Private Same walls, new order

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

A thick green fog had fallen on Hycantoi Prime's fourth administrative district (FAD) within the second ring. The weather patterns had been tracked carefully in preparation for todays exercise, all was tracked carefully. From the flow of 'civilians' to the movements of great star ships beyond the planets moons. Gabriel had dug into his personal coffers to orchestrate the events that would unfold here. For him to embed himself deep in the FAD's main office's records bunker took a great deal of finesse and secrecy, his greatest tools.

The location was close to the relatively close to the FAD's main law enforcement precinct where it's two squads of HUAS could deploy in reasonable timing to any threats to the vast complex of bureaucrats and their treasured data-vaults. Aside from the squad that had been broken off from one of the primary ring's precincts, law enforcement in the area went uninformed as to what would proceed here shortly. This was the only means by which they could effectively test their response times and tactical doctrine.

Gabriel had gone out of his way to ensure that those had hired would be more than aware of this and have some protections against flachette, slug, and any other arms that the elites of his police force would have access to. While they likely had other tools at their disposal, the recent civil war and constant unrest of the planet has left the elites scrambling for supplies, having to compete with other departments for the resources needed to continue their war against crime and acts of terrorism perpetuated by darker forces on the planet.

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While the administrative bunkers were well equipped for defense it was rare that they had the technology needed to facilitate a war-game, but Gabriel was sure to have subtly installed his own monitoring systems through out the building via personnel he had planted in the complex weeks prior. It both shamed and honored him that his plants had went completely undetected while carrying out their work. Gabriel sat in a room lit by blue displays, surrounded by men who made careers off of killing and espionage. They had done well in setting up this impromptu command center.

Azure lights filled the room, various holo displays showed various angles of the building, but his main focus now was on the crown jewel of this exercise, the objective. In bunker adjacent to theirs, separated by a secret door of plascrete laid a Banner of the Radiant Predator. One of the honored symbols of his order, and a means by which his people fight back the ever persistent disease that wreaked havoc on his planet. It's radiant splendor was the lone light source in the room. Gabriel himself wore his an overcoat with the very same wards engraved, but the banners might outshine the potency of his personal coat and so he admired it.

Without a moment more of hesitation he snapped back into the moment. "The Order may begin their operation." He said to his adjutant. Giving the ok for the communications expert to send their message off to a secure line.

There was a hole in Cantoi's air defenses for a moment, radars and imaging equipment had omitted it's readings in one small space for a moment, far too short for anyone to pick up on the miniscule change. Other such securities within the second ring were eased . This moment alone would have cost the royal family untold amounts of money, the manpower required to pull off such a delicate act of subterfuge against his own people stung ever so slightly, but knowing what threats loom at his borders made him more than willing to take such a loss.

The order would have a brief window to act.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Inbound – 800 Meters Above Surface


The four LAET/I MKII gunships screamed through the night, slicing low through the thick, green fog as they thundered toward the Fourth Administrative District's security compound. The city below was chaos—sirens wailed, emergency lights bathed the streets in flashing red, and the world was coming alive in panic. They didn't know this was a test. To them, this was war.

Inside the lead gunship, Laphisto braced himself against the open bay door, the turbulence shaking the hull as the gunship banked hard. The wind ripped at his cloak, and below, his vambrace flickered, mapping out the compound. One mark stood out from the rest—the Radiant Predator banner—the objective.

Across from him, Captain Garron Tavik sat, fingers drumming against his rifle, his cybernetic arm flexing with the vibrations of the gunship. "They're scrambling down there," Tavik shouted over the roar of the engines. "I'd almost feel bad for 'em." Laphisto didn't look up. "They'll learn or they'll break."

Tavik smirked, racking a 30-06 slug into his LO-18D. "I say we break 'em first, let 'em figure it out later."

The pilot's voice crackled over the intercom. "Thirty seconds out. Fox one and two are away" The LO-34L torpedo launchers on the lead gunship flashed, and a split second later, the western perimeter of the compound disintegrated in a shockwave of fire and debris. Concrete and steel buckled inward, a massive gap blown wide open, exposing the fortress-like bunker entrance beyond.

