Invasion The Ossus Massacre │ SE Invasion of SJC held Jomark & Nespis VIII

[Romi Jade]

Objective II: Regicide
Inventory: Gear in sig
Allies: The Silver Jedi Concord - W/ Coren Starchaser
Opposition: The Sith - Darth Empyrean (Eventually)
Meld talk = Color

True to their feeling, warriors were running toward the melee rather than fleeing from it, no matter the probability of winning, as the outcome would keep changing hands. Romi spied a lone figure cutting a corner, then scurrying down into an open square that was encased in certain areas by thick smog and riddled with scorch marks. Though the relatively short figure was wearing the robes of a Jedi, he ran with a sense of urgency that scaled this issue up.

She opened her stride as she raced along the upper walkway, a quick twist of her waist helped her switch gear and slow her pace before lunging for the balustrade. The fighting hadn't been super fierce on this side, yet; she soon found out why. The Jedi formation below was holding albeit slightly, others were hoping to cut their attackers off.

"This...doesn't feel like the Empire, or the other two--" She spoke looking onward. She'd fought the Empire, and had run ins with the Warlords and the Kainate. This was "This is someone else..." She glanced over to Coren.

Then there was...

The deep, gutted feeling of something welling up

Then suddenly the world around her become slow, and went silent, but her mind was active. From her peripheral, she spotted a blob of unnatural smoothness -- the faint speck of flesh. Abruptly her danger sense flared and time sped back up again; but even as she spun around she knew it was too late; Something warm shot past, a bolt barely a centimeter from her face. And on cue, the ranging form of a Rancor bustling through part of a pillar with an erratic arm swing that gave way to more blaster fire.

Taking a moment to touch Coren through the Force, "Coren..." She looked over at him, though her voice resonating in his mind this time; a meld. The two had melded so many times that it'd become second nature to them to re-open this mental channel between them. On the tailwind of saying his name, she'd gotten the vague impression of his surface thoughts -- an idea.

"On it!" Romi vaulted from the high platform before he could object, then dropped down to the ground and began a sprint towards the Rancor, her blaster close at hand to deal with anyone who might try to stand in her way.

"Hey!" She called off after letting go a few salvos, the friction grip in her soles afforded her the ability to stop and change course. Four rounds, two missing and the other two hitting and doing little to no damage. She kept firing until she became the center of its attention; a pest. She pulled a frag from her belt and let it go, watching the explosion go off on contact but not majorly damaging the beast. "I'm right here!"

Under her breath, "Come and get me..."

Her face screwed up in disbelief when the alchemized beast found obvious annoyance with her. It turned and spun wide with the spiked end of its forearm.

Uehh!

She dropped to the floor, her chest parallel before the swing went flush overhead. She brought her left side over and she went into a roll before propping herself up on her elbow. She hurried to her feet, and fell into a frantic dance of backpedalling and serious dodging before getting the beast into the square she needed.

"Coren now! Blast em!"

Romi felt the Force flood through her. Their link was two-fold as they provided an obvious boost to one another. Whatever they needed to amplify themselves, they could pull from one another.

A shimmering field of pink energy visible to some and to others not so much started to revolve around her, a milky luminescence maintained barely a finger-span from her body... The Former Grandmaster and Shadow Hand was undoubtedly strong, and on timing with Coren she sprawled her fingers as she reached into the empyrean, she could feel the underlying currents stirring behind the attack. Intently focused on the energy of those around her, She throw her hand up, fingers launching in all directions. With great effort, Romi pieced together the image of the Rancor turning, and launching itself at the others like him instead. Permeating energy somewhere deep within she forced it up, and the images in her mind grew brighter and brighter. As her Battle Meditation began to take hold working in tandem with Coren --

 

[Cato Demora]

​

Objective II: Regicide
Allies: Alina Tremiru │ Grundark │ Irina Volkov │ Arcturus Dinn │ Melydia Gold
Enemies: Vexander Graves │ Mathieu Brion │ Vulpesen │ Taiia Locke │ Caedyn Arenais │ Romi Jade │ Starlin Rand │ Maja Fiore │ Nathaniel Wellchoestor

​

There had hard resistance leading to the rear of the temple - but nothing the Praetorians couldn't handle. While the rest of the troops kept their slow push towards the temple, Cato and the 'Regal' squad moved with accelerated pace. Their only advantage was a careful guidance from the 'Red Dragon' and its ship based AI - letting them know exactly what alleys to turn down, and which ones to avoid. Now, next to the temple - magnificent and large as it was, they had to begin their mission.​

​

"Reaper, place the baradium pack.", he said through the vocoder.​

​

"The rest of you, overwatch.", and he did the same. Watching the horizon with super human reflexes - carefully fingering his trigger as he waited for the first sign of life - and when it showed, it was a merciless barrage of blasters. Charric rounds ripped through the air at two Knights who had rounded the corner without a clue as to their presence - and the instant reactions of those around him had magnified the force they were met with.​

​

Where one or two rounds were blocked, the weight of a charric threw the two knights off balance - only for the various other shots to slap hard into their robed figures. Cato knew they had the advantage of surprise, and he felt no issue with killing Jedi - but it was a startling thing to see two Jedi brought down so quickly. He still wasn't completely use to the augmentations, and he knew his squadmates weren't either.​

​

"Ready, Captain.", Reaper offered back as he shoulders his rifle and moved away from the wall.​

​

Cato nodded and motioned for them to make a wide berth of the explosion. When they were safe, he motioned for it to be detonated - and when it was, the entire Temple would shake. They knew they didn't have to actually breach, but drawing attention away from the other fronts only made the frontal assault that much more effective.​

​

Caedyn Arenais​

 

[Darth Empyrean]

​

Objective II: Regicide
Allies: Alina Tremiru │ Grundark │ Irina Volkov │ Arcturus Dinn │ Melydia Gold
Enemies: Vexander Graves │ Mathieu Brion │ Vulpesen │ Taiia Locke │ Caedyn Arenais │ Romi Jade │ Starlin Rand │ Maja Fiore │ Nathaniel Wellchoestor

As Romi and Coren began their melding - hoping to feed off one another to change the direction of the Rancor's, to create conflict within their bull like ranks, Maliphant would appear. A flash of black smoke, looking down at the focusing Romi with staff in hand. His energy was palpable, frown heavy on marbled lips.​

