Dominion The Bryn'adûl | Consequences and Deliberations | Dominion of Garel

[Osam]

Post 2

The arrival was altogether unceremonious. The Heldrak vessel which had ferried them from their orbital starships to the facilities down below was able to do so without major complications. Nevertheless, there was at least some degree of worry that the excessive amount of dust in the atmosphere might at some point cause a light degree of damage to the internal lining of the Heldrak, and so it was important for it to be sent away until its arrival proved necessary once again.

Effectively, this meant that the eight-dozen or so Sraelvun were stranded at the far Northern reaches of the mines, but given the apparent lack of threat anywhere to be seen, this was less a military issue, and more the induced paranoia of anxiety. While the Risen among the group weren’t unarmed for fear of potential reprisals, the Sraelvun had instead been outfitted exclusively with tools of one kind or another. A fight against an aggressor would be brutal, even with these militant comrades.

Looking around the facility made it evident that they had come too quietly. While the Major hadn’t expected a great degree of fanfare over their arrival, he had expected to at least receive a briefing from the facility overseers. Instead, he found neither overseer nor briefing, nor even any indication of life within the local area. What had happened here to leave the place so utterly destitute? Did the danger remain? Would it return if it didn’t?

 

[Galak]

Objective: Fix my Head
Post: Five

He sat down with his meal, idling in the corner of a booth alongside an isolated table. He sat at the end, eyes across at the endless emptiness ahead. He ate his meal in silence as more of his unit woke, giving nods of respect. Many of them had served with Pavium as well, he had been Captain to dozens of Juggernauts. Many of which would’ve given their lives for his. But that wasn’t how the real world worked.

Finishing his meal, Galak headed back to the barracks - armouring up. His gear had only recently been repaired after Ankhypt, but he was glad to be alive. The Emissary disrobed, exchanging the casual wear for the interior body-glove of his armour. With assistance from Drones, the heavy plate of the hand of khaeus was placed upon his shoulders. It felt heavier than usual.

But he always thought that every time he had it off for a while. It suited him and he wore it well, or at least that was what Pavium used to say. But he believed him, after everything - after Nar Kreeta he truly believed that it was his destiny. He was meant to lead, to help the Chieftain win this war.

 

[Sethrak]

The Drael adversaries had begun firing as soon as The Warlock saw them. He couldn’t block everything, nor could he dodge the sheer amount. He had to use a mixture of blocking what he could...which gave him a nice splash of hot, molten metal in the chest when he blocked a slug shot...and dodges, which had resulted in a spike to the leg that he had pulled out before it exploded.

He didn’t know why these Drael were attacking him. He could only assume they were heretics. But he didn’t care, they had attacked him and now they would die for it. His blocks and dodges, while only minorly effective, had given the friendly Drael time to return fire. The Aerevalin had made his way up the hill, while the Baedurin had lifted the rock off the pinned Srael. Sethrak had nearly reached the top now.

He aimed his bow, releasing the arrow, it hit a Srael above in the head, puncturing the back of its’ skull. Sethrak loaded another arrow, this time an explosive-tipped one. He aimed at a Baedurin heretic, center mass, but his release was interrupted by another spike through his chest armor. It didn’t hit his skin but the crystal exploded, ripping through some of his flesh.

The Warlock groaned, but kept his eyes on the heretics as his shot missed, low and right of his target. Still it exploded, disintegrating the nearest Sraelvalin. Sethrak groaned again, blood flowing down his chest. It wasn’t a big or deep cut, but there were several and they were open enough to bleed.

The Warlock looked at the heretics. There were about seven left. He dropped the bow and drew his Kukri, charging up the hill.

 

[Osam]

Post 3

Entering the facility had been a matter of great care for the Sraelvun. After all, there had been no indication that anyone still remained within the massive structure, and whatever had managed to pilfer it of all life and communication may well have remained. Beyond the usual measure of caution that one might associate with such a possible threat, the band of brethren faced another dire problem: Only a handful of them were armed.

