Campaign Shadow Over the Rim: Tund

[Darth Strosius]

Shadow Over the Rim Chapter 1: Tund​

An ancient world with a long and storied history of Sith rule, Tund was one of the obvious first targets of the Inquisition's campaign. After a few days of covert landings to meet with the populace that lined the fringes of the world's society and population, the overall operation would be set in motion. Shuttles bearing Legionnaires and Troopers alike would begin entering into the world's atmosphere over the larger cities, making their landings at spaceports and open plazas alike before the realization of their presence had even fully settled in. Local security forces within the cities would respond via evacuations and firefights, buying time to make barricades and defensive positions with which to hold off their invaders.

The Planetary Defense Forces were also alerted, however they could not respond. The moment that the first shots began to ring out across the world, all major bases of the defense forces that weren't within the city were leveled by precise and quick attacks from the air. Fighters and bombers leveled most outlying fortresses and bases in a matter of hours, leaving rural areas all but defenseless as more landings were made across the Tund. Unfortunately it seemed this conquest of the world was not solely from an outside threat however.

The poor and disenfranchised of the world, seduced by promises of stability and convinced of their role as keepers of a grand legacy of the Sith on Tund, rose to greet the invaders with open arms. Militia groups supported by both soldiers and equipment began aiding by the end of the first day, leaving the major cities as the only notable points of resistance left by the time the second day of the invasion dawned. With the odds stacked against them the rulers of Tund can only hope that they can withstand the onslaught long enough to evacuate, a goal that could only be accomplished with outside aid. Thankfully one of the remaining PDF bases in the capital city was equipped with quite an extensive communications array and a desperate call for help has echoed across the Outer Rim.

Objective 1: The Arks
As the forces of the Inquisition secure the outskirts of the major cities and have begun their advances deeper in the urban areas, evacuation efforts by the planet's governments have begun in kind. Thankfully for the local authorities, the Sith forces seem unwilling to outright civilians or destroy major infrastructure so their advances have been relatively slow for the most part. Despite this they have still made ground since the first day and are quickly closing in on city centers with each passing minute.

The government officials, major players on the world, and a decent chunk of the other assorted upper echelons of the world have initiated their evacuation efforts but with many of their civilians also seeking to escape these efforts have been somewhat halted. The fact that they have to sort through the civilians to check for hidden loyalties to the invaders, which has proven a necessity after several sabotage attempts from some of the civilians shortly after boarding the evacuation vessels, is hindering progress even more. Only outsider intervention could buy enough time for these evacuations to actually be made, as the Planetary Defense and City Security forces are stretched too thin to maintain any proper defense. The walls close in on Tund, and they are closing fast.

Objective 2: The Legacy
The history of Sith involvement on Tund has not gone unnoticed nor ignored by the planet's current inhabitants. A museum and archive has been established on the outskirts of the capital city, home to a handful of archaeologists and scholars which have been locating and preserving Sith relics and history of the world within its walls for a good few years now. This has led to a rather respectful archive of both knowledge and some relics which the general populace can enjoy visiting and learning of. However, this museum has also become a target because of it.

One of the last significant remnants of the city's Security Forces has set up a temporary base within the museum to treat their wounded and organize their forces, having been cut off from the rest of the city during the initial stages of the invasion. Unfortunately for them the Militias and locals in support of the Sith have been sighted in the area, their few skirmishes in the rural countryside now mostly over, and seem to be beelining for the museum. They seek to "reclaim their heritage" as it were. A battle for the museum and its contents is soon to commence, but intervention from external forces could prove vital in either saving the Security Forces or keeping the relics from Sith hands. As such some Squires have been dispatched to lead the Militias into the museum and secure the relics for the Sith. Ensure the museum's fate is sealed one way or another.

OOC: Welcome everyone to the grand beginning of my Shadow Over the Rim Campaign! While this is mainly meant for those who have already responded to my LFG earlier this week, this thread is by no means exclusionary! If you've got a character or a fun idea then please do not hesitate to jump in and find a partner or two to write up a fun story with! Hopefully this will be the first of many as well so if your character doesn't quite fit in then observers are also welcome and will have plenty of chances to hop in future threads as well. Enjoy!

 

[Darth Strosius]

Objective: The Arks
Equipment: Lightsaber, Sword, Dagger, Robes
Tags: Revna / Open!

"Have we confirmed that the apartments are clear yet?" Even with the helmets and the commlinks, Darth Strosius still found himself having to speak up over the din of combat around them. That was what he got for having his forward command position right next to the frontline he supposed. "Affirmative my lord! Our recon squads just gave us the all clear, we are ready to proceed!" The Trooper delivered the news with a salute, her fist slamming against her chest and her head held high.

"Excellent." The masked man's gaze shifted from the Trooper to regard the holographic map of the city that was slowly spinning on the table before them, thankful that the cafe which they had decided to set up their command post in still had enough power to keep the map on. "We move forward with our plan of attack then." He stood up straight and glanced at the commanders that stood around the map table. A couple of them were just projections, being situated in their own command posts around the city center where the siege was taking place.

"You all know the drill, the Mailocs will lead the advance through the barricades. Our enemies are dug in but between their firepower and breaching charges we should be able to punch through without much issue. It's what comes after that we'll have to be on the lookout for." He gestured to various buildings and areas beyond the barricades that would be under siege soon, areas and buildings that would be perfect for ambushes or killzones. "Their forces are spread thin, but that only makes them more dangerous as they become more desperate. Snipers, decoys, nests of blaster emplacements, we have to be ready to counter whatever they throw at us."

He then pointed to the city center, to the parks and plazas where the evacuation vessels sat and awaited their time to leave. "Thanks to our informants in the crowd we know that most of the civilian population within the pocket will be here, clamoring to get into the ships. Most, not all. So watch your fire and be careful, no innocent blood needs to be spilled just to execute the tyrants today." That would complicate things of course, it would rob them of the speed necessary to advance before their enemy readied their next lines of defense. Thankfully though, he had a solution.

"To compensate, alongside the main advances we'll be sending infiltration teams to scout for their defensive positions and lead any lingering civilians out of harms way. Communication is key so mind your comm-units carefully. We're going to break this siege today and take the capital, but we're not going to do it over a pile of our own bodies. Understood?" Nods and salutes rang out from the commanders as the masked man's hands crossed behind his back. "Good. We start as soon as possible, make your last minute preparations now while our infiltration teams are moving in. And may the Force bless us with victory this day."

As the commanders either ended the call or moved off to their units, depending on whether they were there in person or not, Darth Strosius turned his attention to the seats behind him. "Acolyte Revna, now is your time to shine." He turned to face her fully, idly glancing as Troopers and Legionnaires assembled outside of the cafe's blaster-scarred doors and windows. "I want you as one of the infiltration teams. Your speed and reflexes will be invaluable in reconnaissance."

 

[Clarron Vall]

Objective 1: Evacuation (for himself, anyway)
Tags: Open

Vall's luck seemed to be taking a steady and constant decline lately, but he remained optimistic. Surely, it would turn around soon.

