The Shadow Under Corbos [TSE Dominion of Corbos Hex]

[Darth Carnifex]

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As the Empire expands territorially, its need for raw materials to fuel the production of war machines, armor, and weapons grows exponentially. Though there are many ore foundries and production plants across the vast imperium, the looming threat of war with the Galactic Alliance has kicked up the demand for metals and stones. Thus the Sith turned their eyes outward, hungrily scouring the cosmos for another worlds to strip down to the bone.

They then set their eyes on Corbos.

Once a Republic mining colony during the age before the Darkness, all records of the planet had been lost in the subsequent centuries of turmoil. All that could be gleamed from incomplete documents was that the entire colonist population had been wiped out by some unknown force. However, scouting parties dispatched by the War Cabinet brought back reports that the planet was completely uninhabited, scarce in natural flora and fauna, but still rich in ores and minerals hidden beneath the barren surface. The greediest minds prevailed and a full-blown expeditionary force was sent to secure the ancient mining city and restore it to full functionality.

And for many months the venture proved to be a highly profitable one as the Empire exploited its new resource rich vein and began to bleed it dry. The demands of the Empire spurred the miners to dig faster, dig deeper than any previous inhabitant had ever done so before.

They dug too deep.

Far too deep.

And unleashed an ancient evil hidden in those darkened depths.

Overnight the entire Imperial colony disappeared without a trace, all communications ceased and any further investigation was met with tragedy as anyone sent to Corbos never returned. The crisis proved so great that the Emperor declared that he would lead an army to Corbos to discern what had befallen the colonists, and dispose of it if it proved a threat to the Empire.

The Armada coalesced over Corbos, and the landing of troops and Sith began.

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OBJECTIVES
A: Secure the mining city; seek out and destroy or capture the unknown entities (Leviathans!) that wiped out the previous colonists.
B: The heat exchange for the entire mining city was damaged during the colonist's disappearance, and without it the city is without power. Protect a group of engineers as they strive to repair it.
C: BYOO

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

Location | Aboard the Blade of Fate, in orbit over Corbos​

Objective | Secure the mining city; seek out and destroy or capture the unknown entities that wiped out the previous colonists​

An unpleasant world, or so it seemed, looking down upon it from above. The darkness of space hung all around them, punctuated by pinpricks of bright light in the far distance, and by the floating orb that slowly rotated, the only colour in a bleak tapestry. Corbos was hardly a lovely place: ash and smoke punctuated the atmosphere, thrown up by the fires of industry that had long burned on this world, left alone but for the precious minerals buried deep beneath the surface. The drive to exploit such had turned this world into what it was: a festering sore on the eye, little more then debris held together by gravitational forces, a hollowed-out shell.

But not completely, of course. There were, beneath the surface, ever more treasures yet to be exhumed.

That, however, was not the purpose of the expedition - the reason for which the armada had come. Many had preceeded them, many had fallen silent, their song no longer heard, echoes all that remained of them. The Sith, at one time, might have cared little for such, but this was a different Empire: one that demanded obedient service of all within their care, but provided for them in turn. And when our voices fall silent, it is only because something or someone has silenced them. Their dominance largely assured within their own space, any threat beyond that was something that the Sith Lords took seriously indeed. And so, they had come.

There was opportunity here, of course: root out whatever had caused the colony here to fall silent, and use that as an example to all who would interfere with the Sith. That was natural, of course. But within such, there were opportunity to test apprentices and acolytes who sought elevation, positioning themselves to obtain the approval of the Lords. More importantly, perhaps, a chance to take another world and bring it formally under the dominion of the Sith, to be held as theirs in perpetuity. Whoever had come and brought death to the Imperial colony here would find more than their fair share of death beneath the smoke and ash.

The fleet had exited hyperspace a few moments ago, and was already showing signs of activity: shuttles and troop transports disgorged from the larger vessels, keeping practiced formation and disciplined movement, evidence of long experience. White-armoured men and women would set foot upon the surface, working together to root out whoever had dared commit acts of aggression against the Empire. And leading them...dark-clad Sith, attuned to the Force, ready to command it in ready vengeance, payment for the lives taken here. It would not be pretty but that, so Tirdarius supposed, was rather the point.

