The Untamed Wilds [ First Order's Dominion of Zonama Sekot. ]

[LT-137]

Unknown Regions;
- Sekot System, Zonama.

With their foes righteously punished for defying their place amongst the stars, the First Order once again turns its gaze towards the untamed frontier, seeking to bring the light of order to these lawless stars.

It was by this decree that the Order’s exploratory divisions had found themselves orbiting what had come to be known as the sentient world of Zonama Sekot. The transient planet system was covered in lush, tropical jungles and a sea of nigh-impenetrable clouds that bathed the skies in subtle hues of ethereal silver. Beneath the ocean of swirling, seemingly sentient storms, lay a world untouched by the sins of war for nearly eight centuries - allowing those who dwelled atop this living world to prosper in relative tranquility.

To those that deem themselves worthy enough to step into the folds of living history, your mission is simple. Bend this planet to our Supreme Leader’s will, and ensure its loyalty at any cost. Deny this world its means of escape, and ensnare those that wander into our new found holdings. None shall learn of this annexation and live to tell the tale. Subjugate the populace, for the Yuuzhan Vong are a blight upon our galaxy and deserve no mercy for the sins of their fathers. Seize the means of production, and set yourself to the task of learning how this world produces its own defensive measures. Such untapped knowledge would surely benefit our forces in the days to come. Destroy the sentient creatures that seek to deny us our rightful hold over this world, and teach them a lesson in heavy-handed “Imperial diplomacy.”

In addition to the technological secrets that mark the surface of this world, our records show that several force-wielding cultures had made this planet the centre of their religious, and often heretical operations - hiding away from persecution and subsiding off the living force. The Supreme Leader himself has taken a vested interest in what lies beneath Zonama's terrestrial veneer, ensure he is protected - and assist him in divining the truth behind the silvered lies.

The era of equanimity that reigns upon this sentient world, amidst the turmoil that despoiled the galaxy thrice over, would finally come to an end as a new day dawns upon the world of Zonama Sekot.

 

[RIP Carlyle Rausgeber]

Location: Zonama Sekot Orbit, FIV Vigilance
Objective: Operation Schildknappe
Allies: [member="Morro"]
Post: I

Fleet Admiral Carlyle Rausgeber crossed the bridge deck of the Vanquisher-Class destroyer Vigilance. Rausgeber carried a weight about hm. One which had the attention of the crew, whose attention gravitated towards him. Commodore Caspian Wulfgang stood to attention, turning back to meet the Fleet Admiral, in a crisp salute. "Admiral," The officer began, his tone even and cool, "Sir, all vessels are ready and accounted for." The younger officer reported. He stood in quite stark opposition to Rausgeber. While Carlyle was old, Wulfgang was young. While the latter wore a large, black greatcoat, while Carlyle wore his signature white robes.

"Good," Carlyle curtly replied, waving down, gesturing for the salute to end, Wulfgang obliged, but still stood to attention. He brushed past the officer, and his subordinate lieutenant, eyes fixated on the void around the Vigilance. "How long until our vessels are in prime defensive position?" He asked, eyes darting over the viewport, watching as TIE fighters began to perform flight patterns around the vessels.

"Estimated fifteen minutes admiral." Wulfgang reported, a small smirk pursing his lips.

Carlyle turned his head, and glared back at the commodore derisively, "Make it ten." Carlyle commanded, before returning to his position, hands clasped neatly together behind his back. "We are running on a tight schedule here, and I will not have it delayed by complacency." He bitterly mused.

 

[Tour Sera]

Remote Jungles, Zonama Sekot

Fireteam Apollyon slowly traversed the dense, jungle floor of the alien planet. Five auxiliaries strong, the lightly armored, All-Kalzerian team advanced in their standard firing line formation, with about ten feet between each Aux as they swept the area from waypoint to waypoint. An increasing number of Kalzerians were beginning to join the ranks of the FO these days, at least until the planet finally swore allegiance to the faction after decades of isolation. And while Kalzerians typically didn't go off-world, it began to spread as common knowledge that enlisting in the auxiliary, or if you weren't too ugly, the Stormtroopers, conferred with it a few more economic benefits than staying planetside. With luck, you'd be garrisoned on Kalzeron anyway.

If you were a little more bloodthirsty than average however, you joined Fireteam Apollyon. Each carrying their armed and primed Sky Raider assault blaster rifles, they communicated only via commlinks on the HUD's of their helmets. They were a stealthy, silent bunch, led by none other than Aux sergeant Tour Sera, who by now was beginning to make a name for herself not only as a shrewd leader, but also as a gallant little NCO who wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Fireteam Apollyon, report."

"Apollyon One, aye."

"Apollyon Two, aye."

"Apollyon Three, aye."

"Apollyon Four, aye."

"Apollyon Five, aye."

The small sergeant raised her hand, signalling for the other five to stop. "At ease", she said over the comms as the others stepped out of line and formed up on here.

"Apollyon, report."

"We've covered a mile, Sergeant Sera. No signs of activity", her corporal, a tall, lean man standing beside her replied as he took off his helmet, revealing his leathery-grey skin, yellow eyes, ash black teeth and jet back hair. The others began to take off their helmet as well, the other 3 males and another Kalzerian female taking a deep breath of the alien planet's thick, jungle air before sighing. Tour kept hers on.

"The LZ must be at least two dozen klicks behind us. I was expecting an area denial operation, not perimeter patrol."

"At ease, Trask. At least we're not being sent down in that bloody sub", Sgt. Sera replied with a shrug. Apollyon had no reply for her.

"Kalzerians don't belong at the bottom of the sea", she simple concluded, prompting a few nods in reply from her team. "Or close to any body of water, for that matter." Tour and the others laughed a little, waving her hand to perish the thought before they good too comfortable on the job. "Alright, you granite slugs, we'll take a quick break here. Set up a perimeter."

"The lizards still with us?"

"Aye, sergeant."
"Aye, sergeant."
"Aye, sergeant."
"Aye, sergeant."
"Aye, sergeant."