The silence didn’t vanish immediately upon entry into the dark confines of the strip-mine, though the very nature of the massive room was enough to make even the slightest noise suddenly feel enormous. Every footstep that the group took further into the lobby was redirected into the surrounding walls, bounced to and fro against the hollow chamber, sound diverting a dozen times and amplifying with every diversion until the Sraelvun sounded like a mob of trampling Juggernauts.

Darkness was a lesser issue for the group - most of the Srael possessed lights of some form or another, and they were quick to annihilate the shadows in order to guarantee the safety of the workplace. It was during this evaporation of the enigmatic shade where revelations were made as to the reason behind the uncanny quiet. While there were dozens of indentations visible from the main entrance of the facility, all of them appeared to have been sealed by shattered stone and debris.

Whether the work of a saboteur or a poorly executed engineering project, one thing was certain -- these facilities were kept staffed with thousands of their brethren. The fact that not a single one had been able to visit them upon the surface was evidence that they’d been buried alive somewhere in the tunnels. Osam himself had faced a similar predicament once upon an asteroid… he knew what it meant to be stuck somewhere with little hope of survival.

He wouldn’t let his kindred face such a fate alone.

 

[Sethrak]

The kukri sliced through the Sraelvalin’s skull with ease. Meanwhile, to Sethrak’s left, the other Aerevalin loyalist was engaged with the Heretic Baedurin. This allowed an opening for Sethrak to strike. He took it, thrusting as hard as he could into the Baedurin’s spine. It penetrated, but it wasn’t enough to kill the brute, who roared in pain, throwing an arm back toward Sethrak.

The Warlock was forced to leave the Kukri in the Brute’s back in order to dodge the arm. Not good. He now had arrows but no bow, and no melee weapon.

Thinking quickly, he drew the grapple, unraveling some of the wire. Meanwhile the loyal Aerevalin struck the Brute, hitting its arm. The Brute swung at the aerevalin and Sethrak took the rope, using the grapple end to catch on the sword handle. Now with a firm grip, he took the rope, wrapping it around the Brute’s head. Still he had plenty of rope to spare. He wrapped some around the Brute’s waist, dodging the wild swings of the massive warrior. Finally, he leaped back.

With distance, and the rope wrapped around the Brute’s head, Sethrak pulled as hard as he could. One of two things would happen: The head would be sliced off, or the sword would snap.

The first option was the intended outcome, and it was the result. The wire sliced through the thick skin of the Brute, cutting through its throat like butter. With one last haul, Sethrak decapitated the thing. Meanwhile, the Aerevalin stabbed through the gut of the Brute. The fight was over. The Baedurin was the last heretic.

Victory.

 

[Sylok'Vanari]

Objective: Restore the Power, Repair Damages, Find the Runner's Nest
Location: Garel's Surface, Northern Reaches, Production Facility #2
Tags: TBD
Post #5

As much as war was exhilarating, Sylok felt a sensation of excitement. The discovery of the unknown tickling every facet of his body. It was a scientist's dream to stumble upon a species of incredible mystery. Not to mention, the study of such creatures in their own habitat. Sylok looked over to one of the Ashaka battlemasters. He waved him over and within seconds a bright, vibrant white light emerged from the Ashaka’s hands. Sylok could see the spinning yarn of thread in the force tangle. Each waving motion of his subordinate created an orb, it’s light luminescent. The strange creation slightly moved forward into the wide maw of the hole. The clear film on the edges lacquered with slime.

Sylok bent forward to examine the substance closer, it was thicker than the substance on his hand. A small pocket of bumps formed inside of it, a dark green making itself known.

“I want Grawshak to take samples.” Sylok said.
“What about Frendak?” Mogdam asked.
“I want him with us Mogdam, keep your light steady. I’ll wait.” Sylok’s voice held concern, they could be walking right into a den of hostile creatures.