That was until he made one of the greatest mistakes of his career: landing on this particular Outer Rim mudball, at this particular time, to restock the few weeks' supplies his fighter could carry. The sheer number of variables that had to coincide for one life form to be in that place at that time were, to understate wildly, astronomical. At least, they would be for anyone else. Clarron Vall had run into one improbable scenario after another in the last few months, so this one hardly came as a shock.

It began when he poked his head out of the downward hatch of his TIE Phantom, in response to noise outside. He had a habit of sleeping in it (as most hotels were iffy on accepting the patronage of weaponized cyborgs) and was used to local scum thinking to pick themselves up an abandoned fighter, no matter how well-hidden he left the vessel. That was in fact what he found this time.

A trio of ragged-looking locals had been prying at the hatch with a metal bar, and had all staggered back in surprise when he opened it. One reached for his belt, and Vall moved.

His fist crashed into the scavver's face, and the man fell backward, making a curious hacking sound from a newly-convex ruin of a visage, the blaster pistol he'd been reaching for clattering to the weathered duracrete ground. The others fled, leaving their companion behind without a second thought. Vall stepped over the still-moving form, his metal feet crunching over teeth and fragments of bone. He looked around, seeing several more of the city's inhabitants fleeing. Something was wrong, and not just the fools adding scratches to an already long-suffering vessel.

He scrambled back into the ship, flicking on the power and diverting everything to the Phantom's sensors. Information flooded across the lit screen in the dark cockpit. An invasion, then. No wonder the locals were so desperate. Or so opportunistic. The first people to emerge during a disaster were the looters. Even out here in the ass end of nowhere, he couldn't escape the politics and power-grabbing. He needed to get what he came here for, and leave.

He emerged again from the TIE, and stalked off into the streets to do a little looting himself. Not like the soon-to-be-dead natives needed it. He knew all too well how planetary invasions went, and what happened to the populace. From what he could tell, the invaders already largely had space superiority, which, unless it changed, meant the defenders were pretty well karked anyway whether they admitted it or not. He spotted a few armored Sith troopers already making their way in the same direction he had seen some of the civilians go.

His form flickered and vanished as his inbuilt cloaking device activated, and he scurried up the side of a concrete building, watching the soldiers pass underneath. He hopped to the wall of the next building and entering through a second-story window, flicking the device off as he did so to conserve power.

Several more of the panicked citizenry raced past outside, screaming. The troopers didn't seem to be firing on them, but he guessed that wouldn't last. Likely their commander had given them the order to keep things bloodless, but war never was. Not his problem either way; he had too great a duty on his shoulders to die here. As such, he began shamelessly pillaging the humble apartment, tucking what he could carry into a ragged backpack he'd stolen three planets ago. Not much here. These people hadn't been rich even before the incredible stroke of ill-fortune that lead to this. Still, it was enough to get him by with careful rationing until the next world, until the war came there too.

An army with the resources to do this seldom stopped with one planet. The uniforms on the lines of troopers moving outside were unfamiliar to him, but what chatter he'd picked up in the TIE said it all. The Sith were here. Part of him was amused. This region was due for a swift boot up the arse. Served them right for his experience in their little arena. A shame the Sith had to be the ones to do it, or he'd track down their commander and volunteer for a little payback, at least if food were involved.

Vall had gotten his hands dirty for independent causes a lot lately, but took his payment largely in food, water, and other supplies. He had little use for credits beyond the scant amount to keep him going to the next world, in search of the next Emperor. Otherwise, his living standards were positively monastic.

He swung himself out the same window he'd entered, and onto ground level again, keeping to the shadows and doing his best to avoid the Sith forces. There were more of them now. A lot more. The trip back was going to take a while. He decided to avoid antagonizing them for now. Best to maintain neutrality if he were caught.

 

[Oppii Ghzanposis]

Darth Strosius

As the Chief Communication Officer made his way towards the Command Bridge of the ANS Restoration, a Triumph Class A-601 Main Battlecruiser, the resounding thud of boots echoed through the air. The smooth surface beneath his feet amplified the sound, creating a harsh symphony that reverberated throughout the ship. His purpose was clear - to deliver a message intercepted from outgoing transmissions on the Sovereign Planet of Tund.

"Admiral, Sir. We have received a communique from the Planetary Government of Tund. They are requesting reinforcements in response to a Sith Empire Invasion of their System." The Officer's voice exuded a remarkable level of professionalism, a testament to their rigorous training in one of the esteemed fleet academies spread across the vast expanse of the Galactic Alliance.

Admiral Frankton, a formidable and weathered individual adorned with a majestic white beard and cascading locks of the same hue, cast a quick glance at the incoming transmissions before turning his attention to the Jedi Master accompanying them.

His intent was to gauge their level of interest in the unfolding situation. However, the Sovereign System of Tund lay beyond their jurisdiction and did not align with their intended course towards the safeguarding of Hyperspace Lanes from the nefarious activities of the Mandalorian Enclave and the Empire of the Lost privateers.

"The People of Tund need our assistance, Admiral Frankton. There is no justification for leaving them to be enslaved by the Sith Empire." The Jedi Master's response was simple yet logical, and the Admiral couldn't find any flaws in the reasoning. The Galactic Alliance would face significant trouble if the Sith Empire's expansion wasn't addressed.

"Chart our course towards the Planet of Tund and bring the Task Force up to Speed." With an air of astonishing authority, Frankton issued orders as the command bridge of the Flagship sprang to life. Technicians and officers diligently monitored the fleet, skillfully relaying signals to propel them forward into the vast expanse of hyperspace.

The Small Galactic Alliance Task Force burst forth from the boundless depths of Hyperspace, with the sleek RZ-5 Crynyd-series A-wing Interceptor leading the way. As it gracefully emerged from the colossal hangars, a fleet of transport craft followed suit, descending towards the planet's surface. Their mission was clear - to make a beeline for the Capital City of Tund and confront the encroaching invaders head-on.

 

[Vazz]

It belongs in a museum.

A term that he'd often heard in passing through these sorts of places. Too dangerous to be in the hands of individuals. Too priceless to be destroyed. It was foolish to keep them around, even under lock and key, but people loved the idea of preserving things didn't they? It made it easier to get them back to the proper owners once the opportunity arose.

Like now. Vazz slipped in the shadows, passively walking through the now empty halls of an underutilized wing. There was an artifact here most overlooked. That was, of course, by design. The Assassins always made sure to keep their tracks covered. He stepped by masks, urns, vases, all of various Sith design. Items and artifacts that held no power in the Force, or at least nothing dangerous. He stopped before one of the vases.

Unknown Sith Vase.

From what he read on it, they just knew it had a presence in the dark and that the Sith had kept it. It wasn't as old as some of the other relics, but they didn't know that either. He grinned as he reached out to take it up. If only they had known what it truly contained.