 

[Soundwave]

Location | Orbit above Zonama Sekot, FIV Vigilance
Objective | Pending orders from Order of Ren
Company | None as of present

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Zul's ominous figure would be seen walking down the corridors of the Vanquisher Class Destroyer, his hands clasped behind his back as he made his way to a room that served as his temporary quarters for the duration of this assault on Zonama. Normally the space would be sparsely populated on an average cycle, but now was a stark contrast to that as First Order Stormtroopers moved in groups, marching down to their assigned positions to prepare for their departure to the surface below. His presence would draw a few glances from lower ranking officers and crew whilst the Stormtroopers had completely opted to ignore him altogether to maintain their disciplined and organized appearance. The First Order had been tasked with subjugating the planet and its inhabitants to the Supreme Leader, a task in which Zul had no issue with carrying out.

As Zul arrived at his temporary quarters, he would raise a hand to the console, prompting the door to open up as he stepped inside. The sound of marching Stormtroopers and chatter had ceased entirely once the door shut behind him, allowing him a brief respite of silence. He would move further inside as he began preparations for his departure with the troops and other members from the Order of Ren that had been sent to Zonama Sekot. He would pause at a table that had four items neatly arranged across its surface in front of him. All of them were his weapons; a set of standard lightsabers from his days as an Inquisitor of the Galactic Empire and a pair of Sickle Sabers, his own specialized weapons for cases where a lightsaber was not up to par.

Zul would reach down as he picked the two lightsabers with standard hilts off the table, giving them a flourish in his hands before igniting them to ensure everything was working properly. A pair of crimson sabers would spark to life as he observed them before he switched the sabers off, satisfied with their condition as he clipped them to his belt. Against the Yuzhan Vong, they would not be as effective, but they still had their uses. His primary weapon during this battle was going to be his sickle sabers; superior utility in combat against a foe that was known for being able to combat lightsabers, and still lethal if utilized properly when attacking exposed areas. The hooked ends would work particularly well in getting under their armor or grabbing their weapons out of their hands. He would pick them up as he slid them behind his back, keeping them locked in via magnetics. He had no need to check on them since he ensured they were cleaned and tuned on a frequent basis.

Zul had only a couple of years within the First Order as opposed to others who had dedicated nearly their entire lives, but he did hold age and experience over a vast majority of the members in the Order of Ren. In this battle, his experience would be his ally and his weapons the tools in which he would help seize victory for both the Order and the Supreme Leader. He would once more leave his quarters as he made his way to the hangar of the ship, getting ready to embark upon one of its shuttles to make his way planetside. He specialized in information gathering so it only made sense for him to be among the early forces deployed so that he could relay his findings to the rest of those ready to engage and subjugate the heavily vegetated world.

 

[Alkor Centaris]

The Living Planet, Unknown Regions of Space.
Catacombs of the Dark Jedi Temple, now ruined.​

Objective: Unexpected Rendezvous
Allies: The First Order

For nearly five decades, the Jen'jidai Stronghold called Asgard was a place of learning and cultivation for those who strived in darkness. While the world around them changed, grew, adapted, and learned their ways, it grew more acutely aware of the life energies that swelled around them. Seeped in that intoxicating miasma, the plant life grew fond of dark masters, and even evolved in new ways to protect them from harm.

When they were driven from their home by traitors, the power waned and walls crumbled away. Time eroded Asgard into naught but a memory, only strong enough to tell its tale in the boneyard scattered amongst its bowels. The ones who came before whispered to those who braved the dangers of Zonoma Sekot to hear their tale, and they rewarded them with long forgotten knowledge.

Alkor alone remembered.

Eight hundred and fifty standard years spanned the chasm between the fall of the Dark Jedi Order and the moment where he stood before an amalgamation of souls, forever trapped within living crystal. The lambent purple glow radiated brilliantly across his face as the Dark Master reached out and ran his fingers across forbidden fruit, an old habit born of exposure to the Dark Side. Those with power always craved more. It was their curse, and the cost was their humanity.

Voices from beyond the grave echoed in his thoughts, disjointed and eager to jump at the first presence in their midst for a millennia. He clutched his forehead with the same hand, seized immediately with regret. "Quiet," he rasped as his mind worked to push them out.

Ebon vines twisted around the pathway and slithered over his feet, and the Dark Jedi took a step backward. They seemed to stop and consider him, then relaxed like a familiar dog when a friend came nearby. "Once, even the wildlife on this world bent their knees before us."

The Corellian Exile glanced up, and the glimmering image of a tall, bedraggled man stared down at the Flora implacably. "Such phenomena were thought to be born of corruption and overexposure, in much the same way as Sith Alchemy. But we learned the truth. The Force flows in all things- even in the Vong themselves. They cannot touch it, cannot wield it, cannot perceive it, and yet, it simply exists."

"We called this 'power," another voice rasped. "But we were short-sighted. The Force itself is simply a means to an end, and what it touches is not blessed. We were wrong to call it a blessing, or invest ourselves in the idea that it imbues others with strength. This was our failure."

Alkor recognized the smaller of the two, a stoic faced man with striking features and a powerful gait. He walked to the opposite end of the antechamber as Centaris observed, and the room blossomed into an eerie crimson light. "Power changes hands," the second speaker explained, "the combatants ever shuffle, but the war remains constant. Our greatest mistake was conjoining ourselves to any part of that conflict."

"The vision we had," the larger of the two bellowed, "took us far and away from the battlefields. We held this place at the cost of life and limb for decades, and in return, we had a home. Our knowledge lived on in this place. Yet, in time, we were drawn into the battle once again."

"The faces change, the reasons, but the cycle drags on." Alkor looked up, toward the shimmering orb of light in the center of the chamber. It bathed him in luminous darkness, and he let out a ragged breath. "Alkor Centaris," the frigid tendrils raked his flesh and he gasped silently. "You have fallen far."

"The darkness does not guide," he replied. "It does not protect, nor does it heal. The darkness hungers, and we feed it."

