Dominion &nbsp; Pirate Hunt | EE Dominion of Empty Hex

Kalic Daws |

Sterling Kinslayer |

Arturo Braga | Open

Before going downhill, events suddenly started to get very thick. Among other things, it all started with the arrival of another ship, from which a loud, flashy man got out with his crew. Ingrid met the man, as they had worked together before. The two were left to clean up while

Kainan Wolfe ,

Malicar and

Broka the Hutt talked and discussed with each other. Another matter on which there was no written file, only an oral agreement. Of the three men, one was dead and one was missing, leaving only the Hutt.

”Mr. Braga, I haven't seen you in a long time. I'm glad we can work together again!” she greeted the man. ”You will come with us, we will go towards the bridge of the ship, there are the pirates. Prisoners in the stern of the ship, if you have a free man, can send them with the Mandos.”

She listed the options, nodding to Taozi one last time as the two groups split. Upon arrival, a corridor followed, the agent, or assassin, or who knows what the woman was exactly, the Commander had not yet started. However, Ingrid couldn't wait any longer. So the woman has issued the command, they are moving more slowly at most if the Commander wants to go forward, in the meantime they ensure that the enemy will not get into their backs later.

”We start cleaning the ship so no one can attack us in the back. No hostage is required, but captured civilians should be taken care of. We did not come to kill them, but to save them. And Commander, go ahead, if you have what you went for, then signal and we'll go.”

With this she also gave the signal to leave, the soldiers were moving forward, she also went with them, hoping that the others would come as well. There were several branches in the empty hallway, and opposite them was a wide door, about fifty to sixty meters away. Ingrid commanded her men, and the door opened, behind them a larger dining room with two dozen pirates in it, with barricades, lots of cover.

And, of course, they didn’t even wait long, but opened fire on the loyalists.

Formorta · Oct 6, 2020

Location: Pirate fleet
Gear: APAR, OPCA, OL-2
Tag: Ingrid L'lerim Kalic Daws Taozi Fuyuan Rath Nihro

Ah yes, this women was her 'commanding officer' this time around, she had been a ranking member for so long in the past and most still respected it that Formorta often didn't really address anyone by their titles. As things continued to slowly escalate more and more people arrived, and if she had to give them one word it would be 'unorthadox'.

Not that such was a bad thing, though it seemed strange considering how military's like and pristine she had expected things to be. Then again with the emperor leaving it only made sense that the military would change and in her mind for better. Unorthodox meant flexibility when dealing with threats. More over it meant the enemy had a hard time nailing down your tactics and properly moving against you... not that pirates had tactics to begin with, but you could never be to sure.

Keeping to the shroud Formorta kept in close behind Ingrid until the doors opened. Why the pirates didn't seemed prepared no one could know. Perhaps the waiting had gotten the better of them? Sure as hell would have happened to a few crews she had run with in the past. Regardless now wasn't the time to think, the masked assassin opening up with her own semi automatic rile with the rest of the troops. Her shots being aimed and carful, going for instant kills to conserve ammo for more worthy targets.

Lorne Kantera · Oct 6, 2020

Location: Pirate Fleet, Neutral Space
Tags: Vexari Kahl |

Delila Castillon

Lorne loved a rowdy cantina, a flashy casino, a hoppin' nightclub, an exotic planet... but his favorite place to be was behind the controls of the Wayward Wyrm. So often lately he'd found himself in trouble on the ground, forced to rely on his quick trigger finger and his own two feet in order to pull through. But up here was different. His battered freighter had her own kind of grace, and he guided her through the steps of a dance that came far more naturally to him than anything his own body could accomplish. To him, the Wyrm felt like freedom.

It was odd having a cause, too. Normally Lorne didn't fly with anyone else; if there were other ships in the vicinity, he was always watching every single one of them for signs of trouble. Ironically enough, this empty region of space was presently full of the most allies he'd ever had. Fortunately, there was no disciplined plan of attack to stick to; that wasn't the way the Smugglers' Alliance worked. All of the captains' egos would have made them fight over who was in charge and who had the best strategy, scratching and yowling like felinxes in a bag.

Instead, they all just did their own thing, pausing occasionally to bail each other out when they got in trouble.

"Thanks, Wayward Wyrm," the captain of a modified heavy shuttle transmitted; Lorne had just blown apart a pair of pirate uglies that'd been trailing him, staying in the blind spot of his guns. "Just stealing your kills, Aranna's Lure," Lorne joked back. "I didn't want to buy your drinks." He broke off from the shuttle, looking for new targets. Other than the Smuggler Queen's flagship, there weren't many ships among them that could take on the big pirate frigates and carriers, so they were mostly clearing out fighters and corvettes.

That method had its drawbacks, though; it did nothing to thin the heavy fire coming out of the pirate turbolaser batteries, creating a blazing grid of death across the battlefield. Dodging fighters was one thing; doing it while also weaving between missiles and concentrated frigate firepower was something else, and the difficulty of it was starting to take its toll. Lorne had gone into this mess with friends to avenge, whether he'd admit it or not, and screams and explosions echoing over the comms told him that there were even more to avenge now.

"Going in for an attack run," the smuggler transmitted, mouth set in a grim line. Something had to give. The Wyrm dipped and dived under his expert hand as he pulled in close to one of the pirate frigates, skimming along its hull. They couldn't blow these ships yet, not without killing the prisoners aboard, but they could reduce their firepower. Squeezing the controls, Lorne launched a pair of concussion missiles straight into the nearest turbolaser battery, blowing it apart in a satisfying spray of fire and debris. The Wrym leapt through the flames...

