To steal a man's tea (Invasions of Atrisia)

[Ashin Varanin]

Je'gan vanished, as was his wont. Ashin made her way up the mountain pass, navigating around broken rock and crumpled metal. The mountains had a whole new silhouette. At least, somehow, they'd been able to slow the ships down enough to prevent asteroid-impact levels of overpressure and global damage.

She hove into view of the damaged palace and kept on coming. Emperor Kahoshi had his escorts, including a woman Ashin had considered a friend. The Dark Lord's mouth set in a firm line as she came to a halt outside the gate.

"Your Majesty, my name is Ashin Varanin, also known as Shira Karrde. Until very recently, I was too deep in the Unknown Regions to be involved in this affair. I would not have chosen to stage this invasion, and I am satisfied to be the one to end it, assuming you accept this chance and the terms I'm about to offer at some risk to my control over the Fringe Confederation's forces.

"We both have larger concerns, bigger threats on the horizon. To that end, I propose a neutral zone centered around Serpena, Mechanus, and Tasariq. Phu will, of course, not be used for further aggression. We will withdraw our landed and entrenched forces from Atrisia over the course of the next twenty-four hours, and withdraw from Lujo. We'll also withdraw from Lujo as a gesture of good faith and, frankly, to avoid the Republic's current fits of pique. This is the first and probably the last time that the Fringe has shown mercy. I'd advise you to strongly consider these terms without posturing or unnecessary indignation, so you can aid the people of Jar'Kai as soon as possible. It's not overstating the case to say that this is the best and only settlement offer you'll entertain."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

It was done. Atrisia and countless lives had been saved. The impact of the five Lucrehulks smashing into the mountains was epic. Words were insufficient to describe the mayhem that had been unleashed, the earth shattering sound of the giant ships and their escorts colliding into it, a wide plume of debris and billowing clouds of smoke rising up from where they had crashed. The devastation was visible for miles, dust and wreckage clearly visible, along with the fires breaking out in the wrecks, with pure chaos and pandaemonium raging.

Siobhan was miles away, up in the air at a significant altitude above the great Imperial Tower, but even she took a moment to gaze upon the desolation the combined forces had unleashed, feeling something like satisfaction at having been a part of it, even though it was not her battle, not her war, and none of the nations involved she counted as her friend. Perhaps it said something for a trace of humanity having remained in the Butcher that she could be glad about the innocent lives having been spared from being killed.

Her ears bled from the overpressure of what was quite close to an asteroid impact, it felt like her eardrums were going to be shattered but slowly the ringing subsided. She was far enough from the blast radius that her powers could protect her from the debris being hurled into the air but the sheer pressure took its toll on her and she was still working through what was essentially a mega drug rush. The sheer feelings engendered, the sensations that were shooting through her were almost overwhelmning and as the sheer pressure nearly threw her like a toy and then she was in a fast descent to the ground, seemingly falling before she gathered herself and regained control. Her telekinesis bracketed her fall as she descended up from the sky, armour dented and covered in dust, her boots hitting the ground with great force as she glided down into a crater, the impact being such that piles of debris were tossed wildly into the air.

For a moment she just stood there, taking a deep breath as she gazed upon the carnage that covered the landscape. Broken and shattered trees, the dead bodies of Fringe and Imperial troopers, the debris of dropships and tanks, all strewn across the field that led to the Tower, though units of Imperial soldiers were already moving swiftly to recover the wounded, the cries of injured soldiers that might be trapped in the wreckage echoed across the plain, along with the sound of engines and heavy steps as walkers and armoured personnel carriers trode across the land. Witnessing the better part of an Imperial division securing the premise made for an impressive sight. A ceasefire might have been declared, but clearly the local troops were taking no chances. Doubtless the vultures would be well pleased at the feast that was laid out before them and fill their bellies with it.

Now that the rush was leaving her she felt drained, as her body saw fit to remind her just how much energy she had put into battle. She would be getting a lot of hell from it, but still totally worth it. She gazed up into the sky and at the miles-long long plume of smoke that was rising in the distance and, at a casual mental command, a lighter and a cigarette flew into her hand and she lit it, taking a deep, long drag. Then her face hardened, jaw tightening, as she absorbed the message Ashin - or rather Karrde as she seemed to call herself as well - had broadcast over the channel, confirming just what Siobhan had always thought about the Fringe, them being the Sith of the unknown regions. What Siobhan would have really liked to do at this point was extremely obvious...but not the time or place, much as she would love to take her blade and get the work done.

The bionic eye flashed crimson and she released the smoke she had been holding in her lungs, blowing out a stream into the sky. Apparently the Fringers and the Imperials would be chatting now. She doubted that it would be a shiny and happy teatime, to put it mildly, but not her problem. Perhaps the Imperials would be so kind to give her a medal, which would be all sorts of hilarious from her perspective. No doubt could exist that Firemane provided quality services in form of the best battering ram, and this had not even been an official contract.

She flicked the cigarette butt hard enough for it to make it to the street and gazed towards the plains, wiping some specs of dust off her black leather trenchcoat,, then turned away, comm link activated as she sent a burst of a message. Doubtless @[member="Tegaea Alcori"] was...wondering what the hell she had been doing. The Butcher's work here was done.

 

[Isar]

The great white dragon soared through the skies, enormous wings flapping as he chased down @[member="Shado"]. All around them, flaming debris rained down from the ships falling from the sky. Below, the ground shook and split, and mountains shattered as the impact sent out a shockwave that knocked all the soldiers on the plains off of their feet and sent Faenrovon careening through the air.

He regained his stability, radiant wings spread wide, and hurtled after his quarry. He found the target, hopping through the air, attempting flight. A ridiculous little ant. Faenrovon soared down from above, tucking his wings as he divebombed Shado. The 68 foot long, 4 ton dragon unleashed a deluge of flame from his open maw at the Sith, before coming straight down onto the man, aiming to grab him with his two front claws. Meanwhile, his tail whipped through the air faster than lightning and strong enough to shatter a treetrunk, aimed at the man's groin.

 

[Matreya]

Shado leapt high and hard, hair drawn back with the wind as it slashed past his face. He was nearing his target - then suddenly flames were in his mind. A bare moment of clairvoyance saved him from burns, as he pushed himself out of the way, spun and saw his new opponent. The damn beast he had attempted to aid in training thought he could best the Supreme Lord of Valhalla!?!

To a beast that could not even climb a spire, instantly he would vanish. For upon himself he now cast a powerful Force Cloak. Dropping to the ground and rolling in a forward somersault to a side roll, Shado ignited his cyan saber while wrapping his hand in Thorn and letting him extend in a loose whip.

From the beasts side Shado's eyes flared a magmaic red from behind his mask as he dropped the cloak, "I seek Akio, but if you EVER do that again it will change, and I will drop you were you stand, animal!"

@[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"]

 

[Isar]

Gusts of wind from Faenrovon's flapping wings beat down on @[member="Shado"], whipping at his clothes and hair. The great white dragon hung in the air above the wayward Fringe Sith, watching him with paralyzing yellow eyes. Those eyes narrowed at the ant's outburst and a rumbling hiss came from Faenrovon's belly.

Laughter.

Faenrovon stretched out his mind, ramming a single word, like a spear, through Shado's mind.

"DESIST."

 

[Matreya]

Shado ignored the effect of the near attack, it was literally nothing compared to what little training he did with Tirdarius. The beast had continued his assault though, and this he wouldn't allow. Using his anger to fuel his power, Shado sought to gather as much energy as he could as he looked to the beast over head and smiled, "NO!!!" With the word, came a huge burst of flames that shot towards the beast. "No one controls me! No one commands me!"

To those about him this could appear attacks on his own team, but it didn't matter. The cocky dragon thought itself better than the Legate, and even attacked the man repeatedly. He would teach the beast respect whether it was consensual or not. Reaching out with the Force, Shado gripped some nearby debris and flung it at the beast head. Using his own form and power as a distraction, the man hoped molten hot metal alloys launched at it's head would win him the beginning upper hand.

@[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"]

 

[Mirien Valdier]

A snort came at his words. "A force user, one I know well enough that Ashin could easily tear apart your guards, and then it would be us. And who knows what this new attacker is, I am not familiar, but seems an outright idiot to attack after a ceasefire has been ordered, and Fringe is attacking any who break that ceasefire. One has to be incredibly stupid and unworldly arrogant to be so foolish, that force user is stepping into suicide if I have my way. Will be his foolish arrogant fault." She sighed and shook her head following.

"And, I'm more concerned about the symbol of our nation being killed and your cousin being pressed into a situation that you and I both know she does not want, but will accept because it's her duty." She shook her head again, "There is a time to protect what this nation is, not hide as you so see it. You forget about her and what the burden would be, what it would cost her."


Another snort, "And make peace? Like there will ever be anything like that between our nations. They may speak it, talking it, but reality is much different. They broke promises once, which makes them bound to do it again. Not to be trusted." Still within the palace at that point, out of earshot by far.


Finally emerging into daylight, she let the rage boil over, let it be seen be known. None of this idiocy made her happy, no one touched her home, the only people who protected her, or even bothered to care a bit when she came to them nearly dead. She started down the path, side by side with the Emperor without care for how it looked, she damn well wasn't going to let him come to harm. Eyes scanned the sky seeing the creature battling with the unknown force user. Spreading her awareness further she carefully kept an eye on everything. Saber in hand for the fool in the sky was still about and itching for blood. He came any closer and it would be his blood spilled.


Coming finally to Ashin the group stopped, and she glared bitterly. Friends? Highly unlikely. No, just likely to use Ashin for whatever drop of information she could get. But an act was something she was damned good at, the whole last decade of her life nothing but an act. Acting a friend, could be done, until she was finished with her. Mirien only shook her head, so angry with the very being in front of her.

@[member="Akio Kahoshi"]

 

[James Mathison]

James had made sure that no one had followed him on his return to the palace. He picked up radio chatter that the Emperor had moved from his position and into the mountains. Slithering his way up the side of a mountain, he reached a perfect perch which sat overlooking a path cutting through the mountain. From there, he witnessed his Emperor/Employer conversing with an armored woman. Leaping from his perch swan style, flipping at the last second, James brought the Force beneath his feet and landed with a gentle wump.

Skirting around the path, he came to a hiding spot behind a rock pattern, Listening in on the conversation.

@[member="Akio Kahoshi"] @[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Isar]

The gusts of wind were simply a consequence of Faenrovon flapping to stay in the air, and no more meant to be an attack than a gust of air from repulsorlift wash. However, the little ant @[member="Shado"] seemed to take offense at the byproduct of Faenrovon's very existence and responded with a tantrum of fire and molten rock.

Perhaps if Shado had been an expert in pyrokinesis or telekinesis, his attacks might have been more effective. As it was, the stealth specialist's energy and kinetic attacks failed spectacularly.

Faenrovon stretched in the air, presenting his enormous chest to the full force of the little mortal's attacks. The flames, spouting high into the air, licked across his white scales about as harmlessly as one would expect of fire upon a fire-breathing dragon. The molten rocks sailed through the air and smashed into his chest, but neither did they penetrate, nor break his armored hide.

Again came that rumbling, hissing laughter. Faenrovon's voice grated in Shado's mind.

"Fool mortal, let me show you how to burn."

A deluge of flame roared from Faenrovon's mouth, splashing straight at Shado and turning the entire area around him into a raging inferno that started a wildfire amongst the plains grass. If everything was on fire, there would be nowhere for this mortal to run. His skin would blacken and char, and Faenrovon would devour his burnt corpse.

 

[Garith Darkhold]

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War​

​

Among the twenty – seven individuals was one individual remained impenetrable as night! Crimson armor and the helm of a standard Atrisisan Imperial Royal guard he looked as if he was just a member of the Royal Guard. The Shadow Master’s presence was drawn in to keep his Force Sensitive Presence concealed. Hiding in plain sight held its advantages. Hiding as a common Imperial Guard held its advantages too. Standing at the ready, alert without weapons drawn Tohashi Yokuni was ready to fall like a thunderbolt from the Celestial Heavens. It was his duty to his Emperor and his ancestors to guard the Emperor today, even if it meant his own life.

 

[Matreya]

Shado ignored the flames, for they were nothing new. Morna made flames at a constant rate when in battle, these werent going to surprise him. A weakling beast, a padawan equivalent, wanted to die today. The flames cascaded beautifully against his telekinetic shield as these thoughts brushed his mind, tightening his grip on Thorn he felt his Amphistaff instantly begin to harden just as he had commanded.

As soon as the smoke dissipated the beast would be in for a surprise, for here came a humongous warrior flying through the air. Aiming the staff's head just right, Shado squeezed three times swiftly, and following command it flew where he launched it. Straight towards the dragons eye, and as it flew it went through with his next step by initially spitting his poisons straight at the beast. Lastly when contact was initiated, Shado knew the beauty would clamp down and deliver a second dose.

@[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"]

 

[Akio Kahoshi]

"The only true cure for foolishness is death," Akio responded to Mirien before they reached Ashin. "Should he challenge us, we shall give him that cure. As for the rest, we can only do what we must.But remember. A person can be killed, but a symbol lives as long as there are those who still believe in it. A symbol I am, and that symbol must be seen for it to be trusted and respected. Otherwise it matters not if I live or die."

A battle raged between what appeared to be a dragon and the unknown Force user Mirien had mentioned as they reached Ashin. For the meeting his helmet split and opened, revealing his face. He could not look afraid to even do that before the enemy leaders. Initially silent Akio simply listened to her terms. While Akio might still have a flicker of desire to see the Fringe forces wiped from the planet, reality often disagreed with desire. Given the circumstances, the terms were as reasonably fair as they could hope for. The people of Jar'kai needed to be helped, a war would be costly and its outcome dubious at best.

There had been no surprise when Ashin had revealed her true identity, for Akio had already known. Just as he guessed that the Lady of the Fringe Yun-Harla was really Spencer Jacobs. It had been a simple enough deduction once Ashin's identity was known, though Akio had no proof. "The terms are agreeable. However citizens of the Fringe are no longer welcome within our section of the Unknown Regions. Director Cheif Rebecca Novar here will help you with organizing the withdrawal from the planet."

As Akio introduced Mirien as Rebecca Novar, a pointed look was directed at Ashin. One that said it would be best to leave it at that. The Emperor knew Ashin was aware of Mirien's true identity, but she did not know the truth about Mirien's current status. And none of the normal troops in the area knew her as anything but Rebecca Novar. He trusted Ashin to recognize the need for discretion.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Akio Kahoshi"] @[member="Mirien Valdier"]

"I'm sure Chief Novar has better things to do, but of course she's welcome to supervise. The only Fringe ground forces, apart from individuals which I will recall,and prisoners which I'm sure you'll return at once, are roughly five thousand on the plain outside Jar'Kai, and several million in a fortified position on the other side of the planet. The forces on the plain will be gone within four hours; the forces on the other side of the world will be gone within twenty-four. Those dropships will return to the Fringe fleet to rendezvous with the returning supertransports at the edge of your system. As the dropships are not hypercapable, and a Finality takes five days to fully load, six days will see a final withdrawal of Fringe citizens from Atrisian space. Now that I have your word on the terms, that process will begin."

She glanced over their heads at the battle between Zaiden and the dragon.

"The dragon is my associate, with orders to preserve the ceasefire. The other man has disobeyed and thus forfeited my protection. Do with him what you will."

Raising her comlink to her lips, she broadcasted once more, piggybacking off orbital assets to the entire system.

"This is Grand Admiral Shira Karrde to all Fringe forces. After a meeting with myself and Lady Sanctuary, His Majesty Akio Kahoshi has agreed to a territorial settlement, and a state of war no longer exists between the Fringe Confederation and the Galactic Empire. All Fringe forces will withdraw from the Atrisian system at the pace of the dropships; Finality-class supertransports are ordered to return from Phu to facilitate the withdrawal. Karrde out."

And with that, the invasion was over.

OOC/ Apart from Faenrovon and Shado, Fringers should consider this thread concluded. ​

 

[Isar]

@[member="Shado"]'s method of attack was a good one, aiming for Faenrovon's biggest weakpoint: his eyes. It might have even succeeded, save one thing....

There was no smoke.

A stream of flames roared from the great white dragon's mouth and cascaded off of Zaiden's telekinetic shield. In that white-orange jet there was no smoke, only blinding fire. The grass burned around Zaiden, but that smoke was blown back by the gusts of wind from Faenrovon's enormous wings as he hovered in the air, high above the Sith.

Then Zaiden leapt out from the flames and came straight toward him, launching something from what looked like a stick in his hand. Faenrovon laughed at the puny mortal, but it almost immediately turned to a roar of rage as a drop of poison splashed in his enormous, yellow orb. Something latched onto his eyelid. Faenrovon clawed at it furiously, ripping the amphistaff off of his face, then cramming it into his mouth. He chewed vigorously, his gigantic teeth shredding the amphistaff to pieces. He belched flames, frying it, then swallowed.

No more amphistaff.

Blind in one eye, Faenrovon turned his good one on the mortal fool below. He would pay. The enormous dragon came racing toward the ground, absurdly fast for his size. Legends of the Arkanian Dragons spoke of their lightning quick attacks. A lightsaber move was even named after them. Faenrovon proved the legends true. He soared straight at the ground, one claw spread wide, aiming to slam into Zaiden and pin him to the ground. At the same time, his jaws snapped forward, attempting to bite his head off, and his other claw slashed below the first, aiming to rip off Zaiden's legs at the knees.

 

[Matreya]

The attacks of the Arkanian truly fast, this was undeniable. But an Arkanian that was just struck directly in it's eye by both forms of a powerful and deadly poison, one form causing instantaneous numbness and early paralysis while the other caused intense deaths in 24 hours, it couldnt be full speed. Despite this fact, the dragon was in full dive and a natural flier. There was nothing he could do to avoid the blow by his clawed arms. If not for his armor it would have been deadly.

Using a Force Bellow, Shado pushed himself away from the beast after slamming hard into the ground. Slowly rising, the Legate used the Force to dull his pain, "Feel that? That's the Amphistaff's main weapon. You may be big, but you were just struck as close to your brain as I can get. You shouldn't be able to breathe properly soon, not long after that agonizing pain will set into your muscle tissues. Imbecilic beast believing you can stand against a Master Force User when you can't even use a complete sentient thought?"

@[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"]

 

[Mirien Valdier]

@[member="Akio Kahoshi"]
Mirien spoke coldly to Ashin. "It's my duty to help end this mess. But I do have one matter to attend to before that."

She then turned simply to Akio, "It's time for you to go see your cousin and ensure she is safe, and well. Stars only know with what has been done this day." Akio would know the meaning, Madeline was hidden elsewhere, who knew if she was even on the planet itself to not risk the heir. The Empire did not take chances with the heir to the throne. Given the rogue nature of the force user in the sky, not obeying his own people, and her unwillingness to have the Emperor in a position of unknown danger, it was time to move him to a safer location for the time being, let the withdrawal happen under her watch, her orders as she was assigned and let him go comfort Madeline.

She turned, standing behind him, ushering him and the rest of the group up the mountain path back to the palace, and follow through secret passages few knew of they came to a single ship. Enough to fit his company of guards comfortably as well as himself. Heavily fortified, as it was meant to be, she keyed in the code to the ship ramp, her finger print the last thing to open it. With a wave of her hand she motioned for him to board first, this a journey she would not be coming along for. "The time is now you Majesty, until I am certain the rogue force users, the armies, battle ships have left this planet, and people foolish enough to fight a dragon in the air disobeying the cease fire and asking for certain death... I will not allow your safety to be jeopardized any further than it already has."

A sigh followed. "I will let you know when it is safe to return." She knew he likely would be unhappy with this, but somethings were more important, and his wrath she could deal with later, if he truly was that furious with her.

 

[Isar]

Only the direct bite of an amphistaff could induce paralysis and the amphistaff's bite had not broken through Faenrovon's scales. As painful as it was, he had only received one drop of poison. Even if the 24 hour timespan had been accurate, Faenrovon would not be experiencing the symptoms Zados described for at least another several hours. As it was, due to his enormous size and the very small amount of venom, the deadliness of the poison was debatable. Regardless, it didn't seem to slow the beast down at all aside from the blindness in his eye.

That said, it was intriguing how the blows of Faenrovon's claws had done little more than scratch the paint on Zaiden's armor. The thing about armor was that it could protect from edged weapons, but raw kinetic energy could still turn someone to jelly inside. And a swipe of Faenrovon's claws were quite capable of shattering rocks and ripping open durasteel, much less giving a man in a suit of shiny armor some massive bruises.

The dragon landed and the ground quaked.


A low rumble of hissing laughter issued from Faenrovon, promptly followed by a gout of flame directed at @[member="Shado"]. The flame, though deadly in its own right, was merely a distraction from his true attack. His tail swung around with blinding speed, faster than lightning and capable of smashing tree trunks to smithereens, and smote at Zaiden's torso, then brought it back again for an overhead blow, before finishing with a sweep aimed at the neck. All of these blows were capable of causing incredible internal organ trauma to Zaiden inside his suit of special, special armor. He followed this by bounding forward and swiping repeatedly at Zaiden with his massive claws. Altogether, Zaiden was facing a four ton, sixty-eight foot long, pissed-off dragon with claws capable of shredding durasteel and an apparently impenetrable hide.

Oh, and everything around Zaiden was still on fire.

Literally.

The grass plains had been set aflame by Faenrovon's repeated blasts of fire. The dragon was naturally fire resistant. The flames bothered him little besides warming his belly. Zaiden on the other hand? Well, unless the mortal human kept up a constant telekinetic shield, he would be cooked inside his armor. And then Faenrovon would have a little snack.

 

[Akio Kahoshi]

@[member="Mirien Valdier"]

Akio turned to look at his Grand Inquisitor, eye cool. Her intentions were obvious, and did not sit well with the Emperor. He was a warrior by birth, and a military officer by training. Retreating to save his own hide while leaving his subordinates to continue fighting was cowardly. But if he had not been willing to make the hard decisions, even if he did not like them, then Akio would have never taken the throne to begin with. It had been Atrisia's need for a strong leader that had driven him to seize control, and risking his own life now jeopardized what he had worked for.

Bidding Ashin a polite, if cool, farewell Akio's helmet sealed itself once more and he followed Mirien back to the Palace. At the very least what Mirien had said gave his leave a sense of legitimacy. Madeline's well being was certainly something Akio needed to check, and at least the other Atrisians of the Empire would understand how important family was. Especially when that family was the heir. At the ship's entrance he turned to Mirien. "The planet is now under your command, even if the orders will be as my proxy. Protect our home, and make sure anyone who still attempts harm never leaves this planet alive."

And with that the Emperor and his Guard boarded the ship. It flew carefully through the secret path cut through the mountain, and into the open air. Within minutes they had left the atmosphere and shortly after gotten far enough to enter hyperspace. Before they did he sent a quick message to Cyrus to keep a handle on the system's defense. Once they were surrounded by the swirling white of hyperspace, Akio's role in the invasion was over.

 

[Mirien Valdier]

@[member="Akio Kahoshi"]

The look had been caught, she could even feel it through the force, a sense of displeasure. It was the nature of her job, his protection and the protection of the nation she called home, the planet she called home, just another facet of her duties. If it meant irritating or otherwise annoying him or even ticking him off then well, so be it. That was just part of her life.

She gave a small bow to him, "As you you command, your Majesty. Atrisia will be safe under my watch, I promise. With my mood they won't even leave but in more than tiny chunks. If I'm in the mood to be kind." A small smirk formed on her lips. With that she only watched him board with the guards, and backed away only to watch the group take off, knowing they would be going somewhere far from here, a location even she did not know. Only Akio and Madeline's personal guards knew where she was kept in safety and secrecy.

Only for a moment did she stand there alone before she slowly walked back through the secret passages ways beneath the palace and emerged once more into the main palace, from there calling a shuttle to take her to the nearest command center from which she would do her duty as was only right. People often forgot, she fell second in command to the Emperor with none holding a rank higher than her, if anyone was to handle and manage the planet, it's protection and the withdrawal it was her. Upon arrival she was quick to start her work.

(OOC: From this point on consider the Empire's role in this invasion over.)

 

[Isar]

OOC: this invasion needs to end so we can all move on with our lives.

The pain in his eye had grown to such heights that his entire skull throbbed. Faenrovon rose back into the air, his wings flapping furiously. If this mortal fool @[member="Shado"] wished to commit suicide by stormtrooper, Faenrovon would not stop him. He had done his part for Karrde. The little ant would be left to his own devices.

The great white dragon wheeled away, heading toward the Fringe lines to seek medical attention.