The Return [TRE/SJO Invasion of Dromund Kaas]

[Coci Heavenshield]

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

Armour - Saber

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


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

The air around them thick with dust from the energy explosion, and for the moment physical sight was impossible but Coci could use more then her eyes to see and she had already employed the force to inform her of her surroundings. But this would never help the fizzing electricity that surrounded them both and she too felt the burn of it on her skin and through the armour. Physical pain in battle is not new to her, many scars still she has over her body from Sith blades and the like and she was able to use the force to push the searing pain to the back of her mind. The Sith was not the only one snarling now.

She could sense him, he was baring down on her fast and would soon be in range and their was only a faint blur of red light within the thick dust and debris to indicate his position, physical senses not reliable now and so she closed her eyes and focused on the masked man. The darkside of the force ever shifting on Dromund Kaas played against her and for a moment she had lost 'sight' of him.

Only moments before his blade arced toward her legs did Coci sense his intention and she turned her purple blade to block the strike on inches from taking her leg. She could feel it biting her skin it was close enough for that and the armour began to glow hot and burn her skin. The pain of it ripped through her body, she held firm gritting her teeth and summon the force to her legs.

Coci had to move fast, a sharp pivot until she was sideways to him and left her untouched left leg to force a kick to the side of his knee in a hope to either break is leg or at the very least, unbalance him.

 

[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"] | [member="Vraukt"] | [member="Velok the Younger"] | [member="Tai Fa"]
ENEMIES: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"] | | [member="Kaden"] | [member="Catherine Soja"]

--

As more strikes seemed to rain from above, Joon used the pain she felt to fuel her aggression and want for destruction. She held her wrist-com up to her mouth, glaring up to the skies above.

”Whomever calls themselves loyal in serving the Empire, you better make good on your word and take out those ships! They’re cutting us up in bombardments down here! DO IT!"

She took deep breathes, looking for a fight, and up ahead saw Lord Nashar engaged in combat with another. She knew the rules of war – this was his fight, as much as she wanted to charge through and protect him and cut this woman down and break her body into bits.

Joon turned at the cries of another, and met a green blade with her crimson one. With a snarl, she pushed back, ducked and came up around the other side of the female Jedi eager to protect her planet, but Joon was quicker. She grabbed the girls throat from behind, pulled her back and let the blade pierce her stomach.

Letting the energy burn her insides for a few seconds, Joon took comfort in the kill and calmed herself. She relaxed. Fed from the fear emanating from the Jedi, until her aura faded and she fell forward.

Looking up, Joon commanded two Sith warriors approaching to follow and they moved out towards their Lord.

 

[Yidhra]

Citadel
Objective: Reclaim the Citadel
Enemies: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Catherine Soja"] | [member="Audren Sykes"] | [member="Jericho"]
Allies: [member="Vrak Nashar"] | [member="Stephanie Brown"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Vraukt"] | [member="Velok the Younger"] | [member="Tai Fa"] | [member="Joon"] | [member="Neesa"] | [member="Vitor Avendahl"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"]
Heading for: [member="Kaden"]

Unlike many of her brothers and sisters, this Pureblood did not wield a lightsaber with aplomb. Hell, she couldn’t even wield it passably. Weapons simply weren’t her forte. Ordering people around, though?

“Move!” she yelled. The entourage of Massassi surrounding her pushed forward, shoving a pair of opposing Jedi clean off the bridge. Yidhra didn’t pay them a single sliver of attention, focusing her keen yellow gaze on the gaping gates beyond. Blades of every color tore the veils of fog into shriveled strips. The air shimmered from the heat. The smooth duracrete glistened with blood.

All the Sith in the field felt right at home in this kind of carnage. Even Yidhra, who couldn’t fight for shet… even her soul sang amidst chaos and death. Wherever her gaze fell, the red tendrils twitched with delight, with pleasure, with excitement. Everywhere she looked, Purebloods labored over the exquisite art of slaughter with such dedication that only the blind would not see the love they poured into every slash and thrust.

All but one.

Yidhra held up her hand in a fist. The Massassi encircled her in a defensive formation, repelling any would-be aggressors. “That one,” she spoke over the rain and the screams. A single clawed digit rose to point out a figure weaving through the crowd. “He will be ours.”

Creatures of every belief and creed faced the temptation of the Dark side. Thousands, willing or not, fell prey to it. Many resisted their whole lives. But there was one line, purer than others, higher than others, that didn’t. That, in truth, couldn’t.

Her amber eyes narrowed into slits as she observed the red hands clenching a blue lightsaber. The Dottash blood thundering in her veins stirred, aroar.

This blasphemy would not stand.

“You!” her sharp voice rang across the bridge, piercing the din of battle. “You dare deny your birthright? Your innate gift?!”

