Invasion War in the Rim Chapter II — GA Invasion of SO held Sluis Van and Echnos

[Velda Nar-Donna]

WEARING: Black Cherry colored sith robes
WEAPONS: 2x Lightsabers and The Dark Side
TAG: Srina Talon | Gerwald Lechner

The wolf’s emotions betrayed his thoughts. He was wondering about her. Who was she... and wondering if he could even trust her or not. And perhaps he was wise not to.

Trust should be afforded only to those who earn it. And even then it was not something that should be granted freely.

Velda found amusement in his caution, the faintest curve of satisfaction ghosting her lips. She had observed the Order’s dealings from the shadows following her arrival from The Maw and the Battle of Exegol. Watching their disarray had been her silent vigil, her long game. And so, she had remained hidden. Such was by design.

Suddenly, the power vanished, plunging the room into darkness, a void, profound and suffocating, where fear bloomed unchecked. For a heartbeat, the war room was consumed by night’s cold embrace. Then, as if by some cruel mercy, the emergency lights flared, casting everything in crimson, bathing the chaos in a terrible, arterial glow. The sirens wailed, harsh and shrill, cutting through the stillness like the cry of a dying beast.

In the distance outside the protective bubble of the city. She heard the storm rage, as the Alliance and the Jedi tried to scratch and claw their way inside.

Her presence was like a gothic silhouette against the backdrop of red floodlights and the blaring song of the sirens. She let the storm’s energy wash over her, the electrical charge in the air dancing on her skin like a lover’s touch. Somewhere high above, the protective enclosure of the city, within the firmament of the moon itself. The Jedi were trying to turn The violence of nature itself against them. How quaint.

She overheard the com chatter that the airlocks had been compromised with the outtage. And Gerwald spoke.

“This place is no longer useful to us. Our Empress needs to finish the ritual. We must deal with the assailants.”

Within the void of her hood, a full but well groomed eyebrow arched in surprise, were the Jedi and Alliance really so bold? Such actions would place the peasants in danger after all. Not that Velda really cared if they were in danger or not.

“I have the utmost confidence that The Empress will complete the ritual.” Her tone cool, her certainty absolute. “Though, the interlopers shall be addressed to our satisfaction.”

Gerwald wasted no time, his form disappearing through the emergency exit, a wolf on the hunt. But Velda lingered, bathed in the blood-red light of the war room. Only to hear the quiet static and chatter of the war from the still open channels of the comlinks.

She closed her eyes, let herself sink into the city's dying heartbeat, the ebb and flow of panic and despair. Fear and dread. It was a palpable thing here, thick in the air, clinging to every breath, every pulse.

With a fluid grace, Velda turned from the war room, her footfalls soundless against the cold floor as she made her way toward the emergency exit that Gerwald had taken a moment earlier. The city outside was already a writhing mass of confusion, fear, and desperation. their cries filling the air like a mournful dirge.

She would not engage in the pleas of confusion and help from the citizenry. Her hand came up, and with a smooth wave of her fingers she Summoned Fear against the masses, adding even more to the fear already present in her vicinity.

Velda fell back, her presence merging with the shadows as she navigated the city’s labyrinthine streets, her gaze sharp, ever watchful for the Alliance’s forces. All the while making her way to the secondary command center. And hunting their opposition.

 

[Jenn Kryze]

Beskar'gam
​

| Location | Into the city
| Objective | Push through the airlock, secure a foothold

The air was filled with smoke, and blood.​

​

The Mandalorians of Clan Kryze made hatred their sword, and swung it with the might of their conquering ancestors. A veritable deluge of explosives rained down on the enemy fortifications, and from the breaches created poured forth the murderous horde, indefatigable in its onslaught. Into the airlock itself they poured, and clashed with the defenders in a bitter close quarters struggle. The Kainite's forces, prepared as they were for such an assault, made the attackers pay dearly for every inch of ground taken. Before long, the airlock became a nightmarish ocean of brutality, the ground strewn with the bodies of proud Mandalorians, noble Hastati, and indomitable Kainites alike. Those who yet drew breath practically waded through the dead to reach their quarry, sometimes struggling atop one another to push down a blade into the foe. The screams of the dying filled the air, interrupted by the orders shouted by the Rallymasters and the roaring of their flamethrowers...​

