Taur-nu-Fuin - TSE Dominion of Theta Kai (Hex AI-12)

[Darth Carnifex]

The fire, spurred on by the wind, continued to sweep out far and wide in all directions. Leaping from tree to tree the conflagration spread systematically, leaving no tree unmolested by the smoldering flames of the Lady of Secret's hate. The Emperor, by comparison, was far more subdued in his derision for the Neti and their insolence.

Then again, it had not been his beloved that had been harmed by these arboreal foes.

Had it been, the planet's forest might have suffered a punishment more severe.

Ash began to rain down on the Sith, the smoldering remains of the forest around them kicked up into the air before coming back down. The Emperor dispelled the fire that caked his hands and forearms, allowing the unnatural wind to continually send the existing fire farther and farther away. "I have no doubt that there will be more of them lurking beyond what the fire can reach, Lady Raaf. The question now is if they will learn from this display and bend the knee, or if they will continue to resist?"

A dark smile, "Regardless, I leave the fate of this world's ecosystem in your hands, my old friend."

[member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Kaine O'Doran"]​

 

[Vaylin]

Location: Theta Kai, Abandoned Scout Camp
Objective: I - Find the Missing Scouts
With: [member="Djorn Bline"] | [member="Karren Trask"]

The group carried on, taking a detour around their original destination in hopes of finding another clear pathway. No matter which direction they went in, something ended up halting their progress.

"Picking up friendlies to our right." One of the trackers chimed in, alerting Vaylin to the newcomers' approach. She gave Trask a small nod.

"Link up and stay close, we're not alone in this forest."

As they carried on, however, the trackers' equipment began to malfunction. Both mapping and the radar started to flicker, outright shut off for moments at a time. Vaylin's hand twitched towards her lightsaber, ready for something, anything to suddenly jump out and attack.

Then Djorn spoke up.

"Trask, take your group ahead, but not too far."

It proved to be a mistake however, as all hell broke loose the moment her group was some distance ahead. The ground beneath them rumbled to life, cracking apart as earthy roots shot out and blocked the path between the two groups. Vaylin growled, bringing her free hand up and muttering something under her breath. She called upon one of her trinkets, summoning fire to her free hand and unleashing it upon the obstacle.

There was a scream of pain that tore across the area.

"Move!" Vaylin grabbed her lightsaber igniting it, and without hesitating, she led the charge into the clearing.

What they found was pure chaos.

Trask's squad were fighting the trees themselves, towering goliaths that were attempting to crush her men. Amongst that though, was the source of what Djorn's equipment had picked up. Their missing group, or rather their bodies. Some were still clinging to life, but all of them were in some state of burial. It was clear they had fallen into an ambush, roots taking them by surprise and dragging them down into the ground.

 

[Djorn Bline]

Location: Theta Kai
Objective: 1
Allies: [member="Vaylin"]

He had heard many stories before on the topic of Force Users, no matter what religion they followed. The Inquisitor had done his own fair share of research, informing himself what limits they had. They could shoot lightning from the tips of their fingers, manipulate the four basic elements of nature, could conjure monsters from alchemy, and a whole bunch of fun stuff.

What he did not expect was the roots and bark of the tree to animate themselves, and just suddenly attack Djorn and the others.

Now this was a good story to share over a drink, just need to survive it.

The surprise of trees capable of moving their branches shared the exact value of shock. The same could be said for many in the unit.

"Don't throw any grenades, we still got friendlies in the mix," the Inquisitor reminded to the soldiers, noticing one was going for a thermal detonator. It was ideal and effective, just not when there were Imperial soldiers in the midst of these magical trees. For now they would have to try tear them apart with their blasters and slugthrowers, it would be nice if one had a flamethrower on their wrist.

One unlucky Legionnaire got flattened by the branch of a tree.

Ouch.

"Vaylin, we need to fall back so we can light up these trees!"

