Invasion Some Like it Hoth [Galactic Alliance Invasion of First Order Hoth|Bespin Hex]

[Cathul Thuku]

Location: Ison Corridor
Objective: Control the Corridor
Allies: [member="Zark"] [member="Alexandra Morrow"] [member="Silara Varis"] [member="Rick Kaloo"] [member="Maira Varan"]
Enemies: First Order [member="Ashin Varanin"] [member="T'yr Dellos"]
Engaging: [member="Aedan Miles"] [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"] [member="Achim Veers"]
Music: The Decisive Battle Yearned For (Luminous Arc 3)

"The forward underside shields are down!" the chief engineer reported after the Nolantia opened fire at point-blank range.

"Admiral, a new friendly contact is entering the system! ANS Eriadu's Fist" the communications officer reported to her.

"They call me predictable! I will show them! Their tactical calculus will soon be going to change, and poodoo will burst!" Cathul screamed in the CIC under the effects of the enemy battle meditation.

"We couldn't find anything in the Malice, especially not with them having swiftly replaced the terminals: this is becoming fruitless" the slicing leader reported back in.

"Now, slice the Nolantia for those crew-less casvac ships, covering for the team aiming for the weapons' power regulation systems" Tanith ordered.

"All bomber squadrons: target the command tower of the Nolantia; all other squadrons, protect Phoenix Fleet! Mustafar, fire at the Kaga"

While the 29 surviving Y-Wings made their attack run towards the aft portion of the Nolantia, coming in from behind, the Lictor has finally been killed, under the effect of enemy bombing runs and later under the combined fire of a battlecruiser. Unlike last time, the Lictor had no asteroid for cover: debris was sent flying in every direction after the Lictor exploded in a blaze, with the enemy having reinforced its fighter position with 6 squadrons, but there were only an additional 4 enemy squadrons present due to the enemy having, thus far, taken 2 squadrons of losses. The remaining attack craft moved into position to screen Phoenix Fleet while fending off the new enemy arrivals the best they could. With the Lictor exploding, there was one less escort for Therapy Command to fend off the enemy. In a fit of rage induced by the enemy using battle meditation, Cathul, however, was seated in the backup cockpit (the main cockpit being on the bridge, as opposed to the CIC) making some topological calculations as would befit a microjump. With more headaches than usual because of the enemy using battle meditation. Meanwhile, the Mustafar opened fire at the Kaga, with its three tubes in its sole turret still intact and having the best firing solutions possible for the pincer hangar at that range but Cathul had an idea that required her battlecruiser to hold its fire for the time being. Also, outside, the Gravitational Anomaly found itself with two anti-starfighter corvettes on its side, but directed all of its 8 turbolasers and 2 ion cannons at the Spirit of Justice.

"Prepare for ramming speed! Once we revert, we will crash the Excubitor onto the enemy battlecruiser they call the Malice! That said, open a channel to the Defiance"

"You do realize that we might not have much of a precision in an asteroid field or a nebula?"

"Aye, aye, lightspeed!"

"Channel open"

"Defiance, this is Therapist Actual: we are attempting to microjump and ram the Malice - should we fail, be mindful of us and take evasive action"

With that said, the Excubitor lurched forward in an attempt to jump into hyperspace while being mindful of the Nolantia being under its plane of flight. Also, in a nebula, and away from Indellian's gravity well, the crew would rather hope not to hit asteroids while in flight. The five long seconds that the microjump last seemed like eternity while stars streaked past the ship; Cathul hoped to hit the Malice either while in hyperspace or upon reversion to realspace, preferrably upon reversion to realspace, but she knew it was a maneuver that could be highly dangerous for the battlecruiser as well as their enemies. She was ambivalent: on the one hand she was relieved that the behemoth didn't hit anything large enough to cause hull breaches, but on the other hand, upon reversion, she failed to hit the Malice, while at the same time being at point-blank range behind it, and with the Malice facing the opposite direction to their flight path. And the two Halberds were within standard turbolaser range on each broadside. Which means that they have to reconfigure the targeting solutions and fast.

"We failed to hit the Malice, admiral: we overshot it!" the regular pilot reported.

"Then again we lack the precision to reliably hit even an enemy battlecruiser in a microjump while we are so far from Indellian's gravity well" Tanith commented, while her own piloting experience is not quite the best.

"Priority targets established: FIV Malice, aft at point-blank range, FIV Virtue of Orpheus 45 degrees port, FIV Blade of the Covenant 45 degrees starboard" the chief gunnery officer sternly reported.

"Fire trench broadsides, give them Asmerus on the Halberds, and one Volksgrenadier each; all other weapons, fire on the Malice!"

The two enemy Halberds each had 384 standard turbolaser shots, and 9 heavy turbolaser bolts, whose combined firepower was equivalent to 108 additional turbolasers, fired at it as well as 9 Asmeru MIRVs, which, unlike the Volksgrenadiers, were not cloaked, with a total of 52 warheads inbound for each frigate. And three 88mm HVCs fired at the FIV Master in 15-second bursts, which was also at point-blank range from the battlecruiser. With that said, Cathul hoped that the deluge of submunitions, due to all three enemy ships being so close to the battlecruiser, would force the enemy to attempt intercepting the various submunitions so that the point-defense could attempt to pick off enemy fighters, in turn. Finally, poodoo burst on the Malice's backs, on their engines, poodoo was aimed at the enemy's proverbial fan, as accurately as possible (and some of that poodoo will hit, just how much is not yet known for certain), in the forms of plasma, missiles and HVC shells of varied calibers, traveling very short distances by virtue of firing at the Malice's aft section: hundreds of 88mm HVC rounds, thanks to the 15-second burst, accompanied by a much smaller number of much larger 380mm HVC shells numbering into the teens at most, hundreds of standard turbolaser shots, also accompanied by dozens of heavy bolts darting the aft portion of the enemy flagship, and, of course, the MIRVs: one MIRV unleashing seven assault concussion missiles and forty smaller MIRVs, releasing a total of 200 concussion missiles. Poodoo will burst indeed: while that won't be nearly enough to destroy it, there will be people around to enjoy the explosions, she thought, while the sheer amount of stuff being fired was, well, a bit much.

Spoiler: Summary of actions

• Attempted a two-pronged slicing attempt on the Nolantia (to steal the crew-less casvac ship schematics and to cause the power regulation systems to go haywire respectively)
• Had the fighter screen engage the enemy fighters while staying close to Alexandra's fleet
• Launched a bombing run at the Nolantia's command tower
• Made a microjump in the Malice's direction
• Had stealth MIRVs fire at Halberds
• Split the trench broadside guns on the two Halberds under Achim Veers' command
• Fired a poodoo-load of weapons at the Malice's aft section

Spoiler: Therapy Command

Capital ships:

ANS Excubitor (Procurator-X-class Grand Battlecruiser) Shields: 45% | Hull: 95% | Firing at: several
ANS Gravitational Anomaly (Peregrine-class pocket carrier) Shields: 75% | Hull: 100% | Firing at: Enemy fighters, FIV Spirit of Justice
ANS Lictor (Duquesne-class heavy frigate) Shields: 0% | Hull: 0% | Firing at: N/A
ANS Mustafar (Mustafar-class monitor) Shields: 20% | Hull: 90% | Firing at: DRS Kaga

Attack craft:

84 OS-G2s
29 BTL-A-4 Y-Wings
10 Inimica-class gunships

 

[Gabriel Sionoma]

Location: Inside Hilikan Incineration Plant
Vessel: Alliance Stealth U-Wing (U-60x)http://starwarsrp.net/topic/108663-alliance-stealth-u-wing-u-60x/ (no longer in the vessel)
Objective: Bespin infiltration
Allies: Galactic Alliance, [member="Asmus Janes"], [member="Adder"], [member="Shamira Karuto"], [member="Taeli Raaf"], [member="Loske Matson"]
Enemies: First Order, [member="Val Kordova"], [member="Ara Ren"], [member="Brennan Cabrol"], [member="Mishel Ren"]
Equipment:

• 
  Light Paddlehttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/104677-browncoat-ssh-light-paddle with extra ammo
  
• 
  Two lightsabers
  
• 
  Stealth Phantasm Cloakhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/105103-phantasm-class-stealth-cloak/
  
• 
  Ghostsuithttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/108247-ae-as1-ghostsuit/
  
• 
  Utility Belthttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/41325-ba-830-browncoat-utility-belt/
  
• 
  Stealth Blasterhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/62485-si-17-stealth-blaster/
  
• 
  DC 19 Stealth Carbinehttp://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/DC-19_"Stealth"_carbine
  
• 
  AI Wrist Blasterhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/50978-ai-wrist-blaster/
  
• 
  Infiltrator Droidhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/108426-infiltrator-scarab-droid/s
  
• 
  Scout Dronehttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/50625-obl-0-scout-drone/ and Defense Drone​
  

//Begin Encryption
​///Begin Message
​///Recipient: [member="Adder"]
​///Sender: Sheriff

Yeah. That's the impression I got as well. Let me know, might be interesting.

​///End Message
​//End Encryption

He grit his teeth as the door stopped opening. Another safeguard but he was willing to bet, more than anything else, that there wasn't a droid in there for him to take over and assist. And on top of that, as he shuffled through his pockets, he realized that he might have actually been out of droids for infiltration. The others were busy running amok, doing what they did best. Tapping into lines, looking for connections to other facilities, opening random doors, and just causing general havok. All while downloading what leftover bits of information they could find.

