learned about the planned operation and it just so happened that the Captain of the Laras owed him a favor. Cutting his time on Lothal short, he had rendezvoused with the stealth corvette at their departure point and secured a berth for the trip. The tricky part had been convincing someone to let him take their orbital insertion suit, but so much of the Alliance Defense Force had been at Castameer that he eventually found another Omega veteran who recognized him. Zark had read the briefing, and since he had been for the most part suppressing his abilities for the past several years, reducing his signature would not be a problem. Unleashing his full potential when the time came for it, on the other hand, might be.

Moving awkwardly into position in his suit, the naval officer had trusted that the type of people selected for this mission would also be the type not to ask too many questions about an extra saber. So far, he had been right, but as the crew members prepared to launch him out of the ship like a projectile he found that he was asking himself those same questions, and not for the first time. Why exactly was he doing this? His time in Defense Fleet had effected him more profoundly than he had expected. Practicing or not, one could only take so many lives and feel so much death in combat while maintaining a connection to the Light. It wasn't vengeance he sought, merely to see if he had what it took to be a Jedi again, if only for a little while. Like he had on Omega. The station had taken an arm from him, but he had never been so certain of his path than in that moment. Eschewing a synthetic replacement, the robotic prosthesis was a reminder of the cost of keeping the galaxy safe from the threat of the Sith and all those who surrendered themselves to the dark.

The journey into Panatha's atmosphere was terrifying, and reminded him never to give SpaceOps marines any grief ever again, but so troubled had he been before the launch that, in the midst of a Jedi meditation technique, he experienced it more as a sense of mild numb terror than anything else. Beneath his suit he wore a simple set of clothes and traveling duster, nothing that would identify himself as an Alliance officer. For the purposes of this operation, Zark was not a Commodore but a Knight of the Order and nothing more. Of course, that hadn't stopped him from stowing his marine heavy blaster into its usual hip holster. With orders to maintain radio silence and unable to reach out at all with the Force, he found himself all alone with nothing but his thoughts.

It was unsettling, and against his better judgment he found that he was eager to land.


[member="Ryan Korr"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"] | [member="Aela Talith"] | [member="Aerion Ivelisse"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Darth Prazutis"] | [member="Norin Kellarov"]

 

[RIP Carlyle Rausgeber]

Location: Panathan Space
First Imperial Star Destroyer Vindicator
Objective: Patrol of the Bakura Sector
Status: Routine patrol of Parnatha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAttuezmWKs&list=PLUAVzwxmy-OglMiexk831CXdXgC561RgB&index=33

"Battlegroup Imperator reporting into Parnathan space." Comms reported on all First Imperial lines, "Imperial Vessel HammerShot, this is Battlegroup Imperator, sending authentication signal."

Carlyle Rausgeber hated the boring patrol that came with commodore-ship. It meant jumping from planet to planet, only staying for a few hours before jumping away to the next planet. "Commodore," an officer called "Our TIE's want to stretch their legs. Permission for them to launch?"

"Permission granted," Carlyle said, as he observed his fleet dropping out of lightspeed. Within seconds of his affirmation that they could leave, a full squadron of TIE's flew into the distance. The Commodore smiled a little, karking TIE jockeys, always fixing for a flyover. "Status report?" he asked.

"All squadrons launched, and all ships are fixed in orbital defence patterns over the system." An officer reported.

"Good," Carlyle said, "Ask what the HammerShot is doing."

"Understood," Comms paused and patched a line to the HammerShot, "HammerShot, this is Battlegroup Imperator, requesting information on your current movements."

[member="Zark"] | [member="Norin Kellarov"] | [member="Aela Talith"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Ryan Korr"]

 

[Kenrath]

FIV HammerShot, Inflictor Class Heavy Cruiser​

Location: Northern First Order Area of Operations​

Objective: Sector Patrol Bakura/Pantha/Firrerre​

Status: Patrolling Sector/Conducting readiness drills​

[member="Ryan Korr"] [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Aela Talith"] [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"]​

​

It was mid drill when Battlegroup Imperator entered the same space and sent authentication codes. The Communications Officer turned to Norin.

"Sir Battlegroup Imperator is requesting updates of operations."