And caught a glancing turbolaser blast along the starboard side. "I'm hit," Lorne transmitted, gritting his teeth as he struggled to regain control. The port engine had already been touchy, and now the starboard engine was all but offline, its occasional fits and spurts spinning the Wyrm in odd directions. "Beebo!" Lorne shouted, "see if you can bypass the damage, or stabilize us, or something!" A frantic trill from the engine room told the smuggler that the situation was not good. He'd gotten too cocky, and not for the first time.

"Gotta go faster," he said, clenching his jaw, "or the next volley's gonna end us."

Vexari Kahl · Oct 6, 2020

Post: 2
Objective: Space Party

The space battle began to rage violently between the pirates and the coalition of Eternal Imperial and Smuggler vessels. Squadrons of Ugly Starfighters fought alongside Imperial fighters against the pirates, while armed freighters weaved in between the larger pirate vessels, unleashing volleys of turbolaser fire against one another.

Batuu's Pride served as a bulwark against enemy fire, it's strong shields keeping their weapons at bay for now while a swarm of fighters, bombers and smaller freighters emerged from it's vast hangar bays. Yet this was not the only powerful weapon within the Smuggler Queen's significant arsenal. "The fleet is properly engaged. Now's the time to play my trump card. Signal the Interdictor fleet. Let's give our new Eternal Imperial friends a good show, mmh?", she said to the crewman on the bridge manning communications, who carried out her order quickly.

Soon enough, a trio of Star Destroyers emerged from lightspeed at the flank of the Smuggler and Eternal Imperial fleet to reinforce them. One Interdictor-class Star Destroyer and a pair of Imperial I-class Star Destroyers, marked with crude Smuggler's Alliance logos on the hull, who immediately opened fire at the pirate vessels with their turbolasers. Wings of TIE Fighters and Bombers, some rocking totally none-regulation paint jobs, moved to assist against the pirate fleet, while the Interdictor activated it's gravity well generators to prevent a potential escape from their enemies.

Taozi Fuyuan

Rath Nihro

Delila Castillon

Kelsen Ghastt

Arturo Braga

Lorne Kantera

Formorta

Kelsen Ghastt · Oct 7, 2020

Location: Pirate Fleet, Neutral Space
Tags: Vexari Kahl |

Delila Castillon

Kelsen grimaced as she watched the Smugglers' Alliance vessels engaging the pirate fleet. She supposed it was beneficial to the Fourth Fleet; every Alliance vessel being chased by enemy fighters freed up one of her pilots, men and women whose lives she actually valued, to make an attack run unhindered. But having to account for the chaotic maneuverings of these so-called "allies" was wreaking havoc on her battle plan. If it had been up to her, she would have moved in and engaged them all, smashing both outlaw gangs in a single blow.

The day that the Eternal Empire annexed Batuu, bringing law and order to that wretched hive, would be satisfying indeed.

Still, Kelsen couldn't deny that the outlaw pilots were brave; most of them were in modified freighter craft or individual, largely outdated starfighters, craft that had little business in the middle of a space battle of this caliber. And yet they came on fearlessly, taking risks she would never have dared order her pilots into... and sometimes making incredible gains for it. Of course, they were vaporized just as often, but there was a place for suicidal courage in turning the tide. Weapons Kelsen did not herself wield could still make her enemies bleed.

The corvettes moved slowly forward, spraying a screen of light cannon fire designed to rip apart enemy starfighters. Kelsen's own fighter squadrons maneuvered flawlessly through it, taking advantage of clear skies to unleash their payloads on larger enemy craft. As the admiral watched, two pirate corvettes cracked open and nearly the same time, one exploding in a bright flash while the other broke in half. A stream of bodies spilled out into the void, struggling for a few instants before they went still. Kelsen nodded approvingly.

Meanwhile, the capital ships of the Fourth Fleet kept up a steady ion barrage. Enemy shield generators burst like ripe muja fruit, and unprotected engines sputtered and died as the withering tide of electric blue bolts slammed into them. There would be no escape, and soon there would not even be any resistance. It would be easy to complete the boarding action when dropships full of Imperial troops could board each disabled vessel in turn, unleashing the soldiers of the Empire to clear them hallway by hallway. But the pirates had fight in them yet.

Just then, the sensor officer looked up. "Admiral, we have incoming hyperspace signatures." Kelsen frowned, pulling up the data on her own screens. She expected no Imperial reinforcements - the Fourth Fleet was more than enough to deal with this minor menace on its own. Further, she had received no communications informing her of any friendly arrivals. It seemed safe to assume the worst. "Prepare for additional hostile contacts," she ordered, adjusting her battle plan to account for whatever new surprise might be headed her way.

The truth was even stranger and more disturbing than she had imagined. Three star destroyers dropped into the system, the symbol of the Smugglers' Alliance sloppily painted over their sleek hulls. Kelsen felt her stomach turn; she hadn't realized that these outlaws had access to such potent ships. They might be old, but they were deadly nonetheless, and for them to be under the control of renegades... The interdictor was particularly troubling, since it could lock down an Imperial fleet while the scoundrels committed misdeeds elsewhere.

There was nothing she could do about it for now; her orders were clear. But Kelsen kept a careful eye on the newly-arrived scum...

