The Return [TRE/SJO Invasion of Dromund Kaas]

[Kaden]

LOCATION: Citadel
OBJECTIVE: Defend the Citadel
ALLIES: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], [member="Coci Heavenshield"]
ENEMIES: [member="Vrak Nashar"], [member="Darth Carnifex"], [member="Vilaz Munin"], [member="Joon"]

The scent of death blanketed Kaas like an abusive mother's crushing embrace, growing ever tighter by each passing moment. The dark clouds in the heavens seemed to writhe and spark in an unfamiliar way; perturbed by the space battle raging above. These flashes were not just lightning; these booms not just thunder. An unease befell the lands of Kaas and the Sith soon followed.

But they weren't the first to return since the capitulation to the Jedi.

No, Kaden was.

Sith in blood but not name, he had returned to Kaas after roughly 4,500 years. Why, he did not know for sure. It seemed to call to him through the emptiness of space; it whispered his name in the light morning breeze. Faintly and gently, guiding his subconscious to seek the source of its summoning. And so, having relinquished the Sith ways of old in favor of the Jedi of new, Kaden had returned to Kaas.

Currently, on a lower level of the citadel, he stood on a balcony. Amber eyes gazed from dropship to dropship and narrowed. Crimson hands slid onto the metal railing and tightened. A tendril on the right side of his jaw twitched. This was war in its infancy and the fate of this battle would forge galactic history.

Kaden's lips tightened. The copper scent of death which grew with alarming potency filled his nostrils.

It was nearing the time to fight for the peace of Kaas.

 

[Soeht]

The Imperial Citadel: The Veteran​

​

The Jedi and Antarian Rangers cheered. Jedi Azsedo remained silent. His padawan, Yenaleda, standing to his right cheered with the rest of the Silver Jedi forces in the Imperial Citadel.

Eyes on the Sith shuttles, Azsedo’s hand hovered over the lightsaber hilt clipped to his belt. Once they landed, Sith and stormtroopers began to pour through.

He [acronym="Are you listening?"]waited[/acronym] for [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]’s command.

[member="Kaden"], [member="Coci Heavenshield"], [member="Vrak Nashar"], [member="Darth Carnifex"], [member="Vilaz Munin"], [member="Joon"]

 

[Kratacos]

Location: Citadel
Objective: Retake the Sith Colony World.
Allies: [member="Vrak Nashar"], [member="Joon"], [member="Darth Carnifex"], [member="Vilaz Munin"]
Enemies: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], [member="Coci Heavenshield"], [member="Kaden"]
What: @Soeht

The Sith Knight came out of the shuttle somewhere behind the Sith Lord Vrak Nashar.

Combat ensued.

Already, moments into the battle Massassi and Jedi alike were dying. Jedi charged the lines of Sith, and Vraukt engaged, electing to bisect the first Jedi that charged him with his crimson lightsabre. A small sway to the left, and a downwards slash across his own body to take off the offending arm before skewering the Jedi through the midsection.

The plasma beam of the lightsabre not only melted skin, flesh, and bone, but the intense heat that radiated off of it also super-heated sensitive organs. The Jedi's death was quick as the lightsabre was then deactivated a moment later, allowing the quivering corpse to collapse on its own accord.

For the Empire.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

LOCATION: Space of Kaas
OBJECTIVE: Discuss philosophies
ALLIES: [member="Catalys Maijora"] & [member="Vitor Avendahl"]
ENEMIES: [member="Sorel Crieff"] (soon.gif)

There were many times that Lord Fa pondered this same old question himself.

Where they truly the villains of this story? Where they on the wrong side of history and would it judge them harshly for their roles in this eternal conflict? It was a possibility and one that Tai did not consider lightly, but in this situation the Thirriken knew they were in the right. They were not invaders, they had not come to wrest a world violently away from their rightful rulers.

No.

They were the rightful rulers.

Dromund Kaas was theirs by right of blood and heritage. The Jedi had stolen it from them, squatting in its ruins like sickly misers... jealously cradling their ill-gotten goods with no care for the world. It was sickening to him, how they defiled their world, despoiled ancient history and tried to erase the very foundation of their culture. They had come as liberators.

This was the inherent truth of this battle.

"No, we have come to liberate... this time." He focused softly on the runes attached to his armor and all of a sudden his form shifted. A derivative of the ancient Talisman of Transformation was embedded in the very matrices of his second skin and it changed his appearance. Gone was the red and white, in its stead was green and dun, his beak shifted and shortened itself. Even the plumage of his feather deck shortened, until it was ready for battle - this wasn't an attempt to make himself more efficient for this skirmish though.

Humanoids were notably xenophobic and racist.