Sylok stepped carefully through the illuminated tunnel and grinned. His teeth shifted as he began to observe markings on the walls. The rocky sides bore deep chisel marks, easily created by a sharp object of claws. Spiders or anything similar, wouldn’t leave such things. In fact, there was no sign of webbing, only saliva that seemed to clot. He turned back to see if the others returned. They didn’t, but he didn’t care and he continued forward as the orb of light led the way. ​

 

[Osam]

Post 4

It was the definition of hard work. Striking against the hardened rock was enough to jolt a Sraelvun’s entire body with the force, each blow taking a toll on their already tiring muscles. Once the stones had been loosened enough from one another or else broken into smaller pieces, another Sraelvun would eagerly reach in, scoop up the prize, and take it elsewhere to be disposed of.

The Major had divided his work-force into several teams, each one with their own tasks. While a majority were assigned to different dig-crews, and thus given pickaxes and drills and other methods of striking the earth, these were all taking turns with their work. There was no reason for them to utilize all of their strength on each tunnel, and fail to excavate any of them to an acceptable extent in the process.

The Risen were performing admirably in their role as supervisors. Whilst they were taking a leadership role, he was proud to see that they were unnecessarily abusive with their positions of power. Whenever the Sraelvun under them would groan and ache, they would allow them to take moments to rest, to regain their strength, to repair their tools if they had been dented this way or that. They remembered what it was like to be like them -- to be thought of as tools the same as the pickaxe.

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Objective: Hunt the Spider
Post: Four

He continued, slow and steadily through the dried out cave system he had found only moments before. Even with his enhanced hearing he couldn’t hear much of anything other than the distant dripping of water. It echoed louder like they were massive drips, likely reverberating through the cave and thus was amplified when it reached his ear. The tunnel took a steep turn, a steady decline created a path he could climb down through. It must’ve continued on going down at least twenty feet, he was careful not to get his Axe caught on anything as he descended.

But he didn’t bother to stop the crumbling of rocks, whatever was here had noticed him already. Perhaps it used something close to whiskers or such on its legs, waiting for changes in the air to know if any prey was nearby. But that was its mistake, he wasn’t prey. They’d find out who the prey was as soon as they encountered one and other and something in the Titan’s gut told him that’d be soon.

He continued around a corner, infinite darkness like the edge of space ahead. But it wasn’t an infinite darkness, it was a cave. A massive one, he moved close to the edge. Below he could smell the damp air, it was the depths of the cave - where the water had all collected. There was no doubt about it, if there was a creature this is where the creature was. Isolated, he stalked toward the precipice that careened over the river within the mountain. His eyes shot up first, looking towards the ceiling of the cave - smart creatures always employed distractions. Giant looming rivers of blackened water, for example.

 

[Osam]

Post 5

They might’ve excavated a thousand pounds of stone before they’d managed to locate even the hint of life. One of the Sraelvun work-teams had returned quickly from their assigned position in the tunnel with reports that they could hear a rhythmic and metallic sound somewhere beyond the current clog. Further investigation revealed that this sound was not merely the result of some uncanny natural imitation, but instead the work of a coherent and conscious mind.

Osam rapt a stone against another, clacking loudly together as he attempted to communicate, but it was to no avail. What was it that was creating the loud and tinny noise at the other end of the tunnel? He commanded the work-force to search for any uncovered pipes that might be running from one end of the facility to the other. The search was slow -- there was still a significant amount of rubble and debris around the area, even where they’d begun to clear it away en masse -- but it proved fruitful.

A pipe of some form -- possibly meant to convey heat or water -- was still intact and ran throughout the ceiling of the tunnel. Smacking against it produced a similar noise to the one they’d encountered, and mere moments after the first test strike, they were able to hear clear evidence of their brethren through the repeated strike of metal. Somewhere beyond the impositions of the rocky tomb were members of their race in need of rescue.

Osam wouldn’t leave them to suffocate or starve. Scooping up one of the nearest picks, he set to work, intent on rescuing those inside.

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Objective: Kill the Jedi Tathra memes
Post: Five

But that was his mistake, believing everything would go to plan with the exception of what the creature might’ve done. He heard it first but it was all happening too quickly for Tathra to react. The small stone edge he stood on cracked, crumbling under his weight. His eyes grew wide as his heart jumped in his chest, the water below growing larger and larger as he descended toward it. Colourless, no light pierced through it. Anything could be in there. No doubt anything was in there.