 

[Vilaz Munin]

Location: The Citadel
Allies: Sith ([member="Darth Carnifex"], [member="Vrak Nashar"], [member="Vraukt"])
Enemies: Jedi ([member="Coci Heavenshield"], [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], [member="Jericho"], [member="Kaden"])
Directly Engaging (Soon™): [member="Audren Sykes"]
Gear: Here

While it was a good sensation to see Jedi falling down to their deaths by the hands of the Sith and others, it was more of a better feeling when he directly ended their lives. It pleased both his heart and soul, and metaphorically gave him energy. And that illusion itself could give the Munin an indomitable warrior spirit and a bloodlust in killing Jedi. Both which potentially were a positive and a negative trait to carry around. But as long as he had control over himself and his emotions on the battlefield, then he would be competent and dangerous to his enemies.

When the Silver Jedi fighters came from the skies above Kaas, the Sole Ruler's HUD warned him as well as his other warriors that followed his lead. They were insignificant in size and speed compared to the ships, but they were much more maneuverable than them making them more harder for them to hit the flying Mandalorians. So when the Mand'alor and his unit were being shot down, they made quick evasive actions to avoid lethal harm from the hostile pilots. As the pilots missed their targets, their lasers would indiscriminately affect both Light and Dark forces on the ground that clashed with each other. The only tactic useful were Jedi Knights throwing rocks at the Mandalorians and using the Force to tinker with their jetpacks which caused several casualties for the Munin.

"Engage them," he commanded and then dropped to the ground with his faithful followers in tow.

The warrior's rifle was held in his hands and began spewing out three burst rounds of yellow blaster bolts at Jedi, overwhelming the man with the rate of fire of his weapon and thus killing him.

Too bad I can't collect your scalp at this time.

The Concordian then focused back on the battle, finding another foe for him to slay.

 

[Mishka Larraq]

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

Crisp winds danced between the trees, swaying branches and rippling the leaves of tree and shrub alike. A living ocean of green danced around her as the sounds of engines roared overhead. In the distance, Mishka could hear the faint echo of blaster fire. Every now and then, she could barely hear the yelling of men or the screaming of wounded. The forest responded in kind, unseen beasts wooped and barked and roared at the noise, all about her chittering, unseen creatures scurried just out of sight.

The aura of the forest was thick, masking the aura of individuals and creatures at all but the closest distances. In many cases, the creatures themselves had auras twisted and tainted by the forest, allowing them to blend in seamlessly to their surroundings, even to those with 'enhanced' senses. Well-worn game-trails guided Mishka through the forest and she continued towards the sounds of conflict. Ahead of her, a patch of brown fur blocked her path.

"Tion'jor cuyir gar olar?" Mishka asked with a quizzical look upon her face. Before her, the familiar form of her Ursine Companion held out an adorably small clawed 'finger' over it's child-sized Beskar helmet in the universal 'shoosh' sign. Instinctively, Mishka's right hand went to the hilt of her sword as her eyes and ears scanned the surrounding terrain for signs of danger. While she scanned her surroundings, the small fur-covered golem gently gripped the hem of her dress with it's small clawed hand and guided her towards the trunk of a particularly large tree. Pressing her back against the tree, Mishka honed her senses upon the area behind her. Distantly, the crunch of leaves and dirt could barely be heard. Left hand gripped her scabbard, her right still held firm upon the handle of her sword. Slowing her breathing, Mishka tried to blend her aura into the surrounding darkness of the forest, the tree behind her in particular. Beside her, the small golem, clad in it's own tiny suit of Beskar'gam, small furry ears sticking out through a child-sized helmet, the golem held a holdout blaster like a rifle at low ready and projected an unmistakable sense of alertness as it too pressed it's back against the bark of the tree.

Soon enough he stopped and looked to the right calling out to a life he could feel nearby.

"Mandalorian, come out. We are here to aid you."

<Bullsheb.> Mishka thought to herself as she prepared to draw her sword. A reassuring paw upon her thigh paused the action. Sparing a look at her small companion, a nod of reassurance from the small golem told her that the speaker was telling the truth. So, with a deep breath and a bit of bravery, Mishka stepped from behind the tree and looked upon the man that had called to her, hands still gripping her scabbard and sword, prepared to draw at a moment's notice.


"Su'cuy?" Mishka said tentatively, meaning both greeting and question.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

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

The kick landed, pressing against his leg and knocking him to the decide.

A hiss of pain left his lips as he dragged himself, holding just enough awareness to allow himself to fall against the ground, preventing his bone from shattering as Coci tried to break his leg. He fell to his knees, dropping low and using the other end of his saber-staff to suddenly twist around.

