The Return [TRE/SJO Invasion of Dromund Kaas]

[Neesa]

Citadel Assault
Allies: [member="Vrak Nashar"], @Joon [member=Vraukt]
Enemies: [member="Coci Heavenshield"], [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]
Rolling, rolling, rolling: [member=Soeht]
Gear: Bio

Neesa backed away for a moment as events unfolded before her. Her first blow sent the scarlet rune on Thirst glowing brightly. The blood on the blade was soaked up until it was clean once more. She could sense that lifeline, drawn between the blade and the Jedi. Then it was quickly severed as he turned on Thurion before being cut down.

The young assassin wasn’t sure what to make of events now. She didn’t have time to piece them back together in her mind. The Force warned her to shift her balance a moment before a blue blade cut through the ait right before her. The hiss of the blade was loud in her ears, the bright light almost blinding so close.

Two quick steps put some distance between herself and the jedi and a lazy swing gave her an opening. The tip of Sorrow opened her from hip sternum to navel. Neesa administered two quick swipes to remove the lightsabre and the Jedi’s life from the battle. Her gaze returned to Thurion. For her age there was a hardness behind those eyes. The look had been forged in years of mistreatment on the streets of Livien Magnus.

"There is no death, there is the Force!"

Neesa heard his cry and closed the distance between them. She didn’t speak out or give any warning of her approach, but in her head she thought: You can have both today.

Her blades were imbued with several runes. Kethl glowed as she reached the Grandmaster. She swung with the flat of the blade this time, aiming for his head with the right blade. If it connected a powerful sonic shock would emanate from the blade. Hopefully it would – at the very least - discombobulate him and cause his assault on Vraukt to falter.

 

[Kratacos]

Location: Citadel
Enemies: [member="Kaden"], [member="Coci Heavenshield"]
Allies: [member="Yidhra"], [member="Vrak Nashar"], [member="Joon"]
Directly Engaging: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

The Jedi Master was struck at from behind him. The lightsabre ignited just in the underside of the man's ribs, to which Vraukt's eyes had widened in response before he took it in stride and pressed the newfound advantage upon his opponent. Quickly, the Sith Knight had battered the Heavenshield into submission, his final stand on the back knee.

Quite literally kneeling before a Sith Pureblood.

As he should.

He could feel the building strength in the Heavenshield. The anger, the sheer hatred, and in preparation for the attack, Vraukt knew he had to take the back step and he did.

Too late.

The sword finding its sheathe knocked him unbalanced, though when he went down, the vibroblade resting on Vraukt's waist was unclipped, the retractable blade lurching outwards and into the midsection of the Jedi Master from underneath his strike as Vraukt raised his own lightsabre over his head to repel the assault.

 

[Soeht]

The Imperial Citadel​

Azsedo’s lightsaber pierced [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]. No change in Azsedo’s face. No explanation, no words – no time given.

His head already rolled on the ground.

---

[acronym="Are ̢y͠ou ͜ìg̛noring͝ ͡m̴e o͜r ͠j̀u҉st u̶nab̵l̷e̵ ͏to ̴h̀ȩàr?"]A͡͏̷ŗ҉̸̨͟e͟͡ ́҉̴y̢̛͞o̢̕u̶͢͠ ̴̛͢͡͝i͘͜g̡͢n̷̷̶̕o҉̴̨͘͘r̶͜įn͜͏̶̧͠ǵ̕͢͡҉ ̕m̧̧̛̕͜e̢͘ ͏͘o̷͡r͝ ͢͝͝j̧҉̡͘ų̕s̷̷t̛͡ ̴͜͠u͏͜n̷̕҉҉҉a̷̷͞b̸̨̛͘͢l̢҉e̴҉̵͟͠ ̀͜t̷̡͟o̴͏̶̡̀ ̵͠҉h̨̀͡͞͝e̶͏̵̡à͠ŕ̡?҉̶̀[/acronym]​

---

The Imperial Citadel​

A feeling in the Force stole the breath from Yenaleda. She turned her head away from the Jedi Ranger she was healing.

Immediately, Yenaleda saw the headless body of her master, Azsedo, falling over. The only other being near him was Thurion – still chaotically slicing through the air.

“What…” she uttered.

She recalled her master’s words. But then, an imp͡ȩt͏u͘s҉ drove her.

Yenaleda stood up. Her charge, unconscious, had no complaint about how she ceased to heal him. She ran towards her master’s body. Yet to do so, she would pass an area near [member="Joon"] and her warriors. She could have been stopped by them if they acted.

 

[Velok the Younger]

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

Within the Skocha's heavy durasteel hull, Velok assessed the enemy's tactics. A powerful shield had been deployed within the ship, seven hundred fifty metres aft. That shield, source unknown, appeared to be standing up to the Skocha's proton cannon. In theory he could reach out with the Force and do something about that, but not just now. The enemy had finally mounted a concerted, coordinated pushback, a flanking maneuver, using heavy handheld particle beams.