It was clear that if he wanted to take the facility, running this route would no longer work.

Pressing forward across the open walkway, he didn't drop his stealth or his no-show. But he did lift his aura, protecting him from the ambient energy as he wrapped his body in sheath of energy shielding. And from beneath the Phantasm Cloak...

Snap-Hiss

The lightsabers ignited for those to see, who could lay physical eyes upon it. He pressed past the droid and plunged the lightsabers deep into the door. With effort, he would work to cut an elliptical hole in the entrance, exposing whoever it was that hid beneath.

Perhaps the time for hiding was over.

 

[Mishel Kryze]

​

A L L I E S​

[member="Val Kordova"] | [member="Ara Ren"] | [member="Brennan Cabrol"]​

​

E N E M I E S​

[member="Gabriel Sionoma"] | [member="Kaida Taldir"] | [member="Shamira Karuto"] | [member="Taeli Raaf"]​

​

O B J E C T I V E​

Assist First Order Forces​

​

​

Behind the Disciple of Ren were a squad of stormtroopers who followed her through the southern entrance, the incineration plant was eerily silent. Even if ran by a mostly automated system there had been human workers, even ugnaught ones as Mishel found on a bulletin board with a punch in cards and a clock nearby. She heard commotion up ahead, "with me." The young girl ordered as her hand went straight to her lightsaber, her boots although soft could still be heard against the metal grating of the plant's floor. With a sense of urgency, she force sped through the facility and then on the encrypted channels she heard someone, a male voice came through requesting assistance and so she replied.

:: M'Names Mishel Kerri- ::​

​

Mishel stopped herself and looked down at the lightsaber in her hand. Her brow furrowed Kerrigan. The name held weight in this Galaxy, and for awhile it held weight in her heart it was after all who she descended from. Kerrigan blood ran through her veins, but it had not been Siobhan Kerrigan who raised her. No, instead the woman had called Riona Mishel Kerrigan-Alcori dead, there was no effort to search for the child after the Kraal Invasion. She had been forgotten, abandoned by the woman and as she thought on it she recalled the words of the doctor. Dr. [member="Hazel Zanteres"]. "Your...mother," Hazel had to bite out the word from her lips. "Might've forgotten you, but that's her mistake, she's missed out on a wonderful young woman despite what's happened to her has grown strong."

:: M'Names Mishel Zanteres, and I'm here to help. I've got a squad of stormtroopers here tell us where to go ::​

​

Ever since her return to this life, Hazel Zanteres had cared for the young Ren. Cared for her perhaps more than a doctor should, but there had been a bond. Hazel was the first person that Mishel saw when she woke - and even in her own perceived notion of an afterlife. It was Hazel, and it was Hazel's essence that Mishel carried within her she knew that now. That ball of light inside of her, the light that now worked to edge out the darkness. Darkness placed by Seiger Ren himself, and it was this essence of light that carried the young girl even now. The words of the Grandmaster came into her mind, she now had a light and it would be her own choice, her own decision on how that light would shine. And so in this moment, Mishel realized that while Siobhan Kerrigan had been her mother. She would never be her momma, that title belonged to Hazel and in the moment of realisation Mishel knew who she could be and that was to be better than her predecessor.

 

[Relit Vandal]

Location: Landing at the the Paradise Atrium
Vessel: Chir'daki
Objective: Bespin infiltration, Potential Uprising communication
Allies: Galactic Alliance, [member="Ghorua the Shark"]
Enemies: First Order, [member="Irajah Ven"], [member="Samka Derith"], [member="Alkor Centaris"]
Equipment: Armor, Stealth Pistol and Carbine, Primitive Bow and Arrow, Jetpack , No-Show, Ankarres Crystal, Pouch of Seeds from Marshland of Ugnorgrad

"Do you have reservations?" The large human looked down at the datapad, eyeballing the odd figure. That odd figure being Relit, who had unclipped the mask to expose face beneath.

"Uhhh...no..." He heard the man sigh and give a disgruntled look. "But...I..." Relit waved his hand at the man. "Called ahead. I was told that I shouldn't have a problem finding a seat."

The host paused.

He looked down at the datapad.

And paused again.

"Oh right..." He nodded. "There shouldn't be a problem finding you a seat. Welcome to the Paradise Atrium. How many will you be sitting?"

"Just one for now. Though I am interesting in speaking with the boss of the facility." He waved his hand again.

"Oh, he's a very busy man. I can see about him seating you."

"No no, that wont be needed. Just let me know when he's prepared to take visitors. I can wait."

"Of course...right this way." The man in his undersized suit led the Zelosian to a small wooden table, nestled in the heart of the Atrium. Sitting down, Relit took the menu in hand and smiled.

"I'll take a small sugar water please."

 

[Shaydae Desmaris]

Location: Hoth - Outpost Veers -Trenches
Objective: Reduce this flying monstrosity to a pile of Bolts and Scrap Metal
Allies: [member="Torian Pierce"] | [member="TK-4261 Strain"] | [member="Rexus Wenck"] | [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Pharazon Draken"] | [member="Anora Shaw"] | [member="Asharad Graush"] | [member="Pierce Fortan III"] | [member="Ishana Pavanos"] | [member="Charlotte Miraak"] | [member="Kira Solvani"] | [member="Arcana Altana"]
Freienemy(?): [member="Tobias Wrynn"]
Enemies: The Galactic Alliance | [member="Sol Stazi"] | [member="Aver Brand"] | [member="Naomi Carolina"] | [member="Ryan Korr"] | [member=Xel] | [member="Draco Vereen"] | [member="Aeron Kreelan"] | [member="Isar Kislo"]
Directly Engaging: [member=HK-36] | From a distance: [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Tomas Yarrow"] | [member=Rusty]
Gear: F-11 D Blaster Rifle, SE-44C Blaster Pistol, FO-02 Stormtrooper Armour Snow Variant, Disruptor Pistol, PLX-4 Missile Launcher, Gravity-Activated Mode Guided Missile

Theme:

Spoiler

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIEeAQNkrIw[/youtube]

Once again thankful for the altered helmet, the built-in polarized snow goggles saving her eyes not just from the reflective glare of the light dancing across the blanket of snow, but for preventing her retinas from burning with the force of the blast itself. Colors danced across her field of vision, muted, but still nebulous as the droid exploded, the Staff Sergeant listening to the chorus of affirmatives from her unit as the seven remaining troopers finally congregated within meters of her position. As PLX launchers were loaded and aimed, she took a moment to inspect her own injuries, the flashing and clanging from inside her helmet no longer easy to ignore as adrenaline waned.

The heat that radiated off the warming system embedded in her suit mirrored the warmth coming from the external armour, sweat breaking out across her skin were super-heated Durasteel rested against the skin tight armourweave body suit. Underneath the layers of fabric, she was sure one would find masses of angry red skin, bright with new burns, but for now, the stimulants pumped into her system did their job and masked the pain.

As she shifted to her knees, pain shot through her rib cage, robbing her of breath and nearly sending the woman tumbling back into the snow. Gloved hands reached around to find the jagged edge of a Duranium shard lodged beneath her chest plate, the torso unit chipped and torn where the piece had obviously slammed into it.

”E chu ta!”

The common Huttese phrase, one of the only ones she knew by memory, burst from her mouth as deft fingers pulled the shard from her flesh in a flash of fire and ice. Instantly, a cooling rush flooded the nerves and muscles around the wound as the stims continued to target her most vulnerable areas. The warmth of blood ran down her side, the three sensations mixing unpleasantly, but common enough in her decade of soldiering to ignore as she scrambled to her feet and pulled her own missile launcher around.

Duranium scattered the ground around the unit, some twisted smoking remnants of parts that could hardly be made out beyond slags of metal, others wholly intact, clamoring to be gathered for future projects. Off to the side, much too close to the crushed mound of bloodstained snow she’d managed to pull herself out of, a partial skull rested, fangs gleaming in the light of the riotous battle, miraculously intact.

::Gutierrez, gather all usable material you can find; TM-4203, cover him. I want every scrap on my desk in the morning or one of you nerfhearders are cleaning my karking armour for a week.::​

Private Landis’s hands dropped from her shoulders as she sat up on her own power, the soldier taking up the point position in front of her and firing into the mass of droids far above.

::Staff Sergeant, targets are out of range! Orders to Advance?::​

Copper orbs traced the path of a GAM missile as it trailed its target and exploded, bisected by a beam of light shot from the tail of a mechanical dragon. More missiles shot and found a flurry of their marks, some damaging tails and wings, others hitting home as the Wyverns and Dragons circled the sky above the Juggernaut. Cursing silently as she watched more GAMs become confused in the mass of activity, droids dipping and diving to avoid the stinging retribution of the 53rd, evasive maneuvers incredibly effective at this distance. Des had a choice to make, move her squad closer to the battle and increase the chance of the weapons hitting home but risk her men being exposed to further enemy attacks, or to leave the droids to the ground forces behind enemy lines and continue on towards the Ion Cannon on the ridge.

:esmaris... This is Kyrel Ren, If you aren't too busy I need some support now. Whether you can give me artillery, troops, anything would be most useful. I will not allow the Firemane into the base, and so your assistance would be most appreciated in holding them back.::​

The cracking voice interrupted her thoughts, decision, for the moment, made for her. Turning her attention away from the mass of dragons, squids, and wyverns, her HUD display lit up with flashes of red and green as she searched the landscape for signs of combat. Locked onto the source of the communication from moments before, Des watched the scene unfold from a distance. Kyrel struggled to maintain a shield against the onslaught of artillery fire and melee stemming from two enemy combatants. One soldier launched himself at the armoured Force User, only to be repelled by a push, flung back towards the tank as his partner rounded the corner of the vehicle and opened fire. A third armored figure perched on top of the tank, momentarily distracted by the secondary ally standing next to the man.