 

[Anak Darkstar]

---

Objective II: The Museum Base

TAG: OPEN

The Dark Star was orbiting the Outer Rim when in his meditation chamber Anak felt it. The Typohjem shaped vessel was nearing Tund, and he sensed a presence he had felt since.. opening his coal eyes, he rose and the door opened as he walked in his red and black mantels to the bridge. Whatever was happening Now hit the comms as pleas for aid began to ring on the channels. The Son of Darkness lead his craft behind one of Tund’s moons to hide it, and set it to geo-sychro orbit to coceal it as the moon moved in rotation. He went to the hangar and prepared his shuttle, which he piloted to the surface. The planet had a history of mystery, including a Force sect called The Sorcerers of Tund who worshipped the Light and the darksiders called The Apostates who had many artifacts that may still be planet side.

The shuttle headed for the outskirts, where it landed and descending the ramp Anak saw The Muesum which was stirring with security forces. He began a slow walk towards the structure, with each steps rocks and pebbles floated upwards. Grass nearby began to wilt and turn gray as he caste his shadow over it, his slow approach was noticed by a egg shaped being who tried to position his heavy repeater on a half walp and thd barrel bent in ward as he pulled the trigger, and the weapon exploded. This drew attention as more Toogans joined with humans to line the walls, and open fire. Anak drew up great slabs of rock via the power of the dark side, and made a makeshift wall that took the fire, he then hurled large chunks at their position, some of the eggs were crushed, others ducked behind the half wall as dirt and rock rained down on them. One Soldier threw a grenade, which as he laid on his side it floated back and landed in his hands.

“Oh farrik!”

A shroom of flame engulfed that part of half wall as more security forces came to try and hold their ground, but the Dark One was gone. In the chaos he had made his way without noise to the roof, and peered in through a glass dome, he watched as more defense forces scattered agitated Kinrath. His two glowing amber eyes looked at the relics on display in the Bogan collection. He noticed some cloaked figured about them as if offering up prayers. For the moment he decided to watch, his eye on each movement looking for moment to make an entrance. His presence did not go unnoticed, he felt a presence, and standing there was an Apostate with crimson blade in hand. Anak starred at the Sorcerer who sent a burst from his hand that knocked Anak across the neck, and breast, pushing his whole left side slightly, then as the Son of Darkness kept taking steps closing the gap, the Apostate sent more bursts that knocked at Anak’s body as he remained stoic, his face white as death he and coming close caught the hand of the Sorceror and jerked it to send the blade into his chest cavity. The falling Apostate gargled as blood foamed in his mouth. The Son of Darknness then hoisted him by the handle imbedded in his chest and tossed him to the roof floor, freeing the weapon he held now with his own. The Dark One walked back to window to peer at those below, his eyes like the embers of the hell that had come to Tund.

 

[Ryder Moon]

War never changes with its main steady factor being death. A distress call was echoing through the galaxy originating from a planet Ryder knew little about. He did however know that it was his job and pride to help those in need, especially when they seem to be defenseless. He wasn't alone in this endeavor but rather a volunteer of Jedi that were assigned to help the inhabitants survive. He wasn't there to win or advance any grand plan but to protect and defend. More specifically, there was as museum on the planet that held extraordinary treasures that were sure to be sought after by anyone who could get the chance to snoop around inside it. Additionally, there was a camp set up inside that very same museum that was a refuge to wounded soldiers. His main objective was to help them heal and be back on their feet as soon as possible.

The ship landed in front of the museum and the enormous metallic doors opened to reveal the Jedi within along with a few troopers. Everyone was assigned a position and a role and a such they scattered in all kinds of directions. Ryder made his way inside the museum and to the wounded personnel. Fate though, had other plans. As he was treating the men, he felt something. Some kind of presence in a deeper location in the museum, perhaps in one of the many rooms that held powerful Sith relics. Ryder knew about them, as they were everywhere around him. After helping one more soldier, he stood up and went for a walk inside the building.

He made sure to look in every room and as he pressed forward, the sense of presence was becoming stronger and stronger confirming to Ryder that there truly was someone or something there. After a few more steps, he turned his head to the left and looked inside a dark room. There stood a person Vazz , reaching for an artifact of some kind probably with the intend to steal it.

"That's far enough."

Ryder said calmly as he walked towards the person who was about to steal one of the priceless relics of the museum he was trying to protect. The relic was now separating the two and the darkness made it hard for him to recognize who or what the creature was. Nonetheless, the museum was a refuge for both soldiers and knowledge and this individual thought he can just walk in here and take whatever he desires with little to no effort. Well, he was about to find out that this endeavor wasn't going to be as easy as he initially thought. Ryder slowly touched his lightsaber hilt, just in case he would have to act fast.

 

[Diodoros]

Location: Tund
Objective: 2
Tag(s): [OPEN]

Since Diodoros had joined up with the Sith he had done some personal research about them that was very, very… very substandard. But it was more intellectual effort he put into most things in his life. He knew he had to build up more of his own power and strength if he ever wanted to remain competitive against Sith, and more importantly Jedi. He hadn't performed as well as he’d wished in the gladiatorial area back on Jutrand. Knowing that if he wasn’t doing as well as he’d like in a settling like that, in his element, than things needed to change.

Even a dunce like him knew that…

Building up his pirating enterprise was still great for him. But if he himself couldn’t go toe to toe with the warlocks he hoped to contend with then he predicted that he was gonna be in a bad spot soon enough.

So when he caught wind of a collection of Sith artifacts on the Tund as well as a conflict sparking on the planet, Diodoros knew that he had to try and get his hands on something there. Plus the idea of possibly utilizing powerful artifacts of The Force against the same kind of ‘warlocks’ that created them he found quite alluring.

The golden brute was riding down to the museum on the outskirts of the city in a dropship. Among him were some of his men. What couldn’t be utilized themselves they hoped to sell back to collectors or even the Sith themselves. In the middle of Diodoros explaining his plan of action as they made their way to their destination the ship took a violent impact as a rocket shot it out of the sky. Its rapid fall was broken some as the vessel crashed into a building and tumbled down to the ground. Its hull crumbled into itself as it fell onto the streets below and wrecked those inside of it. A moment later one of the ship's side doors burst open.

Diodoros emerged from the wreckage with about half a dozen of his collected into his arms and on his back and shoulders, anyone who’d survived. He wasn’t the kind of captain to abandon his crew in a soon to be smoldering ruin. Carefully setting them all down he stood up straight, caping his large, fluffy overcoat over his shoulder Diodoros pulled out a comlink to his mothership. “Transport’s a bust, sending coordinates for you to pick up the rest of the crew… I’m gonna continue with the plan. I’ll make sure to grab as much as I can.” Turning off the device the golden man let out a sigh, but trusted his crew here will be fine until others came to pick them up. Looking away from them he thought to himself on how he was getting to the museum and navigating his way there in the alien city…​

 

[Revna]

Objective: The Arks; Infiltration and Recon
Equipment: Squire’s Armor, Sith Sword, Blaster Pistol
Tags: Darth Strosius , Jackson Lesan



Revna was nervous.