If they saw a Thirriken fight amidst the Sith, they would certainly immediately point figures to Tai in the media. This would prevent that from transpiring, after all, there were so many Thirrikens now that the Gordian Reach laid open and the avians came pouring out.

"The battle has begun... I wonder if the Sith will succeed here."

 

[Catalys Maijora]

GenoHaradan Frigate [x] - Orbiting Dromund Kaas

[member="Tai Fa"] always had the answers.

Or at least answers to Catalys' questions. The Umbaran's mind isn't what it used to be, and even then it was never at peak performance; save for his merits as an operative.

"Yes, but the symbolism..." He wanted to debate, but at the same time he knew there were bigger things at hand. "... Ah, nevermind!" He waves a dismissive hand at his own remark. Once more only proving to the rest of them that something was certainly eating away at Catalys' thoughts.

The agent strolls past the Thirrken undergoing transformation, not batting an eye--as if it would've been noticed with his helmet and all--and walks over to where Vitor had been standing.

"And who is this, another one of your apprentices?" Catalys eyed the human up and down, and should Vitor let him he'd go so far as grabbing his chin. Like a judge studying a prized bantha.

[member="Vitor Avendahl"]

 

[Athena Heron]

Location:Jungles
Objective: Free the beasts, secure outposts, preen
Allies: [member="Veritas"] [member="Maleagant"] [member="Aeterno"]
Enemies: Jedi

"Shields are failing mistress and we've taken severe damage on the port side," her hand-maiden braced herself in the doorway of her mistresses' quarters.

Sharp, dark eyes looked up, "No matter. Even now I can feel the tops of the jungle below scrape the belly of our ship. Find a place to land. If you cannot, make one."

The maiden bowed her head and disappeared. Shortly after, she felt nothing short of a rough landing. They had arrived. Long, slender legs extended and she made her way from the ship, a half dozen maidens following. They were more than just followers, they were trained assassins and protectors of their mistress.

Soft-booted feet almost made no sounds on the jungle floor. Charcoal-wings stretched for a moment before quickly folding back in. Dark-hair moved with the smallest of breeze in the sticky-air. Her long, dark dress with a high slit running up the side, hugged the armor-weave beneath.

Couldn't sacrifice style for a war.

Dark-eyes narrowed on her blue face. There was a flicker of someone familiar nearby. But she couldn't quite pin it down. Senses shifted back to the beasts that called to her in the jungle. The darkside stretched forward like a sticky web, searching.

"Come my darlings," she murmured and strode on through the green thick and toward the outposts.

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Location: Dromund Kaas
Objective: Battle Meditation
Allies: Silver Jedi Order
Enemies: Resurgent Empire

Her mind continued to reach out allowing the force to go to the jedi on the world as Arya continued to focus and leave the facility they were in to run as needed. She was looking at the army that had made it through the fleets intact, landed on the world through a planetary shield and was now with ease blowing through the small outposts that were spawning on the world. The fallanassi's eyes were looking it over as she continued to focus on them and protect as needed. She had serious doubts about it but she did know from the years of seeing it the overall goal and power of bypassing was something the jedi should learn. "We really need to recover an reverse engineer this technology."

With a continued look as the fleets were moving carefully, looking over the screens as the armor divisions continued to move and defend across the planet. The carriers were moving towards the planet and outside of the shield ships deploying more soldiers for them. In space the defense stations were working as the interdictors were working to finish locking down the system. Sadly she had resigned it wouldn't work, the often under equipped jedi were struggling against celestial level technologies but they had to try and make the effort. Arya held out her hands and focused as she was letting the immersion continue and focused on the room.

"We'll conceal the room, it likely won't change anything much like this being a small out of the way area we don't even mark but it will at leas go some way. Coordinate with the others, in space and around the planet." She said it looking at what information they had and where they would be able to get some more of the other jedi. The capital and the citadel were the most popular so the sith attacking it and killing the people there would at least continue the efforts of the locals to want to side with them. Sorel and Orihime's efforts to clear it and make it into something of a haven for lost children meant the sith were killing orphans.

Meanwhile Ayumi continued to focus and she could feel the rest of the minds, more had joined them but it was still an amazingly one sided fight she was seeing. Mental defenses that seemed able to block phobis devices, teleportation technologies that was bypassing planetary defenses with ease. All of it seemed ludicrous in thought and action and she for a moment thought about it but continued to press on. If they had gone for these technologies the other governments of the galaxy would have crucified them as she could feel the ships with soldiers on the planet interlocking and making the walls to sections off different places.