Norin nodded.

"Open a channel...........................continue the drill and send the Battlegroup our patrol route."

Once it was open Norin responded.

"Battlegroup Imperator.............FIV Hammershot we are sending you our current patrol route.............currently conducting a General Quarters Battle readiness drill."

Norin paused.

"Standing by for updated orders."

Norin turned back to the Comm Officer as individual stations began reporting readiness. So far while slower than Norin would have liked they were withing Navy Command standards. Once completed Norin concluded the drill and sent the extra watches back to their previous activities while waiting to hear back from the Commodore

 

[Kuzo]

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKstbqDefEU[/media]​

Panatha
Pacanth Reach

Irajah had lost track of time hours ago. Hunched over the table, precariously perched on a tall stool, the petite doctor was peering at a series of holoscans, slowly swiping back and forth between images that, frankly, looked nearly identical.

Nearly.

The lab had never been used before- in truth, it had been built for her use, but she wasn't aware of that fact. The pristine chrome and sterile white of every surface marked the professional, state of the art facilities. No expense had been spared in the set up or the equipment available to her. And while she had taken a moment to appreciate it all when [member="Darth Prazutis"] had first showed her where she'd be working when she was on Panatha, that feeling had quickly given way to the sheer puzzle she was working on.

Absently, her fingers tap tap tapped on a data pad, inputting a series of numbers and notes in her own personal shorthand. Flipping back to the first slide, she hopped down from her stool and prowled across the lab. A series of small dishes lined a shelf, and she browsed the labels for a moment before selecting one and pulling it down. Sliding it beneath microscanner, she waited for a moment for the scan to be added to her current rotation, making a note of it on the pad.

Without thinking about it, she reached out, grabbing a mug of hot caf and taking a sip-

When had the caf gotten cold?

She looked up with a frown. Dressed in a deep green, high necked tunic, the stark white labcoat snuggly over it, the doctor looked neat enough. But the dark circles under her hazel eyes and the disarray of those dark curls betrayed just how long she'd been down here. Padding over to the caf machine (one of the features that had pleased her most), her frown deepened. Huh. Whole pot gone. Hmmm. The refill drawer was empty.

Glancing at the slide that was just now popping up above the table, she debated trying to get some sleep.

After a moment, she shook her head.

It would take less time to track down more caf.

 

[Samka Derith]

Panatha​

Samka's long sighs were perfectly timed with the raging storm outside just a few miles away. Her patience was wearing thin. She stood alone, pacing back and forth like a caged animal in a smaller room of the Dark Lord's palace. To say she was in 'a smaller room' was all relative of course. It was large but dwarfed by the rest of the elaborate castle. It was some sort of guest room, although Sam was tempted to call it a prison if she didn't already know the true horror of what a Zambrano prison really was. At least for all his other faults, Darth Carnifex had a sense of class, Sam thought as she brushed her fingers against a fine wooden chest, one so polished she could see her own reflection. Glad in all black, cloaked and gloved, her attire was that of intimidation yet upon those shoulders was the youthful face of a teenage girl. Wide eyed and, despite the physical taint of the Dark Side, even innocent. She stood there for a second, admiring herself and rearranging the tips of her lavender fringe just for something to do. There was another distant clasp of thunder from the jungle and instinctively, the teenage Knight of Ren breathed out with it.

Tearing herself from her own vanity, Sam bitterly remarked in her head about the lack of hospitality. She'd not expected the Dark Lord himself to greet her in the darkest hours of the night for medium level diplomacy with someone of her rank but at least someone should have come by now. Having been the only member of the Order of Ren to par-take in recent fighting in defence of Sith territory against the Ssi-Ruuk aggressors and revolting slaves, Samka was passed along the assignment to negotiate support from Panatha to destroy the remnant of the Ssi-Ruuk forces still lurking on the galactic fringe yet after her initial invitation into the castle walls and being taken to this room, nothing.

At this point the girl figured there would be no loss in peeking outside. She knew better than to roam the halls of the Dark Lord without invitation but a quick glance around should be harmless. The Sith weren't stupid enough to murder her for such an offence. They might if they could get away with it but not when she was a representative of the wider Empire they now dwelled in.

