Vasty Nothingness [Salacia/Firemane]

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"] , [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]



"Clearing trees is fine. The noise might attract some unwanted creatures to our location though. Just keep that in mind. I don't feel like another Raevana situation happening to your employees and mine."

Judah watched Alzari move out with her squad. They would be combing the mountains for any threats. Defensively the valley wouldn't be an ideal location. For farming though it looked very lush. He scanned the mountains, slowly turning in a circle to view the entire surrounding chain. Completely untouched by technology it reminded him of being back home on the family farm.

"If we stay here we might have to find a way to further secure the mountains. Maybe a type of perimeter system? We couldn't keep the animals from roaming through but we may be able to set up an alert system."


--------

There were ten strong. Men who had been roaming the lands of Tabaqui since their ability to walk. They had no one home, choosing to roam the lands and steal and attack the primitive settlements that dotted planet after the great Gulag Virus. They were armed with spears, bows and tomahawks, created from wood from the forest and metals from the rusted technology that could be found in the once populated cities.

The leader, Dav, motioned outwards for his group to break up. He was looking through the brush at the new comers. Thick, bushy brows knitted in concentration. He had no magnification devices but could make out the small movements of the persons below. They seemed scattered like the herds of animals that grazed in the valley.

"Keep pushing forward."

The second group was already moving through the mountains to attack from behind. Dav's group would be more of a distraction, attacking from the front. Hopefully they would be able to attack and overtake quickly.

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Were Eyrecae able to use the Force, she would have sensed oncoming danger. As it was, her first inkling of danger was a flicker of movement and the tink of a primitive arrow off her armour. She looked at the tiny scratch, then up at the emerging hostiles.
“Give me covering fire, watch for more of them. Charge!”
Taking a breath she let out a high screaming shriek like a banshee and hefted her hammer as she charged forward.
Blaster bolts flew from behind her to left and right, pinning the enemy down except for a few which readied their weapons. Arrows flew and bounced harmlessly off her armour, and a spear glanced uselessly to the side.

Then she was on them, and her first blow pulped a skull, her second broke an arm, and her third shattered ribs like matchsticks.
“Ayaeni tisara vai arithaga!” she called, and probably it was fortunate that Chesna wasn’t here, or she might have blushed. Broadly translated (with some sanitising) it meant ‘Your death is at hand’.

When one of them managed to get close enough to stab her in an armour joint her roar of enraged fury broke upon the man at the same time as the pommel of her hammer hit him between the eyes point foremost with shocking violence and cracked his skull like an egg.
“Come on, Kerri, there’s plenty to kill!” she called into her commlink eagerly as she faced the six upright survivors.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"], [member="Judah Dashiell"]



"Indeed. But I reckon sooner or later we'll attract trouble anyhow. Focus is on being prepared for that," Siobhan responded as she kept smoking her cigarette. "We'll need command over the mountains and a solid perimeter. Some turrets to cover the ground. Even with regular Gunship patrols, we can't risk getting bottled up. Personally I'm inclined to simply mine some of the passes. If natives or beasts hit us, we can drive them right where our defences are strong."


The manpower they had was limited but if they used high technology smart they could compensate for that. The Gunships would also require a station to land, conduct repairs and get refuelled. No sooner had Siobhan spoken these words than that the attack happened. Well, Eyrecae the Dark Star had come across a party of natives eager for blood. Predictably violence ensued. The Firemane troops would be wearing duraplast armour, which meant that primitive weapons such as arrows and spears would bounce off them quite harmlessly. They also had bolters and blaster rifles.


"Kill them," Siobhan spoke into the comm. It was then that she felt a warning through the Force and instinctively rushed forward to knock Judah down. Hopefully [member="Thessa Kai"] would not hold a grudge against Siobhan for pushing her husband down like that, but the space Judah had vacated was now graced by an arrow that came shooting through the bush...and as it happened made polite conversation with Siobhan's armour, which once again gave the shiny beskar'gam the chance to prove how awesome it was.


"Get your people into cover," she yelled at him as the natives charged. "Get in line, boys. Gun them down. E-webs salvoe in the centre. Prepare buckshot for close range." A squad of Firemane troops quickly sprang into action. As it happened the redcoats had the maxim, which the natives lacked. Well...Firemane had bolters and blasters. There was also a ridiculously brutal telekinesis master, who decided that the best way to use her skills was to send forth an overpowered shockwave of bone-smashing force.

 

[Chalu]

Samples were abandoned in the grass, fish and creatures swimming in their clear boxes. Scientists had scattered like roaches when the light gets turned on. Most made it back to the Silurus-class vessel while others took to their safety on the Firemane Industries ships. Yelling and calls were drowned out by fighters flying over head, banking to the mountains.