No matter how much training or preparation she had gone through to prepare her for this moment, it didn’t take away from the truth that she was headed into her first true mission-in an active warzone no less-one that her Mentor, Darth Strosius, had been preparing for long before she had ever stepped foot on Formos.

It had been over a month-give or take-since she had begun her training into becoming a Sith, and a Squire for the Order of Wonosa. The Sith Lord that was her teacher, her mentor, her Master-had felt she was ready for this. As ready as she was going to be anyway. There was only so much that training and preparation could do for her-she needed field experience now to really put her skills she had learned thus far to the test.

And now here she was, sitting in a cafe that somehow still had power despite the din of battle and violence that raged not all that far away, listening intently to the robed Sith as he went over carefully laid out plans. He had gone over details with her before this, of course, when he had first told her that she would be accompanying him to this backwater planet.

Tund had a long and storied history, and historically had been colonized by the Sith. She had learned in her personal studies that anything that the Sith considered “theirs” was always theirs…in one way or another. In more recent generations, Tund had fallen outside of Sith dominion, but that was now going to change.

She felt the butterflies in her belly, and she sat rigid in the seat behind her Mentor. She was going over everything in her head, over and over again. She didn’t want to fail him, or herself. And she wanted to make it through this alive and in one piece, if possible. Revna took a deep, steady breath-the air filtered by the mask that was built into her helmet. She felt the comforting touch of the Force, the Dark side, ever close and present to her-especially now that she had begun to deepen her bond to it.

Darth Strosius wrapped up any last minute plans and orders, before turning around to face her directly. She rose from the chair she had been sitting in as he addressed her and gave her her orders.

“Yes, my Lord.” she replied with a bow of her head, her voice slightly altered by the helm she wore.

Now it truly was her time to shine. She did one last minute check-for the thousandth time-to ensure she had all the equipment and gear she would need: comms., her Sith sword in its scabbard on her left hip, and a blaster on her right-before she made for the door that would take her to the street. There were others that were tasked with infiltration and reconnaissance as well, and her leaving the cafe signaled the start of their mission. They would grid the area ahead-together yet separate-and report back any findings to aid the troopers and their commanders in their siege.

Now that she was on the street and had her task ahead of her, the little Sith Acolyte found the nervous butterflies in her belly had vanished. Replacing it was resolve and sharp focus; all of her senses were open to aid her on this. Being small and lightweight, it was easy for her to move with stealth; this sprawling urban area reminded her of her time on the streets of Nar Shaddaa, and she found herself slipping back into a similar mindset that had allowed her to survive there. She crept in further, deeper, entering into enemy territory. With each building she passed and surveyed, she probed with the Force to pick up any sense of life that might alert her to any civilians that might still be lingering in the danger zones, or any gatherings of Security Forces that could prove to be hindersome to the advances of Troopers and Legionnaires.

So far, her senses picked up nothing-but she knew that would change in time.

The comms unit in her helm sparked to life, and the first report came in from one of the other members of the recon team: they had discovered a pocket of enemy forces on their side, setting up for an ambush near one of the main streets through the city. Then another report came in from another infiltrator who was closer to her position to report that they, too, had discovered a pocket of enemies entrenching themselves into a group of buildings, setting up to assault Sith forces when they arrived. She was very close to the front where the planet-side forces were setting up to defend the city center, it seemed. Which meant that she had to be extra alert and cautious as she made her way through the shadows and rubble and debris.

Revna came across one of the main streets that acted as an artery for the city, and she paused to probe with her eyes and with the Force as she kept to the shadows. Her senses drew her immediately to one of the taller, several storied buildings that overlooked the street, and she eyed the shadowed windows. There was a single life presence near the top, still and unmoving but clearly alive. She focused her senses on that single presence, and used the Force to gently probe and read.

Faint whispers began to trickle into her mind, and she focused further until she could clearly hear them.

-can’t believe the Sith are here on my home planet. Fething tyrants…they won’t know that I’m here until it’s too late-

The woman tilted her head slightly as it dawned on her that whoever was up there was an enemy, and they were in a hidden location that gave them a vantage point. Which meant that whoever this was-was a sniper. She was tempted to slip across and enter the building and find him and eliminate him herself-but that was not her task at the moment. All she had to do was report whatever she came across and let others deal with situations like this.

“I have a sniper at my location. Main drag, top left window of the tallest building on this side.” Revna murmured into her comms, making sure to pass along other important information such as the street name and building number, before she moved off from her location.

The young Sith woman picked her way through a debris-littered alleyway, moving like a shadow, to find a different route which would take her closer to the city center and out of the sniper’s field of view. She was near the end of the alley when the sound of shuffling footsteps close by alerted her to company. She froze, her eyes and senses on high alert and she probed with the Force. It was a single life-form, and stumbling into view before she could make a decision on what to do next-was a small figure, draped in dirty clothes and covered in filth and grime.

It was…a child. Lost and alone, and very frightened.

You’ve got to be fething kidding me- Revna growled internally. She really didn't need a complication to her mission such as this...but she couldn’t…leave a child alone in the middle of an active warzone. What was she going to do now?

The child-a young humanoid boy from outward appearances-noticed her and his eyes widened in surprise and then clouded with fear upon seeing her. She knew she must look very frightening in her armor and with the sword and blaster at her hips. They both remained frozen in their places, a couple of feet apart from each other, and Revna wondered why he wasn’t running for his life. She was glad he wasn’t: he would have surely given away her position to any enemy that may be lurking nearby.

“Please don’t hurt me.” came the little boy’s small, pitiful voice as he stared at her with those wide eyes.

Revna had to make a choice: to leave him or to get him to safety. She lowered herself down slowly to make herself less threatening, and extended a hand out to him. “I am not here to hurt you little one.” she replied softly. “But you are not safe out here. Were you separated from your parents? Do you know where they are?”

“I don’t have any.”

She sighed internally. “Come to me. I can get you to a safe place.”

The little boy didn’t move, at first. He seemed…wary. Distrustful. And she didn’t blame him. Blaster fire somewhere in the near distance made him jump and he looked over his shoulder, and she could feel his fear bleed into the Force. Her darkness reacted to it, and sought to feed from it by instinct.

“Come, little one. I know a place where you will be safe, but we must go now.” Revna urged again, her voice a little more firm this time. She didn't have time to wait around all day.

“Promise you won’t hurt me?”

“I promise.”

The little boy took a few steps towards her and reached out cautiously to take her gloved hand, and Revna rose to her feet and drew him close to her side, casting out her senses out again to check for danger or the presence of others that might be nearby. That was when she picked up on something she hadn’t felt before.

It was another Force presence - one that didn't have the familiar aura of the Dark side.

 

[Vazz]

"Jedi are growing more brazen with their young by the day, aren't they?"