Arturo Braga · Oct 7, 2020

Location: Pirate Flagship
Tags:

Formorta

Taozi Fuyuan

Rath Nihro

Nodding at Ingrid's words, Arturo turned to his right-hand man, a burly, light-skinned Zabrak who went by the name of Vagrant. From the state of his armor -and the smell- it wasn't difficult to figure out why people called him that. "Fancy taking some of our boys and helping the Mandos find these prisoners?" Arturo asked. Grinning, Vagrant shrugged. "Sure, why not? I reckon I can do that much." A slight smile creased the corner of Arturo's lip as he bumped fists with the Zabrak. "Good," he said, drawing the man off to one side, a conspiratorial arm snaking its way around his shoulders. "Now, listen. Between us, I don't care if you find the prisoners or not; that's not what we're here for. If you get into it with the pirates, let the Mandos take the brunt of the fire. That beskar's gotta be good for something, right?" Vagrant shot a glance over his shoulder, a wry grin still twisting his features. "Well, it sure makes them look pretty, 'specially that one there."

Curious, Arturo looked over his shoulder, too. Before long he was shaking his head.

"You sure have strange tastes." He growled, taking his arm from around Vagrant's shoulders, a savage glint in his eye. He poked a finger into the Zabrak's armored chest. "Keep your boys alive, and your eyes open. If you get yourself killed, I won't be too happy. If you get them killed, I'll dig you a grave... So I can dance on it." Smiling, the Zabrak spun on his heel, before setting off to pick his chosen few. "Noted," he called back, vanishing amongst the milling contractors.

Shaking his head once more, Arturo, too, spun on his heel. He had to jog to catch up to the Overlord's group as they left the hangar in search of violence.

It wasn't long before they found it.

The pirates they found in the dining hall were just putting the finishing touches on a makeshift barricade when Arturo's party found them. Made entirely from overturned benches and tables, the barricade came up to just above the mercenary's waist, and in places it was higher still. Stretching from one side of the hall to the other, it offered the men and women stood behind it ample cover, and allowed them to shoot in relative safety. Arturo's group had no such luxury. As soon as the door was done opening, the first shots rang out. Only, it wasn't the pirates doing the shooting, Arturo realized, storming into the room behind a handful of his men.

Looking about, the mercenary's eyes widened as he identified the source-- an apparition stood not five feet behind him, sowing death.

A haunting sight, it held his gaze for all of half a second.

Finding his focus, Arturo turned back to the barricade. His rifle braced, the mercenary added his fire to the warrior-ghost's own, his men already doing the same. One pirate fell, then, another. Turning, the pirates stood behind the barricade retaliated, blasting away at anything and everything. A bolt sizzled past Arturo's ear as he went to a knee; a twi'lek contractor to his right fell, his chest ablaze, screams deafening; ultranauts were pouring in through the doorway, their rifles flinging death.

Blasterfire and bellowed orders filled the space, adding to the dirge.

Rath Nihro · Oct 7, 2020

Objective 1: Boarding Party
Location: Pirate’s Fleet
Equipment: Sk-UL Armor | KC-95 Ace of Spades | KC-47 Hybrid Strike Rifle
Tag:

Formorta

Arturo Braga

Taozi Fuyuan

More people on their side meant better odds for the boarding party. Rath understood that much, and as he had done his best to blend in with the squadron of soldiers. So far that had worked as no one appeared to have paid him any mind. In addition to his assistance in the elimination of the pirates aboard this ship, Rath was to simply observe the outcome of this endeavor. After Rath’s previous suspicion of betrayal and lack of a teacher of the Wardens. Rath had no choice except to turn to the field and learn in the midst of battle. As they came upon the entrance of the dining hall, Rath followed along his squadron as he positioned himself to the side of the door.

The Overlord gave out the orders, and conversed with some of the higher ups from what Rath could gather. He didn't really know what exactly was going on outside of the flagship, but from the amount of shockwaves Rath would hazard a guess that it was chaos. Once everyone was ready, by the Overlord's order the door opened to reveal makeshift barricades in the large room. Even the catwalk along the walls had a table or two which provided some cover for the pirates. They at least appeared to be prepared for their defense, but against the Empire and trained mercenaries. Rath could see the pirates' odds to be less than favorable, and then adding to the fact that the Overlord was present in addition to one of the Empire's personnel only made their chances of survival less than slim.

As if on cue, the pirates unleashed a volley of blaster fire upon the doorway. Rath waited patiently as eventually the pirates would have to reload, and once that happened their turn to unfold their wrath upon the pirates came. Despite their barricades, Rath along with several Ultranauts held weaponry of high firepower. The kind of firepower that either pierced through the tables or armor. Even so Rath didn’t dare underestimate them as anyone who valued their own life gets ferocious when backed to the corner.

All focus in the dining hall narrowed to a single blaster bolt that sailed in his direction, and it took all of Rath’s agility and strength to side step. However his attempt to evade failed as the bolt struck against Rath’s left pauldron. The impact made him turn his shoulder away as he winced before he retaliated with a single bolt of thermal energy that leapt from the barrel of his rifle to the pirate positioned behind a barricade. It was a clean shot to the head as the pirate collapsed to the ground. Afterwards, Rath took cover behind a table as he lowered himself to a knee.

