The Limits of Glory (OP Dominion of Eriadu)

[Valiens Nantaris]

"Mr Dushan, you are accused of espionage and sabotage, of working with an enemy to subvert our government. This has been proven beyond doubt, and now sentence will be passed."
"I am an ambassador from the Protectorate here to bring our terms..." the prisoner tried.
"You are a spy sent on the pretext of this absurd mission."
"I am not-" he tried again, but a guard hit him hard with a baton so he fell to the floor.
"Your sentence is death. To be carried out immediately." The judge stood and drew a blaster and stepped forward. The men held the Protectorate ambassador despite his attempts to get away. The blaster fired...just once...then there was silence. "Throw this scum into one of the slag furnaces."
"Yes, Lord Tarkin."
"Let's see these 'Omega' cowards answer that."

--------------

A few hours later an emergency meeting was called amongst the Protectorate's high command. Invited were @[member="Cira"], @[member="Ayden Cater"], @[member="Allaina Mare"], @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] and @[member="Lenavina Martin"]. Others would also likely be there as well.
Tegaea Alcori, who had called the meeting, was waiting when they entered.
"As you may know, we sent an ambassador to Eriadu to negotiate their joining the Protectorate. An hour ago I learned that our man had been shot for espionage, and a state of hostilities now exists between us and the planet Eriadu. I wish for us to decide our strategy, assemble a strike force and bring those responsible to justice." She looked around the room, waiting for someone to reply.

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Sarge wasn't included in the meeting; he didn't really want to be included in the meeting, though. They were rather boring and ultimately wound up with him being told to leave to go kill someone anyway, so he figured he'd beat them to the punch.

While they met to discuss whatever it was they wanted to discuss, Sarge went down to his room and began rounding up his gear. Armor, hotshot blaster, and last but most important... he knelt down and pulled a lengthy cape of cloth from his closet floor.

Wrapping it around his neck and forming a makeshift hood, he smiles. He'd be in the hangar and ready to deploy whenever orders came down.

 

[Vora Kaar]

Zero saw that many people were going some where and alot of them were getting read for war. Zero was suprised that some people were jumping the gun on the attack. He saw Sarge leave to his room where he would most likely be getting his stuff. Zero always carried his weapons. Zero knew that a Meeting was going on so he walked to the room that they were having it in. From there he would wait until they leave the room to be told what to do.

To pass the time he cleaned his guns, sharpened his sword, and lathered it in oil to make sure that all the blood and guts he spilled before and after use didnt rust the blade.

OOC: Fixing my name. It was changed because Tef thought I didnt use Zero anymore. he is currently changing it back sometime soon.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Siobhan listened to the briefing in silence, face grim. A folder lay on the table in front of her before she passed it over to @[member="Tegaea Alcori"]. It held some intelligence sources had acquired.

"Eriaduan defences are pretty tough, for a single planet. Always have been. Ion cannon, formidable space defences. Guess the Invicta will get a lot to do. Inimicas would come in handy as well," she said with a side-way glance to @[member="Allaina Mare"]. "Troopers are trained along old Imperial lines, got modernised walkers and tanks."

She paused. "Though...looks like Lord Tarkin made a couple enemies when he shot a couple officers after some protesters got gunned down in the streets. Good chance certain regiment might just...go over if it looks like he's losing." Of course, as Siobhan well knew, they could not count on that happening.

"Gonna need a large-scale assault to make an impact."

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

"This will be our first major campaign as the Protectorate. We're going to need all of our best people, best ships, best plans on this. The Colonel is quite correct, this will not be easy at all. My suggestion therefore is that we put all our efforts into this attack, firstly to score an undoubted victory, secondly to demonstrate that we are not a house of cards which might topple easily. We need to demonstrate to the galaxy that we are not to be trifled with. With that in mind, I believe this operation demands the highest allocation of resources."
She looked around the room to see what else others had to say.

 

[Qae Shena]

"We can't chance even that," Allaina said, responding to Siobhan's idea. "Standard protocol dictates we blockade the planet with a small fleet, deploy its contingent planetside and use light, mobile forces to make our attacks. Lots of movement with Argevants. Minimal orbital bombardment except on extremely high-difficulty targets."

There were a lot of variables to consider; Allaina knew that there were things that she had to take care of in this campaign. It'd be her first major offensive, a huge combined campaign requiring a lot of military muscle in order to win. It wouldn't be easy at all, but it was doable.

"My first thought goes to disabling the ion cannon. Covert insertion of a Pyre ground team to disable the cannon because we cannot leave that up. Once that's done, hyper in the blockade fleet, set up our perimeter and then execute tactical strikes on strategic targets. Beyond that it's standard operating procedure - hit them where it hurts, we back them up from orbit with appropriate air cover and rinse and repeat until Eriadu gives in."

 

[Jak Sandrow]

Jak was at the meeting, but he would be standing here at the side unless directly mentioned, or there was a lull in the conversation. He did have a few things to say, regarding the initial assault, but there was no way someone of his rank could even conceive interrupting the conversation of the leaders of the company he worked for. No, he would wait his turn silently.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Siobhan nodded in response to Allaina's comment. "Course not. If it looked things were going bad, they'd stab us in the back just as soon as back us up." As usual, Siobhan was not a cynic at all.

"Gotta take out comms down there. Ground forces gotta attack hard and fast when we land. We ain't got the numbers for a mass attack and we can't get bogged down in house-to-house fighting across town. Force of AT-SEs should come in handy." She cleared her throat.

"There's a town close to Eriadu City, Phelar. Natives got a garrison there, some armour, separated from the main city by a river," she checked a note in her folder. The hand writing was, as always, barely decipherable. "Figure we blow up the bridge, cut 'em off from the capital."