​

"I think not.", he offered her - and in that same moment, a terrifying blast of Force energy moved to toss her from her spot, amplified by the ever darker presence of Kala'anda, the staff Maliphant carried with him. It would click as he would move the distance between them, amplifying the connection he held over the Rancor's to resist their attempts to diver them. Something that was expected, something he was here to stop.​

​

"Romi Jade.", he offered as the impervium spike on his staff clicked against the ground. With every soundwave came an equally as sharp blast of dark side energy - threatening to overpower everyone in the immediate vicinity.​

​

"I've read your dossier more than a few times.", Malpihant offered with a semblance of disgust - his lip twitching as he spoke.​

​

"Can't say I was overly impressed."​

 

[Arthos Vynea]

​

Objective: Operation Blackout
Mission: Protect the Red Dragon and keep holonet isolated
Allies: Tithon Antilles Errix Feh'room
Enemies: Gir Quee Atlas Drake Ura Iolar Okkeus Dainlei Liram Angellus


The inky shadows of the meditation chamber were continual interrupted by various voices as the Sith searched out into space for the secrets of the Jedi and their military allies. It was a true test of his ability to juggle his focus among a dozen things, and while he wasn't failing he felt he could have done better. Should have done better. It was the first time he'd ever actually felt a momentary ping of jealousy for his damned older brother and what he normally considered crippled abilities in the force.

He could feel it out there, but that was all it was a feeling he couldn't quite name or picture. Sargon would have told them what they had for damned breakfast and where the armor was weak. He focused on it for a moment, that jealousy was budding up a bitter sweet passion in him, and so the poison was turned into power that fueled the Iridonian. Flicking his eyes up as the voice of X-02 broke his focus on that font of power he heard the machine's echo throughout the room. "Admiral Antilles has ordered me to inform you that enemy capital ships are on route. He has also advised you to remember the necessity of this mission and the both the holonet and Red Dragon must be protected at all costs."

So that was what the force was warning him of then, and he'd been beaten to the knowledge by a damned machine. Speaking directly into his captain's heads he wasted no time sharing the order as he returned his focus to his own troops and attempted to heighten their awareness. There were the minor feelings of jitters among the crew, but it was more like a prime race horse awaiting the opening gates then true fear. The true fear he breathed into himself as he continued to try to to try to search with the force outside with little avail. His disappointment became even stronger as the voice of X-02 spoke again breaking his silence.

"Be aware, stealthed ships detected by the Red Dragon."

Of course, of course a bloody machine would beat him twice. Still he wouldn't deny it's use, where flesh fail metal so often thrived. There was still something though, something out there bothering him. He just didn't know what. He would need to practice this more often in the future if he wished to continue on this path. Still if it was stealth ships incoming he wanted eyes out there to actual look for these shadows. All ships deploy a squadron and began close patrols of our sector.

A few minutes later the order came through to deploy and it was with some mild satisfaction that he found himself ahead of this thinking machine for once. It seems though their first attack would not be at him, but at Admiral Antilles side. Still it didn't mean there weren't more on his side. The AI may have found some more, but his unease wasn't over yet. There was still something else out there, and with ships going to hyperspace already it was impossible to know what.

"Sith interdiction field is active to our rear, Consul Arthos." Lovely, a bit late, but lovely all the same. Still he hadn't even been aware they had brought an interdiction ship to Ossus with how few they had. Then again that was Navy business and as he was being beat by a computer perhaps he'd be better off not to argue outside of his area of expertise for a moment.

Star Destroyers: 1x SD-9s "Khan" Class Sith Star Destroyer - Asha 8x SFi-3 "Tomb" Class Starfighter ​ (1x deployed, no losses)​ 3x GS-60 "Valkyrie" Class Heavy TIE Fighter ​

Cruisers:​ 2xSC-07 "Lussk" Class Assault Cruiser​ 2x SFi-3 "Tomb" Class Starfighter​ (2x deployed, no losses)​ Fury and Firestorm

Frigates:​ 4x SF-13 "Legion" Class Star Frigate​ 12x SFi-3 "Tomb" Class Starfighter ​ (4 deployed, no losses)​ Thunder // Passion's Rise // Dragon // Gauntlet

 

[Kyra Perl]

Communication Blackout
Halls
Yula Perl | Open for opposition

Spoiler: The Story

Communication Blackout
Halls
Yula Perl | Open for opposition



A jitter ran up Kyra's spine as she crept through the dark hall. The spices left her senses dull, but she didn't need em to know something was off.

So the dreams had been right after all... Force be damned.

She told herself she wouldn't come, but clearly she had the self-control of a bowless bowl of jello- all jiggling everywhere whether or not it wanted to. ... Alright, weird comparison, but it was what she felt like as she stumbled through the dark halls. She wasn't too far gone that she couldn't summon a ball of light to assist her, she just didn't think it was wise. Whoever did this to the station probably had planned; turning herself into a beacon while they lurked about was a dumb idea even to her.

That was, if people were the cause at all. A pang of self-doubt crept forward-- shots went off around the corner.

Kyra cursed and threw herself backwards. She crab crawled back the way she came, not wasting time to flip over and find her feet as she found her way around the corner.

Oh, she was so right! She forced herself to concentrate and reach for the distant hum of the force. A dim ball of light appeared at her side, illuminating her cybernetic arm as she pulled up the controls. She frowned, her good hand bumbling about for the life form scanner. Which was... where again? Metal parted at her wrist. A sharp whistle filled the air.

A flair shot out of the cybernetic.

LOCATION | Ossus Communications Hub | Vent to Hall
ALLIES | Kyra Perl
ENEMIES | Soloman Priest | Jorii Vizsla

Slicing her way through the door—either electronically or literally—wasn’t her best option. Too risky while under attack, you’d never know who might catch a wink of the plasma blade burning through durasteel, or be plugged into the same network.

Yet again, Yula found herself crawling through the ventilation shaft. Emily was ahead of her, the little spider droid skittering a path through the ducts. “Wait!” Yula hissed, grabbing Emily by the leg and pulling her back suddenly. Just ahead of them, a few rays of dim light filtered through the grate. “Someone’s there.”