Before the dust had even settled, the gunships tore through the gap, LO-35R rotary cannons roaring to life. A hail of EMP slugs ripped through security turrets, shredded sensor towers, and sent automated defenses into a shorted-out frenzy. Then the return fire came—live rounds whipping through the air, flashing past the gunships, pinging against armor.

"GO! GO! GO!" The bay doors slammed open, and the red overhead lights turned green signaling the troopers to move. and Lilaste Order troopers dropped into the firestorm. Some fast-roped through the smoke, boots slamming into the rubble, weapons snapping up before their feet even hit the ground. Others jumped outright, their LO-ADS repulsorlift systems kicking in with a burst of blue light, slowing their descent before they landed and sprinted for cover. soldiers were equipt with LO-18D rifles as standard issue but a few were sporting teh same weapons mounted on the Gunships doors. the LO-27R which allowed them to streamline heavy fire into enemy formations

Tavik hit the ground hard, rolling through the dirt before coming up firing, EMP slugs snapping into security barricades. Around him, troopers flooded forward, moving fast, weapons cracking as they pushed through the smoke and fire toward the breached wall. Above, the gunships pulled up, circling overhead, their rotary cannons chewing through the compound's remaining defenses.

Laphisto landed last, dropping into the fray like a stone, using his wings to help slow his decent. His vambrace flickered, showing the bunker doors straight ahead—reinforcements piling in, trying to block their advance. Tavik dropped behind cover, reloading as he glanced at the bunker entrance, then up at Laphisto.

"They're stacking up in there," he called over the gunfire. "Gonna be a nightmare pushing through." Laphisto didn't break stride, tapping a command onto his vambrace. "Not for long."

Above, the gunships adjusted formation, their LO-35Rs spinning up one more time. A second later, fire rained down on the bunker doors. The locks fried, the plating twisted inward, and explosions rippled across the security checkpoints. Sparks poured from the control panels, and suddenly, the bunker was just a steel coffin waiting to be kicked open.
Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

The administrative bunker's design was that of antiquity for the culture of Cantoi. Many of the administrative bunkers were formerly small military outposts during the planet's first age, their defenses were updated to modern standards but the structures could not be changed and employed designs that were core to the Hycantoi way of war. The entrance itself was one large corridor that could house multiple speeders and personal vehicles, this corridor had only one entrance and one exit, making it a prime area for setting up a kill zone for anything seeking to breach it.

This was one of two open stretches built into the bunker, everything else was a winding maze of sorts, with multiple ambush corridors made so that defensive troops could get behind their foes as well as allowing for attacking forces to get ahead of assaulting forces. The main corridors attackers would be funneled through had many sharp turns and zigzags, favoring right-handed individuals. Long-barreled firearms were discouraged heavily and melee weaponry would benefit greatly from the architecture.

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The world has known more conflict than peace, the people were hardened and there were no innocents on Cantoi.

At the heart of the most recent conflict, the civil war of Cantoi were their law enforcement agencies, who early on in Gabriel Hycantos Umberhorn's Career had thrown their support in. There were those of the old guard present but Cantoi and it's people were quick to root out those who had opinions not in line with the majority.

The HUAS had played a pivotal part in Gabriel securing his place at the top, once the purges were over they were better equipped with greater plans in mind for the forces. One particular precinct of the HUAS had distinguished themselves for deploying into the third ring and taking initiative against the plague cults in districts that had lost power, limiting their expansion with sabotage and assassination of key personnel.

"We've lost contact with high-command, we think they're deploying some large scale jammer.. We've managed to reach nearby precincts using traditional communication lines but their support will be limited, at most we can expect two more squads. All other units seem to be scrambling to key infrastructure in the district." Spoke the communications specialist over the rattle of their armored vehicle. Inside were the rest of the officials of battlefield command from the nearest precinct. They would need to set up closer to the site of first contact than they found comfortable due to communications being hampered.

"In other words were drew the short end of the stick." The man at the front end of the armored vehicle spoke, he was heavily armored and armed, the head enforcer for the sixth administrative district.

"Why would they attack a files storage facility? It makes no sense." Another of the command staff spoke, no one entertained the question, instead they looked to their commander.