Jacy was struggling to help Dr.Itho hurry back across the fields and into the vessel. Elderly, the man didn't move very fast. There was no way for the woman to pick up the Doctor and merely carry him either. Instead the two were shuffling quickly as possible. But not quickly enough. An arrow managed to find its way to Jacy's upper bicep, the rusted metal point piercing her flesh.

Crying out an extremely inappropriate cruse, the woman pulled out the offending weapon, blood dripping down her arm now. The pair had reached the shadow of the ship, scurrying into the cool interior.

"I think I need a bandage" Jacy said wryly, holding a hand over the wound as she cut through the crowd on the way to the infirmary.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"] , [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]


Judah landed with a solid oomph on the ground. Although one could suppose it was better than being shot with a very rough looking arrow. Siobhan was ordering for cover of the employees and before Judah could open his mouth it appeared most were taking heed of that warning. Getting off the ground, Siobhan had already sprung into action.


"No doubt they don't stand a chance against your employees. Let me go make sure we haven't had any kidnapped or killed on my side of things."

Judah trotted off to the Silurus-class, breaking through the Firemane troops surrounding the ramp and disappearing inside.


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

"Dav, what are those?" A bandit pointed to the blasters the visitors were using on the group. "We have no idea....they do not use bow and arrows? Spears?" Dav himself was dumbfounded. Several of his fellow raiders had scattered through the mountains at the sight of the firepower mowing down their comrades. Others were unconvinced.

"Wizardry is what it is! Those...those Mirilians....the outsiders that live in the poles. They are behind this. Want the planet for their entire population! They want to rule us with dark magic"

Bandits eyes went wide. The wizards at the poles were always plotting. It seemed to reengage the bandits though. Firing of arrows towards Firemane was fast and swift, with many disappearing into brush and firing guerrilla- style onto the visitors.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Eyrecae Alzari"]


The natives were primitively armed but had the sense to readjust their tactics and not blindly death charge. Riding boldly and well into the jaws of death never went well after all. Especially if your opponents had what could essentially be described as a high version of the good ol' Maxim in large numbers.



Needless to say Siobhan would be ignorant of the intertribal feuds that might be taking place on the planet. Likewise of the fact that the natives had mistaken her with Mirilians. The fact that her use of destructive force magic might end up fuelling racial and tribal hatred was something she would not know. Instead she was focused on the here and now. The bandits were employing classic hit and run tactics, emerging to let loose a hail of arrows at the well-armoured Firemane troops, then retreating into the bushes and the forest.



True the cover was not perfect since the Firemane soldiers brought bolters and heavy repeaters, unleashing a hailstorm that demanded its tribute in blood. There was a deafening roar like the sound of a cannon when one soldier fired an explosive bolt from a shatterboltgun to blast at natives that were peeking out, sending limbs flying and blowing a good chunk of their cover apart. It was a modified boltgun that combined the destructiveness of a bolter with a shattergun, using a mass driver effect.



"Keep one of them alive, Eyrecae! I'd like someone to question," Siobhan spoke into the comm, having to shout to make herself heard over the chaos. The primeval Eldorai supersoldier was at the mountains, bludgeoning her way through the natives' flanking action and could handle her end just fine. "Keep up volley, don't follow them. Prepare bombardment on my mark. Arrow One, move into position," she barked out to her troops and suddenly leapt into the air. Very, very high, until she was gliding far above both her soldiers and the natives.



If the attackers had had any doubts that the intruders were led by a vile witch, then these were removed. Aphotic energy writhed inside her as she gathered her power and unleashed it in an onslaught of force energy. A wild flurry of arrows and light spears was shot towards her armoured form as she focused. She was rather high in the air, but a number caught her. Since Siobhan had neglected to put her helmet on, one struck her lip and cut into it as she was pulling up, the primitive but sharp object drawing blood so that it dripped down her chin.



The air currents began to shift and twist violently as she harnessed her power to bring forth a powerful whirlwind that was centred on where the natives were seeking cover. The wind howled, or perhaps it was the shout of a wrathful god as the swirling whirlwind became a tempest and swept across the land. Trees would shake and bend under her might, bushes would be simply torn apart. Natives unlucky enough to be caught in the radius would be violently lifted into the air as they were engulfed, spun around and thrown by the raging tempest with a force to crush bones.



"Fire!" Arrow One happened to be one of the Silaqui-class Gunships that had been flying around and now it delivered death from above. Rather than using its missiles and bombs, since they presumably would have to be sparing with those, it unleashed salvoes with its laser cannons as it came swooping down. Scarlet laser beams seared through the air to scythe limbs and fry bodies. "Prepare to charge....finish them off," the force god came gliding through the air towards the natives, perhaps reminding them of a daemon of myth. "Arrow One, cut off their retreat."