The blade whirled counter-clockwise, the edge that had been blocked by Coci's lightsaber turning and slicing up towards her abdomen as Vrak rolled forward.

He moved quickly, attempting to bisect her as he stood from his roll.

 

[Vitha Na'iv]

Location: Space > Citadel, on a shuttle
Objective: Destroy the Sith
Allies: SJO and Friends, [member="Arisa Yune"]
Enemies: TRE and Friends

Vitha was hungry, having not had a proper breakfast and this emergency had come up right when she was about to settle down for a proper lunch. Stomach audibly growling she sighed and tapped the com attached to her chest with the tip of her beak. "When we get down I'm going to see about getting something to eat. You said it was Sith invading right?"

The bird wore a new piece of equipment. A leather sheath was attached to her leg allowing her to keep her saberstaff in an easily accessible place. Carrying around objects wasn't the easiest for a five foot tall hawk if she wished to walk. The fingers on her wings were mostly just used to grip onto cliff faces and according to some of the scientists who had studied Altor likely were left over from when Avogwi evolved from the same ancestor as the Nuiwit. The nerve of them to even suggest that Avogwi were in anyway related to those common lizards.

 

[Caid Centurion]

Location: Jungles
Objective: Secure Outposts
Enemies: SJO
Allies: [member="Maleagant"] | [member="Aeterno"] | [member="Athena Heron"]

They had lingered too long. Though Caid did not exactly share Athena's ability to commune with beasts or her preference for utilizing them, there was little reason to debate the matter. However, the moment he felt his strength draining because her attentions were too far split between maintaining control over the beasts and combating whatever else they happened upon, he would cease to bolster any of her efforts.

Even as Athena prepared to ride off towards their objective atop one of the massive beasts, Caid's attention shifted briefly in the direction of an approaching presence. Again - distraction was neither prudent nor necessary. "Reinforce our flanks and rear guard. The Lady can proceed through the middle with her new friends." It was a simple command, spoken in the ancient tongue of the Sith to his Massassi followers.

Fortunately, the other three transports full of his warriors had not been bogged down by reunions or petting zoos as far as he was aware. It was no matter, they had orders to secure positions around the outposts and relay the information upon arrival. The loud crashing sound of Athena's beast lumbering through the foliage would provide quite an excellent cover to his own soft footfalls and those of his Massassi.

Caid briefly glanced in the direction of Maleagant, the associate he did not know. A simple nod of his head was all he offered the man before surging forward into the darkness abreast his own men.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

​

LOCATION: Breaching the atmosphere
OBJECTIVE: Dark Temple
ALLIES: [member="Catalys Maijora"] & [member="Vitor Avendahl"]
ENEMIES: Silver Jedi Order & Sith Spirit

He studied the depths beneath the cargo bay.

Already the strong currents of wind were tugging at his clothes, but Tai was disciplined and did not let his concentration waver. From the depths of his being he could feel the Force clawing. It wanted to be released, like a caged animal starving and trying to break out by sheer force of will. But Tai Fa was a Lord of the Sith and the control was his, he would not relinquish it easily. The phantom of hunger was still there... in the depths.

Its attention was elsewhere for now, but that would not last, this the Thirriken knew inherently.

Before his instincts could tell him otherwise he already pushed himself off the ramp. In the air he angled himself, letting the Force strengthen his body and subtly manipulate the currents of air beneath his wings. He glided and crashed and launched himself downward, using the air as a slope and his body as a perfect knife cutting straight through it.

The adrenaline rushed through his body and for at least a single moment Tai felt like he was a child again. Young and carefree, launching himself down the canyon and gliding through them with his siblings.

But it was not something that could last and only ten seconds after Vitor landed, so did the Thirriken. Gracefully, silent and on his two little peacock feet.

Just fast enough to catch Vitor's query.

"Sense the corruption, Avendahl." the Thirriken retorted after a while. "This is recent... very recent. I do not think they have had time yet to contain it, before we hit them."

 

[Kaden]

LOCATION: Citadel
OBJECTIVE: Defend the Citadel
ALLIES: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Coci Heavenshield"] [member="Ayumi Pallopides"] [member="Jericho"] [member="Catherine Soja"] [member="Audren Sykes"] [member="Arisa Yune"] [member="Vitha Sat-thuron"]
ENEMIES: [member="Vrak Nashar"] [member="Soeht"] [member="Vilaz Munin"] [member="Vraukt"] [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Joon"]
CURRENTLY ENGAGED: [member="Yidhra"]

Thunderclouds swirled above; drawn and captured by the sheer power coursing through the Citadel. It had become a beacon of force energy, concentrated by hundreds of beings all proficient in its use congregating in and around it. The clouds boomed and bellowed; directly competing with the roaring screams of the pained and the brave bellow. They sparked angrily and struck the bloody ground with their torment; boasting energy above and beyond the deadliest of Sith Lords.

In the thick of the battle between light and dark, the stench of burning flesh and fresh blood permeated the air as thickly as smoke. Wading through death, the emotions that flooded the Citadel were hard to ignore. Pain. Anger. Fear. Sorrow. Friends and enemies, dead and dying; they all littered the battlefield in a gory monument to warfare.

Searing and sizzling, the wound which took the warrior's final breath was instantly cauterised. Ragdolled, the lifeless corpse crumpled to the duracrete with a wet thud and Kaden stepped over him. Smoke wisped from a fresh wound on the young Sith's chest and adrenaline drove his every move. In the midst of chaos, there was a moment of solitary calm. Cleaving and slashing, the acolyte of old had created a clearing for himself. The roar of battle seemed to fade and only the static hum of Kaden's lightsaber filled his mind. In this moment, narrowed amber eyes analysed the bridge ahead and witnessed the death of two Jedi.

Kaden's grip tightened.

Another pureblood had picked him from the crowd of neon flashes and rolling smoke and chose to address him directly. The tendrils on Kaden's chin twitched involuntarily and his brow furrowed. The Sith approached the bridge, eyes locked with his challenger, and stated rather flatly;

"I dare."

 

[Soeht]

The Imperial Citadel: Kill Azsedo​

Azsedo kept his lightsaber pointed at @Neesa. His managed to position himself behind [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] – his back facing Thurion’s.

For a moment, Azsedo’s eye left Neesa. He saw [member="Joon"] approaching with two other Sith warriors. His eyes then drifted to the fight between [member="Coci Heavenshield"] and [member="Vrak Nashar"].

Then, Azsedo closed his eyes. A sigh followed.

Despite the normally treacherous weather, the wind near Azsedo became a breeze. A [acronym=”Stop Azsedo before he kills your husband!”]whisper[/acronym] in Coci’s ears.

“We need to regroup,” Azsedo said within earshot of Thurion, “We’ll be surrounded if we do nothing.”

 

[Yidhra]

Citadel
Objective: Reclaim the Citadel
Enemies: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Catherine Soja"] | [member="Audren Sykes"] | [member="Jericho"]
Allies: [member="Vrak Nashar"] | [member="Stephanie Brown"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Vraukt"] | [member="Velok the Younger"] | [member="Tai Fa"] | [member="Joon"] | [member="Neesa"] | [member="Vitor Avendahl"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"]
Engaging: [member="Kaden"]

She jutted her chin up, out. The bony spines were sharp, her jaundiced eyes sharper. Nostrils, snake-thin, flared. Narrow red lips wrapped around a single syllable. A wet little tongue poked out, caressing the word like a lover in the night.

“Fool.”

She turned her hand, offering to him an open palm. Her mouth curled at the corners, slow like poison. With a glint in her eye, Yidhra Dottash clenched her fist.

Now, fighting was one bloody mess she wouldn’t dip her fingers into. The beauty was, warfare was doing all the work for her – nothing left but to capitalize on the violence. In a place like Kaas, in a place like the Citadel, where Sith Lords ruled over untold reaches of space; place like this, a Pureblood didn’t have to call on the Dark side. Not when its potent currents permeated every single rock of the planet. Not when it sang and strained and yearned to be free.

Curling that fist, Yidhra began drawing the Force to the surface. Gentle, sweet little whispers that would steal up through the cracks. Not to attack, no – she wasn’t that kinda girl.

Deception, cajoling, lies? All fair game.

Quietly but surely, the Dark side would start to wrap its alluring tendrils around Kaden’s being, seducing his true Pureblood nature back to the fore.

 

[Athena Heron]

Location:Jungles
Objective: secure outposts, preen
Allies: [member="Veritas"] [member="Maleagant"] [member="Aeterno"]
Enemies: Jedi [member="Mishka Larraq"] [member="The Librarian"]

Eyes continued to swirl with reds, yellows, and oranges. Her regal gaze remained fixed ahead. There were the first set of towers in the canopy. Alarms rang out as the first set of jurgoran broke through the trees and lumbered forward in their attacks.

Find the Jedi. Attack the light. And snuff it out.

Her personal jurgoran charge, lowered her gently to the ground. She had faith even if she released her mental hold on this one, it wouldn't eat her. She couldn't speak for if it would eat the others, though. Such were the risks in battle and beast control.

She silently withdrew from Caid's strength, as the herd split and attempted to move deeper into the outpost setting, as they began to hunt the guards and Jedi there. It would provide their attack party some dangerous chaos. The one she claimed as her own beast gave its mistress one final look before joining the fray.

In that inch of a quiet moment, blue-face turned to Caid. He was released from his burden. "Thank you." Screams, gnashing of teeth on flesh, and peppering of blaster fire filled the air.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Location: The Citadel
Objective: Drive the Jedi from Dromund Kaas and reclaim the ancestral throneworld of the Sith
Allies: [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Vrak Nashar"] | [member="Stephanie Brown"] | [member="Vraukt"] | [member="Velok the Younger"] | [member="Tai Fa"] | [member="Joon"] | [member="Neesa"] | [member="Vitor Avendahl"] | The Resurgent Empire
Enemies: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Catherine Soja"] | [member="Audren Sykes"] | [member="Jericho"] | The Silver Jedi
Equipment:

• The Tyrant's Shroud
• Shuk'orok
• Blades of the Arch-King

It was chaos.

As the tides of light and dark collided there was only chaos to be found from their coupling, a maddening melee of swords and blasters. The dead were insurmountable, their bodies piling where the fighting had grown the thickest. The Jedi thought they could hold us back here, they thought that they could hold a candle to the will of the Dark Side. But they had made one fatal error, they had elected to fight us on the earth that had been saturated with our power for centuries upon centuries. They could not simply drive away the Dark Side with healing and prayer, it permeated every facet of creation upon this marred rock of jungle and tundra.

Even now in its ruined state the Dark Side was more potent than it had ever been in decades. When the Mandalorians opted to annihilate the planetary population with a calculated asteroid strike, they had willingly signed the death warrant of over somewhere around five million souls. Those souls had had many years to saturate the blasted earth, their torment trapped in perpetuity beneath the planet's crust. Each drop of blood further shed only served to entice the darkness that lurked deep within the planet's core. That was not all, there was the lingering essence of Voracitos trapped beneath the former Sith capital from when he had been sealed in a prison of his own making by Carnifex himself, only to escape with the aid of his followers sometime after.

And Carnifex could feel it all coursing through him, he was a conduit of this world's darkness and it invigorated him. He swiped at a nearby Jedi, cleaving the lad's arm in twain before he spun around to bisect him right at the stomach. He heard a cry of outrage and turned, a brown-skinned female Human Jedi now charged at him with a saber-staff, her eyes full of rage and sorrow after witnessing her compatriots demise. She swung at him and he side-stepped out of harm's way, and when she swung at him again he blocked the second strike before swinging his blade in an attempt to cut her legs off at the knee/thigh. When she blocked that he stepped forward to jam his knee directly into her stomach, whatever armor she wore beneath the robes cracking and breaking in the impact.

​

Her lightsaber tumbled from her hands as the breath was torn from her lungs, and she tumbled to the ground on all fours desperately gasping for air. The Sith Lord pointed the tip of his blade down and drove it deep into her back, piercing her torso and pinning the Jedi to the ground. She writhed in agony as she died, but by then the Dark Lord had already moved on. The battle was ever shifting, the tide ever tilting back and forth between the two opposing forces. Several Silver starfighters attempted strafing runs, killing many Sith and Jedi in the process thanks to the close proximity of each force between one another. Carnifex didn't pay them much mind, they were a trivial factor in the battle and were being moderately dealt with by the airborne Mandalorians, although Carnifex made sure to fling one of his blades up into the air to skewer one of the pilots as he dived down low for another run for good measure.

Another Jedi tried to rush him, but he spun his blade around to block the quick succession of strikes. He then reached out with his armored hand, grasping the boy's head like he would a piece of fruit. With nightmarish casualty he proceeded to crush the Jedi's skull, blood and brain matter oozing between his fingers as the skull gave way to his superhuman grip. Once that was done he tossed aside the corpse along with the others that littered the battlefield and sought out his next target.

 

[Aithne Charr]

LOCATION: Jungle
MISSION: Help a Mandalorian finish her mission.
ALLIES: SJO, [member="[/COLOR][COLOR=#00bfff]Atheus[/COLOR][COLOR=#00bfff]"] [member="Mishka Larraq"]
ENEMIES:Sithies, and company. [member="Athena Heron"] [member="Veritas"]
Equipment: The Gardener's Heart


Solan looked at the woman who appeared and sighed internally when he heard the word... or words. For how much he hung out around the Mandalorians, hell even fought with them many times, he was hopelessly inept at understanding their language easily. Luckily he had a bit of help in the form of his own little companion, the Ashlan wolf on his shoulder giving off a grin before giving Solan some help, deciphering the words for him. Now, speaking Mandalorian himself was a problem, and he hoped this one could understand Basic... it was, of course, probable but you never know.

"Ah good, a capable one. I was worried that I might have found a Jedi Apprentice. I assume you were heading for the enemy so why not get onto it, I am Solan Charr, a... retainer of Clan Verd." He chose the word carefully, not wanting to say a member but also not ally. He needed to find out what he was and what he wanted from the Mandalorians after this mission.

Without continuing the conversation, he withdrew the stone he kept in his jacket and closed his hand around it tightly, breathing in and searching the jungle once more for his destination. Soon enough he found a place where the plants were cowering and retreating from, a place where there was conflict growing to a rather marvelous show and he wanted to hear the music this conflict would create. Starting to walk he would only stop to make sure the Mandalorian was coming along or not, turning his sapphire eyes on the woman for a few moments before a sadness touched his features.

His hand tightened around the stone before pushing it back into the breast pocket of his jacket, turning his head forward once more and sighing.

"Do try to be careful Kid. I would hate to have to tell your clan you died uselessly if you make a mistake and do end up following me towards them."

 

[Velok the Younger]

Mission: Sink the Tenchu
[member="Jessica Med-Beq"]

Inside the tank, despite state-of-the-art dampening headgear, the noise was deafening. Velok found himself cupping gigantic hands over his headset for extra insulation. The heavy repeaters kept counter-boarding at bay, and the proton cannon continued hammering a long channel through bulkheads. Interstitial spaces and the occasional hardened door fell before the proton cannon with equal transience. Each shot punched through more and more of the ship in a long thin straight line.

Maybe the cannon could reach the main reactor; maybe not. The important thing, so far as Velok was concerned, was to fill the ship with fear, raise the question of risk, and spark a shipwide evacuation.

***

Meanwhile, in the irradiated med bay, both Padawans finally expired despite the best efforts of the local staff. At that point, heart rate monitors measured a flatline, and a small charge detonated inside each of their stomach cavities. They died instantly, painlessly, in a flare of radioactive shrapnel.

Velok felt them die, and mentally poured out a drink for the courageous young Jedi. Overdosed on Gunjack or not, thoroughly deceived or not, they’d worked hard and done well.

 

[Zark San Tekka]

Location: Jungles of Dromund Kaas
Allies: TRE, [member="Veritas"], [member="Athena Heron"], [member="Maleagant"]
Enemies: SJO, [member="Mishka Larraq"], [member="The Librarian"], [member="Atheus"]
Objective: Choose a Side
Gear: Tattered Robes, Yellow Junksaber (lightsaber with an unstable core), The Force


The jungle was dense, seemingly endless, and Zarek was tired.

Part of that feeling he knew was the adrenaline withdrawal, his body so amped up from the shuttle crash and ensuing encounter with these 'Antarian Rangers' that it had taken him a while to come down. Not only that, but as he rode perched precariously atop the dominated jurgoran's scaled back and finally had time to pause for a moment and reflect, Aeterno realized that he had been in a near constant state of heightened alert more or less since his rebirth. True, he had had some time to meditate during the long shuttle ride across the galaxy to his destination, but the Sith Knight had spent much of that trip covering his tracks and studying up on as much as he could about contemporary galactic events.

In the sudden frenzy of new stimuli, the human had apparently forgotten to get any sleep, and it was beginning to take its toll.

That was dangerous, he realized as he noticed that he was on the verge of drifting off. Falling asleep would mean losing his control over the actions of his wild companion, and even lobotomized as the amphibian was it could still potentially cause him real harm purely by accident if he fell from his mount. For a while, the shades of the Dark he sensed through the Force had been difficult to track, apparently on the move at a rapid pace through a dense wilderness of biolife that made it more of a challenge for the Sith to pinpoint. At least, that had been the case until the party he was tracking had apparently reached their destination.

As his enthralled jurgoran came close enough, suddenly Aeterno sensed a wave of Force energy that surprised and nearly overwhelmed him, his body shuddering with the nausea of such a sensation. The imbalance...he had not felt so much concentrated weakness in one place since he had left Galactic Alliance space. He had heard stories of such things where he came from, a place so different from this strange land, of past uprisings against the Dark. Brief but brilliant flares of Light, suffocated with extreme prejudice by a galaxy that had utterly rejected such a flawed ideology.

Here, like in the Alliance, it seemed as if that flame had endured.

Not for the first time, Zarek wondered just what he would do or say when he finally caught up with the ones he was following. If he had crashed in the middle of a war zone, as the human Sith was beginning to suspect, then without the proper identification it was just as likely that either side would react to him with nothing more than outright hostility. Especially his brothers and sisters of the Dark, if they were truly deserving of the name. When he finally did catch up with them at the Jedi outpost, Aeterno found that both sides were a little too preoccupied with a each other to pay him any mind. He also found a great many other things.

Never more so than at this moment, he found himself wondering if he had stepped right into the middle of a fantasy world.

Massassi!

The mythical warriors of his people's ancient legends. It had been millennia since anyone from his home had seen anything more than supposed artifacts of the species or their more evolved precursors, to which Aeterno owed his name, his ideology, his very way of life. And here they were, as if the hosts of the heavens were arrayed before him, charging headlong into combat with more of these so-called Rangers. The Sith Knight was faced with a choice, but on a deeper, more primal level he knew that the choice itself was an illusion. The smarter play, the more logical and calculated move by far, would be to stay out of view until after the battle. To observe, and gather more information about his surroundings before he made any decisions whatsoever.

Instead, he activated his stolen, unstable yellow saber and, snarling, kicked his mount into a full charge.

"Despair," he uttered, his voice amplified through the Force to reach the ears of his foes.

Saber raised to shield himself from incoming fire, the Knight sent another bolt of purple lightning lancing out in the direction of the Antarians.

To see Massassi in glorious combat, to have the opportunity to fight by their side like on the pages of a story he had read as a child, and not to take it...

It would be to deny his heritage as Sith.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Location: Dromund Kaas orbit, CIC, SSV Tenchu
Objective: Provide close air support around the Citadel and Jungle Remnant regions
Allies: SJ [member="Ayumi Pallopides"]
Enemies: RE [member="Velok the Younger"]
Music: The Most Powerful Dash (FFTA2)

"Casualty report" the captain of the Tenchu ordered.

"Casualties are mounting, they now stand at 380 and increasing" the chief medical officer reported.

Back in the CIC, Jessica sensed that two dark signatures consistent with Sith acolytes faded in the Force. With the two Sith acolytes dying as a result of the radiation overdose (made worse by the payload those mouse droids carried), the forward sickbay on deck 70 was now condemned: a ship that large had dozens and dozens of sickbays. Condemning one sickbay because of the radioactivity of the patients handled there might have hurt any survivors that needed medical attention due to the need to get to another sickbay, where radiation would also be an issue as the radiation spread throughout the ship, with radiation alerts being triggered in the foremost 200m, with the enemy tank piercing holes into several bulkheads for about 500m using proton cannon projectiles that were too fast for accurate paralysis beam targeting or for the glop to actually slow them down much. But, while some of those projectiles did, in fact, penetrate multiple bulkheads before exploding, each projectile exploded after having penetrated some number of bulkheads, determined by the thickness of the ferrocarbon bulkheads penetrated. This time around, a second tank three decks above depressed at maximum, or nearly so, in an attempt to hit the Skocha, whose ammunition reserves dropped much faster once the rapid-fire mode has been activated.

"We have a good shot even though the firing line isn't the cleanest" the tank commander reported back to Jessica.

"Once you fire, fall back: the enemy will need to pierce more bulkheads to get at you"

"Copy that, general"

The second Bengal fired before the first one that previously fired realized that they couldn't fire at the new position of the enemy tank wreaking havoc onboard, even though it was supported by new Famos emplacements revealed by the holes being punched by the enemy tank, which now fired continuous beams rather than the alternate mode. Meanwhile, down in the Citadel, the only targets of interest worth strafing were fired upon, that is, the Munin guys on jetpacks. These enemies were more maneuverable, true, but much, much slower than X-Wings. Otherwise, the squadron that was firing at the Munin clansmen in the air ended up hitting a point where the forces were actively engaging each other, with a risk of friendly fire, albeit unintentional. By then they might have killed a few stormtroopers, and also a few line infantry from the Silver Army, but that squadron promptly returned to a higher position, when Jessica finally took notice of enemy communications by some strange Force-trickery that allowed her to use the communications array to intercept those transmissions.

"Admiral, we have intercepted enemy communications! They called in for fighter support over the Citadel"

"It took the enemy far too long to react to any aerial patrols we set up over the Citadel"

"All bomber squadrons, return to orbit; all fighter squadrons over the jungle are to make for the Citadel"

"Copy that"

If the enemy was attempting to intercept the units patrolling the Citadel airspace, they would fragilize an already precarious position in orbit; they realized far too late that they lost control over the Citadel's airspace, Jessica thought, while the volume of explosions detected in orbit was even lower than a few moments ago, a sign that the orbital battle diminished in intensity. Plus whatever units the enemy would dispatch would be harrowed by remaining SJ squadrons that fought in orbit. Also, Jessica expects whatever units the RE could dispatch down to the surface to aim for the Silvers' short-range and long-range anti-aircraft batteries [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] brought in tow, under [member="Catherine Soja"]'s command, when rumors of Dromund Kaas being attacked began to spread: any Jedi would be gravy. That is, if the enemy wasn't single-mindedly hunting down Jedi over even capturing the Citadel. Either way, the remaining RE airpower couldn't do anything without risking complete annihilation, whether in orbit against the remaining SJ Navy elements (Outsider Command or not) or in an attempt to launch a SEAD strike on the Citadel. In the meantime, the jungle was being emptied of air patrols, with six squadrons of bombers being recalled to orbit (3 from the Citadel and 3 from the jungle), while the three fighter squadrons were being recalled to the Citadel, knowing that strafing runs were ineffectual in the dense woods. Plus, with additional Jedi being deployed in the jungle alongside what support elements they brought in tow, it would be easier to let Jedi do that work of hunting down Sith and their troops.