Once the initial troops had landed and made their reconaissance, he too would join them. It wasn't often that he involved himself now - at his age, it often felt more appropriate to allow the more hot-blooded younger Sith to do the legwork. This, however, was not to be one of those times. The echoes of death and pain from this place flooded the Force, perceivable even from orbit. Something painful had come to this place, and those who had died down there on the surface had not died well. Butchered more than granted clean and honourable death. That couldn't be allowed to stand, and the Sith preferred to deliver overwhelming force in the face of such.

"Signal the flagship that our scouts have disembarked," he instructed the nearby comms officer, ready and waiting to pass on commands, as always. "Troop transports to follow on confirmation of a secure landing site. And have a shuttle prepared. I'd like to go down there and see this for myself."

Not waiting for an acknowledgement, knowing that the men and women aboard the Blade of Fate would attend to their duties, the Sith Lord turned and began his egress from the bridge. In truth, he was eager to see what was down there - though it was all undoubtedly dangerous, the sort of thing a foolhardy apprentice might seek out, Corbos resonated in a way that beckoned to them. He wished to see it for himself, to understand the fate of those that had died down there, to let those images be burned into memory.

And, where possible, to make sure their deaths were not left without response. There were standards to be maintained, after all.

 

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Corbos Mining City​

Objective: 1​

Post #1​

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Stepping off the dropship, the Acolyte was pensive as he watched the squad he'd been assigned form up, listening to their Lieutenant give them a short in-field briefing as other groups took up positions. Usually, Akk Squad here would be part of a larger platoon, and their Lieutenant would get his orders from higher up the chain. However, they had been assigned to him as part of the mission that he was...given, he supposed. He compared it more to a large box being dumped on his back that he had to carry around.

He'd seen in the Overseer's eyes that he knew exactly what Mulokhai was being sent into, despite the fact that nothing was confirmed. The masked and robed figure approached the Lieutenant, who he knew wasn't keen on this either. That it was very likely his squad was about to get torn apart so an upstart Sith could prove something to a taskmaster that was wanting to see if he'd come back alive, or in chunks. As the Legionnaire gave him a salute, Mulokhai waved him off before even the beginning of 'My lord'.

"Let's be straight, Lieutenant. You don't like this, and I'm sure you've caught on that I'm not fond either. We're going into...a dangerous situation. Despite what you might think, everyone in Akk is going home today. If you want that to be true, I need you and your team to follow everything I say, exactly when I say it. Not just because I'm a Sith. But because if you don't, we might all be dead. Understood?"

The Legionnaire seemed to pause for a moment, before he gave a nod and another salute. "Yes, my lord." Mulokhai wasn't even sure that was the proper honorific for him, but he wasn't about to argue. The squad was 10 strong, the Lieutenant included. It might not have seemed like much, but he knew that was more than enough. Wasting no time, he headed towards the city, his saber ready as Akk kept on his heels, entering ground zero of whatever had happened here.

As they got closer, if the nearby stomping wasn't clear enough, the Acolyte began to hear the screams. The gnawing at the inside of his head, a dull throbbing pain that indicated he wasn't close enough to taste what it was really like. He spoke in a low tone, almost forcing the words out. "Lieutenant, get two men up on rooftops on each side of us; make sure one pair has an SIF-71. The other six take positions on this street and the one across, make sure at least one of you has the MTB ready. You understand?"

He glanced back at the squad leader, who gave another nod and almost a confused tilt of the head. "Affirmative. What about you?" Mulokhai looked away from him again, staring at where he knew the screaming came from, where there were quiet guttural noises and what sounded like quiet chewing. "I'm going to get its attention." With that, he began moving forward, keeping low and approaching at a quick pace. This may be the plan he hated the most - but if he was going to somehow, as instructed, get through this without any of Akk Squad dying, then he had to be the bait.

If he failed, he was as good as dead anyway.

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDKB4kT3o1w&list=RDvDKB4kT3o1w[/media]​

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​Location: Mining City, Corbos, ​ First Wave, In the Skies
​Post: 1

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​"We created this ancient evil generations ago to serve us as dogs of war. The leviathan have lived free for far too long. We will show them the error of striking the hand that created them. Bring those who learn back into the fold, cull those who don't." - Emperor Zambrano​

​It was a dazzling sight.
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Hundreds of ships filling the system a great armada led by the Sith Emperor [member="Darth Carnifex"] himself and his Behemoth at the very center with two Darr Itah-Class Ships on either side, and a massive escort fleet surrounding them like one great hive. The very sight of this armada invoked many emotions and reactions alike: awe inspiring and terror, shock and confidence. To enemies and rivals alike this was the very reason why most hesitated to strike at the Sith Empire. An entire mining colony disappears without a trace and the full might of the Empire comes crashing down in one swift stroke.