 

[RC 212]

[member="Vaylin"] [member="Djorn Bline"]

Location: Theta Kai
Objective: 1

Whatever they were, they were tough. Two of her Commandos were crushed by the trees, another thrown across the clearing. They managed to scramble to the edge of the clearing and set up a nice L shape. Karren dropped to one knee, racking her Bolter Rifle and grinned. She loved this part. The part where bullets flew, and folks lost their minds.

"Weapons on point!"

They began firing, sending a criss cross hail of magnetically accelerated projectiles into roots, trunks and anything that looked un Sithly.

Bark cracked, roots were rent and shredded under the onslaught. She glanced left as she jammed the mag release. The mag fell with a thump and she rammed a fresh one home, releasing the bolt in fluid motion. The first group of targets was down, and they were collapsing back into their wedge. She led the charge, through flame and smoldering earth with gritted teeth.

"Grab those bodies!"

Two of the 98th found their legs tripped up just as they reached the fallen scouts. Karren was there beside them, jamming her muzzle into a trunk and blasting through the tough wooden vines.

They tumbled free, only for her to be snatched by the ankle.

"Feth, they're everywhere!"

She drew her sidearm, and put two in the vine, dropping her rifle to its sling. Both hands cupped the handle, thumbs forward as the recoil was followed by supersonic booms across the AO.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Objective II - Make the Trees Pay
[member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Kaine O'Doran"]

Breathing heavily, her eyes slowly fading from crimson to amber back to purple, she took in the falling ash and the destruction her rage and the Emperor's flames had caused around the ruins. A blackened stain was all that was left of the forest around them for a good two or three kilometers, the fires still spreading in the distance. They would eventually burn out, but she had no desire to extinguish them forcefully. It would serve as a reminder to the Neti left alive on this world to never challenge the might of the Sith. But... she wasn't done teaching them pain for their folly in harming Fiolette.

"Their ecosystem is ours now, and to remind them of that point and their place..." she said, turning back to the ersatz Malachor weapon. They had taken plenty of readings before the attack, and they had something better to study anyways. The temple ruins on Malachor, the original, were better in every way except one. They could not devastate the morale of any Neti resisters to their rule.

With her eyes once again blazing amber, she began crushing each and every Neti wood-crystals in the ruins, reducing them and the power they had gained to nothing but echos and dust to mix with the ash. When she was done, the ruins were utterly impotent.

"Find all the crystals on the planet and either mine or destroy them," she ordered the Sith adepts with them. "Erect a particle shield around this site when we leave, so the Neti survivors can gaze upon their ruined work but never touch it again."

 

[Vaylin]

Location: Theta Kai, Abandoned Scout Camp
Objective: I - Find the Missing Scouts
With: [member="Djorn Bline"] | [member="Karren Trask"]

She did not immediately leap into battle, instead remained still and observed. Her attention affixed to how their enemy was moving.

The trees were attacking wildly, with no sense or reason. Working in unison with one another, but there was no hivemind at work. One would use their roots to wrap around a soldier's legs, but a second wouldn't always take advantage and go for the kill. They were fighting on instinct.

And yet they seemed to hold no concern over who they were attacking. Then again, could trees understand the concept of biting a bigger fish? Or in this instance, an empire that could level their entire forest.

The ground beneath Vaylin rumbled, breaking the Valkyrie from her musings. She hoped back as several roots attempt to grab her. Vaylin slashed at them, severing them. A moment later, however, the Valkyrie dug her feet into the ground as subsonic booms echoed across the area. It had a desirable effect in disorienting the enemy.

"Fall back!"

Vaylin barked out the order but didn't personally follow it. She watched as Trask's squad collected the scouts' bodies, while Bline's set up for one last attack. Once everyone was out of the way, Vaylin crouched down and summoned more fire. It roared out from her hand, setting the ground before them alight. Screams of wooden agony echoed out in every direction.

"Open fire!" The Valkyrie didn't even flinch as various salvos went over her head. From rifles to grenades, the Sith troops never relented until there was nothing but an eerie silence, and charred trees before them. "Let's get back to the camp, no doubt we've only stemmed the tide. More will come if we remain."