Rath rolled his left shoulder as he peeked his head over the table just to get a general idea of the pirates’ location. Rath saw another stray bolt that came for his head, and that time Rath ducked behind cover as the searing heat howled past him. When he looked over the table once more with his rifle aimed to blast some of the pirates. That was when Rath noticed a single pirate with matted brown hair that held a familiar sphere that had a blinking light. The soldier didn’t think, didn’t hesitate, as Rath fired a blaster bolt at the sphere. Upon impact the sphere exploded in a wave of heat and shrapnel that blew the guy into pieces as some of the barricade was scattered across the room. Several of the pirates that were nearby the explosion were either dazed or had some shrapnel in their skin. In their daze, Rath fired a bolt into each of their heads before he ducked to exchange mags for his rifle.

Lorne Kantera · Oct 8, 2020

Location: Pirate Fleet, Neutral Space
Tags: Vexari Kahl

Turbolaser blasts cut in closer and closer as Lorne fought with the Wyrm's controls, trying to keep the battered freighter ahead of the incoming barrage. Beebo trilled something over the comlink, and Lorne snarled in reply. "I know we should've fixed it! We were out of fething credits, Beebo!" A snide warble was the answer, and Lorne shook his head, pounding a fist down on the control console. "I have needs, okay? It was a great bottle of whiskey, a very nice hotel room, and a particularly attractive Mirialan. Who would say no?"

Beebo sent out a flat beep in reply, and Lorne rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, you don't have a libido, so you don't count."

The smuggler jerked the Wyrm hard to starboard, just barely weaving around a burst of turbolaser fire... and then had to pull the yoke back the other way as hard as he could, arresting the ship's sudden spin as the port engine cut out again. "Can we talk about my bad habits later, please? I'm running on half an engine, it'd be nice to have at least one that works." For all his bravado, Lorne was definitely starting to get worried. He couldn't keep this up for very long, and the cornered pirates would take whatever kills they could get.

Just then, the battle shifted as three new ships dropped into the system. "Whoa..." Lorne muttered, eyes wide as he took in the three star destroyers. "The Smuggler Queen's got deeper pockets than I realized." Any outlaw who could boast a battle group of star destroyers was more than just a crime lord; she was a regional powerhouse, head of her own little shadow empire from her seat on the sleepy backwater of Batuu. Now it was more important than ever to impress her; she was clearly the key to the big league jobs.

The arrival of the star destroyers took the pirates' attention entirely off of Lorne, and he used the distraction well. He nursed the limping Wyrm out of the main field of fire, gliding spasmodically back into the shadow of the Pride of Batuu like a spanked puppy running to its mother. He'd done plenty of damage to the pirate fleet, enough to get noticed for sure, but he had no intention of being done; he just needed a break. Shielded by the bulk of the old Trade Federation ship, the Wyrm was safe. It was time to make some quick field repairs.

Cutting the engines, Lorne hurried back to the engine room... and beheld an utter mess. Sparking wires were swinging everywhere, casting flickering lights over buckled deck plating and leaking coolant. Beebo rolled around in the middle of it, welding and clipping, trying to bring some small amount of order to the chaos. "Well, feth me," Lorne hissed, squeezing his eyes shut. It was a miracle there hadn't been a hull breach, but that was about the only lucky break. Grabbing his toolbox, he waded into the madness and got to work.

They didn't have the time or resources for any permanent fixes, but they could at least jury-rig the systems for now.

Shani · Oct 8, 2020

Nameless
Championess of the Slave ring.

Location: Pirate fleet

Loud noises and everything so chaotic around me at the moment when I wake up in one of the cages. I am in my humanoid form. This is not too ordinary. Most of the time when I sleep or heal I stay in my feral form, but not this time. Somebody speak, maybe to me, but I am not here at this point.
“F*ck.. Release her! They come... “ Big deep male voice and a much younger boy voice who answer. Who is he? The boy who bring the food to the cages? What happens here?
“Where are the keys?”
I’m so dizzy and I try to get up, but somebody pushes me down, and I feel the pain in my side. Aye, the last fight wasnt the best one, but I won it… barely… I hear the click noises when they open the lock, and pull down the muzzle from my jaw and the sound of the chain when they kick it away.
“GET UP!” Shout one of them and after I get a bucket of cold water to my neck. This wakes me up fully and jumps up with a loud growl and shows my big sharp fangs and teeth with a snarl.
“If you try to bite me you will finish like a rug slave. The boss needs you, so go ahead… NOW“

I hate this big rude one. Really I hate him. I went out from the cage, and started walking on the corridor between the other cages and cells. Slaves, gladiators like me, and prisoners are here, and most of them fear me. I cant blame them. If they meet me in the ring, most of them has no chance to survive it, and my Master will not show mercy. I am his weapon to kill souls who lose, and I need to obey the order.

“Faster slave, they are closer and closer with every second” I hear the anger in his voice, and I look back over my shoulder.
“Who.. the… they… opponent?” I never learned this language very well, only I understand it if they speak to me.
“Only what you need to know, so they are the enemy and the order is crystal clear: Kill them all.”
“As my Master wishes…” look forward and close my eyes for a second. “Other order?”
He caught my shoulder and placed the communicator thing into my paw and it showed that bastard fake illusion face. I cant show how I feel so I watch him with a calm face.
“Yes my Master?”
“Come fast as you can to defend me”
“But the order was to she stay here and help stop the bastards”
“Plans change…” He closes the call, and I feel the big slaver pirate’s fear.
“You stay here, I order…” he cant finish the sentence, before I catch his neck and lift him up.
“My Master... order... first” snarl with a wild growl, my ears slammed back and my eyes narrowed to thin lines. He can feel my claws in his neck.I want to break his neck so bad, but I cant do it this time, only if my owner allow me this.