Squeezing her way past the indignant droid, Yula peered over the edge of the grill. Her dark brows scrunched together tightly, pupils restricting with the sudden onset of light. Then she saw who it was.

She kicked through the grate, dropping from the ceiling at the same time a sharp whistle nearly pierced her eardrums. Hanging by the pads of her fingers, she swung her body to the side and narrowly dodged the flare. The projectile spiraled down the hall, screaming its big fat presence to this half of the communication hub before fizzling out.

With the beacon unfortunately lit, there was little time to act. “Kyra!” She snapped, eschewing introductions and grabbing her sister’s wrist. She dragged the younger Perl down the hall and around the corner, stopping only to push her against the cold durasteel wall. Yula’s hand went to Kyra’s chin, gripping it tightly while she turned her sister’s face this way and that—noting the lidded glaze of her eyes.

A shocked pause. “Feth, you’re high!” She snapped in disbelief. Nida’s disappearance had been especially hard on Kyra, and Yula felt a pang of guilt that she hadn’t intervened sooner. It had never crossed her mind that Kyra—the baby of the family—would turn to this sort of vice to dull her pain.

Yula huffed, blowing a strand of hair from her face in the process. They’d get to that later. Now…

“Kyra—Kyra, listen to me. We’re under attack. Someone took out the power.” They were quite literally in the dark, not knowing who their assailants were or how many had swarmed the facility. “I don’t know who it is, but I doubt that the bulk of their forces are here.” Ossus had more valuable targets, and hindering communication was likely only a piece of the plan. “Listen. Listen.” She motioned Emily forward, and the droid projected a map of the facility. “There’s a backup generator somewhere around here, underground.” She pointed a finger at the far end of the holo projection. “I don’t know if they’ve gotten to it yet, but judging that the explosions came from here,” Her hand shifted, this time to another end of the map. “There’s a decent chance it’s untouched. For now. We don’t know who they are or what they’re packing, so our better bet is to get to the backup. It won’t restore the entire hub, but it should be enough to get most critical systems running again if the infrastructure damage isn’t too bad.”

She paused, suddenly wondering if all that sank in. “You up to it? Lights go out, we fix them, yeah?” Another pause. “Seriously, if you’re not, you need to tell me now.”

The hairs at the back of her neck prickled in warning. Something was coming, moving in their direction.

“We need to go. Now.”

Communication Blackout
Halls
Yula Perl | Open for opposition​

"Whooaaaa~"

Kyra abruptly found herself yanked down a hall, her ball of light dissipating as her attention was snatched.

“Kyra!”

"Yula?" She replied dumbly back, her resistance melting away as the elder Perl started checking out the state of her makeup.

"Feth, you're high."

Or was that her eyes.

She jerked her chin back, wordless noises of sibling grumbles falling from her as she tried to regain her orientation. "And you smell like noodles." She huffed as the dreaded spider driod named Emily came forward with a map. They were still mortal enemies, though perhaps now was a bad time to try and crush her again. "Just what is going on he-"

Yula's explanation left her wide-eyed, dread creeping through her stomach.

"An invasion?" she echoed, not responding to Yula's final, probing question. Did the sith never let it rest? Stress crept through her shoulders, her scalp tingling.

Was she up to it?

No. Absolutely not. She wanted to skip right out on out. Her palms itched for the feel of a drink. Her skin craved the deafening vibrations of a club. Anything to drown out the chilling silence of these halls. Goosebumps rose over her skin.

“Seriously, if you’re not, you need to tell me now.”

And what? Leave her sister to it all? Her jaw set, her legs growing a little steadier on the ground.

"Don't be a doofus, I came didn't I?"

She pushed herself to her feet, mentally cursing the trippy dreams that had predicted this event. Either the spices were that good, or she was growing stronger.

She grimaced into the darkness, feeling along the wall with a sweaty palm.

"I'm all out of flairs tho'."

​

Objective I: Blackout
Allies: Jorii Vizsla
Enemies: Yula Perl │ Kyra Perl

"Don't have any friends on Ossus.", he said flatly, synthesized by the vocoder​

​

Soloman wasn't actually sure of that statement, but he somehow doubted it. Doubled down by the flaming corpses in front of him, he stepped over them without a second glance as he looked around - hoping that if he did have any friends on this planet, they weren't nearby. He'd hate to have to put one down by surprise, but it was often the way things went when all your friends were killers for hire.​

​

Soloman's boots were muddled by a slight dampening material on the soles - but it wasn't enough to truly mask his imposing figure or the sound of his approach. At least when he wasn't trying - so as they rounded the corner and saw the two Zeltron's moving away from them, he shot a round off between their heads hoping to force them to a halt.​

​

"Freeze, aruetii.", he said with the gruffness of his people's tongue.​

​

"Where's girlies like you running off to at this fine hour?", he mused as he moved to close the distance.​

​

As he followed them, approached them, he offered through his internal comms where they couldn't hear him to Jorri -​

​

"We're going to need hostages if things turn ugly. Get at least one of them, see if they know the easiest route out, then move."​

LOCATION | Ossus Communications Hub | Vent to Hall
ALLIES | Kyra Perl
ENEMIES | Soloman Priest | Jorii Vizsla

Yula felt a brief measure of relief when Kyra seemed to absorb the explanation. Maybe she wasn’t completely lost in the sauce after all. She studied her sister with scrutinizing eyes while she appeared to mull it over. The clench of her jaw told Yula everything, and the corner of her mouth peeled into a tense smile.

“Enough flairs for one day. Let’s get moving.”

The pair of Zeltrons stumbled into a jog down the hall, but their pursuers shored up the distance quickly.

A shot rang out overhead, pinging against the wall and Yula ducked on instinct, squeezing Kyra's hand. A glance to the side and the fact that her sister hadn't dropped to dead weight kept her heart from thudding out of her chest.

“Freeze, aruetii.”

“Mandalorians??” She hissed to Kyra with an incredulous tone. The Mandos and Jedi had a tenuous relationship at best, but lately, they’d been keeping to themselves. Still, war was their religion. She hadn’t expected this.

“Bathroom emergency!” Yula called back, sending them into a zigzag pattern as they rounded another corner. “My sister’s got the runs real bad!” Which wasn’t far from the truth, considering what spice did to your gastrointestinal track.