"It matters little, all that matters if that all hostiles be purged. Have all supporting officers set up a perimeter, and begin deploying personal anti-aircraft and vehicle projectiles at anything that so much as looks like enemy craft." His command was iron-clad and so orders were conveyed through out the convoy.

Before the vehicles reached their final objective the command car steered off into a nearby outpost, linking with militia they'd establish a new communications hub and begin the operation in earnest.

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It wouldn't be long before missiles and rockets were fired off in rapid succession, their aim was to take the troop transports off the air with extreme prejudice. Shortly after law enforcement and militia had swarmed the surrounding facilities, locking them down and tightening a noose around the complex. Despite this no one had visibly approached the facility, but the discerning eye would see disperse squads of men, maybe 36 total convening on the entrance from three different angles, they maintained a great deal of stealth ensuring they'd enter will into the engagement range of their weapons before letting their presence be known. The jamming signals in the area disrupted their helm displays greatly and so they would have to rely on information gathering the old school way.

At any moment, the engagement with outside forces could break off now, and the veteran HUAS with the broader support provided by auxiliary forces would begin to pick apart any who had decided to stay outside the protections of the bunker as sentries.

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto brushed forwards with the rest of the company brandishing the same rifle as the one the majority. Of his men wielded, while he was more proficient in sword combat using his saber. It's was not viable in this particular situation. So he opted for the same weaponry as the soldiers around him. Has the ground forces advanced into the breach soldiers snapped their weapons up firing precise rounds down range the EMP based slug rounds were similar to the stun setting of a standard blaster rifle though in slug form. The shots would hit and send out several thousand volts of electricity overwhelming the nervous system and inevitably knocking the victim unconscious.

The entire company pushed into the complex they were more or less focused on getting inside in order to complete their mission there was no need to leave centuries or leave guards. The only indication of any troops being left at the rear were four heavy weapons specialists began setting up makeshift mg nests in order to prevent enemies from rushing out of the same hole they had entered. Leaving behind four squads of nine to make sure no one tried to come through the breach and if they did then it was Thier job to make it difficult to do so

I wasn't long before the AAA fire started to overwhelm the four gunships claxton's blaring warning systems yelling in the helmets of the pilots and a message was sent to laphisto from the main gunship " anti-air is getting too hot we need to pull back to a safe distance otherwise no one's making it out you're on your own down there for now call us for evac"

As the gunships left and shot up into the sky they soon disappeared from sensors. Leading captain tavik to speak "without those birds the enemy will become more bold and try an advance we need to speed this up"

As laphisto and the good Captain pushed behind a barricade he shot himself up lightly and fired off a few rounds at advancing soldiers before turning to the captain "my thoughts exactly the banner should be a few rooms ahead you just need to get through the enemy defenders"

As soldiers began to try and push forwards a few of them had their Shields firing as ballistic rounds smashed and battered against the defensive barrier one soldier trying to dart the left and slipping as the shield broke allowing live rounds to smash against his armor causing him to jolt and fall into a wall a nearby squad make grabbing him and pulling him behind cover " they're dug into deep we can't move forwards!"

Laphisto heard the cry from across the hall causing them the hiss and frustration before then pulling his communicator up and speaking "colic push to my location and bring two 2-7R's with you I need you to set up on my barricade and lay down heavy suppressive fire"

The thunder of boots on stone barely cut through the chaos as Corlic and his team arrived, their movements precise despite the hail of incoming fire. Bullets snapped past, kicking up debris as they slid into position behind the barricade where Laphisto and Tavik were pinned down.

"On you, Commander!" Corlic called, already motioning his team into place.

Two heavy gunners moved like clockwork, snapping bipods onto the shattered remains of a security console, locking the LO-27Rs into position. "Guns up!"

Pulling back on the slide the first Gunner began to open fire unleashing a torrent of slugs downrange in a near constant stream had they been using blaster bolts instead of slugs one might have assumed based on the fire rate that it was not a blaster but instead a constant laser of fire. As the first barrage of rounds began to tear through barricades and slam into defenders knocking them unconscious the Gunner shouted " reloading!"