Move my ear and listen to the sounds of the gun fight. It gets louder and louder. Release his neck and start to run fast, leap a big and run fast as I can. My goal was simple: Go up to the bridge and defend him. The order is order and I need to obey. But who attacked us and I feel in the air the smell of fear. Enough a little sniff and my nose full with this. I look around and try find the correct way there. Every time when I was there more guardian bring me on chains, but this time I need other solution, so I meet some pirates and as I see I am the last thing they want to see at the moment.
“Bridge.. Where?” growl wild...
“Where are the guards?!”
“Why this slave here alone?”
“He… want me… bridge… now…” roll my eyes. Aye another time a slave like me cant walk in these corridors alone. I am in the Free peoples place… Only the bed warmers allowed here, and I am not such a weakling...
“That way Slave” One of them point a room with ladder. I bow fast and run there to I can climb up to the level of the bridge, but I hear from here not too good noises too. Maybe better if I arrive there fast.

Ingrid L'lerim · Oct 9, 2020

Lady Ingrid L’lerim-Ragal
Empress Regent of the Eternal Empire, Overlord of the Eternal Empire, the Emperor's hand
The Red Witch; Director of Blackwatch; Baroness of Vengard, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium

Arturo Braga | Open

To tell you the truth, it wasn’t Ultranauts’ day before they could head into the room, Braga and his men were already inside and started cleaning it. They could only leave after that. The woman should hardly have intervened, for apparently her men were in perfect control of the matter. That’s why it was good to come in larger numbers on the one hand, and to work with great people on the other. However, she wasn’t the kind of person to just be left out of the fight.

She entered the room as one of the last persons. Ingrid had previously experienced that Braga was in a great hurry and rushed almost everywhere with his men. Last time she thought it might be a unique case, but now that she saw him doing the same. After entering the room, the Overlord addressed her words to the man.

”Mr. Braga, are you in such a hurry in all areas of life? If so, I don’t envy your lovers!”

The next moment she reached out to the Force. Since everyone was still trying to shoot from outside the barricades, it was time to give a little advantage to her men. With the two vibroswords in her hand, she teleported behind the covers, to one of the groups that had just been attacked by fewer of her own. There were four pirates in this place. True, not for too long. Ingrid slammed down with her swords before the foursome could react at all when she arrived.

Their screams were noticed by the other pirates, who were still alive and had the opportunity to turn to her. And all this was exploited by her own people. Ingrid reached out to the Force again and, with telekinetics, swept aside the barricades in the room, resolving it so that the pirates would not be in cover at all. From that point on, it was just a massacre, the under armed pirates had no chance against the people of the Eternal Empire and the Black Sun.

In addition to the door through which they entered, three others led in three directions. From the other side of the closed doors, the sounds of escape could be heard. Whoever was there was trying to get as far away from this place as possible.

”Let's move on!” the red-haired woman gave the order.

Arturo Braga · Oct 9, 2020

Location: Pirate Flagship
Tags:

Rath Nihro

Formorta

The thought that he'd made a mistake kept reverberating through Arturo's mind like a bad memory. Indeed, from where he knelt, this was what the fight was quickly shaping up to be; one bad memory. Perhaps my last, he thought, a bolt searing past his head, so very, very close. Despite this, Arturo couldn't help but be calm as the chaos unfolded around him. This, after all, was a hand he had dealt himself; fate or luck was not to blame for the position he found himself in. No, this was his own doing. He wondered whether he would come to regret it.

As more Ultranauts and allies poured into the mess hall, the balance began to shift. The initial barrage that had kept them from entering had waned, and now that there were more friendly bodies filling the hall than there were pirates, it was clear that there was only one way this skirmish was going to end. Shifting his gaze, Arturo aimed up at the catwalks as a shot sailed past his ear. He returned fire until his target fell, dead or disabled or somewhere in between.

A voice at his side made him turn, momentarily distracted.

"Just playing my part, Ms L'lerim!" He called back over the blasterfire, surprised to see the Overlord speaking with him so candidly. "Besides, it would be a shame to see some lousy pirate put a bolt between those pretty eyes of yours." Grinning beneath his helmet, it was a moment before he caught himself, noticed who he was addressing. "Overlord." He said, turning back to the fight as a shot forced him to hunker down.

What followed was about as one-sided as it got, and if the Lady did not envy his partners, he did not envy the pirates.

With a whole section of the barricade gone, the remaining pirates had little option but to flee deeper into the ship, their half-hearted defense well and truly in tatters. Walking through the gap, Arturo let out a silent curse as the carnage they'd wrought came into full view. He had seen sights like this before, of course, but still... it felt as if he was walking through a graveyard. The dead lay strewn about, awkward in their repose. Arturo supposed that wasn't their fault; very few people got to choose how they went out. Usually, in this line of work, it was painfully.

Better them than me.

Walking over to the exits, the mercenary got to setting up his men in a defensive line, their weapons trained on the doors through which a few lucky pirates had fled. There, he waited, watching as the rest of the Overlord's group found their bearings and tended to their wounded. Of his own, three had paid the blood price, though, one yet lived. And, perhaps in time, he would recover. Perhaps.

Shani · Oct 11, 2020

Nameless
Championess of the Slave ring.