”Not too busy? He’s karking joking right? Not like I have a multi-toned mass of duranium and fire barreling down on me!”

The angry mutter was confined to her ears alone, the comm link quiet while she cursed the stupidity of soldiers who felt that their personal battle took priority over the rest that peppered the field. Regardless of her personal feelings, he was her superior and she would respond with aid to the best of her ability.

Shaydae had little time to analyze the engagement, the call for help spurring her into action. Activating the comm link privatized to her unit, she issued orders with authority.

::Half of Squad Hex to location 16,70, to assist Kyrel Ren. You are under his command until further notice. Primary target switched to enemies in engagement. PLX launchers and GAM missiles stay with me.::​

Without delay, three of the troopers peeled off, one passing the mentioned weaponry to a brother in arms and set off towards the tank and its occupants. The remaining troopers closed ranks, forming a semi-circle around their commanding officer, volleys of bullets and missiles paused as they waited for further instructions. Loading her launcher with the second of four GAM missiles currently on her person, she raised the weapon, green LEDs lining up as she waited for the opportune moment.

::Staff Sergeant DesMaris responding to your call for assistance. One half unit headed your way, ETA less than 5. Suggestion? In thirty seconds, duck.::​

The connection cut off as the frantic beeping in her helmet grew to a crescendo, the GAM unit locked onto the signature of the now-disabled repulsor lifts. With a grim smile, she fired, missile whistling through the air, over the lines of AT-AT pillboxes, straight for the enemy tank at the three Alliance soldiers nearby.

 

[Ipsy]

Location: FIS Kuragin
Allies: [member="Vexen"] | [member="Spark Finn"] | [member="Micah Talith"] | [member="Allyson Locke"] | [member="Deacon"]
Enemies: [member="Cameron Centurion"] | [member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

Moments after the trooper hit the floor, Ipsy was forced to join him. The ship’s undulations slowed, then stopped, and the Amaran stood on all fours, clutching her lightsaber. Her eyes widened at the man who now stood a few feet away, and she scrambled to follow Vexen and Spark Finn into the lift.

“Do you know if they keep any animals on this station,” she asked her companions as the lift doors closed. “I can call them to help us if there are.”

Rather than wait for a response, Ipsy stretched through the force and began to search the space station. A quiet call echoed through the vessel, emanating from the tiny fox. It seemed to speak in all languages, yet none at the same time. It was a summoning, a low roar to awaken the minds of any animals nearby and bring them to the group’s aid.

As her message spread, tendrils of Ipsy’s consciousness also continued to spear through the force. She nearly gave up, but moments before she would have begun reeling those tendrils back, her mind brushed against a cluster of thoughts, advanced in a way most may not understand. The group of rats was huddled together in a small air duct a floor above the one Ipsy and her group were currently sliding past. Though she wasn’t sure where the lift would stop, Ipsy sent a small thought toward the rodents telling them to follow her through the station. The animals’ minds quivered in response. They were coming. They would recruit any other animals they encountered and provide support for Ipsy and her companions. Hopefully with the rats’ help, they could take the station.

 

[Kuzo]

Location: Calrissian Plaza, headed toward the Paradise Atrium
Allies: FO [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Alkor Centaris"]
Enemies: GA [member="Ghorua the Shark"] ( ) [member="Relit Vandal"]
Equipment: Two blaster pistols set on stun and a bad attitude
Objective: Momentary Angst then Getting Chit Done

She had backed away to a safe (there was no such thing as safe here) distance. There was nothing she could do. She knew that all too well. Certainly, she could wade in, with her ridiculous pistols and exhaustion- and be unable to fight any of them. Not simply because she was out classed, but because the idea of raising a hand against either side was entirely impossible for her.

She would have stood there, watching and riddled with indecision for longer than prudent if one of the storm troopers hadn't approached her. As it was, it took her a moment to register his words- he had to repeat himself before she fully parsed what he was saying to her.

"What do you mean, they aren't evacuating?"

"There are several pockets of civilian hold outs, Doc. They don't want to leave their homes, they think this will all blow over, or their simply too frightened. Or-"

"Or they aren't entirely civilian," she said, a little bitterly. The white helmet nodded.

"Well, we can't be sure, which is why I had hoped you could give us a hand. We don't want to risk escalating the situation if we can avoid it-"

"And a platoon of storm troopers rolling in is going to spark something if it's not wholly our civilians," she said dryly, pinching her nose. "No, I understand."

Technically, Irajah was one of the civilians herself. She held no position in the FO military beyond that of 'outside contractor.' But from the way he addressed her, she knew this was one of the troopers who she'd worked with before- possibly a man who's life she had saved in the past. The troopers who knew her, who had been under fire with her, had an odd place fixed for the petite doctor. They didn't look to her for orders, never that, but they knew that in an emergency she'd be level headed, and if in doubt, her advice was usually sound.

"Show me where."

Throwing one last glance over her shoulder at Ghorua and Samka, she hesitated for only a moment. Despite appearances, Irajah wasn't the sort to sit there and let other people fight while she bit her nails in agony. There was nothing she could do here, as much as she was loathe to admit it. She couldn't stop them, this fight was a long time coming and she wasn't blind to that. And she wasn't certain that trying to stop them was the right thing to do anyway. No. Maybe. She didn't know.

Closing her eyes, she offered a silent prayer. To what, or whom, she didn't really know. But that she'd see both of them again. Turning then, flanked by a pair of storm troopers, she did the hardest thing she could have possibly done.

She walked away.

*****

They'd pinpointed three locations where people, ostensibly civilians, were holed up and refusing to leave. It was simple logic that led Irajah offering to check out the Atrium. If something did happen, it would be visible from a distance, so the necessity of an escort was negated. It also seemed like the least likely of the locations to be something other than what it appeared. At least, so she hoped.

The goal? Try to figure out why the Maw-Cursed Chitwits weren't evacuating like they were supposed to be.

This was ridiculous.

As she stepped inside, she actually had to stop and blink, to make sure she was seeing this correctly.

She wasn't certain what she'd been expecting. Frightened civilians, unwilling to risk going out into the open and getting to the shuttles. Alliance soldiers, armed to the teeth and organizing something. She didn't know.

But whatever she had been expecting certainly wasn't business as usual.

She stood there for a long moment, mouth slightly open and just looking around before-

"Welcome to the Paradise Atrium Ma'am. Do you have a reservation?"

That shocked, and frankly slightly angry, expression turned on the host. Despite grossly outmassing and being nearly twice her height, the large man actually blanched slightly at the expression on her face.

"Are you entirely serious?"

"I'm sorry, I don't underst-"

"You and everyone here must get to one of the evacuation shuttles. But you are here.... serving..... drinks?"

The 'what the frak is wrong with you' could not be mistaken on her face.

"Are you insane? Please, tell me yes, because that, at least, would explain this adequately."

​"Who *are* you?"

​"The lady who is telling you to get your butt onto a shuttle, that's who."

 

[Sieb Tevv]

​

Enemies: [member="Fiolette Yvarro"] | [member="Nils Brenner"] | [member="Jianna Raas"] | [member="Face"] | [member="Aleksander Miles"]
Allies: [member="Choli Vyn"] | [member="Kamon Vondiranach"]

"Detecting at least two signatures coming out of hyperspace, sir," said Lieutenant Ful. Yuzzem. Very big. Very furry.

Sieb's hairless brows knit together. "Put them on the holo."

"One emerging now, sir. Alor class."

"A Mandalorian ship?"

"Yes, Admiral. Trying to maneuver behind us. Those ships were probably waiting. EWACS must've picked us up before arrival."

Tevv tugged on his earlobe. "Well that's not going to happen."

They already sat toward the edge of the system. "Make sure the Mandalorians and the First Order stay in front of us. CAG, keep the squadrons in check for now."

"Admiral, ANS Polymath has arrived."

The hundred meter long GR-90E electronic warfare ship got pulled out of hyperspace just underneath the flagship by the gravel projectors, as predicted.

"Is that other signature still en route?"

"Yes, admiral."

"Deploy proximity mines aft. I don't want anymore surprises."

Anything that attempted to jump out of hyperspace behind the monolith would find a nasty field of proximity mines waiting.

Sieb pointed at the tactical hologram depicting the enemy vessels. "Here's what we are doing: all long range turbo laser batteries acquire firing solutions on this Bolt-II. Warhead launchers load BVR TR-DR. Torpedoes, one minute delay. Designation?"

"FIV Sound."

"Single salvo. All long range batteries. Fire together on my mark."

"...acquired."

"Fire."

Fifty long range turbo laser batteries fired as one at the midsection of the FIV Sound. The black canvas of space became awash in a green inferno. In the midst of the salvo a swarm of TR DR missiles sped out toward the same ship. The splash from their ion pulses would likely impact all vessels in the First Order's armada, including the squadrons, inhibiting sensors and targeting computers. Limiting the ability to mount an efficient point-defense or counter-fire.