The feeling of lasers and even turbolasers smashing into the sith forces as the ranger's were registering all new structures spawning from the very ground itself. Outpost materialization just like at Korriban where an entire city spawned with thousands of people. She knew Arya was likely looking at these with confusion and wonder since... no ranger's would be in them and artillery strikers would be able to just smash them from a distance. Speaking of which the fallanassi was there in the rom still looking at the holographic display and allowing the ranger's to continue to fortify their defenses while firing on rapidly spanning outposts in the jungle from the mountains.

 

[Connor Harrison]

LOCATION: The Citadel, Dromund Kaas
OBJECTIVE: Take the Citadel; Destroy the Jedi Knights
ALLIES: [member="Vrak Nashar"] | [member="Stephanie Brown"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | Catalys Maijora | [member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Vraukt"]
ENEMIES: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Kaden"]
--
Walking across a large stretch of street that would lead them directly to the mighty Citadel that loomed ahead, Joon kept her pace casual as the Sith soldiers ran into battle for her. Their crimson blades were as powerful as they were majestic, taking the fight to the Jedi Knights with their blue and green and yellow blades.

It was pitiful. So much colour and decorative weaponry? Crimson was the blade of blood. The life-force of the Dark Side, and her soldiers and warriors knew it. They would take life with their blade or die trying.

Then, she knelt and placed her hand on a mound of rubble and earth kicked up from the battle.

She could feel them.

The Jedi. The Light. There were everywhere. They were fearful.

Standing, her amber eyes surveyed the street ahead that opened up for her like a playground. And she was eager to play and feed from their fear.

She smiled slowly, and continued to walk as the Empire swarmed forward. She would keep on walking with the others, right to the Citadel, and nobody would stand in her way with the Dark Side as her ally.

 

[Darth Osano]

Objective: Free the beasts, secure outposts, swoon
Location: Jungles
Enemies: Jedi
Allies: [member="Veritas"] | [member="Athena Heron"] | [member="Aeterno"]

Maleagant didn't fly in anything without a cloaking device. It was just standard practice. No one would shoot at the shuttle if they had no idea it was there. That was the idea, anyway. Maleagant had obviously failed to adjust for cross-fire, because something had exploded perilously close to the shuttle and forced an emergency landing. The pilot had called it an emergency landing. It felt more like a crash. A few trees had been crushed by the falling transport and had further damaged it in kind. The damage report wasn't as bad as it could have been. No one had died, for instance. The pilot assured him that he could get things working again and that they would have safe passage off the planet if necessary.

Well, if the Resurgent Empire won the battle, Maleagant had no intention of leaving on a dingy, beaten up military transport. He'd leave in something more luxurious. Maybe a star yacht. Celebrating one's victories is important, particularly if they bring you perilously close to death. Maleagant had the sinking feeling that near-death scenarios would be common once he left the crash site.

One of the Specialists accompanying Maleagant as escorts dragged open the shuttle door. The others left slowly, surveying the landing site with raised weapons. Aside from some insects, there was no sign of hostile wildlife. Judging from the mission profile, that was supposed to change. Or something. Maleagant was less focused on the exact mission parameters and more focused on who was expected to be on this mission. The Specialists gave an all-clear and Maleagant departed from the shuttle, dusting himself off as he went. Compared to the Specialists, he was not very heavily armed. Lightsaber, a disruptor pistol, and a wrist-blaster. His armor was sensibly light and included an equally sensible Icon-Class Personal Shield Generator.

You have to come to these things prepared.

"Right," Maleagant said, "Let's go."

Since he had never been involved in a planetary invasion before, Maleagant suspected that this increased the likelihood of his death. As he followed his men through the undergrowth, he tried to focus more on the plants than his odds of survival.

 

[Caid Centurion]

Location: Jungles
Objective: Survive, Secure Outposts
Enemies: Jedi (and the planet, apparently)
Allies: [member="Maleagant"] | [member="Athena Heron"] | [member="Aeterno"]

Caid raised his arm, bent at the elbow with his gloved hand open. The warriors around him came to a halt as the sounds of the jungle and battle on the distant horizon near Kaas City rolled over the vegetation. Neither of these things were what drew his attention, however. The multitude of force presences saturating the planet and its orbit made pinpointing any one particular presence extremely difficult. As it drew near, however, one presence in particular washed over his own with some degree of familiarity. The options for whom the presence could belong to was part of a rather short list...and only one person made any kind of sense.

Before any action could be taken, Caid's communicator crackled to life once more. "Major you've got two more arrivals...one we didn't even pick up until it hit the jungle floor. Both came in fairly hard, but we detected emerging lifeforms."

"The point, Lieutenant."

"They're ours, sir."

"The other units from the tasking order?"

"I can only confirm that from one of the vessels. Omwati."