"Open a channel to the commanders on the ground"

"Channel open" the communications officer acknowledged.

"The enemy is preparing to send in close air support: keep anti-aircraft units on high alert" she told [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] and [member="Catherine Soja"].

Spoiler: Outsider Command

Capital ships:

SSV Tenchu (Tenchu-class dreadnought) Shields: 100% | Hull: 97%
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, [member="The Librarian"], [member="Atheus"]
ENEMIES: [member="Athena Heron"], [member="Thengil Ri'Shajirr"], [member="Veritas"], [member="Aeterno"], [member="Maleagant"], Sith


Mishka bristled inwardly at the implication that her competence had ever been in question, all the more so once the man implied that he had almost mistaken her for a Jedi's mewling sidekick.

<The feth is a retainer?> Mishka wondered as she turned to follow the... Associate of a clan she had never interacted with. Her guard relaxed slightly as she followed the man, though she kept her hands upon her scabbard and sword, ready to draw at a moment's notice.

"Do try to be careful Kid. I would hate to have to tell your clan you died uselessly if you make a mistake and do end up following me towards them."

'kid'


Mishka visibly bristled at the word. As a woman of 17 years, it had been a long, long time since Ad'ika had been an appropriate word to call her by. Though she was aware the man had not intended the comment as an insult, a flash of rage flared within Mishka's chest at the implication that she was in any way 'weak.' "Copaani mirshmure'cye, vod?" Mishka asked as she followed the older man and his pet rock. "Ni ru'kel or'parguur at rejorhaa'ir Aliit Verd be gar dar'ca'nara kyr'am sa pirusti." Mishka said in a tone that only a scorned woman could manage.

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Location: The Citadel
Enemy: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

War had come to Drommund Kaas. It seemed only fitting. Conflict was in its very nature. At least from the biased point of view of the Sith, who deemed it as theirs by right of birth. Under foreign occupation but forever referred to as a Sith world. It was an appropriate start to the war between the Resurgent Empire and the Silver Jedi Order. The target would draw many a zealot, from within their own ranks and other Sith splinter cells. They may not adhere to the same council, the same Lords, but they would all willingly give their all to see this land reclaimed. Success or death; his watchword since the beginning. With it in mind, Darth Pyrrhus braced for impact.

The Lord of Ruin did not arrive at the head of an army. Not even a team of slavers were part of his entourage. Only Soraya. Committed as he was to seeing Drommund Kaas restored, it was not his intent to bring all his might with him. Rather, it was to test the strength of the Resurgent Empire. Were they worthy to carry the Sith to a new dawn, surely they would crush the opposition here. If the tide was stemmed already now, he questioned the merits of throwing away all his resources into a failing cause. That being said, with or without forces to back him up, Darth Pyrrhus was here as a Sith. He was not here to hold back.

When the doors to the dropship opened, a choir of crimson lightsabers hissed to life. Pyrrhus’ own lava red variant joined in with their tune. Fitted with simple armour, the Arkis amulet around his neck, he charged out ready for battle. The Sith under Vrak had moved before him. The Togruta was always eager to observe what awaited him before making any rash decision. The path ahead was far from clear. Blaster fire scattered across the pathway to the Citadel. Waiting for them were the Jedi score, sapphire and emerald blades at the ready. Two of their own were cut down by a particularly ferocious Jedi Master. Although successful he had over-committed and had strayed too far from friendly lines. Before he could turn the blade of the Togruta already pierced through his sides. Such was the chaos of war. Those were not supposed to fall fell, and those who no one anticipated would survive lived through to tell the tale.

The crackle of lightning distracted him, drawing his attention to the side. Bolts of lightning shot into an enemy, sending her flying. Its source was none other than Soraya. The center of battle was normally not the place she would seek, but on this momentous occasion she would protect their forces from the rear. It was then, gaze drawn sideways by his companion, that he saw him. It was as if the very Force spoke to him and he knew their encounter was fated. Pyrrhus broke away from the other engagements, moving with purpose towards a certain Valkyrie. Somehow the man felt familiar, though Pyrrhus was sure they had never met before.