[member="Ryan Korr"] @Zark @Aela Talith​

[member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Irajah Ven"] [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"] [member="Norin Kellarov"]​

 

[Actakos]

Location: [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"]'s star destroyer

Boredom. That as the only feeling Actakos currently had. Well, anger too. He had recently enlisted in the First Order military, and was instantly assigned to go around with his squadron and take part in naval patrols. Why? He didn't know. He thought he was going to see ground combat, but he was given a boring job like this. Why was he with a fleet anyway? No clue. He spent almost all of his time inside his quarters, practicing with his two droids. However, he had destroyed them both. The old magnaguards were just not a challenge to him anymore. That, and he had practiced with them so much, he knew what their defensive and offensive protocols were and could predict them with ease. He didn't even bother to call his protocol droid to fix them this time. He just decided to leave their destroyed bodies on the floor.

But the boredom was getting to him. Just sitting around on a star destroyer was getting to him, and he was beginning to miss being out on his own, hunting down Jedi.

[member="Norin Kellarov"]

 

[Aran Piett]

---------------------------------------------------------------​

FIV Subjugator​

Patrol of Endor Sector​

Current Location: Over Endor​

[member="Norin Kellarov"] | [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"] | [member="Aela Talith"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Ryan Korr"]​

---------------------------------------------------------------​

​

Aran was standing on the bridge of the Subjugator, looking at the wreckage orbiting over the forest moon of endor. He sighed again, not noticing that Lt. Halsey came up behind him.​

​

"Commander, thinking of the late Admiral out there?"​

​

Aran jumped at bit at how silent she creeped up on him.​

​

"Lieutenant, you scared me. Yes I am, I'm mostly thinking what he would do put in my shoes, I'm a commander but looks like command is given me a sector to look after."​

​

"Maybe they see in you the same thing Admiral Piett's superiors saw in him."​

​

"Possible, I'm not sure if I'm ready though. So many high profile assignments recently Lieutenant."​

​

"Yes but very important ones, Aran."​

​

Aran nodded, then gave Maree a look because she called him by his first name. They both walked back to the command console, to look over the positions of the ships in the Sector. Battlegroup Imperator join to shore up some of the gaps in the patrols over Panatha, because of the defense fleet was in for refit. The Hammershot was also around Panatha as well, where as the rest of the forces were spread out between Bakura and Rattatak. Nothing was going wrong though so it was fine how spaced out the ships were. There was no chatter from the FOSB about any invasions, or and sensor warnings. Everything was pretty routine.​

​

"Helm set course for Bakura, I want to give the crew some R&R there."​

​

"Aye Commander."​

 

[Michael Wainford]

Location: Panathan Space​

FIV Warlock, Victory X-Class Star Destroyer​

Objective: Patrol the Bukura Sector​

Status: Rendezvousing with Imperator Battlegroup​

​

On the Port side of the Imperator fleet, the FIV Warlock warps in. With it's daily patrols over, the commander of the ship decided to help the battlegroup in anyway it can. On the bridge, it was quiet as the crew did it's work and the officers observed their work. On the intercom, it softly played a song. Michael Wainford, the commander of the ship, slowly got out of his ship and walked to the communications center.

"Get a line to the Imperator."

"Yes sir."

::This is Commander Wainford of the FIV Warlock. We request to join your patrol of the Bukura Sector and to provide fire if needed::

Michael placed the microphone by his side, looking out to the battlegroup outside. The battlegroup slowly moved in formation around a small planet. In the distance, Michael could see tie fighters flying around the flagship. He waited for a response so he could give orders to the crew of his ship.

[member="Norin Kellarov"] [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"]

 

[RIP Carlyle Rausgeber]

Location: Panathan Space
First Imperial Star Destroyer Vindicator
Objective: Patrol of the Bakura Sector
Status: Routine patrol of Parnatha

Carlyle listened to the comms technician, "Tell them that we'll follow the HammerShot's patrol route," he said, before looking out the viewport, "Get [member="Sara Lee Jones"] to perform some TIE manuveres." he said, "I want them in attack formation and running them through our ships. The types are at her discretion."

"Understood Commodore," The TIE Ops Officer, "Lieutenant Jones, you are ordered to run attack drills through our fleet, whatever kind are at your discretion."

