The Liberation of Sullust (New Republic Invasion of the First Order)

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

Location: Underground Ruins
Gear: Sith Imperial Cadet Uniform | Lightsaber | Sword of Omens
Allies: [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Barbatos"]
Enemies: [member="Coren Starchaser"] | [member="Mishel Kryze"] | [member="Toreka"] | [member="Abigail Meredydd"] | [member="Hannah"]

[ darth lolcat theme ]​

The boy couldn't help but wonder if the differences between them were not simply a matter of semantics.

The Knights of Ren served the Supreme Leader. The Brotherhood of the Sith served the Sith Emperor. The governments of Dosuun and Bastion were both styled on the Declaration of the New Order, which was itself inspired by the Ancient Sith Empire, the Atrisian Empire, Xim's Empire, and any number of archaic examples across time and space.

The Herglics had an expression that went something like, the more things change, the more that they tend to remain the same. As the Cathar kitten trailed quietly behind the trio of masters, the cat-eared youth quietly brooded.

He had met these secretive servants of the Supreme Leader during the evacuation of Commenor, when the boy had become trapped inside of the First Order embassy after having delivered a missive. Escaping the rebellion in their company, the boy had voyaged with the First Order to Lothal, where he had made a rather fascinating discovery that was now being studied by the bio-medical division of the Royal Academy at Bastion.

A holo-generated window hung over near the boy, displaying where the urban compass installed in the datacron mounted over his right pauldron was mapping the corridors and caverns. There was no map of these ruins, so the device was instead cataloging their movements in order to develop a track they could navigate to depart by egressing the same way that they had come in.

Assuming that was possible.

Up ahead, the boy could hear the masters debating between themselves regarding the storied artifact that they were chasing after. For his part, the young Cathar was skeptical that such a thing would be present. Too often, these relic hunts turned out to be more rumor that fact.

None of which was his concern. With his on-line access to the various Sith Academy libraries, the boy's role in all of this was merely to help the Knights of Ren in identifying what this artifact may have been, assuming it existed. Beyond that, he was just hoping for an opportunity to explore the former Jedi Academy. And maybe enjoy the hot springs over at Piringiisi.

He heard the local delicacy was Sullustan ash-rabbit. That sounded like something that the Cathar could definitely enjoy about this trip to Sullust.

 

[Koda Fett]

LOCATION: FOSB PROCESSING CENTRE, IDF DRILLING WEST WING
OBJECTIVE: GET PAID
ALLY: FIRST ORDER - [member="Dominic Craig"], [member="Lucius Draugh"]
ADVERSARIES: NEW REPUBLIC - [member="Deacon"], KRENIS SKIRATA, [member="Chekīta Awaud"]

It'd been bothersome, that process. The Mandalorian had become annoyed, to some degree, by his inability to remain in constant motion-- intending on utilising this system as if it were a rotating door; moving in and out in one fluid series. But, it were punishment for his recent captures. They'd been small(er)-fry and warranted truthful recognition rather than immediate identification. It might've not paid to the previous levels, but it did so in other means - acknowledgement, and more. But, it weren't as if Fett had ever been in need of spreading his name. They had all known it. And it toyed with his inflamed ego already.

The Bounty Hunter had silently shifted behind Agent Craig, opting to remain relatively wordless throughout his venture elsewhere. Fett had always found an over-talkative individual to intensely infuriating as their frivolous sounds that need-not be made would echo throughout the space that surrounded them. The Mandalorian had always found preference among the silent types in soundless locations in the quieter moments. He had professionally slinked into the seat before reaching towards his pouch-laden belt, retrieving a singular, small device that had been further placed onto the table. "Footage." Fett claimed, "It's everything that I saw." He then explained. He always produced footage of the events that transpired for several reasons that were only ever relevant to Koda.

But, away his Agent had gone. Fett momentarily stayed motionless, as expected, but opted to provide some degree of entertainment rather than dwell within a silent chamber, echoing his thoughts.

It weren't his place to say, really, but he'd been silently judgemental of the boy that'd been granted authority. He couldn't quite believe it, but, then again, it didn't matter. Not to Fett.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Knight, Praetorian Guard
Equipment: Praetorian Armour, Vibro-Arbir Blade, Lightsaber (Blue), Binding Wires
Location: Jedi Temple Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface
Objective: Investigate the disturbance
Allies: [member="Barbatos"] | [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Micah"]
Enemies: [member="Hannah"] (eventually confronting) | [member="Coren Starchaser"] | [member="Mishel Kryze"] | [member="Toreka"] | [member="Abigail Meredydd"]

While her brethren journeyed through the winding and twisting corridors that made up the underground maze of the ruins, Marriskcal has chosen to wander through the shattered remains of its once proud temple.

Even here, in the meeting hall of their vaunted, the ravages of time was relentless and unforgiving. The corrosive atmosphere of the world has permeated and touched the interiors of the grand room, etching patterns of rust on its walls and leaving its remaining furniture brittle and frail. Encased in a raiment of crimson, the young woman paused before a high arched window, her shrouded features taking in the lifeless garden before her.

In the haunting silence of the biosphere ruins, it was all too easy for Marriskcal to find herself intuitively answering the call of the artefact as it continued to reverberate through the Force. As a person who has always been attuned to its flow, the blonde possessed a preternatural sense of perception. And while it usually served to her advantage, it also meant that there were times where it overwhelmed her. For a fleeting moment, the cast of her gaze became distant as she found herself entranced by its siren’s song.

A sharp discordant noise broke through her reverie, the distinct note of metal striking stone echoed through the crumbling structures of the biosphere. While it was not an unusual occurrence in itself, it would be negligent of her if she did not investigate and ensure that nothing was amiss before continuing on her search.

