Interacting with:
DECEASED Aron Gowrie
Thomas Barran
— 877, Northern Battlefront, Rift's Reach, Canthar Province, Panatha
Since they went into the hellish forest near the rift triggered by the Dark forces in action on Panatha, Kelga'an knew that the most challenging part of the trip was about to come. Unfortunately for his Anaxsi fellows, he had been right. Fighting against the zombies had been severe stuff, an ordeal that the TodHusars under his command hadn't faced since the fights over the planet of Coruscant, where hordes and tons of marauders descended on them. But this time was noticeably different. Both the Eternal and Ashlan soldiers were ferocious troops, always dedicated to doing what was needed, whatever the cost. The Galidraani under Gowrie's command hadn't been outdone since the beginning of the fight within Spirewatch, and their knowledge, combined with each other skills, was a matter of importance in those sorts of operations.
But then, the team split itself. Each group had its own objective, even if everyone followed the orders given by the Major-General; but the Kellas had insisted on meeting Mongrel's inheritor alone and in person, and Kelga'an could understand this. It was for sure a subject that mattered to the Galidraani and no one among them had a chance to be involved in it -- moreover when you knew the Anaxsi-Galidraani gripes. So 'Banshee' Company went on its own, making its way near and through the reach triggered on the planet. Slashing marauders, Mawites and all that stuff by dozens, the task force focused on purifying the surface. The stated goal of the operation led by the Eternals had always been to protect and save the more Panathans the troops could. But as the battle and the fights -- especially in space -- went on, the Sieur became no more sure of that.
And with the firing of the two weapons, the outcome was even clearer.
Panatha was like a trap settled by the three allied factions in order to keep and lure the more marauders, Blood Hounds and Sith they could and then kill them all. Kelga'an didn't whether he and his men would be able to make their way out or not, but he would do everything in his power to leave Panatha in one piece. He and his Sons. Now, it seemed that no more alliances counted on the Northern Battlefront; troops from every side were running in the mud, shooting some of their enemies in passing. Cover by the Galidraani artillery, the Sieur attempted to join the Hussars from 'Goldish' Company.
::
Goldish-Actual? This is Banshee-Actual! Do you copy? I repeat: Goldish, this is Banshee, do you copy? ::
No answer came to the leader of the Shield of Anaxes. If Reising was still alive, it seemed that something truly bad happened to his company. The Sieur hoped that it was only the doing of the statics caused by the weapon, or any climatic brutal change in the atmosphere due to it. Anyway, his counterparts knew where to find troop transports to safely leave this place. He made sure he let a last message on Elward's frequency, declaring:
Goldish, this is Banshee -- you need to fall back as soon as you receive this! Y'know where the rodevipa is! Over!
The incredible sound of the artillery surrounded them, making them feel like animals in an open-air laboratory that was called 'Panatha'. Fortunately, they already made their way through Spirewatch Forest, but the path to do was still long.
« EEEEEEENTER THE SHIIIIIPS!!! »
The Sieur was restless. The Anaxsi had no more time to waste there, and the last Imperial contingents were evacuating in the troop transports all over the HQ, but Kelga'an waited. An entire platoon had disappeared from the register, and no one knew where to find them. If they waited one more second... Maybe they were about to reach the site...! They couldn't leave them in a moment like this one. And with the planned operation above the sectors held and claimed by the Chiss Reclamationists, the Banshees had to be at full strength if they wanted to take part in it. But it was pretty sure, now, that the platoon wouldn't come back from wherever it was. Weapons had been fired from space, and their time was limited on the surface. If he waited... Maybe he could lose more than
a single platoon -- which was already too much to him.
«
Sieur, » the Hussar in the hatch asked, «
We gotta go -- there's no more Imperial there. Only the Maw. An' they're about to be annihilated... So please come. »
Kelga'an shook his head. He knew that he would never forgive the decision he was about to take. Even in his dreams, he would never be able to come back there to get his Sons back. Panatha was about to become a sample of the Netherworld for the following centuries, and Kelga'an know it. Reluctantly, he came into the vessel, as the Eternal superweapon was firing. Before reaching the infinite space above his head, he thought the last thing:
Anaxes, n'oubliez pas ceux que j'ai oubliés.
[OOC:]
As this is my own take on the epilogue, I wanted to thank
Ingrid L'lerim
, EE's Staff & Creative Team,
DECEASED Aron Gowrie
and all the writers for this amazing thread. This is probably one of the best storylines I've done on the site, and I don't think my poor English could find the words to thank y'all. Cœur sur vous!