As heavy repeaters chattered back, he took stock of the tank’s condition. The enemy's tactics, their reliance on handheld weapons and selection of specific target areas, appeared to assume that the Skocha's shields were down. They weren't. One solid hit had landed a while back and knocked shield integrity down a ways while crippling one of the repeaters and scorching armor. Since then, only stray particle beam flares had landed, the edges of beam detonations that hadn't quite made it through convenient holes in multiple decks. Those impacts had kept the shields from recharging, but a Skocha's shields were strongest when it was moving slowly.

Shields sat at a comfortable thirty percent, though decreasing. Repulsorlifts had taken some damage through the shields from the initial particle cannon impact; the tank couldn't reach full speed. However, it didn't need to. One of the three repeater turrets was down, leaving one pointed at each of the infantry attack parties. Their scathing fire chewed into the makeshift barricades.

At the moment, the main cannon couldn't get through the shield half a mile away. It could, however, traverse through the intersection that had let it point sideways to begin with. Now aimed to the ship’s port, ahead of the tank, the main proton cannon fired at and through the infantry position.

A moment later, the Skocha accelerated backward. Shields dipped to twenty percent as sixty-five tons of durasteel smashed into and through the barricade without noticeable trouble. The rear-aimed repeater kept up sustained fire as the tank moved forward again, lest it roll over convenient explosives.

Meanwhile, the enemy commander had established that the area was so holed and shredded that progress on foot would be just about impossible without repulsors or similar gear. Velok was relying on that fact to keep the enemy troops from easily pulling back or receiving much in the way of timely reinforcements.

He would, perhaps, have been somewhat surprised to note that the enemy commander knew his name.

***

Meanwhile, back at the dead bow section, the cloaked Sekairo shifted relative to the wide breach. Air streamed from the decompression as the ship brought its weapons to bear on the Tenchu's interior. Proton torpedos, cluster missiles, and laser cannons began chewing their way into the already-shredded prow bulkheads. Meanwhile, sensors might detect an unusual energy signature, strong enough to overwhelm the Sekairo's cloaking device.

 

[Athena Heron]

Objective: Secure outpost and get into a tryst
Allies: [member="Veritas"] [member="Maleagant"]
Enemies:[member="Mishka Larraq"] [member="The Librarian"]

She blinked lazily and turned. Where did Mal go? Hmmph. Must be off being valiant or something. Light-footsteps followed swiftly behind the younger Centurion. Dress shredded along the edges as shrapnel broke through the defenses and sliced through the fabric.

Irritation crossed her powered-blue face.

Thumb switched on the scarlet-magma of her lightsaber. Feathers ruffled at her back and she rushed forward, slicing and dicing any jedi that got in her way. But for most, she wasn't so rudimentary. The one further away in her path, she stretched her mentalist mind forward, taking a chapter from one of her mentors, Matsu Xiangu. A padawan suddenly found themselves drowning on land. A second began to think spiders the size of fists were crawling from its mouth. A third she simply gave the urge to run...right into the nearest lightsaber blade.

Such fun.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Location: Dromund Kaas orbit, CIC, SSV Tenchu
Objective: Provide close air support around the Citadel region while also dealing with an enemy boarding party
Allies: SJ [member="Catherine Soja"] (Citadel)
Enemies: RE [member="Velok the Younger"]
Music: Dark Crystal (FF3)

- BATTLE MEDITATION ACTIVATED -​

"That tank's shield is still up!" one of the marines commed in before being hit and dying.

"Do we have a mortar or an infantry missile launcher down there? It might be suicidal, but better die trying to fend the enemy off than to die having done nothing but receive enemy fire"

"Hold on: we might have two or three units ready to fire once they can lock on to them, but any reinforcements we can bring to bear will be limited at best without jetpacks: they might be en route now, but these take time and we only have limited fuel. They are out of range, only once they are in range can they attempt to shoot EMPs and then attempt to enter the enemy main turret" a platoon leader reported.

Even after a few years, Jessica still remembers how she first met Velok under equally hostile circumstances on Geonosis... was it payback for the stuff that happened in Stalgasin Memorial Stadium back then? That was entirely possible. The forward section hallways being in tatters, what few Famos emplacements remained around the enemy tank (from decks both above and below it) fired continuous beams at it, in hopes of at least preventing the shields from recharging. The repair time will take a few weeks, she thought, while realizing that, on a ship that big, even some internal damage limited mostly to the bow may take a week or two to repair in full, during which time the crew of the ship will be on shore duty or transferred to other ships. Provided that the ship, or its crew, survives of course. Both tanks that previously shot at the enemy tank now got into their respective positions to fire back at it, after slow maneuvering. Maybe the enemy could realize it, maybe they don't. But on top of the two tanks that now opened fire from different angles, there were two anti-tank missile launchers each firing armor-piercing anti-tank missiles from four decks underneath: the third one was unable to get a proper targeting solution due to the limited opening.

"There may be something outside: we are taking damage from outside at point-blank range on the bow. Oh and forward shields are finally back up: it seems that the enemy also wreaked havoc with our systems, slowing our response time" the chief engineer reported.

"There's an unusual energy source being detected" the sensor technician reported.