The Defel set the vase back down from where he'd picked it up, instead turning his gaze towards the voice that had spoken out to him. A young Jedi. Not one he had information on yet. That would change, of course. Even if they survived. Then he faded from view. A Defel naturally absorbed light to exist as a pure shadow, save for the glowing red eyes he had.

"Are you going to stop me, little Jedi? I'm only here for this nameless vase. Aren't there wounded for you to take care of or something?"

He had little doubt the Jedi was going to stop him anyway. That's just what the Jedi did. His image flickered for a moment before he seemed to cross his arms over his chest. "Seems like a waste of your time."

His voice was the same, his stance was the same, even how he felt in the Force seemed to be the same, but the one that spoke last was just an illusion left behind as the real body of the Defel faded further into the shadows and the Force to stalk around the hall. He silently pulled two sickle blades from his waist as he walked his way to the back of the Jedi.

Then struck out. A quick, lethal strike right for the Jedi's neck. The vase was needed for what came next. There could be no hesitation from him.

Ryder Moon

 

[Ryder Moon]

What kind of creature was that? It looked unfamiliar to Ryder but in the vast galaxy they lived anything was possible. The being had an earie vibe. His creepy smile was the one of a creature who has the upper hand and is thirsty for blood. He was clearly attempting to scare him although he didn't move at all from his position? That's odd... All those annoying questions but no actions? Maybe he had some kind of ace in his sleeve, a secret he was keeping from Ryder. Even so, he couldn't tell.

Ryder kept his eyes pierced at the creature as he ignited his orange coloured Saber. He held it with both hands close to his body with the blade aligned perpendicular to his left side reaching all the way next to his head. The light slightly illuminated the room and in turn the creature in front of him. Then, Ryder barely noticed something. A small flicker, or a slither of movement from the creature just the moment the ignition happened. For the first time he thought that maybe there was another in the room. But it was too late.

ZAP

Two sickles came down towards his neck. It was fast and Ryder barely had time to react. The sickles met with his orange blade, forcing it to malfunction. If it wasn't for his defensive position he would have died instantly. His Saber was unstable, it was after all crafted with scrap metal and spare parts. The blade saved him but shut off right after while sparks and smoke came out of the small hatch it had on top. Ryder moved a few steps back trying to get some distance as he attempted to kick the creature away. With his back to the altar the sought after artifact was on, Ryder desperately pressed the button of his saber to no avail. He had to keep his cool, this creature almost fed off of fear and anxiety. He had to be ready to run if it came to that. At least now he knows that the creature is an illusionist and certainly a Sith of some kind.

"Step back, there is no need for violence, perhaps there is another solution."

Vazz

 

[Commodore Helix]

Objective: The Arks
Tags: Darth Strosius​

Three Munificent-Class frigates emerged from hyperspace above Tund, with a Providence-Class Dreadnought emerging not too far behind them. They fell into close formation with the Sith vessels already present, and waited.

Helix stared down at the world disapprovingly, through the viewport of his vessel. He could see no value in it, personally. It was of negligible strategic worth as a planet, but then, so was most of the outer rim. His programming informed him that the common parlance was "backwater".

A curious term, but everything about this particular operation was curious. The client had wanted military support though, and was willing to pay for it. Very little else mattered but keeping the flotilla moving, and that didn't happen without credits. He was experiencing a feeling organics referred to as "nervousness" or a close equivalent. Helix Solutions didn't possess enormous space assets, less than twenty vessels at present unless he could scrounge more. Having four here was a considerable risk.

If he played his cards right, he could accompany this war effort for planet after planet, sucking up a fortune in pay, not to mention a healthy boost to his professional reputation that he calculated would lead to more future contracts.

Still, he was late, and his client wouldn't be pleased. He'd better head down below and see just how mishandled this offensive was.



A while later, down near the Sith's makeshift eatery command post, a hulking MTT came plowing down the street at a highly unsafe speed to finally slow down outside the building. A hatch popped, and a blue/gray, three-eyed droid dropped down to ground level to stride past the surprised sentries outside.

"Helix extends its humble apologies for our lateness, Lord Strosius." Came the sepulchral baritone voice of the machine. "We encountered some... technical complications that have now been resolved, and the forces you requested are now fully available, though I need not remind you that we lack the resources to take the planet alone."

"Nonetheless, I have taken the liberty of monitoring your communications, and if need be can deploy assets to aid your men in taking the landing zones. Under normal circumstances, I would recommend the destruction of the evacuation vessels themselves with bomber craft, but your stipulation to avoid civilian casualties complicates matters."

"As such, I can dispatch thirty droidekas and ten NR-N99 tanks to aid the assault on the landing zone. I additionally have one hundred seventy-five B-1 units and fifty B-2 units held in immediate reserve, to be deployed at your discretion, to move in and round up the locals or help hold the space when it is taken. There is more, but we're still bringing the bulk of the hardware down from orbit, and it will take time to arrive and deploy."

"Fighter support is also available, though limited, and seems unnecessary given your current absolute air superiority. As such, I recommend keeping reserve fighter craft in space. I calculate an 82.469% chance that relief forces will arrive from other systems within the day, and we will need them there."

He finished his briefing, and fell silent, his gaze flickering from the holomap of the area to the Sith Lord.

 

[Inquin Magnus]

Objective II: Museum of Inquity

TAG: OPEN

The Redeemer descended on Tund, the Razorcrest class vessel made for th outskirts, where a Museum of defilements awaited. The Redeemer landed, and inside Inquin went to a wall full of phials of The Daughter’s Tears, Fire of Ashla grenades, cruciform throwing blades, and a great Shurikin cross. He attached the great cross of blades to his back, connected the grenades about his belt of silver, and filled metal canteen with the tears.

The ramp lowered and the Inquisitor made for the Museum, already there was the soubds of battle as the locals sought to defend an invasion from the Sith. The chance to tilt with Darksiders and collect their pelts was a perk, his real interest was the tainted relics he had come to destroy, Inquin’s iconoclasm fueld by teaching of the Light Sith Darth Gravid.

As he ascended some steps, some guards met him in his long black cloak, his iron helmet startling them. They aimed their weapons, and eyed the cuciform brooch at his neckline.

“Halt! Do not move Sith!”

Inquin raised his hands, these defenders did not have the trappings of the dark side, so he did not wish to suffer them injury.

“I am not a Sith.”

A Toonian quipped,
“Ha! Sure like you’d tell us, shoot em!”

The Inquisitor of Light continued to reassure them.

“I have urgent rask to complete, I bid you suffer me pass.”

The Human soldier with his ginger beard and hair said,
“What is your intent? We have made this a base.”

The Knight of Ashla reaponded with truth,
“Inside are artifacts that will draw these Dark Ones, already I sense some are here.. I have come to remove them.”

The Toonian ahouted, “Sure! I bet you just want them for yourself! He’s a Sith! Shoot em!”

Inquin sighed,
“I am not her to rob you, I am here to help you.”

The Ginger Soldier lowered his rifle. The Toonian protested.