The Titan inhaled hard as he pulled his knees up to his chest, arms crossing over his knees, taking in what air he could before crashing into the black depths of the water. Dozens of pebbles and chunks of rock surrounded him as he plummeted into the water. Like an insect crashing into a pond. Darkness surrounded him, nothing but endless water in either direction. Tathra struggled to stay in the upper end of the water, it seemed as though below him there were water tunnels that went deep underground, possibly for the creature to traverse.

There seemed to be very little or nothing in here, but he knew the limitations of eyes - he couldn’t trust them. His eyes flickered, switching between forms of vision as he looked around the endless depth of the water but he didn’t need to see it. He felt it first, the water shifted as something massive moved at his back, catching him. His eyes looked up, the waves in the water ceiling confirmed it, whatever it was. It was ginormous.

 

[Ostak Cl'mana]

Post: II
Objective: Eliminate a high-risk heretic without being detected
Equipment: Ceremonial Shaman robes

Ostak arrived at the mining facility’s auxiliary barracks without issue. ​

He walked inside the rectangular room, empty except for two Brute Majors, one sharpening his glaive and the other sorting through boxes of grenades. They both looked up as he entered, giving him a quick greeting.

“Greetings, Shaman.” said the Major working on his glaive “Is there anything you need here?”

“A Splitter, please.” requested Ostak.

“I’m sorry, but all our Spitters are in use currently.” replied the second Major.

“A Splitter, not a Spitter.” rebuked Ostak angrily. “You know, the sniper rifle.”

“Oh, we do have one of those.” continued the first Major. “I’ll grab it.”

The Brute Major leaned his glaive against the wall and walked to the back of the room, unlocking one of numerous large closets. He pulled out a large, long rifle with a long barrel along with two magazines of standard ammunition. The Spitter and its ammunition switched hands from the Brute to the Shaman, who proceeded to walk away.

Little did the Brute know, the Shaman was about to use the Spitter to eliminate one of his overseers.

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Objective: Kill the Spider
Post: Six

If one without hairs and in the depth of water could feel the hairs standing up on the back of their neck, now would be one of those times. He turned around slowly as the creature passed him by, his eyes not quite capable of making out what they were looking at. A miasma of legs, the ones he'd seen in the tunnel before that lured him here. It was circling him like he was the prey, well - it was wrong. Tathra took the Axe from his back, watching as the dozens of eyes lining its muscular but bone-like torso/face blinked at him. Tathra held the Axe aloft in his left, glowing red with energy as he used his right to keep himself at level with it. He'd need to hurt it, give himself some time to get into the shallow end of the water and find a way out. Right now it could very well drag him to the depths and it wouldn't matter how hard he fought, he'd be very, very dead.

When it started to move toward him, the moment had been prepared for. It swerved, moving in ways he didn't quite understand or could comprehend. Tathra struck with the Axe, steaming waves of red energy lashed out towards it, bubbles obscuring their views of each other. The creature darted with incredible speed, using its dozens of limbs to propel itself past the Titan as he began to swim. That trick wouldn't work twice, not here - he swam towards the top of the water, looking out across the expansive cave. If there was anything, he couldn't see it.

Something wrapped around his leg, Tathra turned as he was yanked down hard by one of the creatures longer and more flexible limbs; he turned slashing at it, severing the limb attached to him with the Axe. But, it was hard to stop underwater momentum. The Titan sunk low, but not quite close enough to hit the bottom. He couldn't, that would be too far down. His eyes flickered to infrared vision, it was massive - hard to tell but maybe eighty feet in length. Six massive rigid legs sat on the exterior of the creature, no doubt what it used outside of the water. The others moved like fins, flapping behind it was it darted round and back toward him underwater.

 

[Ostak Cl'mana]

Post: III
Objective: Eliminate a high-risk heretic without being detected
Equipment: Ceremonial Shaman robes, Splitter with 6 bolts

The Shaman left the barracks, Splitter in his hands.

