Invasion Shame on the Night // NIO Invasion of TSE held Helgard and Cadomai

[Noel Strasza]

T U R N M E L O O S E
MAJOR NOEL "DEADER" STRASZA
N E W I M P E R I A L W A R M A C H I N E
DOOM DIVISION

OPPOSITION: TSE | CIS | HELGARDI NATIVES | FOCUS OPEN
ALLIES: NIO | SOM | Irveric Tavlar Tiberius Tulan Kor Willan Tal DECEASED Erskine Barran
Kosca Gaelt Ravraa Vyshraal Ragnar the Untested Lyra 'Sybila' Voikryt Onansi of Thyrsus

I'll give it to you raw.
​

A death roll, that's what this was. Nothing graceful to this tumble. Nothing poetic to the struggle. Muscle torqued against muscle in a struggle for supremacy, ragged breaths and blood shared between two combatants through parted, gasping lips and bared teeth. The heavy impact of her helmet against the cracked earth rattled her senses, but only served to further stoke the fires she nurtured in the pulsing walls of her humming heart. A massive fist shadowed her cracked helmet and she rolled to the left, twisting her upper half as the massive creature pinned her legs. The fist smashed mere inches from her ear, and the collision only served to ring the bells endlessly squealing in her skull yet again. Whirring tissue constricted with the draw of her armored shoulder and she flung her fist forward, earning herself the ever-satisfying crunch of caving ribs against her titanium knuckles. It wasn't quite doing it for her, not this time. Maybe it was the scaled hides of the reptilian beasts that prevented such a satisfying squelch. The beast roared as it staggered backward, knocked off of her with the mere strength imposed upon it.​

It drew a heaving, ragged breath as Strasza snapped to her feet, breath leaving her as clouds through the rebreather of her helmet. She cracked her knuckles into the palm of the opposite hand, daring the beast to rise against her once more. "Come on, where's your fight!?" She goaded, lunging forward to swing the armored front of steel shin into the side of the helgardi's jaw. Another guttural whimper bled from the creature as it toppled to its side, spitting up whatever ungodly color of blood that was leaving it. "You coulda been anything and you had to be the motherfucker in my way." The cyborg growled over the hellfire screaming from her flank, heated death ushered in by the return of her assigned squadron. Slugs ripped what was left of the helgardi to pieces as it struggled to its feet and ultimately, failed. ​

Strasza's shoulders heaved as she chased after her breath, glaring at the smoking corpse. ​

"Major, you good?"​

​

"Hell no I ain't good," she spat the response, wiping the alien blood off her visor with the side of a fist, "He stabbed me."​

"Where...?"​

The cyborg turned herself around, lifting up the frayed edge of her scramble cloak, exposing the hole punched through her armor and the seeping aug-blood oozing from the split in her plated hide. "See? It isn't gonna kill me, but shit if this HUD warning isn't annoying." She smacked an open palm against the side of her head, unscrambling the dizziness such a heavy impact on a hard surface left her with. That was probably a concussion.​

"So long's you're okay-"​

​

"What kept you guys anyway, you were supposed to rally back here in ten, it's been twenty." Strasza stooped to collect the rifle her scrap had launched from her hands and racked the bolt, chambering another bullet.​

"Turns out, the native people aren't very happy we're here." Another scout snickered.​

​

"Yeah, no shit. Did you get the charges placed?" ​

"We did yes. We should be able to breach the fortress shortly."​

​

"Good, blow 'em."​

The haggard squadron pressed forward, rushing through the chaos to rally back to a defensive position in view of the war-beaten wall structured at the fringes of the fortress. Someone tapped on her shoulder and she looked back, reaching to take the detonator hastily passed off. If something went wrong, she was the one that pulled the trigger. "Take positions to lay down covering fire. I expect hornets to come screaming outta the nest the second we pop a hole in it." The Major ordered, confirming her will be done with a glance to each side.​

The scouts accompanying her fanned out, pairing off to line the ledge, dropping to prone position with scramble cloaks draped over their forms, masking their signatures from detection. The barrels of sniper rifles glinted in the crackling light of the conflict. It would've brought a tear to her eye, had she the time. It was good to run with members of the company she had more or less grown up in. The company she had climbed the ranks in and served countless missions under- that winged motif.​

They signed up to die, but that didn't mean they were good at it.​

"This is Scout-Leader," Strasza started over the open communications link established for the New Imperial Forces working the planet, "get clear of the eastern wall, we're about to blow it wide open, over." she offered the ground troopers, a moment of warning. ​

"It's clear, Major." ​

"Clear."​

"Can confirm- clear."​

The cyborg lowered herself into a crouch, cradling her rifle against her stomach and rested the elbow of the hand clutching the detonator against her peaked knee. Bridgebreaker, once upon a time. Damn, wasn't this a walk down memory lane. "Boom."​

Explosions rocked the eastern face of the wall, firing off in rapid sequence along a line. Her men had spaced them around appropriately, ensuring the integrity of the entire sector would be compromised and compromised it was. Debris rocketed in every direction, blasting back the surging helgardi poised in defense and washing the area in a rising cloud of choking dust and smoke. Flames licked the earth, beckoning the New Imperials to the open maw blown clean through the wall.​

​

"Eastern point is compromised, the wall is open. Push it, we're covering you from the back, over." Strasza urged the others on the ground to make their push, now was the time.​

TL;DR :// Hehe eastern side of fortress wall go boom. The Doom Division squadron blew a hole in the eastern side of the fortress wall, opening it up for NIO and other friendly forces to breach. Additionally, Doom Division will provide long-range covering fire for those ground forces who push up.​

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud
The Red Witch, The Night Queen, Lady Stuztala, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium, Archon of the Primyn Group​

Location: Surface, Helgard
Objective: Save research data and artefacts; and try to take out them from the planet.
Equipment: 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | Brynja coat | Hersir Imperial Uniform | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | G1 OmniLink | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland
Tag: The Grim Lady

Background music:
Cross Borns – Az Út Végén (At The End of the Journey)​

The woman was wrong about one thing; Ingrid was not afraid. Never did it in a combat situation, at least, in relation to herself. May have been worried about others, though the line for these individuals was not too long. But here and now? No, there was no one in this place that Ingrid was worried about. As for death. Would have welcomed it; she had been part of the Netherworld since Byss anyway, thanks to tearing a piece out of her soul and leaving it in the afterlife. Did not respond to the words now, still watching the devastation in the area with cold blue eyes.

Ironically, this will help them because the dead could be resurrected as Hollow Hungerers to fight again. The enemy's numerical superiority very soon disappeared. Had already responded to the following words when the unknown woman mentioned what she had lost someone to. Did the woman see the red-haired woman was dead inside? She can see her soul was not complete because part of it was missing? It wasn't that important, it just came to her mind for a moment.

"Now are you waiting for me to congratulate you on following the news of the Galaxy? Then we will spend the eternity here."

The words may have been mocking, but there was no emotion in her voice. Her voice is cold and emotionless, military. In fact, everyone in the galaxy knew about her loss; only those not who did not want to know. The Eternal Empress has lost her husband / fiancé, one of the leaders of the Sith Empire. By the time the darkness appeared, she already knew what she was doing down there. Ingrid also knew this ability. In fact, it was one of the first things Tacitus taught her.

As the woman threw the Darkshear in her direction, Ingrid crossed the railing and began to fall down. Reached into the Force and dampened her fall with telekinetics. Thus, landed at normal speed, at the end of which she even looped militarily, to further dampen the fall, and then stood up at the end of the sequence of movements. Reached out to the Force again and began to absorb the negative emotions nearby with the “consume essence”. Quite a few were scared, terrified, so there was plenty to feed on. Up to this point, she could be hitherto felt neutral by others in the Force, but as she swallowed the negative energies began to sink into the darkness.

Took the two vibroswords from her back; has not used more Force yet. Didn't want to reveal ahead of time what she was actually capable of. Aside from being a great Force User (which almost no one knew about), Ingrid is known as an agent and an assassin. It was enough for her to the others think she was a simple assassin. As approached the woman, her movement was at once graceful, elegant, and yet even the slightest movement was dangerous, with death lurking in her every movement.

For now, wanted to quickly assess what the other woman was capable of, so when the Empress arrived at her, tried to cut her opponent with an X-shaped cut from below.

 

[UX-0626]

Location: Streets, Hjallaheim - Helgard
Objective: Shatter the Hammer
Allies: TSE ( Darth Strosius ) │ CIS (Joesph Leigh)
Enemies: NIO ( Noel Strasza Ragnar the Untested Onansi of Thyrsus Irveric Tavlar Tiberius Tulan Kor Willan Tal DECEASED Erskine Barran )
Theme: Disturbed - Land of Confusion

The Shadow Fleet Ground Divisions and the Legionnaires made a fast and disciplined retreat from the walls in spite of the fire being cast forth upon them from above. Playing her part in the symphony of war, 626 covered her brothers and sisters in their movements, scanning her rifle across the skies in order to pick off any jumptroopers or Mandalorians who got too ambitious in their advance. Between a firm pull of the recharger handle, her rifle cracked twice in quick succession, striking down a pair of jumptroopers with two precise shots to their chests. Then, with a deep breath, the sniper turned to accompany her comrades in their retreat, leaping down from the walls and utilizing her gravity belt to slow her descent before following them towards the next defensive checkpoint in the city.

They were spared only a short moment of peace before battle found them once more.

The loyalty of the Helgardi in the city had been a mystery, up until that moment, when the cries of Legionnaires fighting and dying as they were ambushed by the alien warriors filled 626’s comms. Glancing at her squad mates, 626 exchanged a look of silent understanding before readying herself for combat once more. While her Hapan eyes were blind in the dark, the infrared vision mode in her helmet allowed her to perceive the heat signatures of the Helgardi as they stalked along the windows overlooking the street. In knowing what had befallen the Legionnaire squads that had come before, they were ready when the Helgardi surged out from the buildings. 626 fired the first shot, her bolt striking one of the towering creatures in the neck just as it moved to charge her from a hidden alleyway. However, another one of the reptilian monsters leapt at her from above, shoulder-mounted blasters firing at her squad mates as the creature sought to impale her upon its blade. A shouted warning from one of her comrades saved the Hapan from that gruesome fate, but she could not move out of the way in time to avoid being forced to the ground as the Helgardi landed on top of her.

The monster roared in her face as a gauntlet-mounted blade was unsheathed from its gauntlet. Knowing that she was physically outmatched against such a large creature, 626 did not engage it in a contest of strength, instead activating her own wrist blaster in response and discharging a pair of energized bolts into its armored stomach at point-blank range. The creature gave a pained screech, but did not relent, gripping her helmet with both of its massive hands before bashing her head into the ground, once, twice, thrice, then a fourth and final time, before the creature gave a final anguished cry as her squad mate dumped blaster bolts into its back.

The body was kicked aside and an offered hand pulled her up from the street. Five other Helgardi laid dead around them, but 626 could only close her eyes in discomfort as the medic stripped off her helmet to place a bacta patch around her head.

The injury was shaken off in a few moments and soon, 626 was back on the move towards the defensive checkpoint.

Spoiler: Gear and Equipment

• Armor
  • Taral-type Sith Trooper Armor
    • Undersuit
      • UL-14 “Virtus” Class Underlay
    • Utility
      • Neural Band
      • Taozin Skin Nodule
      • Revealer
    • Left Wrist
      • Whistling Birds
    • Right Wrist
      • Wrist Laser
    • Energy Shield (Replaces Integrated Deflector Mobility Shield)
      • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
• Small Arms
  • FAE/W-01 “Attendant” Sniper Rifle
  • SIF-7 ‘Minos’
    • Multi-Optic Holographic Sight
• Grenades and Explosives
  • Impact Grenade (3)

 

[Black Sgáire]

Captain Sgáire
1st Galidraani-Volunteers Armoured-Infantry Brigade,"Tal's Devils"
1st Battalion,"Fighting First"
Combat Engineer Company
New Imperial Order

LOCATION: Saoafellslond, inner-city

OBJECTIVE 2: Siege of Hjallaheim/Saoafellslond

ALLIES: DECEASED Erskine Barran Willan Tal Ragnar the Untested Kosca Gaelt Savoh Muska Dorian Sicarrio Tiberius

The Helgard frontier had seemed one of many extremes for the Combat Engineer's of the 1st Galidraani Volunteers, temperature wise. The action seen on the planet was nothing new. The "Carrack Rangers", as they proudly were known, were merely applying the same techniques used time and time again on battlefront's far across the galaxy. The weather on Helgard was bitter, the gales would cut through a man and his armour like a knife. In contrast, the flamethrower's frightening efficiency could torch the insides of a building in seconds, the gutting effect the fire had on the interior of the buildings made the structure very decrepit and easy to demolish.

Likewise, if some unlucky sod managed to find himself in the predicament of coming into physical contact with the flames, it was almost merciful to shoot them on the spot. A much quicker death, or so Black Sqáire had rationalised to himself long ago. The sight of a charred scattering of bones sticking out of the snow on the side of the street had made Sgáire think about it as he stood in the freezing silence.

"On yer orders, Captain." A trooper said standing to attention.

A radioman stood by at the ready to give Black Sgáire's order to begin. In the distance down the street from the Major's position was a large structure where many Helgardian's were held up. The position stood right in the way of the Galidraani's rally point, and Sgáire knew that he'd had to make his own path, through the Helgardian position.

Two Galidraani flamethrower squads began to light up both ends of the building. It never ceased to amaze Sgáire how ferocious the flamethrowers were, as he watched the black smoke burning into the misty skies above. Just moments later several figures burst out of the back door of the building, through the bellowing smoke. The unfortunate misers probably were choking for air, having escaped the smoked out building, when some well placed explosive device hopped along the ground where many of the Helgardians were sprawled out, almost unconscious.

"Share that amongst yerselves." Sgáire remarked, watching on eagerly. The explosion sent a few of them flying, what was left of them. A few rifle shots ensured that no survivor was left.

The Carrack Rangers kept moving, just another clinical execution. Captain Sgáire could move his sections with particular and notable speed through hostile territory. It had gained them nickname 'the flying column', for its rapid and versatile movement. Leaning forward in his Cataphract tank, Sgáire observed the next obstacle, two bunkers standing ominously on either side of the highway.

"Hackett, c'mere. We'll have to keep the b*astards busy whilst Morrison's lads get close enough to burn 'em out. Put up a smoke screen, then Morrison will give 'em fire. Hauld yer rifle fire till it smells like a barbecue. Got it?"

"Aye, smoke and hold for Morrison."

"G'man Hackett. Haul away after I soften up those positions. G'wan!"

After a thunderous bombardment from the Cataphracts, Hackett's men moved forward on the battered bunkers. Those inside were shooting out hectically in all directions, a handful of Hackett's men were shot down as they aided the effort to block the vision of those inside the bunkers, who now only saw a cloud of white smoke. The defenders, mostly Helgardian with several Sith troopers among them, fired blankly in the general direction of Sgáire's troops but few shots found their mark. Minutes of blind chaotic firing from both bunkers then died down when they noticed little returning fire coming from the Imperial side.

From the white smoke then came several dreadful roaring noises, quickly followed by four streams of fire. Morrison's flamethrowers emerged, by the time the smoke screen was clearing outside a new, thicker dark smoke began to emerge from the effects of the flamethrower. The narrow openings in the bunkers which the defenders once shot out of now became doors into oblivion, as fire swept through effortlessly. Screams were heard by Hackett and Morrison's men, even as far back as Sgáire himself. It only lasted a few seconds, then the screaming stopped.

One could almost calculate the Engineers movement through the planet by the black smoke which bellowed from each building. The smell was rough, but nothing the men hadn't suffered time and time again. After those bunkers were cleared out, Sgáire's men broke through like a torrent, clearing the way for their brigade. Sgáire leaned back in the top of his Catapract. He glanced back, not far from him, to the Blue Hearts. The Blue Hearts, under Lord-Major Erskine Barran, were a great help for Sgáire's engineers. Their presence ensure the Rangers would be on their a-game, for no crueller fate could a Carrack Ranger imagine than being shown up by the Blue Hearts. They'd never hear the end of it. It was good, healthy competition as far as Sgáire was concerned. Lord-Major Barran was a great inspiration to Sgáire in his younger days, but nevertheless Sgáire would never, ever let Erskine know that.

"Speak o' the divil."

The Lord-Major Barran caught Sgáire's attention immediately as he swaggered down the street in his direction.​

​

 

[Cara Dorniarn]

Tags: Rika Hiro | Dorian Sicarrio
Gear: Alpine armor/In signature ​

Helgard.

The very name summoned feelings of cold and isolation. What was it, then, that people had wanted of the ice-born sphere? To the Sith Empire it was a resource of chromium and ultrachrome, worth little more. It was a planet dappled with circular cities populated with a violent race, the cities shielded with mountains of ancient granite. These ruling creatures were fanatic warriors loyal to a Sith long defected from the empire, the Lord Kascalion Giedfeld. Both Helgard and Giedfield were not on any sort of terms with the empire, as the populace saw fit to be ruled by the lone Sith Lord in stead of his brother, their god, and serve the kin-slayer's Dread Ascendancy.

So why had a surprise attack launched upon the carved waste, so far from any border held with the traitor's nation?

That was an answer Cara didn't have. Actions of the past, the present, and the future all funneled into a stinking concoction of perhapses and maybes, yet nothing close to an actual answer was distilled from the mix. But with the siege of Helgard the New Imperials opened up a pathway Cara was glad for. The Heioaboer spire was a clandestine laboratory, an architectural terrarium of Helgardi minds developing technology with reckless abandon. Ah, perhaps not reckless, but any development hidden from Cara's eye was cause for her suspicion and mild obsession. So now that the facility had been consumed in a free-for-all Cara decided it would have been the perfect moment to drop in and take a tour.

"So some gray boys are shootin' up these muck-faced creeps. What of it? Let 'em bite each other." The legionnaire spat the tip of the cigar from his teeth. "And whose idea was it to go on a field trip?" He asked in an agitated tone, not enthused with the idea of going to the heavily fortified spire.

His sergeant, a female Alder-Espirion, asked him in a flat tone. "Do you even pay attention to briefings, Targ?"

His response was nothing more than a tired roll of his eyes and a sarcastic quip. "It was loud in the hangar." It was evident from the unamused stare of Sergeant Ruek that he was treading on thin ice. Targ shook his head, leaning back in the shuttle's seat and averting his eyes to study the cigar's wrapping. "Some government head. Leave it to a glorified desk worker to throw us in this sort of jam."

Aware that their passenger was in earshot Ruek stepped forward to give Targ a dressing down only to pause at the sensation of a gentle hold about her shoulder. She looked askance to the right, the "new" engineer her squad picked up seated alone toward the front of the shuttle. She saw the gentlest motion of the engineer's hand before feeling the hold dissipate. Sergeant Ruek gave Targ the same unamused glare before shaking her head. "Just do the job given you, soldier."

Cara, hidden behind the armors of a standard legionnaire, watched the soldier's interactions with humored interest. They possessed what machines didn't: true personality. She smirked then returned her gaze to the holopad in hand. To all but the sergeant Cara was a run-of-the-mill gearhead, tasked to help them breach the spire and access the wells of data within. She didn't want to bother with the paperwork of being the Pillar of Production, didn't want to be bogged down with the process of finding a transport meant for someone in her "position." On the field as quick as possible was all she wanted, and with a few quick adjustments to a flight manifest she got her wish.

"We're meeting some heavy resistance, Helgardi armaments. Stay cool but brace yourselves." The sergeant spoke over comms as yellow flashes exploded around the shuttle, air whistling as several chunks of plating were carved away from the debris.

"Not gonna make it in this. Prepare for a damn rough landing." The pilot's voice reflected his strain as he fought with the shuttle's controls.

"This isn't even close to our target, Delta. You keep us going until I say you can stop."

"Listen, we're not going to--" His voice cut with a rasp as the metal lance sunk through his chest and out the cabin wall. The Helgardi below drew another mammoth spear, one instead meant for stormtroopers on ground. The battery of artillery fire jostled the shuttle into a violent tailspin. The last thing Cara recalled was the door of the transport peeling back, and the sound of wind against her helmet during free fall.

Cara felt the plastoid crunch under her own armor as she woke. Slowly she rolled off to her side, a groan catching her throat as she fell a few centimeters to the ground. Both forearms planted on the ground and she pushed up, the pain in her legs hitting like shocks of lightning. She slipped back to the dirt as she caught her breath, and as she turned her head she saw the shattered helmet of the New Imperial who had met her fall. Without a word she turned away, trying again to get back to her feet. Though unsteady she made herself succeed in standing, and looking around she found herself in the middle of Hjallaheim. An electric snap fizzled in the back of her brain, the warning of something nearby that she was sure to hate...

 

[Willan Tal]

Brigadier General- Willan Tal
1st Galidraani volunteers armoured infantry brigade
1st Battalion of the Brigade' Fighting first.'
New Imperial Order
Location: Saoafellslond, inner-city

OBJ2
Ally tags: Vostok Grauv Zakaria Black Ragnar the Untested Djorn Bline Lyra 'Sybila' Voikryt Republic Engineering FN-999 Enedina Tal Kolson Vrask Tyrell Paxxus Ravraa Vyshraal Noel Strasza Creuat Uriel Tokarev Arminius Tiberius Careena Fett Ves Fett Rika Hiro Black Sgáire DECEASED Erskine Barran

Enemy Tags: TBA

Chaos.


Another ATGM landed among the bogged down 1st battalion column, catching two Galidraanis and ripping them apart in a sickening miasma of blood and dust that sprayed the pearl white snow with streaks of gore and body parts. The tank fire ruptured and poked holes in the bunkers, but the Helgardis still fired back defiantly, even as one of the defence bunkers partly caved in from Galidraani explosive fire. Three tanks lay destroyed and two more damaged from the anti-tank fire.

​

"There!" Tals driver shouted just as Tal saw what had to be where ATGMs were being fired from at the Galidraanis. Flanked by reinforced plated steel, with multiple portholes for gunners and a slanted roof, it proved impervious to tank fire and small arms fire. If it were left alone any longer, Tal and his column of tanks would be soon turned into stationary coffins of fire and death traps for any poor soul trapped inside. And he knew not where the reinforcements were, bogged down, ambushed or even on their way. Tal didn't possess the luxury of time, and his men were being picked off by the second.

"Boggs, Welard and Drevon on me lads, we're gonna pop that blasted bunker open."

He dove straight down from his open tank hatch, grabbing a blaster rifle and picking up more speed as he called to his men taking cover behind the tank to follow his lead. The open space between the bunkers and armoured column became filled with red lasers. The red ones came from somewhere above, but he didn't look to figure out which bunker. He threw himself from cover with his rifle in hand, landing on his side against a snowy ditch twenty meters from the bunker. Welard and the other two soldiers followed their commander to the ditch, Drevon was the first to reach Willan, but a stray bolt hit him in the side of the head and sent him to the floor like a sack of potatoes face-first against the ditch. Maybe Tals idea was forlorn and stupid, but it was infinitely better than being caught in the withering ATGM fire that reduced half a dozen Cataphracts to smouldering wrecks.


"Boggs follow me and you Welard you get a-"


His words were caught short by what could almost pass for animalistic screaming, and the loud whoosh of fire as the bunker holes spat fire and smoke. So it did seem that Sgáires boys had come, after all, bugger being the ones to find out the hard way Tal thought as his train of thought was interrupted by burning Helgardi throwing themselves out of whatever hole in the bunkers they could get out of to escape. Their burnt husks of barely alive bodies clumsily falling into the snow below where their small mercy and release from the flames came in the form of Galidraani bayonets and blaster fire. Though Tal supposed one would opt for that way out over being trapped in a literal human oven. His column began moving once more forward, now that their obstacle had been so brutally snuffed out like that at the hands of Galidraani flamer squads.

Willan Tal motioned for the snow-covered troops, and they began climbing into the cataphracts while others started rounding up the wounded from the ATGM affected tanks. Standing to and brushing the snow off himself, he moved to turn his comms on and was met with much well-needed news.

<"Oeg to Blue-Heart Bravo! You are clear to move in, ammunition and supplies can be found near the command-tent."> Black Sgáire


<"Shugg to ENX One! Copy that, will introduce myself when we get inside. Make yourself known, Blue-Heart Bravo out!"> DECEASED Erskine Barran ​

​

​

 

[DECEASED Erskine Barran]

Lord-Major Erskine Barran
1st Galidraani-Volunteers Armoured-Infantry Brigade,"Tal's Devils"
2nd Battalion,"Blue-Hearts"
New Imperial Order

LOCATION: Saoafellslond, inner-city

OBJECTIVE 2: Siege of Hjallaheim/Saoafellslond

ALLIES: Willan Tal Black Sgáire Ragnar the Untested Kosca Gaelt Savoh Muska Dorian Sicarrio Tiberius Noel Strasza

<"Oeg to Blue-Heart Bravo! You are clear to move in, ammunition and supplies can be found near the command-tent.">

<"Shugg to ENX One! Copy that, will introduce myself when we get inside. Make yourself known, Blue-Heart Bravo out!">

After Black Sgáire's clearing of the last obstacle between the vectoring units and their Brigadier-General, (turning out to be a mostly-Helgardi contingent filling a diversionary role for their Sith-trooper allies) the captain commanding the 1st Battalion's Engineer Company had given the Blue-Hearts all the safety they needed to establish the link with Lord Willan's previously-embattled segment of the Brigade. Safely moving in to bolster Tal's newly-formed defensive perimeter, it would be mere minutes before everyone else was able to resupply and to administer repairs and medical aid, a small blessing that was appreciated by all for what it was worth; to the exiled Galidraanis, with intel showing that their allies in the 501st needed urgently-fast assistance, and to the beleaguered Tiberius, who desperately needed someone to break his violent encirclement from the outside without his rescuers being constantly side-tracked by Helgardi militia.
Not to worry, we'll be punching through their lines before you know it.... And what a showing that's going to be, lad!

Once readied, the fully-formed Devils would receive the coordinates (easily obtained by tracking Tiberius' distress-signal) they needed to proceed as originally planned, all whilst they were checking the corpses of their previous diversion; everything was running along more smoothly than any of the commanders could've possibly hoped, but even the least-experienced among them knew that these small blessings were rendered as such by the proverbial ticking-clock that constantly worked against them. And yet Tal, Barran and Black Sgáire still found the time to celebrate their first operation working together in a single entity; the only presence missing from the metaphoric collision of Galidraani comets was Colonel Berach Ulrand, though the Guv'Nah's expertise was specifically needed elsewhere at the time, something of a tough but fair leadership-choice for Lord Willan to make beforehand.

Despite the fourth element being sent too far away to attend, Major Barran couldn't help but admit to himself that those who weren't would still prove too much for any Sith-troopers, supercommandos or Helgardians who dared face off against them. Black Sgáire, though still something of an enigma to Erskine, was wielding an engineer-company that was already greatly overshadowing the achievements of their predecessors; Barran himself, analysing his own unit within the brigade with a critical eye, was acknowledging all the horrors the Blue-Hearts had endured to get as far as they had by then, and also grieving for the elements he lost in Heggy's and Jorie's deaths. When considering what Tal brought to the table, the Lord-Major couldn't help but recall the piled-up aftermaths of the 1st's fighting-retreat from Maximillian Heights; Sith-spawn and Sith-legionnaires everywhere, strewn across the first ten miles of streetways between the Heights and Fort Imperator, a grisly scene that Barran knew would be engrained in the forefront of his mind for a while.

<"Barran to ENX One! Let's get this show on the road, shall we?">

<"Oeg to Blue-Heart Alpha! Lead the way, ENX One out!">

The comms had been lighting up with activity, with every holographic-device and local comms in use as they advanced further into Saoafellslond's inner-city, passing slums, stores and other buildings that were too far crumbled to be discernible to anyone passing by. Once they had gotten atop of the last inclines, the Brigade's tanks could get a better view of the ground around the embattled 501st Legion's position; though the rises presented difficulties for the tanks, all the other armoured vehicles only needed to wait a few minutes before easily gripping the ground on the way up the same steep hillock-streets, another small blessing that lent time to the surrounded Tiberius in his hour of need.
Just sit tight, lad. Soldiers of the NIO can handle a little encirclement-pressure, an' every fight we survive is proof o' that.

Sharing the images to all the officers' devices, the lay of the land would be on full-display, with more images promised to be sent by the Cataphract crews as they shifted their positions to-and-fro to find cleaner arcs-of-fire. Despite this, the first wave of pictures they had provided had still contained enough insight to see most of what they would be dealing with, detailing numerous possible approaches to the not-so-distant defences of their allies. The lay of the land would've been difficult for each battalion or company to tackle on their own, but the possibilities that combining their efforts were yielding were multiplying with each passing minute, giving rise to the belief that these weren't such small blessings after all; such talk gave hope to the Lord-Major's heart, (and the Blue-Hearts with growing intensity) seeing the beginnings of a slow-burning return to the traditional ways of the ancient Woad-Macushla, then choosing to keep his hidden joy from bubbling over into visible mirth for his own sake.

<"ALL UNITS, STAND TO!!! I REPEAT - ALL UNITS, STAND TO!!!!">

From out of nowhere, a hail of small-arms fire and rockets battered the already-crumbling cover the troops and armour relied on to plan their next move, denied their chance of slipping by unnoticed for a second time. However, the Brigadier-General, the Major and the Captain had no idea that the enemy element attacking them were from the same Sith-affiliated contingent who were enveloping Tiberius' position, but it wouldn't be long before they remembered how far they'd advanced from their previous rallying-points, understanding soon after that they had drawn forces from a great number of the MG-nests around the south-western segments of the offensive-perimeter.

'Barran to CC One! Position all tanks in oblique order, then roll through these idiots with all guns blazing! GIVE - NO - QUARTER!!!!'

This was the moment the entire Brigade had been waiting for, perhaps even the moment all endeavouring the rescue had been waiting for if they'd known, but the moment to counter-attack had been chosen as if driven by a divine, benevolent hand with a heart for Tal's Devils in particular. The moment felt almost too perfect, but seeing the locals' inability to inflict lasting damage on the tanks subconsciously lashed the rest of the Brigade into action, drawing engineers, riflemen and missile-troops towards the charging advance; all whilst doing their best to begin widening their static line, seeking to envelop their enemies on both the left and right flanks.

​

​

 

[Rika Hiro]

L A D Y S I L E N C E
C O M P N O R
H E L G A R D
Tag list: Noel Strasza Cara Dorniarn Willan Tal DECEASED Erskine Barran Black Sgáire Ragnar the Untested Vostok Grauv Tiberius Dorian Sicarrio Ingrid L'lerim
Opponent: Cara Dorniarn

Guard Order asset. Eliminate hostile reactionaries.

The Media side of COMPNORs war against the enemies of law and order was not typically where Agent Yubari was involved. Her jobs and path were in the more bloodied trade of the far-reaching multi-faceted organisation which COMPNOR was. She removed problems, not preach to the citizenry masses, and fight the information war waged across the intergalactic holonet. That was the task of the lesser individuals in the organisation; her purpose in this existence was simpler and purer. Not inhibited by the weakness of the flesh and the corruption of the human mind. A flawless creation and child of the new order.

Opaque shades masked lifeless eyes as she hovered in the vicinity of the media crew, never quite in view but ever-present like a guardian angel. If the Sith or Helgardi ventured too close, she'd correct the issue at hand and keep things in running order. She was efficient at that and such other tasks. Put back together since the explosion on Dantooine took out her physical form and reduced it to a husk, to the mortal eye dead but only in her case still operational. It was no secret of science, any human or being with a bit of intelligence knew that an HRD or droid could survive indefinitely as long as the processor chip was secure and intact. Thus she was made anew and reborn in her old body once more. Serving the order on this waste strewn hyperboreal land of snow and desolation till she was made anew or destroyed in the line of duty.


Unidentified individual falling from the sky. . . . investigate and eliminate if prime directive requires.



A figure fell from a transport ahead of the HRD, making an unfortunate soldier their landing cushion against the fall. Making a sickening crunch as if the poor stormtrooper had a speeder dropped on him. Intrigued by the spectacle at hand, the HRD strolled over casually while keeping aware of her surroundings for Helgardi present. Casting her eyes across the visage of a cybernetically enhanced female, allowing herself an expression that might've passed for a strange smirk or sneer.


Unidentified female is armed and cybernetically enhanced . . . .



"Are we lost?"


She stood ahead of the woman with the calmness and demeanour of a vulture inspecting its meal, and her whole state might've suggested what could've been simple curiosity if it wasn't for the fact her arm rested near her weapon belt.

// apparently I can't centre images so sorry for horrible imagery lole

 

[Seela Leini]

Location: Hangar Bay, The Wrath - Space, Helgard System
Equipment: Sith-Imperial Armada Flight Suit Mk. II │ “Judicator” Adaptive Battle Rifle
Fighter: Sith-Imperial TIE Interceptor - Dancer Ten
Allies: TSE ( Onrai Moff Drybis Lyken Alamara Tesco) │ CIS ( Kiff Brayde ) │ EE ( Tristan Evore )
Enemies: NIO ( Enlil )

The sounds of technicians, droids, and pilots preparing to scramble fighters was an ever-present din in the hangar bay, an atmosphere which SV-2121 fell into as she jogged towards the launch area designated for Dancer squadron. It had only been moments since she heard that she would be flying with Alamara Tesco, a hyper-capable ace pilot who had graduated at the very top of her class. While the woman was not a strand-cast, 2121 was determined to glean all that she could from her that pertained to flying. However, she was also quite aware of the ‘faults’ natural-born personnel had in comparison to vat-grown soldiers. As such, it would be her duty to watch the woman for any lapses of loyalty or signs of sedition. Natural-born personnel and their defects had been the cause of the Third Imperial Civil War and the Empire would never repeat the mistakes of the past.

She did not intend to fail in either of her tasks, but if the latter had to take priority over the former, she would not hesitate in executing her duty.

As she descended into her cockpit, she saw the face of her wing mate for a brief moment as the woman prepared to get into her craft. The strand-cast acknowledged her with a brief smile, mismatched eyes taking in the woman’s fair features before they were hidden from view beneath the expressionless black mask of her flight helmet. There was no time for anything beyond that, as 2121 slid into her interceptor, sealed her helmet over her head, and started her pre-flight routines.

“Dancer Ten, present and reporting.” The strand-cast said, before powering on the engines of her interceptor, the twin mechanical hearts roaring to life behind her as the cyan lights of her HUD manifested in her eyes.

The strand-cast whispered a quiet prayer under her breath before she launched into the cold void of space to meet the enemy in the stars.

 

[Joesph Leigh]

Joesph attempted to control his breathing despite the gaping wound on his stomach, as one of the elite Imperial troops tread lightly over him, his weapon drawn, passing over several dead Helgardi corpses, and the motionless bodies of Joesph's former squad-mates. The body that was closest to him was Corporal Jean Delios, from Corellia, just like Joesph was.

They had talked and talked for what seemed like hours before the mission, about their memories of the old planet, and how they had wished to venture back to their former home one day.
How Joesph had laughed for the first time in a while at Jean's joke about how incompetent the former Prime Minister of the Corellian government was. But all that was gone.

The man who was once so quick to crack a joke, who seemed like his good spirits were indomitable, was now laying against the side of the mountain, his blood scattered across the rock and brown earth, painting the area a bright shade of crimson.

His eyes were covered by his helmet, perhaps a sign of mercy from the universe, sparing him from seeing the horrors that would befall his comrades, the man's mouth still ajar with a horrified expression, the one he wore right before his sudden end.

Joesph adjusted his head ever-so-slightly as the Imperial trooper continued to walk away from the improvised gravesite, and he shifted his gaze to the corpse of Lex, his greatest friend and most trusted squad-member, hoping he was alive. His body was completely still. He was dead. Tears began to form at the edges of Joesph's eyes, but then he noticed something.
Lex's corpse was moving up and down ever so slowly. Pulsing. No. Not pulsing. Breathing.
Joesph's eyes widened in shock, but the sound of slowly approaching footsteps crunching against the dirt made him stiffen up again and purge all emotions from his mind once more. The trooper put a hand to the side of his helmet and clicked a button.

"Come in Vanguard 1. [ Onansi of Thyrsus ] Yeah, no survivors. Roger that." The soldier holstered his virbo-pike and began to walk down the hill, the sound of the footsteps fading away. Once the sound had completely subsided, Joesph sat up quickly, a sharp jolt of pain crawling up his body and to his head from the wound, and shakily shifting his weight to his knees, and pushing up as he settled on his feet.
Joesph put his arm over the large hole on his stomach, trying his best to ignore the sharp pain he felt walking, his face scrunched up in an expression not unlike the pained ones of his dead friends. Joesph stumbled over to where Lex was laying, wading through corpses as he did so. Lex had his eyes closed, his movement completely still.
"Hey." Joesph blurted out, whispering as quiet as he could. In a single dash of motion,
Lex quickly grabbed a pistol that lay at his side and aimed it at Joesph, his eyes shooting open. Lex scanned Joesph for a few moments and his mouth drew agape slightly as he aimed the gun downwards, his iron grip loosening, his expression shifting into a smile.

"Sir.. y-you're alive! I can't believe it!" Lex said, surprise and joy evident in his voice. "Likewise." Joepsh said in reply, flashing a toothy grin at his friend. He outstretched his free hand, waiting for Lex to pull himself up. Lex grabbed it, and Joesph pulled him to his feet. Lex scanned the environment, his grin drooping into a saddened expression.

"Oh god... Mac and Jean.. everyone... they're..." "I know. I... can't believe they're gone too. There'll be time for grieving later, let's get out of here." Joesph turned and stumbled towards the corpse of the team medic, Mac, and crouched down, reaching in the medic satchel still attached to the man's hip, grabbing a large bandage, applying it to his wound. Joesph slowly moved his arm closer to his face, and spoke into the commlink. "Overwatch." The commlink beeped. "<:: You're coming in loud and clear, sir. ::>" A voice responded from the other end. "We need pickup, 5 clicks north, 6 clicks east, 10 clicks west, 2 clicks south."
Joesph breathlessly said into his commlink. "<:: Roger. Sending an evac ship now. ::>" The voice said again.
Joesph walked over to the improvised barricade, and towards the shattered remains of the blaster cannon that was once mounted to it. Joesph slowly sat down, and leaned against the barricade, gazing over this tragic scene of death and decay that lay before him, his eyes beginning to water as he pulled out the pistol that was still attached to his side. Now they had to wait...

 

[Djorn Bline]

D I A M O N D _ S N A K E
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
HEIOABOER, HELGARD
TASK FORCE 'DAGGER'
ARMORWEAVE

And by the will of his command, every cell established within Heioaboer began the work that needed to be done. Heioaboer woke up in peace to its daily routine, only to be shocked to its core from the actions that led up to this moment. The city screamed in violence, chaos erupted at every corner and challenged the order that was established here in this settlement belonging to the Sith. Order meant only for the Sith to exploit for their own benefit, take advantage of what was built in order to continue and build their decadent power. The very power that was challenged and defied from men inferior to the dark powers of the Sith, that power struck down across the Braxant Run.

They say that, according to the tenets of the Sith Code, through strength a Sith achieved their power. If that was the case, then it was right to say these fiends with all their might and strength they were weak compared to those that were simply human. Men and women created empires at the whim of the Sith.

And just as they were created by their hand, so it could be destroyed. The same undoing would be wrought to Helgard. The others task forces had their duties, all of them expected every field commander to accomplish their goals. An expectation Djorn would deliver. His methods were crude, but effective.

Then again, this wasn’t going to be a clean operation. He never said that. Just as long as the deed was done and his subordinates delivered results, he didn’t care how this operation was conducted.

“Time to show them my good side,” and powered off his disguise to reveal himself to in combat armorweave. It wasn’t necessary to hide anymore unless he needed to escape a tight corner. The city was in chaos from the insurrection that was planted under their noses.

Out in the urban streets he emerged, preparing a thermal detonator to be thrown out into the open wanting to cause collateral damage to anyone unfortunate caught in its radius. Everyone that didn’t pledge themselves to the Iron Sun was an enemy, no matter their background. He didn’t care where they came from or who they were.

He just wanted to make them bleed.

ALLIES | NIO | SOM | Careena Fett | Ves Fett | Trajan Fett | Vyca Durren
ENEMIES | TSE | CIS | Darth Tigran

 

[Alamara Tesco]

Location: Hangar Bay, The Wrath - Space, Helgard System
Equipment: Sith-Imperial Armada Flight Suit Mk. II │ SIF-57 blaster pistol
Fighter: Sith-Imperial TIE Interceptor - Breaker Nine
Allies: TSE ( Onrai Moff Drybis Lyken Seela Leini ) │ CIS ( Kiff Brayde ) │ EE ( Tristan Evore )
Enemies: NIO ( Enlil )

There was an almost poetic silence on the eve before battle. Or, at least on the final check before launch. Alamara fiddled with her gloves, flight helmet tucked under her arm, as she waited for the droids to finish their work. Her mind was almost entirely void, thinking only of the battle field that awaited her. War was just another place for her, and often she found herself thinking on the chances of survival versus death in the upcoming encounters. Her gaze caught the shift of a form off to her right, her eyes falling upon the form of another pilot, this one much shorter than herself; the head-tails around the helmet indicated her to be Twi'lek. SV-2121, that was her designation according to the file.

The thought occurred to Alamara about her counter part, was she going to die like the rest of them? Alamara had flown many a mission in the past, and lost many a squad mate along the way, probably making for the only time she felt helpless in her cockpit. It was a feeling she didn't enjoy. She spent years learning to not accept failure, to never tolerate the prospect of death, but what about death? Loss? So many good pilots had come and gone in the blink of an eye, who would she be left to fly with after this was all over with?

Alamara eyed the Twi'lek, watching as she strode towards her cockpit and set inside, reminding Alamara of something she had forgotten. Her ship was ready. Snapping to, she slide her helmet on over her head, her body reclining back into her seat, as the cockpit closed in around her. The thoughts of dying, or being picked apart by devastating enemy odds vanished, her eyes focusing strictly on the instruments laid out before her. Pre-flight checks went off like a reflex, her hands working over the controls, relying data back to flight control, and within moments she was cleared for launch. She could hear the voice of her wingman speaking, the Twi'leks pleasant voice coming through loud and clear, her indicator flashing to life as her ship reached the void of space and began it's flight. Which meant it was time for Alamara to deploy.

"Breaker Nine, launching now."

A moment of quiet overtook the cockpit, drowning out the sounds of control panels and chatter from control, as Alamara reached for the engine control, and her engines flared to life. The 'G's pressed her back into her seat, a grin stretching out from under her helmet, philosophy an fears vanished to the back of her mind, as she felt in control of her own universe from within here. Her interceptor lunged into the great vast nothingness, and turned to tail behind her support. Alamara's hand fiddled with the comm setting, switching to a private channel for her squad mate, her voice would be head over SV-2121's comms. "Dancer Ten, I've read up on your file, so I'm expecting the best from you. Try and keep up." With that, Alamara adjusted her course, dipping below her wingman and beginning to pull ahead as she dialed up the speed of her engines, revving the craft up, trying to taunt her wingman into a race to the battlefield. Nothing wrong with a bit of fun before a fight after all.

 

[Onansi of Thyrsus]

Location: Helgard, Hjallaheim
Objective: Reinforce the New Imperials
Retinue: Onansi's Sun Guards
Equipment: Gilgamesh Powersuit, Sword, Shield
Proximity: Tiberius, Tulan Kor , The Grim Lady

​

Onansi's shield arm came up, the golden aspis catching the blaster bolt, energy dispersing across its surface. Lurching forwards, Onansi's jetpack kicked on, propelling him forwards faster than he'd naturally move. Shield-bashing the Helgardi to the ground, he stood over the native. It was littered with scars on the exposed parts of its body. They were old. He, she... It... Was a warrior, just like he was.

And it lost.

The Xiphos plunged downwards into the Helgardi's throat. The thrumming vibroblade abruptly came to a stop. Certain the blade protruded into the snow beneath the alien, Onansi pulled the blade free and turned away, leaving the Helgardi to bleed out. Before he could look up, a blaster bolt caught him in the chest. Then another. A half-step backwards, he saw the one who had fired. A human, not a legionnaire from the looks of them.

Didn't matter.

The fibrecord launcher shot out from his left gauntlet, wrapping around the last confederate operatives throat.

"Onansi," the familiar voice of Amari drew his attention, and Onansi ignored the struggling soldier at the end of the line. Tugging and pulling at the rope at his throat, Onansi idly recalled the fibrecord. Wrapped many times over, it dragged the man closer while he shot an upwards nod in the direction of his second. "You see that over there?" Amari's hand raised, pointing down the mountain that they stood upon.

"One moment." Onansi grunted. Integrated macrobinoculars caught sight of movement. They didn't look like stormtroopers. More like the man that struggled on the end of the fibrecord whip. He blinked away the magnification, and when he saw from his own vision again, he glanced to the lifeless body at the end of the line and hummed. Letting the line go slack, it unraveled from the confederates throat and then was drawn back into its launcher.

"We'll descend. Break through the lines from the rear. Give relief to the Legions that climb."

Onansi's Golden Company shared the mountain with Tiberius and Tulan Kor . Miles behind the front lines, they were Shocktroopers, the Sun Guards, at least as far as this operation went. Equipped with jetpacks, they could travel to almost anywhere on the battlefield as a quick reaction. In this event, they were rescuing Gladius from their pinned down position. Around him, jetpacks burst to life, and Onansi spoke his final order.

"Move."

They lifted off. The Thyrsian host rapidly descending the mountain. There were other Helgardi that engaged them on the way down, but Onansi never stopped. Leading the charge down the hill, he let his Stellar Centurions direct their own units to split off and engage the revealed ambushers. The Thyrsian Warlord angled downwards, diving before abruptly bringing his legs out in front of him, shooting upwards as he observed the carnage caused by the confederacy operatives, Joesph Leigh.

Descending directly atop him and his sole surviving companion from the looks of it, had the jetpacks of the Sun Guards host not been noticed, the golden garbed mercenaries flying past further down the mountain to reinforce Gladius likely would've. But Onansi didn't go further down. I'll take care of these. He thought. Cutting the jetpack, the mounted wrist rocket system shot out to herald his approach, right for the ground that Joesph Leigh and his companion, Lex stood upon with deadly intent.

 

[Ragnar the Blooded]

HELGARD
SAUOAFELLSLOND
257TH LEGION
Allies: The New Imperial Order
Engaging: Darth Strosius

Deeper into the city the 257th went, led by Ragnar.

Floodlights on the helmets of the stormtroopers undoubtedly drew attention to their position. The Helgardi would ambush them again and again until the platoon was gone. Ragnar knew it, the stormtroopers knew it. The best he could do with them at his back was to keep them alive for as long as he could. So far from home, untested command, it had been a mistake to request leadership so soon after Bastion.

From the shadows ahead, blaster fire burst out from the darkness. From the rooftops, the windows. The platoon reactively moved for cover anywhere they could. Abandoned merchant carts, alleyways, buildings whose fires had already been put out. Ragnar remained in the street, drawing the fire from their assailants. Batting bolt after bolt into the ground or up into the air away from him. Dashing forwards, the Force enhanced his movements, carrying him down the street as he leapt through the window of one of the buildings.

Legs pumping, he ascended to the second, third, fourth levels rapidly. The blaster fire that emanated from their windows dying down as he cleared each floor. Lightsaber flashing, the sound of it whining could be heard from outside in the street. Screams of pain, the thuds of bodies hitting the ground lifeless.

And just as soon as the firefight began, it ended.

Over the comline, Ragnar's voice croaked out.

"The Sith Empire has arrived."

Pressing into the comm into his ears, through the frequencies, he connected himself to the other units in the city.

"Captain Rycus," The Zabrak's raspy voice cracked. Descending through the building, he kicked one of the corpses at his feet. It rolled over from the impact, revealing itself to be the body of a Sith legionnaire. "Alert the Generals, Willan Tal and DECEASED Erskine Barran that we have engaged with Sith Eternal forces in the Northern sector of the city."

There was a grumble of confirmation from the xenophobic Captain, and Ragnar exited the building, waving the rest of the platoon onwards.

Time passed, Ragnar didn't know how long. A shiver ran through him. The sound of battle ahead. There shouldn't have been other New Imperial forces in this area. They had carved a path deep into the city already, snaking from the North and to the western entrance that'd lead them into the mountain capital. After a few moments of deliberation, he came to an understanding. "The Sith Eternals are engaged with the Helgardi," he quietly murmurs. "Pick up the pace!" He'd say, suddenly taking off ahead.

His saberstaff coming to life as Force aided bounds sent him racing down the street.

The Knight Errant came across the scene of Sith Legionnaires engaging with the Helgardi. Bodies strewn about, there was mild surprise that what he suspected had come to be.

"Eliminate them both. They're all obstacles." Ragnar called out over his shoulder. The fastest of the stormtroopers catching up to him moments later. He could feel the presence of a Sith, and through the intermingling of legionnaires and natives, he carved a path of death to Darth Strosius . Until it was just the two of them. The battle raged around them, but as was typical, it wasn't wise to fire upon a lightsabre wielding foe.

"Run. Or fight?" Ragnar uttered the challenge amusedly. Their position would be overwhelmed regardless. The Knight Errant knew it. He wondereed if the Sith did as well. And he sprung forwards, regardless of answer, the bottom end of his saberstaff rotating up to tower above them both before slashing down to arc into the life threatening attack.

 

[Jorus Fel]

G L A D I U S
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
501st STORMTROOPER LEGION
BLIZZARD FORCE
NIO // ALIES // Irveric Tavlar @ | Willan Tal | DECEASED Erskine Barran | Ravraa Vyshraal | Tulan Kor | Noel Strasza | Onansi of Thyrsus
TSE // ENEMIES // Joesph Leigh // UX-0626
T H E _ L O N G E S T _ D A Y

T H E _ R E T U R N _ O F _ G L A D I U S _ C O M P A N Y​

Behind enemy lines,
Hjallaheim, Helgard

"You called, son? Good job forming a defense- not many cats around here have the displeasure of dropping where we did. We can't stay forever, though- we can't burn the fortress down from the side of the mountain, can we?"

I looked up at Tulan. The man looked immortal. Only with a beanie in this frigid cold and he seemed perfectly content with the fact. Tulan Kor was a notorious soldier, one who had more battles under his belt than I had lived days in my life. He was of short stature, I recall, but his shadow reached long and his fame even longer.

My answer never came as Rebel squeaked through the comms, <"Captain, Confederates!! Pinned us down, can't hold this much longer!!">

<"Ain't they got monsters to fight down South?"> Dumdum asked.

<"Cut the chatter, damn it!"> Espada barked, then turned to me and to Tulan. "Rebel might queen a lot but he's right - Demon gave us a breather but that breather's gone. We need to act now, Tiberius."

"Think I don't know that?"

"You don't look like it." she bit back. Lovely, as usual. "That head of yours working? Should I knock?"

"Shut up, I am fine." I wasn't. My head spun, rolled, and tumbled. Transmissions were coming in from the Galidraani Armor Brigade; they were asking us to hold.

We couldn't.

Not this iteration of the Company. Not with these greens. Not with me in charge. Not even with Tulan and the Demons.

And not on a damn slope pinned down with our only escape upwards into a fortress.

Hopelessness was a dirty schutta and she karked bad.

I switched off the casualty report, unable to bear the loss of young men and women to the guns of Sith, Confederate and Helgardi scum.

They would pay. They would all pay. Here, today, on Helgard. They would break them. And from Helgard the New Imperials would launch the fires of retribution upon Dromuund Kaas.

They had to.

A behemoth of an explosion took everyone's attention to the point the firing ceased and all eyes looked upwards at the top of the slope. Flames burned across the snowy edges of the fortress and smoke enveloped the sky. In the midst of the ash and cinder, I made out a familiar banner--

<"DOOM DIVISION!! WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!"> Rebel's screech echoed through the comms nearly decapitating me.

I knew that banner as well as I knew mine; that of Doom division. The unhinged soldiers with which Gladius Company had broken the spine of the Sith on Bastion and planted the New Imperial standard to wave proudly atop Fortress Carnifex.

Major Noel Strasza of Doom lined up on the hall of fame of Gladius along with Ravraa Vyshraal , FN-999, and others. Even though our end seemed inevitable, as I told you earlier, I couldn't help but smile. A devilish grin curling my lips beneath the helmet.

I had a plan.

Or a last resort, to be honest.

"You're grinning. You're grinning that damn stupid grin again, aren't you?" Espada read me like an open book, even with my helmet on. She knew me too well. "What you're thinking is madness, Tiberius!"

"Unfurl the standard, Lieutenant." I ordered her and unsheathed the vibroblade from my hip raising it to the skies. A defiance to the Gods who had cursed us with this fate.

We will not go gentle into the night.

<"GLADIUS COMPANY!">

<"FIX BAYONETS!">

<"GOTT MIT UNS!">​

And two hundred or so men sprung from their covers, a defiant roar in unison echoing across the bloodied mountain. Vibroblades as bayonets on our rifles, we rushed upwards the slope towards the opening in the fortress - our last hope for a safer position until the Galidraanis arrived.

Our final hour.

We pushed, even as bodies of brothers and sisters rolled down the slope from our reckless charge, we pushed. The Thyrsians arrival, as if a sign from the Gods of better times, raised our spirits and we, despite the dead brethren, blindly followed--

"FOLLOW THE BANNER!"

"FOR THE IMPERATOR!"​

"FREEDOM WE BRING!"​

​

 

[Willan Tal]

Brigadier General- Willan Tal
1st Galidraani volunteers armoured infantry brigade
1st Battalion of the Brigade' Fighting first.'
New Imperial Order
Location: Hjallaheim city
OBJ2
Ally tags: Vostok Grauv Zakaria Black Ragnar the Untested Djorn Bline Lyra 'Sybila' Voikryt Republic Engineering FN-999 Enedina Tal Kolson Vrask Tyrell Paxxus Ravraa Vyshraal Noel Strasza Creuat Uriel Tokarev Arminius Tiberius Careena Fett Ves Fett Rika Hiro

Enemy Tags: TBA

<< "Captain Rycus to General Tal, this is a SITREP, we are moving to engage enemy positions around Gladius company position, stay sharp over." >> - Ragnar the Untested

The crackle from the coms irked his ears, or perhaps it was the never-ending cacophony of weapons being fired above and around them. He had no idea if they were winning or even closer to Gladius company, but he couldn't share that concern with his tiny tank crew.

"Captain Rycus's forces have attacked CIS positions directly in and around Gladius Companies vicinity, but we're still gonna be the ones to break the vice grip around Tiberius's boys," he told them, keeping his eyes outside the hatch.

"Copy that," the tank driver replied.

"Good lad," He said in turn. Tal found the timely intervention of other local Imperial units well-timed, but he didn't dwell on it, he was busy trying to find a pair of binoculars.

"Keep a straight path," he ordered as he found a pair strapped to the side of his seat. Either side of them on the muddy road, several groups of Galidraani roops were spread out in lines two rows deep. They were pretty bunched up, but they were making good speed through the road. Flamers from Black Sgáire company kept behind the lines of jogging troops, on hand to clear out any buildings that might've held lone wolf shooters or nests of Sith troops.

"So," his driver said after two minutes of silence. "do we get a pay rise after this offensive?"

Exhaling, he replied while adjusting the lens of the binoculars.

"If you and I and the rest of the boys make it through this campaign lad, I'm quite certain i'll make sure to it you and the lads get a pay bonus, now patch me through to Major Barran old boy."

The driver nodded and pressed a combination on the radio controller to his left-hand side before putting both his hands back on the tank controls.

<< "This Brigadier General Tal 1st battalion to Major Barran 2nd battalion, me and my boys, will take the lead on the assault and you boys fill in behind over, oh and do be a good sport Barran and remove any baggage of taking prisoners, Tal out.">>

He sunk back, taking a seat for the first time in the battle tank. While Barran took the lead behind with his armoured column, he watched the vehicles ahead of him crowd the open space forward, and dismounted infantry take up various positions in cover. He trusted in his driver's experience and let him pick out a good spot next to some apartments that didn't look like they were about to crumble. He had an overview of Tiberius's position leading towards the district's junction and the houses stretching out on both sides.


<<"2nd Battalion will cover the assault," >>the Brigadier Generals voice rang out from the comms. <<"First Battalion will punch straight through while combat engineers clean up isolated Helgardi positions left behind, my boys will attack along the main road. Wait for the order to advance.">> He couldn't say the situation daunted him much. He'd much rather fight in the open than in some dark tunnels like on Bastion.


He gave the signal from his position on the apartments overlooking the surrounded and bravely resistant Gladius company.

<<" Give them hell boys, may Galidraan forever prosper.">>

The Galidraanis hit the already fractured opposition hard from behind, not only were they met by Tiberius's brutal charge, but they faced a combined armoured infantry assault that quickly overran their positions and shattered their encirclement.

Squads of Sith troopers and other random Sith soldiers stood with their hands on their heads in surrender rather than face the Galidraani onslaught. Many throwing down their weapons as the Galidraanis closed in on their trenches, only for their cries of mercy to be snuffed out by blaster fire that turned their fox holes and ditches into makeshift mass graves. Some of his men simply beat them to death with their rifle butts or bayoneted them, to his left a Galidraani bayonetted a dying Sith soldier in the visor and twisted the point in viciously. The wounded man's arms were flailing on either side as he let out a choked warbling sound as blood filled up his helmet. The Galidraani bayoneted the man a second time to make sure and turned to salute Tal as the Galidraani general walked past while escorted by several soldiers.


"Someone point me out Tiberius and makes it quick, we have further points to secure before this wretched planet is ours and i don't fancy standing around in this graveyard all day."

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[Darth Strosius]

Location: Sauofellslond
Objective: Defend the City / Reclaim the City
Equipment: Lightsaber
Tags: Willan Tal / DECEASED Erskine Barran / Dorian Sicarrio / Savoh Muska / Ragnar the Untested / Kosca Gaelt
Allies: TSE / CIS Forces
Enemies: NIO / Helgardi Populace
----------------------------------------------------

It didn't take long for the Legionnaires within the city to engage in close-quarters-combat, and Alisteri was no different. The acolyte stuck with the squad that he had followed in, determined to have some sort of backup alongside him. This city was a nightmare. The Helgard populace proved to be a menace to deal with. Not only did they have the homefield advantage, their surprisingly devastating melee weaponry and tactics nearly tore the masked acolyte and the squad to shreds on more than one occasion.

Thankfully, Alisteri wasn't exactly easy to put down anymore.

Well...he wasn't that easy to put down anymore.

He had no idea where any other squads were, nor what the over all situation was on the planet. He had no doubt that the rest of the city had fallen into various areas of engagement by now, regardless of who was fighting where. All that he did know was that they needed to get somewhere defensible, both from the NIO forces and from the Helgardi.

First they would establish areas of control and safety, then they would move to retake the defenses of the city. Of course, they would need to establish somewhere safe from the Helgardi first.

That would be a hard place to find.

Finally the acolyte and his allies emerged out into a small courtyard somewhere in the city, finding a couple of other Legionnaire squads making a valiant stand against an onslaught of Helgardi. It seemed as if a dozen corpses littered the are already. They quickly sprung into action, the Legionnaires forming up to make firing lines to hold back their enemies whist the masked man engaged the Helgardi directly.

The Sith Acolyte and the Legionnaires did their best to stand firm against the alien threat, doing their best to try and pin the incoming enemies into alleys and streets that they could gun them down in.

Of course, their efforts were soon in vain as the Stormtroopers and a certain Knight Errant arrived to join the fray.

"Hold the line! If it isn't ours then you put it down!" He barked an order to whatever Legionnaires would listen, wheeling around to face the new threats with his sabre held high. His eye narrowed as he noticed Ragnar the Untested, swapping his lightsaber to his left hand. This was going to be a long day already, and it had barely begun.

"And here I thought the NIO despised Force users." Alisteri spoke as he spotted his opponent, a small smirk crossing his face at the question. "As if you don't know the answer already. Heathen scum."

A growl left him as the Knight Errant began their duel, swiftly bringing up his sabre to block or deflect the attack whilst his free hand curled into a fist. They had to get out of here soon, the Legionnaires could barely handle the Helgardi with his assistance. With Stormtroopers to fight as well, it was only a matter of time until they were overwhelmed.

He had to kill the person fast.

 

[DECEASED Erskine Barran]

Lord-Major Erskine Barran
1st Galidraani-Volunteers Armoured-Infantry Brigade,"Tal's Devils"
2nd Battalion,"Blue-Hearts"
New Imperial Order

LOCATION: Saoafellslond, inner-city

OBJECTIVE 2: Siege of Hjallaheim/Saoafellslond

ALLIES: Willan Tal Black Sgáire Ragnar the Untested Kosca Gaelt Savoh Muska Dorian Sicarrio Tiberius Noel Strasza Rika Hiro

<"2nd Battalion will cover the assault, 1st Battalion will punch straight through while combat engineers clean up isolated Helgardi positions left behind, my boys will attack along the main road. Wait for the order to advance.">

<"Give them hell boys, may Galidraan forever prosper.">

The fateful words that unleashed the last phase of Galidraan's most-aggressive showing yet, and Tal's wishes may well have been granted that day without ever knowing, for all that Lord Willan could know in that moment was that he was experiencing the intended makings of the very-first strategic masterstroke of (what he intended to be) many in the impending months. The engineers were rushing bunkers and leaving them fiery and blown out from within, the Blue-Hearts supporting with all the sustained-firepower they could muster, and the fighting 1st were charging in to the center of the enemy's ramshackle defences with bayonets fixed; the exiled Galidraani volunteer-brigade had never looked so powerful, and every officer who looked on couldn't help but feel proud of their collective assault-breaking achievement.

Cries of,"God save Galidraan!","Saor gu Woad-Macushla!", and,"For the Imperator!", reverberated off the crumbling walls of the inner-city's shot out buildings, bringing death and destruction at the edge of their bayonets, vibraknives, rifles and blaster-pistols. Some would even report hearing cries of,"Gott mitt uns!","Follow the banner!", and,"Freedom we bring!", from the 501st, seen sallying forth from within by the men of Tal's fighting 1st. Whoever was caught between the two lines of vibratech bayonet-charges would never get the chance to surrender properly, even as some tossed their weapons aside with hands held high, the charging lines would advance without mercy; the encircled assault force didn't even stand a chance to begin with, but seeing the collective efforts of the 1st and the 501st was enough for Barran to think it more a massacre than an assault-breaking action. Not that Erskine minded, he was just relieved to see Tiberius' banner still flying proudly, climbing through the hatch to re-enter his winter-ACV with a genuine (though hidden) smile on his face.
Nicely done, Tal. Nicely done indeed.....

'Myles is asking,"What now, Milord?". What should I reply with?'

Looking around the surrounding area, the Lord-Major snorted derisively at the fleeing Sith-troops and Helgardians in full-rout, picking his targets with as much ease as choosing a tie for a classy social-event. As he put the optics away. Erskine turned to Shugg, then pointed his adjutant towards the optics he'd just set aside as he replied,'We chase those bothersome flies down, Tal's done the deed as far as ah can tell.', passing the hipflask to Shugg as he moved past Barran to sit where the Major had been sitting before. 'And they're ti sweep the area for enemy survivors as soon as they're done wi that. Go for it.', the Major muttered, opening one of the side-slats as Shugg readied the comms and the ACV's optics.

'Shugg to CC One! Chase the idiots we routed just there, Myles. Then we sweep the area for other routing survivors, understood?'

<"Myles to Blue-Heart Bravo! Loud - and - clear, sir! Will signal ti sweep when we're done wi this sorry lot! CC One out!">

Driving straight, with no orders to veer around the dead bodies in front of them, the Cataphracts just rolled their tracks over without any loss of traction or acceleration in the process. To be a hidden Helgardi, watching on as the tanks crushed everything laying in their path, regardless of whether the bodies in front were still alive or not, would be the most heart-rending, sickening thing to see. Not that the Blue-Hearts had the time or the will to dwell on their actions, forward was forward and no retreat was needed; the tank-crews knew and didn't bother about it, and no changes in circumstance could've stopped the moment from coming to pass. Dead would certainly be so if it was lying on the road out from the previously-embattled position of Tiberius and his 501st, serving as the 2nd Battalion's most-brutal expression of resolve thus far.

'Can ye hear-'

'-Shugg, don't.', Barran growled with mild disdain, obviously irritated at the captain's suggestion that such sounds and circumstances were new to him. putting index and middle-finger just below his eyelids, Erskine then pointed towards the optics again, brooking no arguments (and certainly no platitudes) on the matter as Barran turned back to the window-slat on his right-hand side. In a short, acquiescent sigh of relenting calm, Lord Erskine dropped the commander act for a moment to say,'Ah know you mean well, Shugg. Just think a little before you talk glaikit, 'cause we both know ye couldni be any further-removed fi galikit if ye tried. Galidraan's finest trained you much better than that, so be better than that. I need ye at yer best for the rest o' this war, or at least until the replacements arrive. Hink ye can manage that?'

'Ah wull, but only if ye stick to the homeward-promise,"As mine will to fight death hangs by threads even thinner than your own-". Hink ye can manage that, milord?'

<"Oeg to Blue-Heart Bravo! You better clean those tank-tracks yourself if you want us going anywhere near them, understood?">

'Shugg to ENX One! Just wait and see how the snow and gravel set about rectifying that, so they'll be gleamin' and warm to the touch by the time any of you need to repair them. And you can bank on that wan, mate. Blue-Heart Alpha out!'

Smirking again, Lord Erskine exclaimed,'See? Smart when ye wanty be!', as he endearingly punched the upper-arm of a friend who'd been with him since the day Barran and his family were exiled for their own safety. Pulling his friend back by the shoulder, acting as if he was about to punch him in the chest, opting instead to slyly snatch the ACV's optics from the face of his adjutant to see the situation with his own eyes. 'Too slow, Shuggy-boi! Too slow....', Barran started, creating conversational dead-air as he surveyed the surrounding city streets, but the Captain had pick-pocketed his Lord-Major's whiskey in the process, and it wouldn't take Erskine long to notice.

<"Myles to Blue-Heart Bravo! Sweeping the area now, sir. All those who routed are presumed to be KIA!"

'Shugg to CC One! Good work, now level the surrounding area. Don't stop until there's nought left but the 501st Legion's redoubt! Blue-Heart Bravo out!'

Once the sweep had been ordered, the Cataphracts and walkers prowled the streets with all weapons chambered and ready, yet somehow finding allies instead and often standing down to allow the free movement of friendly units instead. Some small pockets of resistance were still trying to fight off the growing swarm of infantry units, but such would quickly be proven to be little more than token resistance at best; not that it mattered to the NIO stormtroopers they saw charging on these positions, as each group the Blue-Hearts saw doing this had bayonets fixed and were charging in with murderously-wild warcies, such that promised only death for those whose positions were being stormed by them. Some would yield to the NIO with hands behind their heads, others were smarter than that, but the process would be made all the quicker for Barran's allies either way; those who were dragged out were promptly bound, blindfolded and lined up against the nearest wall to face their ultimate judgement, a near-immediate process that shook some of the other allies nearby, watching on as most were hanged and left on display.
Pointless, but there's many a violent frustration to be vented on the Sith-scum, and my sympathies have been dry for decades!

​

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[Careena Fett]

[ Sea of Fire ]​

C a r e e n a _ F e t t

| Location | Laboratory Spire, Heioaboer​

| Focus | Ves Fett / Trajan Fett / Vyca Durren / Darth Tigran​

​

Careena glanced over at Ves as they were finishing up stowing their gear away, listening to Ves speak regarding prisoners as she spoke once Ves finished speaking, " Prisoners are not our concern. Neutralize if possible, but assuming they are anything like us, it would bring shame to be made one. Especially if they are dogs to Sith. " The interior of the transport would turn red as they approached their destination point, a squawk sounding off in Careena's head as she looked back at the Mandalorians inside of the transport, slamming her fist into the hatch console as the rear of the transport opened up as frigid wind flooded the inside of the gunship, promptly raising her fist up as she shouted in Mandalorian, ​

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​

<< " Vengeance for Mandalore and our people! " >>​

​

​

With that Careena turned back towards the lowered ramp, getting a running start as she lept out of the gunship and into the frigid, cloudy peaks of Helgard, spreading her arms out like a bird before promptly pressing them to her sides as she flew like an armored arrow through the sky, the rushing of clouds flashing past her visor as a steady beeping sound in her helmet began to rapidly accelerate as a dark shadow formed beneath her in the clouds, soon revealing her Basilisk War Droid that had been escorting the gunship to protect those who had not yet their own means of riding into battle.​

​

A swift activation of her thruster pack would flip her and slow her descent just enough to where she safely landed on her mechanical mount that moved at high speeds towards the tower. Tanks and troopers gathered around the tower would start to realize the threat coming from above as they turned their weapons to the skies, expecting that their AA-batteries would be active, but thanks to the neutralization and sabotage of the security hub, no such systems came online to tear the skies asunder. The tank crews would open fire as well as infantry firing shoulder-mounted rockets in an attempt to strike down the incoming hostiles.​

​

Careena would veer her war droid off to the side as it dipped and avoided the incoming explosions. Careena would keep her legs firmly seated on the Basilisk as she reached back and unholstered her signature rifle, shouldering it as she looked down the sights and took aim while moving at high speeds. Swift squeezes of the trigger and her blaster bolts would fly straight and true, pelting exposed Sith troopers in the chest and heads with her expert marksmanship as she approached closer to the tower. As the Basilisk neared, it would let out a metallic screech as it raised its arms, weapons mounted on them before unleashing a torrent of fire that strafed the area, Careena propping herself up into a crouched position before launching herself up as the Basilisk sped past, her rangefinder lowering as she took aim at the nearest tank and let a rocket fly from her pack. ​

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The tank would erupt into a ball of twisted metal and flame that belched black smoke into the frosty air, Careena landing at the base of the tower with both of her sidearms now drawn. Sith Troopers would begin to emerge from the tower as her Basilisk came flying back around, skidding along the ground behind Careena before whipping its body around its master to shield her from the incoming fire before letting out another screech, lashing out as it swiped at the nearest soldier that came within arm's length, grabbing a helpless trooper by their waist and crushing it in its grasp while Careena stepped forward to open fire.​

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[Wilhuff Krieg]

G R A ' T U A _ C U U N
SONS OF MANDALORE
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
SEVENTH FLEET | BATTLE GROUP 'CASSUS FETT'
PURGE DARKNESS​

Spoiler: Battlegroup Cassus Fett |

F L A G // : MAV Gra'tua Cuun | Our Vengeance | 8500m [ 100 // 100 ] BATTLECRUISERS //: MAV Solringen | Phaetra | 3000m [ 100 // 100 ] DESTROYERS //: NIV Barbarian....... | Pellaeon IV | 2000m [ 100 // 100 ] MAV Saxon............ | Pellaeon IV | 2000m [ 100 // 100 ] MAV Onslaught........ | Pellaeon IV | 2000m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Hand of Doom..... | Tartarus | 2000m [ 100 // 100 ] FRIGATES //: NIV Bola One.. | Vanto | 500m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Bola Two.. | Vanto | 500m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Bola Three | Vanto | 500m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Bola Four. | Vanto | 500m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Pilam One.. | Tirailleur | 500m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Pilam Two.. | Tirailleur | 500m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Pilam Three | Tirailleur | 500m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Pilam Four. | Tirailleur | 500m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Pilam Five. | Tirailleur | 500m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Pilam Six.. | Tirailleur | 500m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Gladius One.. | Cuirassier | 1000m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Gladius Two.. | Cuirassier | 1000m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Gladius Three | Cuirassier | 1000m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Gladius Four. | Cuirassier | 1000m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Halberd One.. | Cuirassier | 1000m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Gladius Two.. | Cuirassier | 1000m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Gladius Three | Cuirassier | 1000m [ 100 // 100 ] NIV Gladius Four. | Cuirassier | 1000m [ 100 // 100 ] CORVETTES //: Several Squadrons | Caçadore Several Squadrons | Gurkha Several Squadrons | Vandal STARFIGHTERS DEPLOYED //: Several Wings | TIE/OT Outlander Several Wings | Petard Droid Starfigher Several Wings | TIE/HF Slasher Several Wings | IPLT-01x Excursor Star Sloop Several Wings | TIE/INx Interceptor Several Wings | TIE/VX Vanguard Several Wings | TIE/HB Bruiser Heavy Bomber Several Wings | TIE/GA Mauler Ground Attack Several Squadrons | MK IV Starviper Attack Platform Several Squadrons | MK IV Viper Starfighters

BATTLE GROUP "Cassus Fett" Kestus Bralor​

STRENGTH
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Bastion was not enough. Mandalore was not enough. Nothing ever would be. This was war, war for existence. This would be a Galaxy, a realm ruled by those who let themselves be slaves to their gods, or the common man harnessing their fire. To Kestus, the ideological identity of Mandalorian and New Imperial meant little. If they did not endure this eternal struggle...and prevail, there would be neither.

Helgard Awaits.

And here, they would begin the fall. The fall of the Sith and begin the crumbling of the decrepit castle which had fixed itself into the gilded foundations of the Galaxy.

At the Sith arrival to the New Imperial blockade, it wasn't long until the horrid, foreboding silhouette of the Gra'tua Cuun, the flagship of the Sons of Mandalore, vengeance made manifest crept into the scape of battle. Accompanying Kestus, his retinue. The ensemble of heavy metal here to rain death on the Sith. His command was hybrid, between vessels manned solely by the New Imperial Navy and those manned by the Sons of Mandalore, each trained in tandem with the other. Externally, the distinction between these vessels would be the argent stencil of the Mythosaur skull impressed unto the underbelly of each starship, with rust red stripes running parallel through the Imperial grey.

Rising from the command throne of the Mandalorian dreadnought, Kestus pounded a closed fist against his Beskar heart.

It was time to make war.

Unlike the methodical and frigid nature of the New Imperial officer corps, Kestus undertook a more ritualistic approach to battle, as his Creed had demanded for generations.

<"We have our contact, bridge a line of communication to the King Enlil."> Kestus demands of his subordinate, Sayben Rook.

<"Aye, sir."> And a hail reached out to Enlil , the Mandalorian warlord appearing in his ornate Beskar'gam before his counterpart from Ketaris.

<"Your grace. It is...not ideal that we meet under these circumstances, never the less. We have the opportunity to forge a bond unlike any other. In combat. However, I will be assuming naval command of the New Imperial forces here. By orders of the Sovereign Imperator."> He states, pausing for a moment before continuing.

<"The Sith have prepared a concise advance toward the middle of our formation. We will allow for an elastic defense, with vessels embarking laterally to their advance, allowing for a full envelopment of our formation with their advance. They wish to be aggressive, then they will come to us on our terms. If they move to envelop, we will drive our own advance and cut them right in two, follow the lead of the Gra'tua Cuun when the time comes. They may be willing to fight us...but they can not endure the pain, the struggle.">

<"We will make them bleed. Brothers all."> He says, closing the communication with a Basic translation of the Mandalorian phrase.

<"Hold our destroyers back to the Gra'tua Cuun, appear to maneuver conservatively, have them in 'trident' formation lest we get the opportunity to envelop from the sides. Otherwise, we move to strike the face and underbellies of their vessels. As soon as we can clear the range to one of their larger vessels...we begin the charge. Otherwise, launch all fighter wings to intercept their own screens and move up packs to corner and isolate their corvettes."> The ramming blades of the Gra'tua Cuun yearned for blood.

<"Your will be done, Shipmaster."> The clan Rook kinsman replied.


So it begins.

THE WILL OF DEFIANCE
Enlil

THE PARASITES
Moff Drybis Lyken | Tristan Evore
​