"Commodore," It was Comms again, "We have a signal from FIV Warlock, requesting that we move to the Bakura sector."

Carlyle pondered this, "What reason? Are we under attack?" he asked, "I just agreed to some drills, I don't want to go back on my word here."

Comms nodded, "FIV Warlock, this is Battlegroup Imperator, we ask for your reasoning behind such a manoeuvre." Comms then switched lines, "Hammershot, we shall follow you and perform fleet coordination drills."

[member="Michael Wainford"] | [member="Sara Lee Jones"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Aran Piett"] | [member="Irajah Ven"] | [member="Norin Kellarov"] | [member="Zark"] | [member="Aela Talith"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Ryan Korr"]

 

[Michael Wainford]

Location: Panathan Space
FIV Warlock, Victory X-Class Star Destroyer
Objective: Assist the Imperator Battlegroup
Status: Rendezvousing with Imperator Battlegroup
[member="Carlyle Rausgeber"]

:: My apologies Commodore. We request that we temporarily join your fleet::

Michael placed the microphone on the top of the comms station and went to the middle of the bridge.

"Prepare the engines. Start preforming routine system checks of the shield and weapon systems. We will undergo some patrols again very soon."

He quickly walked back to the comms station and picked up the microphone. He waited for the response back from the Commodore aboard the FIV Imperator, a great ship. He looked up to the Commodore due to his bravery that he has shown in battle. The ship started to come alive with the crew doing routine check ups on the ship, and the engine began to hum. Now he waited for the Commodore to respond to his message

 

[Sara Lee Jones]

Location: Panathan Space
First Imperial Star Destroyer Vindicator
Objective: Patrol of the Bakura Sector
Status: running attack drill

She was honored to be on [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"]'s ship, she had heard of this mans story's and tales of combat from.around, as well as a few things from lomg ago...before she even became a pilot...some...odd things

Either way she was in the hangar conducting inspections on the other 3 pilots in her flight, she required the greatest flight and repair of her flights ties and she was strict on it

No no you call this repaired? I fixed things like this when I was 10! Do it again

She said, before she moved on she turned and saluted the tie op before she nodded and turned

Stop repairs and I want us out in 5

She said as she made her way quickly towards her fighter, she slipped her helmet on as she started everything up watching the panels light up and her Hud link up

She then called up

Control tower 1-2 this is bolt flight requesting permission to take off over?

She'd wait now


[member="Carlyle Rausgeber"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaJZLKT4qr0[/media]​

​

Vain Hollow Citadel, Panatha...

Blacktalon Peak, the Black Spire of the Iron Mountains, Lair of the God-King. The dark place known as Vain Hollow held many names to the local people, rumors and legends ran even more rampant the further one went from Panatha. One common nickname did carry across planetary boundaries however: "Rarsaza it ri Siqsa" meaning Den of the Demon. Vain Hollow Citadel was visible for many miles around, a dagger in the night standing defiant in the Iron Mountains. A massive citadel carved in, under, and around the massive Blacktalon Peak with massive ornate statues of many Zambrano figures most notably the visage of the Black-Iron Tyrant himself [member="Darth Carnifex"] standing tall over the winding path that led to its well protected gates, jagged knife rocks jutted out from and around of this structure.

Anyone approaching with skill in the force would feel the ominous, thick dark side presence that hung heavily in the area around the citadel, everything was saturated by the dark side of the force. The presence was so thick, so despicable it was like a smothering smog in the cold air. It was hard to feel relaxed near this place, and the ominous statues often made those feel as if someone was watching them from those massive peaks. The unnerving presence that something terribly, terribly wrong was going on with each passing moment, as if the cloaked visage of the grim reaper himself chose this place as his favorite reaping grounds. If it weren't for it's infamous reputation, its infamous leader, and its powerful dark side presence Vain Hollow might have actually looked quite beautiful the way it was shaped in, out, and around the citadel clearly by a caring hand. It might have actually been a structure worthy of admiring, if all of the other factors didn't make ones very own skin crawl. While air traffic was heavier in other areas of Panatha the only ships flying over the skies of this massive structure were wing after wing of starfighters running patrol patterns, anything close enough that didn't transmit the current moments security clearance that changed several times a day was immediately descended upon and shot down.