As he walked through the halls of the facility, the undercover Overseer considered his situation. Infiltrating a new conquest in pursuit of a powerful heretic harboring Tenabrak, Ostak would likely have his life put on the line at least once. While the Shaman Field Commander likely could not risk laying a hand or blade on Ostak himself, he had no doubt that she would deploy her agents the moment she suspected she was being hunted. Since both Ostak and the Field Commander had to be out of public view in order to attack each other without revealing their intentions to the rest of the facility, both parties were at risk of attack.

As such, Ostak’s primary priority would be finding a safe spot to snipe the heretical Field Commander based on where she traveled throughout the day. Based on reports from undercover Enforcers who worked for her, she would be sorting out mining reports alone in her office beginning at 14:00. The time was now 13:40, giving the Overseer twenty minutes to get into position.

Putting his Tachael-Vemnak command stone back in his pocket, Ostak entered the main hallway.

 

[Primarch Drek'ma]

Post: Three
Objective: Train the new generations
Tags: N/A

That was what made him concerned, he saw that in the Titan. Whatever had happened on Nar Kreeta had changed something, he wasn’t sure what had happened but he wouldn’t have been here had he not thought Tathra would eventually seek him out. The Seers had foretold of what would come.

They had all sensed a critical moment approach but none had truly been prepared for it. But what had been a dreaded future was now the past. Now the sands had begun to settle and the Bryn’adul Empire rallied behind the Titan, or so it seemed. Oftentimes it was difficult to understand the foundations when you were at the top, but he tried - they all did.

His eyes caught one of them in particular, she seemed to be struggling the most. But Drek'ma could feel it, her aptitude for the force was above the average. She shouldn't be struggling, but indeed she was. The Primarch rose from his seat, rising with two hands. He figured it was time to stop holding a grudge, get one regrown. He had been a proud fool to keep a stub. Struggling in close combat made that clear.

 

[Ostak Cl'mana]

Post: IV
Objective: Stop Sethrak from finding a girlfriend Eliminate a high-risk heretic without being detected
Equipment: Ceremonial Shaman robes, Splitter with 6 bolts

13:40

Ostak rushed through the mining crew quarters in his silent enforcement of orthodoxy.​

Fortunately, the halls were mostly empty, with the workers either in the mines below or called to stability portions of the site to deal with ongoing maintenance concerns. Ostak paid them no mind - as long as the mine did not fall apart underneath him, there would be no interference disrupting his task. The few Draelvasier who remained paid the Shaman no mind, perhaps assuming that he was one of many guards stationed in the facility.

13:50​

Ostak had found a secure sniping nest. It was a small balcony that extended in a space between the crew quarters and officer quarters, which were separated by about twenty meters of dimly lit caverns. The two quarters were connected by an artificial hallway which was built through the cavern, one which he expected the heretical Shaman Field Commander to soon walk through. The door to her quarters had a window - the moment she stepped inside, he would open fire, breaking through the glass and her head in a single blow. Then, he would retreat to a more populated center of the mine before her Tenabrak agents exacted vengeance, leaving them to be swept up by the lower Enforcers in the facility.

With his plan approaching its final stages, Ostak kneeled down and peered through the scope of his Splitter.

14:00.17​

The Shaman Field Commander returned to her room, where she would coordinate the next phase of their insurgency. The Field Commander had always been an ambitious figure, and turning Tenabrak into insurgents in return for her protection granted her an army whose obedience fell solely to her, and not the Chieftain or his scheming council. One day, she would become the queen of the Draelvasier - she knew she would. With her power and steadily growing influence, it would not be long before she acquired the might to become the new Primarch and usurp control of the vast empire with her countless hordes of beasts and acolytes. Heresies committed at her hand would soon become irrelevant as sh-

Her thoughts were brutally interrupted by a bullet detonating within her skull.

 

[Primarch Drek'ma]

Post: Four
Objective: Train the new generations
Tags: N/A

As he rose, everything stopped even without his command. But his eyes were hidden, none of them knew who he was making his way toward or thinking to speak to or perhaps chastise and it drove them mad with anxiety. The thud of his Staff against the ground was the only audible sound anyone would hear as he made his way through the crowd of adepts.