A minute later fifty energy torpedoes also screamed toward the Sound.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

Location: Hilikan Incineration Plant
Vessel: No longer in U-Wing
Objective: Infiltrate
Allies: Galactic Alliance, [member="Asmus Janes"], [member="Shamira Karuto"], [member="Taeli Raaf"], [member="Gabriel Sionoma"]
Enemies: First Order, [member="Val Kordova"], [member="Mishel Ren"], [member="Ara Ren"], [member="Brennan Cabrol"]
Engaging Val + mooks.
Gear: Light Paddle, stealth blaster, another blaster, armour (in sig), melee shield (in sig), vibroknife, lightsabre, no-show.


Through skilled acrobatics, the FOSB agent managed to avoid being tossed into the pit below along with the guardrail. Kaida's attention was temporarily drawn away from the woman because of the two bots, one had gotten in close and unloaded bolts from its stun blaster.


Swiftly, Kaida's golden lightsabre moved to deflect, acting as an extension of herself. Presumably she used Soresu. This one's chars tended to favour it. Except Enyo, who probably was more Djem So. Regardless, bolts splashed against her sabre. Some went back to the droid, others hit walls. However, the distance was rather short, which made deflection more awkward. Thus a stun bolt struck her side. Kaida was still standing, but the contact gave her a jolt and pushed her back slightly.


Grunting, she drew upon the Force and wrapped her willpower around the bot, summoning a magnetic field around it. Crushing a robot through this power was possible, but cost energy and could be too much of a distraction, especially with the FOSB agent still in play. So Kaida went through an equally brutal, but focused attack, unleashing her power upon the droid's arms in order to both disarm it and wreck its weapons' systems.


Then Kaida staggered when a red-hot kill bolt slammed into her torso. What saved her was her phrik armour and the fact that the heavy plating would be particularly strong in the target zone. Still, Kaida felt a searing burn spread through her and shook a bit. Rallying, she raised her free hand, focusing her eyes upon the agent. Electricity crackled across her palm and a torrent of elemental lightning shrieked from her fingertips, crossing the distance towards the FO operative, aiming to engulf and fry her.

 

[Vora Kaar]

Location: Hoth​

Allies: [member="Shaydae Desmaris"], [member="TK-4261 Strain"],[member="Hatori Ikari"], [member="Kyrel Ren"], [member="Shaydae Desmaris"], [member="Ishana Pavanos"], [member="Arcana Altana"], [member="Asharad Graush"], [member="Kira Solvani"],​

Enemies: [member="HK-36"], [member="Aver Brand"], [member="Chron Terix"], [member="Tomas Yarrow"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"],​

Equipment: Fiber Armor, Lightsaber, Ritual Brand, Blaster​

Apologies if I miss any tags.​

​

I was drawing my weapons when this other force user and Kyrel were fighting. It was literally like watching a tank fighting another tank. Neither giving ground nor moving from their intended fights. It was almost as if the two were well within sync with one another, however, for the wrong reasons. As I could feel the signatures of others close by become more vibrant and brighter within the force, I was starting to head their direction. Get them the hell out of her and let the two of us deal with these two.

We were already a target rich environment. I didn't need more for them to attack and take on. We were plenty enough. However, As I was doing that, I had a twinge that I was in trouble RIGHT NOW! Twisting around at the last second possible, I saw the woman in the air at me and registered that she had sent an attack at me. I used my prowess over telekinesis to push back whatever was sent my way, and learned that she too used telekinesis. While I had not nullified the attack, I was still buffed back and slid a good meter from where I had been standing.

"Kyrel, Solve her before I do it for you."

Not even paying attention to the woman, I launched myself towards the other Disciples. Using any means necessary. Aiding my powers to thrust myself forward over the snow, I was fairly close to them, when a blaster bolt came out of what seemed to be nowhere in the snow and fired at them, with another weapon going off in rapid succession. I would let them deal with each bolt in their own way if they could, and heal them later if they couldn't, but the use of the weapons needed to end now.

Both of my hands thrust out in claw like formations almost as though I had the talons of a bird reaching for prey. One hand controlled with telekinesis the snow around the woman. Throwing it up into the air. Possibly to blind her, and require use of more HUD features from her armor, or just cause some limited distraction of any kind to whoever was causing this.

The second hand was reaching out to her armor. Sure, armor can be EMP proof and resistant. And I could only assume as much from seeing her armor had been different from the others while she had been visible on the tank. The difference was that I had power over electrical systems. Trying to shut down her HUD with the force, it would cut her off from communications, vision, and otherwise anything else that aided her with it's systems.

Yelling over the firing of others, and through the distance that we had, I shook my head.

"Fight someone your own size."

Big words coming from a girl my size compared to her. She towered over me, and was likely much stronger. But it was much better than fighting against Disciples who had not likely fought against someone like her before. Or hell, anyone before. If they joined in, fine. If not, then I will do my best to keep these two soldiers here and prevent any destruction they could do elsewhere.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Location: Hoth: Outpost Veers
Objective: Purge
Allies: Team S: [member="Aver Brand"], [member="Rusty"], [member="Tomas Yarrow"], [member="Draco Vereen"], [member="Rusty"]. Other allied folks: [member="Aeron Kreelan"], [member="HK-36"], [member="Sol Stazi"]
Enemies: First Order. [member="Pierce Fortan III"], [member="Shaydae Desmaris"], [member="Anora Shaw"], [member="Kyrel Ren"], [member="Arcana Altana"], [member="Kira Solvani"] Outpost Veers.
Gear: Imperatrix Armour, shatterbolter, hard sound carbine, revolver, grenades and thermal dets, wrist bolter, 2x lightsabres.


To a degree, her telekinetic attack was blocked and hurled back at her. Siobhan raised her gauntleted hand, using it to channel the Force to nullify the reflected blast of energy. She was shaken and pushed back when the two forces met, but maintained her balance well enough. Her intended target, the Lady Ren, had dashed off. At the same time, Siobhan sensed two new Force Signatures entering the fray. They felt like Ren, though more like neophytes. She'd lost track of Vrygg given the latter's camouflage, but presumably she was engaging them. That explained the female Ren Master's departure.


"Hang in there and kick arse. Things are ok. Just some Ren," she responded to HK. The restraints holding her in place on the tank were removed and she fired up her jetpack, just before the GAM missile shot towards the tank from afar. The vehicle was still shielded, but she wanted to pursue the Ren. There was noise when her boots touched down upon the snow-covered ground. One hand held her lightsabre, burning with a fierce orange light, through the other she channelled the Force.


Orange-yellowish tendrils of Force Drain leapt from her fingertips. The tentacle-like mass of consuming energy swam gracefully through the air, crossing the distance towards Anora as Siobhan unleashed her power upon the Ren. She did not seek energy to restore herself. Rather what she sought to accomplish was to sap the woman's vitality and drain her Force strength from her, making her an easier target. With each moment that passed, the onslaught of consuming energy would intensify.

 

[Sol Stazi]

​

Location: Hoth, Outpost Veers
Objective: Survive
Allies: Galactic Alliance, [member="Aeron Kreelan"], [member="Aver Brand"], [member="Tomas Yarrow"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="HK-36"], [member="Naomi Carolina"], [member="Ryan Korr"], [member="Xel"] et al.
Enemies: First Order, [member="Asharad Graush"], [member="Null"], [member="Fiver"], [member="Selene Sinclaire"], [member="Torian Pierce"], [member="TK-4261 Strain"], [member="Shaydae Desmaris"], [member="Chron Terix"], [member="Rexus Wenck"], [member="Hatori Ikari"] et al.
Twilight Company Status: 42%
Operating: All Terrain Tactical Enforcer
Gear:

Spoiler

Heavy Trooper Armor
A320 Blaster Rifle
Heavy Blaster Pistol
Vibroblades (3)
Thermal Detonators (bandolier of four)
Spare Power Packs

Frontlines, Alliance Vanguard
Outpost Veers
Hoth, Outer Rim

In the end, the signal from Brand and her mercenaries had come through violent, torrential action rather than over Alliance battlecomms.

Thankfully Lieutenant Stazi and the other friendly walkers and repulsortanks had had some idea of what to expect, so at the first rumblings that precursed the snowy fuselade the order was given to give the Imperial trenches a wide berth. By this point, the 50th Terminus had had enough time of relative inaction to reestablish some sense of order and a clearer chain of command, and Sol had happily bequeathed his impromptu command of the AT-TE van to one of the two surviving AT-SA walkers that had surviving the First Order's lightning strike and one of the highest ranking soldiers still left in the Alliance armored advance, Colonel Quinn.

As they glanced nervously behind them at the now partially covered Imperial trenches, a move that had not been quite as devastating as they would have hoped but still largely effective in neutralizing some of the nastier Imperial outer defenses. Although, at this point with the retreat order given, many of the emplacements covered had been largely abandoned in the first place, so the true extent of the damage to the defenders remained to be seen by the armored line as the whirlwind of blizzard the avalanche had kicked up in its wake still shrouded much of the by now assuredly reformed Imperial lines from view. As it turned out, they would not have long to wait to test just that.

"That's the order!" Sol cried out a little too excitedly, listening intently to the command instructions over their encrypted network, "Alright boys! We're go for main assault!"

Pounding on the dash of the panel in front of him as he punched the control that would emit a yellow light signalling the by now terrified, tired, and hungry for an enemy they could see and shoot soldiers of Twilight Company's first platoon. Behind his position in the front of the walker, the sounds of A320 weapons checks and the sharpening of vibroweaponry rang out like music to the infantry officer's ears, and Sol dearly wished he could join them now. But sadly he had is own job to do, for while the heavy armored troops of the Tactical Enforcer prepared at last for battle, in the front of the walker both Sol and his remaining Terminus crewmen were doing much the same.