​

The Sith's lackeys were well-trained, and fanatical in their devotion. A good thing that Jenn had added some considerable padding to her numbers with the recruitment of the Hastati, now tested in battle against the Neo-Crusaders. With the enemy shattered before their resolve and initiating a retreat, the second phase of the plan could begin. Loathe as he was to deprive himself of the glory to come with such a breakthrough, Pollux remained behind with a small contingent of fresh troops to guard the airlock, and in so doing secure the Clan's retreat, should the need arise. A rather inglorious task that fell to him, one of the Clan's greatest duelists, for no other reason than the harsh reality that he alone retained a cool head throughout it all.​

​

As opposed to his Alor, who rallied her troops around her as they pushed past the ruined airlock with promises of yet more carnage to come. Jenn could feel it, down to her very bones - the approach of something foul, her poorly-developed Force Sense all but screaming at her. Pushing down the near-instinctive sense of dread, she ordered the surviving Rallymasters to reorganize the fighting force; those squads with too many casualties were merged together to form cohesive fighting elements once again, all the while ammunition was passed around for the weapons team and medics were sent back towards the airlock to save those they could.​

​

"Take heart, my friends!" called the Alor proudly, lifting her beskad high. "For now is the hour of vengeance! Let the Sith pay the wages of treachery; ravage their lands, shed their blood, and destroy their people!"​

​

Whipped into a frenzy by the wrathful words imparted unto them, the Mandalorians and their auxiliaries set about extracting a bloody toll from all those who may stand in their way.​

​

Jenn, for her part, turned to Jonyna, whose great power had seen her and her warriors aided in their opening push. Gone was the tenderness of her smile, the warmth of her features, the woman capable of great wisdom and kindness; all that remained was the pitiless gaze of a Y visor, the shape alone emblematic of her people. From the scratched paint of her helm to the stylized Jaig Eyes sitting above the lines of her visor, the Alor appeared inhuman - a wraith, come to claim vengeance for the fallen. ​

​

"You can feel it", spoke the the Ersansyr, her voice easily heard even over the chaos. "It hungers for the blood of my people, even now. It comes in hopes of finishing what it started. But we will deny It this victory, with your blood, and mine. Together."​

​

| Friendly | Jonyna Si Varys Amun
| Hostile | Darth Carnifex Kaila Irons Teresa Zambrano | Darth Pellax ​

 

[Varys Amun]

Location: Echnos, near Airlock 5
Equipment: Senaar'gam (armour) | Varys' songsteel javelin | Senaar'sen kite | Jetpack | Twin maser pistols
Objective: Link up with Mandalorian forces
Allies: Jenn Kryze | Jonyna Si
Enemies: Teresa Zambrano | Darth Pellax | Kaila Irons | Darth Carnifex

-

"Take heart, my friends!" called the Alor proudly, lifting her beskad high. "For now is the hour of vengeance! Let the Sith pay the wages of treachery; ravage their lands, shed their blood, and destroy their people!"

The scene was overwhelming. Denizens of the domed city were retreating away from the airlocks like rats fleeing a flood. Too late, even as they ran from their houses an unfortunate few were caught by stray bolts of plasma or a wayward explosion. Worse, there was nowhere they could go except to the centre, where they could only hope to survive the onslaught which approached from all sides, could only pray that the dome held, that they wouldn't spending their last moments choking.

Varys couldn't imagine being so helpless.

Ahead of her, the black ranks of the Sith had rallied and closed around the entrance to Airlock 5 on the interior side, with the forces of Clan Kryze besieging the exterior. Surely it would not be long before they broke through. If Varys stepped out to engage the enemy alone she would quickly be mown down, and the whole venture would be a pathetic waste.

Swooping a little further down Teresa circling around above Airlock five. No doubt there was mandalorians and GADF soldiers who noticed the woman in the sky in black armor and enormous wings. Even if they did, she kept pulling away hailing one bolt after the other slowly getting used to the weapon.

Movement drew Varys' eyes upward. A dark figure wheeled above the Sith soldiers, occasionally circling almost directly over Varys' position half-concealed behind a doorway. She was firing an energy bow erratically, bolts flying in different directions before seeming to straighten out. Varys squinted at the winged figure. She had read about Lord Carnifex's Valkyries, but she'd never dreamed of seeing one.

Anger bubbled in Varys' gut without warning. The Mandalorian diaspora was rife with stories of winged butchers during the purge of Manda'yaim. This was an enemy of her people. Not just a conscript soldier but a true Sith. The ilk of those whose boots Varys' family had spent the last 50 years licking. She bared her teeth.

Without thinking, Varys pulled her javelin from behind her back, the metallic haft glinting in the light as she raised it high and drew it back to pluck the Valkyrie from the air.

An explosion shook the building as the shockwaves of it rippled throughout the city. In the same instant everything went dark.