 

[Kier Grey]

1SG. Kyli DT-6767
Sullust Subterranean Caverns, A.G Marius Military Rail Line, Gravtrain 'Tarkin' Cargo Carriage #71
Nearby Allies: [member="Rexus Wenck"], [member="Luther Ando"], [member="Tanomas Graf"]
Nearby Enemies: [member="The Wayfarer"], [member="Nunak"], [member="Myk Venture"]

Spoiler: Equipment

• Blackwing Electro-Sword​http://starwarsrp.net/topic/124303-blackwing-electro-sword/#entry1729999
• DARKSABRE Advanced Powered Assault Armour/Mark IX/ALPHA/SOPMOD
• FastTurnhttp://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/FastTurn-3_Hydrospanner-3 Hydrospannerhttp://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/FastTurn-3_Hydrospanner
• G-6E Light Repeating Blasterhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/124727-g-6e-light-repeating-blaster/#entry1734297
• G-12A Blaster Rifle
• [SIZE=10pt]M1-NR "Nerve" Autoinjectorhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/103950-m1-nr-nerve-autoinjector/#entry1500738[/SIZE]
• Plasma Torch
• Stuncuffs
• [SIZE=10pt]VX Gas Grenadeshttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/103751-m1-vx-vee-ex-grenades/#entry1498254[/SIZE]

Kyli's hazel orbs focus on Rexus listening to his answer with an eager silence, her brows furrowed had it been better to not have had a traditional family to have been raised exclusively by First Imperial Instructors? Kyli pondered this wordlessly while glancing over to Twigg her pallor relaxes somewhat and corners of mouth raise into something vaguely resembling a smirk, it would appear to the born and raised soldier that Twigg's parents were attempting to produce an entire section of soldiers on their own, chuckling Kyli directs a dry statement towards Twigg. "Sounds like your parents were working har-" before Kyli could finish pronouncing the last consonant of her statement she springs up in a paranoid instinct holding helmet by thigh in left-hand and aiming G-12A Blaster Rifle in the door's direction before dropping it with an equally rapid velocity.

Within the door's frame stands a lone solitary figure wearing a familiar handsome albeit gaunt visage. "Andy?" Kyli asks visibly stunned, her question is answered by the Baritone bellowing of Twigg who loudly exclaims "Luther!" Twigg's nigh nine feet tall largesse almost bowls over the two feet shorter Kyli his advance slams into the woman's shoulder causing her to release a grunt before lazily following in Dark Comrade's step. Almond-shaped spheres watch while Twigg's limbs raise Luther towards the carriage's ceiling in an enthusiastic hug. Rexus, predictably berated Andy prompting Kyli to turn and obstruct the angry Death Machine's path towards their former comrade and friend. Kyli understood why Rex felt this way, the four of them had fought side-by-side during the War and then Afterwards with Andy entering voluntary rehabilitation sometime afterwards without warning leaving the other members of ALPHA.

"Leave it Rex, leave it." Kyli's voice carried nothing in the way of overt emotion such is the woman's stoicism representing years of training and de-humanisation of a Stormtrooper, on more than one occasion Kyli had received the label of "Psychopath" for her ostensible lack of compassion for friend and foe alike although the truth is far more complex. Kyli had simply learned to swallow her pain, to shed tears alone where nobody would see or hear them and shed tears she had upon Luther's departure. While the First Sergeant had never been apart of a family she believed with earnest that the men of ALPHA would be the closest thing Kyli would ever know to such a concept. "Hey, you hear me?" Irritated Kyli's hazel spheres narrow while looking upon Rex. "Leave it alone." Rexus appeared to ease up somewhat, turning on his heels and pacing in frustration when faced with Kyli's grit-filled ire, the woman was as tough as a Rancor even before their augmentations and perhaps one of the only living things in the universe that Rexus respected, feared and admired in equal measure.

Turning steadily the dark brown strands of Kyli's short ponytail whipped around and struck her jaw with a gentle pat in what to an observer would appear to be a tendon severing fast maneuver although such a thing amongst these Onyx-clad warriors is considered sluggish such was their post-human potency in close-quarters combat that they fought more often than not on favorable terms even against the likes of Jedi Knights in melee. Kyli waited for Twigg to lower the ganglier Luther before proceeding to step in their direction coming within normal conversation distance. "Andy, I-" Cut off Kyli pauses the unpleasant thud and scratch sound of heavy boots and distinctly foreign accents fills the woman's ear canals and in a swift motion Kyli slides her dark helmet over nape hermetic seal clamps down against bodysuit with a distinct low-volume whine.

Rexus heard it too with Kyli and the former stepping forward and raising their G-12A Blaster rifles in direction of door shouldering the weapons firmly Twigg rag-dolled Luther and protected the comparatively fragile man with his gargantuan body. The Synthetic Intelligence aboard Kyli's armour began verbally constructing the battlespace alerting his mistress to the presence of further contacts who are making their way to the engine, no doubt with the intention of hijacking the train and Kyli confirms this by glancing for but a fraction of second to macromotion monitor and the contacts who moved away from the Death Troopers displayed therein. "Check targets, watch for friendlies." Kyli hears a metallic 'clang' no doubt some kind of explosive which to the Death Trooper implied these unknown hostile contacts on macromotion monitor weren't just raggedy-arse militia, but had received professional training. Kyli lowered helmet somewhat to protect throat from the hot pieces of shrapnel that exploded wildly throughout the cramped space, leaving chalk white scratches across the several hundred kilograms worth of Powered Assault Armour.

The beast lurking within Kyli's brain stem stirred to the oncoming violence and a hungry excitement possessed the woman maw she salivated excitedly with the enemy's advance. Painful pulses shot up spine through the tiny synapses within nervous system whipping the woman into a fearless, barely contained frenzy the pupils of eyes flexed with strength only a horrible and unnatural bio-engineered superpredator could possibly hope to achieve. "This is where the fun begins." In silence ALPHA greets the explosion holding their rifles as still as exquisite statues and then it came a dolorous warcry "For the Alliance!" They shouted. Bands of energy rippled across Kyli's armoured shell absorbing the insurgent's futile and inaccurate 'suppressive' fire harmlessly the Death Troopers' immune to the usual psychological response of flight to seek shelter when threatened that affected the mere mortals who dare now challenge them. That is what made the Troopers augmented under AFTERLIFE so special, their nervous systems could process neither pain or fear and responded only with heightened aggression and bloodthirstiness where a normal healthy man might experience fright or the stringing pain of violent laceration.

Each of Kyli's precise shots find their targets whistling into and above the clavicles in a surgical display of cruel selection. Kyli, she who bore the title of finest sniper within the First Imperial Military proved that it was not mistaken or unearned. A comical pile of bodies quickly rises made from the broken corpses of those who dutifully followed the warcry straight into their doom on the face of azure-coloured magnetically contained tibanna blaster bolts. Outwardly, Kyli's annunciator makes a muted 'click' although no words enter the carriage while she communicates with the other members of ALPHA across their TEAMCOMM. "Twigg, talk to me. How is Andy?" Serene courage and purity beats through Kyli's veins pushed and cycled by a heart capable of fueling a Gundark, heart rate rested comfortably around sixty-two beats per minute murdering their foe with a casual effortlessness inspiring and disturbing in equal measure.