"Are you so far gone?" the second speaker appeared before him, and he felt a cool hand touch his face. The spectre lifted his face, and the clear blue gaze tore into his soul. "I remember a man who put little faith in light or darkness, but a great deal in the idea of something worth fighting for."

"Men die," Alkor replied bluntly. "That man must have, too."

The first apparition turned its gaze away, distracted. "The winds of change blow across this world again," it muttered.

"As they are wont to do." The second image let go of Alkor and considered him. "Why have you returned to Zonoma Sekot, if not to internalize our knowledge?" The vines retracted toward the doorway and Alkor let out an inaudible sigh of relief.

"Familiarity, perhaps," he answered. "I'm a simple man. I need simple distractions."

"Indeed," the ghost chuckled. "What is it you fight for, Alkor?" It asked at last. "What spurs you to keep living?" It mocked him with a hideous question as it disappeared from view, and Alkor glanced out toward the skies of Zonoma Sekot. He could sense thickness in the air, that much was certain.

War was coming to this world.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Location: Jungles of Zonama Sekot
Objective: Await orders; liberate the planet
Allies: To be confirmed...

--

Would Raijin lose his head? Would he be arrested, tried and executed? Maybe. But, then, it would be an unfair process. Tried for the crimes committed in a former life; a blind life serving the Jedi. A life he had wiped from his memory.

The Knight intercepted the call while on Dosuun about the First Order moving in on Zonama Sekot, and so he would covertly leave and follow suit to the planet to help them. It was all he could do. Maybe [member="Samka Derith"] had eventually let him go forth with just such an intention; to watch and witness his actions following empty words. There was much work to do if he was to lead armies and command fleets in the wake of the Dark Side.

Upon the surface and the outskirts of the jungle that bristled with the living Force, he was in his basic dress that bore little grandeur or status. The pecking ladder was high above him, and he stood at the bottom looking up. By his side, the dark saber crafted on Maena months ago. His scar cut through his eye, and his resolve was set in serving the Dark Side and proving himself.

Slowly raising the comlink on his wrist to his mouth, Raijin spoke to the open signal he had focused on the First Order.

"My name is Raijin. I am here to serve the First Order and I have touched down on the surface. I await your instruction to liberate the planet."

They would not know the name, but some may know the face. It was best to stay out of sight of those wanting his head for now until he had made progress.

 

[Krayn]

Mission One. ​

The Living Planet.
A Thriving Example of a Death World

The fleet of Star Destroyers stood off the metallic world. Spectacular and isolated with a reputation and nature that varied depending on, as they would say, how the planet itself felt. Among that fleet lay the Star Destroyer Ravager, a massive a newly commissioned beast that had been constructed deep in First Order space and deployed to this campaign for its maiden run. Having fallen into position among the rest of the First Order fleet the Ravager released it’s payload of transport vessels, almost invisible next to the lumbering behemoth that was their mothership.

On board the transports lay the Eighth Regiment of the First Order’s stormtrooper division, reissued and recruited from all manner of sign-ups and tithes from across First Order space. Each of the white-armorer troopers prepared themselves for touchdown as any good stormtrooper would, a weapons check and a last minute inspection of the troopers gear in front of you.

There was a certain level of nervous expectancy upon them as the shuttle’s frame shook, an indication that they had slipped through the orbital shell of the planet itself. Each of them had confidence in the trooper next to them, teams having been trained from the youngest of ages before being dispatched into the Eighth for additional conditioning. All confident that what was coming would be as easy as the training drills for which they constantly ran when onboard the Ravager.

A bark of command came from the squad leader up front. His words distorted into the same vocal as his entire team causing a quick scurry to make sure weapons were armed, checked and rechecked again. For the second, third or in some cases forth time each trooper would inspect the armour of a neighbour, tightening panels and sealing joints. Silence had taken over from the banter and orders, jolts and bangs replaced the quiet surrounds and the only noise to accompany it would be the roar of the engines as they tore through the atmospherically thick air.

“Prepare for landing!” The automated voice, highly electronic and situational warned. As one the armoured soldiers all tensed, mentally preparing themselves for anything that may come from beyond. The ship gave a single sharp jolt, the engines dying so suddenly it was if they had all died and lost their bearings on the world. Each of the troopers turned towards the transport’s doorway which made the slightest of mechanical hums and opened towards the ground.

The terrain beyond was thick with undergrowth, even after being carefully considered as one of the emptier areas of vegetation, it provided plenty of cover as from within the twenty stormtroopers filed out of the transport in two quick lines, some fell to a knee taking up overwatch positions with their blasters raised. Yep as orders were raised the landing zone became less hostile and more calm, the clearing soon full of stormtroopers as assembling squads found their commanders and captains.

“Squad Forn” A stormtrooper approached the captain as his designation was called.
“Sir.” A stormtrooper wearing the pauldron of squad leader fell to a casual attention, his blaster held loosely at his waist.
“We’re moving into the jungle, I need you to take your fire team to scout out the area to our west.” Each point was indicated by a wave of the hand, standard stormtrooper procedure to alert a trooper as to direction. “Report back in twelve minutes, if you meet resistance. Engage to kill.”
“Yes sir.” The leader departed and moved passed the troopers he was stood with moments before, indicating with his hands for them to fall into formation.
“Forn with me.” With that the squad moved off into the trees, their white uniforms fading into the ever present green and browns of the jungle.

 

[Rhaegar Nemesis Dib]

LOCATION: mountain slope
OBJECTIVE: locate missing personnel, discover the reason for their absence
ALLIES: FO

He crouched within the great branches of the massive tree. The dark green suit blending in with the jungle's foilage. Absently he toyed with the buttons upon the jacket as he watched the terrain that rolled up the hill. The planet rang out with the living Force. And yet spread throughout the surface was the telltale voids that signified the Yuuzhan Vong presence.

The hill led up the mountain, a massive point of interest. Geothermal energy was an easy and readily available source that could be utilized by the arriving First Order. And this mountain revealed many locations in the sensors. Already several teams had been sent up the mountainside to disappear. So the newly 'minted' Ren volunteered to scout ahead.