"I want flechettes fired in that direction, and after that, buzz droids; also I want a few positron cannons fired at it"

The enemy might have taken out the main gun, the enemy might have punched a larger hole with a few destroyed hardpoints, and a tank that took damage at its rear turret, but what hardpoints could then fire at where the Sekairo was suspected to be, based on sensor readings indicating the presence of an unusual energy source, fired. There were a few positron cannons, with a few flechette rounds fired by a few Rhongomyniad hardpoints that could fire at targets on the bow. And a few more rounds containing buzz droids, fired after the flechette-loaded mass drivers which, if it hits the enemy ship, will release buzz droids exploiting any holes made by the flechettes; if the flechettes fired beforehand missed, or the mass driver rounds with the buzz droids missed, the buzz droids' jobs will be much harder to do. But it was a far cry from an alpha strike, unlike the one that was fired at a Harrower in the opening of this engagement, and that caused the ship to even be boarded in the first place. Meanwhile, down on the surface, the clash between the Resurgent Empire and the Silver Jedi continued in the Citadel's airspace, with the battle furiously taking place, where neither side was yielding an inch, where each side's kills proved costly and tricky to acquire.

Spoiler: Outsider Command

Capital ships:

SSV Tenchu (Tenchu-class dreadnought) Shields: 100% | Hull: 94%
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:

302 T-70 X-Wings (62 over the Citadel and 240 in orbit)
144 TIE Reavers

 

[Velok the Younger]

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

On the Sekairo's bridge, a pilot droid noted catastrophic systems failures. Positron cannons stripped away the stygium cloaking field, then the deflector shields, then life support and weapons and sublight engines and artificial gravity and-

Not the hyperdrive.

At the last second, the pilot droid pulled the lever that jumped the Sekairo past lightspeed. It did its level best to cram itself through the broad breach in the Tenchu's armor. The spacetime knot from its gravitic modulator uncoiled, warping decks. That was a drop in the bucket next to the force of the stealth ship, which had been nestled up against the Tenchu's hull, turning into a hypervelocity fireball.

***

Inside the battlecruiser, Velok was having a considerably better day than the pilot droid.

The enemy's tactical plan relied on bringing vehicular weapons to bear against the Skocha through vertical and horizontal deck plating. It relied on convenient lineups of preexisting holes, and the moments when the Skocha lined up with those potential vectors. A lucky shot or two had gotten through under those conditions, back when the Skocha was sitting still. As the mulched marines could attest, that was no longer the case.

The tank's shields couldn't recharge under these conditions, though. Between stray shrapnel, leftover bits of antipersonnel fire, particle backwash, and the Sekairo's fireball roaring through the corridors, the Skocha's shields dropped to a nominal five percent. Velok made the decision to deactivate them entirely, in hopes of partially recharging the generators.

In the meantime, if other battle tanks, missile emplacements, and vehicular shield projectors could move around the Tenchu's interior, the Skocha could too. It continued to work its way aft through the maze-like corridors, conserving proton cannon ammunition.

 

[Connor Harrison]

LOCATION: The Citadel, Dromund Kaas
OBJECTIVE: Take the Citadel; Destroy the Jedi Knights
ALLIES: [member="Vrak Nashar"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Vraukt"] |
ENEMIES: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member=Kaden]
ENEMY GOING FOR: [member="Soeht"] (Yenaleda)
--
Joon slowed as a body fell, and it attracted that of another crossing before her and the Citadel.

”Get us into the Citadel," she scowled at the warriors behind her.

She broke away and ran towards the red-haired Jedi making her way to the body. With a face twisted in a determined look to take a Jedi, Joon propelled herself with a leap and a jump to her, crimson blade in hand to bring down either through her, or striking down on the ground to stop her in her tracks.

Sentiment was a weakness, and Joon wanted a kill. She wanted this girl.

 

[Soeht]

The Imperial Citadel​

Yenaleda stopped as she saw [member="Joon"] rushing toward her. She took a step back and ignited a green-bladed lightsaber.

Surprise covered her face as Joon leaped at Yenaleda. She brought her lightsaber up in a horizontal block. Their lightsabers clashed.

-CRACK-HISS-

[acronym="I̶gn̷or̨e̕ ̸t͝his Jedi"]The air turned sour.[/acronym]

Pushing against Joon, Yenaleda took a few more steps back. She sought to ready herself and take a proper guard – if Joon would even give her the time.

 

[Connor Harrison]

LOCATION: The Citadel, Dromund Kaas
OBJECTIVE: Take the Citadel; Destroy the Jedi Knights
ALLIES: [member="Vrak Nashar"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member=Vraukt] |
ENEMIES: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member=Kaden]
ENEMY GOING FOR: [member="Soeht"] (Yenaleda)
--
The green blade sparked to life and caught the crimson in a strong defence.

Sparks flew, and the clash of red and green cast the familiar glow of Light and Dark across their faces, the red illuminating in Joon’s amber eyes as she flexed her fingers on the hilt and pushed down hard as the Jedi pushed back to break the lock.

Fuelled by her thirst for violence to take a Jedi down herself, the clone didn’t let up as she fed from the Jedi’s look of fear and stalked forward.

She swung the blade violently in a horizontal slash that was aimed for the head.

Like a woman possessed, her eyes never left the Jedi.

 

[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="Kaden"]
[member="Vrak Nashar"] | [member="Joon"]




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


The retaliation came swiftly as the Sith stood now unmasked and raised his arm. Initially she believed it was the thick dust that caught in her throat, and began to tighten around her neck, but pull of the darkside around her told her otherwise. The cloak on her squeezed without any mercy in the grip, and she began to lift off the ground. Fighting for air, and if she did nothing, her life, Coci raised her arm palm outward and release a strong push directly to him. It was too late however, to stop herself from hitting a pile of rubble and even with the armour to protect her, the pain streaming through her body all but caused her to black out.

The force push should have been enough to break the hold around her neck and she coughed violently trying to draw breath back into her lungs. She stood, blood running down her torso and legs from injuries sustained from the rubble, her arm ached with pain and it was difficult to keep hold of her saber hilt as it became slick with her own blood, and so she transferred it to her left.

It was time to regroup, she took this moment of pause to find her husband through their bond, something had happened to him, more then just injury and it concerned her greatly. She turned back to look for her opponent, still a difficult thing to do although the dust had began to settle to ground more, but the battle around them had concentration hard, she went for cover behind the rubble she had just been cast upon as fire was directed her way and then in the mist of battle the focus went elsewhere. This gave her time to run toward Thurion, each step drove pain through her legs and body but her determination pressed her forward.

She would find the Sith again soon.

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Location: The Citadel
Allies: [member="Vrak Nashar"] [member="Vraukt"] [member="Neesa"]
Enemies: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

Darth Pyrrhus was not so fortunate as to have a mask nor a body to cover behind. The sudden blinding light had him halt his advance, his hand moving to grasp at his face as if it would have any effect whatsoever. The man he had sought to engage faded from view, and the mind of the Togruta instead was filled with the pain and anger that came with his sudden blindness. It was, safe to say, a less than ideal situation. Conveniently for him the Jedi had in that time as Pyrrhus struggled to recover found himself engaged, by two Sith no less.

Vision slowly crawled back to him, but it was blurred. Everything was too bright, too sharp and his head was throbbing with a pain. How frustrating. Yet he possessed more than eyes that could see. Through the Force he gained another pair, and those were not so easily blinded. The presence of the Jedi was strong, even... If only slightly, touched by the dark. There was anger. There was hate. Pyrrhus did not linger on the surface of it. Although a mentalist, he did not use this moment to poke and prod and mental defenses and try to unveil what lay beneath. Although the Jedi was otherwise occupied, which could have lended itself to the success of such an action, Pyrrhus went for a more savage and direct approach. He saw little point in holding back. While in no state currently to engage with his blade, he could support the two Sith who were, and perhaps help set up the moment that would deliver them to victory.

Darth Pyrrhus muttered words of the ancient Sith, a speech too fast and of low volume to be discerned. Finally, with hands weaving quickly in a final motion he uttered aloud the phrase that summoned the material of his dark sorcery into creation.

Rͨ͌̓ͭ̔̓ͦi̭̘̇y̗i̺̩ͮḱ̪͍͍̫̾r̼̗͔͉̪̋͊a͓̼͚̙̖u̬̮̿̃̆t̮̋i̗̐́̄ͦ͑ͅ ͔͉̩͉̪̣nͯa̩̲̟̺î̮̺̘̝̳ͨr̾̏ͮ̂͛̽iͯ̒͆̐ͭ͛

Conjured through Sith Magic, Pyrrhus sought to unleash upon the mind of [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] his worst fears, weaving his deepest and most primal fears and make them seemingly come alive. What Thurion would see, provided his mind did not resist the assault, Pyrrhus did not know. It was not he who conjured the demons, but rather the demons manifesting out of the roots of the victim's mind itself.

 

[Aithne Charr]

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


Solan more than saw the flashes getting closer and finally, he stopped, letting her put on her helmet but also to put his hand to the ground and let Kira leave his shoulder a bit more easily. His breath halted in his throat as he looked at the creature before patting it on the head.

"You know what to do, and yes I will not overdo it when I let the guards down..." He looked at the creature which stared at him with scepticism before turning its head to the other two in the area. "No, I won't turn on them, stop worrying and get to work. I need you as my eyes while I do this Kira..." The Ashlan stared for a bit longer before letting out what almost mimicked a sigh and turned, darting into the woods and vanishing from sight.

With that, Solan stood back up and looked at the Mandalorian before biting the inside of his cheek. He normally did not fight beside someone else, and normally could avoid worrying about their well-being. Nothing in him thought that Mishka could not handle herself, but he also knew full well that he couldn't allow an ally to be harmed should they overestimate their abilities. It was a bit hard to gauge what this one could do, but he trusted that since she had a blade in her hand first before anything else, that she was not untrained at all. Though that is a bit easy to determine when it comes to Mandalorians, almost all of them could beat Solan into the ground if it wasn't for his tricks and the Force. Probably would too for how much he tends to ignore their world while commanding men of theirs.

"By the way, my name is Solan. It was a pleasure to meet you should our words come true." With that he drew his sabre and pushed through the forest without hesitation, his mind unlocking and the blast of emotions from the area flooding into him. His eyes took on a deep orange tint, erasing the blue that was normally there, his skin paling while his veins grew dark black and consumed the little bit of skin he showed. His sabre leapt from its container, a dark blue that bit into a tree as it came out and cast a faint glow over the ground while he moved. His eyes barely opened, letting the force direct him and letting it be how he saw the world, looking into the force rather than using his eyes.

He was not a rage filled monster though, quite the opposite. What he had on his face was a smile, a smile as the last moments of those around him were shouldered to him, knowing he was taking from them their pain and suffering himself for them, so that those who died on either side did so painlessly and without sadness. He took from them those, and gave them his memories, or rather the feelings that came with them. The Joy of the loved ones they had, the happiness of their past life being fulfilled, purposely avoiding anything that could cause worry. And as he closed that distance an Imperial trooper appeared before him, unaware at first that Solan had even come from that direction but as Solan reached out to grasp the man's gun, his eyes looked into the mans, while still blinded they looked at the man with a sadness as he ran the trooper through and winced himself.

The trooper would feel nothing, no burning, no pain, nothing as life faded from him but Solan would feel his heart being carved out, the urge to cough up blood as his body felt like it was burning up. These men were just soldiers, they did not deserve to suffer for fighting for their people. They did not deserve to suffer pain as they already understood they were to be taken from this world and Solan's eyes finally closed again as he withdrew the blade and moved on, his body still aching as he could feel his arms crushed, his body electrocuted, his heart bursting and so many others that it took him time to reorient after the first one he killed. From there his free hand raised, still 2 more in the area and with a snap of his fingers, their ammo packs burst and consumed them, killing them quickly as the fire he had created went quickly and burned hot.

It was enough of a display to tip off any Sith who would be strong enough to sense Solan's actions, and hopefully enough to keep normal soldiers away from any fight that might occur.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

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

From the remaining fog of debris Vrak Stepped forth.

The force push that Coci had launched at him had sent the Sith Lord flying against a pile of rubble. A piece of Rebar had pierced through his side, though missing any vital organs. Blood dripped down his abdomen and onto his robes, the fingers of his free hand were wrapped around the small piece of metal, the other palm still clutched onto his lightsaber. A sickening scowl sat upon his face as he stalked forward from the small cloud that seemed to linger.

His eyes locked onto Coci's running form.

For a moment The Pureblood just watched her, glancing to the left as he saw a melee not too far from them. He Spotted Neesa, half a dozen others fighting the other figure that had been standing with Coci earlier. The Lord Scowled, and then ignited his lightsaber once again. Rage boiled through him, and with a sudden jerk he pulled the small piece of metal free. Blood dripped onto the floor and he spun the broken piece of durasteel in his palm.

Slick with blood it floated above his hand for just a moment, and then suddenly it short forward.

A powerful press of the force sent it hurtling just ahead of Coci, ensuring that if she continued on her path it would strike her just right. At the same time Vrak whirled back, throwing his saber-staff towards the Jedi Master in hopes of cutting off her escape.

 

[Jakkor Kess]

https://youtu.be/-rAv5zgtsmM​

​

Location: Space> Citadel​

Objective: Penetrate the blockade undetected, and engage Sith at the Citadel​

Allies: [member="Arisa Yune"] SJO and friends​

Enemies: TRE and friends​

Equipment: Robes, Lightsabers.​

​

Jakkor had emerged from hyperspace with the stealth ship, The Tusken could feel his sabers shake within his belt, as he could see the battle, upon dropping from hyperspace he activated the stealth system of his craft. This was made to look like reinforcements sent in to strike back at the Sith forces, but in all actuality, this was Arisa Yune's plan to get to the surface undetected and engage sith forces. Jakkor was in awe and shock at the battle was before him. He had muttered to himself quietly as he looked at the battle sprawling across the orbit of the Sith world. "There hasn't been battles like these since the days of the Old Republic." He said as he kept in, formation with Arisa's stealth ship as well as the rest, hopefully, the escort craft would protect them long enough for them to breach the blockade for he feared of the craft not being able to protect itself during the vicious combat.

The young Tusken had hated himself at the moment, he didn't know why he was going back into war, when all he wanted was to be away from it, he even hated how he had left his wife [member="Viktoria Kess"] for months on end without even letting her know where he had went, but he needed peace. For all his life he had known nothing of pain, first, it was the Clone Wars and then the Great Jedi Purge. He had seen and done things which he had hated. in after almost a millennia of sleeping he still hated himself, and sometimes wondered if it ever mattered. For a time he did find a planet to hide in but had chosen to go into exile and left a lot of people behind including his beloved wife. He had hated himself for that the most, and so made amends that if he should make it out alive he would see her, but could he would most of all send a message telling her how sorry he was. He had chosen to exile himself because he was sick of fighting, and at times wanted to die. He even thought he was seeing a ghost of Kana Makesa his best friend follow him. He had felt as if he should end it all, but then he had found Arisa had been there to find him, she had come requesting his aid for the Battle of Dromund Kass, at first he was reluctant and outright rejected her proposal going as far to curse her for showing up. She then explained to him that she couldn't come back without allies, and so needed his help in saving her friends. After giving some thought and even screaming in rage, he gave in. He was then automatically given the rank of General and tasked with being a part of the reinforcements sent in to take the citadel.

He had quit his reminiscing quickly, and so watched the feed that was given, he brought the ship in a slow and steady motion, He had made sure to still keep the vessel in stealth mode, and away from being detected by Sith ships. He then slowly but surely started his rough descent through the world's violent atmosphere, all around he could see lightning go off through the clouds, as all Jakkor could see and even feel through the force was darkness. It was chilling and made him shiver all the same, especially for how strong it was. Even in a starship, the presence was overwhelming, as he got closer to his destination he deactivated the stealth mode, and so wanted to avoid incoming anti-air fire he kept through the clouds, even foolish as it was it was better than getting blown out of the sky by the ship. He began to descend close to the citadel and started to land in a safe and secure position. As soon as the vessel started landing Troopers began rushing out along with Padawans and Knights as Jakkor emerged as the last one waiting for Arisa before making the trek towards the citadel. For him, it would be yet another painful battle.

 

[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: Mayhem
Gear: Tattered Robes, Yellow Junksaber (lightsaber with an unstable core), The Force


He was lost in bloodlust.

For millennia, Zarek's people had revered battle, treated it as a sanctified thing. But by the time the Sith Knight had been born there had been very few left to fight, only on the outer edges of his people's borders. And so they had turned to politics, economics, technology. Aeterno himself had turned to science, and alchemy, and while he had felt the blood spill of many a hated foe, it had almost always been at the tip of a poisoned dagger, in some rushed backalley duel, or through even more indirect means. But to fight like this, to kill like this...it almost made him feel as if before this day he had never truly known what it meant to be Sith at all.

The only moment in which the human had felt any fear was the first time combat drove him up close to one of the massasi. There had been a very real possibility in his mind that the mythic warriors would pay no mind to his attempts to aid in slaying their foes, and simply try and kill him themselves. If that had occurred, Zarek was not sure how he would have responded. Everything in him that was Sith screamed that to willingly suffer injury or even death was unforgivable weakness, and yet to strike at one of the very symbols of his people also seemed to run counter to the basic philosophy that had taught him to think in such a way. Thankfully, he was spared from the choice, as the crimson berserkers apparently recognized in him an absence of weakness that, while it would likely not offer him any measure of control over the warriors, was sufficient for them to bypass him as a potential threat.

Grinning viciously when he finally came to that realization, Aeterno launched himself back at the Antarians and Jedi with renewed passion. His first major obstacle surmounted, the next would be to make contact with these dark warriors' masters and convince them as well that he was worthy of service and not execution. Zarek could work with service, for service came with a whole multitude of possibilities that had not existed for the Sith yesterday.

The thought had hardly occurred to him when, through no act of his own doing, the nearest Jedi padawan charged directly for him and skewered himself on his lightsaber blade. Shock briefly crossing his otherwise wild and bloodied features, the Sith Knight gazed past his unintended victim and at a blue skinned alien wielding a blood red saber, standing over the writhing bodies of several Jedi and apparently relishing in their agony ([member="Athena Heron"]). Danger sense flashing in the Force, Aeterno regained his focus just in time to catch sight of the Antarian lining up a blaster shot directly at his heart, and snarling in rage he hurled his lightsaber through the air, impaling the Dromund Kaas defender before he could fire his weapon.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Location: Dromund Kaas orbit, CIC, SSV Tenchu
Objective: Provide close air support around the Citadel region while also dealing with an enemy boarding party
Allies: SJ
Enemies: RE [member="Velok the Younger"]
Music: Determination (Sacred Stones)

- BATTLE MEDITATION ACTIVATED -​

"Damage report!" the captain of the Tenchu ordered.

"The enemy ship pierced a big hole about 25 meters in diameter for a length of about 100 meters in the bow" the chief engineer reported.

"It all ends here! Agrevant, Vorzyd tank squadrons, get into position to fire!" Jessica ordered while the two tank squadrons finally got into position to fire at the enemy tank that caused them so much trouble.

Killing the Sekairo had its share of unintended consequences. With the Sekairo crashing into the forward superstructure of the Tenchu, in an attempt to perform an emergency hyperjump, the battlecruiser now sports a hole on the first ~100 meters of the bow or so, spanning several decks, with the flames engulfing said decks. But these decks having been evacuated beforehand, there was minimal loss of life, with the bow hardpoints closest to the cone-shaped dent being mostly automated point-defense emplacements. By now it was obvious that the much-lenghtier preparation times plaguing the Silver Jedi boarding parties due to the enemy exploiting the element of surprise, and also by Jessica not expecting the enemy to board until their fleet actually engaged them in orbit, which they did not. But the tables are about to turn: it was only now that a squadron of Bengal tanks began to surround the enemy tank the boarders brought in tow, whose shields have been downed when the heated shrapnel projected in the wake of the Sekairo's destruction and the damage it has wrought. Even then, the enemy had tanks closing in on every direction: eight tanks had their particle guns trained at the enemy tank, firing at different sections: some of them aimed at the aft hull, others for the sides but only two of them engaged the enemy tank head-on, aiming for the barrel joint. When the whiplash clears... did they score any hits? If so, how much damage did the enemy tank absorb? But all these considerations were suddenly cut short in the CIC when a squadron leader made a sitrep around the Citadel's airspace:

"Caramba Leader reporting in. The enemy... it appears headed for Catherine's units! That ought to take some pressure off our backs"

Back in the Citadel, the enemy fighters let up in their attacks against the squadrons Outsider Command deployed there and began, at much-diminished strength, to focus their attacks on the fighters under Catherine Soja's command, while still being targeted by SJ-deployed anti-aircraft on the ground at the Citadel's outer perimeter. With the casualties mounting on the Resurgent Empire's side, as well as the Silver Jedi's, Jessica seemed to have an idea for what will happen next in the Caldera. The enemy lost several capital ships here as well as thousands and thousands in ground troops: any outcome will be bittersweet for the enemy. Also, if they somehow win, they will have a hefty bill ahead of them: to the victor goes the spoils but also the burden of reconstruction. I might wish to exploit the situation afterward to plant the seeds of a conscription crisis and then undermine the enemy's hold on the Caldera, given the Caldera's sparse population, and also because it's likely the population is less than enthusiastic about going into the meat grinder, she thought, while the orbital battle's intensity has clearly diminished, as well as the aerial battle in the Citadel's airspace.

Spoiler: Outsider Command

Capital ships:

SSV Tenchu (Tenchu-class dreadnought) Shields: 100% | Hull: 90%
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:

302 T-70 X-Wings (62 over the Citadel and 240 in orbit)
144 TIE Reavers

 

[Yidhra]

Citadel
Objective: Reclaim the Citadel, also convert wayward Purebloods
Enemies: [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]
Allies: [member="Vrak Nashar"] | [member="Vraukt"] | [member="Joon"]
Engaging: [member="Kaden"]

Her side was throbbing from the impact with Arigharr’s armor. Maybe something was cracked – didn’t know, didn’t have time to know. The blasphemer was rushing towards her through the thick of melee, his mind ablaze with rage.

What she should’ve said, though, was ‘thank you’.

Every single being who was fighting in that moment was fueling the Dark side. Be they Sith, Jedi, or merely civilians trying to escape, every last one of them was pouring more power into the spirit of Kaas. Awakened from its long slumber, shackled for years by the Silver order. It wanted to be free. It wanted to ravage its oppressors, to take revenge and spill blood.

Yidhra, ever a Pureblood to the core, was eager to oblige.

Raising her clawed hands, the sorceress leaned back into the steady grip of the Massassi, focusing all her strength into the magic tingling in her limbs. Her lips moved, shaping the sibilant syllables of High Sith. Incantations, interwoven with the screams and clash of battle – few songs could call more deeply to the Dark Side.

As her influence spread like a taint over the bridge, the Sith would find a new rush of strength. Even as they would push forth on the wings of their second wind, the warriors of Light would fall prey to its growing power, their will sapped.

 

[Caid Centurion]

Location: Jungles
Objective: Secure Outposts
Allies: [member="Aeterno"] | [member="Athena Heron"] | [member="Maleagant"]
Enemies: [member="Mishka Larraq"] | [member="The Librarian"]

Caid blinked as an Antarian Ranger in front of him suddenly collapsed to the ground and began convulsing uncontrollably. Stopping in front of the writhing body, Caid's cloaked head tilted to the side for half a second. The half second was, unfortunately, interrupted by the communications gear in his helmet crackling to life once more.

"Major Veritas. I'm assuming command of your forces."

Who in the fu---

"Ease your mind, Major. This is Lord Vorenus."

The Ranger writhing on the ground had just managed to gain some control of his body back and began reaching for the weapon laying in the grass beside him.

Caid saw the movement in his mind's eyes before it ever happened, resulting in him driving his heel abruptly and strongly onto the man's chest. The crunch of ribs could be heard, and the sound gave way to the tell-tale sound of the man slowly beginning to choke on his blood. No doubt - one or more of his ribs had punctured an organ. "All units switch to tertiary tactical." Caid did not know any Lord Vorenus. No doubt a fair weather Sith that only reared their heads when it was time to take credit for the planning and work of others.

Several superheated blaster bolts raced towards the Sith Warrior, narrowly missing him. It wwas not the first volley that concerned Caid, but the second volley that he had sensed. The silver light of his blade danced in front of his face as he deflected the second round of shots into random directions and began charging their point of origin.

Another volley.