 

[Samka Derith]

Location: Underground en route to the Ruins​

Objective: Investigate signs of a Force Artefact, Claim it in the name of the Supreme Leader progress​

Allies: The First Order, [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Barbatos"] | [member="Marriskcal Lati"] | [member="Micah"]​

Enemies: The New Republic, [member="Hannah"] | [member="Abigail Meredydd"] | [member="Toreka"] | [member="Mishel Kryze"] | [member="Coren Starchaser"]​

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"It is here. Perhaps there."​

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"Thank goodness," she sighed at the sight of the ruined biosphere which came into view. "I was growing bored."

It wasn't an impressive sight but it was something. Something different than the tunnel they'd been walking through for too long. The cavern they'd entered was vast. Vast enough to house a small population even. Large stalagmites hung from the ceiling above while rivers of lava snaked around the rocky chamber. Beyond that the rest was man made. It looked abandoned now. Huge shards of glass from the ruined sphere lay around the chamber, some larger than a person. Withered and dead plants, abandoned droids, vehicles and loose crates spoke of the civilisation which had once been here. Ruined corridors hung from the roof. How recently had they left? When the First Order had claimed the world?

Taking a few steps ahead of the other Ren, Samka approached one of her Sullustans and gave him an affectionate pat on the head. "Well done," she cooed reassuringly in the alien's ear. "Well done to you all." Her voice was soft and gentle, if broken by her mask, but carried enough that the Sullustans would have all heard it. The one she was with, still wearing the dirty pilot's uniform he'd been found in while running supplies to an Alliance hold out, stirred slightly at her touch. He twitched, a thin layer of drool escaping from the alien's large mouth. A reaction of gratitude or revolution? Samka wasn't sure. It depended how much of 'himself' still remained. "Now go along..."

The Sullustans began to march into the ruins, spreading out to search for a route they could use. A mental link between the young Ren and her puppets assured she'd be notified if they found something. They scrambled over obstacles, attempted jumps and paths so dangerous no being with self-preservation would try. Thankfully, the shells of the beings they once were had lost that weakness.

This... whatever it was seemed to be valuable. If the powers that be had decided that not only a person of her importance was to attend this treasure hunt but two of the Supreme Leader's own Praetorians and even 'technical expertise' from the Sith Empire. She regarded her companions with some scepticism. Kyrel was the only known factor at hand here and he could be a loose cannon. The Praetorians were a mystery while the Sith agent was merely a boy. She'd reserve final judgement on the Cathar. Given her own age and appearance, Samka knew better than most how deceptive appearances could be but it still didn't inspire confidence.

"No time mess around," Samka chirped cheerfully. She unleashed a display of impressive acrobatics to ascend through the ruins, bouncing off of the cavern walls, swinging off of loose wires and flipping on the remaining structures to stand atop a suspended hunk of broken metal. It was unlikely her companions could replicate her burst of Force-aided gymnastics. She resisted the temptation to challenge them to do so, a grin hidden beneath her mask at thought of Kyrel attempting it. This would make an adequate position to guide them from at the very least.

"Come along, I'll watch for anything dangerous from here!"

 

[Abigail Meredydd]

Main objective: Secure the artifact
Secondary objective: Locate possible adversaries
Allies: [member="Hannah"] || [member="Toreka"] || [member="Mishel Kryze"] || [member="Coren Starchaser"]
Enemies: [member="Kyrel Ren"] || [member="Barbatos"] || [member="Samka Derith"] || [member="Marriskcal Lati"] || [member="Micah"]


She wasn't alone.

The unnatural noises sounding throughout the cavern tipped her off, but it wasn't until she sought out through the Force that she was sure. There were others here, it had felt them. She had felt them. She hadn't been able to distinguish anything regarding who they were or who they allied with, but they were here. That she knew.

The unrecognisable woman, who almost looked more like a robot than a woman with the faceless mask she was wearing, looked around to find she had entered in a lower section of the cavern. She would have to do a little bit of climbing before she would be able to reach the main structure.

The woman wearing black armour looked towards a relatively unscathed corridor hanging in front of her. She took her spear in her hand as she set a few steps back. Three deep breaths later and she sprinted forward before jumping towards the corridor, her own movements aided by the Force. As she landed inside the corridor she slammed her spear into the wall to prevent herself from falling out again. It made some noise, but far from as much noise as she had expected it to make. After being sure she stood stable, Abigail pulled her spear back and started walking slowly through the corridor, not wanting for it to fall down thanks to her.

Her trip through it went well enough. Apart from a few screeches created by the metal, the corridor was stable enough for her to walk through. Eventually she found herself at the end, where she dropped out of the hanging corridor and onto a higher section of the cavern. Abigail preferred to be on solid ground. She knew that the pieces of biosphere were probably stable enough but she still preferred standing on solid ground.

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was getting too close to something. She quickly forced herself to stop thinking about it though, and focused on her goal instead. She was close now. Hopefully this would all be over soon. She didn't like these dark caverns and all the noises that echoed within them.

Yet it wasn't until she thought she heard a female voice that she froze, before sinking to her knees and looking around. If she hadn't already been seen, she would be fine, as her dark armour and cloak would be hardly noticeable in the cavern. She felt hidden and safe enough, but she still looked around, trying to find the source of the sound she had heard.

 

[Solan Charr]

Location: Enroute / Entering Engagement zone
Objective: Supply Fleet Gomorrah
Allies: [member="Rhea Io"], [member="Edward Thane"], [member="Cuan Kunn"], [member="Kyle Torchwood"], @Roth Tillian + Other Republic Fleeters/Pilots
Enemies: [member="First Order Officer"] [member="Pierce Fortan III"] [member="Karlist Rax"] [member="Ryker Atreides"]

Republic Fleet:

Spoiler

1x - Quasar Fire-class Light Carrier - Open/NPC
1x - CR112 Corvette - Edward Thane
1x - CR50 Interdiction Frigate - Rhea Io
1x - Horn Class Escort Cruiser - Solan Charr
3x - CR112 Corvette - Open/NPC

Solan leaned against the console as his ships waited in place, watching for the Imperial Supply Convoy to trip the strike force's sensor range. They should be far enough out to not be caught, and the Imperials should catch nothing more than the odd trip of their sensors. Something made him feel wrong about this, that there was something in the back of his mind telling him they needed to be very careful about their next steps. It was something that made him itch and continue to check the sensors, waiting for the smallest thing to trip them.

It was shortly after that thought he would turn his eyes on the comms between the ships assembled and the man would go over who was in command of what ships. First there was one of the oldest members to find their place in the navy, a recruit who was given command of a ship for his record during the Iron Empire. It was someone Solan had gotten to see in action for himself and someone that Solan trusted to do his job.