Outside of the citadel from a decent viewpoint one could see the swarm of beings that moved around this place. Many large hordelike patrol parties of elite graug from the Iron Horde of Fornow that patrolled the exterior with monstrous doglike monstrosities as well as some of the lower levels working in tandem with rotating elements of the Blackblade Guard stationed here along with other elite groups of security forces. All along the high peaks row after row of dark iron and stone battlements teemed with gun turrets, sharpshooters, assault droids, spotlights, and a massive swarm of cameras equipped with varying degrees of vision. These were a wicked, elite legion of killers who aren't too far off from their vile nature as the God-King they serve.

High up in the pinnacle of the citadel within an ornate keep built around and in the top of the mountain sat the keep of the Zambrano Royal Family. It was here within these elegant halls that Darth Prazutis, Sith Lord, Arch-Prince of the Panathan Empire and God-Prince of the Epicanthix moved about. He wore his ornate, black and gold robes with the family signet ring emblazoned with the Zambrano phoenix on his finger, lightsabers always clipped at his sides. He sat in a study chamber where large towering bookshelves lined the walls, a fireplace sat roaring in the center of one of the walls. A beautiful rug took over the center of the room and a number of furniture pieces dominated the room including a beautiful desk, all masterfully crafted out of wroshyr wood.

Prazutis sat at the large desk where he read data feeds of intelligence reports on a heavily encrypted terminal logged on to the closed circuit server of Vain Hollow, impossible to hack from the outside without one sitting in, and being plugged into the actual servers. Suddenly the cold, dark voice of his nephew filled his mind, voicing concerns of a presence in the force. In all honesty Braxus truly almost didn't notice it until then, his attention grabbed by other pressing matters that the small tremor almost went by unnoticed. "Yes I sense it to..I'll initiate the sweep. Do you want me to send the call to Fort Zambrano?" ​He replied. Fort Zambrano or Kaine's Wall as it was often called was a massive fortress, an curtain dropped across the largest and the only pass large enough to send an large force through the Iron Mountains. If one wanted to siege Vain Hollow they needed to land outside of and breach this great fortress first.

​It was also the headquarters of the entire Blackblade Guard where the ten thousand strong legion could be found when they weren't waging war alongside their patriarchs. The location served a dual purpose in protecting Vain Hollow and if there was a major problem at Vain Hollow such as infiltrators or other great threats, the legion could muster on a moments notice and its great legions mustered to the citadel to reinforce it. Regardless of Kaine's response he logged out of the terminal and exited the office to the black marbled halls of their personal wing.

The Dark Lord walked through the halls passing a gargantuan Imperial Sentinel on his way to one of the primary security stations, it was a heavily fortified large chamber several levels down from the quarters of the God-King in the series of chambers dominated by the Crownguard, the security nerve center for Vain Hollow. This wing while they shared a similar color scheme of black marble were devoid of art, statues, sculptures, and luxuries of the sort. They were filled with defenses, and heavy security, the walls and infrastructure of this level was reinforced. The security command center, including one of many barracks for the Crownguard throughout the keep, as well as a separate barracks and praying chambers for the devout Vornskr'ei Seers who spent all their time here managing the force of Imperial Sentinels, gargantuan organic automaton-like beings that trudged through the halls. The main station was more akin to a command center or war room with terminals and screens lining the walls, Crownguard security analysts separate of the combat ready warriors filled this room monitoring the massive network of computers, cameras, alerts, alarms, sensors, and security chatter flowing over Crownguard Central, the primary security battlenet for the entire citadel.

A tall man almost as tall as the Dark Lord with black hair with a physique that appeared as if it was chiseled from stone approached Braxus, his helmet was sitting on a side table and he wore the full armor of a man of the Crownguard bearing the telltale markings of the Lord Commander. Zaddion Bruul an former veteran of the Blackblade Guard was the best trained warrior the Zambranos personal guard had to offer. Additionally he was also highly trained in the force and strong in the dark side. "Lord Commander Bruul our imperial majesty and myself have felt a disturbance that's given us reason enough to investigate." Braxus said to the man, who bowed to the royal figure standing before him. "Yes my lord, what would you have done?" The man asked.