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"Keep one of them alive, Eyrecae! I'd like someone to question,"

Eyrecae snorted. "Pfft, spoilsport! You finally give me something to fight and you won't let me crush them all? Fine, but you didn't mention in one piece!"

She charged, her hammer spraying blood droplets as her opponent ducked and stabbed at her, to no effect. Following up, Eyrecae punched him hard in the face so he fell stunned to the ground.
The remaining enemy, seeing the invulnerable, shrieking monster's bloody weapon, fled.
"That's right! Run you cowards!" she shouted.

An arrow tinged off her armour. Drawing her blaster she casually shot at the rock the native was behind until he was forced to flee, then gunned him down as well.
"Situation secure." She looked down into the valley where Siobhan was playing her Dark Phoenix game. "Showoff," she said and slung her hammer. Hauling the concussed man onto her shoulder she walked down the hill to deliver her prisoner.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]


The Tabaqui natives scrambled through the mountains. Most were amazed and scared of the outsiders, their weapons and skills were otherworldly in their eyes. Those who stood and fought were quickly mowed down by the Firemane troops. Blood and shrieks echoed through the space, bodies littered the well-worn footpaths in the mountain region.


Dav had been the last one alive. He had moved through the brush until the white haired witch had flushed him out. Next thing he knew his body was enveloped in darkness and he could feel the rough motions of being moved.


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

Judah had done a quick head count of all his employees -- everyone accounted for. Lucky for himself, Judah didn't feel like filing insurance claims for dead scientists and various other support personnel. Many crowded around the viewports trying to view the actions of the Firemane troops. Flashes could be seen up the mountains but not much else was happening. Every so often support craft could be heard droning overhead.

Judah pulled out his comm and keyed in Kerrigan.


"Lady Kerrigan, could you give us a status update?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Eyrecae Alzari"]



Siobhan looked upon the devastation and carnage she had wrought. The Chaos Goddess was well played and so she dropped down from the sky, her boots gracefully touching down upon the ground. The surviving natives were in full retreat, though doubtless more would be coming in time. Simply securing the location and setting up defences would not suffice.



At the same time this was not a force fit for occupation, or even meant for it. So she waved the Firemane soldiers back as they sought to give pursuit. "Secure the area. I want two teams on the mountains, explosive charges in that pass. More may be coming soon. Don't get cocky just because they're primitively armed. Keep count of your ammo. This isn't Mass Age."


Apparently Siobhan had forgotten about thermal clips!


"Situation secure. Enemy's in retreat," she spoke into her comm when she got Judah's message.

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Eyrecae strode over the battlefield triumphant. It didn’t matter that they’d just been facing primitives with bows and arrows. After all, bows and arrows in the hands of some could defeat legions of the Emperor’s best troops!

Approaching she tossed the survivor to the ground before Siobhan. “Caught this maleling as he tried to leg it. Want me to make him squeal? I can geld him like a pig if you want!” she said eagerly. Too eagerly. Weren’t they supposed to be Good?

Either way, she was rather overexcited due to a bit of bloodletting, so it could probably be excused.
“Wake up, manling, your Mistresses demand you talk!” she growled, pouring some water over the unfortunate Dav.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Eyrecae Alzari"]


"No. Control yourself. He's no Sith. No beatings without my permission," Siobhan said very sharply. Of course, if he were a Sith rather than a native bandit on a dark age planet things would be a bit different! Good is not nice for the win!


Of course, whether Eyrecae and Siobhan could be classified as 'good' was strongly questionable. Siobhan just happened to like being bossed around by her generally Neutral Good wife.

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Judah Dashiell"]

Eyrecae looked sulky at the stern order and folded her arms, muttering something in ancient Eldarai about offering him a cup of tea and a biscuit instead.

Still, since Judah was all over this operation, they’d have to wait until he arrived so they knew what to ask the unfortunate captive.

Eyrecae took the enforced wait as an excuse to clean the blood, hair and gore off her hammer. She did it so the unfortunate Dav could see. It wasn’t a threat per se, but it likely wasn’t that pleasant to watch the armoured witch cleaning your friend’s brains off their weapon!

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]


"We'll wait a few moments before dragging the scientists back out. See you soon Kerrigan."


Placing the comm back in his pocket, Judah grabbed a blaster and went down the ramp. He was going to get the sit-rep himself before sending off any employees back on the ground. The herd of animals had clearly scattered and the valley was unusually quiet. Firemane fighters were crossing over the mountains, making their way back to their location.


---------


Dav grunted, staring at the two women. His head hurt from the fighting, his dark eyes squinted against the bright light of the Tabaquian sun. Arms roughly moved, finding them bound with some type of cold metal item. The white-haired one was trying to scare him, cleaning blood and gristle off her weapons.