It was the newer one that he found an interest in, one Rhea Io. She was an old captain of a ship that Solan had come across and recruited for the Republic personally. And while their meeting had been brief, the information he had learned recorded in her file, she was someone he was interested to see rise above their station and succeed. There were others like her that he was interested in seeing at work today though. Those like the new pilot he had come across the file of, leader of Alpha Squadron, [member="Kyle Torchwood"]. The officer was another one that Solan had not gotten to sit down and have a long talk with, like the Son of Ronin Fel, [member="Barron Fel"]. He had yet to talk with the other man but hoped the man would find his way to the bridge of the Quasar that Solan requisitioned.

"Have all ships prepare to jump on my mark, something itches and I have a feeling we will need to move soon." That feeling in his gut had come quickly, almost so quickly that he missed it but he knew it meant something and he would not miss their opportunity.

Perhaps he was wrong though, even as the ship prepared to jump and the order was relayed to the others, even as the sensors were tripped and the time had come for launch. The Fighters stored in the hangers of the fleet, preparing to launch as soon as they entered the area the convoy was moving through. Ship systems moving power from the weapons to the shields and to the engines in order to make certain they caught their prey. It would be interesting to see just how much of a threat the convoy really was.

From what his intel had given him, the battle would be rather even, all things considered and Solan itched for that battle to come.

His hand tightened on the arm rest of his chair, watching the ship prepare to jump and knowing that when they came out, they would need to activate the interdiction field immediately. They would have no time or room for hesitation. All that would come next was the battle.

That is why he relaxed as the ship lurched forward, feeling the ship move suddenly and yet almost wanting to lean forward in anticipation. The Jump would be a very short, and a very small one, meant to bring them right into the path of their enemy and within seconds the Interdiction field would be active, leaving the two forces stuck in this playing field, just right outside of range of eachother and with Solan quickly reaching over to ensure all ships were ready for the engagement.

"Fleet, check in, keep comm chatter to a minimum and make certain that they limp out of here with some damned heavy losses. Primary target are the supply convoy ship, seize them if possible and rout the First Order escort fleet to ensure we come out of this on top... after that, we can decide what to do with the supplies. Should capture be impossible, backup plan is elimination of the supplies. But that is a secondary resort, those supplies are much better used if captured." He let that be the message, a final recap on their mission here and a final word before the ships would check in, and the operation would start in full.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Location Under Sullust
Allies @MIshel Noren
Enemies [member="Kyrel Ren"] [member="Samka Derith"]

Sure, maybe Coren wasn’t 100 percent behind the Republic. He knew what they had in their ranks, something that he knew he couldn’t tolerate. But for the most part? They weren’t doing harm. And work was they had some laws on the dark siders that kept them neutered almost. He was hopeful, but he wasn’t foolish. It was the same reason he didn’t go running after Romi Jade over and over again. Much to the dismay of others on his team, he was following the path that he felt was best suited for that. Avoiding her until it was time to remove her. Chasing her would be no different than chasing Taeli or Carnifex down.

“Yeah, lets get moving.” Starchaser nodded as he secured his gear and kept making a move down into the maze. “Reach out… You can feel it.” He looked at his team, some Sullustans who had the navigation mentality to work their way through the caves. “You all need to steer clear if you hear our lightsabers.” Mostly, Coren wasn’t going to be using his lightsaber to deflect bolts. And with the Ren? He knew that they were going to be using their lightsabers more than anything else.

“Mish, there are other Jedi around. Or… people who think they are. We need to keep an eye out. But we’re heading right for the Ren. They have a head start and I can’t let them take the artifact.” He and the team started picking up the pace.

 

[Joycelyn Zambrano]

Location: In Transit for IDF Drilling.
Allies: First Order [member="Koda Fett"] [member="Dominic Craig"] [member="Lucius Draugh"]
Opponents: New Republic [member="Deacon"] [member="Krenis Skirata"] [member="Chekīta Awaud"]

Never one to break a bargain, House Zambrano continuously made steps to maintain and improve relations with their imperial allies. Even now, Colonel Joycelyn Zambrano of the Imperial Legion, escorted by a small contingent of Sith-Imperial legionnaires, had come with captives for a prisoner transfer.

Her captives were one Hiss Nortu and his crew; a group of notorious anti-imperialist dissidents and weapons smugglers with several outstanding sentences in First Order space. They had been caught on the border of a Sith-Imperial protectorate, attempting to smuggle weapons to a resistance group. The charges of smuggling and attempted acts of terrorism could easily have one landed in the labour camps of Kol Huro. However, for the ever-turning cogs of diplomacy, this band of misfits was perfect lubrication. What was one charge of smuggling and conspiracy against several charges of conspiracy, terrorism, and dissidence if not a chance to strengthen bonds.

They would serve out their sentences in the First Order’s correctional system.

For Colonel Joycelyn Zambrano, this was another chance for her to cement herself as one of the faces of the Sith Empire by meeting with allies. She had been present in the capture, and so she was able to request to be present at delivery. She knew she was not meeting with a Moff or politician. No, the hands she was about to shake were far more important: The FSOB. Moffs held the power of law, but as in most great nations, those who enforced the law and shaped the public truth were just as powerful and equally vital to befriend.

But her shuttle could not have arrived on a more auspicious day.

As Joycelyn sat on board the armoured transit headed for IDF Drilling, she felt a tension in the aether, a silenced scream in the Force. She could not make it out, not yet. Interpreting such matters were often aided by her handmaiden and personal seeress, but Joycelyn had no room for additional passengers. So she sat with her eyes closed, her forehead leaned on the backs of her hands, and her palms resting on the crossbar of Zaudraka. Silently Joyce mouthed a prayer to the goddess.
Mother Vahl, whisper me about dangers to come, and lend me your wrath so I may smite them.

“ETA two minutes. Prepare to vacate the craft.”

The voice brought her out of her contemplation as she and her squad of legionnaires stood up in unison. The sithsword was swiftly sheathed as her troops secured the prisoners and checked their weapons. Half of them carried power maces or force pikes to keep the prisoners in line, while the other half carried the standard blasters and maintained a safe distance from the prisoners. Joyce assumed a position at the front, one hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

“Forward march.”

A crack of electricity urged the first of the restrained prisoners to move, and another urged the last to follow. The legionnaires flanked them in two rows, melee weapons near and looking in, ranged weapons outside looking out. She looked forward, senses on alert.