As he passed by the individual Rhivaks all bowed down to him, kneeling in a sign of respect. He didn't even have to try to dominate them, for the weaker creatures it was almost subconscious now. His mere aura exuded primal dominance and they all heard it.

He stopped finally at the female adept, his massive frame standing tall over her.

"Adept, I can feel your potential." He spoke softly but confidently, pacing to her side.

He could see the fear in her mind, but he wished to reassure her. But not immediately, Drael did their best under pressure.

"Adept, I would like you to do something for me." Whilst her mind was so active, it was easier for him to sift through it.

 

[Ostak Cl'mana]

Post: V
Objective: Ostak Run: The Temple Run Sequel Eliminate a high-risk heretic without being detected
Equipment: Ceremonial Shaman robes, Splitter with 5 bolts

Ostak’s aim was flawless.​

Just as he expected, the Spitter’s bolt cleanly pierced the window of the heretic’s office and turned her head into a puddle of red and black liquid. It was a victory for orthodoxy and order, and her death would help ensure the unity of the species in their fragile new holdings. Now, all that was left was to make his report of elimination.

Suddenly, he noticed the shadows surrounding the dead Shaman Field Commander’s room vanish. The Tenabrak had moved more hastily than Ostak had expected - he would have to retreat fast if he were to escape alive.

Surely enough, the balcony door behind him was knocked down as a disgruntled Draelvasier approached Ostak. He would have passed for a Brute if not for wild gleam in his eyes, a sign of something unhinged within him. Since Ostak was still kneeling in his sniping position, he simply pivoted his knee around, turning himself to face the Tenabrak and fire a shell point blank into his chest. The outcast fell, leaving a clear route for Ostak to leave the balcony.

The Overseer broke into a sprint, his brain converting every shadow in the room into an insane Tenabrak hell-bent on exacting vengeance. Yet he did not begin hearing footsteps following him until he was about ten seconds in. Behind him, Ostak sensed at least half a dozen figures approaching him, armed with blades and guns. Before they could fire, Ostak sent a wave of Force energy flying their way, testing their defenses. Armor cracked and the Tenabrak fell over as they were knocked back by the wave, their slow reflexes revealed to the Overseer.

Perhaps Ostak would make the lives of the lesser Enforcers in the facility a little bit easier.

He halted his sprint, turning to face the seven Tenabrak who had recovered and resumed their dash towards him. Five held glaives, and two held Spitter Utility Bows. They all wore low-grade armor, likely meant for Drones or enlisted-rank Brutes. They seemed to be of mixed Aeravalin and Baedurin physique, though no Sraelvun were among their ranks.

These details gave Ostak all the information he needed.

 

[Primarch Drek'ma]

Post: Five
Objective: Train the new generations
Tags: N/A

He found what he was looking for, early on she had created elemental fire, lightning even in defence of herself against some troublesome fellow Drael. She was a Warlock to be sure.

"Create fire, I've seen it in your mind."

"You want me to burn the Rhivak?"

"No, of course not." He scoffed, directing her away - toward him.

"Attack me, with your elemental power."

"Primarch I-"

"Please." His face worm the same expression, his tone even straiend still remained calm. But everyone could tell it was no longer a request.

Moments passed as she steadied herself, even in this stressful situation he could feel the calm wash over her. This was her true potential. The fire exploded like a talon of energy toward him, blunted by a force barrier he generated. She was strong.

But she seemed ashamed so ashamed of what she was. The fire continued until she could no longer continue, powerful but untapped. Drek'ma did not want more Draelvasier with potential falling through the cracks of traditions they felt pressured by.

"You have potential, but not with us. Honour Guards, take her to Warlock Adkael." With a nod, the Honour Guards escorted her out of the training room.

Drek'ma returned to his chair, idle and watching as the training resumed.