Objective: 1
Location: Ossus, underground bunker
Equipment:

• Beskar'gam
• Beskad
• Tomahawk
• Mandalorian ripper (pistol variant)
• Blaster rifle

Allies: Soloman Priest
Enemies: Yula Perl | Kyra Perl

Taking hostages wasn't a bad plan, in theory. Guaranteed them a way out and kept combat to a minimum. But even someone like her was wary of going toe-to-toe with a Jedi with the express intent of not killing them. She'd rather have taken their chances finding a way out on their own, but in the end their odds of ending up facing another Jedi were about the same. Better to have collateral.

"Sure, why not. We haven't tempted fate enough yet," Jorii shot back over that same private line. Whether it was another jab was hard to tell, but it was obvious she wasn't entirely on board with the strategy, nor expressly against. What was done was done, and it was a matter of rolling with the punches now.

Begrudgingly she switched her rifle to stun, watching as their quarry took off around the next corner. At least they were smart. She took off after them, stopping near the beginning of the next hallway and sighting through the scope of her rifle, lining up her next shot as best she could with the zigzag they were running in. She let off two shots in quick succession, pressing forward regardless of their success. Either they would get backed into a corner, or be inadvertently led to the exit. There were worse odds out there.

"I hope you don't expect me not to kill them if they stand their ground." She left it at that. It wasn't a matter of fear, but common sense. Her clan had raised her to treat Force-users with absolute prejudice, and some things just didn't change.

A shot whizzed by Kyra's head, the wind in her hair sending a chill down her spine.

That close, huh?

She blinked hard, trying to will her head into clearing. A small voice in the back of her mind screamed at her to smarten up, but she couldn't. The haze clung to her, fueled by the shocking events that she walked into.

She had come here suspecting something would go down, and yet she stared through the dim darkness with a look stupidity plastered across her parted lips.

Mandos.

Guns.

Right.

She felt herself be yanked away. Her sister's urgency drove her forward, their connected hands giving Kyra an all too unwelcomed line into Yula's emotions. Her legs obeyed where her head couldn't. She jogged erratically, her pestering inner voice morphing into her master's. Be aware of your surroundings.

Yeah, okay! Sorry! She fecked that up!

Pew pew.

Her attention sharpened. She tried to jerk herself to the si- heat exploded over her shoulder. Her body seized up, the stun bolt sizzling its way through her muscle sheaths. For a flickering moment, the pain parted the fog...

And then she hit the ground. Her hand locked up and froze up inside her sister's grip, no doubt holding Yula back.

 

[Other Space Kaiden]

The Inferno
Warrior's Skin
Objective: III
The Vibes

"What...what is this...mother? You live?" Vulcanus called into the inkwell abyss that surrounded him - a darkness so perfect that it dizzied one to peer into it.

"Do not insult me, my compassion has its limits" the abyss warned in a voice so omnipresent that it could have been everyone and no one all at once, "you know who I am, but you will not admit it now. It pains you to accept the truth."

The darkness peeled aside as a blinding light cut through the abyss, bisecting it like a rotting carcus. Vulcanus stared but said nothing as the shadows recieded into nothing and nowhere - absorbed by the new reality unfolding around him. Beneath him materialized a shimmering plate of painted glass that extended in all directions like a circular stage - the edges ending in nothing but a dark horizon that went on forever. The glass shimmered like a sun and upon it was depicted a human male with aged, golden hair that ran like rivers down an ashen cloak like that of a scholar. A golden beard covered a square jaw and the man himself was draped over a throne of obsidian.

Vulcanus followed the visage of this...man...up up up until his sulfuric gaze began to rise up something all too real. The obsidian throne from the glass stood before him, carved of real stone and upon it sat a human more real than any Vulcanus had ever seen before.

"You...this place" For the first time in Vulcanus' life he felt what it was to be any other member of species. To see something that bent your blood and seized your mind.

Vulcanus' soul, mind and body bowed to this being before him. And he hated every second.

"Stand Vulcanus, your maker commands it" the man lifted a finger into the air and at once the beast felt his body jump to height...but it was no trick of the force. He had obeyed without question.

"You're kind are dead. The Graug destroyed you" he had confirmed as much all those years ago on Gratos - long before the Seven Days of rule or his people's rise in The Empire. He had gone to the old temple and burned it to the ground. He'd destroyed the last remnants of their origins.

"or so you thought" the man noted without needing another word to be spoken, "destroying an old temple in a forgotten jungle does not erase what you are. It does not erase me."

Vulcanus threw his hand forward and willed a ball of flame to vaporize the old man...but nothing happened. The old man on the throne laughed, a smile like that of an amused father crossing his lips.

"My name is at your lips and it angers you...at the front of your mind and you will not speak it...

...I command you to address me. Accept the truth"

Like a trained dog, Vulcanus yelped through gritted fangs, "Darth Sanem." an old name. A forgotten name. One the beast knew but not why he did - yet it was all so clear.

Sanem. The Dark Master.

Vulcanus fought against the drive to obey and again threw put an open hand, only to have nothing appear. Again Sanem chuckled;

"That is quite useless. Your mind may be here with me, but your body - and thus your power - is still out there. Doing what I created your people to do"

Sanem leaned forward as Vulcanus leered at him, "destroying in name of The Sith"

 

[Quintus Varro]

​

Objective: Corruption
Location: The Obelisk
Allies: Aspect of Passion Lunafreya Solidor Other Space Kaiden
Enemies: Beltran Rarr Auteme Aaran Tafo Sakadi Marathi Sinvala Thalia Senn and please lemme know if I missed anyone!

He felt their ecstasy rise they obelisk began to suck in all the darkness rising from the surface of the planet. Yet they made no move to leave now that their duty was complete. Instead they simply turned as the presence of darkness where Vulcanus sought release was magnified as the Worm Emperor himself came for a visit. The whispers bathed him in a sweet serenade as they bathed in the corruptive waves of darkness, and like a sponge he drank it in filling himself with it's nectar.

They longed for death, awaited it as though it was the only possible way forward, and for that he despised them. They were the priests of the Eternal, and yet they were weak unable to rise themselves unto the final mountain top. So they sat in praise of it, hoping those they thought of as gods would gift them a moment of pain and darkness to take with them into the void. Pitiful. Did they not understand? The true goal was not the worship of greater Sith, they merely allowed a different chain to hold them down and guide them. The only true goal for a Sith was the removal of all chains, to be utterly free and to choose their own destiny. Whatever destiny they chose, and that was how one became a god among men, and even a god among Sith.