Caid suddenly felt his throat starting to go dry. "Keep me apprised we're proceeding on mis---" The Sith's words dropped off immediately as Caid snapped his head towards the west. Before he could say another word, the onyx hilt of his lightsaber was in his hand and the silver blade erupted with a snap-hiss. His warriors immediately moved to establish a viable fighting position in the event the threat was coming from more than one direction. An instant later, the ground began to tremble as the sounds of rapidly approaching beasts overtook the symphony of distant explosions and ground defense fire.

"Whoa what the! Major, we just picked up a swarm of activity heading your direction. At speed and size, I would judge it to be something indigenous to the planet."

Caid heard the information from the Lieutenant just as the first massive Jurgoran came crashing through the thick vegetation. He gave the...helpful...heads-up no response as he jumped into coordinated action with the rest of the Massassi.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

Dromund Kaas - Citadel
Objective: Reclaim the Citadel
Directly Engaging: [member="Coci Heavenshield"]
Allies: TRE

The tide of the Sith continued to roll over the center of the Citadel, reaching through the city and rushing towards the central towers of the structure itself.

There Vrak saw them.

It was a glimpse at first, a tiny flash of armor, a small cut of light that bloomed from one of the strikes of lightning. His gaze narrowed, the HUD within his mask shifted, and then they came into view. Lined up like an assaulting force he spotted Coci and Thurion's army. He saw the Assorted Jedi, the Rangers, and he scowled. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his lightsaber, his feet came to a stop within the middle of his own forces. His gaze lifted, and then a small smirk settled upon his features.

The Sith were beginning to form a circle, drawing out and slaughtering everything in their wake. The course of their actions was neither subtle nor gentle. They killed what they could, then their soldiers drove into their wake. Buildings were secured and a small spot of peace was created Southwest of the Citadel. Broken and smoldering shuttles formed their defensive lines, and more transports began to rain down from where they had just barely managed to breach the Silver Jedi's defenses.

Thousands had already died simply attempting to make it to the planets surface, but in Vrak's mind their sacrifice was well worth it. His hand suddenly extended towards the sky, his eyes following one of the crashing shuttles.

His lips thinned, and then with a simple nudge of the force, a singular push he pressed the falling shuttle towards a different path, not grasping it, but simply ensuring its continued flight.

Vrak's muscles strained, a groan escaped him, but the shuttle over head pressed up for just half a second. The trajectory of the ship shifted, the flaming hulk of metal, it's passengers already doomed, was suddenly sent flying directly towards [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] and [member="Coci Heavenshield"].

 

[TB-705]

THE SMALL COMPOUND​

[member="Ayumi Pallopides"]​

​

Power in the Force thrummed. He could feel it, as if he stood blindfolded on the precipice of a volcano's maw, awash with the heat and smell. And yet... he could not see it.

Thengil knelt and picked up a stone. Eyes like Tattooine's yellow disks surveyed the rock, then slid shut as the Cathar sought to delve into the past and see things as they had been, before the battle. Psychometry, plain and simple.

He asked the rock a question and it told him a story.

A story of a compound just in front of him, invisible to his eyes.

"Ah."

Shingles fell away from his eyes. He saw the unseen.

Thengil dropped the stone, pulled out a lightsaber and activated the blade, then stepped over to compound's entrance, pushed the blade into the door, and began to cut his way inside.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Location: The Citadel, holding the fort
Allies: [member="Coci Heavenshield"] | SJO
Enemies: [member="Vrak Nashar"] | TRE

The rapid advance of the Sith were impossible to miss simply from the brutality of their attack, as was ever the case of followers of the dark side. Upon spotting the entrenched Jedi army, the enemy seemed to halt their advance as lighting rode across the sky, causing a split second of illumination upon the countless combatants for both sides. The forces of Light and Dark stared each other down, and the sense that this battle would be one for the ages became clear to all involved.

Before the order to commence firing could be given, however, Thurion spotted the wrecked shuttle heading straight for his and Coci's position. There was little doubt in his mind over the fact that this was no mere accident, for the influence of the Force could be picked up rather easily. Rather than command his men to shoot the metal projectile down and risk causing it to scatter into several smaller pieces, Thurion looked to Coci before the pair took a step forward, planting their feet firmly into the ground as both Jedi Masters focused upon the hulk of scrapmetal hurling towards them.

The Force rushed to their aid when called upon, and together they would cause the infernal shuttle to break off from its trajectory to instead crash into a nearby structure overlooking the open section of the city they were defending. The building, long since abandoned, collapsed and crumbled from the sheer impact of the ball of fire and metal, raining debris down on the attacking Sith forces. A moment of eerie silence followed the collapse of the building as the cloud of dust slowly dispersed. As soon as there was a clear line of sight again, Thurion turned to the men and women at his back and brandished his lightsaber.