Already, they could feel the rumbling vibrations of the approaching First Order van in the earth underneath them. There wasn't much time.

The final command was given over comms, and at the same time he punched the switch for the green light Lieutenant Stazi barked out, "Twilight survives!"

A chorus of calls echoed back at him from the troopers in the transport hold closest to the cockpit, and then the rear ramp of the walker lowered and Alliance soldiers stormed out en masse from both Stazi's hold and the hold of all the transports around him. Not towards the encroaching First Order armor, but as the Alliance walkers were already lined up towards the tattered remnants of their rearguard, the troops poured out of their rear and charged straight over freshly fallen snow covering what had once been the closest Imperial trenches. Soon they would encounter what remained of the defenders on the outskirt's of the Outpost's front, as they stormed what trenches remained uncovered by the Alliance triggered weather phenomenon. The infantry assault of Outpost Veers had truly begun in earnest.

But Sol and his remaining men no longer had time to analyze and speculate upon the details of those opening engagements, as when the first strike upon their lines by the renewed First Order assault finally came, it didn't come from the barrel of a tank's main cannon, but from yet even more deadly ordnance dropped from above. With the redirection of the Belsavis Air Corps snowspeeders to harry the lines of the First Order armor as they approached Sol's position, the armored advance had been momentarily deprived of its close air support. Thankfully they did not have to suffer such devastation among their lines for long as the curious mechano wyvern contraptions that the more eccentric private interests involved in the planning of the Alliance invasion had pledged to the cause. Still, even before the first Imperial tank came within range several more burnt out husks littered the snowy fields, and yet other vehicles had taken glanced fire that had in some cases disabled some of their heavy weaponry.

"May the Force be with you all," Sol said suddenly over the walker's internal comms. He wasn't a particularly religious man, but recognized the effect such words of comfort could have on boosting morale. From the tones of their responses in kind, he could tell it had helped.

"Alright, they're coming into extreme range, begin advance," he ordered the walker's pilot, "Contact, target bearing 6 degrees right on the axial plane!"

To what the duros imagined was likely the bewilderment of the First Order commanders, the badly outnumbered Terminus Armored met the enemy advance head on. The faster, less obstructed O1 Beshjs hovered out on the front lines on harrying runs against First Order elements, and it was they who would bear the most heavy losses. More lightly protected but agile, in the chaos of a mass armor skirmish, their natural strengths did not play much to their advantage. With the overabundance of enemy targets came equal kind in enemy fire, and avoiding fire of any kind was too rapidly becoming a losing strategy.

Behind them, the Tactical Enforcers too attempted to make up for their shortcomings in the engagement as best as possible. More naturally suited for support by fire scenarios in which they struck from the flank of friendly infantry, the AT-TEs made do by flanking the fewer remaining operational Shock Enforcers in a kind of orbital pattern in groups of four. In this formation the Enforcers could negate much of their blindspots, while also afforded the more exposed legs of the AT-SEs with some additional protection. Wedges of these orbiting walkers slammed ponderously into the First Order lines like wrecking balls.

But despite such tactics, they were slowly losing both men and ground through the sheer numbers of fresh armor being thrown at them.


In desperation, Sol had begun flicking through the command channels searching for some sign of hope, when he overhead the incoming message.

"-are 500 meters out. Found what could be an underground entrance. Will be scouting up ahead to see if it is viable. If you need us to bore towards you, keep giving us geocoordinates. We will be there. I repeat, Captain Sunfell-"

Omega Pyre had come through at last!

"Prex Kreelan! Prex Kreelan!" Stazi had to struggle not to shout into the comm system inside his helmet, "Lieutenant Stazi, Twilight Company First Platoon! Initial assault went well, but our top command structure has been compromised and offworld Imperial forces have us heavily outgunned! Armored assault taking heavy losses, will hold until the end but reinforcements urgently requested on our position! Marking targets with geotags!"

"The Talz finally came through with their help on the tunnels, sir?" his pilot called back at him, guessing the gist of the situation from his words.

"Oh you know the Prex, she's all about that dramatic timing," Sol replied sardonically, but there was no venom to it. The mild natured ribbing was a much needed mood booster considering they could still explode at virtually any moment.

"Lieutenant!" one of the AP gunners called over the internal channel, "We're running low on geotags!"

"Well then we're just going to have to make our shots count!" Sol called back to him, "Alright boys, I want concentrated blaster fire on the rear of their line!"

In the midst of the tumult of booming mass drivers and whining heavy blaster fire from all sides, the remaining Alliance walkers sent a coordinated burst of antipersonnel fire hurtling towards the rear of the First Order's position. Largely ineffectual in causing any damage to their vehicles, interspersed throughout the shot were the same adhesive geolocation tags they had used to mark the layout and locations of the now mostly buried outer defenses of the Outpost. All they had to do was hold out a little longer, and the Imperials would see that the tactics of the 50th were anything but the suicidal last stand of a tactically defeated foe.

Soon, they would come from below.


Armored Rearguard
First Order Forces

Captain Sunfell had hardly realized she was still alive after all when the First Order walkers, tanks, and transports were practically right on top of her.

Already half buried by the fall, the lone survivor of one of the destroyed AT-SAs command crew hurriedly covered the rest of her body in snow and used some native Mandalorian techniques to reduce her adrenaline and slow down her breathing. With any luck, the overconfident First Order vehicles would not be searching too hard to pick off survivors, and her low body temperature and minimal lifesigns coupled with her armor's natural resistances would shield her from any cursory thermal or bio scanning.

Apparently it had worked, for after what felt like an eternity Lyra felt confident that the last of the Imperial tanks had hovered by she burst from the snow gasping for fresh air. Overhead, the normally tranquil Hoth sky was marred by a gruesome sight as the snowspeeders of the Belsavis Air Corps were picked off like flies by the First Order TIE fighters the reinforcements had arrived with. The unshielded anti-armor heavies were shredded like paper by the deadly starfighter blaster fire, but even the atmospheric grade shielding of the standard T-87s could not stand up to TIE grade weaponry for long. With most of them fielding only medium blaster cannons, they could not hope to meet the First Order as equals, and had apparently taken on a strategy of harassing Imperial pilots en masse, throwing themselves at them to likely be destroyed or shot down in the hopes that they would provide a crucial distraction for one of the better suited K-Wings to take advantage of.

Saying a battle prayer to both the souls of comrades lost as well as those dying in the skies above her, Captain Sunfell refocused her attention away from things she could do nothing and towards what she could fight. Already beginning to feel the chilling effects of prolonged exposure to Hoth's exterior atmosphere even through her suit, she trudged off not at first in the direction of the base or their rally point, but back towards the burning wreckage of her walker. While much of the vehicle had been completely destroyed, the Siege Assault walkers were hulking behemoths, and had possessed their own troop complements. Aside from her sidearm, Lyra didn't have a weapon, and that was a situation in dire need of rectifying for any Mando'ade.

After much wasted time searching ineffectually, her labors finally bore fruit. Finding not only a still functional A320 and some power packs, she also managed to scavenge what she had really been looking for. The Vanir Tech shouldered disruptor cannon was a popular choice among heavy weapons outfits throughout the Armed Forces, but to Lyra it represented a renewal of purpose. As she crawled back out of the walker's skeleton, trying not to look at the burnt Klatooinian shaped husk for too long as she did so, the Captain of the Sixty-First hardly paused to rest before she began trudging back in the direction of Outpost Veers.

A lot of things about today had been complicated, but for a Mandalorian some things were simple. The First Order had killed her tank. Now she was going to kill one of theirs.

 

[Eugen Aker]

​

Location: In transit to Anoat
Objective: Hijack or destroy the Itsukusk
Allies: First Order, Mando Friends ([member="Fiolette Yvarro"], [member="Aleksander Miles"])
Opposition: Galactic Alliance ([member="Sieb Tevv"])
Neutral: Wampas (Freedom or Death!)

As it turned out, there wasn’t much data available on the ancient carrier the Galactic Alliance had commandeered, mostly just reports from information that had filtered to the First Order from public eye-witness accounts. Even if the First Order had possessed detailed reports (and maybe they did and they were just being stingy about sharing with Tekkadan), there was no telling what sort of modifications had been made to the thing since it had fallen into Alliance hands. What was known was that it was big, and had the potential to carry a buttload of attack craft.

There wasn’t a whole lot of time to make any sort of detailed plan, as Admiral Yvarro and her forces were currently on the hot seat, even with reinforcements (Miles) moving ahead to help combat the Itsukusk.

She quickly ran what little intel Central had provided through Coinchenn’s onboard BAC to look for any weak-points. The Itsukusk had been observed to have roughly U or H shape, with a relatively thin column connecting the twin fuselages of the vessel. The BAC determined that sections were the column and fuselages conjoined would be an optimal target for attack, outside the engines, or reactor(s) of course. Worst case scenario, if she couldn’t get the carrier, she would blow it to smithereens taking advantages of its structural flaws.

Information was being fed to here in real time from FO units in the system as she conducted her analysis with her crew. The supercarrier was then in midst of deploying an ungodly number of attack craft, a feat only matched by the likes of some Mon Cala ships and the venerable Venator-class of eras long past.

“Frak, I don’t think they brought enough fighters,” her First Officer/Rally Master Shockley mused while scratching his thick salt and pepper beard.