Their response was understandable for the ancient evil that had been awoken deep beneath the surface.

For most imperials the secrets of Corbos were but rumors and myths. But for the highest echelons and the Lords of the Sith? They knew what lurked beneath the depths of Corbos. Ancient creatures bred for war by the first and greatest of the founders of the Sith. The Leviathan of Corbos were created by the dark jedi exiles during a time when the Sith Empire was just a desire in the back of their power hungry minds. They were apex predators that exhibited everything the Sith desired from strength and power, to fear inducing even pain and hate. The enemies who fell to the Leviathan would be trapped within the beasts blister trap forced to suffer an eternity of misery locked within them. There was a reason why Corbos remained uninhabited for years and a reason mining efforts were abandoned.

Until now.

​It was like someone kicked the hornets nest as the very first wave of ships and fighters began to descend through the atmosphere of the desert world. But there was something special about this first wave. A massive beast led the charge at the very front easily thirty five meters long from head to tail. This beast in its beginnings would've resembled one of the Kakdijs Zûta but something was different about it. It was bread bigger, larger than the others and changed through the guiding hand of a master. Great metal plates were driven into its very skin its hide hardened. The beasts insides were infused with a dark hellfire so destructive, so malevolent it showed through a glow piercing the beasts very hide. The beast blanketed the land beneath it in darkness with every beat of its wings. Shadow and flame surrounded this beast and seemed to hang off its very form. To stare into its molten eyes was to stare in the face of death itself. Every fiber of this massive beast was black and twisted, its ferocious and primal personality taking on subtle traits of the dark master that created it.

This was Galvanoth the Genocide.

The Lord of Death himself Darth Prazutis sat atop the great beast as it cut through the atmosphere and down through the hot, arid skies of Corbos. The first wave of Sith forces weren't far behind and even from this distance it felt like he was riding ahead of a destructive hurricane. If it weren't for his helmet tuning the noise out the sound alone would be deafening. The Destroyer carried a number of dark side artifacts on his person most notably the runeblade sitting at his side. It had a soul vault of its own the Blade of Hunger throbbed like a beating heart of energy. He was bound to the blade and it to him he could feel the blades hunger in his mind always hungry for more souls to sate its hunger.

A hunger that also throbbed within the Genocide as they dove faster down to the surface. The Leviathan of Corbos were bipedal beasts of war created by the Sith Empire to use on the battlefield. It had been thousands of years since the beasts slumbered deep beneath the surface a dark threat forgotten to history by all but a rare few. Even without their presence the rumor of death lurking on Corbos persisted long after Empires rose and fell. They were a legacy of the Sith Lords that stood before them. But without guidance they were just simple malicious beasts that claimed all live in their path. They were made to serve. This freedom they had now? They would be broken over the backs of the Sith and made to serve once more. Those who were unwilling to return to the fold, those who liked this freedom?

They would be culled and driven back into their holes.

The Destroyer flew fast and low over the rocky, arid landscape and the desolate ruin that was the mining city. He gripp​ed Daesumnor in one hand as he thrusted it into the air calling upon the dark side of the force he delivered a sickening pulse of dark energy that quickly radiated around him like a beacon to such creatures. It was like throwing chum into the water to bring the sharks out from hiding. They would be coming for him now, he could feel it.

That would be a mistake.

 

[Cassandra Paige]

It seemed like an odd partnership in truth. What possible use could the Sith Empire have for working with a company that sold cute, adorable animals?

Well, behind their fluffy exterior, the Empire was aware that GenPals was one of the premier biotech companies in the sector. Already having worked together once in pacifying fauna on Navrozh, it was a simple thing to contact them and invite them to consult on the possibility that what had been uncovered was something biological. It seemed likely, and there were theories- unpleasant ones, but several of which GenPals already had experience in (much to Cass's chagrin). She had insisted that the Empire engage the services of Didact- GenPals scientists were not security after all, and they required protection that would not be split in their loyalties or attention in the event things went sour. Which, given the information they had, was likely.