"Send them back to the darkness they spawned from," came his booming command, and all at once did the army of Rangers open fire. The streets lit up with blaster fire, and from the back of the defensive line massive cannons belonging to an assortment of heavy vehicles sent devastating volleys of direct and indirect fire alike upon the advancing enemy. Until the Sith came into close-quarters, the Jedi remained in position, instead utilizing the Force to hurl additional makeshift projectiles at their foes.

 

[Jericho]

Citadel.
Defend and Protect.
Allies: Jedi
Enemies: Sith

There nothing but a hum.

"There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no fear, there is power."

The empty and quiet skies of Dromund Kaas, the planet still was stained with an eerie darkness despite the efforts to cleanse the plant. The warrior did not mind the feeling.

"I am the I am the heart of the Force.
I am the revealing fire of light.
I am the mystery of darkness."

The warrior chanted quietly to himself.

"In balance with chaos and harmony,
Immortal in the Force."

As he was about to continue his chant, the area roared with sounds of war once again after the first ship came into orbit. And as the same tune rang it was the same voice to make it, Sith. The war between the light and the dark side seemed or rather was endless, there was always a new faction, a new mask of death, a new warlord the was bent on ruling as there will be always those who defend the weak.

Thought it wasn't always that cut and dry. One thing was for certain if there were any that wish to strike at the Silver Jedi, they would always face the unrelenting Jericho. He did not care for all jedi nor did he hate all sith, he was a simple man; attack what he does care for and invoke his wrath.

At the rallying call of battle, Jericho left his meditation chamber and put on his heavy jedi cloak rimmed with his traditional armor, the 7'2 giant of a man slowly walked towards the heavenshields As the flaming hull of the ship, as if out of thin air Jericho appeared in front of both [member="Coci Heavenshield"] and [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] in their defense, as a protective measure not because they were once masters of the order but they were considered to be family. As the silenced was overwhelmed by the war crys of the rangers and jedi though the stood fast, the warrior looked to Thurion and gave him a nod. The warrior ran foreword and punched into the ground causing a fissure making the earth shake and crumble, many of the sith charging would waver by this tactic. Jericho unclipped his double bladed saber igniting only one end its orange light piercing through. Those who knew his strength knew what he was capable of and those who didn't were about to learn this day.

*editted Thurion beat me to it.

 

[Zef Halo]

GenoHaradan Frigate

Vitor glanced once to notice his former master change his appearance. He understood the reasoning why, as well. Avendahl's only option to keep his identity a secret down on the battlefield would be the use of a helmet.

Heavy boots coming his away took his attention once more away from the communications screen to see the frigate's captain approach him casually. An appraising look before a hand was raised towards his chin. The Sith leaned back away from it and like a feline grabbed at the man's elbow in an attempt to halt what he was trying to do.

"Not anymore." Vitor uttered with a confident yet unarrogant tone. The subtle venom in his voice was replaced by a much calmer one in the question he asked. "And who might you be?"

Just another of Lord Fa's lackeys.

[member="Tai Fa"] | [member="Catalys Maijora"]​

 

[Zark San Tekka]

Location: Alliance Shuttle Crash Site, Jungles of Dromund Kaas
Allies: TRE, [member="Veritas"], [member="Athena Heron"], [member="Maleagant"]
Enemies: SJO
Objective: Discover Just What is Going On
Gear: Tattered Robes, Yellow Junksaber (lightsaber with an unstable core), The Force


AWAKE.

Screaming in terror as his eyes flooded open, the spike of adrenaline sent him surging up to a sitting position just seconds after he had regained consciousness.

That voice!

Aeterno had fled across eternity itself, to the very ends of the infinite, had destroyed himself.

All just to escape that voice.

His heart racing, head whipping back and forth, it took several long seconds for Zarek to realize that he was truly alone after all. With the shock of the crash, and his weakened state, he must have only dreamed it. Must have...

Groaning as he pulled himself bodily from the eviscerated cockpit, the Sith Knight tried very hard not to notice how the worst of the damage seemed to have almost gone out of its way to avoid him. That the distribution of destruction to everywhere but the pilot's seat seemed almost at the hands of an intelligence. By the time he had managed to extract himself fully from the wreckage, he had become so distracted by the continuous physical exertion that he had fully failed to sense through the Force the squad of troopers that now surrounded what was left of his escape ship.

Obviously skittish about the whole situation, but apparently emboldened by the markings on his shuttle, they did not immediately fire when they saw him. Aeterno found himself at a loss for what to say. He had spent months planning his escape from Fort Dawn, but having given very little thought to what came next and having improvised Dromund Kaas as his destination, the Sith knew practically nothing about this planet and the people who lived here, save they were some kind of Jedi. The thought still made him sick. Unsure of the correct tactical choice, he elected to remain silent.