Pulling himself back from the edge of the barricade the second Gunner immediately opened fire leaving a near second or two break before the Cascade of hellfire continued. as defenders began to fall there was an opening for the Order to push forwards and Laphisto didn’t waste a second, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Push now!"

So pushing so far ahead they had no idea of the possibility for ambush from side corridors or secret tunnels that awaited them the deeper they went

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

Sentries werent posted, and air support had left, the forces tightened the noose, and soon the structure was thoroughly surrounded, the commander on the ground had seen what type of weapons were being employed via an unlucky defensive trooper closer to the outside of the compound. They were better equipped to deal with traditional blaster and kinetic weaponry, and so they would need to be creative.

"Call around the APC" The squad lead of the HUAS ordered and soon an armored vehicle carried by thick tires and covered in layers of defensive plating came into view. A handful of men quickly entered into the back of the APC before it roared to life, blazing down the stretch of the corridor, plowing speeders and other crafts out of the way as it barreled towards the emplaced heavy weapons. The crew inside were more than certain that the gas-powered vehicle had enough plates between it and the enemy to get them into range.

They could hear the patter of rounds strike the vehicle, but the force was miniscule in the face of the hurtling projectile. A large crash was dampened by kinetic gel and the armor of the troopers form inside, and nearly as soon as the crash occurred the doors from the armored carrier burst open and their weapons, the PBPDW-02, screamed into life, blasting away at the heavy weapon emplacements, if the blast bolts didn't knock them out then the concussive force would get the best of them, eventually. While the commotion of the truck was made, other squads advanced.


Brisk jogs along pillars ensured they kept cover while the lighter equipped men armed with PBPDW-02 sprinted foward to engage in the brief fire fight towards the end of the corridor. "Squad one, we've established a link to sensors in the building. Break into the pathway on your nine'o'clock and cut off enemy signatures." With brisk hand movements the squad lead broke with his squad into some unseen corridor hidden seamlessly into the wall by a concrete barrier that could only be lifted once overall building control was returned to their hands.

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"How is the counter-attack progressing?" Questioned Gabriel, to his chief communications officer who was monitoring all the channels of the HUAS, High command, and regular officers as well as local militia that had begun to gather.

"Law enforcement response times are within standard. The Militia forces are the slowest to respond. The area has been seeded with mines and the HUAS in the bunker complex itself have been laying mines behind enemy forces. We expect contact briefly." Sounded off the officer who had been keenly focused, straining to keep up with the constant bursts of data into her augmetics.

"I want to see the militia commander of this district after this exercise is complete, prepare documents of chastisement and begin searching for worthy replacements amongst his ranks. If none can be found, station an active duty officer as interim command." His focus snapped back to the monitors as his troops neared first contact with the enemy proper.

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Small slits at foot level opened at the midway point between the Lilaste orders feed, glop grenades had been rolled over in a neat column. The foam exploded and hardened neigh instantly, effectively severing the troops off from one another. Any caught in between the barrage of grenades would be safe in comparison to what would soon befall the troops in the latter half of the arrangement. Around every corner bursts of PDW and Armor Piercing Flechette rounds would sound off before the firing slits they had peered through in the dark corners would be sealed once again.

Towards the front end things would be far more close, there was a relative lack of firing slits in the area surrounding Laphisto and his right hand, instead there were more coves in the walls, hiding trap doors which soon would be exploited by the counter-attack. When their enemies neared close enough several HUAS would leap from the shadows vibroblades in hand, aiming to carve up their foes, while from the back of the front half of Laphisto's troops far more flechette fire would erupt, crawling closer and closer as they blasted the confined halls

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

At the APC began to rush towards the opening that the lilaste order had blown into the building the machine gun nests open fire for a few moments targeting Wheels and viewports though as the hurling chunk of metal grew closer and closer they soon abandoned position pulling back from the entryway and positioning themselves down the corridor using the old barricades that previous units had used against them setting up their machine gun nests once more and unleashing a torrent of fire at the advancing reinforcements to the best of their capabilities pushing back to try and rendezvous with the larger group as they were subsequently overwhelmed over time. Though inevitably they would be met with a wall of foam and with no where to go and enemies advancing rapidly the four squads would. Lay down Thier arms and surrender. Being taken out of the count


The soldiers that were trapped between two walls of foam would immediately try and break their way through in order to regroup with the main Force torch is being activated to try and get through though a few unlucky soldiers managed to get completely engulfed in the phone leading efforts to break through to slow down as to not avoid hurting their own in total there was roughly 27 soldiers stuck between the foam with another five trapped within either fully in case or having a few limbs caught.