Cass had been quieter. Harder these days. A sort of alchemy was taking place beneath the surface that had yet to fully formulate. Temporary cybernetics had been put in place as better, more permanent solutions were weighed. There was a tightness at the edges of her mouth as she looked out over the rising surface of Corbos. The Didact shuttle had been the clear choice, and while there were no windows, the exterior sensors offered a clear view on the screens.

Arms folded over her chest, she watched as they descended.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

Her silence met his and together it grew larger.

After it hadn't been often that Paige couldn't be found by either a dedicated company of Didact security personnel or even escorted personally by Mecetti. That last part was a challenge, but it was the least that the Tapani could do for her. There was something about charging into the face of hell, scorched and fire, and pulling someone out while their life was on a thread that made them more... amendable to certain suggestions.

It was this that Tash was content about.

The opportunity to... see just what would happen next. "What are we doing here again?" Itash asked while studying those same sensors. This wasn't a tropical wonderland, no, it was a wasteland.

He disliked it already.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

BYOO: Collect Specimens

Corbos was a world steeped in the history of the Dark Jedi that would birth the Sith Order. It had been the sight of their final defeat, their forced exile to the Stygian Caldera. It was also the site where one of the greatest creations of Sith alchemy were birthed. Leviathans had earned a fearsome reputation, and Corbos was where it had started. Stories of colonies wiped out through the centuries, mysteriously with no survivors, were splashed galactic history.

The Jedi had thought they had exterminated the last Corbos Leviathan in 12 ABY, at least according to the records left by Master Durron, but the disappearances had continued in the years following the Gulag Plague. And now, the Sith had turned their sights to reclaiming Corbos and its valuable resources. The first expedition had met a similar fate as all the others, invoking the Sith to send a much larger and stronger force to either subjugate the feral Leviathans into their service once again... or exterminate them.

For the Lady of Secrets, she was not interested in helping with that endeavor. Oh no, she was far more interested in what lurked beneath the surface of this world. If the Leviathans had resurfaced yet again, it meant larva and eggs were hidden below in the old mining tunnels, dormant volcanoes, and other hidden places. She wanted those specimens for... purely academic reasons, and she had felt it required a personal touch. Masked and robed, she emerged from her shuttle to the team of her servants that would accompany her.

"Report."

"Our forward scouts, what were left of them, located a nest beneath a nearby volcanic crater. At least three adult Leviathans are guarding it, maybe more."

 

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Corbos Mining City​

Objective: 1​

Post #2​

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By the force, by Palpatine's black bones, the screaming only became worse. It got louder, more harried, more distressed. More voices joined the cacophony in his head as he rounded a corner of a building, staring up. That was then they all seemed to coalesce into a single, horrifying drone that pushed into his skull, trying to push into his mind and break him, dare him to charge forward to make the pain stop, even if going into a monster's jaws.

Jaws, however, seemed to be all he could see. He was staring up into the glowing, but somehow dark eyes of a gargantuan beast, a Leviathan staring down at him as he stood in position. He looked defiant, as though it had no effect, though on the inside, fear and anger were coursing throughout him. Fear of dying and being held in this...thing forever, and anger at his Overseer for deciding that this would be some sort of 'amusing' test. One day, he would kill him.

As the stomping began, the Acolyte turned and began to sprint, using the force to speed himself up and even hopping over a couple of landspeeders to avoid being either grinded to a pulp in gnashing teeth or squashed into a puddle by the giant feet racing after him. It felt like an eternity as he finally recognized where he had to be, that he was in position. He spoke loudly into his communicator, the urgency in his voice obvious. "Open fire! Aim for the back growths!"

He was so relieved that he did his homework. As he heard the sound of accelerated rail fire from Designated Marksmen and even the SIF-71 aiming particularly at the back pustules, the roar of the Leviathan was obvious, pain in its voice. Mulokhai turned around to see it tensing and turning around to try and find its assaulters. The Sith wondered if bursting the pustules would not just free the soul, but take the memories and knowledge this creation stole. It didn't matter now.

Sprinting forward, the Acolyte began shouting again. "MTB! On its back, now! Lieutenant, everyone put fire on it!" Even as the rocket launcher was readied, Mulokhai began to rapidly approach the gargantuan horror. This was risky. He couldn't play things safe here, though. Not with this sort of enemy.

 

[Cassandra Paige]

"Consulting," she answered succinctly.

She didn't turn to look at him, instead those grey eyes still on the sensors.

"Can you pick up anything beneath the surface? Life form readings, I mean."

"Give me a moment to recalibrate, ma'am."

She turned then, looking up at Tash who had been standing right behind her.

"GenPals has intimate knowledge, on a genetic level, of the creatures they suspect are responsible for this. We've..... played with their DNA, to be fair," she said with a slight wrinkle of her nose. "They will deal with the creatures themselves, but we are here to offer.... informational support as it were."

That was why the scientists were here. Cass herself? To be honest, she was only here because when they had agreed to contract with Didact, she had confirmed that Tash planned to over see directly. It was a chicken and the egg sort of problem- because for all she knew, he was here because she was.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Where the Shadow Hand flew low, the Dark Lord flew high.

Carnifex spurred the Dread Behemoth Adramelech higher and higher into the sky, until they were completely engulfed by the dark clouds that hung forebodingly over Corbos. The thick fog could not impede his sight, for the Force was his ally and with it his vision cut through the clouds like they weren't even there in the first place. He could see the forces of the Empire assembling, the might of his Empire moving to his will as the first of the errant Leviathans were engaged.

Then Adramelech and Carnifex dropped from the clouds, like a meteor they careened towards the ground at full speed. At the last minute the Dark Lord pulled the reins up and the beast obeyed his command, swooping low over the earth as they honed in on an isolated Leviathan near the outskirts of the mining city.

And like a hawk honing in on a field mouse Adramelech latched onto the Leviathan's back with its powerful talons, pushing the great beast down towards the ground with its weight. The Dark Lord removed one hand off the reins and unsheathed the Sith Runeblade Derriphan, twin sister of Daesumnor. With the power of the Force at his fingertips he flung his sword like a spear down towards the Leviathan's head, piercing its skull with a single blow and lodging his weapon deep in its cranium. Then, like a reaping scythe, the blade swun end over end within the body of the Leviathan, eviscerating its innards and several flesh and bone as the beast writhed in agony under Adramelech's unbreakable hold.

With every cut Derriphan harvested the trapped souls the Leviathan had devoured in its rampage across the colony, and with a great gurgle the beast collapsed and fell silent. Carnifex recalled his sword to his hand, the blade slick with the gore of the kill, and he sheathed it across his back.

"Take to the sky, my beast. There are many more fiends that yet live."

Adramelech roared in confirmation, and the duo once again soared through the air.

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX5i_lrHvkA[/media]​

There they are.

​If he could feel much of anything like a mortal would he might've had goosebumps seeing the huge Leviathan emerge from tunnels, caves, their earthen nests they retreated to after wiping out the previous colonists of the mining city. They were living superweapons in their time the pride and joy of Sith Armies living juggernauts with vaults of souls that the Sith masters could use by calling upon their memories and knowledge. They had so much potential in the New Sith Empire the possibilities were endless. He would need to see about collaborating again with [member="Taeli Raaf"] on experiments afterwards.

​But for now he would bring them death.

​The Destroyer guided Galvanoth higher overlooking the great mining city that exploded with activity from the invading Sith forces that came wave after wave. An endless tide to meet the dark horde that surged from the deep to devour them all. Streaks of fire filled the skies as the large creatures tried to bring down the intruding forces. But they had no idea just how in over their heads they were, why would they these were just beasts after all.

But then came the Black-Iron Tyrant himself [member="Darth Carnifex"].

A dive bomb cutting through the sky while the Shadow Hand went low, he went high dropping down like a rock onto a leviathan his blade cutting and carving, the twin of Daesumnor in action. But the Dark Lord wasn't alone. A pair of leviathan charged the Dark Lord while he was tearing his victim to pieces. A big mistake.

Behold Galvanoth the Genocide.

A thunderous roar rang out shaking the very earth as he flew right over Kaine the beasts maw opened wide and dark hellfire erupted in a massive tidal wave bathing the earth and completely engulfing one of the chargine creatures. This wasn't just normal fire. This was dark flame rooted in the dark side that voraciously ate the creature like an acidic compound, it was as searing and sticky like napalm that spread and relentlessly burned through hide, flesh, and bone. But the Genocide wasn't done yet. The beast collided with the second one with its clawed frontal legs a full speed seven ton monster was more than enough to knock the Leviathan clear off its feet, pinning it under the creatures massive girth. The Shadow hand swung Daesumnor down again and again into the creatures skull. Every blow from the runeblade tore flesh, rend bone while Galvanoth's great maw practically dripping with shadow and flame tore into the chest of the beast, it struggled helplessly under the mighty girth until it simply stopped moving. The sound of screeching from its melting partner still filling the air when he tugged on the reins.

"To the skies mighty Galvanoth. We will bathe them all in fire and death." ​The beast launched into the air then. A seamless coordination with the Dark Lord that flew beside him. They worked in tandem even without directly speaking. A true sight to behold in the skies as all beneath their monstrous beasts was bathed in darkness with every beat of their creatures wings.

Post: 2

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[Taeli Raaf]

BYOO: Collecting Specimens

Off in the distance, she could see the great winged shapes and the lights of battle from the mining colony... and she smiled. It warmed her heart to see her creations being put to good use, even f they were only fighting ancient beasts. Oh, now there was an idea she could possibly pursue. She would log that away for further theorizing. In the more immediate vicinity, her forces were cautiously approaching the volcanic crater that led to a Leviathan nest. The adults had disappeared... but she could sense them. A constant refrain of screams of souls, tormented for eternity, and they could sense her and her forces.

Cresting the ridge of the crater, she could make out the entrance to the underground nest the Leviathans had carved out for themselves... and positioned right above it was an incredible example of a specimen. A rumbling from behind revealed where the other two adults were. They had setup a primitive sort of ambush. How quaint.

"Engage," she ordered. "Keep the corpses intact. They will provide useful data."

Blaster bolts were joined by Force Lightning from her Dark Adepts as battle was joined.

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

"Leviathans." Cass had informed him a week before the mission would begin. "Our life really is a drama holo-flick."

If anything Itash seemed to be amused by that, stepping up closer to her, giving her no way to retreat as he looked down to her. His hand curled around hers and he pulled it softly to his hand, giving her knuckle the smallest of kisses. There was palpable warmth from that expression. A relationship closing, removing the distance of act and laying bare what was beneath. Or so it would seem anyway. In more than one way her incident with the Raykkan had been to his benefit.

"We could take a holiday away from all this, Cass." It had been an idea floated months back. Business, their companies growing, the realities of the Galaxy, all had their part in pushing those plans back. "At least for a week or so."

He eyed the sensor readings behind her.

"Is that a correct reading?"

"Yessir."

Tash frowned. "Those things are huge."

 

[Darth Athora]

Objective II
Nearby: No clue??

Blackened wings carrying a demonic creature across the skies could be seen from the ground. A terrifying creature was flying at incredible speeds above, in a beeline for the center of the mining city to rendezvous with the engineers. He was deadset on his mission of defending the engineers from anything that would disrupt them from their mission. "Captain, give me the coordinates. I'll be landing shortly." the creature said into his commlink.

"Sending them to your display, Chieftain." a voice from Inku's commlink replied. At that moment, Inku's HUD revealed where he was meant to be. He landed onto the ground with a hefty thud and was greeted by several troopers. "Take me to the engineers." Inku commanded. The troopers turned and walked forward, leading Inku to the engineers. "Begin your work. We shall set up defensive positions and keep you alive. I suggest working fast." The troopers began setting up machine gun emplacements and checked their weapons. Inku held his spear in hand and readied his mind for the task ahead.

 

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Corbos Mining City​

Objective: 1​

Post #3​

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As Mulokhai ran forward, at a sprint he didn't even know he could do, his eyes travelled upwards. At first they saw the Leviathan, and then it went further. He looked up and for a moment, everything seemed to pause. Huge black shapes, with wings like obsidian beating down from the sky. The first thing to hit him was the presence, a stench of death and violence that felt like something he'd only had an inkling of on Feluca. He was there. The Shadow Hand.

Trying to refocus, the Sith's own presence, his beating heart that seemed now to exude the power of the dark side into his veins pushed him forward as he leaped up with a surprising height, the crimson blade of his lightsaber travelling down like a stalagmite. It struck into the small of the Leviathan's back, causing it to let out a great roar and throwing it off, causing it to whiff as its tendrils barely missed two members of Akk Squad on the rooftop.