Unnerved by such unusual behavior for the survivor of a shipwreck, the soldiers raised their rifles hesitantly. One of them called out, "Identify yourself! Jedi or Sith?"

The planet was supposedly occupied by Jedi, but Zarek had been almost certain that the ships that had blown him out of space had born Sith markings. From the tensing of their muscles, he got the feeling that much about how the next few seconds played out would depend upon the answer he gave.

I have hidden long enough.

"Sith," he said.

From the looks in their eyes, he could tell it had been the wrong answer. Their leader simply glanced at his men and ordered, "Stun him."

Snarling as he reached down into the wellspring of his power and bringing his left arm swinging around in a claw, the Sith Knight jerked each trooper's rifle to the side, sending their collective shots wide. Twisting his waist as he brought his right palm straight forward, he sent a surge of electricity through his limb and out his fingertips at the trooper who had given the orders. Writhing like a marionette but still standing, Aeterno ended the surge just as his victim's body began to smoke and let the corpse crumple to the jungle floor.

The Sith had little time to savor the kill, however, as no sooner than he had dispatched the commander, he was forced to bring his left hand around, twisting his body awkwardly to place it between his hand and the incoming blaster bolt. Absorbing the thermal energy with a grimace, he let the pain of the Force technique wash over him and fuel him further. With the stun option apparently no longer on the table, Aeterno softly grinned as he brought his right arm whipping out and down to the side, igniting the crackling, unstable yellow lightsaber in his hand as he did so.

Over the next minute, Zarek methodically, surgically butchered the remaining soldiers. When the bladework was done, and he was pausing to catch his breath a little from the minor exertions of the Force, he casually examined the torn, bloody patches on one of the remains' shoulders.

"Antarian Rangers," he read the name inscribed aloud. The words meant nothing to him.

Far off in the distance, almost buried underneath a cacophony of wildlife noises, the Sith could hear the faint sounds of booming explosions. If the landmarks he had noticed on the rough ride in bore any relevance to the Dromund Kaas he knew, they were coming from the general direction of the capital.

Just what in the Force is happening here? he wondered, not for the first time.

Resolving to find out, one way or another, Aeterno set off in what he believed was the direction of Kaas City.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Location: Dromund Kaas orbit, CIC, SSV Tenchu
Objective: Space interdiction -> Provide around the Citadel and Jungle Remnant regions
Allies: SJ [member="Ayumi Pallopides"] (direct) [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Coci Heavenshield"] [member="Jericho"] [member="Audren Sykes"] [member="Sorel Crieff"] [member="Vitha Sat-thuron"] [member="Mishka Larraq"] [member="Arisa Yune"] [member="Catherine Soja"] (indirect)
Enemies: RE [member="Tai Fa"] [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Vitor Avendahl"] [member="Joon"] [member="Aeterno"] [member="Vilaz Munin"] [member="Athena Heron"] [member="Maleagant"] [member="Veritas"] [member="Catalys Maijora"] [member="Vrak Nashar"]
Directly engaging: [member="Velok the Younger"]
Music: Britain (Cossacks 2)

"We have a visual on the intruders!" the chief security officer reported to the CIC crew.

"I want a measured response. Activate the osmotic fields on the Sith! Drop the glop on the mouse droids! Then we'll send in the guards" Jessica ordered upon seeing the surveillance camera footage.

When Jessica first came to grips with [member="Velok the Younger"], she was but a padawan. A rather advanced one, perhaps, back then, but, if Velok could somehow bridge the kilometers-long distance separating him from the CIC, while navigating the labyrinthine layout of the deck, he would find that Jessica is a pretty different breed of Jedi. Once the automated targeting systems of the glop aerosol dispensers got a good lock on the mouse droids and likewise with the osmotic fields for the Sith, and, in both cases, the targeting solutions were not optimal but sometimes the targeting solutions for the glop overlapped with those of the osmotic fields, meaning that an unlucky being or object may be both in an osmotic field and receive glop. The nature of glop dispensing, however, made it so that it was spread over an area, determined by the targeting solution: the glop was being dropped in areas centered where mouse droids were and not necessarily where they are. But perhaps some would end up being trapped after all. If the glop did hit, any and all items trapped in it would be trapped for five minutes, buying time for security teams to deal with the threats.

"I feel that we would better use our resources for close air support for our surface forces at this point"

"All squadrons, return to ship: we need to change the payload for a different mission profile. Break off the attack; we can let the main Silver Jedi fleet deal with the Resurgent Empire stragglers" Julie ordered.