The main force with laphisto and the captain on the other hand would see themselves immediately attacked by an overwhelming amount of force as armor piercing rounds echoed against them. Shields dropping on a few soldiers and a couple taking direct hits that wounded them, Thier armor going into immediate effect and issuing bacta to heal the wounds.

Has the advancing soldiers Drew forwards with vibroblades the Lilaste order soldier met them full on with swords of Thier own. Brandishing LO-09M long swords each carrying an ION charge of an electrical change that sent sparks flying as blades made direct contact. Laphisto himself was wielding one such blade as he rushed to meet the attackers. While a few soldiers in the rear moved to try and free Thier comrads. Others firing shots between the chaos to try and keep fire support.

As the fighting ensured laphisto took a deep breath and let out a jet of flame breathing dore at the attackers and allowing his men some type of advantage to push forwards

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

Watching from the hidden cameras along the wall, along as through the helmets of his officers, Gabriel couldnt help but crack a grin. A rare occurence for the battle-hardened man. Despite their precarious situation, members of the Lilaste Order aimed to secure their allies stuck in the foam. Truly it was admirable given their situation. Gabriel was the sort to remember such decisions in the heat of combat. While this was a controlled exercise, death wasnt out of the order. Infact, all of his officers are more than ready to pull the trigger thinking this was an actual invasion/assault of sort.

The men who surrendered were quickly secured. They were thoroughly tied to nearby cement structures, "XX Individuals captured, reinforcements are clear to enter and secure the main entrance."

Gabriel was quick to have orders dispatched via his secret services department. Instead of being handed over to local law enforcement for interrogation they would quickly be scooped out of their hands and taken to a safe location to be returned to the Lilaste order once matters were resolved.

The main force was suddenly caught in the most glorious and dangerous form of combat, close quarters, with bladed weaponry which could cut through most metal with ease. There was nothing more glorious for the people of Cantoi, they truly excelled in this form of combat, but they were met with equal force. The Lilaste Order's main force had the men outnumbered but in the small space they could make use of their expertise in close combat to draw the battle out while their forces quickly reloaded and repositioned to open another salvo----

"Wait is that f-" One man had noticed Laphisto gathered himself before spewing a gout of flames down the small hallway. Some men immediately began to scream and roll as they were lit aflame. The sheer shock of the moment had froze even the veterans that made up the HUAS, but quickly they snapped back into the moment.

"CRYOS!!!!" Three Cryogrenades were sent down the hall with great urgency. One was rolled while two were thrown in impact mode at vastly different angles, giving them their best chance at the grenades deploying. Quickly, all firing holes being used in the ambush were closed as a means to protect themselves from the blistering gold of the grenade.

 

[Laphisto]

While men in the rear frantically worked to free their foam-trapped comrades, the forward Lilaste Order forces surged the instant Laphisto's flame subsided, seizing the narrow window to press the attack. Smoke curled and mixed with the bitter scent of burning electronics as boots pounded on permacrete, echoing through the steel maze of the ancient bunker.

Then came the sudden flash of blue light—one of the cryo grenades found its mark. The round slammed into the helmet of an advancing soldier with a loud crack, freezing him mid-stride. Ice crystals bloomed instantly across his visor and pauldrons, locking him upright like a statue amid the storm of blaster fire and EMP slugs. Nearby, two more soldiers stumbled as the cryo mist spread like grasping claws. One's gauntlet locked up mid-trigger pull, his shots going wide as ice clawed its way up to his elbow. The other fell hard, scrambling to pry frozen plates loose from his thigh as HUAS defenders capitalized on their opening.