Location: Pirate fleet

I stopped on the ladder a little, and only listened to the noises with closed eyes. I feel only calm at this moment, nothing more, like before a fight. But this time the ring was much more bigger and no more rules. So they have anything and I have nothing else as the mother of nature gave me. But these are more than enough.

Open my eyes and start climbing faster to the next level, and slowly open the door only a little so I can find out who is there. First I see or hear nothing, but the smell of the blood tells me a different story.
Okay, lets see what I will find here.

I slowly push open the door and look around before I climb out from there, and start to follow the smell of the blood with silent steps, and the blood marks. I found some bodies, but something is wrong here. Somebody drag away this pirates body and he blooding out here alone. I dont see weapons, but I see some footprints. It small and just simple footprints nothing more. Maybe a slave who want escape under this chaos and killed this pirate. But she was only angry or something and she doesnt plan this too good. The cut was not strong enough to kill instantly, and silent. Painfull death and dishonor too.
Slowly start follow the bloody footprints on the floor, and I stopped before a door, and slowly walk in. the room was dark, and I closed the door to I make deep black there before I go inside the room.
The dark was my friend and ally who hide me, and I can see perfectly. I hearth fast biting of the heart of the people in the room. Slowly and silently go there to catch the gun and push it to the wall before I pulled it from her weak hands and throw away. She tried scream but I push my other hand the top of her lips with a deep growl. I saw the fear in her eyes.
“Dont scream” whisper silently with the deep growl in my voice, and after remove my paw from her lip. She push something and the light turn on.
“I know you… you are the beast who kill soulless in the arena… so will you kill me too monster?”
I only get a deep breath and sigh a big.
“No… Only I…followed... the trail. You help me… I help you…”
“The big Championess want some help from a weak slave. Funny and ironic I hope you know this. Every slave know to the Gladiators contempt the other slaves, and now the strongest ask help from me. Why do I help you, monster?”
“I… no… want... the death... what wait you... kill that free man… break law… but… I.. hide your trails… just a faver...”
“And What do you want?”
“Show me… path to the bridge”
“And after, will you kill me Soulless beast? Why do I trust you? I saw you, you kill heartless everybody who go into that cursed arena” I only look into her eyes, and wait silently. Listen her words, and after turn away.
“I follow orders… like you… Your task to be nice for money… My, to kill and they can bet. But true… I kill them, and not who give the order.” Turn back and look into her eyes “And I cant say no... if the opponent is weak… and no honor in the fight.” Slowly walk to the door.
“Your thing to trust me or not...Or help me.” I opened the door and look outside.
“The choice is yours”
She sigh a little, and after tell me what I want to know, and I clean up the trail that she made. She went away and I was alone with my memories.

When the heart bite different...

I remember my better opponent, who had a chance to win, but only one was more important to me, than anything else. He was a felacatian too. Strong fast, and the fight was so good with him. That was a fight to death too, and I won it… But the fight was long and I had a ton of wounds. He lay on the ground and I had to kill him, but I felt myself dizzy . Everything went blurry and when I went there to follow the order, everything went black. I dont remember how I landed on the ground, and only days later woke up again. He was there, treating my wounds and me too… He was different like the other gladiators who want simple kill me. We spent together only some days, but these days were so different, I felt something other too. But his Mistress leave the ship with him.
Later we met again in the ring, but that fight wasnt fair. I was heavily wounded. My broken bones just healed and I see very less with my left eye, and hear close nothing with my left ear. He went back to her Mistress ask her to gave up the fight, but my Master want the fight because he want the money from the high bets, and he dont cared who win.
So the fight began, and It was inglorious, dishonorable… He hold back himself, and after a movement he was on the ground and I am over him with released claws.
“~ fight like a warrior!~” Growl on our on language, with tears in my eyes.
“~ No… ~” he change back to humanoid, and I change back too and sit on the ground, and look up him
“~ ...This is not the fight what I came here, practice myself, and prepare to I can win above an opponent, who enough strong and brave to she can defeat me. You are not in the right condition to fight… maybe an other time… Shani…~”
I slowly stand up but my leg shiver when I tried hold myself.
“~ This fight is not over! Come back and finished it! Kill me, and you win! ~”
“~ No… I kill you in the end of a honorable fight and you can die with glory… If I want this… Shani… ~” He was calm and I stand there a little, after fall back to my knees hold my bleeding wounds… I felt my arm cracked under the fight, and now it hurt more bad like earlier and only listen his voice like he speak in the common language.
“I gave up the fight, like the free gladiator of my house. She win this fight…”
I saw my master face how angry was he, but the viewers enjoyed it.
Later he came to my cell and check my wounds. He wear so different clothes like a soldier. We cant spent too many times together this time, but it was more important me, like anything else.
“~ Why do you call me Shani? ~”
“~ Maybe one day you will know it, I know to you will survive this, and we will meet again. And I hope we can stay together ~”

Present…

I dont know why I remember this, why now, and I dont know where is he now. After many months I know nothing to he live or not. He earn his freedom what I never will, but his path was different too. He lived a free life earlier, and he became slave later, when he was oldar.
Shake my head a lil and after look around.
“~ My past haunting me ~” whisper on my own langue before me, and after go back the pirate’s corp egt his communicator, and after go the way what the other slave show me, to I can reach the bridge. I tried go silently and fast as I can, and listen the noises, like voices, fights, footsteps, to I can hide and be prepared to fight or defend myself.