"Just to be safe I want to raise the threat level. Seal the Royal Sector, Labs and underground facilities. I want an immediate Sentinel presence accompanied by guardsman right outside the inner doors to the God-Kings bedchamber. Double the guard citadel wide on every level and roll out the various security and assault droids to support. Initiate immediate and increased perimeter sweeps of the citadel, rouse the graug I want double the amount of perimeter assault patrol groups." Braxus ordered. Bruul nodded before asking "Yes my lord. Do you want the call sent to Fort Zambrano?" Braxus shook his head in response "Contact Highlord Osbasid and inform him of the situation. Tell him right now we are still analyzing the threat and do not need the guards reinforcements just yet but to get his men ready to move out. Lock down the wall no one is allowed through." After bowing Bruul immediately began to move through the chamber giving orders, and the entirety of the citadel command burst quietly in response. All atop the walls watchers would see more of those black armored guardsman rush out reinforcing all patrolling guards on the battlements, towers, walking the halls both outside and where they could not see inside. After some time passed the massive black gates, one of the few known entrances and exits to the citadel opened and out belched out many more large Imperial Graug groups that moved to initiate a perimeter sweep.

Massive turadium blast doors shut across nearly every door and window in the Royal Quarter where specifically only select members of the royal family, the crownguard, the God-King and the God-Prince could override. Two massive Imperial Sentinels marched with three royal guardsman passing right by the God-King at his chambers. The two guardsman took up flanking positions on the exterior doors while the sentinels moved inside and flanked the doors leading right into the bedchamber where Kaine's wife slept. A single crownguard was allowed past the large titanic beings and took up position inside the bedchamber. It was a rare but familiar occurrance to those distinguished individuals who lived in the Royal Quarters. Braxus leaned on the holotable and observed the holographic representation of Vain Hollow and the vast area surrounding the citadel, all of the new units were tagged with markers. "All starfighter wings support the ground patrol sweeps, switch to hunter formation and patterns."



[member="Ryan Korr"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Aela Talith"] | [member="Zark"] |

 

[Darth Veles]

Panatha

The heretical realm’s bleak appearance performed poorly at masking the true nature of its inhabitants. Infused with the dark side through and through, so much it could almost be smelled when the air turned particularly damp, Panatha worked like a tasty lure for all versed in the forbidden arts of the Force. Ever since the planet came into the First Order’s fold, Veles lusted to visit, driven by vivid imagination of knowledge and power – even if he had to liberate those from Panatha’s greatest. In the midst of dull heads decomposed the highest executioner who treated his subject’s wounds with salt and ruled through days and nights, wielding fear and absolute law to shackle the masses. The rumours of Carnifex’ immortality proved too much for Veles to ignore. Without fearing the madman whose untamed spirit presented what every Sith wished to achieve, the master assassin infiltrated the terrible state uninvited, abandoning his stealth vessel in one of the many desolate places scattered over the kingdom.

Of course, Veles would never consider himself a thief – any and all artifacts belonged to him by right, and he fully intended to exercise this arguable notion. Not quite arrogant or insane enough to slip into Carnifex’ citadel and try his chances at killing the man, the amphibious Sith remained outside and far away for now, under the heavy clouds looming over the Pacanth Reach. He stuck to shadows, presence and signature silenced, stalking the majestic structure towering ahead. Before pulling anything off or even conducting a search for artifacts, which undoubtedly resided with their current master, Veles desired to familiarize himself with his enemies, understand their ways and discover any weaknesses that could be used in the future. Provided he even reached the mountain – unwilling to bet his life on assuming no spells guarded the vile walls seated atop, he had opted for a slow, careful approach instead of diving right in.

Looking up, he spied on the eerie silhouette high in the mountains, surrounded by mist and the dark side alike. A focal point of the dark side – but was it the unholy place or the man who rested his cursed bones within? Too curious and greedy to abandon his quest, the amphibious Sith lord braved the land further, moving in absolute silence that enveloped him, slipping from one shadow to another and never forgetting caution.