While he climbed up the creature's back using his weapon like a climbing pick, his eyes focused on the foul postules above him, it was then that he felt what was even higher in the air, what casted the Shadow Hand down below. The Dark Lord was up there, travelling above the city, even if for a flighting moment. He felt a power, a presence that had only been described to him, and now he truly understood. It pushed something in him to the forefront, a fire and an anger, a desire. He would reach those lofty heights. He had just a taste of that power, and he would not stop until it was his.

The lightsaber continued to stab, to pierce flesh as it brought him up closer. The screams were wracking in his mind now, but none of it mattered. He felt the dark side washing over him, intoxicating him in a way the greatest wines never could. They were drowned out by the ecstasy of the moment, and as he found himself face to face with one of the pustules, he stared in. He saw the eyes of those who had failed, and there was not a pitiful bone in his body. All he felt was disgust. All he saw was a mirror, showing him what he would never allow himself to become.

The Acolyte continued to climb, the Leviathan whipping around in pain and anger, only fuelling its attacker as the tendrils came up towards the upper part of its back, reaching to try and squash the being burning into it. Mulokhai's senses were so clear as he leaped up, his saber twirling and slicing the end off the tendril. The Leviathan reared its head back and roared, and that was when he struck. The Sith pushed his free hand out behind himself, using the force to rocket himself forward with his saber extended forwards.

The crimson blade struck true, piercing the creature's eye as it roared again in anguish. With its head back in position now, the Acolyte used the force to keep his balance, demanding even more of it. He burrowed the blade deeper and yanked, pulling it back with him as he moved, tearing through flesh and sinew into the Leviathan's head. He repeatedly stabbed it deeper, ripping the blade around in its skull until he felt the mass of flesh and trapped souls begin to wither underneath him. It lost power to its legs, but Mulokhai did not stop. The intoxication, the drunkenness on the violence, it didn't subside.

The ground suddenly came much closer, and as the beast collided with it, one of its arms crashing into and partially destroying a building, the Acolyte finally stopped. He stood upright, pulling his blade upwards as it deactivated. He stared down at what he'd done, almost...confused, for a moment. He looked up and turned his gaze, first to the Legionnaires on the ground and then to those on the roofs above. That was him. It was...what he could be. As he focused for a moment, he found that he couldn't find that power again. It had hidden back inside, scurried back to the dark recesses inside him. He didn't know what to say. He only knew one thing though, staring down at the corpse of the great monster he'd so feared.

He won.

 

[Cassandra Paige]

She didn't step back away from him, letting him draw her hand up to his lips- her left hand, the cybernetic one. A standard model, for now, as a custom piece was being worked on. It matched the missing arm in the broad strokes, but missed some of the familiar features- the mole on the inside of her elbow, or the small scar from childhood between her thumb and index finger. Small things, minor things. Grey eyes watched, her face expressionless, as he settled a series of small kisses across her knuckles. She felt no particular emotional connection to the lost limbs, there was no part of her that looked at the false arm with any sense of dysphoria, despite the differences.

But his choice to take that hand instead of the other was the only right one. A reminder from him to her that he didn't care.

Cassandra wasn't accustomed to the uncomfortable sensation of feeling vulnerable. It was easier and better to shut it off, pretend that she did not. Ever since she'd woken up on the Didact ship with him beside her, she had been unbalanced. It was better than it had been at first, but something had changed between them on that day- it had changed some part of the game, but not in a way Cass was familiar with. She felt like she was missing some of the rules now and while the results seemed to say that she was winning in the way she had been aiming for, there was that itching sensation that she didn't fully grasp the entirety of the deck they were now playing with.

She left her hand in his, turning slightly to see what he was seeing. That brought a small smile.

"Mmmm, they are yes," she answered easily, far less surprised than he was and liking that.

"Bring us down in the cleared zone the Empire sent us coordinates for," she instructed. "We'll get the science team off loaded with their equipment."

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

"I won't ever get used to the things the Empire plays with on a daily basis." Tash murmured while studying the reads of the sensory output. It was only moderately exaggeration for her benefit, in truth it was intimidating to him. A reminder that no matter what there was a larger beast just a step away. Sobering to a degree, but it only reinforced his desire to expand himself even more.

The landing protocols were engaged and Tash guided Cassandra with him, moving slowly through the ship towards the cargo bay. But rather than stepping inside immediately he shifted.

Using the momentum of his weight to push her deep into the alcove nearby, sheltered by the shadows and the timing, kissing her deeply in the progress. He deepened the kiss hard, biting her lip a fraction down, before the detachment came a moment later. "Thought I saw something, but... no, I think you look quite wonderful as is." A smile, a wink and then he let her go.