“Ypu will be escortes d to Bogan wing, but if yoy try anything.. I’ll kill ya.”

Inside there was chaos as defenders erected barricades, among them was Sorcerors, some of who glowed with Ashla’s Light, others were dark and he’d see to their reform or rend them judgement. The eacort took him to a great wing of artifacts, all brimming with Bogan, Inquin could hear the whispering voices of Sith apparitions and memories swirling around them. He took out a the canteen and caste some water on a sarcophagus which steamed and shook. Inquin then tore his crossguard himt from his belt and ignited a gokden blade that he cut at wood and tore it in pieces, the blace crackling as chunks of wood flew over his shoulder. The escort looked at esch other ib disbelief as he then threw smashed mirror in a gnarled black frame with his gauntlet that screamed in response, he picked up a holocron and threw it in his satchel under his black cape which he touched with a thumb print of holy water. The Toonian who had suspected him looked at the Ginger Man, and said, “Uh.. those are part of prized collection.”

Inquin turned his knight helm to them,

“They are accursed and call to the invaders, leave me to my work.”

The escort left Him, mumbling something about madness.

Inquin came to a great spear of gold with a red leather handle and took it off the wall and threw it to the floor, using The Force he began to pile the wood of the coffin and took out a grenade, casting it down a great flame of high intensity rose, and the spear was thrown on it. He directed the flames with both hands as the gold began to boil, calling on Ashla to make the hear become a furnance that made his own mask become red hot and his robes smoke.

 

[Vazz]

"Violence has long begun, little Jedi."

The flash of a saber that shorts out had Vazz slink back and away. Surprise, curiosity. They were two emotions that he didn't show, but he didn't press an attack right away because of it. But the realization that it wasn't some trick the Jedi was trying to pull but in fact an actual failure of the weapon he held; Vazz hadn't expected that. He barked out a laugh, his shadowy form taking color and shape as he layered the usual illusion on himself that let him be seen.

"You put on a brave face, don't you? But I can feel it. Smell it."

Again he faded before another illusion of him appeared beside the boy, leaning down to whisper. "Fear."

Dread came next. Subtle as a whisper, but growing and compounding by the second as the illusion faded. It was the Defel's influence trying to take root in Ryder's heart, fill him with the most primal of all fears for any living creature. Death. He chuckled again from another portion of the hallway. Guile and trickery were his weapons as ever, and he struck from the opposite side to try and take advantage of yet another deception.

Ryder Moon

 

[Anak Darkstar]

Objective II

TAG: OPEN

Anak having seen the defenders swarm and the bulk of them move out of the room decided it was time to drop into the museum. Stepping on the glass dome, minor cracks forming, he took his saber and ignited it as he pointed it down, shattering the halo of glass, as he fell with his long scarlet cape down into sea of Security, snapping his other blade to life that he had confiscated, he spun in swirl of red, a wave as he cut down soldiers and cracked the egg shaped heads of the locals.

His red blades were like fangs that drank the inner juice of his enemies, as he stabbed the teeth of burning hot energy into each morsel, his cape spun around him ensaring others as he began to suffocate them; they fired wildly, the bolts of rising like drops of blood falling upside down towards the ceiling.

Toonians feld in terror as they were siezed by the power of The Son of Darkness who pulled them into his crimson wave, and screamed as their shells were crscked. The bodies began to fly out of the moving cape, Anak assailing another contigent that fired a volley which he stopped in mid air and then pulled them by the dozen into their own bolts, they letting out wilhelm shrieks as they made contact and fell to the floor.

This was not the largest body of defense, only the poor souls who had no idea that they were to be a feast for the Dark Star. One soldier let out a blood curdling shriek as Anak used crimson cords like veins to attach to him and drink, these red roots appeared from his finger tips and glowed like luminous garnet.

Having devoured this set of forces, Anak proceeded deeper into museum where he felt several signatues in the Force, some had the stench of light, others Dark.

 

[Jackson Lesan]

Wearing: xxx
Tag: Revna

Exploring the galaxy up to this point had kept Jackson in situations which were controllable and safe. Most of his travels had been designed to help stock up supplies for the Enclave on Jakku, and not to see the young Jedi put into danger. Things changed the day he went exploring the crashed ship with CJ and others. Jax was no longer satisfied with remaining out of harm’s way simply because he was told to, or because it was expected that he do something different.

When he heard the Sith were coming to the Outer Rim, he jumped on a chance to do something.

Judah would be livid. Romi would likely be upset also, but Jackson did not care. For this first time in his life this was his decision and not someone else’s. The young Jedi had reached a point where he needed to figure out what he wanted beyond the idyllic picture of what it meant to be a Jedi. Sure, most Lesans were Jedi, the ones he knew anyway. They differed in their path, and it was time for Jackson to understand his.

Would he be a shadow like Judah, or a guardian like JJ? Could archeology interest him, or some other consular related path like Justice? There was only one way to find the answers to the questions he had about himself, and avoiding conflict and combat was not it.

Jackson had to engage in the larger story of the galaxy.

That led him to Tund. The world was not one which Jax was familiar with. Rumors of its history had circulated among some of the education the young adult had received, but history was not something which often fascinated the dark haired Lesan. Maybe archeology was not his thing at all. Whatever it was now, it was not what it had been, a prison world. That did not keep the Sith at bay, and one of them had set their sights on the planet.

Jax had never heard of this one, whatever his name had been. That was not something of a shock. Jackson was not familiar with most names. One Darth to the next… it was all Sith to him. What he expected to face was evil in its true form. After all, Sith were evil. They had done more to oppress the galaxy under an iron fist and fanatical rule for centuries, decades, and years. There was no other empire which could boast such atrocity and genocide. It was the propaganda at least. If anything the Galactic Alliance said about the Sith was true, Jackson needed to kill whatever Sith he found.

Something tugged at him.

Danger?

A warning through the force. This was what it felt like to stretch himself in battle maybe. Whatever he felt, Jackson knew he was being led somewhere. How he managed to move about an active warzone without being noticed by enemy soldiers was puzzling. Maybe he needed to be a shadow? For all he knew the movements were natural. They seemed to be until rounding a corner and seeing a woman with a boy.

She was beautiful, strikingly so. Her aura was… dark, but also held its own beauty.

Sith.

Jackson was conflicted. If Sith were evil how could this one be beautiful?

His eyes noticed the child. Was she kidnapping him? Right… he was supposed to say something out loud.

“Stop…”

It lacked a bit of confidence. Jax raised his blue training saber. No, he had not made his own lightsaber yet, something he needed to rectify. His grip was shaky, showing he was nervous. For all he knew the Sith in front of him was a skilled combatant. This was about to be his first fight with someone that would want to kill him after all.

“I can’t let you hurt that child.”

 

[Novorus]

=== COMMANDO MAJOR “BOLDOG” ===
== OBJECTIVE II ==
= HERE I COME =

= OPEN ENGAGEMENT =

How glorious was it to Serve under Their banner.

The call for the faithful, the thrall-crusaders came from On High itself. Transmissions sent out from divine command to order a Holy War to reclaim Tund for the true masters of the Galaxy. Novorus had slung bolts for the Sith for his entire life, conscripted into their military early into his youth- and no greater providence could he imagine. This new campaign, this new front, this New War promised the opportunity to be so much more than a humble servant, he would be a slave-knight- ushering in the greatest age of terror and fear the galaxy will ever know.

And it would be love incarnate. The thin veneer of morality and decency would be cut through- a saber through flesh- and would be harrowed as the petty-corpses of Tund’s planetary defense forces. While the citizenry remembered their old masters well, and welcomed them with open arms - blaster and bludgeon brought to the support of their homecoming - the upstarts of the planet’s military were another story.

The Sith declared their lives forfeit, and he would see Their Will be Done.

He was aware that the mob would arrive soon, dreadful. They would ruinate what had been preserved, this operation must be remedied before then- not a second later.

He was pressed up against the far wall of the museum, several unidentified bandits had already engaged with friendly Sith forces inside.

<< Boldog in position, moving to engage OPFOR. Break the chains. >>

The detpack flashed against the wall of duracrete, flashbang held steady in his left hand grip- his right keeping his dawnsorrow’s buttstock firm against his shoulder as the bulk of the rifle rested across his chest

Flash, beep, flash, beep, flash, beep…

The detpack went off with a thunderous shake of the wall, the explosion kicking in the section of wall it was placed on before more bricks tumbled loose and the entire hunk of wall came tumbling in on itself. Novorus wasn’t allowed to take in the shower of flame and red that burst from the detonation, nor was he allowed to wait until the debris had settled properly.

The flashbang was armed and chucked around the corner, a moment later it went off with a bright white flash and a digital cracking noise.

Fluid motion the commando dropped to a knee around the corner of the newly made hole, the rifle coming to bear in fullgrip once again. The dawnsorrow was meant to be an answer to the Tusken Raider’s famous slugthrowers- it kicked the same, had similar range, and much greater stopping power.

At the range the stumbling security force personnel were at- coughing through smoke and rock- blinded by the grenade, disoriented - it would punch holes through starship armor.

Four bandits.

Eight shots.

The thermal HUD made it easy, quick work. Two quick snap shots per target, the plasmaic bolts slamming through the baser armor they were wearing and sending charred slag through the otherside of their bodies. No matter the fact one bolt should had been enough- another was given in the kill-triangle from chests to lower necks.

Double tap, basic training when going for kills.

The rifle thrummed bolts as it traveled right to left as he took the knee- as casual as could be.

Barrel smoking, four men dead, Novorus stood once again. Keeping the rifle shouldered, he entered the building.

<< OPFOR engaged. >>

​

​

 

[Revna]

Objective: The Arks; help little boy, and have a nice, pleasant conversation with the Jedi
Equipment: same as last post
Tags: Jackson Lesan



A figure-a young man by appearances-stepped around the corner moments after Revna sensed their presence, and her situation went from not ideal to very complicated. She growled low in displeasure; she really didn’t need these complications to her mission.

She stared the young man down hard as her grip on the little boy’s hand tightened slightly as this newcomer called out for her to stop in a voice that was less than brave, and her gaze turned predatory when he revealed a blue colored saber in his hands. It dawned on her fairly quickly what this individual was.

It was a Jedi. Of course.

It now made sense why his presence in the Force was different, why it lacked the familiar presence of the Dark. Up until this moment…she had never laid eyes upon one of his ilk. But she was sure to remember what their presence felt like in the Force for the next time she ever came across one.

So many things clashed through her all at once. She had been warned that the Jedi might show up to resist them in their efforts of liberating this world of its tyrants. She had hoped she could complete her mission without needing to face one; her skills in combat were basic, and she was untested and as it was- she stood no chance against an opponent who was more skilled than she…and Revna had to assume he was more skilled, more capable than her. Though she did notice the tremble in his grip of his saber that perhaps suggested he was not as skilled as she feared he might be. But the situation was here now, and she needed to deal with this…somehow, someway.

To further complicate this whole karking situation, she had an innocent orphaned boy with her.

Her gaze flickered to the little boy at her side, before snapping back to the Jedi a few feet in front of her as she heard his next statement.

“Hurt him?! Why the feth would I harm an innocent child? For all I know, you’re the one who would cause him lasting damage!” Revna snarled, her righteous anger surging to the forefront as she positioned herself in front of her young charge, some internal instinct pushing her to place her body before his as a shield to protect him from present danger. She felt the little boy scoot closer to her, and tuck himself into the dark robes that draped her body. His fear poured out of him as the situation became suddenly tense.

Get the boy out of here. Now- was the only thing screaming in her mind in the moment. For a split second, she warred between obeying the orders of her Mentor…and giving in to her own selfish desire to try and rip this Jedi apart in her fury. There will be time for that later.

She made her decision.

Revna squeezed the boy’s hand in a gesture of reassurance and briefly dropped low and looked at him.

“Get on my back and hold on.” She ordered the young boy in a firm voice that she hoped he would obey without throwing a million questions at her. He seemed to understand the direness of the situation-maybe it was due to his fear in the moment-but he released her robes and reached up as she propelled him up on her back, and his skinny arms wrapped around her neck.

Ignoring the Jedi for the moment, she turned her gaze to the balcony of the building beside her, some ten feet up. She was glad she had learned how to use the Force to aid her body in doing feats that otherwise would have been impossible, as she launched herself up and used her agility and dexterity to reach the balcony in one smooth movement, her dark robes moving about her form as jumped. The door into the building was closed but this mattered little to her; she used the energy that was building up within her to blow the door open inwards with a loud crashing sound.

Her only thought was to put as many obstacles between her and the boy and the Jedi below. She didn’t give a kark if her fleeing was seen as an act of cowardice. She didn’t care what others would think of her at the moment. All she wanted to do was get this boy to safety, then get back to her mission. And maybe have a chance at ripping this Jedi a new one.

The little boy whimpered into her shoulder, his grip around her neck tightening.

“I know you’re scared but I need you to be quiet.” Revna said to him, her voice a little more harsh than she intended it to be. She let her gaze dance over the layout of the interior of the building she had broken into, and saw that it was an empty place of business. She calculated quickly the quickest way through, and moved. She didn’t know if the Jedi was following her. He probably would-the Jedi were too prideful and too stuck in their ways to just let a Sith go.

He sure had been eager for combat, she mused darkly as she weaved her way through the building, finding a set of stairs that led downward and away from the frontline, away from Jedi. She paused before bursting through the door that led out into another street, and stretched out her senses. She couldn’t lose her head, no matter how pressing this situation was.

She didn’t pick up any signatures of life ahead of her-in the street or in the buildings out beyond. She peeked, then made a mad dash to a shadowed alleyway that she saw in her field of view. She was headed back into friendly territory; it was far too dangerous to take the boy to the evacuation point. Besides, she knew that they wouldn’t help him, being an orphan.