 

[Ostak Cl'mana]

Post: VI
Objective: Create a curbstomp post to make Ostak look cool Survive
Equipment: Ceremonial Shaman robes, Splitter with 3 bolts

He fired the third bolt of his Splitter at the head of one of the Tenabrak carrying a Spitter, killing her before her corpse hit the ground. ​

An armor-piercing bolt from the other Spitter flew his way, but Ostak withdrew his Spitter leaned sharply to the right, causing the arrow to miss him by several centimeters. Now entering melee range, the frontmost Tenabrak attempted to thrust his glaive into Ostak’s chest, only for Ostak to pull the glaive to his right and then yank the Aeravalin along with it. He kicked upwards at the approaching figure, breaking his right elbow and causing him to surrender the glaive to Ostak. He swung it around and reversed it, decapitating the Tenabrak with his own glaive.

Three more glaives were launched at Ostak at once. Rather than attempt to block them or back away from them as a normal Beast Master might, Ostak slid forwards, the blades soaring over his head as he closed the distance between himself and the group. The center Tenabrak found himself impaled on his comrade’s glaive and thrown aside by Ostak, who approached the other two with his bare fists. Imbuing them with his spiritual energy, he delivered a punch onto the second Tenabrak’s left knee so hard that it split in two, leaving him helpless on the ground as Ostak crushed his skull under his foot. The third Tenabrak attempted to strike with her glaive a second time at point-blank range, only for Ostak to catch the blade between his hands and break it off from the glaive’s pole. Then, Ostak imbued the severed blade with enough energy to make it glow a faint purple and hurled it at her head, slicing cleanly through the skull and emerging out the other side with enough force to embed in a nearby wall.

The remaining three Tenabrak gave in to the cowardice that had given them their titles and fled the Overseer, but he would not let them escape with their heresy so easily.

He reached out with his spiritual energy and called upon the energy in their own bodies, drawing it into his own. The Tenabrak struggled and cried out in terror, falling to the ground as Ostak extracted the energy from their bodies to augment his own. Focusing his new energy reserve onto his feet, Ostak stomped the ground, creating a translucent shockwave that left large cracks in the floor and split each remaining exile into several pieces.

“Pathetic.” muttered Ostak. “If this is the true nature of the Tenabrak, then the punishment they receive is justified beyond any semblance of doubt.”

Leaving the carnage and destruction behind, Ostak began his trek back to the active mining zones, with not a scratch on his body. He would not be getting picked up and returned to his Kesh oversight until the end of the day on the planet, so the Overseer had several hours to kill.

On his Vemnak stone, reports began to come in about a large beast disrupting the maintenance of the mines. Perhaps such a creature would provide a more entertaining opponent than the pathetic exiles who lay in pieces behind him.

 

[Osam]

Post 6

The Major was filled with both satisfaction at the efficacy of his forces, and a great deal of joy at his accomplishment when the first of the Sraelvun workers were recovered from the tunnels. They were promptly taken outside of the facility and set upon the surface where they could huddle together, and enjoy the extra air granted by the outdoors. Osam imagined that their lungs might’ve been clogged with dirt and dust and that the fresh air would be good for their recovery.

To assist in watching over them, he began to meld his squadrons together, leaving one Risen overseer in charge of double the Sraelvun they had been initially. The excess Risen were dispatched to the surface with the survivors, both to interrogate them about the nature of the collapse and to guarantee that none had been badly wounded or would require medical attention.

Rescuing one of the Baedurin strip-mine overseers had been a far more difficult process, but they were doubly thankful that their life had been saved. One of their legs had been badly crushed in the initial collapse, but they refused most medical attention, stating merely that there was still work to do, and that they could rest once the others had been retrieved.

On and on the work-force dug, pulling additional members of the facility’s labor and management free from the rubble. Interrogations and the self-reports given by the Baedurin and Aeravalin revealed that they had been working well, everything on schedule until disturbances elsewhere had suddenly led to structural instability. The overseers had gone in to retrieve their workers or their hauls, but had managed only to get themselves trapped when the inevitable collapse occurred.

There were casualties, of course, but Osam didn’t think much of them. While he pitied anyone who was crushed underneath so many tons of dirt and stone and metal, he also recognized that he had done admirably -- that all those workers who had been saved owed their lives to he and his subordinates. Perhaps… perhaps the Baedurin would learn that there was value yet in their lesser cousins, and he would be able to secure a favorable position for his kindred in their hearts.