Further down the corridor, another blast erupted as the second cryo grenade detonated behind the initial charge. A scream rang out as one trooper's legs were swallowed in ice, locking him to the floor as flechette rounds slammed into the walls around him. Another soldier cursed through gritted teeth, shaking frost from his frozen rifle before discarding it in favor of a sidearm, the weapon glowing faintly as EMP rounds lit the hallway with ghostly pulses.

Then, through the haze, the third grenade rolled in low, almost unnoticed amid the din. Without missing a beat, a Lilaste trooper hurled himself down, clutching the grenade to his chest. The sharp hiss and crack of rapid-freeze filled the air as his armor sealed over, encasing him in rime as the blast was muffled beneath him. A grim sacrifice, but it spared the squad behind him from the worst of the freezing mist.

Even in the chaos, the Order's discipline held firm. Tavik's sharp call rose above the battle. "Keep movin'! Close the distance!" With a collective grit, the soldiers pressed forward, ducking under flechette fire and snapping their rifles up. The corridor lit up with bursts of blue as EMP rounds cracked into defenders, arcing across armor with stunning force. Cantoi soldiers twitched violently, nerves overwhelmed as the high-voltage slugs sent them collapsing to the deck, limbs jerking in place.

Laphisto led from the front, vaulting over wreckage as his longsword clashed against vibroknives. Sparks flew, but instead of lethal strikes, his blade worked to disarm and disable. Soldiers alongside him mirrored the intent—blades striking blunt edges to knock weapons free, rifle stocks hammering into exposed limbs to incapacitate, not kill.

Above the clash of steel and energy, Laphisto's vambrace pulsed with data. He glanced briefly—78 soldiers still in the fight, holding the line despite the growing resistance. The HUAS were well-trained and relentless, but the Lilaste Order pressed harder. EMP slugs lit up the corridor like streaks of lightning, stunning defenders left and right as Lilaste troopers pushed deeper, fanning out to clear the next bend of the twisting maze.

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

Soon the firing in the hall would die down, the ambush had been sprung and exhausted, many of the HUAS had fallen back to the final defensive position available before the room where the flag was held. In the back line the major advance of the counter-attack had caught up, many men that had not been rescued were seized by the officers and transported out. The main force of the Lilaste Order was being approached upon and their back had become an ever creeping shadow.

Their only was would be forward.

Along secret corridors, men ran with great ferocity, aiming to cut ahead of the Lilaste order and join up with their depleted forces setting up a final defensive. It was unlikely that they would reach it by the time the first salvos were fired, but they could surely provide great relief. The lightning strikes that pierced clouds of debris in the hall were answered by dense walls of flechette rounds and blaster bolts. The wall of ordinance wouldnt cease as when one man needed to reload another covered with a torrent of fire. However, the men who held their positions were dropping.

Spasms broke the man next to him, despite that the second lieutenant radioed for his command. "Deploy bunker busters! I repeat, Deploy bunker busters!" He saw the likelihood of the enemy pushing through them before reinforcements arrived, and despite not knowing what the enemies goals were in the room beyond he'd rather bury them here then grant them what they wish. In most cases this was standard procedure but the response was quick and cold.

"Negative, usage of bunker busters has been forbidden in this operation." Before the second lieutenant could respond with a flurry of curses, his body seized and erupted into violent spasms as a stray stun round struck his elbow that had briefly exposed itself. The Huas now became desperate in their defense, they were out of grenades and ammo was soon to runout, would reinforcements arrive in time to extend their defense?

 

[Laphisto]

The corridor stank of ozone and sweat as the Lilaste Order's main force pressed on. The ambush had been broken, but Laphisto's vambrace pinged with a grim update as they sprinted toward the next engagement zone.Captured.

The foam-trapped soldiers in the rear had been overrun. The breach teams, those left holding the fallback machine gun nests, were now in enemy hands.

"Damn it," Tavik cursed as the notification scrolled across his HUD. "They bagged our rear guard."

Laphisto, moving beside him, grit his teeth. "We'll get them back. But we need to finish this first."

The captain nodded stiffly. "Copy. No turning back now."

The force surged forward into the depths of the compound, the hall ahead lit intermittently by the muzzle flashes of defenders laying down a wall of flechette fire and blaster bolts. Their backs were compromised, but the only way out was through.