"All ships, stand by to load guided cluster bombs loaded with ion grenades on all fighter squadrons, and stun bombs on all bombers: survivability does not seem to be an issue for strafing runs given preliminary data"

Meanwhile, the Silver Jedi fleet that was closer to the main enemy battlefleet was taking casualties, but with Outsider Command's role in the Silver Jedi defensive strategy being to be the unit sniping enemy Harrowers at long range while the main Silver Jedi battlefleet took care of the escorts and finished these off, and, at this point, Outsider Command inflicted so much damage to four Harrowers that the Silver Jedi may score easy kills without any further assistance. By now Julie was confident that the Silver Jedi could win the orbital battle without any extra contribution from them until/unless reinforcements come, under another commander. Looks too much like Midvinter, where Omarest Croscal was defeated because he failed to pay attention to an enemy element they were not expected to fight: the Resurgent Empire also seems to be training its navy for just one thing: high-speed sprints to the surface, Jessica thought, while making the grim realization that the new mission profile may have changed from acting as a battlefleet to acting as a reservoir from which to draw close air support units. Nevertheless, Julie knew better than not to expect so she decides to leave behind 8 squadrons to screen the fleet should the enemy actually attempt to attack them. As all 38 squadrons of Outsider Command returned to ship to get guided cluster bombs loaded with ion grenades as submunitions, or, alternatively, load stun bombs with the ability to take out both the enemy lightsabers and their wielders.

"Open a channel to Thurion Heavenshield and the other commanders on the surface"

"Channel open" the chief communications officer acknowledged, with [member="Arisa Yune"], [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], [member="Sorel Crieff"] alongside all the other Jedi commanders on the planet. Like [member="Ayumi Pallopides"].

"This is Outsider Command. Our fighter squadrons are at the disposal of any and all requests for close air support on Dromund Kaas until further notice"

Spoiler: Outsider Command

Capital ships:

SSV Tenchu (Tenchu-class dreadnought) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Midvinter (Mateus-class elite carrier) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Dellalt (Sionoma-class elite destroyer) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Kenobi (Tector-X-class Star Destroyer) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Gallia (Tector-X-class Star Destroyer) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Tano (Munificent-X-class heavy cruiser) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Jarrus (Munificent-X-class heavy cruiser) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Wren (Munificent-X-class heavy cruiser) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Hardcase (Lothal-class artillery cruiser) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Tup (Lothal-class artillery cruiser) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Rex (Lothal-class artillery cruiser) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Reath (C-9980-class assault frigate) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Chasin (C-9980-class assault frigate) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Chopper (C-9980-class assault frigate) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Baker (C-9980-class assault frigate) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Rail (C-9980-class assault frigate) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Honoghr (Hardcell-X-class anti-starfighter frigate) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%
SSV Husavik (Hardcell-X-class anti-starfighter frigate) Shields: 100% | Hull: 100%

Attack craft:

312 T-70 X-Wings
144 TIE Reavers

 

[Mishka Larraq]

LOCATION: Jungle
MISSION: Locate a Thing
ALLIES: SJO
ENEMIES: [member="Athena Heron"], [member="Thengil Ri'Shajirr"], [member="Veritas"], [member="Aeterno"], [member="Maleagant"], Sith


The chirping of birds and insects echoed from all directions, the sounds of a live and vibrant ecosystem singing to Mishka as she walked. The sound of nature on Dromund Kaas was different than she was used to though. Somehow, even the chirping of birds sounded sinister on this dark and tainted world. Above her, what she hoped were squirrels ran from branch to branch, rustling leaves and making high pitched barks at one another. A crisp breeze rolled through the forest, echoed by a rippling shadow within the Manda. Or... What passed for the Manda on this twisted world.

Mishka's gaze turned upward toward the spots of dazzling light that pierced the jungle canopy, a low roar echoing down to her through the trees. A shadow passed overhead and the roar shifted in pitch. A sharp cracking sound pierced the sky and the waning roar shifted further in pitch. The unmistakable sound of engine failure.

<Did the Jedi find me?> Mishka wondered to herself in the few brief seconds it took the craft to make itself heard and pass overhead. As the first craft suffered engine failure, the sky was filled with the sounds of more engines roaring overhead, the scattered crackling of laser fire punching through the trees like artificial lightning.


<Well... That can't be good.> Mishka thought to herself as she wondered just what the kark was happening in the skies overhead. Resting the palm of her armored left hand on the pommel of her sword, Mishka slowly panned her gaze about the forest. The trees and underbrush were thick enough to restrict line of sight visibility to about twenty meters, but the ground was covered with a thick dusting of dry fall leaves. Which all but guaranteed that she would hear an approaching threat before she saw it, and vise versa. More importantly though, the think aura that saturated the forest would make it very hard for her to be tracked from a distance. Aaaaand, would make it hard for her to know when something or someone was coming towards her.