“Escorts, more like it,” she replied as she studied the holo-feed by generated by the BAC as it plugged in the incoming data. “Even with all the poodoo it's flinging now, I wouldn’t be dropping into hostile space alone like that. The Alliance puts too much stock in their starfighters. Still, those are too many fighters to be dealing with from the get-go. I don’t want us coming in too close, we’ll work out way in while thinning out those swarms on approach.”

“There’s also some more help (Miles) on the way, and they’re packing.”

She looked at the force comp of her counterpart and smiled. A match made in heaven.

“It looks like they have an interdictor field up, so we’re not going to be able to deploy an escort like I want, but be ready to boot our fighters as soon as we hit Anoat. Now, get navigation on plotting us a precise solution to get us behind that thing.”

“On it,” he replied as he turned away to return to his station.

From there, she coordinated with the captains of her escorts to hold back for when she made the initial micro-jump into the system. She wanted her flagship to be the main attraction for the GA’s behemoth and get all the attention. Not out of a sense of pride, but out of tactical necessity to see her full plan through.

Once that was squared away, she finally contacted Admiral Yvarro directly with a hail, just as navigation was making the final touches on figuring out an astrogation solution.

“Admiral Yvarro, this is Field Marshal Partas of task force Mythos. We’ll be in system momentarily to provide reinforcements. The plan right now is to draw off some of that heat from you while I take on the GA’s supercarrier from the rear and try to blow out its engines. Together with the other support coming in, we should be able to whittle down those fighter screens in no time. I received the green-light from Central to make a capture attempt, so I’m going to try it out before outright sinking it. Until we engage their carrier, I recommend that you keep that station between you and it, and make sure your fighters stick close to you for the time being to draw the enemy fighters into your cap ships’ line of fire. I’m also requesting you employ whatever EWAR assets on hand in advance of our arrival.”

The solution was finalized, with her crew just waiting for her to finally give the order before they entered the fray and got to work earning those big credits.

“We’ll give these aruetii a battle they’ll never forget! Launch!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw_o7XUX3fg ​

There were some cheers among the all-Mandalorian crew as the hyperdrive motivator kicked on, and then Coinchenn was off through hyperspace for Anoat. The micro-jump into the system would only take a matter of seconds, the polluted world coming into view on the monitors.

Anything that attempted to jump out of hyperspace behind the monolith would find a nasty field of proximity mines waiting.

Thanks to HIMS, the dreadnought was unaffected by the interdictor fields being generated by the Itsukusk, which had reverted far behind the carrier as planned, well out of range of the conveniently placed minefield being hastily deployed.

Just as she had ordered before, squadrons of fighters would begin to stream out of launch tubes along either of the dreadnought, while the nacelle hangars would begin to extend to allow the additional fighters to launch.

​

By early estimates, that single carrier was packing more attack craft on its own than entire strike groups. So she would have to dump everything she had on hand as she had gone in without her own escorts. All squadrons of Fencer drones, and Missile Boats would hang close to Coinchenn as it slowly advanced forward in several interlocking screens that spiraled around the dreadnought. Meanwhile, a pair of LSR would boost away from the main body to begin their ISR mission and act as early warning platforms for the rest of the group.

“Objects detected behind GADF units, looks like mines,” a senior sensor operator reported.

“Hmm...looks like our friends really are alone,” she murmured to herself.

“Load forward mass driver batteries with flechette canisters,” she started, voice now loud as she issued orders, “Then switch to full-sized flechettes once that field is cleared.”

Seconds later, the forward cannons would begin to spit out dozens of large canisters, each filled with hundreds of small caliber vibro-flechettes.

​

After clearing some distance from Coinchenn, the canisters would burst apart, filling the space with their payloads to shred apart the mines and cause premature detonation. By the laws of physics, the flechettes would continue flying forward through the vacuum of space until they hit something or burned up in Anoat’s atmosphere.


Order of Battled (In-System)
Alor-class Dreadnought, Coinchenn (Spread Fire Configuration)

• 4x KF-01B Fencer Squadron, Kai Variant (96)
• 4x Missile Boat Squadrons, Equipped w/ Tractor Beams (44)
• 4x LSR
  

Equipped with Huginn, Hydra, Mithril, and Slingshot.

 

[T'yr Dellos]

Location: Ison Corridor; deep in the nebula
Objective: Observe, Assess, React to situation
Allies: [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"], [member="Ashin Varanin"], [member="Achim Veers"], [member="Aedan Miles"]
Enemies: [member="Alexandra Morrow"], [member="Cathul Thuku"], [member="Silara Varis"], [member="Zark"],
Assets: ISNS Maalraas Nobilis (1,000m)

Missiles raced through the void towards their predetermined target and the Maalraas Nobilis continued on her way. The main reactor warmed slowly from 40 to 60% and the ship had begun a gradual increase in speed. Not yet enough to risk compromising camouflage of the vessel, but enough to increase the sense of urgency for those aboard. Already in their wake, the Shambhala received fire from an Alliance cruiser and a silent thanks from Commander Dellos.

"Hyperspace activity." A sensor technician called out. "New alliance contact- scratch that..."

"First Order 'hot-drop'?" Dellos asked with a half glance in the technician's general direction.

"I... I don't know. That was the shortest micro-jump I've ever seen." The young officer exclaimed.

Curious, Commander Dellos approached the young man and leaned over his shoulder. "Show me." He said.

"From here." You young human male began, pointing at his display screen. "To here. Fairly precise... I think. And... It should have been nearly instant, but it took a few seconds before they reappeared."

"That... Is an accurate assessment." Commander Dellos said as he reviewed the readings himself. Both formations had been close enough to one another to engage with standard weaponry. A typical micro-jump's minimum range was somewhere in the ballpark of extended range weaponry... And the slow reversion speeds... Did they perform the micro-jump with backup Hyperdrives? "Odds are they just burned a ridiculous amount of fuel and power to save... A handful of minutes of acceleration when they were already at an acceptable engagement range." Commander Dellos said, just loud enough that the other deck officers could hear him, hoping that the junior officers he was training would be able to learn from this. "Being smaller than either of the two primary opposing ships, they could easily have used that range to their advantage by moving at an accute angle to their targets, keeping a minimal profile, focusing their shields onto the side of their ship facing incoming fire, and letting speed and sensor disturbances from the Nebula behind them screw with the Alliance warships' targeting solutions. The maneuver they performed is a sound one... But was poorly performed. They would have been better off saving it until they needed to escape a fighter swarm or Dodge a volley of missiles."

Speaking of missiles...

Commander Dellos leaned over the young officer's shoulder and tapped on his keypad. The display screen shifted to track the volley of missiles they had launched. Several had been shot down long before reaching their target area... But those that arrived safely detonated in a brilliant display of blue-white light over a large swath of space. At the bottom edge of which, a single ship became visible. 100 meters or so... Probably one of a handful slinking about.

<About as expected.> T'yr thought to himself. However many were over there, they were the First Order's problem now. T'yr had done more than what was expected of him by pointing them out for the 'Order's commanders.

Stepping away from the young officer and his console, Commander Dellos turned again towards the primary holodisplay and walked calmly towards it. "Remember to keep our lateral edge angled towards the two largest Alliance warships." He said as he pointed towards the display. The ship was very close now... And they had already begun angling to starboard as they looped in behind their targets. "We want to keep the smallest possible profile while we are this close to hostile ships. Both for visibility, and to make us harder to hit when the shooting starts. And with the First Order Destroyer now on their ventral side and drawing their attention, the two warships will do one of three primary maneuvers... Reverse course, bow down towards target, or roll to bring their dorsal or axial sides to bare on their target. Or any Combination of those really... So make sure you're taking that into account as you plot our course."

"Aye Commander." Called out a handful of young male and female voices from Navigation.

T'yr took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, quietly enough that the nearest bridge officers wouldn't notice. Just a few more moments and they would engage the Galactic Alliance. A few more moments, and his ship half-full of green officers and cadets would engage in a live firefight with an actual enemy. A few more moments and people under his command would start dying. Glaring at the holodisplay, T'yr forced himself to stop thinking like a teacher and begin thinking like the military commander that he was.

The First Order was not the an allied force of the Siratians. Nor was the Galactic Alliance an official enemy. But the situation called for action and T'yr had to keep the weeks, days, and hours after this conflict in mind. However many lives these next few dozen minutes took from him... There would be benefits gained for the Siratian Empire. Benefits bought and paid for with Siratian blood.

Before him, the drive cones of a 2km Destroyer and a 3km Dreadnought burned like so many white suns. Still a ways off, the Maalraas Nobilis began slow her forward thrust and swing her bow towards the two ships. "Bring primary reactor to 80%. Bring secondary reactors online, each to 20%." Commander Dellos called out as he glared at the Alliance warships, the prow of his turning towards his opponents like a tank bringing it's cannon to bare on it's victims. "Rotate all weapons for broadsides engagement. I want an even distribution of fire on both targets, localized on those ion drives. When secondary reactors reach 15% output, begin bringing weapons online." After a quick glance at the list of ships on the 'Nobilis's hangar and it's remaining ordnance payloads, T'yr added, "Prep all squadrons for launch on my command and prepare a double-salvo of Intruder Missiles for launch on my command. Guidance systems disabled, fuel consumption sex for maximum burn, minimum range, and set warhead detonation for a timed delay. Have weapons' control update delay time every 30 seconds until launch, delay is time-to-target minus 2 seconds, port and starboard seperate targets."

"Aye-aye Commander." Came a chorus of voices as fingers danced on keypads and hard words were related through analog headsets to officers and NCO's throughout the ship.