The darkness came though, like waves from the ocean it sought to break the shore and return all to their beginnings in the depths once again. Even as he felt the emotions spilling from the planet and powering the obelisk there was a stir of pity in him. Not for the fear, the pain, or even those dying, but oddly enough the Jedi. How close they were to being truly free and yet they denied it to become slaves to the force. Pitiful indeed, but perhaps they could still be saved by the darkness. Perhaps they could still find the joy of it's touch.

Like a sudden tidal wave the darkness spilled over from the other room as the fiery mind of Darth Vulcanus seemed to erupt in darkness and power, and yet his thoughts went silent. As that tidal wave spilled over the priests they fell to their knees in worship, baring their chests to the spirit of Vulcanus' wrath in search of his blessings. Pitiful.

With an ear splitting wrench of metal on metal the door to the meditation chamber split open as the frothing form of Darth Vulcanus lay hunched on the floor. Animal roars escaping his mouth as the very air seemed to twist at his sweet corruption. It was like watching a man be reborn. This would be the first time he realized he saw the Emperor up close and the multiple masks of the Worm stared down into him. He could feel them in the room even though he knew not what he felt. So dark, so beautiful.

Reaching his hand up he grasped the hand of the Worm Emperor, but he sought no salvation from the darkness. Instead he sought to become it.

 

[Soloman Priest]

​

Objective I: Blackout
Allies: Jorii Vizsla
Enemies: Yula Perl │ Kyra Perl

"Doesn't work if we kill the hostages.", he said as his heavy foot falls carried him past her - with a surprising speed considering how heavy the armor seemed to look. For his sake, it was due to the exoskeleton understructure that made his Beskar'gam nearly weightless to him - but for others, it was a nice intimidation factor to see the massive man charging them.​

​

As he closed the distance to the fallen Kyra, and Yula desperately trying to pick her up and carry her, his foot would shoot out to hopefully land directly in Yula's ribs. He would have gone for the head, even activated the repulsor lift in his heel, but he wasn't exactly looking to take her head off - or discombobulated her too much. Just a sharp kick as revenge for making him run.​

​

As soon as his foot would likely land, he pulled the other pistol from its holster and aimed one at each of them. The beskar'gam's helmet digitized his voice slightly as he began to speak;​

​

"You have about ten seconds to tell me the emergency routines in this facility, where the exit is, and how many people I'll meet on the way.", he said with a harsh gruffness.​

​

"And I'm not good at counting, so don't test my patience."​

​

That sounded tougher in his head.​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

Main Event: Starlin Rand
Allies: Darth Empyrean Grundark Alina Tremiru Melydia Gold
​

​

The boy tilted his head ever so slightly to the left as the other uttered his response; there was contempt there, but the smile spoke more volumes than the tone or the words themselves. Was he hoping for a fight? Was he waiting in anticipation for Thesh to land the first blow so that he might have an excuse to eviscerate him?​

​

Curious.​

​

Still Thesh did not reach for his weapon. He didn't even draw upon the Force. He just stood there, that same thoughtful expression upon his lips as had been portrayed since they turned the corner into one another.​

​

"Did you choose it?" he asked, completely ignoring the accusations thrown his way. They both knew the weight they held, both knew the truth of the situation, why lie at this point? No. Thesh had more pressing concerns, and so long as this wee Jedi wasn't throwing fists he could afford to stall, to make more time for those of fewer numbers to make their assault in true. Diverting the attention of one could do wonders for such.​

​

"Did you get a choice?"​

​

And yet as much as he was hoping to bide his time, there was an honest interest which seemed to emanate from his words. Perhaps even unintentionally so. Did they get a choice, these Jedi? Did they choose which side of the war to stand upon, or were they too forced in their decisions?​

​

Some might argue ignorance was bliss, but Thesh wasn't among them. Knowledge was a craving he knew deeper than any innate human instincts. And that knowledge would always come at a cost.​

 

[Grundark]

​

Objective: Regicide
Location: Frontline
Focus: Caltin Vanagor
Allies: Alina Tremiru Irina Volkov Cato Demora Arcturus Dinn Melydia Gold Darth Empyrean Tegan Starfall
Enemies: Vexander Graves Mathieu Brion Vulpesen Taiia Locke Caedyn Arenais Romi Jade Starlin Rand Maja Fiore Nathaniel Wellchoestor ((lemme know if I missed anyone please))

The snow flew back into the air as the trample of the mighty rancor herd went before him the fear they inspired would be a great boon to the obelisk. For Grundark though it was still a bitter pill, and yet here would they not find great glory in the hunt? The Jedi were fierce prey, and what better way to test his herd then against a great enemy. With this thought in mind he took some small comfort as his battle lust began to take hold. They too craved it, who was he to hold them back against a worthy foe?

Then like a mighty fire the wave of darkness came behind him and he felt it echo through the alchemized herd, and their lust for battle fed his own. With each step forward the drums of war beat louder in his ears. Forgotten were all other matters as the need to test himself against the strongest won out, the need to walk along the edge of life and death. The joy of battle was all he sought.

As they hit the front line the rancor slowed for little, but Jedi were a powerful opponent and even alchemized skin could only hold the power of a lightsaber backed by the force for so long. Blaster bolts fired at will though were absorbed and bounced off leaving small welts like the bite of a gnat. The pain just angered the beasts more as they sought to rend flesh and feast.

He felt one's rage as another of the herd butted into it's path, but like dogs they merely snapped at each other and continued on after a moment of growls. He spurred them on as he arrived to the front behind the rancor pushing them to push the defenders back into the temple. Grundark was tactical genius he didn't understand why having the Jedi crammed into the temple mattered so much, but he trusted Darth Maliphant os his word was enough. Power was a tool he was still readjusting to it, and there was much to learn.

Looking over the field he sought out someone worthy of fighting, or rather someone he could test and strengthen himself against. Slaughtering the weak was for the weak. The strong sought out each other, it was why they were the strong. As if on que a speeder came flying through the air towards the rancor in front of the Cragmoloid. With a blast of telekinetic energy Grundark blasted it away even as the rancor moved an arm up to shield itself. With a loud howl it turned on the large human who had thrown it, and Grundark's eyes followed.