The shades hid the shrewd eyes that peered out upon the landscape. It seemed as if a peaceful stroll through nature was all that waited those who would make their way up the incline. But the vanishing soldiers and scientists spoke to an underlying problem that needed to be solved. And the Force user sensed the problem. Or, perhaps the correct term, didn't sense.

Dropping from the tree he landed quietly upon the bed of leaves before rising to his full height and slowly moving up the hill. The ever present cane lightly tapped along.

From the outside he appeared as an aristocrat out for a leisurely stroll. Three piece suit, elegant cane, shades upon his head, and no weapons to be seen. Here he was making his way through a moss carpeted path with trees shading him from the sun and a cool breeze blowing from the east.

After an hour he had made quite some distance up the mountain and paused, leaning heavily upon the cane. Beads of sweat adorned his brow. Plucking the white handkerchief from his breast pocket he lightly dabbed the moisture from his skin, pocketing the linen and retrieving a communicator. Deft fingers typed.

Yuuzhan Vong presence detected. Evidence of survey teams and military units found. No survivors located. Continuing up the mountain to locate enemy base.

Replacing the communicator he straightened and continued up the mountain as eyes watched him unseen.

 

[Tour Sera]

Zonama Sekot Jungle Floor
24 klicks from LZ

The six auxiliaries sat in a circle, facing each other but spread out across four trees. their helmets were removed now, and each was either inspecting their Sky Raider rifle, doing a spot check on their gear, or looking at their Ysalamir companions in their reinforced flexisteel compartments attached to the sides of their battlesuits. Staff Sergeant Tour Sera was recalibrating her grav boots when all of a sudden a faint ping from their helmet HUD's began to catch their attention. The Kalzerians looked at each other for a moment, and then quickly rose to their feet - putting their helmets on and picking up their blaster rifles.

"Several pings on long range personal scanners, sergeant", one of the aux's said as she loaded her Sky Raider with a fresh energy clip and primed it. "One klick out at 080. I'll try and contact them, ser-"

"Negative, Ordan. There aren't supposed to be any other aux's that close", Tour interrupted as she picked up the last thermal detonator and strapped it to her utility belt. "The regulars aren't supposed to be this far out yet."

"It could just be an animal, sergeant", her corporal interjected.

Tour toggled a button on her helmet, activating the photo-reactive function on her suit. In a second her suit mimicked the color and contour of the environment around her, and she effectively disappeared into the fauna, save for a little distortion from her movements. The five others soon vanished as well, each tagging each other on their HUD's by triangulating their communications within the Fireteam.

"Radio silence with everyone else until we confirm anomaly status", Tour said as she raised her Sky Raider and began moving forward. "Apollyon, form up. We've got company."

[member="Narek Kalast"] @Raijin @Alkor Centaris [member="Zul Grimm"] [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"] [member="Torian Pierce"]

 

[Sara Lee Jones]

Auxiliary units, sara had been around when hey first started up but left before she saw the true light of it's power. Truely now she was amazed at what they were but the fact she was placed there was mercy in it's own right. Assigned to fireteam apollyon...sara coudknt say she trusted them but however she had to make sure besides least she wasn't dead

Trudging along she looked to the blaster she had received, a older rifler for sure, possibly passed down from the main forces once they were replaced. She shrugged her shoulders as she sat at the back of the pack her eyes looking around for any threats that could possibly come...and considering this planet wanted to kill you, that was very very possible to happen not to mention the vong of all things...

She stopped, a break felt amazing. She took a seat as she lifted the helmet off and sighed, she looked about the people she had feeling just a bit out of place. Nevermind she coudknt think of that, she grabbed her rifle and started taking it apart quickly and inspected the parts that moved before being happy and yet again put it all together and powered it up nodding

Then suddenly she got a ping, she looked up at everyone else as she slapped that brain bucket on and raised her rifle checking each point as she looked to the sergeant. Once she disappeared she did as well and watched the tags appear on her HUD. She nodded and started forward behind them as she kept her blaster moving as she made sure to check the corners

She might just be a disgrace to the first order but didn't mean she wouldn't protect her squadmates to the final breath she had







[member="Tour Sera"]

 

[Ria Misrani]

"Horned Vengeance" ​

​

10th Company, 3rd Platoon AKA the Bloody Banthas​

​

Objective: Deliver Imperial Diplomacy​

Location: FIV Benavidez; Orbit of Zonama Sekot​

​

​

​

Lieutenant Tarkin hadn't even been a full two weeks home before being called back up for duty. "Weapons check," he remarked to the nine others in the drop pod with him. The FIV Benavidez had been among the fleet that had arrived at Zonama. An Ecklund-class dropship, dropship, this was the kind of work the Sons of Seiger did he reckoned and recalled Captain Romero's remarks back on SX-192 but kept the chuckle to himself. "Viramontes, time."

"We drop in five." Sergeant Angelica "Angel" Viramontes reported as she adjusted her shoulder pauldron.

Had the Lieutenant made the note that he hated this? He hated it. Tarkin looked at his weapon again and recalled the deaths of his men. Vong. Vong had taken his men from him in the fight out of the port in the narrow corridor. His rage boiled within him and his piercing blue eyes concealed by his alabaster armor. For a moment he was glad that the smiling face of a Stormtrooper would be the last that any of these xenos would see. "Prepare to make them bleed, boys and girls, remember Skor. Remember the names of our brothers and sisters, Waterford, Dancause, Maddessen, and Kowalski."

Tarkin had yet to forget their names and faces, he would never forget and he would never forgive. Instead, he lusted for the blood of the Vong, so that may pay for the sins of their kind. "We do not forget and we do not forgive." His vox feed was shared among his men, helmet to helmet communications and as they readied their guns and felt their hearts beat against their chest. The rush of battle would soon be upon them all. "We do not forget, and we do not forgive." Tarkin repeated himself and the mantra was echoed, "they shall bleed on this day, their blood spilled by our hands and in the name of the First Order. May the Void consume them all."

"Have no mercy," replied his platoon, and the crackle of Sgt. Viramontes's vox broke through.