 

[Mishel Kryze]

Sullust​

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Location: Underground​

Objective: Artifact / Ruins​

Allies: [member="Coren Starchaser"] | Alliance Loyalists,​

Alliance-in-Exile / Shattered Order, New Republic​

Opponents: [member="Samka Derith"], [member="Kyrel Ren"] | First Order,​

Knights of Ren / Praetorian Guard, Darksiders​

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Mishel followed Coren down into the tunnels, their Sullustans guides led the way. She only nodded when Coren mention feeling it. It being the artifact they had come to retrieve, and it didn't feel that different from her days spelunking for crystals. The Tygaran kept quiet when her Master mentioned lightsabers, she was convinced no one in the Republic would ever be ready to face the Ren. She knew best what they were capable of and the Republic would find it difficult at best to match them. Subconsciously her hand went to her lightsaber hilt before adjusting her robes.

"The latter most likely," she commented, "yeah, I know they're a hard group to miss these days."

The Ren weren't that far off and they were making good time, it was most likely going to be a bit of a dance once they reached the artifact. Neither the New Republic nor the First Order could be afforded the opportunity to take it. Coren picked up his pace and Mishel followed through, quickening her pace as well. The Sullustan underground had been a site to behold once upon a time, a marvel of engineering for sure. Now? Now it bore more scars of the First Order's 'attempt' to civilize it, whatever that meant to the Imperials at least.

Their guides maneuvered through the underground waiting for either Coren or Mishel before moving forward. "Not much further, either that or the Force is mucking about."

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[Lucius Draugh]

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Imperial Detention Facility Drilling; West Wing.​

Objective: /​

Allies: [member="Dominic Craig"], [member="Koda Fett"], [member="Joycelyn Zambrano"]​

Enemies: [member="Deacon"], [member="Krenis Skirata"], [member="Chekīta Awaud"] ​

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It didn't take long for the escort to the Special Agent to be confirmed and then proceeding with waving him through the checkpoint. Lucius' somber features brightened, fitting of his image as a child. Graush's tutelage and his position as ward of the Sith Lord granted plenty of perks that he never would've been privy to. But his Master was famous, and all he was, was an agent sent to perform his will.

Emerald orbs cased the room as he entered behind his two bodyguards. Behind the Special Agent, he perceived the Bounty Hunter to be a Mandalorian and his brow raised in curiosity before dropping when the Agent spoke.

"Special Agent," a warm smile rising to his features. Easy to summon. It had long been reflex at this point. "I know why you're here," he says, scanning the room. "I won't need a debrief," he says turning his gaze back upon Dominic. "The Defense Ministry has received multiple reports and complaints of your... Brutality of the prisoners." Kurz liked to talk, especially to someone who would listen. How he became a General, Lucius could only wonder. "But I don't care," he says. "This prison's nearing capacity, and from what I've heard you're not making progress. So, I present to you an ultimatum."

Lucius chewed on his inner cheek. This is where he deviated from the Supreme Commander's will. Graush would seek to break their prisoners. But Lucius' mind was made for the logistics of it all. If they continued on the path they were taking they could be presented with a few problems. Problems that everybody would rather not come across. Riots, rebellions, nothing good could spawn from this growing prison populace.

"Hand over the high priority prisoners to me." Lucius' bright orbs darkened, there was a flicker of golden flecks in his iris' before he rapidly blinked them away, smile returning as cleared his throat. "I'll transport them to a military black site." Queravert was probably a good idea for that one. That was a prison where visitors never got to see the light of day again. Ever. "You can kill the rest." It took him a while to come up with the idea, but the First Order had the means to put down an insurgency if the populace rose up against them in outrage, as he saw it. "Or you can come with... Regardless of your decision, the ring leaders are leaving with me, and within a fortnight this wing will return to its proper functions serving the military."

 

[Luther Lewis]

Location: Supply Train
Objective: Reunion
Allies: [member="Tanomas Graf"] | [member="Rexus Wenck"] | [member="Kyli DT-6767"]| Dergan Twigg (x)
Enemies: [member="The Wayfarer"] | [member="Nunak"] | [member="Myk Venture"]
Equipment: Charric Pistol, Stun Baton.

​

He wasn’t sure what he’d expected before he opened that door, but what happened next was certainly a surprise. He’d barely gotten a glimpse of three shocked faces before he was charged a giant of a man. Twigg swept Luther up into a crushing embrace, lifting him clear off the floor. “Oooof, ugh” Luther exhaled, all the breath leaving his body. His back cracked audibly.

“Put me down you giant armoured teddy-bear” Luther gasped, breathless. “You’re about to turn me into paste”. The man’s grip loosened a little, but once again tightened when he saw Rexus approaching on the warpath.

The man’s usually stoic face was animated with a deep-set fury. The man shouted, his strong voice reverberating of the metal walls of the car. He shouted of betrayal, of abandonment, both accusations that Luther deserved. He expected this much, if not more, but not in this situation. He was being held like a baby high in the air, while one of his former comrades screamed in his face. It was like a bizarre pantomime, and Luther couldn’t help but laugh. It came out as more of a shuddering gasp. “I’m not a child, Twigg” Luther spluttered. “Put me down”.

Twigg complied, put him down with little grace. Luther winced, stretching his shoulders and drawing in a deep lungful of air. A quick inspection showed no broken ribs and could hear Kyli arguing with Rexus as he did so. Luther looked up to receive a wad of saliva, the liquid splattering across his cheek.

Rexus walked away, returning to check his equipment. Spitting on him was perhaps the worse insult Luther could suffer without the man physically laying a hand on him. Luther felt anger of his own rise, before being snuffed out as Dergan approached once more. The man used a rag to wipe away the spit of Luther’s cheek, which made him feel even more like a toddler with metal-clad adults.

A lot happened in the next few moments, in such a way in would be hard to piece together later. Luther’s head pounded as Twigg muttered excuses on Rexus’ behalf. Kyli approached, started speaking before Rex shushed her. The only thing that was clear in the confusion was Rexus shouting “Get down!” and Twigg jumped on him.

The explosion was deafening, leaving a ringing in his ears. He felt a heat lick at the bottom of his boots but most of the explosion had been absorbed by the hulking Death Trooper on top of him. His ears ringing, Luther could barely hear his companion, even as he shouted into his ear. “You right, Luther?”. Luther groaned and extricated himself from the metal embrace. “Fine” he shouted back. “I’ll get to safety”.

Someone was firing at them, so Luther kept low and made his way to the exit, opposite from the firefight. He didn’t know why there had to be an attack here and now. Sometimes he thought he was cursed.

He managed to make to the door without getting shot, even as a bolt narrowly missed his head. He ripped open the door, hurled himself inside and slammed it behind him. He pressed his forehead against the door, drawing great heaving breaths before turning around.