"Maleing? You have no idea who I am, do you....Pack of bitches is what you are. Coming an' takin' whats mine. Trying to take the city. You aint going to take it. Hear me woman?"

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]
[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Eyrecae grinned ferally, put down the hammer and hauled Dav up into the air with one hand with no apparent strain.
“No, I don’t know who you are. Care to tell me so I can put it on your tombstone? And bitches? You ain’t seen nothing yet, boy.”
She dropped him to the ground long enough to grip one of his hands and began to squeeze. With all her incredible strength she could break bones, bruise flesh and tear tendons. She stopped as the pain really would begin, but kept her hand lightly there.
“Now, let’s have a little chat about this city you’re babbling about…before I get mad.”

This writer has suddenly realised that Eyrecae is a bloodthirsty lunatic. Stupid characters determining their own personalities.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"], [member="Judah Dashiell"]


This writer recalls that Eyrecae's species sub says that she is Neutral Good, has a code of honour and is not given to random acts of cruelty and malice. But sometimes characters took on a life of their own and decided to determine their own personalities!


Eyrecae being a bloodthirsty lunatic made it no surprise that she and Siobhan got on so well! Along with both having a thing for rough sex.


Anyhow Siobhan watched the scene, looking completely unmoved by it. One might say that good is not nice, but she would probably not be called 'good' by any stretch of the imagination. "He's no use dead," she said, looking unfazed then turned her attention to their prisoner.


"Tell us everything about the city. Its defences and leaders. You've seen what we can do. The powers we have...our techniques will tear anyone who attacks us apart. Talk...and you won't be hurt and your wounds will be patched up. Refuse...and I'll leave you alone with her..."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]


Dav gasped for breath at the squeezing of his bones and organs via the wizardry by the white-haired witch. At the direction of the brunette boss-lady the invisible grip was slackened but remained a constant pressure. Boss-lady looked completely unconcerned with the scene, as if she was utterly and completely bored with the entire proceedings. He tried squirming away from the grip but it was futile. The white-witch was skilled in her powers. Twin suns continued to beat down on him as Dav lay in the grass, considering his next move. He didn't believe the women. Either way he was most likely to be shot. Or fed to predators in the middle of the night.


"You must be a group by in by the outsiders. Doin' their dirty work. Can't even leave their precious temples to take us out. They want the planet. Want us dead. Musta hired you fools to do it. Don't know how. Lazy they are. Don't work. Sit aroun' all day."


His eyes narrowed.


"You can find the city yourself."

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

This writer may have to make some changes to Eyrecae’s biography….

Regardless, Eyrecae shrugged. “Fair enough. Thank you for your assistance,” she said sweetly.

Then she picked up her hammer and brought it down like a thunderbolt towards Dav’s head, intending to burst it like a ripe melon.

…And stopped short an inch from the man’s forehead, as if she’d hit a solid wall. To her fury, Dav remained unsplattered!

Growling, Eyrecae glared at Siobhan. “What?! He isn’t going to help us anyway!” she said sulkily.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"], [member="Judah Dashiell"]


"There, there, dear. There'll be other skulls for you to crack. Lots and lots of them. Skulls of people who may actually be worth more of a fight," Siobhan responded, giving Eyrecae a pat on the shoulder. She would probably have to make it up to the bloodthirsty lunatic somehow. Perhaps by letting her be on top for the night!



Err, right, back to the family-friendly things. Like wanton, brutal violence and maltreatment of prisoners of war. "Cuff and gag him, then lock him up. No maltreatment, but no favours either," she motioned to two Firemane soldiers before turning and heading over to Judah, making a gesture to Eyrecae to follow her. The words about a temple and a group of outsiders had aroused her interest.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Eyrecae Alzari"]


Eyes widened with terror as the hammer came down then suddenly stopped. The boss-lady had saved him from near certain death, much to the disappointment of the white witch. They both were still mocking him. Dav didn't appreciate such treatment -- especially from women. He wasn't sure what type of tribe they were from. Letting their womenfolk do the work of warriors. He scoffed.

Hands reached down to haul him away. "You don't know what yer up ag--" muffled gags came next as a soldier stuffed a rag in his mouth. Small comfort it was relatively clean. More shackles were added to his frame. Most likely for humiliation rather than actual restraint. He felt his body being lifted by hands, dragging him off towards one of the shiny ships they landed in.


Judah was striding across the fields towards Siobhan and Eyrecae. His gaze followed the struggling prisoner and then back to the two women.

"I see you've found a prize. Although I didn't take you much for male...company..."

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Judah Dashiell"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Eyrecae flipped a dismissive look from Judah to the prisoner.
“There are no males here worth my time to properly break in and train,” she said scornfully. Was this an insult to Judah or not? It was hard to tell.

“The manling was babbling about a city and some such things. I wanted to extract more from him, but was prevented,” she said crossly.