TLDR: Easing into position behind Excubiter and Argent Dawn. "Standard Turbolaser" range away. Turning to bare on targets. Weapons turning to bare on both ships. Reactors warming up to minimal combat levels (for this ship. Would be standard combat levels for most ships). Weapons still "powered down". Fighters preparing, but not launching. Missiles being loaded and calibrated.

Notes: Still stealthy-stealthy. Power buildup would maybe pop up as a faint reading since the ship is close to you guys now. Your sensor Tech's could be pre-occupied with keeping track of Starfighters and other ships though... And then there's nebula gasses and a not-too-distant planet... Your call if you notice it or not. It's an excuse to spot me before I fire if you want one.

 

[H3xle]

​

LOCATION: Ison Corridor
OBJECTIVE: Control the Corridor
ALLIES: [member="zark"], [member="cathul thuku"], [member="silara varis"], [member="maira varan"]Galactic Alliance, Freedom
ENEMIES: [member="achim veers"], [member="carlyle rausgeber"], [member="aedan miles"], [member="t'yr dellos"], First Order, Fascism
UNKNOWN: [member="ashin varanin"]

ENGAGING: [member="carlyle rausgeber"] (with Resolute, Firebird, and Remember Eriadu), [member="achim veers"] (with Argent Dawn) and [member="t'yr dellos"] (with Ironclad and Stormwall)

FLEET

Spoiler

ANS Argent Dawn - Hull | Shields (Engaging Achim Veers Nolantia)
PFS Ironclad - Hull | Shields (Guarding against hidden T'yr)
PFS Stormwall - Hull | Shields (Guarding against hidden T'yr)
ANS Resolute - Hull | Shields (Firing at Carlyle's FIV Malice)
ANS Firebird - Hull | Shields (Firing at Carlyle's FIV Malice)
ANS Remember Eriadu - Hull | Shields (Firing at Carlyle's FIV Malice)

Still more First Order ships filled the void around the Alliance fleets. This one was focusing on Cathul Thuku's Therapist Command as well, leaving Alexandra's fleet unscathed for the moment.

She looked at the plot, the most recent arrival would be within range of Argent Dawn if she were oriented towards it. In a split second, she had made up her mind.

"Order Ironclad and Stormwall to continue to monitor for whatever stealth ship that was that fired those missiles. Weapons hot, and engage when located. Turn Argent Dawn to face FIV Nolantia, engage as soon as possible." She ordered, she needed to relieve some of the pressure from Cathul. "Have Resolute, Firebird, and Remember Eriadu bear down on the FIV Malice, try to take some of the pressure off there. Ready a message to Commander Varan."

Her flag deck spun into action, just as the Argent Dawn began to turn to take FIV Nolantia under fire. Out in space, the orders relayed over the Alliance tactical network pushed through.

The Resolute, Firebird, and Remember Eriadu continued to close with the FIV Malice, turning only once they got to optimum range to keep the ship under heavy fire.

The Ironclad and Stormwall continued to monitor space around the Shambhala, and sensors would show the weapons armed and sensors reaching out to find something.

The Argent Dawn turned, and as it did, it's reactors cycled into full power, and weapons charged. The 2,000 meter vessel packed some of the hardest hitting weaponry devised in the modern era, and was powered by many reactors to be able to keep the weapons firing and not deplete energy going to other core systems. It's entirely unique energy signature would likely be visible to anyone with active or passive sensors trained in the general vicinity, for this was not a warship designed to hide, but one designed to bring battle to the enemy and crush it.

"Priority Signal to Commander Varan is open."

"Excellent, Commander Varan, I believe it is time to bring the thunder." She said, looking at the plot. "We are sending current fleet compliments, along with priority targets. Good hunting." She finished, then nodded to the communications officer to send it.

"Ma'am, the Colossus Reactor is showing fully operational, as are the Firestorms. We are fully powered." Her chief of staff reported, and Alexandra couldn't help but smile.

"Excellent, fire as soon as the arc has us in range. We can walk our fire in as we come nose to side to them." She ordered and took a big breath.

As it's turn enabled a more side on side disposition, the weapons began to unload into the FIV Nolantia. Only some of the heavy weapons at first, as this ship was focused mostly on the forward area. As it continued to turn, more weaponry would be brought to bear.

---------------------------------------
On the PFS Ironclad

"Captain, I'm getting some strange readings from off to starboard...looks like a momentary radiation spike..." The sensor technician said, still heads down, looking into the display of his console.

"Comms, coordinate with Stormwall to try to detect what that was. Did we get a bearing on the radiation spike?" Captain Anders Raith asked.

"Aye sir." Comms responded, then reached out to the Ironclad's sister ship.

"No, sir. It was only a moment. If it was the stealth ship, it must have been a hiccup in systems, but it's covered now..." He replied, trailing off as he continued to watch for anything else.

Captain Raith thought for a moment, then shrugged.

"No bearing, but ships tend to stay on the same plane. Guns, start a firing sequence, target the coordinates of that spike and walk fire in a random pattern. Maximum inclination of five degrees either side of the bubble and work to starboard of those coordinates." He ordered, then turned to the communications officer. "Comms, have the Stormwall coordinate. Tell Captain Aever that I will owe her my last bottle of Corellian Whiskey if she finds the bastard first."

"Aye, sir. They are going to take port of the coordinates we provided."

Actions

Spoiler

1) Argent Dawn is turning to fire upon Achim Veers' Nolantia
2) Resolute, Firebird, and Remember Eriadu are continuing to fire on Carlyle Rausgebers' Malice
3) Ironclad and Stormwall are continuing to search for the stealthed ship, essentially trying to depth charge a sub, only in space and with beam weapons.

 

[Dante Sotari]

Allies: FO [member="Arcana Altana"] [member="Anora Shaw"] [member="Kyrel Ren"] [member="Pierce Fortan III"] [member="Chron Terix"] [member="TK-4261 Strain"] [member="Shaydae Desmaris"] [member="Torian Pierce"] [member="Rexus Wenck"] [member="Hatori Ikari"] [member="Pharazon Draken"]

Enemies: GA [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] [member="Tomas Yarrow"] [member="Rusty"] [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Aeron Kreelan"] [member="Isar Kislo"] [member="Tsuki Aihara"] [member="HK-36"] [member="Sol Stazi"]

Directly Engaging: [member="Aver Brand"]

Reaching back down into the hole, Kira grasped Arcana by the wrist and helped pull her out. They both sunk into the loose, tumbled snow, the S'kytri nearly up to her knees when she pushed herself to standing. Training, drills, and subconscious conditioning combined, galvanizing her. The physically stronger of the pair, she recovered faster and took up a defensive position near her friend without really thinking about it. She'd lost her snow goggles at some point in the avalanche, however, so the glare from the white landscape was blinding.

"Gonna need your eyes then, Arcana," she muttered, black wings wrapping around herself to ward off the cold and trap her body heat. "Snow blind," she added by way of clarification, tone chagrined and apologetic.

She felt the danger before she saw it. That tension wrapping around her body with the Force, telling her to move. Her saber still in her hand after escaping the snow, she thumbed it on again without a second thought. Already, black wings would stand out against the white snow- the addition of a glowing red lightsaber wasn't going to make her *more* conspicuous than she already was.

Kira didn't so much dodge to keep herself out of the path of the two shots aimed at her, as she did to interpose herself between Arcana and those targeting the still downed Ren. It had the same effect, the first two shots ultimately going wide.

Child's play, she thought to herself as she raised the saber. And she was right. In part. The first bolt aimed at her friend deflected harmlessly into the snow, a sizzle and tiny puff of steam all that betrayed it had ever been a threat. This was every day practice- this was easy.

Until it wasn't. The Ssi-Ruuvi stun bolt was something Kira had learned about, yes- the First Order had warred for too long against those aliens for her to not be familiar with the concept and how they worked. But knowing and recognizing in actual combat when ones heart rate is up but without years of experience in the field? That was entirely different.

She just barely recognized how the bolt shifted right before coming in contact with her saber. Just enough to be reminded, once again, that pride was such a dangerous thing, and why she had been warned, again and again, about the destructive power of that particular emotion by her teachers.

Somehow, she hadn't ever really noticed that she was one of the few who received that lecture again, and again, and again.

The stun bolt impacted the scaffolding of her right wing right at the primary joint. It wasn't the force of the shot that sent her stumbling back, but the sudden imbalance as tingling numbness spread through the wing, rendering it nothing but dead weight.

Almost stepping on Arcana, Kira felt panic rise up in her chest as that wing sprawled out, unresponsive, a black wound against the snow.

 

[H3xle]

​

Location: Hoth: Outpost Veers, at a mountain slope.
Objective: Purgify
Allies: Team S: [member="Aver Brand"], [member="siobhan kerrigan"], [member="rusty"] Other allied folks: [member="Draco Vereen"], [member="Aeron Kreelan"], [member="HK-36"], [member="Sol Stazi"]
Engaging: [member="kyrel ren"] and [member="shaydae desmaris"]'s missile
Gear: Link in Sig

Tomas hurtled through the air at the Ren warrior. Though his opaque faceplate didn't allow for his foe to see him, Tomas's face remained in a combat grin, teeth bared. His hammer swung for the Knight, aiming to put a massive hammer through the mans chest. Little did Tomas know, however, that this man was more mechanical monstrosity than flesh and blood. Either way, knowing or not, this Ren had targeted his employer, and Tomas wasn't just a damn good soldier. Tomas was a Marine.