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea nodded. "If that's the plan that you want to go with, then let's get to it. Land a strike force and take out the ion cannon. Bring in the fleet and create a perimiter in orbit. Land by the bridge, destroy it to stop reinforcements, and then move into the capital. Hit hard. @[member="One"], you are in charge of disabling the ion cannon. Maelion will go with you to ensure it is done on time. There's a lot riding on that part. @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], you are in charge of this initial strike. @[member="Sarge Potteiger"] and @[member="Lenavina Martin"] will go with you. @[member="Allaina Mare"], you will keep the enemy off our forces in space with @[member="Jak Sandrow"], moving in and providing support with gunships and fighters when needed. I will remain in orbit on board the Invictus with you with a reserve force which can be brought in wherever needed. Any questions? Then let's get moving. Infiltration team will need to move quickly, you'll only have a few hours to disable that ion cannon."

If it seemed rather ramshackle...well it sort of was, but as a general guide it was reasonable!

 

[Vora Kaar]

Zero nodded his head and said nothing He was to take out the Ion cannon that way it would be a lot easier to take the planet by storm. Zero didnt want to wait on someone to stay up with him. He like to work alone but for right now he had to. He would just have to get to the ship ASAP that way he wouldnt be the one in trouble for not getting there quick enough.

"Just tell me when to commence the assault, consider the cannon down."

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

"Go right now, pick up your equipment and leave on the fastest ship you deem necessary. We will be following you. Send a coded message once the cannon is disabled."
Tegaea nodded in approval of @[member="One"]'s understanding of the problem at hand.

 

[Jak Sandrow]

"May I interrupt, Tegaea?" Jak asked.
He had been waiting patiently until now, but what he had to say couldn't wait much longer.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

"We'll get it done. Ready to rock when you give the order," Siobhan said simply, already moving to her feet. This was not just taking on pirates or cultists, it would be a full-scale deployment.

The Eriaduans would not be pushovers, even with armoured support in form of the AT-SEs. But the thought of going into a serious battle and the risks that entailed did not bother her one bit. That passsed as normalcy for her.

 

[Cira]

@[member="Ayden Cater"]

Standing behind the group, watching Tegaea give the brief, Cira lightly slid the pad of her finger over the fullness of her lower lip. Her eyes had narrowed into thin slits. The nobility of Eriadu had taken a grave step beyond the line of reason for Cira.

No one harmed those under her care.

No one.

"Care to go for trip Mr. Cater?"

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

"Yes, Captain?" she said to @[member="Jak Sandrow"], saying the rank pointedly so he'd remember he was in a hierarchy here!

"I trust all this meets your approval, @[member="Cira"]?" she asked the Protector. She'd look pretty bloody stupid if it didn't, but they'd worked together long enough to know each other's moods.

 

[Mao]

With a lit cigarra hanging limply from gold lips, Sergeant Major Mao's head rose to the send off by Exarch Alcori. Oh this was going to be a whole new heck of fething job. From what she knew, no one gave the flying bird to Omega Pyre and lived to tell the tale.

Course, which was all right by her. Meant she could go knock a couple of heads together. Dance a little dance. Stab a couple of fething idiots.

A wicked grin drew over her lips, smoke lightly trailing upward. "Dis gonna be gud."

 

[Cira]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"]

A curt nod came in answer. Her eyes were hard. Cold. But within their depths a barely contained fury just itching to be set loose.

"It does. Well done." Though her words were terse, her approval was apparent. They were well in line in many subjects; this would only be another example from it.

Lord Tarkin had awoken a slumbering beast that he should have never provoked.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea nodded to Cira. They were in concord on the issue.

"@[member='Mao'], go with @[member="One"] and make sure that cannon is out of action before we get there," she called to the irascible soldier. Still, Mao could be relied upon to kick ass.

 

[Mao]

@[member="One"] @[member="Tegaea Alcori"]

Pearly white pointed teeth befell Tegaea as the gold skinned Firrerreo gave a mock salute, "Aye aye Exarch!" there came the wink that followed, right after the deep drag of the narcotic of choice. Bedecked in armor save for the helmet, Mao sauntered over to Zero.

With a cheesy grin, she blew hot smoke from the corner of her mouth.

"Sup."

 

[Ayden Cater]

@[member="Cira"], @[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Ayden simply stood beside Cira, busy with a datapad as he was want to do. Much like Sarge, Ayden didn't particularly enjoy meetings like this. People liked to talk about their plans like they were neat little things that would piece together perfectly on the field. There were a number of factors that he was considering that seemed to be flying right over the heads of the others. He made his desire to speak known with a simple clearing of his throat. "Far be it from me to disrupt the coming bloodshed." There was a noticeable tint of sarcasm in his voice as he spoke, looking between Cira and Tegaea. "But are we honestly talking about invading a sovereign system with the entire might of our arsenal, destroying their defenses, bombarding their soil, spilling the blood of countless innocents.... Over the death of a single diplomat?"

He let that question hang in the air for a heartbeat before continuing. "I don't propose that this Lord Tarkin get off with no consequences. He has thumbed his nose at us in the worst possible way. But what is being proposed here is nothing less than the subjugation of an entire world to sate our grievances." He looked around the room with a noticeably cool look in his eyes. "We are not tyrants. We are not warlords. This is not some backwater world with brigands attacking their farms, or a world besieged by an extraordinary threat. This is a sovereign world that has turned their noses at our diplomatic advances. I suggest we consider that fact before we make a move that could bring scrutiny upon our heads."