 

[Kenrath]

FIV HammerShot, Inflictor Class Heavy Cruiser​

Location: Northern First Order Area of Operations​

Objective: Sector Patrol Bakura/Pantha/Firrerre​

Status: Patrolling Sector/Conducting readiness drills​

[member="Ryan Korr"] [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"] [member="Aran Piett"] [member="Michael Wainford"] [member="Sara Lee Jones"]​

​

​

"Sir Battlegroup Imperator is responding.............they say they are going to follow us on our patrol route to perform Fleet Coordination Drills."

Norin nodded.

"Send the Battlegroup an Acknowledgement and prepare for Fleet drills." "Navigation status?"

Norin on what was supposed to be their maiden voyage was now going to be looking at Fleet wide drills. Not that he really minded..............after all he was just a Commander and a single vessel part of a larger Fleet.

"Sir arriving at Checkpoint Bravo in 3..........................2......................................1."

Norin nodded.

"Very well carry on."

Actually they were behind schedule. The Imperator Battlegroup and the Warlock showing up and caused them to slow down briefly. Being the only vessel scheduled to be in the area at the time it had caused a brief but almost unnoticeable sense of tension on the bridge. However the crew was still performing and adapting well to the so far minor wrenches thrown into the works. Norin was still a proud ship captain.

 

[Natalie LaForte]

Location: Panatha Lower Housing areas​

Objective: Contemplate on the past and the present. ​

Michael Wainford | Sara Lee Jones | Samka Derith | Aran Piett | Irajah Ven | Norin Kellarov | Zark | Aela Talith | Darth Carnifex | Ryan Korr​

The Castle was a far stretch from Serenity's ideal world, a dull, black and overall really depressing place to be. It was almost infectious the way the sadness creeped into her usually happy self. As she paraded around the courtyard in silence with her hands above her head almost as if she was stretching, the only thing accompanying her was the thoughts of her inner self. It gave her time to contemplate the natural world, and just what on earth do these statues mean; being a child, she could never quite understand the appeal of all this. As much as she wanted to make noise, she just couldn't bring herself to it. This uneasy peace gave her time to reflect on her new 'job', if you could call it that. If this new job was only about being sad, she didn't know if she could bring herself to stick at it. She wondered just how long it would take, wondering this empty Palace, how long it would take for her to find a friend. But still no-one came. She lay down on the ground, looking up, still stunned by the skyline of infernal hell-fire.

She thought this to herself, but remembered that her mommy told her not to swear. But who was going to stop her? When the people she worked for literally slaughtered people for a living, is swearing even an issue? Would they care? Does anyone care? As she lay there in child-like bliss, she took off her Rotary Lazer Cannon, Zaps, hugged it and fell into a light slumber until something awoke her. Needless to say, that wouldn't be long.

 

[Aran Piett]

---------------------------------------------------------------​

FIV Subjugator​

Patrol of Endor Sector​

Current Location: Over Bakura​

[member="Norin Kellarov"] | [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"] | [member="Aela Talith"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Ryan Korr"]​

---------------------------------------------------------------​

​

The Subjugator, jumped out into orbit around Bakura. Aran started to make his way to the comms panel to get the shuttles going to the planet for R&R. ​

​

"All hands this is Commander Piett, we are now in orbit around Bakura. For those interested I'm handing out a 48 hour Liberty. Those heading to the planet, make your way to the hanger the assault landers will take you to the surface."​

​

Lieutenant Halsey, not so quietly this time walked up next to Aran.​

​

"Sir what about the patrol?"​

​

"Lieutenant, we have had a very busy last few months, I think the other ships plus Commodore Rausgeber group can fill the gaps in the patrol."​

​

"Understood sir, so....what shall I do then?"​

​

"Whatever you want Lieutenant, you have 48 hours of free time starting now."​

​

"Thank you."​

​

Lieutenant Halsey walked off to parts unknown to Aran. Aran on the other hand went to his quarters, where he sat at his desk and looked over some of his past reports, some from the war game, others from the engagement over Endor. He was just looking them over to see if there could have been better ways to go about plans and tactics he put into motion. He didn't want to have another incident like what happened over Virgilia. That order he gave still haunted him a little bit, but it was the only way to get the upper hand on the Ssi-Ruuvi at the time.​