An icon beeped into effect on Tomas's HUD, indicating the activation of a personal shield of some kind. Tomas grinned as his hammer slid past it easily, the individual field disruptor he kept as part of his kit doing its intended job.

Tomas's grim grin lasted only so long. A mere hairsbreadth before the hammer would have hit, and likely caved in, the chest of the mechanical monstrosity, a wave of telekinesis erupted from the force sensitive being. Tomas was a big man, and the armor around him made him bigger still, but when it came to the force, size tended not to matter. His forward momentum was halted, and then reversed as the telekinetic throw pushed him back.

On pure reaction, Tomas kicked in his jump jets, pushing his arc up, and letting the telekinetics push him away. With practiced ease, the hammer was slapped to its magnetic plate, and Tomas drew a high explosive grenade from his belt, primed it, and threw it with all of the power of his natural and augmented strength at the Ren as he made for a trench. Tomas led the target, aiming to throw the grenade into the trench and ruin their day.

Tomas killed his propulsion a moment later, saving it for the landing. In the same heartbeat, a proximity warning blared in his HUD, and his back ran into the side of a missile that had been fired at them. He hit the side of the missile, imparting a significant portion of his lateral movement to it. It was knocked behind the marine lines that advanced towards the trench, detonating as it hit a layer of ice below the snow. Marines who were on foot were sent to the ground in the resulting blast, and the remainder of Tomas's lateral movement was arrested, and he began to drop straight down.

Below him, he saw [member="rusty"] and the other marines ditch the tank, and Tomas's secondary ranged weapon. Moments later, the massive momentum pushed the machine into the berm around the trench before it. The nose of the tank dug into the ice and rock, and the tank flipped. It's momentum pushed it to gain more air now than it could ever have hoped for in life. It arced up, completing a single roll in the air, then crashing down into the trench. Tomas imagined he'd have been able to see the pieces of his weapon as it was annihilated, but he wasn't paying too much attention. He was a marine, and he had a mission.

A quick spurt from his repulsors had him on his feet, rather than blasting into the ice layer below the snow as well. He grabbed his hammer and blasted up again, aiming his trajectory for the trench in a similar arc to his grenade. Aiming to come down onto Kyrel Ren with a swing again, this time, as he came from more above than in front, he was aiming to cave the Knight of Ren's helmet in with his hammer.

Actions

Spoiler

1) Threw a HE Grenade into the trench as Kyrel made for it
2) Slammed into the side of the missile, knocking it off course, causing it to detonate behind them. Probably killed some marines
3) Leapt after Kyrel, aiming to cave in his skull

 

[Taeli Raaf]

​

Location: Hilikan Incineration Plant​

Objective: Hold them up and Educate​

Allies: [member="Gabriel Sionoma"] [member="Kaida Taldir"] [member="Abel"] [member="Adder"] [member="Shamira Karuto"]​

Enemies: First Order​

​

Equipment: In signature​

Directly Engaging: [member="Ara Ren"] [member="Brennan Cabrol"]​

​

"You clearly need to spend more time in the library," Taeli responded. "There is a difference between Force Lightning, which is blue and purple, and Electric Judgment, which is green."

Honestly, these people... well most people actually as she thought about it, really needed to spend more time reading than knocking energy blades together. Everyone knew and had seen Force Lightning in this day and age, the blue-purplish Force attack a favorite of dark siders. It was a favorite of Taeli's too, but she wasn't about to say that. Green lightning should have been a giveaway that it wasn't normal Force Lightning. Electric Judgment, after all, could be done from a place of calmness even if it spoke of aggression.

The attacks came again, the girl going for her knees while the male went for her head. Twirling her lightsaber, she blocked both attacks, but then it became clear why the girl had chosen her form of attack. Her follow through slid down the edge of Taeli's lightsaber, the crimson blade sparking off against the phrik pauldrons she wore, but that wasn't the goal. No, it was to grapple onto Taeli's lightsaber, to force a disarm by trapping her wrist against the ring of her hilt while the girl's ally... oh that was just too perfect.

As the male wound up for his stabbing attack, Ara would get a smile from Taeli. A cold unamused smile... just as she pivoted with the direction of her attempted grapple at the same time the male stabbed forward to where Taeli's lower torso had been. As the pivot occurred, she made sure that Ara would swing along with it so that she was now the one in the path of her ally's blade, with almost no room to get out of the attack. Not without the Force, and Taeli holding onto the girl's hand...

 

[Leora]

Location: Anoat Space
Objective: Destroy the First Order starfighters
Allies: [member="Sieb Tevv"]
Enemies: [member="Nils Brenner"] and [member="Jianna Raas"], [member="Face"]
Ship: Rush-class Interceptor [Black; Dual Heavy Laser Cannon Configuration; No Targeting System; Advanced Shield Generator]
Gear: Standard flight suit with Corellian garb beneath, twin lightsabers

He zipped around through the enemy fighters, ponging one here or there, like a shadow of win ripping leaves from a tree. One or two losses might go unnoticed, but eventually he would be discovered if he hadn't been already. After all, his fighter was not a stealth one. But it was extremely fast and maneuverable. With the advanced shields it could handle more from it's foes, as well. And with him in the pilot seat it could dish out punishment.

Under normal circumstances he would not engage in this sort of thing any longer. But the First Order sought to reinstate the same tyranny imposed by empires of old, and as such it had to be stopped. Oh, sure, they'd pretend to be better, but beneath the skin they were no different, and that meant they had to be stopped.

As he was flying along the Warspite's hull, his sensors indicated the arrival of a rather massive Galactic Alliance vessel dubbed the Itsukusk. He'd never heard of it but that wasn't surprising. There were a lot of differences in the galaxy now. The ship began to deploy a rather large amount of fighters at the same time as yet another ship, this one marked as a Mandalorian vessel, entered the system. He ground his teeth together at their presence, but decided it wasn't his place to deal with them.

Besides, as he was about to radio in, he noted several First Order fighters targeting pods and soldiers on the stations surface. Calling in to the larger ship was going to have to wait. He'd rely on his IFF to make introductions for now. Inverting, he dove st the rear of the fighters piloted by Nils and Jianna. Once he knew he was in range, he landed at them with his heavy cannons before flipping the rudders to guide himself in a swift dart away from them and across the hull of the station.

It was time for the dance to begin.

 

[H3xle]

​

LOCATION: Anoat
OBJECTIVE: Commerce, maybe with a side of smuggling Infiltrating
KURGAIN TRAFFIC CONTROL: [member="magnus ren"], [member="Aralu Sar"], [member="fiolette yvarro"], [member="Brask'ari'sabosen"]
OTHERS NEARBY: [member="Micah Talith"], [member="Taheera Sollo"], [member="Atham'aali'kema"], [member="Vexen"], [member="Ipsy"], [member="Allyson Locke"], [member="Spark Finn"]

One by one, Keric shut down the external communications still retained by the station. When each channel was shut down, he made sure to remove the files that directed how the channel would be used. This would have the effect of disabling the external communications even if they were to get the individual channels back up. Keric could have tried to burn out the channels physical parts, but that would have been temporary also, as replacing the physical channels would be something an engineer would have to do from time to time anyway.

In this way, the channels couldn't be used again until new software was installed. A relatively simple process, but only if you had the appropriate software available.

As that specific thought went through Keric's mind, he thought of what would be the most likely situation. A backup system on the network with the appropriate channel files. Once Keric had gone through the extant external communication lines and removed the files, putting them handily on his own portable storage device, he searched for where those backups would be connected.

In his visualization, Keric shifted everything to blocks and wires. His mind, through the force, aligned things to make the new paradigm work. He was already at the assembly of blocks that represented where the physical communication lines interacted with the software. The main lines were represented by thick black conduits running away from this assembly of blocks into the digital horizon. Keric searched around those blocks for any other line coming off of them, as this would be the logical connection point.

Initially, his search was to no avail. There were conduits, small blue ones, coming off the blocks towards secure systems in the Combat Command Center, as well as faded blue ones leading above, to the ruins of the listening post and the CIC. If he'd been lucky, the backup files were likely in either of the latter places, meaning they would be unrecoverable until the levels were salvaged.

Keric didn't really trust in luck, however. He then made the logical assumption that the backups would be in the CCC, both because it was what was left, and because it was a place the First Order had chosen to not blow up.

Before he slipped out of the connection, Keric setup a digital tripwire of sorts. He compiled a quick, little virus and stuck it in the assembly of blocks that represented the external communications array he'd been working on. The virus was a simple one that would keep prompting any user that attempted to access the external array to change their password. Every time they did, they would go through a cycling screen, then find the same request on their displays.

Then Keric slipped fully back into his body. Realistically, very little time had passed, as working on the digital level with the force occurred at the speed of thought. However, Keric was a bit tired. He'd not worked his force abilities quite so hard in a very long time.

After a brief moment to regain his composure, aided by the secondary crystal in the lightsaber he carried with him, Keric took to the ladder. He placed boots on either side and began to slide down. He was aiming to infiltrate the Combat Command Center, and to do that, he had to get to the nearest access hatch. After a moment, he stopped his downward movement and slapped a small pod from his belt onto the side of the jefferies tube he was in and activated it. Then he began to slice the access hatch in front of him. After a few moments of jiggering, he opened the hatch to reveal ductwork.

Keric slid into the duct, which was positioned above the CCC, and slowly, silently, slid his way towards where the center of the CCC was, where a vent awaited him.