He froze and swore. There was a stranger in the carriage, dressed in a long armoured coat. Luther’s arm flew to the inside of his own coat and he fumbled with the strap of his pistol.

 

[Roth Tillian]

Objective: Yo-ho-yo-ho, pirate the convoy
Allies: [member="Solan Charr"] [member="Cuan Kunn"]
Tango Partners: [member="First Order Officer"] [member="Cynthia Alucard"] [member="Ryker Atreides"] @Pierce Fortran III [member="Siegmund Greyhelm"] [member="Karlist Rax"]
Flying- X-83 TwinTail (Squadron of 12)
===========

"Alright, Patchwork, this is Knight One," Roth said over the comms, as he guided the fighter out of the hangar. "We are preparing for launch. Main fleet en route to target area. Loser buys the next round."

His voice was chipper, but that belied the calm, professional edge just beneath the surface. Roth was a fighter pilot to the core. Nothing else meant as much to him, but then again, it wasn't like he was that good at anything else either. Flying, fighting, and drinking were all he seemed to be good at. Despite the pressures of his younger days to get better, Roth had decided to live into his specialty.

Now here he was, in old fighters belonging to a defunct government, raiding a supply convoy as part of a clandestine operation for a government he couldn't care less about. This was for Sullust. He had lived there for years when the Alliance still had their capital there and it had become a second home to him, in a way that no other planet could. First Order occupation of his home burned at him, but he had never had the opportunity to do anything about it.

Now he did. When word had gone out for the Undergound and surviving Alliance forces of the New Republic's mission, he had volunteered. Roth knew that space. The Wild Knights had flown countless patrols and training exercises in the region. Even better, the squadron knew how to pull off a raid. They'd been doing it for a while now, with the whole pirate gig. Painted fighters. Nose-art. Ramshackle ships.

They had brought all of it here for this. If anyone wanted to access reports from the furthest fringes of the First Order territory, there would be plenty of information as to their previous escapades.

In a way, they would replay it here. Only momentarily, however. Long enough to get an initial strike against the command cruiser, or whatever the largest military ship happened to be. Old tactic that they used before. Get in and hit hard on the biggest ship they could find, preferably the bridge. That would draw out the anti-fighter defense, which was the intent. Get them prepared for a starfighter raid. Then up the stakes further than they had ever done previously. That was Charr's job.

Once they arrived, the Knights would switch focus to clearing out the fighter escorts, increase the ease with which the transports could be seized. Return to crippling the larger escorts in conjunction with the rest of the raiding fleet.

Simple. All in all, a textbook raid.

"You are cleared for launch. Weapons free at your discretion." That had been the command Roth was waiting for.

"Wild Knights, we are go. Hyperspace on my mark. Three... two... one...mark."

With that, the twelve TwinTails jumped into hyperspace, but only briefly. Just long enough for them to come in at the aft end of the convoy. He could make out the shapes of the ships, but he didn't focus on specifics.

"Largest one at mark five. Full speed. Targeting the bridge. Keep an eye out for fighters."

Roth's hands flipped along the controls as they raced past the transports and the less important warships. The main one swelled in their vision and Roth flipped open the caps on the triggers.

As the main ship appeared almost too close for comfort, Roth squeezed down on the trigger, sending out a salvo of heavy lasers and a proton torpedo hurtling towards the bridge.

He whipped the ship sideways so that he barely slipped past the bridge viewports. Behind him, the rest of the squadron followed suit, targeting the same vicinity of the bridge with their own barrages.

Another roll and Roth led them down close to the hull, weaving between the defensive guns as the raced towards the bow of the ship. In the next few moments, the rest of the fleet should be dropping out of hyperspace and the interdiction activated.

 

[The Wayfarer]

Allies: [member="Myk Venture"] | [member="Nunak"]
Enemies: [member="Rexus Wenck"] | [member="Kyli DT-6767"] | [member="Luther Ando"] | [member="Tanomas Graf"]
Objective: Train Job


The Wayfarer listened as team one made contact with the enemy. "Deathtroopers!" Someone shouted over the comm. He had heard of these Deathtroopers. Supposedly the First Order's best and brightest. Oda would have to test that... He kept a cool visage as he entered the carriage that held team two with team three. He was the epitome of tranquility. While war was new to him, remaining calm in times of crisis was not. They rendezvoused with team two and together they prepared to move up. Oda's hand shot to his katana as they prepared to enter team one's tram car. He grabbed hold of it with both hands now and removed the hilt from it's magnetic cooling rod, exposing a volatile blue blade. He firmly grasped it and entered the Soresu form. He would lead the charge.

He peered inside of team one's tram and found the scene grisly. They had all perished save for Nunak, who remained firing at the troopers like a mad man. He was either very brave or very stupid. Oda saw the body of his comrades and felt a pang of sympathy for them. These were men and women they had gotten to know as brother and sister. Formed bonds who's ties could not be broken. When they died these ties remained, making their deaths that much worse. He said a silent prayer for his family and hoped that the force might guide them to eternal peace...

He and the 9 commandos moved up and took cover among the crates and boxes in team one's original car. He acted as their shield. At the very fore front of the charge, his lightsaber deflected bolts with a master's precision. Some of the bolts would strike towards the enemies, but the odds of them finding home was unlikely. He knew these enemies to be well trained, but surely the force guided The Wayfarer and Republic force's.

He could sense these beings minds. They were shattered, broken. Paranoia, anger, sadness, but chief above all rage reigned in their heads. As the battle kicked off to a start, they seemed to rush for the kill. As if nothing else mattered. That would be their downfall. Taking cover as he reached the front of the tram. Oda reached out with the force, probing their brains, looking for the weakest link. He found the one in front to be fairly susceptible. Attack your companions. It was a simple thing he ordered [member="Rexus Wenck"] to do. Hopefully the mad man would do it...

 

[Zark San Tekka]

Allies: [member="The Wayfarer"] | [member="Nunak"]
Enemies: [member="Luther Ando"] | [member="Tanomas Graf"] | [member="Rexus Wenck"] | [member="Kyli DT-6767"]
Objective: Train Job
Equipment: In Signature

---

"War and peace. Empire and Republic. Leave all that to the philosopher kings, I'm just a guy trying to survive. I caught a case, and then one thing kept leading to another. Now I'm here, stuck in the middle of some secret agent action fantasy. Only this ain't the holos, and the stakes are very real..."​

Mykas Venture Memlogs, 851 ABY​

​

Myk had turned the train car over looking for a terminal or scomp port where he could plug in, and he was tearing apart mundane supply pallets looking for any physical evidence when he realized that he had company. His sharp ears caught a sudden intake of breath and stifled curse behind him. [member="Luther Ando"] lost several seconds, both to reaction time an adrenaline spike which threw off his fine motor skills. Venture meanwhile had reacted instantly, wheeling around and covering the distance between them with long purposeful strides. By the time the Imperial had drawn his firearm he was only a few meters away, and as Luther raised the gun to fire he reached out with his palm outstretched.