Delila Castillon · Oct 13, 2020

The Saegassum unceremoniously slammed into the pirate vessel, causing Brak and Dells to thrash about once again. Brak was uttering words in his native tongue, curses towards

Xin Boa without a doubt. Delila was equally cursing, just in a more private fashion. She was now convinced that the Nautolan was trying to kill off both herself and Brak before they even stepped foot aboard that flagship vessel.

"Now we're fighting Brak."

The redhead managed to slap the button for the ramp, herself and Brak scrambling down, grateful to be off the Saegassum. Typically she wouldn't be so eager to be running into the fray but after that landing....

"Stick together eh? Xin would kill me if I lost you in this."

Rath Nihro · Oct 14, 2020

Location: Pirate Flagship
Equipment: Sk-UL Armor, KC-47 Hybrid Strike Armor, KC-95 Ace of Spades
Tags:

Arturo Braga

Formorta

Compared to the pirates, the boarding party’s casualties were relatively minimal while some of Ultranauts suffered some damage from taking a blaster bolt or two. The armor was resistant to blaster fire, but that didn’t make them immune. Rath stood up to his feet as he rolled his shoulder, to which showed the scorched mark of a blaster on his pauldron. Against flesh, that bolt might have burned its way to the bone, and that would be a pain to heal from later on.

Rath took care of minding his steps to regroup with the Overlord as he didn’t intend to step on the dead. They might be pirates, but the body count doesn’t care what their allegiances were. Not to mention any one of them would have faked their death to deliver an explosive surprise. Thankfully that scenario never came to pass, but that didn’t mean Rath ignored them all the same. It was best to be safe than sorry as the rest of the soldiers kept their eyes trained on the closed doors. Once everyone, or at least most of them, was situated. The Overlord gave the order to move, and so Rath followed the group from behind. Part of him wanted to go after the other pirates, but at the same time he understood that the bridge took priority. From the bridge, they could take control over everything else that went on with the ship.

His silence might have been unnecessary because of his rank. Even one of the Ultranauts nudged at Rath’s side before popping a question.

“You okay in there?” Rath’s helmet slightly tilted to signal the slight confusion.

“I’m still breathing.” Even through the helmet, Rath could hear the chuckle as they moved on.

Ingrid L'lerim · Oct 17, 2020

Lady Ingrid L’lerim-Ragal
Empress Regent of the Eternal Empire, Overlord of the Eternal Empire, the Emperor's hand
The Red Witch; Director of Blackwatch; Baroness of Vengard, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium

Arturo Braga | Open

”I did not say a word to Mr. Braga that you are not doing your job well. Only your haste is surprising! Although, if you get paid as killed enemies from the Empire, I fully understand it all.”

The fight was really a slaughter and in this she too lost three Ultranauts who gave their lives to win over the enemies of the Eternal Empire. They didn’t have too much time, so unfortunately Ingrid didn’t have time to wait for Commander to move forward either. She had a bad feeling that made it not even seem too important to send a team after the fleeing pirates.

She didn’t know how desperate the enemy could be and would be willing to blow up the ship with everything and everyone so that neither side would win. Ingrid didn’t even want to know if this was a possible scenario or not. The point is, the group started moving forward and they didn’t run into as much resistance later as they do now.

Along the way, they met with smaller pirate groups several times, some were so stupid as to try to confront them, but they ended up dead. Those who tried to escape didn't really do any better because the Ultranauts shot them in the back, without any mercy, and probably also the men of Arturo Braga, if the man let them. At the end of the march, they arrived at a huge double-leaf door that already had a security door on it. Only these two doors separated them from reaching the bridge.

”Is there anyone who has experience to hack the terminal and is able to open the doors?” she looked through Commander, Rath, and Braga.

Xin Boa · Oct 19, 2020

Delila Castillon

"Look," came Xin’s voice over the intercom. "It was a choice of land or crash into the side of this thing. And that was a landing."

What Skreech said next didn't quite come across the intercom clearly.

"Sort of. It was most of a landing. Could you two check out the landing struts please?"

They were aboard a pirate vessel that was apparently used for slaving. Not much profit to be found here. Just some very angry raiders.

Arturo Braga · Oct 22, 2020

Location: Pirate Flagship
Tags: Ingrid L'lerim Rath Nihro Formorta

Arturo's men took up the rear as Ingrid led the boarding party deeper into the ship. One of many, his boots took up the repetitive drumbeat as they navigated the hallways, their presence betrayed long before they ran into any pirates. For the most part, these pirates stayed illusive; it was suicide to face such a large group and they knew it. Still, that did not stop some from trying. Blasterfire could be heard from the head of the group every now and then, brief and fierce.

The Ultranauts seeing to business, Arturo figured.

The corpses left in their wake confirmed as much. The contractor didn't bat an eye as he stepped over a body sprawled in the middle of the hallway. Others lay against walls, as if resting their eyes for a minute or two. Arturo wasn't fooled. He had seen too many dead bodies in his lifetime to be deceived; these were cadavers, enjoying their eternal slumber. Least they have company, he thought, stopping long enough to clear a room with his people before continuing on.

They reached the bridge sooner than he expected, their progress abruptly ended by the sealed door barring the way. Stopping, Arturo waited with the rest as Ingrid turned to address the group. Hackers? No. Explosives? "Salt, Pepp, you're up!" He called to two of his people, pointing a thumb over his shoulder at the door. "Good thing we brought the keys." Pepper said, reaching into his pack to retrieve something suspiciously similar to a breaching charge. "Opens all doors, always." Salt continued, taking the charges. "Well, almost always." She shrugged, going to work.