And the Sith were touted as being the evil ones, the tyrants, here?

She came to a T in the alleyway, and paused again. Ahead a couple of blocks, she sensed a body of individuals, and she used her ability with the Force to look into their minds and see their surface thoughts to ascertain if they were friend or foe.

-should be ready to push forward with this advance. That Sith Lord seems eager to get this done and over with…-

That was all she needed to hear, and she made a left hand turn and moved in silence, keeping to the shadows as best she could. The little boy riding piggy back had done as she asked: he was quiet, though his fear still poured from him in waves. She could feel his little bony body trembling against her. It further stirred some deep, hidden instinct within her. Revna knew without a shadow of a doubt that she would turn into a savage creature if anything or anyone tried to harm him while he was under her guard.

The little Sith Acolyte and her young charge came to yet another street, and once more the young woman paused to consider her options. To get to the others who were just a street or two beyond would require her to move within the light. She could stay close to the various buildings, ducking into any should she meet enemy fire.

Gritting her teeth, she stepped into the light and moved as she used the Force to aid her.

She came around the next street corner and saw a section of gathered militiamen who were awaiting orders; her presence was noticed almost immediately and she could feel their tension fill the space between her and them until they realized she was on their side. Revna didn’t waste time explaining the situation as she came upon them.

“Someone get this boy to a safe place. I don’t care who does it.” she snapped as she came up on them, letting the orphan boy down.

“That’s not our jo-” one of the militiamen started to object, but her rapid swivel of her head in his direction silenced him.

“I’m not asking. Get him out of here now.”

An older, grizzled man swung his blaster rifle over his shoulder and stepped forward to take the little boy from her. “I’ll take him. I know where there is a refugee checkpoint on our side.”

“Why didn’t you take him to the ships that are evacuating the civilians?” a trooper else asked her with confusion on his face.

“You honestly think the enemy would spare me and this child if I was spotted on their side?” she countered coldly, gesturing to her Squire’s armor and weapons. “No. And I’m not about to put an innocent child in harm’s way like that. Not to mention I ran into a Jedi, who may or may not have followed me.”

“What about his parents?” another militiaman questioned with a frown on his face as he looked at the little boy.

“A Jedi?! Where are they?!” a younger trooper exclaimed, his eyes widening suddenly with excitement.

“He’s an orphan.” She said simply as the little boy was extracted from her. He reached for her but she deftly avoided his grasping hands. She had done her part, now she wanted to cut ties with him. She snapped her head at the young man who had spoken in regards to the Jedi. “And the Jedi is mine to deal with!” she growled possessively. With the boy taken from her, she turned on her heel without another word to the others and made her way back in the direction from whence she came.

Her priorities had changed now; she had a Jedi to hunt down. Especially since she had picked up on his lack of confidence in himself and by the nervous way he had held his saber previously-something she could exploit and use against him, hopefully. She wasn't so arrogant as to think she could defeat him right now...but she felt confident in her own skills, enough to fight him anyway, and send him scampering back to his kind like a whipped dog.

It was easy for the little woman to slip into the huntress she had longed to be. It was also easy to locate the male Jedi again, especially now that she knew what his Force signature felt like. He hadn’t moved too far from where they had encountered each other. It seemed that perhaps her sudden actions in vanishing into the shadows with the orphan boy had thrown him off a little, and perhaps he had been trying to find her. She kept her own signature close to her; she hadn’t quite learned how to conceal herself within the Force, but she could diminish her presence enough to aid her in situations like this. He wouldn’t sense her until she was close by.

“Your kind are not welcome here, Jedi.” she said in a lethally soft voice as she stepped from the shadows, now alone with him, as she let her darkness stretch out from her like a cold breath to envelope him in its embrace. She stopped, a few paces away from him and rested a hand on the hilt of her Sith sword, making it clear that she was ready to fight if that was what he wanted. The next move was his to make, and she was eagerly curious to see what he would do.

 

[Ryder Moon]

Violence was invadable. That creature was vicious and would not rest until he made sure Ryder was dead or at best not a nuisance anymore, although the first scenario would make it very happy. The creature started to approach him with malicious intent while taunting him about feeling more scared than he led on. He was forced to move a few steps backwards while keeping his eyes peeled on the being.

"I would be a fool to not be afraid, however I am not controlled by my emotions like you are. Pride can also be dangerous."

Ryder yelled as he turned around and started running away from the room and up the closest corridor. The relic had to be protected but he couldn't do that if he was dead. He had to think fast and act even faster hoping that the creature would show more interest in him than whatever Sith secrets were hiding in that room. He opened a pouch in his belt and pulled out a set of tools perfect for tinkering with the scrap inside the hatch of his saber. He then flicked his wrist and opened the side panels of the weapon, moving the tool up and down inside it to reactivate the ignition. Time was running short though as he heard his whisper, steady as ever.

"Fear"

Ryder ignited his saber and attempted to strike the illusion. He was sure of it, there was no way the creature travelled such a long distance by walking menacingly behind him while he run as fast as he could. A real attack would soon follow based on the actions that the creature took a few moments ago so Ryder tried to focus on the force. Now that the projection was gone, the true location of the creature was easier to pinpoint. He closed his eyes and attempted to become one with the force.

With a swift and precise motion, he turned around. Their two weapons clashed as their faces lit by the orange light that shined upon then while sparks flew all around them. Ryder could feel the creatures strength press him back as his steady feet slid backwards from the force. He grind his teeth and attempted to kick the creature back once more before making a run for it. The deeper he went inside the museum, the more destruction he could hear. Artifacts braking, soldiers dying, the dark side of the force was growing... and he was the only Jedi there.

But none of it mattered.
Vazz

 

[Diodoros]

Location: Tund
Objective: 2
Tag(s): [OPEN]

Once Diodoros was in sight of the Museum he could realize why it was being used as an improvised base for the local defense. It was quite big, which only filled him with hope that he was going to find something that he was looking for. Surely such a complex would be filled with all sorts of artifacts.

Inside the building conflict was already running amuck. Within its walls combatants of all kinds raged. Some of its local defenders tried to make sense of how compromised it had become as a base. Just as a squad of soldiers began to race down one of the halls that stretched along the outer portions of the museum, part of the wall burst apart as Diodoros rammed through it with his shoulder like a living wrecking ball.

Now there was yet another interloper here. Only difference was that the golden brute was neither Sith or Jedi. The squad of comparatively small toong and human defenders looked up at the privateer who had straightened their posture now. Casually patting the furr overcoat he had draped over his shoulders. Trying to get some of the dust off from his violent entrance.

Eventually he looked back down at them. Wondering briefly if they were actually soldiers or just armed museum curators as they trained their weapons onto him. Diodoros simply smirked at them and spoke. “Could one of you please point me in the direction of the Sith artifacts?” He asked bluntly. Which gave the idea to the soldiers that he was just another invading Sith looking to repossess stolen valuables. Urging them to finally open fire on the privateer...​