"Drop in two."

It was the first time he'd drop in from orbit, but it wouldn't be the last he had no doubt of that. After all he couldn't let the jumpjet boys have all the fun.

"Sixty."

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

 

[Soundwave]

Location | Jungles of Zonama Sekot
Objective | Reconnaissance
Company | [member="Tour Sera"] | [member="Sara Lee Jones"]

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Zul stood in the center of an empty shuttle that had been making its way from the Vigilance, down to the planet surface below. The dim lighting of the interior only made him appear more ominous as the shuttle soared through and penetrated the thick clouds that had obscured the view from orbit. The Auxilary units had already been deployed on the surface below, some scattered reports of contact being made with the local population, but for the most part, there was yet to be any major skirmishes planetside. Zul had opted to be deployed by himself, seeing the lack of need for a Stormtrooper unit to be deployed with him as they were more often than not more of a hassle to keep watch over during reconnaissance.

The shuttle had completed its descent and was now sailing above the treeline as it made its way over to a set of coordinates where some sightings of the Vong had been reported. It was not much to go off of, but a start to begin his information gathering. As the shuttle arrived, it would hover over the treeline, lowering its ramp as Zul made his way down it. He would stare down into the thicket of trees below before simply walking off the ramp and making a straight drop down to the jungle floor, his robes fluttering from the rush of air as he fell down. Just seconds before he would make a bone-shattering impact against the ground, his descent would slow as he used the Force to slowly levitate down until his armored boots lightly fell flat against the dirt. His hooded head would glance left and right as he was sensing the environment around him. There was a small squad nearby, but also the presence of something else.

Zul's figure would seem to fade from view as he masked his presence and visibility entirely, his figure appearing to shimmer like a mirage. An image of him would appear as it seemed to float along the jungle floor towards the squad he had sensed nearby like a ghost. Scanners would be able to pick up the doppelganger as it approached them though it was more of a messenger to whoever was leading the squad. A few short minutes would pass by, and sure enough, a patrol of three Yuuzhan Vong clad in dark armor that identified them from the Warrior Caste appeared armed with Amphistaffs. They would walk past Zul's cloaked position without so much as giving any sort of indication that they knew of his presence. Perfect.

The rear Yuuzhan would be trailing in the back quite a bit from his peers, keeping a watchful eye for any signs of intruders. Unbeknownst to him a pair of sickles seemed to slowly melt into existence from thin air, not giving away anything because there was no distinct hum of a lightsaber. The hooked ends would just lightly hover behind the unsuspecting Vong before they came at his exposed neck from opposite directions in one swift motion. The head would separate from the body in one quick decapitation as the Vong fell to his knees, his body falling forward before his decapitated head even hit the ground. The amphistaff would be pinned underneath the body as it hissed; both the sound of the corpse hitting the dirt as well as the hissing alerting the remaining two Vong as they turned around.

Zul's figure would phase into existence as his cloak disappeared. He would leap at them, armed with his sickles as lightsabers would be ineffective against their armor. The Vong closest to him would swing his amphistaff downward in an attempt to cave in Zul's head. Zul would sidestep as he raised one of his sickles with the inner edge guarding his left shoulder, fluidly redirecting the staff off to the left with a simple wrist motion as the other sickle followed up from the right and its inner edge found the Vong's wrist. A quick pull at the unarmored wrist and the hand wielding the staff would come free from his forearm. The sickle used to block would swiftly return, the sharpened outer edge of the hook swiping from out to in, slicing his throat open. A quick flourish of the sickle in his right hand would put it in a reverse grip as he abruptly brought it up in an uppercut with the pointed end pressing against the Vong's chin, piercing the skin barely as he walked forward and forced the Vong to stumble back into his remaining companion.

The two Vong would collide with each other, one bleeding profusely from his wrist and neck. The uninjured Vong would let out a throaty growl as it reached around and threw its companion to the side. It charged at Zul with a similar intent of smashing Zul's head in with an extremely telegraphed overhead swing. Zul flips both his sickles into a reverse grip, sprinting forward as he came in from close to the ground, lifting his sickles up. There would be a brief pause as the Vong stopped in its tracks, his arms seemingly paralyzed in mind swing as he glanced down and found that the pointed ends of the sickles had found their way just under his armpits, right where the gills of the Vonduun Crab he was wearing were. A quick flick of the wrist would dig the ends deeper into the weak spot. Having found its way underneath the armored carapace that was resistant to lightsaber, all it took was a simple push of a button as the lightsaber portion of the inner edge sparked to life, slicing through muscle and tendons, effectively severing anything between his torso and arms.

Zul would pull his sickles back, switching off the lightsabers as he locked them in place behind his waist, raising a hand as he lifted the hissing amphistaff in the air and throwing it a fair distance away with the Force. He raised a foot up as he kicked the Vong onto its back and pressed his armored boot to his chest, keeping it pinned to the ground. A hand would reach out as it grabbed the Vong by the front of his face, channeling the Dark Side of the Force as he began to siphon information from the Vong's head. There was a sizable settlement of Vong not too far from this location, unaware of how close the Auxilary units actually were. If they made haste, they would be able to catch them off guard.


[ Meanwhile ]


The doppelganger that Zul had created and sent to the nearest squad would emerge from the trees like a ghostly wraith floating off the ground in front of [member="Tour Sera"] 's squad. Any attempt to shoot at it would obviously be met with no response as any shots would go through it. It would remain floating there silently for a few moments as Zul was engaged in combat elsewhere. Once a minute had passed since its arrival, the voice of Zul would echo in Tour's mind as well as her squad's. " The Vong have a settlement two clicks west of your position. I have alerted the closest auxiliary units as well, but you will arrive long before they do. Take this moment and seize the glory for yourselves. The Vong are not fully aware of how close our forces are to them. I will rendezvous with you there... " Upon completing its message, the doppelganger would raise a hand and point them in the direction before it slowly began to vanish like a mirage.