Sidling up to Pepper, Arturo asked in a quiet aside, "Almost always?"

"Don't worry, boss. Salt knows what she's doing." Arturo nodded. If that's true, why've you got your fingers crossed? He left the thought unsaid, though, instead turning to Ingrid. "Overlord! Might be best if we give the door a wide berth for a second or two, wouldn't you agree?" As if on queue, Salt turned from what she was doing, eyes wide, her excitement clear. "Charge is almost set. This should knock their socks off."

"Or their heads." Pepper muttered, crossing himself.

Ingrid L'lerim · Oct 26, 2020

Lady Ingrid L’lerim-Ragal
Empress Regent of the Eternal Empire, Overlord of the Eternal Empire, the Emperor's hand
The Red Witch; Director of Blackwatch; Baroness of Vengard, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium

Arturo Braga | Open

To tell the truth, the Overlord would have been happier if there had been a person on Braga’s team who had been able to hack the door by hacking. She would need a tiny, flying scout droid that could also do the work of astrodroids. Although a woman is not used to carrying droids for most of her tasks because they are difficult to steal or be invisible. She nodded at Braga's words.

”All right, I agree. Go on!”

No more words were needed for this, as the explosion was expected to be bigger, so she motioned for the company to go backwards. For now, they had no idea what might get them in there, so she wanted to be pretty careful. Ingrid wasn’t really afraid of pirates, not at all, but she was “worried” that they could use civilians against them. Worry wasn’t a real emotion either, because she suppressed it, more of a possible chance after the calculations.

”We need to be prepared that they can use civilians as living shields. I recommend the use of stun or non-lethal weapons. If you’ve brought stun grenades, they’ll come in handy, too. If there are no civilians inside, you can switch back to lethal ammunition.” she said the commands.

If Braga's men carried out the blast, there would indeed be a fairly large hole in the door that even two people could pass through at the same time. If they went in, they were really greeted there by what Ingrid was afraid of. The bridge itself was big enough, there were about a dozen pirates there, along with the captain. But it also included three dozen civilian hostages who were used as living shields in their own defence.

Shani · Oct 26, 2020

Nameless
Championess of the Slave ring.

Location: Pirate fleet - Bridge
Tab:

Ingrid L'lerim |

Arturo Braga | open

I reach the bridge in a side door and I feel more the smell of the fear and when I looked around I see the sights on their faces.

“Where were you?” I hear my owner angry voice and before I can answer he continue “I dont really care… Prepare yourself, the next challenge wait you, and maybe your freedom, if you kill them all… or you can watch how die the other slaves… the choice is yours”
I watch the coward bastards how try use the slaves like cover, and I know another thing too:

If I start fight day will shoot the enemies and nobody care to I will between them and the enemies. Or if I refuse obey they will shoot me down here, without question.

“As you wish my Master” ohh I hated so bad to I need call him like this. He is only my owner, not my Master, but I need call him right, and I watch the main door, and after the other slaves. Most of them only captured prisoners, or weak bed warmers, nothing more. Only some other gladiator here… half dozen with me, and we have no weapons or armor, only our claws, fangs, fists. Of course, these enough for wining in the arena with or strength and knowledge, but in this situation no rules.

I walk slowly sideway to hide behind a consol, like the others to we can attack surprisely. Like in the arena I am calm at the moment, like in the arena. Only I try check the environment, to I can fight more, and use what I find. The place is big, and enough space to attack from more way, but the big question to how will they come inside.
If they stay outside, then we need go out and they have more chance take us down, but if they come inside, then we have more advantage.

A big noisy explosion break my thinking and I feel myself a lil dizzy after the loud noise. I lost some valuable second before I can change my form to feral, and leap cover to cover fast, before I can start attack from the side.

After the explosion I hear my owner shout… “845! Attack them!”
The order is clear…his voice is strong, but the smell what I feel from he tell another story.

They exploded the door, so maybe they will come inside. They made a big hole, so they can run inside, or fire from cover too, but they ave the chance to charge and push down us.

If I see this I dont wait too long to attack them. I try to leap some and get the most of the speed what I can get to I try reach them, and jump to them. My main goal to I push them down to the ground with my weight and after leap away to they cant shoot me down too easier. I try turn around fast as I can brake myself with my claws on the floor. Maybe I will let here some claw marks on the ground but who care some lil thing.
Growl a lil and try minimalize the time when I stop, to check the opponents or move slowly, before I charge again to who arrive from the other side of the door, or if I could push down somebody to the floor I dont let him/her stand up again.

If they stay outside I try sneak to a good spot and wait there to they come inside. Once they will need come in and better if I wait the side of the bridge, to I will can attack from there.

I know what is my order, but I am not crazy to I simple run out and let them kill me without the chance to I can take down anybody. Okay, the fact is, I have very less chance do this if they much more trained, armed or armored or simple stronger like me, but I dont thinking on this. I feel nothing, only calculate and timing when can I attack better and follow my order.

Ingrid L'lerim · Nov 2, 2020

Lady Ingrid L’lerim-Ragal
Empress Regent of the Eternal Empire, Overlord of the Eternal Empire, the Emperor's hand
The Red Witch; Director of Blackwatch; Baroness of Vengard, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium