Annihilation Shatterpoint | BotM Annihilation of GA Held Tython

[Shai Maji]

+ W A R D O G . P A G E C L A I M +

TYTHON | TEMPLE VALLEY
BROTHERHOOD OF THE MAW | SCARHOUNDS
ALLIES: MAW | Thomas Barran | The Mongrel | OPEN
ENEMIES: BURN THEM ALL | OPEN
ENGAGING: Kranak Vizsla | Sasha Kryze | Ghalric Rau | Xyoz Maji
GEAR: In bio | Standard loadout | shield

DYNASTIES AND DYSTOPIA​

A very familiar howl echoed overhead as the Wardog engaged her former vode on the ground, though she knew it wasn’t her Basilisk. When a jetpack joined in, she raised her shield overhead just in time to block several sonic rounds from another waste of fresh air.

Shai returned fire with her pistol as her shield collapsed inward, her jetpack holding her off the ground as she glared at the old soldier. ”If I wanted to fight a state pensioner, I’d hit you up, fossil.” She quipped back, drawing her second pistol from its holster against her thigh. ”But you’re here anyway, so let’s do this.” She growled, firing her wrist rocket at the old soldier.

”A rocket? Really?”

”Hey, gotta give him something to do at least.”

She fully expected him to evade it, he wasn’t some average infantry trooper. Which was why she let loose with a few whistling birds as well as she zoomed around him, firing off several rounds at him with her particle pistols.

At this rate, she was wondering who else would be coming after her. She was almost flattered by the sudden attention being directed at her. ”So what’s the briefing, huh commander?! You gonna try and tell me I’ve screwed up, or are you just gonna try and flatline me?” She called out to him as she glared down at the man.

 

[Silas Westgard]

Location: Tython
Objective: Defend the temple
Tag: Erion Justeene

Before he knew it the lightning stopped, ending his torture for the meantime. Smoke lifted from his burned body and clothing, scorched by the power of the darksider who tried to cook him alive. Compared to last time, the effects of the brutal lightning really wore him down. Not only did it hurt like nothing he felt in his life, but simply trying to defend against it was exhausting in itself.

Silas rolled to his side and grasped tightly to the lightsaber. He was certain any more of that would surely end him, there was only so much a body could take from electrocution. With one hand firmly placed to the floor, he struggled to get back to his feet. His legs felt like led, making them feel heavy when he stumbled back to a standing position with a loud groan. He needed to end this before the sith recuperated, it was now or never.

Staggering towards the crack a disturbance in the force soon stopped him in his tracks. Something unnatural was happening on the planet, a dark force which was literally beginning to rip reality in two. Silas was troubled by such an uncomfortable feeling, one that he didn't understand but knew had bad news written all over it. He truly wanted to know what was going on, but his mind wouldn't be able to unravel the mystery in time when the ground was pushed up from under him.

Rubble and himself included flew into the air, out of control and soon falling rapidly towards the crack itself. Silas yelled out loud on the way down, bracing himself for the extreme pain to follow. Unable to stop himself, the boy side collided first with a fallen pillar below. A snap, followed by a loud scream escaped his lips when he deflected off the stone structure. Curling into a ball he could feel the snapped ribs poke into his skin, compelling him to wheeze and gasp in a mixture of breathless agony and pain.

It was safe to say more than one was broken from the fall, and the fact every breath felt like daggers going into his lungs only proved that theory. Water surrounded his battered form, an environment that reminded him of the stone cold hull of a ship. Along with the freezing flood that slowly effected his body, something else was beginning to seep into his very soul.

Silas panted and began to finally get up, muffled cries sometimes being heard through the tightly gritted teeth. Every breath and part of him hurt. He just wanted it to end, but it wasn't that simple. The padawan had an unforgiving sith approaching with intention to kill him, only he could get out here alive. Looking up to him, he snarled in defiance at the man and used the same pillar he fell on to lean up against. Instead of words he failed to speak, a loud gasp was heard and heavy strikes were thrown towards his foe.

Attack after attack was more aggressive than the last, feeding off something that was far different than the happiness that returned to him when he joined the order. All to simply achieve one goal, survive.

 

[Runi Kuryida]

THE END IS THE BEGINNING

:: Hanger, Avatar of War​

"That is correct. Most lifeforms are. With your present company, I expected you would know that best." Fanaticism was a poor means of binding the blood thirsty together. A distraction so natural inclinations didn't consume them. If they weren't so violent they would be a wonderful anthropological study.

As for the Mandalorians... well it wasn't unheard of in their history that clan should battle clan. A fight like any other, some would say; with a 'worthy' foe others might add. Runi, however, didn't find much pleasure in watching the children of the Manda war with one another. Duel with each other. Even get into angry conflicts. But war? Could what glory was found there possibly compare to the loss in souls? She would not weigh the souls of the departed -- Runi would only hope that they would find peace in the next life.

The Shaman slid back on both feet across the floor. As she came to a stop, her helm lifted to regard her opponent that had been cast back from the explosive force as well. An unexpected reaction to the clash to be sure. Obviously this thing before her drew upon a deep darkness, though why she applied it to aid such as the Brotherhood in their desire to annihilate entire worlds Runi could not imagine. The Sith always had their flaws, and would occasionally crush a planet under their heel; but to do so -- or attempt to do so as the case might be with worlds such as Coruscant -- with such regularity was quite perturbing.

Her hazel eyes narrowed within the depth of her helmet as Onrai seemed engaged in drawing out another weapon. The Shaman pivoted left foot back with her right hand thrust out toward her foe; the wooden blade cradled in the web of her hand pointed off to the side. The Manda/Force surged about Onrai's target in the split second between manifestation of a wall of small, spherical objects. With so many small objects hurtling forward, and countless vod behind Runi, the Speaker of the Mandokarla couldn't afford to simply evade the attack. It was impossible for her to sacrifice her brothers and sisters in the Manda just to preserve herself.

In the blink of an eye, seven Runi Kuryidas formed their own skirmish line. As the small balls streaked across the hanger toward them, nary one sought to side step the oncoming assault. Yet, as fast as they appear they disappeared as though drawn back into the original that'd stood at their center and before the bulk of the onslaught that hurtled toward her. The Mandalorian woman staggered back a step as her body jerked to the right from two solid impacts along the side and several glancing blows.

The conjured power had finely sliced the air between the women into a multitude of isolated, dimensional planes. Flayed with such care, they were unceremoniously thrust together to form a single, unified being -- many worlds becoming one. Or in Onrai's case, many columns of ball bearings compressed into a one. With no time to evade, that column slammed into the Shaman. A sacrifice she paid to keep the wall from sailing by unopposed into all those behind her unaware of the danger.

Runi's right hand dropped, though the sword was still somehow held in her fingers as blood ran down the limb.

"Too impersonal." The Speaker raced across the distance between then faster than she had a right to; her cloak had lifted her feet just off the ground and sent her flying toward Onrai as a banshee with the left sword back and ready to level a series of strikes against the creature of darkness before her. Yes, the lack of close quarter combat had made her just as cross as thinking of the Sith's proclivity toward wanton destruction. It was time to rectify the situation with a wooden blade that burned with the Light. Sadly, it did burn and would not last long. Yes, Moira would be just as cross with Runi when this was over.

:: Allied: Sergeant Omen | Romul Saxon | Varik Awaud | Gwyneira Vizsla | Vulcan Krayt | Fenn Stag | Shakka Bralor | Kaz Krayt | Javik sudant
:: At Risk: Tor'r Tal'Verda | Kralmus Orr | Vorm
:: Engaged: Onrai ​

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Location: Tython’s ruined surface
Allies: Maw
Enemies: Valery Noble Kahlil Noble
Objective: 1

Blade against blade, might against might the Master of Ren eagerly pressed his blades against Valery. The spears lodged into him, while it managed to cut her it didn’t have the desired impact. Several of the spears lodged into him, he only pressed his heavy form as if to win the blade lock between Jedi and Ren. The smell of burnt flesh mixed in with the blades contact that had made the air crackle and sizzle the more they remained.

When she declared that he wouldn’t last long, he shot back. “Not when soon the Jedi, Sith, all of you will burn… I cannot tire, I cannot die… You will!” He hissed as he pressed his blades in a show of might. Proving his strength, he focused it all into the blade lock. Soon the sight and scent of her blood only added to that strength. His Voxyn senses running wild, and now the urge to consume her flesh was stronger than ever.

Around them the ground continued to crack open, fissures and deep chasms spewing lava turned Tython’s ground to an even bigger hellscape. The sky too filled with fire and smoke, the sun nearly blotted out and the colors of lightning, blaster fire, lightning and explosions are what illuminated the battlefield. While the Force remained dulled to his senses, his raw strength of his body stayed the same.

In the test of strength, Valery showed hers through cunning alone. Her blades deactivated just as he was pushing her close to a newly opened fissure within the ground. His heavy body combined with the momentum only caused him to lose his balance as he stumbled forward. Heading towards the chasm he wouldn’t go alone.

His head had gruesomely turned around back his head, the bones cracking as he made the sickening motion. With a growl his tongue shot out, wrapping it around Valery’s legs, as he went towards the edge of the chasm, his newest attempt would see his tongue drag her down with him, his body crashing through a tree before he was dangling over a cliff edge.

 

[Onrai]

Allies: SCAR Kralmus Orr Vorm
Enemies: Sergeant Omen Romul Saxon Varik Awaud Gwyneira Vizsla Vulcan Krayt Fenn Stag Shakka Bralor Kaz Krayt Javik sudant
Engaging: Runi Kuryida

"We all have our own different agendas we put aside." She said. "Mine are a bit more elevated than others.

Onrai blinked at the impressive use of the Force to respond to the attack - if some people had done that back when Mikhail Shorn was prowling the galaxy, perhaps they wouldn't have fared as poorly as they ultimately did. The reaction from the injured Mandalorian was completely unexpected. Onrai was surprised at her tenacity and pace, but immediately recalled that her possession of the superweapon gave her some unique options to respond to such an advance.

Without warning, the yorik coral of the hallway spontaneously grew, accreting itself into a wall in front of Runi's charge. Onrai herself had moved her avatar a step or two to one side, expecting whatever impact the Mandalorian likely had on the construct through the force of her momentum to result in a burst through the middle of the wall. If it happened, she would be ready to lash her with the Darkwhip.

 

[The Amalgam]

"Mother? Poison Gas was ineffective--" The Fixer Nuetralizer called out as Xiphos ripped a Mawite Sith in half. They had taken another section, the piles of dead left behind them resurrected as Zombies under Amy's control. They had lost a few more Model 3's and a few Model 1 units. But they were much closer to the core now.

The Matriarch of House Io huffed as she absent-mindedly crushed a Final Dawn Trooper's neck before tossing him aside like trash.

"I think it's time we escalate..." Darth Xiphos growled. "Amy, deal with it."

"Whatever you're going to do, do it quickly..." Maple grunted, reloading her Battle Rifle. "They'll be sending reinforcements here soon."

The Amalgam bid both her proteges to follow her to a security terminal the Fixer had sliced, showing where Joseph Torson and all his men were.

That was when the ship shuddered from the explosion caused by the Mandalorians. They had to do this now...

The Amalgam took a knife and cut open her palm, tracing strange runes and pentagrams onto the back of all their hands. The Zombies she had raised, in addition to the undead Zombie Atronachs suddenly stood at attention, disgusting and bleeding. The Amalgam began chanting.

It is easy to forget, given how much of a Troll The Amalgam is, how steeped in the Knowledge of the Dark Side and the Force in general she actually was. More than enough to give someone like Darth Solipsis a run for his money.

Both her proteges tensed at her perverse, rotting aura entwined lovingly with their own. Maple wanted to vomit in disgust at how close her spirit was to Amy at that moment, hating being joined to the depraved monster even momentarily.

"Our will in the Dark Side is the only thing that matters when it comes to the Force. We decide our fate through its embrace, as we always have..." The Amalgam spoke quietly in the multitude of voices from the legions of evil minds inside of her. "This technology is nothing compared to the might of the Dark Side, and these ignorant, foolish followers of the three Avatars conflate their miserable, feeble deities with the will of the Bogan, which is Change itself. It's very nature is to make every moment one of undiluted revolution...and that is what these Maw and Final Dawn types will never understand. And now we shall show them the full power of the Dark Side..."

The Amalgam began chanting in High Sith, the blasphemous tongue hurting the very spirit of Maple and Xiphos to the core. But they couldn't fight it this time. They had to let it pass through them...

("The Duel" by John Williams Plays)

It felt awful, like being soaked in freezing liquid garbage. But they bore the pain coursing through them as she channeled the Dark Side, her flesh shuddering all over her Skeleton as the power of the Darkness enveloped them, using their essence to enact something terrible.

Ahead and behind of Torson and his men, both the ones currently trying to pursue the Nutrient Storage team, as well as the ones who had been delayed on the same level the entire deck lurched, purple lightning arcing off surfaces as the decks collapsed, crushing together violently like some outside Force was squeezing it shut three sections ahead of them in every direction, the wreckage lashed together with lethal Dark Side energy, completely obstructing any attempt to move ahead or take alternate routes.

The entire deck the Amalgam was on shuddered, as she fed off the blasphemous energy of Darkness.

But that was not the worst part.

Drawing from the inherent gifts of Darth Xiphos. She teleported the army of living Corpses she and her favorite students had made in their relentless slaughter, first behind the Retribution Corps, lashed and held together by pure Dark Energy, cursed to be heavily resistant to any dispersion attempts. It didn't matter if you shot them in the head. It didn't matter if you used grenades. The dark energy that lashed them together would absorb much of the effect of either.

But the situation Torson faced was even worse than that.

Portals of Dark Side energy opened in every direction, right as the gargantuan Zombie Atronachs the Amalgam had used to clear out momentarily the area in her section were teleported a dozen meters behind Torson's team. Large, gargantuan, and disgusting, each lashed together from over a dozen corpses, both Mawite and Final Dawn armor showing in certain places as they charged with unearthly roars from a dozen different victims of The Amalgam's magic

From the portals lashed out tendrils, long, snaking tendrils in all directions, moving and whipping about in blinding speed trying to catch, ensnare, and forcibly drain the life of any who dared to try and move through them, whipping about unpredictably as the undead bore down on them from separate directions, both Airlocks and the hull itself sealed up by Dark Side Energy to prevent any desperate escape attempts.

Both Retribution Corps and Super Commandos were under severe threat from multiple directions. The zombies outnumbered either Heavily, and the Zombie Atronachs were not going down without severe punishment inflicted, and with the tendrils, the completely crushed together sections ahead to Nutrients storage cutting off almost any way for Torson and the Hand of Judgement to get ahead, allowing the assault team to get even further ahead when the Fixer messaged them to run for it, The Final Dawn wasn't exactly looking quite so Final. For what was a Dawn, even a Final one but a herald to the inevitable power of the Dark Side, which had the final say on all forms of change in the Universe? No one was immune to its whim, even arrogant fools who thought themselves above it's might. Even now it moved it's pieces into place. The buzzing of a fly's wings here, a blaster bolt missing someone or something it should have hit there, a drop of blood hitting the right spot of a stone floor at the right moment, each setting into motion a chain of events, all converging and diverging at the same time, all more powerful than any mere Super Laser could hope to be.

Ahead of the Amalgam and her team, power, Dark Side fueled explosions ripped through decks of the super structure, killing scores of Maw as they were vented out into space by large explosions, sections crushed and held together by the Dark Side to choke off reinforcements like they had with the Hand of Judgement.

The Amalgam's flesh stopped shuddering, the ritual self sustaining. She looked at her proteges, both sickened and Ill by what they had allowed into themselves to do this terrible, Godless thing.

"Don't worry, my favorites...one day you will welcome it's power..." The Amalgam said in a disturbingly gentle tone not at all like her usual homicidal troll voice, even as Maple violently yanked her hand away.

Darth Xiphos stared at The Amalgam for a moment...and hugged her. The Amalgam said nothing and Xiphos didn't say anything either, instead smiling wickedly and switching on her saberstaff as she led the charge...

Xiphos caught Maple's horrified stare upon her.

"Don't judge me..." Xiphos whispered before turning to join her former master.

"Too late for that..." Maple said even more quietly before following behind them.

"Holy Conjuration, Adam!" Burt The Black Knight exclaimed to his comrades in arms, Adam. "You think The Amalgam could summon some sort of rocket powered speeder for us to drive in?"

"Sorry, Darlings. My skill set is kinda 'iffy' in that department." The Amalgam explained bemusedly as they followed her.

"Burt, it's unfair of us to expect so much of our allies. We can easily invest in it the honest way, as Tython's fair citizens expect us to. And rocket powered speeders are not license to run people over, no matter how tempting." Adam The Black Knight explained as he flicked the blood off his sword.

"I suppose you're right." Burt admitted sheepishly.

"Okay, seriously, what the feth is wrong with you two?" A Model 3 asked, having never thought he would meet an organic that would actually frighten him...

(NARRATOR: The Hand of Judgement finally gloved?! Joseph Torson, finally stymied? Will The Avatar weather the storm of Aximand Sicarus ?. Is Tu'teggacha about to be renamed Tu'tegotcha? Has Tython finally succumbed to Galactic Villainy? Tune in next time to solve these vexing riddles! Same Black Knight Time! Same Black Knight Channel!)

Meanwhile...


" Starlin Rand decided to blurt out who Syd had really been during Csilla..." The Parliament answered. "It was at that point I just decided to stop fighting the situation and realized my destiny was always the Cult. As for what killed you...It was a Heathen Priest of the Maw... They sent me a video of them taking you apart."

The Parliament blinked. "I had Exogal put to the torch in response, and it's women and children sacrificed to The Brain Demon..."

Then she smiled, and chuckled. "The psychic pain from the way I had them all murdered traveled all the way to Coruscant and struck the Padawans of the temple dead. Trolled the Council for a solid month over that. You should have seen the amount of memes that sprouted...but you're here now and it is so, so, so good to see you again!" she gushed as Percival Io handed her a severed finger.

"Oh. Thank you Sweetie! You're such a darling! Mommy loves you!" she hissed manically. From the facial twitches there could be no doubt she meant every word, no matter the level of insanity. Yet in spite of her more glamorous appearance, it was clear something was...broken about her...

This Xiphos had either had less will power than his, or perhaps too much of it. Either possibility was equally terrifying to contemplate.

The Xiphos Who Laughs opened a panel on the side of the charge that had been hit, and began fixing broken wires to the muscle tissue.

"Sweetie? I would very much like it if you and your brothers escorted me closer to the destroyer and run interference. I have missed hearing your voice..."

 

[Aculia Voland]

XIII Elysium Battlegroup (30 km/30,000 meters).

Remaining Forces:
15x Carrier Task Forces:
15x Aspis Pocket Carriers
113x Aculeo Mini Carriers

520/570 Total Starfighter Squadrons:

200/225x Strike Eagle Fighters Squadrons

30x Flying Falcon Interceptor Squadrons

287/312x Screeching Owl Bomber Squadrons

3x Argus SAWACs Squadrons.




-------------------------------------Units Highly Likely to be destroyed/take heavy losses next on my next post-------------------

3x Aspis Pocket Carriers, 17x Aculeo Mini Carriers depending on Tu'teggacha


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tactical Battle Map + Summary of Actions ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spoiler

- Keatoch 's strikecraft delegated to Aculia begin their attack runs on the Fatalis's escorts first, then the Fatalis itself, and if those get ruined properly, go to hit the Avatar's Superweapon, aided by the fact Tu'teggacha sent his strikecraft to Tython instead of protecting his capitals.
-Aculia diverts 3 Aspis's and 17x Aculeo's to serve as a screen and sacrifice themselves against the Samael Frigates long enough for the returning bombers/interceptors guarding them to take them out. The remaining forces of the Task Force whisk away to the other two Task Forces, split roughly evenly. This includes her command ship, the HMS Valiant Aspis, another Aspis, and around 20 Aculeos.
-The closest 170 fully loaded squadrons of bombers to the Fatalis and its Escorts along with 90 Strike Eagle squadrons to protect them are re-diverted back to begin their original attack in the same fashion, following the same target priority above, now that the Eternal Empire has decided to help out and deal with Sularen's Wraith capital ships. Their goal is to collapse Task Force Bogan, leaving the Avatar of War open on the Starboard flank to continued attacks from heavier ships at close range.
-110 Squadrons of Strike Eagles + Interceptors combined, the closest to the carriers/Malorn/Eternals etc, go to assist Eternal strikecraft in overwhelming Sularen's fighters and missile boats.
-25 Squadrons of Interceptors go to protect the 117 returning squadrons of bombers hitting the Samael Frigates/Carriers diverted to shield the remaining remnants of the carrier group being attacked. 93 of these bomber squadrons have expended their heavier anti-capital ordnance but still retain their powerful built-in up-to-cruiser tier heavy laser cannons. The remaining 25 Squadrons still have their full complement of anti-capital ordnance in addition to their heavy laser cannons. After they complete their runs they are ordered to return and rearm in the carriers.
-Included is a helpful tactical battle map below for lazy people.

Spoiler

​

Aculia gripped her seat as the HMS Valiant dived hard and away from the incoming Mawite strikecraft, grimacing as she barked out her next set of orders. Luckily for her, the Eternals opened up with their flak cannons on the Mawite forces and they diverted away to deal with them. That was quite a relief as they sped away from the legions of starfighters and missile boats that could have posed horrific losses to both her own group and her strikecraft before being dealt with. That momentary relief, however, was broken as the Samael-class frigates moved to intercept, having the speed to close the distance the bulky Mawite Star Destroyers did not. The closest of the returning bombers to her would be more than enough to deal with them…but sacrifices would have to be made to delay them long enough for that to happen.

"Divert the HMS Vindicator, Saber and Aurora, along with the Saber and Vindicator's Aculeo detachments to shield us against those frigates while the Valiant, Hope, and Aurora's Aculeo detachment spread out to the other two task groups diving below and behind the Mawite fleet. They should buy us time for the first of returning bombers to deal with them."

Captain Severin, holding on to one of the pipes crisscrossing the deck, glanced at her.

"Sir…our carriers won't last long against those frigates..."

"No, they won't." She replied, gritting through her teeth, her blue eyes taking on a steely glint. She knew she could have played more conservatively if she had simply held back behind the heavier ships of the Alliance's line, and saved the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of men. But then she and Keaton would not have been able to inflict such heavy losses as quickly as she did upon the Mawite starboard flank.

I'll make them pay for every single lost soul three times over.

As the selected frigates and corvettes moved to screen the task force the Samaels under heavy ion cannon bombardment, their shields spraying with blue light and beginning to buckle, the remainder of the mauled first Task Force moved to regroup with the other two safely behind the alliance line, splitting up equally between them. The first waves of returning bombers returned in to pummel the Samael frigates as they did so-they may take some of her carriers with her, but in return she was determined to make them pay just as badly. Heavy concentrated laser fire struck towards the shields of the Samaels, followed by the heavy concussion missiles, ion torpedos, and proton torpedos. Both sides would soon, in all likelihood, take extremely heavy losses there.

"Further orders!" She shouted. "Divert the closest 110 Squadrons of Strike Eagles to help the Eternals plus five interceptors making sure to stay clear of their flak fire with relayed coordinates, in waves of course! Between us they will be outnumbered three to one or perhaps even more in strikecraft! Protect the Eternal ships, they are what saved us from annihilation here!" She barked, sweat pouring down her forehead in rivulets.

"Those returning bombers closest to us who finished dropping most of their heavy ordnance, attack those frigates with your heavy anti-capital laser cannons, and then return to the two remaining strike groups to rearm and repair along with twenty-four of the closest fully-loaded squadrons once they are finished! Take twenty-five squadrons of interceptors back with you to guard you as well just in the event of any diversions or another attempted Thrawn Pincer with smaller ships!"

"The 170 fully loaded Squadrons of Screeching Owls and 90 Squadrons of Strike Eagles closest to the Fatalis's escorts, the Fatalis itself, and the Avatar's superweapon in that order, divert again back to your attack runs on it. The Mawite ambush bought them some time, but thankfully the Eternals decided to help and deal with a lot of their capital ships and fighters! With this, we can continue our original attack relatively interrupted-it did not go without notice the Fatalis sent its own complement to the planetary surface instead! If you can forward Strike Eagles, also provide support to the Eternals' fighter and bomber squadrons moving towards the superweapon as well, providing no Mawite strikecraft backup harasses them too!"

"Keatoch's fighters and bombers! Welcome to the 13th Battlegroup's Command! Do the same as I just commanded our closest fighters and bombers, focus on the Fatalis's escorts first, then the Fatalis, and then the Avatar of War and its superweapon! We will break their lines here right now and collapse their Starboard flank! Once its escorts are gone, the Fatalis is a sitting duck! And once the Fatalis is gone, so is the Avatar of War!"

Aculia gasped out that last line, as she quickly tank another deep gulp of her water as the surviving remnants of Task-Forces 1-5 made their way to the other two task forces. Of the returning bombers and interceptors, once they finished rearming and repairing, she would keep some near her two task forces to prevent the same tactic of jumping in some fast smaller ships to mess with them again, although she considered that to be extremely unlikely, given all the gravity wells being activated everywhere both by the allied fleets and the opposing forces. Not to mention she was closer to the allied lines-it would mean more travel time to the Fatalis and Avatar for those bombers returning to rearm in the future, but was safer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TAGs~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Albrecht F. Herlock VADM Tarsa Doon Caoimhe Crannach Caarlyle Rausgeber Tu'teggacha Aldo Garrick Derix Tirall Akûz the Ravager Marlon Sularen Onrai KV-6000 Artemis Toth Mith'akis'ormo Mylo Thorne Tren Chaar Vaux Gred Balt Vizsla Romul Saxon Vemric Keldra Maple Harte Verin Oldo

If I forgot anyone, forgive me.

 

[Kirie]

​

​

FALTERING​

Tython,
Jedi Temple Ruins (Northern Lines)
ATTN: Zark San Tekka | Aerys Myrrine | The Mongrel
Vicinity: Wedge Draav | Coren Starchaser | Celeste Rigel | Thurion Heavenshield | Alessandra Io | Project Uriel | Caltin Vanagor + Others
[OPEN]

The Maw pressed forward, and thankfully the NIO line opened up to absorb Kirie's retreating squad, or what was left of them, for at least half of the soldiers that had climbed the the top of the ridgeline now lay dead.

Kirie was grateful the Imperial squad had seen reason, but her relief was short-lived, as both squads, Alliance and Imperial, were now hemmed in, surrounded by cultists who lay slaughtered in piles already, but whose advance had not slowed since they had first rushed through the old temple ruins.

The Imp commander addressed her, both she and Kirie sheltered for a moment in the press of bodies slowly moving backwards, fighting off the cultists as they walked. For the moment it was a retreat, not a rout, but it wouldn't be long before the line was broken.

"Please tell me, you lot got a way off this rock, cos while I'd love to believe me own nation wouldn't leave their own to die. I'm fairly certain that Rurik Fel bloke is more than keen to let the rest of us perish for his name."

Kirie opened her mouth to answer the woman, but her words were lost in the din as an artillery strike came down frighteningly close, driving Kirie down to one knee and transforming the hillside into a world of noise and death and dirt for the next several seconds. In the strike she had lost the woman. Kirie looked around frantically for the commander, they had to move, they were out of time!

Then, amid the artillery fire and the great roar of the battle came a rousing song, first only the Imperial commander, her artificial hand held high, then more voices as the imperial squad joined in.

"When Dosuun fi-i-rst- Aro-o-o-ose from out the- DOSUUN! AVALONIA! CHARGE!"

Kirie nodded as her Nova Corps soldiers looked at her, confirming what was about to happen. They were out of room to retreat, so they would charge, and charge together.

Finally the signal came, and Kirie rushed forward with the rest of them, first splaying her palm to fell the forward line with a wave of energy, then crashing her shoulder into the cultist waiting behind, sending them sprawling. Another grabbed Kirie and threw her to the ground, only her preternatural reflexes saving her from the bladed weapon which swiped down to end her life. She scrambled to her feet and kept moving. Next to her, the Imperial commander gasped out a warning. They needed to get out of there or all of them would be dead within minutes.

"A ship" Kirie replied between strained breaths. "I have… A ship."

"Not far." She was unsure if they would reach it, before the ground opened up to follow them, or before the cultists cut them all down. "Hurry!"

Kirie cut left, sliding down the side of the rocky ridgeline with reckless abandon. If they could make it to the Mercury, they might stand a chance. The ship wasn't big enough to evacuate all of them, not even with their numbers so reduced, but laser cannons and a defensible position might give them enough time to hold out until the Imperial's backup arrived.

 

[Ishida Ashina]

THE NEW JEDI ORDER | TYTHON | ASCENDING AKAR KESH

​

Hands grasped at dirt and stone, white-knuckled and desperate until they were strong enough to pull herself over the final ledge. Each breath was ragged, one after the other until her knees met her hands-on flat ground and the peril of falling to her doom was gone.

With a stabilizing exhale, Ishida lifted her eyes from the dirt.

Fissures crackled through the sky, and Ishida felt mirrors of those lines trace through the intimacies of her veins. The dirt in her hands ground against her palms as she dragged her fingers through the dirt, clenching the grit in her grip and rose to stand. Small pieces, less than fragments, of Ashla’s moon intermingled with the dust of Akar Kesh and kissed against the heir to Ashina’s palm. The light found its way to empower her. The planet was still tangible. But, she swayed when she tried to extend her awareness beyond herself. Even her tether with Bernard’s essence felt wonky.

Silver eyes looked up, at the apex of Akar Kesh. The evil still spread. Cracks gleamed through the dark stormy clouds. Raindrops felt like stones against her face.

The loudness of an approaching ship conflicted with the animatronic voice from a memory in the back of her mind:

"This isn't the Maw's cycle; we are only a part of it. This is the galaxy's cycle. These people cannot opt out of the laws of nature. They cannot deny reality just because it is cruel."

The loudness turned into a silhouette, then the sound of an engine, then violent metal, then ——

— The starship exploded less than a meter from her position.

Fire bloomed out, and the rock cracked, crumbled, and snagged separating lines up to the base of Ishida’s feet. She scrambled back as part of the edge fell away. Her arm bent to shield her eyes from the spray of flames that belched from the impact as the ship and pilot fell away.

Another death. Another life was lost because she’d let him, the devil, live.

Guilt hummed in her bones. A foreign feeling — regret — nagged at her muscles.

The beast in a crouched position was both the same, and not the same, as the one she had fought on Jedha and Selvaris. Everything about his physical self was different. Where he’d had horns, lips, muscle, bone, flesh before, he had none now. Fleshless and more machine than man, her archfoe stood across from her. And she could only recognize him from the aching hum in her chest. Like a permanent sting that stretched through the air in incomprehensible lines, lattices, patterns, intersecting with networks of his own that were only faintly visible to the young warrior. But the longer she stared, the more incomprehensible the situation was to her, the more real it all became.

“Laoth!” She meant to yell, but the smoke in her lungs morphed it into a cough. Intentionally positioning herself between the monster and anyone else, she took a prowling step toward him. He was the one undeserving of her mercy, she should be the one to end him.

Had this man killed her master?

"Did you kill him."

Was it real that he was here now, standing across from her? On Jedha, a voice had rung out — telling her he still had to learn. That had been her first mistake. She’d listened to a voice that saved the life of a Sith. Why? Why had she done that? Questions like these, and others similar formed in her mind, but she never spoke them. They died on her lips and fear withered her tongue in her mouth.

Undulations rippled through the world around her that made her pause intentionally. Not hesitate. Centre. She centred herself. The grip she had on her sabre tightened.

"No more." Her words forced a crispness she didn’t feel and teetered between a promise to herself, and a threat to him. Her body’s positioning tightened into her defensive stance. Her sabre was drawn across her face in a reverse grip, her other hand ready to call the katana slung across her back.

---

ALLIES | NJO | GA | Bernard
FOES | BROTHERHOOD OF THE MAW | Laoth

 

[Rika Hiro]

Rika Hiro|SIA Compnor|mountains of madness
A S C E N S I O N
Tags:// Don Belkora Darth Ptolemis

I hadn't felt your arrival, stranger... Show yourself, so that I may learn why you chose to walk willingly into the dark.- Darth Ptolemis

Those words rang out over the blackened sky, spoken with an utterance of such calmness that it almost betrayed the evil behind the voice that spoke those words that seemed to gnaw at Rika's mind and soul so very profoundly. She shuddered intensely and threw herself back into cover, painfully seeking shelter or solace from the intense, piercing words of the Mawite sorcerer.

If she could scream, she would, but nothing came out except the urge to retch and hide from it all. Rika peeked over again, seeing the dark lord on his own and yet surrounded by layers of pulsating energy that seemed untouchable to the ordinary mind. She had barely much in the way of weaponry, and her rifle was largely spent, her pistol and knife were little better than a pea shooter and butter knife in the eyes of a vastly powerful Sith lord.

But she did have grenades, all unused and still on her combat belt, six in total of varying types, including WP, incendiary and fragmentation. That's when it all clicked together, an improvised explosive bundle, like how it was on Teta with Ptolemis's cohort Kyrel. Rika wasted no time, gritting her teeth as she took off her utility belt and worked about making an improvised explosive by tying the grenades together and turning the belt into a throwable explosive device.

After what seemed like an eternity, she peered over again to check if he had moved before pulling the primers on her improvised device and flinging it in his direction. Rika made ample use of that moment to run out from where she was hiding, opening fire on the Sith. ​

 

[Valery Noble]

Location: Tython | Destroyed Master's Retreat
Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble Kyrel Ren
Post: #13
Objective: Defeat Kyrel Ren

Much like Valery, Kyrel was pushing all his strength and weight into the blade lock in an attempt to shatter the other's defense and finish them off when their balance would fail them. But what Kyrel hadn't been expecting was the sudden use of Trakata — with the blades of her saberstaff disappearing instantly, all that pressure was suddenly turned against him, causing him to stumble towards a large hole that had formed into the ground.

To make sure he wouldn't crash into her, Valery had stepped aside and aimed a quick sweep after him, made easier by her husband tugging on the spears that still extended out from the Ren's body. But while she believed his demise to finally be near with his inevitable fall into the chasm, Kyrel still had something up his sleeve that Valery, despite all of her experience with him, could have never have seen coming. In a rather brutal display, the man's head spun around on its torso, the bone cracking and the flesh twisting until his eyes were looking at the woman behind him.

What the...

With widened eyes, Valery watched it happen and due to how quickly it all progressed, she wasn't fast enough to respond to the attack that followed. The sharp, acidic tongue wrapped around her legs and pulled them from underneath her, causing her to hit the ground hard with the back of her head. It dazed her and while he fell down the large hole, Valery was dragged closer and closer to the edge because of his momentum, all whilst fighting hard to stay conscious. It was only at the very last moment, right as her body went over the edge, that she regained some of her strength and grabbed hold of the edge with her hands to hang on.

Kyrel, whose tongue was burning and cutting open her legs, was hanging below her, his weight trying to pull her down while she fought as hard as she could to pull herself back up to solid ground. Her eyes then shifted in the direction of her husband, who had kept his distance to offer support without the risk of being drawn into a duel — she needed to get back up for him; for Vera.

But no matter how hard she tried, Valery was slipping away and after a few seconds that felt like an eternity, she finally lost her grip...

 

[Jem Fossk]

SHATTERPOINT
IDENTITY CRISIS FINALE
Issue #4 w/ Dagon Kaze Jem Fossk Ryv Darth Solipsis Rurik Fel

The Jedi watched on in disbelief. The Force, and the Force alone, had become her tool and shield to defend herseld from the blue slaber that slashed across her form. Beyond his own abilities, Corin failed to match her in that. But his brow came together as his eyes narrowed in shock, to see Jem lay there near defenseless for but a moment in his own hesitation. He wished to end it, remove her from all the worries she created, but could not. Corin stared, and stared as she rose and returned to her ritual.

He wished to intervene, yet was soon under attack from cultists.

Even as his blade clashed with their own, Corin looked to Jem. To defeat the last of them mere moments before she murdered her own murderous father. His earlier shocked features paled in comparison, as wide-eyed as ever, and a look that continued as Jem reached for a blaster to end her own life with.

Corin outstretched his arm, aimed towards Jem, and made an effort to seize the blaster beneath her chin in the Force. "No!" He yelled instinctively. His hand rotated around to face himself as it closed, as if to fling it towards himself. But in all the exhaustion, the sudden exertion, with the sweat that fell from his brow and stained his clothes as much as all the mud and blood, he wasn't so sure he could do it.

He wasn't so sure he could save her from herself.

Bang.

Was that the sounds blasters made?

Jem heard it. She felt the wicked jolt under her chin-- The force shrieked as its conduit was severed, the tendrils of power growing unstable without her hand.

Reality bent and warped with chaotic fervor.

Her body collapsed, unrecognizable from the blast that had taken off half her jaw, her mouth... her nose. The opened side of her face smoked from the intensity of the blaster heat, but none of it had reached her brain. Her replacement had altered the angle just enough.

Deep inside her Firrerreo heart pumped on, surviving... even though her life had nothing to offer left.

Dagon Kaze Corin Trenor

 

[Kahlil Noble]

It had worked. For a moment, Kahlil let himself relax. As powerful as Kyrel was, the drop wasn't something he could survive. Well, maybe he could. But not in time if Tython was destroyed. And if Tython wasn't, well. The Jedi that remained could purge him when all was said and done. It was a victory.

Until it wasn't.

Danger echoed through their bond and he watched as Valery was grabbed. The monstrous tongue of the undead abomination. He remembered the wounds it brought her before. He was already moving, sprinting. Ignoring the pain in his chest, ignoring the options he had if he thought about it. A dead spring was all he could do. He wasn't going to make it before she fell from the edge. He could feel that between them. The panic it brought filled his mind.

Then clarity.

Kahlil dove over the edge of the cliff. From his boot, he pulled free a dagger. His dagger. A remnant of his time as a Sith. The first blade he'd alchemized, though it wasn't meant for combat. Too small, especially considering his height. The blade cut around, slashing for Kyrel's tongue. In that same motion his mangled cybernetic arm came around. He grasped the invisible cords around Valery. Tugging with all his might to throw her back over the brink.

Get back to Vera. I'll be late for dinner.

He left her with a serene smile as he continued the plunge to the depths below. One last look to his wife before he twisted midair. Focus took over his gaze as he flipped his dagger around and sped for Kyrel's falling form. Leaving it to chance wasn't an option. He plunged the blade down, uncaring if it hurt the undead or not. He refused to let Kyrel try and bring down his wife. He refused to give Kyrel a chance to survive this.

They'd fall, together.

Kyrel Ren | Valery Noble

 

[Xyoz Maji]

"You're that pissed off, huh?" The voice came out as a mutter to himself. An odd looking Shistavanen walked through the violence, unarmored, unweaponed. Uncaring of the explosions around him. His eyes stared at the only thing that mattered. He'd been watching. Keeping his distance. Planets away, even, playing crime lord to keep himself busy. The news of Tython and what was going to happen caught his attention.

In truth, Xyoz was afraid Shai would be here. He came here, wandered around out of sight, all with plans of just dipping once he confirmed she wasn't going to be here. Yet, there she was. Fighting against her brothers and sisters. Killing them. He lit up a spice stick, needlessly smoking. It'd never affect him, but it gave his hands something to do other than curl into fists. Then reached out.

Sparks of lightning danced between his fingers before he let out a single bolt, aiming right for the jetpack Shai had.

"Guess I can't be idle anymore, then."

Shai Maji | Ghalric Rau

 

[Surea]

Surea despaired only for a moment as she stared at the Sith Dagger in her hand. The alchemized steel could cut through most things almost as well as a Lightsaber. But it was a dagger. And her targets weren't exactly in a metal she could cut. And yet, her droid assured her it was the only weapon they could find. Likely a lie, in a hopes she could end up getting killed. Maybe she should figure out how to reprogram the damn thing. Would that anger her Master? Or would it please him that she took matters into her own hands regarding the constant threat of the soulless being?

Eh, didn't matter.

Because of an explosion that rocked the ship. The Acolyte had made her way into the Avatar, stalking like a shade through the halls as she searched for her targets. There was no doubt any more on where she needed to go. Then she felt them. Crouching low behind a corner she let her senses roam. A Miraluka didn't need to physically see. Well. Not that she could, given she didn't have eyes.

But she could feel them closing in. Mandalorians. An odd feeling rushed through her. Excitement? She'd never fought a Mandalorian before. Jedi were one thing. They were easy to manipulate. A Mandalorian though? Despite herself, she grinned under the shining helmet she wore. A foot came into view, and she lashed out. Her dagger ripped through armorweave of the first armored foe. Surprise on her side, she could let her blade slip where it needed with more control than a violent encounter. Silencing the man, dragging him around the corner with surprising strength. A second cut, under the helm, and he fell still.

Then Surea scavenged. Pulling a blaster, Beskad. She'd pull the armor, too, if she wasn't so sure it'd take too long to put on. Then slipped back into the shadows. Climbing up and into a vent to continue stalking her targets. She'd pick them off one by one, silent as possible.

Shakka Bralor | Fenn Stag

 

[Romund Sro]

Location: Downed Sar Destroyer
Tag: Barrien Siegfried

​

Romund was glad that his punch made contact with the pesky non violent Jedi. Perhaps they would finally fight back. Though he was quickly disappointed to discover that that would be the case, which continued to anger the dark jedi.

Hearing their words he scoffed at them. The bleeding heart pacifism the Jedi showed didn’t sway Romund at all. “Enough! By not drawing your weapon you only delay the inevitable.” Perhaps Romund would try to Force their hand. Make them discard their beliefs in non-aggression. Make them take up arms against Romund in order to save lives. “What is more important, causing no harm to me, or preventing me from causing more bloodshed?” He asked them before raising his crimson blade high to slash it down on the Jedi.

However, he froze, not just his arm but his whole body. Romund had been caught in a powerful stasis in The Force. He groaned loudly as he tried to brute force his way through the telekinetic grip that restrained him. The clothing on his torso stained before being violently torn apart from his own exertion against his invisible confinement. His shredded clothing fell to the ground as his monstrous body was finally revealed under it. His hulking figure had been twisted and contorted, tendril like muscles exuded from his body as he attempted to break free. But it was of no use.

Soon he stopped his grotesque body from uselessly straining against the Force cage he was put in. He felt rather helpless, and that his past efforts were suddenly in vain. Losing his old body in an attempt to for greater strength and power, it was all for nothing it seemed. In this moment of clarity he felt something else in The Force, without even being able to see it. They were destroying the weapons on the star destroyer, and he was made a fool for not realizing it. “NO!... you, you underhanded rapscallion!” Romund shouted through gritted teeth. Feeling like he'd been played.

 

[Anja Doreva]

ALLIES: BOTM | NSO | Whoever else - I ain't tagging y'all
ENEMIES: GA | NJO | NIO | AC | Enclave | EE | The whole shebang
ENGAGING: Simon Meinrad
GEAR: In bio

SWEET DREAMS​

The shear had struck true, which was a surprise.

Reality kept bending, however. The Darkness was no hinder, but the continuous shifting of time had even the Netherwalker slightly disoriented. It was only when she felt extra pressure on her already throbbing knee, did she realise that the Knight had been able to evade the Blast.

Reflex had her her flinging a telekinetic push in his direction to at least break his concentration, her face contorted in pain from the brief added pressure before it dulled again.

Yet, his voice echoed through the chaos of time.

"You will suffer from your machinations as Tython does now. And purgatory shall lay claim and torment you."

Despite her pain, Danika could not help but laugh.
"How naïve you are, darling. Purgatory has claimed my soul the moment I was born. You think I walk amongst the Dead by choice?" she then asked him, her voice cold despite the smile on her face. "I am both the tormentor and the tormented. Everything you may wish upon me has already been done to me." As if to confirm her words, reality snapped back into place.

She drew one of the phrik blades on her back and dug it into the ground to use as a crutch as she limped closer to the kneeling Knight. Coming to a stand still right in front of him, she disengaged the amethyst blade and flung the hilt to the ground at his bent knee.
"I've got nothing left to lose or fear, Imperial. But if you cut me down, just know that I will be sent right back by those holding my leash in order to do their will. You'll die for absolutely no reason." she told him. Not a hint of a lie would be sensed in her words. It was the same she had told one other almost a decade prior.

Not that she expected the Templar to see reason.

"Do what you must, Lord Knight." she said. "But we'll just continue flinging one another back and forth without much results - until my men return from inside and end it for us both." She had no doubt Samron would knock her to hell and back in order to put a stop to the absurdity. He wasn't exactly a gentleman, mercenary that he was. But she leaned on the phrik blade, teal eyes boring into the Knight's.

"The choice is yours."

 

[Geiseric]

​

Location: Akar Kesh
Equipment: In Sig
ALLIES: Eina L'lerim-Vandiir / Battle Meditators / Jedi on OBJ III
ENEMIES: Khamul Kryze

​

As he faded away from one world, his eyes opened on another. In his embrace before him was Eina, and he instantly understood what was about to occur.

~ You don't owe me an apology, never, my beloved crusader! ~ she said softly, lovingly. ~ You've seen my species doing their task many times. You know what comes next, what I'm going to ask. Do you want to continue to serve Ashla and her will as one of her children and with this you can stay with me to fight the Bogan together? Or you just want me to take you to the Seat of Ashla, so you can be with her? ~

He looked down on her with a weariness in his eyes.

"I am tired, my love. We have been fighting this war for so long. It has consumed ever moment of your life since we joined in the Force, and it has weighed heavy on me for many years longer than that. I did not mean for this to happen, but I believe it was inevitable. The vanguard can never hold forever."

His voice was faltering now, a farcry from the usual strength in his tone.

"I lay my weapon down now, at the end. Our fight is over. I do not know whether the Jedi will succeed today, or lose Tython. But I know that they will never put down the torch they carry. I would ask you Eina, to join me and be one with Ashla in what may well be her final hours."

 

[Dagon Kaze]

SHATTERPOINT
THE GREAT ERROR FINALE
Issue #5 w/ Corin Trenor Ryv Jem Fossk Darth Solipsis Rurik Fel Heinrich Faust Cotan Sar'andor

the gunner's dream
​

The falling meteorites veiled and separated the trio from each other as they danced and pranced from the rain of flaming boulders. Through the cacophony, only the ominous words of Solipsis echoed heralding the inevitable apocalypse. The clock ticked its zero hour and the sandglass burst into a thousand fragments as reality itself shattered before the Jedi's eyes. The space-time continuum cracked and splintered into countless shards of a mirror reflecting all possible pasts and futures.

On the spires of Ziost's Academy, he stared into eyes burning a sulfuric flame. There was no duel of twins separated by the Light and Dark. No redemption, no salvation. Only him and his father's legacy to carry.​

​

In the depths of the Krayiss' Library, his blade pierced through Bernard's spine. The corpses of his fellow Jedi lay strewn on the cold floor and his ascendancy begins.​

​

Smoldering ruins paint the torrid horizon, the last stone of the Jedi Enclave drowns in the pitless sands of Jakku. Hope is extinguished. Despair rolls off his tongue to Romi Jade , "I'm sorry-- we couldn't do more, Romi."​

​

The wrinkled bed sheets shine crimson under the night lights of Denon. He stands above Yula's lifeless body as his father's legacy is finally fulfilled.​

​

Atop Akar Kesh where the earth meets the sky and the heavens all but collapse, a nightmare is shattered with the thrust of a daughter's blade. Hope is born of the thickest shadows. A snowdrop blooms in the longest winter—​

​

Jem?!?

A boulder obscures his view from the cataclysmic duel between good and evil and Dagon is forced to tumble away from it. His sight is clear once more just as a blaster is produced from her belt and aimed straight into her chin; Corin surges from her side as another flaming rock veils his vision once more—

"NO!!!!!" his cry echoes long across the distance as he springs over the meteorite that had separated him to see Jem collapsed on the altar beside Corin. All color vanished from his face, a pallid mask in its stead as he darted to his fallen apprentice, apocalypse be damned.

His knees scraped the ground as Dagon skid to a halt next to her, arms instinctively picking her into his shaking grace. What remained of her face aligned with the grotesque monstrosity that Solipsis had failed to create. Copious, cold sweat salted the tears swelling in his eyes and his words came out as a gurgle through the lump in his throat, "I-I... I'm so sorry, I-I couldn't..." his voice faded away, sorrow tearing his lungs to shreds.

What hope did he have to save the galaxy when he could not even save his own apprentice? ​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Dark Lord watched the Mandalorian descend into the earth, more soil and rock rushing in to completely submerge him until nothing of him was visible from above. The ground then hardened so that it appeared as though to be completely undisturbed, leaving hardly any identifying markers that anyone was trapped beneath. It was not the most desirable outcome, but the Dark Lord was willing to cut ties with those who spurned His generosity. But it did not matter, He would find another to fill Fett's place, there were always those far too eager to sacrifice the sanctity of their soul for material wealth. Fett's skills were considerable, but in the end they did not save him.

Walking away from what ostensibly was Koda Fett's grave, the Dark Lord walked up to His approaching apprentice. He extended a hand, and the runeblade that had fallen to the ground swept up from its earthen sheath and flew into His awaiting palm. Now that Fett's device had been crushed beneath His apprentice's foot, there was nothing restricting the Force from either of them. As Teresa leaned against Him for support, the Dark Lord explained what she had experienced.

"You suffered a fate that all Sith fear, being cut from the power of the Dark Side. That device you destroyed generated a field that interferes with our control of the Force, blocking the signals from the midichlorians." He did not elaborate on why it did not affect Him in the same way, such secrets were reserved for those of higher learning. In time, He would reveal such things to her, but for now she was kept in the dark. With regard to her complaint that she had not learned enough from Him, He reached out and placed a single hand on her toned stomach. All around them, whatever life was left in the plants or any creatures hiding in the hills was siphoned away, the entire area around them losing color and withering into gray dust.

Whatever vitality had been taken would be transferred into Teresa through the Dark Lord, healing her superficial injuries and lessening the pain of her greater ones. There was not enough life around to fully heal her, nothing that would put up a fight anyway. "Your next lesson will be thus, all life exists to feed your own." The Dark Lord had taken this idea to the next level on multiple occasions, draining entire planets of life to bolster His own. Bespin, Thule, Csilla, and Janara III, just to name a few.

The sound of roaring engines drew His gaze back to the sky as a Mandalorian basilisk descended and landed behind them, further down the slope. Its arrival was heralded by a volley of golden blaster bolts. The spread was wide and only meant to deter them from coming back in that direction, so the Dark Lord had no difficulty in handling them. When that was done, the Mandalorian emerged from the basilisk and leapt down to the ground, their weapons drawn and trained on both master and apprentice. The Dark Lord held aloft His runeblade with both hands, holding it in front of Him so that the blade covered part of His face. "Mandalorians," He breathed, "So bold, so cavalier."

In a burst of flames, the Mandalorian soared into the air, buoyed by their belching jetpack. Their weapons opened fire on both Carnifex and Teresa, each blast of energy the distinct yellow of particle energy. Rather than risk deflecting with His weapon and causing an explosion so close to them, the Dark Lord extended His left hand with fingers splayed towards His attacker. The particle bolts detonated against a shimmering barrier of energy, surrounding both master and apprentice in fire as each explosion rippled out across the energy field. Instead of fading away, the fire began to move as though it were a living thing, coiling up into the air in the shape of a terrifying serpent.

The Dark Lord willed the fire to rush up through the air, spiraling upwards towards the flying Mandalorian warrior; intent on encasing them in searing hot flame.

Teresa Zambrano | Darth Pellax | Koda Fett
Vren Rook ​