The instant Varys drew in a breath to throw the weapon, the city suddenly went black. Varys yelped in alarm, but no attack came, and with a high pitched whirring sound the display in her helmet compensated for the dimness, casting the world around her in a fuzzy grey light, which was shortly replaced by the red gloom of emergency lighting.

Varys slowly let out her held breath. Where had the Valkyrie gone? Her eyes scanned the air above but she could no longer see the Sith. A moment later, Varys saw what she thought was a mass of black feathers passing above her head, a dark shape that could only be her enemy.

"Oya!"

This time she threw the javelin on instinct alone, hardly pausing to aim, praying that would be enough to fell the creature.

 

[Srina Talon]

Nearby Allies: [SO] Gerwald Lechner Kaila Irons Darth Carnifex Velda Nar-Donna Teresa Zambrano | Darth Pellax
Distant Allies: [SO] Jarek Voss Darth Ultramar Kasir Dorran Velda Nar-Donna Darth Nefaron QK-2510 Festerruman Sachiel
Enemies: [GA] Connel Vanagor Lt. Bren Alazar Gress D'ran Jonyna Si Varys Amun Tarw Rhyfelwr Vulpesen Judah Lesan Jenn Kryze Zaiya Ceti Avery Vaaki
Location: [Echnos City] - Governmental Residence/War Room/Makeshift Ritual Chamber
______________________________________________________

Little pinpricks of garish light surrounded Echnos City with impunity.

They filled the sky, they trampled the moon's surface, and slipped past their defenses in the same way that vermin scurried merrily through sewers. There was a dark miasma of emotion that caused the Light to feel unfamiliar. They were not the beacons of hope, however pitiful, that she recalled existing in the Core. The ritual she invoked searched for fuel by claiming negativity among the populace, among her people, and, those who had arrived to the technology-rich city with weapons of mass destruction.

The intruders held hate, an overwhelming need for vengeance, nervousness, fear, spiteful disgust, perhaps, even an unsurmountable desire to shed their blood and kill in the name of…Peace and Freedom. There were even untested youth outside the airlocks. She could not see them, with closed eyes, seated, before one of the grandest of Sith artifacts that had ever existed…But her senses were overwhelmingly attuned to the overall state of the capital. It was a requirement, not, a choice. The red-hued dodecahedron that slowly spun round on its axis wouldn't allow for anything but the utmost of attention and devotion. She had to know. So that it, might soon live.

Was this truly what the Galactic Alliance had brought to bear?

Malcontent that masqueraded as betterment for the common man?

Revenge disguised as liberation?

Srina could not claim to fully comprehend the actions of their northern neighbors—But she would not idly accept occupation. She didn't blame the Alliance for their current passions in attempting to remove the influence of the Sith by any means necessary. It was a standpoint that she herself had taken. She found kinship in that. To do what must be done regardless the cost. But, they were of differing ideology. A different people. She had chosen the path of a Sith and remained unwavering, dedicated, to the point of death in upholding the rule that had been established.

As the sky above the dome began to darken…What path was this? What path of Light led the people of Echnos City into a blind panic—That in turn drove them fearfully into her waiting arms?

…She barely had to lift a finger.

Dyim…Five.

Dyis…Four.

Tsosûti…Three.
​

The ritual continued to gather strength, feeding, on the masses while the Dread Queen found mirrors of amplification in her own people. The strongest of attacks were never made alone. The strongest of locks were never broken, such with what bound this device, without many hands to aid in manipulation of the pins. Gerwald Lechner , Velda Nar-Donna , had fallen to her call first because they were ready to hear it. So soon would others. Srina was just about to tap another of the Order when…

. . .all lights went out. . .
​

Not only the lights, but, the ever-present distant hum of technology ceased in the wake of yet another explosion. This was not her doing, not to mention, that the blast was NOT outside the dome. It was unlike the shelling the airlocks had been taking thus far. This was within the heart of the city. While the damage to the area itself might have been minimal the effect of the sudden the silence was deafening. The scene changed from general unrest to a surging wave of sweat, confusion, and unbridled terror.

Red warning lights and klaxons blaring didn't aid the situation at all and only added to the coming swarm. The dark cloud that blotted out any view of space from beneath the dome seemed to find purchase not long after. Lightning crashed down around Echnos City while hail began to pummel from above. Sheets of rainfall gave a steady beat that tried to mask the sound of a half-thousand weapons intent on decimating airlocks but…Nothing could hide that. The sheer power it took to maintain such a thunderstorm made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Her arms tickled with gooseflesh and a sigh pulled from her lips at the ferocity of it. The surety, the fury, the weight of such an act…

…Was achingly beautiful.