The charric pistol blew a hole clean through his hand. Sparks flew from the wound and shredded wiring sprung out as it started leaking oil. His expression of grim determination remained unchanged. With his still functional hand, he reached over and grabbed at the young man by the wrist holding onto his weapon.

"Sorry, kid."

His grip tightened, and he yanked with all this force his powerful arm could muster, attempting to throw Luther violently across the car.

 

[Barr Vexos]

Allies : The New Republic
Enemies: The First Order
Objective: Supply Train
Equipment: New Republic BR-1, VT-Bolt Blaster, Asheran Armorweave, Knife

Barr expected walking into enemy territory, he expected to have to pull the trigger on his rifle, he even expected to have to be walking to the designated area for a while. But he did not expect to be heading there so easily with no signs of enemies nearby. Granted he was told never to expect the unexpected by a lot of people mostly his father but still he felt that he and his group was going to be ambushed a few minutes ago while walking there.

He sighed under his breath, thinking he was paranoid from the lack of noise around him around the sound of footsteps that he and his group were producing. He looked over to his soldiers in arms and checked on how they were doing. From what he could tell they were also ready for anything…too ready in Barr’s opinion. He wanted to make a joke about how serious they all were, but he knew better than that. The last thing he wanted to deal with is enemy soldiers shooting at them because he spoke a few times and a few dead bodies on his mind because of him.

Soon his commanding officer put his arm up, order Barr and the others to stop. The officer slowly moved forward while taking out his binoculars. He scanned the area in front of him making sure there aren’t any soldiers of the First Order patrolling around the area in front of them. By now they were far away from where they landed or what Barr would call the “safe zone” and knew he would be dealing with enemies soon. He just expected it sooner and because of it, though he was paranoid.

The soldier in front of Barr motions his hand to him and the others as they move closer to him. According to the mission briefing the group had, the supply train was their main objective and Barr could tell they were at the train tracks by looking at them. Barr sighed in relief to this information, since they could now focus on the supply train itself.

 

[Tanomas Graf]

Imperator Tanomas Graf​

Location: A.G. Marius Military Rail Line, Gravtrain 'Tarkin' Passenger Carriage #4​

Equipment: Graf's Uniform | Suppressed Comet OSM-10 Slugthrower Pistol​

Status: Fighting Back​

Allies: [member="Rexus Wenck"] | [member="Kyli DT-6767"] | [member="Luther Ando"] | Dergan Twigg​

Enemies: [member="Myk Venture"] | [member="The Wayfarer"] | [member="Nunak"] | Republic Commandos​

​

​

​

[Theme]​

​

The door opposite the one that young Luther Ando entered from swung open and impacted against the wall of the carriage, revealing a rather indignant old who stepped in with his slugthrower pistol raised. Unfortunately for the interloper, this was Tanomas Graf and he, unlike Ando, had over thirty years of hard combat experience; therefore, instead of fumbling around with his weapon, he emptied the entire clip of the gun as quickly as he could in the direction of the man.

If that wasn't enough, he tossed the overheated firearm aside and stormed across the car, angling himself into a full-on tackle that would be amplified by both his speed and his considerable body mass. If it connected, he would do his damnedest to keep the enemy pinned to the wall and hopefully give the young man some time to recoup and assist him.

If not, then he'd have to whirl around and start throwing punches as his father had taught him fifty-somewhat years ago. At any rate, Graf only knew one thing:

He could get used to this.

 

[First Order Officer]

SULLUST SYSTEM
OUTER REACHES, BEYOND ORBITAL PLANE
FIV REMORA, TASKMASTER-CLASS ESCORT CARRIER
FLAGSHIP, TASKFORCE 38.5, SULLUST CONVOY ESCORT
SENIOR CAPTAIN ILLEXA RAJI COMMANDING
ALLIES: [member="Karlist Rax"] | [member="Ryker Atreides"] | [member="Cynthia Alucard"] | [member="Pierce Fortan III"]
ENEMIES: [member="Cuan Kunn"] | [member="Solan Charr"] | [member="Roth Tillian"]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKkCP7ovMQA​

Minutes drifted by slowly, with Senior Captain Raji only dimly aware of the passage of time and the ongoing events. She was partially zoned out, but not out of idleness. It was a energy-saving technique, the type used by predators on the hunt, watching, observing, slowly taking in their surroundings, waiting for exactly the right time to pounce.

It was the sort of technique you learned on a hunter-killer cruiser, lurking on the edge of a formation, trying to spot the perfect chance to dart in for a quick kill. It was a sort of training and mindset thoroughly wasted in the cramped CIC of an escort carrier.

The standard litany of reports and internal and external communications flowed in one ear and out the other, with Raji sifting through the monotony for any hint of important detail. So far, nothing, except for the occasional burst of flowery language from the not-quite-professional merchant crews.

Connie 3-5 reports suspect skunk. Widening search pattern.

Raji sat upright. That meant they'd confirmed the earlier signal. That meant something was out, though they still didn't know what. Probably nothing serious, maybe a smuggler trying to fly dark, or just a tramp merchant accidentally leaving a brighter exhaust trail than expected. It's not like the Alliance was a functioning government anymore. And pirates weren't dumb enough to attack a First Order convoy under military guard.

Lieutenant Von glanced back with the same confused look he seemed to have permanently affixed to his face. Raji made a mental note to pull his qual and send back down to engineering department, but that could wait.

"Launch the alert, and have the fleet set Condition II. Have the rest of our squadrons on hot standby, and tell the Vortusa to do the same."

To his credit, this time Von didn't try and argue, he just gave a quiet 'aye aye' and went to work. Raji watched on her display with some satisfaction as the first section of fighters launched out of the cavernous maw of the Remora only seconds after she'd given the order. In all likeliness, she could relax now.

"Cronau burst! Bearing 0039 mark 4021. Multiple small contacts emerging from hyperspace."

Now the nature of the comms changed from a measured, orderly sort of chanting to a frantic, barely controlled roar, which station after station reporting in just as the previous one finished.

"High energy, low mass, assess as snubfighters. Desig bogey one through bogey twelve. They're on intercept course with Remora."