In a silent frozen moment he watched the man crack his knuckles before leaping up to imbed his blade within one of Grundark's herd. With a soft grown it crumpled, the old one who liked scratches behind the ear and dark green moss. It's spirit extinguished as a great trumpeting force bellow came from Grundark to met this Jedi's blast.

Taking a step forward he waved his herd onward, let the push continue without him. He'd found his opponent. Taking two steps forward he gave a small nod and a salute with his greatsaber. "Her name was Lucy, remember her in your prayers tonight. She was a worthy opponent even at this age. As leader of her herd I will avenge her. Come, little one."

 

[Starlin Rand]

Objective II: Regicide
Location: Ossus Temple Courtyard
Equipment: Armor | Lightsaber | Energy Bow | Bracelet

Ginger was stalling. That much was obvious. The green webbing at their feet had disappeared, having found its mark. Starlin had missed his chance to follow and see where it led. But Ginger also hadn’t budged, hadn’t pulled a red lightsaber and tried to relieve Starlin of his surviving hand or zapped him with lightning while cackling maniacally and screeching about unlimited power. He was just standing there. Not even menacingly. He was just… there.

Then came the questions. Starlin smirked a little, though it was in good humor. He couldn’t believe he was having a personal discussion in the middle of a battlefield with a member of the invading side’s forces.

But at least it got him thinking for a bit. He remembered meeting Syd on Zeffo, the danger he had been in. Her offer.

“I will make a deal with you… We'll watch each other's backs as we try and leave these ruins… and in the process I will try to help you become worthy of the knowledge you seek by imparting what wisdom I can. And if at the end of it all you decide you've had enough of what I have to say, than you can go on your merry way with whatever you are here for… just don't expect anyone to come swooping in to save you at the last moment from your own folly like a few minutes before. Deal?”

“Yeah, I chose it,” he replied. “I always wanted to be a Jedi. Didn’t think I had it in me, but once I found out I had the Force, I jumped at the chance. I’ve had plenty of opportunities since then to stop, but I never wanted to. Well, one time I did, but that was because I screwed up, big time...”

He chuckled a little out of embarrassment, his smile fading quickly against the pain of remembering his mistake, but there was something in his eyes that shone, warm and genuine.

“I love being a Jedi. Maybe you love being a Sith. I can’t imagine why, but fine. Now you’re here, invading a planet, part of an army that is attacking a place with children inside.” He gestured vaguely at their surroundings. “Unless... did you not get a choice?”

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

Main Event: Starlin Rand
Allies: Darth Empyrean Grundark Alina Tremiru Melydia Gold
​

"They... They shouldn't be here."​

​

He shook his head some as the thought of what could come echoed within his mind. He had heard tale of what some Jedi had done to the younger members of the Sith Academy when given the opportunity, and he was not so foolish as to presume that the Sith would not react in a similar vein if given a chance. Even if they had not been students of the Sith Eternal, they had been Sith all the same. Mere children all the same.​

​

"If I were a Jedi I'd be finding them a way out of here, far from this Temple."​

​

If he was.​

​

Which he wasn't. So why did he care?​

​

The boy he stood across from had chosen his path, not all in this universe were so lucky. Still though he had not dealt the hand he'd been given, though he'd had no say in it, he had chosen to continue along it all the same. How many other Sith could say the same? He could think of a few off the top of his head, some he knew more intimately than others. Would Quintus Varro be here now if he had not been forced to comply however many years ago he'd been brought into the fold?​

​

He sighed some. Refused once more to answer the questions posed, though he knew in his own way he had already done so.​

​

"This isn't their fight."​

​

Still no weapon drawn, though he knew that he was fast losing time to stall. If not the one before him, then another would surely come and force his hand.​

 

[Syd Celsius]

Persona: Sorceress of Coruscant (See Bio)

Objective: Defend Temple

The Sorceress of Coruscant frowned as the snow fell, the storm carried through the air, and the Sorceress's flesh shuddered horrifically as the gown she wore helped her resist the sour notes of the Dark Side to an extreme degree, the Elderly looking Force Spawn summoning her blade to her, the Double Bladed Spinning Lightsaber hissing on as she waited to be attacked first by oncoming troops. These weren't Imperial Sith Troops. These were someone else, and neither she nor the Syd buried inside ger cared much what happened to them. They were here to slaughter Padawans

Starlin Rand had asked if she was seeing this, and she was. The Dark Side felt like filth and oil covering her skin, and before she could tell him to be careful, she was forced to engage an attacking Sith with red blades that rushed through the snow to try and breach the temple, and slaughter the innocent younglings within.

The Sorceress would not allow it. None of the Witches hiding in Syd's body would. Her love for the Black Knight was powerful enough to keep them from intervening while actively aiding Laertia, but here...

She waited. Trying to ever set the example, she made the customary offer of surrender, only to be scoffed at, and engaged. The metal lid she had used as a mobile platform flew into his face, shattering it after she dodged his first few blasts of lightning...

...Here the Witches could be proud of inhabiting this Force Spawn.

The Sorceress was extremely proud of Starlin, as he avoided making the first move either. She ripped the metal from any source she could find, such as the armor of the already dead, their weapons, speaking magic that warped it into barracades and stumbling blocks for the enemy to try and vault over, making vibroswords and fallen Lightsabers pick themselves up and start fending off approaching enemy troops, but not looking to actively kill unless left with no choice those who wished the younglings inside harm. Standard Syd would have barbequed them and let Ashla sort them out. The Sorceress didn't want her first major battle as Starlin's 'new' Master (Who, surprise surprise, was ALSO a Force Spawn) to have such a horrific body count the way her host did. That wasn't who she was. It wasn't who any of the Personas hiding in Syd were. It was more important than ever to set a vetter example for Starlin after the Hosts failures at Dantooine...