"Leave one squad," Laphisto barked to a nearby sergeant mid-sprint. "Set a hold point here, stall any rear advance."

"Yes, sir!" The sergeant snapped, rallying his nine troopers to peel off and fortify a junction just behind the main push. Sandbagging debris and flipped consoles for cover, they set up overlapping arcs of fire. They knew they were the plug in a dam about to burst—but they held steady.

The rest of the company pushed forward with ruthless precision. LO-18Ds barked and cracked as EMP slugs snapped into HUAS troopers at the barricades ahead, dropping bodies in fits as arcs of energy surged through armor seams. No killing shots, just brutal, calculated disablement.

The LO-27Rs came back to life as well, their operators laying down disciplined bursts that ripped through the smoke-choked corridor like a buzzsaw, chewing through defensive positions and forcing the defenders to duck and cower behind twisted plascrete barriers.

"Push! While they're reeling!" Tavik shouted, vaulting over a smoldering barricade and firing on the move. Laphisto followed close behind, blade in one hand and rifle in the other, eyes set on the final defensive stronghold ahead.

The desperation of the HUAS was palpable now—their rate of fire was slowing, their shots sloppier. They were clinging to the walls, firing around blind corners, waiting for reinforcements that might already be too late.

And yet the cost weighed heavy. The vambrace's readout reminded Laphisto with every pulse: 69 effectives, now minus the rear squad of nine, and the captured breach teams. The company was bleeding, but they would not break—not before they reached that banner.

Tavik sidled up beside him behind the last piece of cover before the bottleneck. "What's the play, Commander? Straight through?" Laphisto's expression hardened. "Straight through." he keyed his vambrace again, marking the final corridor with a pulsing red beacon on his squad leaders' HUDs. "Let's end this."

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

The last bit of fighting down the hallway was brutal, The HUAS who had outflanked them initially to make this stand refused to surrender without a battle, and so the remainder of their grenades were deployed, their mines were used as impromptu frag weaponry and their weapons barked until nothing but clicks could be heard, and even when their ammunition ran out they drew their knives and waited in ambush for Laphisto's men to close the distance before springing on them with lethal intent. The people of Cantoi were relentless and would always fight even when left with nothing but their fists.

After such a hard fought exchange there they were, the main door to the archive. It's entrance stood at 20ft tall, while only being one to two men wide, despite it's stone like appearance it was made of great metals, had analysis been the center of the thick door was pure cortosis with a cortosis weave lining the duracrete exterior. The planet had abundant cortosis reserves, while very unlikely to see cortosis used in modern bunkers because of modern reservations, older structures were filled with it, even a lesser bunker such as the one this battle took place in used it liberally.

It was unlikely that if they were to attempt to breach the door that they could manage it in enough time before the main force of the counterattack had caught up. Already those who had been a cut above the rest in terms of speed were opening fire on the troops from dark shadows and firing slots well hidden from any invaders. Luckily for the Lilaste Order, Gabriel could still show a bit of fair play.

The large doors slowly opened, the doors far too heavy for any man to open slowly ground to a half with a slight opening. Men of the Lilaste Order would have to hurry through the means of escape given to them. The room inside was dark, darker than anything considered natural. Alone in the center of the room was a gleaming beacon of warmth. It's light seemed to scare away all the darkness in the area. While it's light did not encompass the whole room it was enough to reveal up to the second story of the archives. Hidden on the rafts were many men, armed with powerful rifles, who's barrels were barely visible. Above on the third story all that was visible was the occasional gleam of red eye lenses.

"Beautiful, isnt it?" Gabriel walked out from the shadows, a faint glow surrounding him, the same energy that radiated from the banner seemed to radiate off of his coat as well. "The Ward of the Radiant Predator, it has protected my people for generations."

His hand lovingly embraced the handle of his sword. "You've done well, soldiers of the Lilaste Order who have made it this far, you have my respect." He had seen their bravery and tenacity, the skill at which they fought off his troops constant ambushes and the aggression of some of his most aggressive forces.

"However, one last test remains." When he spoke, steely blue eyes eyes were focused on one person, and one alone. Laphisto

His sword was drawn out, quickly at that. Flames erupted from the blade like a storm of flames and with a moment of focus from Gabriel the storm settled into a light dance of flames along the blades surface. Gabriels eyes now glowing with focus took up a stance, he was clear with his final spoken words

"Come."

 

[Laphisto]

The Lilaste Order forces surged into the room like a breaking tide, weapons up, boots thudding against the cold floor. They immediately spread out in a practiced sweep, eyes sharp, rifles scanning every shadow along the rafters and walkways above. They had entered enemy ground and every man knew it cut off, outnumbered, backs to a fortress of silence and steel. Captain Tavik wasted no time. "Second and fourth to the east rail, I want eyes up on that mezzanine! Fifth hold this door! We-" He stopped mid-command, his words catching like ash in the throat.He had turned to speak to the High Commander… only to find Laphisto motionless, his focus locked forward.

Tavik followed his gaze toward the far end of the chamber, past the radiant glow of the banner, toward the man wreathed in flame.and soon every soldier looked forwards to see Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn The captain's grip tightened on his rifle as instinct flared, raising the barrel. Others mirrored him half a dozen weapons shifting toward the crowned figure stepping from the dark. Then, Laphisto moved. Not forward but up.

His hand rose in silent command, firm and unwavering. A single gesture. Stand down. No words, but the meaning cut through the room like steel. Tavik lowered his rifle. Slowly. Eyes narrowing in understanding. Around him, the others followed. The sound of safeties clicking on echoed like a ritual. No one moved. No one spoke.Laphisto stepped forward.

The weight of his LO-09M longsword, custom-forged to match his size and strength, dragged slightly behind him. The five-foot blade glinted in the half-light its surface already marred from the hallway brawl. Another foot and a half of leather-wrapped hilt extended from his grip, balanced and silent. He flicked the hilt once. A soft click, and a discharged ION cell was spat from the pommel, bouncing once on the stone with a dull chime. Another swift motion, and a fire cell locked into place. The result was immediate. A rush of heat. A whoosh of ignition.

Fire licked the blade, rolling upward in a torrent before settling into a steady burn that wrapped the length of the weapon like it was alive. Its glow reflected in Laphisto's gaze steady, unreadable. He took another step, then another, until he stood beneath the high glow of the banner—the light haloing his silhouette in flickers of red-orange firelight.Then he stopped.

Without a word, he shifted his stance. One foot slid behind the other, the heel angled outward for stability, weight evenly distributed. His lead shoulder turned just enough to narrow his profile, the blade lowering behind him in a smooth, practiced arc. The long hilt rested diagonally along his spine, the burning blade angled downward its tip tracing idle heat into the floor behind him. His free hand opened slightly, fingers spread low and relaxed. taking a Tail guard stance.

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

As flashlights hit the upper rafters they would see skeletal structures of some seemingly Ursun droids, their red eyes were menacing, they lacked the finish that they would have in future conflicts, namely their fur. Giving them a far less friendly appearance. Even further above them were black masked men, who even when the flashlights hit them seemed to absorb the light. They aimed heavy arms down at Laphistos men.

The likes of Gabriel wouldnt put himself in a dark room with the main objective of the mission alone. He needed some reassurances that things wouldnt go sour after the loss of men on Laphisto's side. Despite the assurances needed, something in the mind of Lord Hynatos gave him the impression that Laphisto would be game to such a provocation.

7'8, untold weight of pure muscle, the ability to breathe fire, a capable force user and military experience that made Gabriel's own seem insignificant. In the mind of the warrior king this would be a great challenge.

His arm took a light swipe at the duracrete before his own feet. His blade carved from it as though it was taking a dig at a stick of butter. The blade was no lightsaber, it was potent and it's subdued flame lingered on the duracrete, burning it. This was the only warning he'd grant Laphisto about the potency of it. Everything from here would be an explosion of violence.

He lunged now, the King became a blur, his speed was indicative of great mastery of the force, and when his blade lashed out from his lower left a storm of flames followed. Even if the blade missed it's target an explosion of flames would trail it.