 

[Wilhelmine Dahma]

Location: Zonama Sekot Orbit, FIV Vigilance
Objective: Operation Schildknappe
Allies: [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"]
Post: 1

“You’ve barely touched your lunch,” remarked Captain Banning.

“The food for junior officers leaves much to be desired.”

Morro had selected some kind of creamy seafood dish from the messdeck, and in retrospect this was a bad choice as space travel and fresh fish just did not seem to mix. At this rate, she’d be starving by the afternoon and sneaking off to grab some kind of ready-to-eat snack bar when she should be on duty. She placed her fork down on her plate and pushed away from the table, her chair causing an irritating scraping noise as it slid across the floor.

But since this was the first time traveling on board the FIV Vigilance with Admiral Rausgeber and not in an adjoining fleet, she wondered if it was a case of nerves that had caused her appetite to flee.

Banning was still deep into his Bantha steak, and as the Chiss officer rose, he glanced up at her and said, “Well, since you’re done before me you can go get the hourly status report from the sensor suite for me.”

She only gave him a smirk, wondering if he’d calculated that maneuver somehow to give her more time with the Admiral. After the Ossus naval victory and due to her leadership during the Contingency threat, Commander Morro had received accolades from her superiors, but had not yet spoken to Rausgeber about either campaign. He’d received his share of negative galactic press regarding the civilian death toll generated by the First Order, and perhaps as the face of the cruel subjugation inflicted upon the Tion Cluster, he’d decided to keep a low profile.

Retrieving the report and then walking to the bridge, Morro twirled the data chip between her blue fingers, her boot heels an efficient click clack on the durasteel floor of the corridor which led her there. Knowing the Admiral expected Banning instead of herself, she entered with a mix of caution and an officer’s stiff courage, waiting until Rausgeber was not engaged and approached, holding out the data chip.

“I reviewed this ahead of time, Admiral. I think you’ll want to see this right away.”

For years scientists studied Zonama Sekot, attempting to unlock the secret intelligence in this sentient world, and a blend of science and military determination by the First Order would bring the planetary oddity to heel.

 

[RIP Carlyle Rausgeber]

Objective: Operation Schildknappe
Location: FIV Vigilance Command Deck
Allies: [member="Morro"] |
Post: II

"All ships are now in blockade position Admiral." The Signals Officer informed the command deck. Carlyle's gaze glanced over the youthful lieutenant, before giving her a nod. The Vigilance now maintained overwatch position, able to either turn to intercept foes attempting to flee from the sentient planet, or defend against an incursion. It was an old doctrine, but one which Rausgeber maintained when it came to patrols and aerial support such as this.

"Good." Carlyle mused, "Put all vessels unto top alert." He briskly commanded. The memory of Kaeshana, and the unbridled aggression of the Galactic Alliance played back in his mind. Never again would Rausgeber allow himself to be the victim of such trickery. He would be in charge. Not now. Not ever. "Patch in a new signal line," Carlyle added coolly, "I want the fleet to provide support wherever it may be needed." The idea of a sentient planet already set Carlyle on edge. It was unnatural, uncanny, and unhealthy. The idea of it, was one which made his skin crawl. The idea of vines dragging away poor stormtroopers to be dissolved in the planet's core, or whole divisions swallowed up by fissures gave him nightmares.

However, Carlyle's personal beliefs would now take a sidestep as he heard the clicking of boots on durasteel plating. However, judging by the sound, it was not the usual clunk associated with a male officer, rather the petite beat of an officer. Rausgeber turned, and faced Commander Morro, the Chiss as she approached. Carlyle's eyebrow was raised, he waited for her to speak, "I see Captain Banning has delegated you responsibility as his messenger." He began, a smirk creeping on his face. He raised his fingers, and clicked them, "Ensign Garrick, here."

Garrick, a young technician, probably just nineteen approached. He was attired in the sleek black uniform of a crewman, with the matching red insignia's on both shoulders. Carried with him, was a datapad, which the brunette carefully handed Rausgeber. Carlyle took the presented chip, snatching it from Morro's palm. He inserted it, and the screen lit up, casting a green glow across Carlyle's face. The Fleet Admiral flicked through a series of images. It was preliminary scans of the system, along with the reports from several probe droids. What was of interest, was a canyon, which held several sizeable cruisers at the bottom. Although other ships had been sighted by the autonomous reconnaissance, it was this high concentration that caught Rausgeber.

"It appears the Vong have been busy." Rausgeber mused, eyes glued to the screen, before casting up to Morro's gaze. Their eyes locked for a moment, before turning to the Helmsman, "Move to coordinate D-C, Dash, Four, Two, Nine." He commanded, his eyes then turned to the Chief Gunnery Officer, a sterner man, who had a moustache like a walrus. "Prepare long range batteries for fire, we'll burn these ships before they reach orbit."

 

[Tour Sera]

Location: Zonama Sekot Jungles
Objectives: Recon/Area Denial

The sudden appearance of the phantom-like doppelganger of [member="Zul Grimm"] was enough to startle the Fireteam of seven, but Ren that it was by identification, it immediately registered on Apollyon's HUD's and not a single shot was fired. The auxiliaries lacked the standardized regimen that the Stormtrooper Corps had, but in and of themelves they were, more often than not, seasoned veterans with enough trigger discipline not to give their position away while a fair deep six in uncharted territories. Those few rookies who weren't were hammered into order by the long-timers soon enough, or they were killed - by either foe, or friend.

" The Vong have a settlement two clicks west of your position. I have alerted the closest auxiliary units as well, but you will arrive long before they do. Take this moment and seize the glory for yourselves. The Vong are not fully aware of how close our forces are to them. I will rendezvous with you there... "

As it disappeared, Tour looked back to her team behind her. Having been the only one the apparition probably communicated with, she didn't waste any time opening a private commlink with the rest of Apollyon on a secure channel.

"That was a Ren, right? The robes, the powers. They say they can use the Force", Ordan, the fireteam's communication officer, said in an equally hushed and discreet tone as the entire team began to jog west, led by Staff Sgt. Sera. "They're sending the Ren down here too?"

The older corporal, his voice a more gruff and seasoned bass, also chimed in as he jogged beside the staff sergeant, hurdling over larger roots and fallen trees on the forest floor, "I don't know why the First Order insists on using them mystic types. I mean, does anyone in the galaxy-blasted auxiliary even know anything about them? Do the stormtroopers?"

"They're just keeping it a secret because they know that if we found out, we'd try and steal their effects", another said, eliciting laughter from the team as Tour finally spoke up as well. "The Rennites rely on their damnable powers to get them out of sticky situations."

"Why not send them first, then? Why the Aux?", Ordan asked again, his voice a smooth but cockney cacophony of bastardized Galactic Basic, to which the corporal replied, "Because you're worth less than the patches on their fancy capes when they kark them up while pissing themselves silly when facing the Supreme Leader."

"Radio silence."

Tour raised her hand and gestured for the fireteam to keep low, staying by the dense vegetation as they approached a wall of low-standing bushes. As the auxiliaries approached and either lay prone or knelt behind the thick undergrowth, they began to see ahead of them quite the sight - their HUD's seemed to light up in confusion as their computers struggled to mine the databanks of useful information to feed onto the blast-glass displays on their helmets. Several buildings that seemed to have grown from the ground, or have since been assimilated into the environment, stood before them.

"Doesn't look like anyone lives here, eh?"

Tour pursed her lips as her eyes dashed across her HUD, interfacing with her suit's computer and quickly scanning readings on Zonama Sekot. "These things don't register on imperial surveys of the planet. They're not indigenous to here." The corporal then turned to her, "You're not telling us everything, are you?"

"This is a Yuuzhan Vong settlement. They invaded the galaxy before and were damn well good at it."

"We're here to deal with parasitic buildings?", Ordan asked, almost frustrated.

"No, you sniveling git. These are their homes", the corporal snapped back.

"What?"

Tour then turned to the rest of the team. "The Vong are unlike anything you will have seen on Kalzeron before. They use living weapons and grow almost everything on their hands. They don't like technology, and they aren't going to be happy about us using it." The staff sergeant then looked back in front, scanning the area and clicking her tongue in concern. "I don't see any of the bugs though." She then turned to Apollyon Six,the only non-Kalzerian member of the Fireteam, but even the most basic dossiers on her indicated she'd lived quite the colorful life before ending up in the Aux.

"Apollyon Six, find a high spot and give us targets to mark. Try not to get killed."

[member="Sara Lee Jones"]

 

[Julius Thonn]

Location: Yuuzhan Vong Battle Encampment.
Objective: Learn and Adapt.

Someone was talking and there was lots of head nodding.

Jules knew the mission through and through. Many of the deployed teams were going to be purging the Yuuzhan Vong from the planet for ancient crimes. Crimes that not even the Gulag Plague could erase. Many knew the stories, and those who didn't were quickly educated, at least for this mission.

The slugthrower pistol on his hip was secure on his waist.

"Ever see a Yuuzhan Vong in person, Jules?"

"Uh... What? Nah," he said with a shake of his head before he checked the chronometer on his wrist. "Sekot their new planet right? They went peaceful."

"So comes our mission," came the voice of the staff officer.

"Mission location says this village is infected with a sickness."

And then he was tuning out again, viewports outside slowly brightening as they passed through the cloud cover and were thus buffeted by a bright sun there was an alert from their wristpads, automated countdowns beginning simultaneously. Glancing over his team of agents, he noted, as he usually did that they all looked the same. The uniform they were given as black as night, save for their helmets on resting hooked to their belts.

"We get as many of them out as we can, and we disappear."

The ship shook as the troop of shadowtroopers hopped out of the transport ship. The team varied from all the sub-divisions of the Security Bureau. His purpose? To establish contacts planet side. Hence the... Positive nature of their mission to the planet.

"They're expecting us, they'll come."

Other ships, evidently medical ones blocked out parts of the sun as they hovered several hundred metres above the village.

 

[Sara Lee Jones]

[member="Tour Sera"]

She had her blaster steady and raised before she let a quiet huff, she forgot these ren enjoyed being all spooky and ominous to the normal troops...she never truly understood why...maybe it was to just try and keep them in line, scare them so if they tried and stepped out of line they'd regret that action. Sara knew them enough she really didn't care...

She stood and jogged with them being the only one who didn't immediately speak. Only listening as they spoke around her about the ren....all she could offer was a small laugh that she tried her best to hide befire clearing her throat and continued her jog behind the team west. She, being a smaller human, stopped and knelt down... she'd heard stories of the vong, terrible creatures who'd invaded the galaxy years and years ago, they'd been defeated but unfortunately....decided that the galaxy wa a great to settle in just everyone trying to kill you because they absolutely hate you.

Her attention was drawn to the staff sergeant as she explained the vong, not liking tech eh? This should be fun but also meant they'd likely engage in hand to hand combat....least her skills from the empire would come in handy she perked up being acknowledged as she looked the sergeant eye level and gave a salute before chuckling

don't worry, if you don't hear from me in ten, I've already taken them out and I'm napping

One thing she enjoyed...the aux was fairly loose, but she still remembered the line of order not stepping out to far but enough she hoped she gave a bit of humor to the rest of the people. She knew moral was a good thing habit of hers

She crouched low and started a sprint away before stopping and looked around, she observed her surroundings before findings nice hill that overlooked the village, it would give her a good enough view to possibly spot most of her targets....now the only thing was getting there. Keeping her movements careful and quiet she made sure to look around breathing steady as she crawled up that hill before stopping and cursing...they had a vong on the hill likely keeping watch...

apollyon 6 here, got a bug looking over the village going to squash him, out.

She drew her vibroknife and crouched low, carefully she approached the vong as she stood every so carefully behind the vong. She eyes that staff carefully...she heard those things were alive nifty little things for sure. Her hand raised and within a second she covered his mouth and jammed the knife into its neck as he wiggled and tried fighting back before he stopped...the staff hissed at her as she threw the body onto it and stepped on it's neck

shame I've to do this

She said and stabbed down into its head, once it was done she pulled the body into the fauna and hid them before getting on the hill and got prone as she zoomed in and chuckled sporting guards at every side and a few moving around the village

two guards on each side, looks like 15 in the village possibly more in the structures marking them now and continuing overwatch until further instructions 6 out

She got comfy and would wait now...

 

[R4v3rghost]

Objective: Assist 10th Company, 3rd Platoon
Location: Drop pod; heading towards Zonama Sekot
Allies: [member="Ranulph Tarkin"]

Almost like a ghost a slender and frail-looking man had entered the drop pod after the stormtroopers, looking back for a moment as it closed up to head down to the surface of Zonama Sekot. The objective given to him was to be executed without error, the orders replaying in his head word for word multiple times. They reveberated through his skull like a neverending echo, making sure he would not forget. You shall watch over them through the Force. Be their eyes and ears. No man or woman is to be lost.

The man's name was Myrne, a Disciple of Ren who had washed away the man he used to be. There was only the present and future, for the time without the guidance of Him was irrelevant.

When the pod started rumbling there was a realization that caused an unsettling feeling to creep into his being. He sensed the group of stormtroopers through the Force, yet he felt alone. It was not distrust, it was unfamiliarity. He spent almost all of his time around others who served under the Order of Ren, but now they were not here. It was like being thrown into the deep and it now was all about sinking or swimming. To sink however was not an option. He had to swim, fulfil the duty he had been entrusted with. For Him.

"Sixty."

Myrne's breathing was somewhat irregular while struggling to beat back the creeping sense of anxiety. His eyes were closed as he started to focus on the Force, grasping it tightly as a blanket of comfort. It was the only thing he knew here. It was his guide in servitude. It was the only reason he was of use to Him. It was his weapon.

"They must all die. He wills it," a cold but quiet voice spoke. It was easily missed, the real power in the words found in the emotion he poured out into his Force aura. "They are enemies of truth, blights upon the galaxy." He did not direct the words towards anyone. Instead they were spoken to himself, to remind him of his purpose.

 

[Braser Steltan]

post 1
obj: to provide support for ground troops engaging the Vong

"Take us down, we can land in the valley behind the transports, its one of the only areas where the forest grows less dense." Braser stared at the holo map in front of him on The Stark's ​command bridge. A hand lazily placed on his chin, the hard faced man observed the transports in front of him descending towards the thick layer of clouds. He didn't truly know what he was getting into, he knew very of little of the Vong. Despite this he had a mission, he was dropping off approximately twenty storm troopers to the surface of the jungle planet. After this he would secure a perimeter in the valley and provide support for the deployed ground troops. The helm swiveled in his chair towards the Lt. Commander "Sir we are entering the planets atmosphere. We'll reach the surface in approximately five minutes." The man broke from his thoughts and waved a hand forward to the helm "Proceed lieutenant." The front of the empire class frigate disappeared in front of their eyes as they moved into the dense wall of clouds. soon the swirling sky surrounded the ship as its thrusters moved it closer to the ground. The crew watched the moisture build and water droplets cover the bridge windows.

"Moving out of the clouds sir, we're almost there." The clouds gave way to a humid clear sky, below it a thick forest of tall green trees. The jungle full of white armored men and women trampling through the grass. The ship lessened its pace as it righted itself and descended towards the clearing of tall grass and ferns before it. Only yards in front of the ship the transports had landed, pouring its cargo of troopers into the tree line. The troopers sprinted into the dense tangle of vines, ferns, and trees. Their chatter, barely being heard over the roaring of the engines, dissipated as they moved out of sight. ​The Stark's ​landing gears creaked and pushed into the ground, moving the thick grass and mud. Braser briskly walked to the ramp to see off the troopers. He arrived at the room just as the large door slid open and a ramp extended into the mud. The troopers steadied their weapons and charged out into the trees. A dark suited navy trooper saluted Braser and awaited orders. "Sergeant, take the security team and secure a perimeter. I want men on guard through the night and a sensor array on the tree line. If the worthless bugs come for us, we'll be ready."

[member="Narek Kalast"]

 

[Wilhelmine Dahma]

Location: Zonama Sekot Orbit, FIV Vigilance
Objective: Operation Schildknappe
Allies: [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"]
Post: 2

​

It was good to see such renewed enthusiasm on the Admiral’s dignified face. Morale in the ranks had been higher than ever, recruitment numbers up, but victory tended to boost both of these things in spades.

“He was called away by Lieutenant Vauquelin. There’s obvious discomfort in this mission due to the nature of Zonama Sekot. But that is not your concern, Admiral and is well in hand.” Her fingers did not move or tremble as he plucked the data chip from them, but inside her heart pounded if only because now she was the center of attention on the bridge. Briefly.

Morro’s red orbs took in the sight of Garrick handing Rausgeber the datapad, and swiftly the chip was inserted. Again, she did not fail to notice how she was the only alien on the bridge, recalling the comment the Admiral had made regarding her skin pigmentation. So far she’d found it no more an impediment than being a woman or even a young officer, snarky comments made in whispers aside.

The irradiated glow provided an appropriate spotlight for Carlyle’s fascination with what the report yielded.

The Chiss officer could barely contain a snort of derision for the mention of Vong, but the Admiral’s sudden attention upon her caused her face to become the same emotionless mask he would be used to seeing. Except there was still something there, leftover from that night on Dossun, more of an ambient feeling as though their fates were about the be further entwined. Or was it just wishful thinking?

“Zonama Sekot has been known to create Ion storms, space shears and even this phenomena called The Great Red Fire, which occurs when cosmic rays cause a reaction that turns ammonium hydrosulfide in the upper cloud layers into new compounds. The heat at the core of the Fire is 500,000 Celsius in which our ship would be annihilated by either radiation, pressure or a mixture of both.”

Since this was a random and defensive occurrence, there wasn’t a specific report upon the danger, but officer Morro had consulted the scientists aboard the Vigilance just the same for any weather anomalies that might impede their advance.

“All squadrons have been appropriately warned and know what to look for.”