Caid was able to deflect one, but the second managed to graze his left arm. An audible grunt escaped the Sith as he snarled behind his mask. With the speed at which Caid had closed the distance, he could practically see the twitch of trigger fingers. A third volley was fired at some point, but Caid's attention was not focused on the blaster fire. The Sith only knew shots must have missed by the expressions of grave concern on the faces of the two shooters. With his free hand, Caid gripped one of the shooters with the power of the Force and ripped his body towards him. Leaping into the air to meet the body rocketing towards him, Caid seized the man by the throat, pain shooting through his injured arm from the effort. At the same time, he hurled his lightsaber in the direction of the second shooter, controlling its trajectory with the Force.

The silver blade sliced effortlessly just below the neck of the kneeling Antarian Ranger before rocketing back towards its point of origin. Just before catching the hilt with his right hand, Caid released his grip on the first soldier, allowing his body to fall to the ground behind Caid. The Ranger, determined to the end, attempted to point his weapon at the back of Caid's head for the coup de grace. Unfortunately, Caid was quicker, rotating the hilt in his hand and driving the weapon straight behind him without even looking. As he came to his feet, the Sith ripped the weapon upwards, splitting the Ranger in half.

The Ranger's respective body parts hadn't even hit the earth before Caid was but a flutter of black and silver on the horizon.

The Massassi that swore allegiance to Caid might not have followed the instructions of other Sith such as Aeterno blindly, but they responded to strength regardless of the individual. It was his obvious ability and devotion to the task that saw them aiding him and others as necessary. They were merely weapons, programmed for destruction.

 

[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

As the helmet came down over her head, Mishka's external connection with the Manda grew mute. The oppressive aura of the forest faded to a distant pressure as gentle as a light breeze, and the chaos of the conflict before her became like the playing of children in the distance. Taking a deep breath, Mishka closed her eyes and focused her senses upon what remained to her. Herself. Her heart thundered within her chest, strong and steady like a hammer in the forge. The air flowing within her lungs like a storm through the pines. Her blood flowed like raging rivers and her muscles rippled beneath her skin like tremors beneath the earth.

Calmed by the familiar, Mishka turned her purely organic gaze upon the man before her as he knelt and spoke to his tiny dog. While the conversation between Solan and his pet would likely have raised a suspicious eyebrow upon Mishka's face, her attention was somewhat occupied at the time.

Spoiler

<So cute.> Mishka thought as she stared through her visor at the tiny animal, desperately trying to remain focused upon the coming conflict and failing. She had no idea what sort of creature she watched scurry off into the forest, but she sure as feth wanted one.

<What the kark?> Crossed Mishka's mind as her attention snapped back to reality and her gaze turned upon Solan. <WHY IS HE BLUE!?> Mishka's brain demanded to know as she watched the man she had assumed was a Jedi leap among Aruetii with eyes closed, a grin on his face, and a blade between- one... Two? Ah screw it. The nutjob was butchering Sith troopers with a smile that screamed 'this guy's on drugs' or 'today we're hanging out with sociopaths'.

Choosing to swallow her apprehension about the man's sudden shift in behavior, Mishka instead stepped forward into the grassy clearing. <Deep breath.> Mishka said to herself. <Just breath. You got this.>

Beneath her feet, blood stained the grass. Bodies littered the clearing. Some human, others clearly not. Here and there, the earth was torn up from an explosion (probably a grenade, Mishka's hind-brain rationalized). Red and green bolts still zipped across the field, coming from every which way and heading in just as many. Here and there, a lightsaber spun in the air as a Sith or Jedi slashed their way though fodder as they sought one another out. <I've never had to kill a man...> Mishka thought to herself silently as she stared at the scene before her. Reflexively, Mishka's head snapped to the side, dodging a blaster bolt that could either have been aimed or accidental for all she knew.

"Ib'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur." Mishka said absently as she found her resolve and Drew her sword. Fear and memories washed over Mishka like waves upon a window. She saw them. Felt them. Heard the echo of voices long dead. But it was distant and muted to her, thanks to the force mask worked into the construction of her helmet. For those near her though, it would be like a rolling tsunami of memories and emotions crashing into them as the echoes of those slain on Dromund Kaas fought to be heard, demanding that they share their last moments with any that would listen. Fear. Anxiety. ---The sky filled with massive rocks about to destroy all that you hold dear. A wave of heat and concussive force as an asteroid fragment shatters a hospital like a Champaign glass.--

It was as if the soul of Dromund Kaas had awoken before those that walked among the forest.

And was held between Mishka's hands.

Oblivious to the fact that she had just made herself a target, Mishka charged towards the nearest person that looked vaguely like the people Solan was murdering. Muscles tensed and released as Mishka shot forward, muscles blessed by the Manda launching her forward three times farther and faster than each step should have taken her, a golden arc of light trailing behind her as she brought her sword into the air and brought it down upon the poor sith pion with all her considerable (for her size) might.

The glow of her yellow, metallic blade faded for a split second as it cut deep into the soldier's armor and disappeared into his shoulder. As the split second ended, a brilliant flash of light erupted from the man as the Chaab'kad discharged, a pulse of fear and memories and the echo of a thousand voices sprang forth as kinetic energy ripped the man in two, sending either side of the dar'jetii hurling in opposite directions and blood and gore in all directions.

Mishka was instantly glad she had been wearing her helmet.

<Don't swing so fast.> Mishka reminded herself.