The Sorceress dueled another Sith, blades spinning through him reluctantly after giving him the chance to run more than twice. She would let no one foil Starlin's attempt to reach out to Arcturus Dinn

 

[Atlas Drake]

There is no light in earth or heaven
But the cold light of stars​

---

// SURVEY SHIP CONSTELLATION
// SPACER GUILD TRANSPONDER CODE
// ADEGA SYSTEM, OUTER RIM TERRITORIES
​

Captain Drake and his crew huddled together in survival coats for warmth. Already they were beginning to feel the exposure to space without life support systems online. There was still enough fresh air for a few hours but when they saw the first pin pricks of light which signified some distant space battle he began to worry that a few hours may not be enough. He could only make out vague shapes even using his monocular's highest magnification settings.

"Karabast..." he muttered.

"What is it, cap'n?"

"Trouble."

They were still drifting slowly away from Ossus. Atlas planned to wait for the last dropships and assault craft to clear the upper atmosphere before powering back up and making a break for it once they'd passed out of active sensor range. Trouble was he'd just noticed a TIE squadron that wasn't diving for the surface. Instead the unknown marauders had assumed a patrol formation.

"We can't stay here. They're looking for something," Drake lowered his monocular, "Not sure what. I don't think we want them to find us instead."

Everyone wholeheartedly agreed.

"On my mark we'll power back up and make a break for the forest moon."

Rubbing warmth into stiff bones the Constellation's crew resumed their posts. Atlas did some calculations in his head. Momentum had not carried them far from Ossus but they were still outside the TIE patrol grid. She may be just civilian grade but his scout ship was fast. They could make it. Probably. He hoped.

"Mark."

Systems hummed back into life and within a few seconds they were in a hard burn on orbital trajectory with Nerit, closer of the planet's twin moons. Grim fear surged through Atlas when passive sensors returned their first ping. They were in the middle of a krayt dragon's nest.

"Power up the point defense gun."

"Gun's blazin, Drake."

At least Q² was back.

---

Equipment: EVA Suit, Glie-44 Navy, Tehk'la Blade, Monocular
Allies: Gir Quee Ura Iolar Okkeus Dainlei
Enemies: Tithon Antilles Arthos Vynea Errix Feh'room
Manifest:

• Trident-class Surveyor Ship​

Actions:

• Power up from silent running.​
• Evasive burn at full sublight towards the mass shadow of Nerit, Ossus' forest moon.​

 

[Tarish Galland]

OBJECTIVES: Objective 1.1/2 - Take the Ground Relay, Find The Jedi.
LOCATION: On the Ground Chasing
ARMAMENT: Lighstaber
WEARING: Burial Raiment
FORMERLY ACCOMPANIED BY: 1 - Squad(8 soldiers) of Disciple Bois, 7 - Sith Interceptors, 5 - Sith Bombers
TAGS: Ura Iolar (Enemy/Duel), Jorii Vizsla Soloman Priest Yula Perl Kyra Perl​

His eyes wandered over the displays of what had been a crash site. The heads up display giving a likely destination by the path left behind. Subtle signs of movement headed towards the relay.

His eyebrow arched at the idea, his comm beeping for the disciples before his message came through.

"Keep an eye out for anyone pushing to the relay from the temple. And no killing yet. Secure everything before having fun." Skorne hissed, closing the line as he made for the relay.

He kept to the side streets, managing to arrive at he site as the doors opened to the site. The snapping hiss of his lightsaber igniting was all the more words he needed as he rounded the street corner. His mask covered his face for the moment, making sure it truly was who he sought.

"Jedi. A fine day isn't it?" His voice was altered, drawing attention blatantly as he stepped into the open.

 

[Starlin Rand]

Objective II: Regicide
Location: Ossus Temple Courtyard
Equipment: Armor | Lightsaber | Energy Bow | Bracelet

The snowfall had become almost a blizzard, the wind howling raggedly as it passed over the structure, drowning out the sounds of battle in the distance—but not the more immediate sounds of Syd beating up any Sith that came near them. Starlin sighed. So far Ginger had dodged all his questions.

“You’re damned right it isn’t their fight,” he replied. “Yet the Sith are invading anyway.”

Ginger had probably read Professor Nimdok’s article about the NJO bombing that Sith academy and killing, uh, acolytes, and thought this invasion was perfectly justified in light of their war crimes. But this wasn’t an NJO stronghold. This was the Silver Jedi, aka the Jedi faction that almost allied with the Sith in order to fight the Bryn’adul. An alliance which Starlin had been all for. He just wished the only person willing to go through with it hadn’t been Laertia Io, a woman who had proven a butcher filled with resentment towards the Jedi. A wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“What do the Sith stand to gain from taking this planet and killing its people? This is just another conquest to them,” he continued. “But you’re right. I should be helping them instead of standing here with you. You don’t even have a good reason for being here.”

But he couldn’t just leave a Sith trespassing on Temple grounds. Thrusting out his hand, he attempted something he had been taught how to do, but had never actually tried: stunning someone with the Force. There was no guarantee it would work—he really should’ve taken up Tom Kovack’s offer to give him a stun weapon or two—but he figured he and Ginger were about evenly matched. He just needed Ginger to be knocked out long enough to bind his wrists and stick him in a closet, or somewhere else where he couldn't pose a problem.

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

​

Main Event: Starlin Rand ​

Allies: Darth Empyrean Grundark Alina Tremiru Melydia Gold​

​

"Theirs not to reason why," he uttered, in a way finally giving answer to a question posed to him by the Jedi he stood across from. No questions thrown back in retort, just a simple statement or two. "Theirs but to do and die..." A shrug. Little more offered at least immediately, though he did ponder further on the words he was being presented with.​

​

"Do not the Jedi do the same? Do you not also follow the commands of those above you, oftentimes unquestioning? We are not those Sith who were butchered, just as you are not those Jedi who did the butchering. And yet here we are all the same... How long will this unending dance continue?"​

​

He felt the pull upon the Force before it took a hold of his body; nay, not felt but heard it. That symphony within his mind swelled with the presence of it as the Jedi reached out and grasped a hold over him. Each millisecond perverted the tune he had come to know over the past months, discordant and busy it rocked his mind and yet brought with it a further clarity all the same.​

​

In its most basic form, to stun through the Force was really a battle of wills. Lesser creatures, or beings not touched by the Force, could do little to resist it. But one who had dedicated their lives - as short as they might have been - to studying almost exclusively that could. It took much of his concentration to do so, of course, but he had only eyes for Starlin in that moment regardless. And thanks to the one who fended off all others, there wasn't another soul nearby to capitalize upon it.​