This time Raji didn't wait for Von to get lost and look for guidance. She keyed the comm herself on a general channel to the fleet. "All units, this is Remora actual. Set General Quarters. Set Condition One. Prepare to the defend the fleet."

She'd barely finished when an explosion rocked the ship, and from the display on her console she could see the fireball blossoming from the navigation bridge. Whoever the flight lead for the attackers was, he was a canny pilot.

"Whirlwind, break into that formation and shred those fighters. Have the convoy form a spindle, armed ships on the outside. Vortusa, take lead ship, Anders at the rear. Captain Rax, if this ship goes down it's your ass!"

The pitch black void turned alight as weapons fire traced snubfighters through the endless sky. All around points of light that were merchant ships in space drifted closer together, like fish clustering for protection.

---

Aboard the FIV Vortusa, Commander Iozef Bahattkira grimaced at the display as he held on to the sides of his command chair. The large heavy frigate was turning hard enough that the inertial dampners were straining under the load, banking and firing every vernier and maneuver thruster they had to spin the ship around and bring guns to bear. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was all a diversion, and that Captain Raji was being too aggressive. Why a career cruiser CO was running a convoy fleet was a mystery only the flags knew. He glanced down at the officers and crew doing their jobs quietly and professional below him, and grasped the tension there that flitted between all of them. He needed to say something.

"We'll take it slow for now, harass those fighters if they come near but lets keep our eyes forward. Put both squadrons on alert but hold their launch for now. This doesn't smell right. Keep alert, mind your guns, and we'll get through this."

The display in front of him showed only that eternal darkness and, far in the distance, the single bright point of Sullust's star.

Task Force 38.5

Spoiler

1 x Taskmaster-class Escort Carrier: FIV Remora - MINOR DAMAGE, NAV SYSTEMS DEGRADED
1 x Project 71855-class Heavy Frigate: FIV Vortusa
1 x Lancer II-class Air Defense Frigate: FIV Whirlwind-9
2 x 849A-class Medium Frigate: FIV Bardon Sida, FIV Ket H. Anders
1 x FIPV-9 Kerunos SPV Connie 3-5

Captain Karlist Rax, Commanding:
1 x Chasseur-class Corvette: FIV Hussar
2 x Uhlan-class Hunter-Killer: FIV Chaser, FIV Avalon
2 x Blitz-class Corvette: FIV Gauntlet, FIV Sabre

 

[Hannah]

Hannah, The Cog Girl
Planet: Sullust
Location: Ruined Jedi Temple, Hallway
Objective: Secure the Perimeter
Action: Engage First Order Forces w/ Z-24 Rotary Blaster Cannon
Allies: New Republic Forces
Enemies: Acquiring First Order Target [member="Marriskcal Lati"]

============​

Outstretched, her tail swung violently to slam away a broken door, It continued to scan ahead with an caring manner of detection. [Attract Hostiles. . . Artifact Value? Absolute. . . Acquire and Eliminate Hostiles] It no longer needed the veil of secrecy or surprise, It simply needed to fulfill the task at hand. The enhanced sensors within her cybernetics detected life-forms, but with much of the Temple in ruins, all the metal and rubble made it rather difficult to properly pin point any target.

It also could not utilized the Force properly, something seemed to block the use, or maybe It couldn't simply call upon the Force. As if the Force was deafened to the cries of the Cog Girl, no longer heading her call for any purpose. It could not spend much time to analyze and assess the issue, for Hostiles were close and It saw the opportunity to wrestle away focus from the Artifact and towards Itself.

Clawed feet propelled It forward, each step heavy and with purpose, It's head swiveled to face the direction of a moving life-form. Rubble and wall laid in-between the two, with almost no hesitation It lunged forward with as force as It could muster. The heavily armored right shoulder collided with the wall, the steel buckled and It burst through the wall. The heavy rotary cannon slowly began to turn and It began to track the lone figure with its brightly glowing blue eyes.

[Target Acquired. . . . Objective? Elimination]

Spoiler: Battle Cog Girl

 

[Cynthia Alucard]

Colonel (Wing Commander) Cynthia "Cyn" Alucard
Designation: Pixie Leader
Classification: Fighter Interception Squadron (9)

​

Assigned: Taskmaster-class Escort Carrier: FIV Remora​

Allies: [member="Pierce Fortan III"] [member="First Order Officer"] First Order​

Enemies: Rebels, New Republic Force (Unknown) [member="[/FONT][FONT='times new roman']Roth Tillian"]​

Barely a second after we've confirmed our pre-flight checks and already the green light to launch. Cyn possessed no ill thought of complaints, simply relief that everyone in service of the First Order continued to perform at superb standards. Wordlessly all Pixie Pilots engaged their TIE's propulsion systems and seconds later the latches released and with assistance of the launching catapult, Pixie Squadron were flung into the void of space.

"Pixies, hostiles detected by our scouts, new orders-" Cyn broke off her sentence as new IFF tags were appearing in her TIE's tracking computer. Star fighter crafts exited hyper? No time to focus on any question except for 'where' and 'how many' for the Pixies and Cyn. "-Primary targets are those bandits that attacked dear Remora. Pixie Hammer formation." Cyn ordered.

While green pilots, the TIE Conquers flew with above average unison in Cyn's opinion, testament to First Order Flight Academy and their instructors. But tight formation flying is easy with no bandits raining on your parade. The real test would be how they understood the difference of being outnumbered but not outgunned. The speed and firepower of the Conquer was drastically different from other Interceptors, and even for veteran Pilots any tight and reflex heavy maneuvers needed time and practice.

Which is why I thought out here I would get the time to do so. . . figures. Cyn muttered curses to herself, but her eyes lit up with a fearsome color of excitement that contrasted her darkened thoughts that would have frightened the rest of her pilots if any peered into that abyss. "All Pixies, Interception course arrival in five."

Four. Three. Two. Cyn fired a quick salvo, and almost in perfect unison; the rest of the Pixies fired as well. These unidentified bandits might have been able to maneuver over the hull of Remora, but Cyn understood her TIE's speed and dared these enemy pilots to either turn and maneuver towards Whirlwind-9 or proceed towards open space and give Cyn a chance to show off her TIE's speed. And maybe get one of my green Pixies to become an Ace.

Or show me something new, my little Pixies need to earn their wings after all. "Whirlwind-9 Command, this Pixie Three One Actual, we are attempting to force feed the bandits into your guns if possible." Cyn communicated out towards the Frigate. She wanted to avoid a dog-fight after all and if the enemy were willing to simply fly into a hail of fire from the Whirlwind's quad-cannons - Well, who am I to rob these enemy pilots of their 'noble' sacrifice or martyrdom?