"Sheb." Mishka said aloud as she contemplated the situation. Alone on a foreign world, controlled by a hostile band of militant force extremists, and something sinister enough to be felt over the aura of the forest had just crash-landed somewhere to her... East? Was that east?

Mishka sighed, her right hand finding its way to her hip as the other still rested on the pommel of her sword. Closing her eyes for a moment, Mishka tried to weigh her options and the possible dangers she faced. As much as she wanted to simply ignore the problems of the Jedi and continue searching for the chunk of meteorite, this entire area could quickly devolve into the site of a major battle. Which would leave her open to cross-fire, artillery strikes, orbital bombardments, or chemical weapons. She could always just run back to her shuttle, get her sheb off this world, and come back later when it wasn't so unstable... But she had no idea what the situation in orbit was like. She could easily fly her old, rusted shuttle straight into a military patrol not the least bit amused by Mandalorians illegally crossing borders and stealing valuable resources.

Mishka sighed again, hanging her head as she realized what her only real choice was. Pick a side, start fighting, and pretend she was supposed to be here the entire time.


<Yup. Gonna die today.> Mishka thought to herself as she began walking towards whichever direction the shuttles (or whatever) had been traveling. Mishka disliked the Jedi about as much as she disliked the Sith. She found both to be hypocrical idealists, blinded by their own misplaced faith in a flawed understanding of the universe... But the Jedi owned this world and would probably continue to do so for the foreseeable future. So, for now, her best chance at survival was to take the side of the Jedi and maybe try to not get killed by a Sith Lord or some sheb-hole's pet Terentatek.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Location: The Citadel
Allies: Silver Jedi and Allies
Enemies: The Resurgent Empire and Allies

Armour - Saber

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Jericho"]
[member="Vrak Nashar"] | [member="Joon"]
---------------------------------



The strength of the force bond between husband and wife rippled and became swollen with power. There are no words needed between them, Coci knew his intentions and in unison raised her arms toward the hurtling ship directed with design toward them and the Citadel. The link formed a conduit of power of the lightside of the force, as individuals they hold within them a power to be reckoned with .. together they become unstoppable and so the ship hurtled away from causing an danger or end lives further. Those on board has already perished, so many dead without a second thought from the Sith .. and how many more would die for their cause? Where the Sith that followed here so willing to give up their lives for the sake of the lust for power of One?

It did not really matter what their purpose was, the Jedi stood strong to fight against the growing darkside.

Jericho appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and stood his ground before them both. It is his nature to this, a ghost within the force itself and a hardened warrior of years past, Coci nodded toward the Jedi master his actions not gone unnoticed by her. But now to business. Her black eyes pierced the surroundings, seeking the one that had attacked them, it was difficult to pinpoint a sense of the darkside on this planet as it churns up from its very core but the lightside is here too.

Through the flashing of blades, red and blue, heralding the clash of titans stood a man masked and hatred spewing from him in their direction, Coci had found the source of the flood of power. "Cut the head off the Snake and the body shall wither". She voiced her thoughts and began to march toward him.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

Dromund Kaas - Citadel
Objective: Reclaim the Citadel
Directly Engaging: [member="Coci Heavenshield"]
Allies: TRE

Vrak scowled as the shuttle went smashing into a nearby building, a massive cloud of debris raising as a dozen or so men were buried beneath the expanse of the rubble. He ducked for just a moment, his off-hand raising to deflect a boulder that fell from the nearby building. The heavy stone crashed against the force, bouncing back and landing with a thud against a nearby column. The Pureblood watched for a moment as the cloud cleared, then a second later hellfire began to rain down.

"Take them!" His words bit the air.

The moment that he spoke those Sith around him seemed to surge forward. They didn't stop to assess the situation, they didn't try to stall, no, the Massassi had entered a blood frenzy. The mutant Red Sith began to surge forward, their blades and teeth bared. They charged as fast as they could into blaster and blades, not a care in the galaxy for their own safety.

Vrak watched them for just a moment, then spotted something.

One of the figures who had stood upon the hill-top began to move forward, a slow gait that took her towards him.

For a moment Vrak glanced towards the other figures on the Hill, the man in armor and the beast besides him. His eyes dropped from them to the woman, and then he dashed forward. The connection wasn't clear, but this woman was important, and her death equally so. The Pureblood moved through the throng of his forces, watching as they clashed with the Rangers and the Jedi above. His lips thinned, the darkside rushed through him.

Then he reached her.

Between the crowd of battle, the fallen rubble, Vrak lifted his hand. His fingers twitched for just a moment, and then a crackle of lightning surged down his arm and towards the woman.