​

He did not succumb to the stun, though the strain of it was obvious upon his expression. Thesh could not help but find the boy's attempts admirable, how he clung to the ideals of his order despite the fact that he could taste the less pleasant desires upon him. That itching urge most who were repressed in such a fashion had to outright rend flesh from their enemies. To ignite their blade and let the fighting commence.​

​

No doubt he would be seen as a model Padawan for his efforts that day.​

​

"A novel attempt," he spoke, through gritted teeth, as the worst of it wore off his form, "Do you expect me now to fight back?"​

​

It was tempting.​

​

Oh, was it tempting.​

​

And yet for whatever reason he still kept his hand from the various weapons upon his belt. How far could he push this one?​

​

It was something he was most eager to test.​

 

[Starlin Rand]

Objective II: Regicide
Location: Ossus Temple Courtyard
Equipment: Armor | Lightsaber | Energy Bow | Bracelet

“I fight the battles I choose to fight, firecrotch,” Starlin grunted, grimacing as he exerted himself to no avail. His attempt at stun didn’t work, as expected. Darn.

This was a new development for him. Choosing. Questioning himself. Looking before he leaped. Not being a blind follower, easily led. Holding out and forging on even after he made a terrible mistake.

He had killed a Padawan, once. On Dantooine. Often he had replayed the scene in his mind, trying to come up with excuses. The Padawan was unprepared for battle. He had flung himself in harm’s way. It wasn’t Starlin’s fault. Laertia Io had brought him there. Syd… Syd had brought him there. Starlin had only followed along…

Shaking himself, Starlin pursed his lips. Now was not the time. After his brief contact with Ginger's mind during the stun attempt, he now imagined Ginger’s nervous system as a web of electrical impulses throughout the acolyte's body, neurons jolting, synapses firing, noggin joggin’. A Sith would see it and decide to inflict pain. Starlin saw it… and wondered what would happen if he tickled the ginger.

“I dunno. You seem pretty lackadaisical to me. Drifting through life like a piece of flotsam bobbing on the ocean, at the whim of whatever bullchit comes your way. Do you even know how to fight for yourself?”

WIthout warning, he fed the intended sensation into those neurons. It was weird, yeah, but he was counting on Ginger being so surprised by the sudden feeling of being mercilessly tickled, he wouldn’t know what to do. Then, hello stun cuffs and time-out in a supply closet.

Arcturus Dinn​

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

Now it was Thesh's turn to smirk.​

​

Oh, he knew how to fight alright. Had fought worse beasties than the one in front of him. But that didn't make him some mad dog, eager to fling himself into combat at the earliest convenience. No, that wasn't his way. Talking was a far more civil means of debate, he had decided that long ago. The pen was mightier than the sword, or whatever it was they said. He didn't rightly care.​

​

"Yet here you are," he said with a shrug. He wasn't wrong though, Thesh wasn't exactly governing his own life. Not in the ways that mattered. Were it up to him he'd be back with his projects, and his books, and his notes. Delving deeper and deeper into the lost, arcane knowledge he'd yet to unveil.​

​

But his Master had willed it so. He would be here, and he would do what he needed when the time came. What would Darth Empyrean think if he knew his Apprentice was sympathizing with the younglings in this place? If he knew that Thesh was more tempted in that moment to aid those young children stuck in the middle of it, as opposed to fight those who would protect them? Thesh had been one such helpless being once, and it was only through the mercy of his Master that he had survived so long. Thrived, and come into his own.​

​

Could anyone truly blame the boy for wanting to give others the same chance? Even if it was giving potential enemies of the future time to prepare?​

​

"You could leave right now," he said, and as much as he wanted to seem the intimating, seeped-in-darkness type, in that moment the truth of sincerity seeped into his tone. It shouldn't have been this difficult for him to exact the will of his Master, or the Emperor. But he couldn't stop thinking about the children. "Get the young ones out of the southern side, where the focus of battle does not lie. Yet you choose instead to stand here, waste time with the likes of me. Tell me, Jedi, why is that?"​

​

So lost in those thoughts was he that he was caught off guard by the odd sensation which gripped him. Certainly it was the first time in his life he'd ever been subjected to such, his body squirmed uncomfortably and he had to force himself to resist the urge to laugh. It wasn't a funny moment, there was no humour, so why did he feel such an urge?​

​

As that discomfort mounted he too drew upon the Force, and without real thought to what he was doing he loosed a simple enough push outward toward the one across from him, in hopes that he might stop the torturous sensation from raging through his body. At the same time he once again began to resist, the way he had with the stun, but it wasn't quite so simple. It would take just a little more time.​

​

Thesh never liked to have to divert his attention in such a manner. He hated to feel out of control. And loosing the Force with such reckless abandon was most definitely without control on his part.​

​

Starlin Rand ​

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The Jedi Master was known for his prowess and… dare it be said, his excitement for battle. There was no way around the fact that Coren Starchaser did crave battle, but it was more than just conflict, it was the competition. With the Outer Rim Trade League giving him an outlet with racing, and new discoveries constantly needing to be found, especially before some other governments found them, or they fell into the wrong hands. He was less worried about that than he was this, but it still gave him the sense of purpose beyond teaching.

“No… It doesn’t.” He was already reaching out to the other Jedi to see who was around. Kaia and Jared were off world but he thought Brooke was around. She was around to back him up when needed, but it was more Jedi work here…

Lightsaber in hand, he was keeping himself at attention. Romi and he had fought side by each many times, and he was going to keep an eye out for the pair while she did what she did best, prepare everyone. His lightsaber lit up after the first volley, doing what he could while Romi saw the plan in his head and he grinned.

Extinguishing his blade he moved into a position where he could see the Rancor. Falling into a meditation he was on his knees while Romi made a ruckus. For something this big he was going to need to pull on his reserves. He’d not been using the Force this offensively in a while,, and, well, it was almost like a muscle, it did require a workout. The alchemized nature of this beast was something else all together.

Ossus was a planet of light and life, and he was pulling on that, waiting… waiting…

Now.

As he heard the call from Romi, he moved, almost without order and form, but he was on his feet and the golden light of the Force, starting to burst from him in waves as he focused it between his hands, the waves coming to a singular point of focus as the energy welled up and he released it towards the Rancor



Romi Jade