Waiting for her to join him again.

 

[Onrai]

Objective 1b

"Leviathans." Vanessa sighed. "Do they never learn?"

Leviathans had once been responsible for the massacre of a mining colony here. In fact, they had been responsible for several. Why a group of miners had decided to ignore past precedent and attempt to deliberately reopen this deathtrap of a facility was beyond Vanessa's comprehension - such was hubris, after all. But a hypothesis had been brewing. Vanessa knew from her constant studies on the arts of Sith Alchemy that Leviathans were some of the most ancient of constructs - biological war machines crafted by the Dark Jedi who were responsible for the founding of the Sith Order. Sorzus Syn claimed to be the maker of them, though whether she was merely the one who mastered their manufacture or the one who originated it was unknown.

Vanessa carefully crept along the world's surface, looking over every crag and crevice in the landscape. She was sure such a creature was here - she could feel it. Taming such a beast could prove to be an interesting development - especially if such knowledge on how to create it was reverse-engineered from biological samples. Perhaps it could even be cloned - she doubted such technology existed back then.

Either way, she was certainly worried.

 

[Nan'eth'illa]

A

[member="Cassandra Paige"] [member="Itash Mecetti"]​

She was one of those arrogant souls who wanted to establish a mining operation on Corbos.

In fact, Darth Filiae, as the owner of Andromeda Inc. was set on it: If anyone were to establish successful mining here, then it would be her. This was not just a matter of personal pride, but of gaining the confidence of her board of executives - A slimy bunch of leeches - And the respect of her subordinates. She needed to create a safe perimeter within which the mining operation could be maintained.

Not being equipped with her personal Kakdijs Zuta - Unlike the Dark Lord, his companion, and the Csen'ai, cloaked somewhere up in the sky - she used different means to match the beasts for speed and punching power, while staying at a greater reach:

The speeder purred under her as she shifted her grip on the power lance. She lowered the visor of her protective helmet and shouldered the pike-like weapon before setting off down from the hill on which she had posed.

The leviathan was busy stamping to pieces a patch of black fabrics and blood, once alive, and chomping down on the flesh and soul. It reared its head to the howl of the engines and bared its teeth in a ferocious roar. The massive body turned with rumbling footsteps - Darth Filiae lowered her lance. The leviathan's bulk was just barely not quick enough to avoid as she veered the speeder to the side and stuck out the point. It punctured just above the psuedo-clavicle with an audible bang as the tip burst through the hide. She let go of the lance to not be thrown from her seat, and let the momentum carry her a little further.

Turning the speeder finally, she happened to glance where the GenPals ship was touching down and its esteemed guests were arranged to come off-board. She had heard through the vine that one Itash Mecetti would be among them. A part of her was glad, and my have spurred the extravagant show of leviathan slaying.

She removed her helmet, to see better. Her bald, blue crown smooth and shiny as her monochromatic red eyes turned to the ship expectantly. A confident grin growing on her lips.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Emperor surveyed Corbos from astride his monstrous steed, the beating of its wings like mighty thunderclaps. His Empire had taken to the cleansing of Corbos with great enthusiasm, hunter killer squads cornering and destroying the most unruly of Leviathans while his alchemists and breeders managed to capture and contain others.

But it seemed like the population of Leviathans occupying the mining city had not diminished in any significant capacity, they kept appearing in greater and greater numbers; attracted by the fresh influx of life.

His eyes settled on the cleared landing zone designated by the Empire, where several new transports were setting down. Soldiers, supplies, and other officials poured out from the steel bellies of the Imperial ships, a great cacophony of action as the landing crews went to make sure everything and everyone was directed to their proper place. Carnifex pulled back on the reins of his dragon, and willed him to dive down towards the landing zone. No doubt his arrival would cause many unfamiliar with the Emperor's mount to scatter for shelter, but as Adramelech settled down and the identity of the gargantuan rider became apparent those who were startled quickly regained their composure and returned to their work.

"Lady Paige, Lord Mecetti, a great pleasure it is to see you could come to Corbos on such short notice," the Dark Lord called out, his keen eyes identifying the distinct pair once they had left their mode of transportation.

[member="Cassandra Paige"] | [member="Itash Mecetti"]​