One thing happened swiftly after the other. The loss of power. The storm. The airlocks malfunctioning. The Order from Gerwald Lechner to withdraw, retreat, as they no longer had such bulwarks to cover defensive positions. The invisible barrier that kept the atmosphere intact through emergency life support would keep oxygen in. It may not keep bolts, bullets, and varying other levels of firepower out. There was so much happening…

So much fire, so much death, coming from the heavens.

The resulting fright of the people of Echnos City was beyond anything she had ever expected. It became overwhelming to the point she could barely breathe, barely think, whilst the artifact in her grasp shook from the impact of it all. The air outside the Dome was full of nitrogen and would not be able to support life for long. Of course, the citizenry were alarmed of the mere potential of losing their last line of defense. Horrified by what they could see. Hear. The superpowers that were vying for control of their home…Didn't matter as much as the real, true threat, of the Dome falling inward. Of crashing down.

..Yun..
​

The pale woman released a soft cry when Kasir Dorran joined the descension. It was the sound an animal might make when released from a trap, her black eyes taking in nothing, and everything. The occultist strengthened her and gave her the stability she needed to soothe the power that she wielded. To keep it from drawing in too much, too fast. To keep it from erupting in ways that were unpredictable. She could feel the grace of Velda Nar-Donna feeding more into the gnashing maw of an invisible beast. The drumming beat of the artifact greedily drank in what she offered and the Echani listened to the echoing voices. They found it sublime.

Srina felt her head tilt to the side while the unit settled…It was all about control.

Which was especially needed because of the meddlesome wretch that was trying to penetrate the sanctum she required to see this through. The ritual slowed when a Jedi began to rail against the ward she had erected. He took her concentration. Stole, her intention. Lips of primrose pressed into a thin frown while demonic orbs moved toward the barrier as it shattered. The implosion of the Darkside that erupted from it's breaking rolled over her skin like a cooling wave. It eased the pain in her palms, in her mind, and the subsequent blast that sent him sprawling backward was merely a delicate breeze. Lengths of shining white hair stirred, fabric rustled, but the dark was her home. Her own ward would not harm her. The returning energy, strengthened her.

"Idiot."

The ability to speak had come with the breaking of her ward.

The singular word was not uttered with cruelty or disdain but simple fact. Like all Jedi…This one had already displayed a tendency to toy with forces they had no knowledge of. She had prepared for years to use the ancient relic she now held in her possession. Decades. This whelp had taken one look at an unknown machination fueled by the darkside and decided to "play" with it in the same way a child removed the head from their dolls. The governor's mansion creaked and groaned with the amount of pressure filling the walls. The immediate area around the Sith Empress was becoming filled with darkside pollution. It filled the frigid air, making it thick, while wisps of smoke and ash began to emanate from the space.

Distantly, she heard something.

At first—Srina did not recognize that the Jedi spoke. It was the verbal vomit of an unenlightened mind. He was there, but, of little consequence and she could barely understand him when the voices of Sith centuries old and gone whispered their desires in her ears. Whispered, the incantation she returned, summoning fear and terror from the most common of places. From within.

Her head lifted and the cruel calculation of her stare would pin him to the wall like a butterfly on display. His fear was delightful—And he gave it so freely. Her voice was hollow and distant. Ice-laden and full of ability that the warrior of Light would not be able to comprehend. Her features were empty, without emotion, but the simple plains of her countenance were hauntingly beautiful. It would seem wrong that she alone would be responsible for such blasphemous works. "…You should have asked that before setting foot on our worlds. The artillery at our gate, is not for discussion. The storm that rages overhead, is not for conversation."

"Your people have already spoken. I hear you, Jedi, I hear them all."

Srina paused as the device pulsed and pulled on the fear of the man before her. It would be easy enough to let it have him…But patience. Fear once cultivated was sweeter than that snatched from the vine before it was ripe.

"Now…The Sith will speak. Now, you will listen."

______________________________________________________
Equipment: Robes | Saber | Ring | Ring​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Echnos City
Assisting GADF in Airlock Six
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Allies: GADF Forces
Enemies: Kasir Dorran

-

Zaiya's skin rippled with a silvery sheen, like moonlight reflecting on metal, as the distant, festering presence of the Dark Side pulsed from the city's heart. The Lovalla Padawan shivered, her rosy golden tones fading to a pale pewter -- she didn't need the Force to tell her something was terribly wrong, but the twisted miasma of tentacles gnawing at her senses made it all too clear. Whatever it was, it was big, and it was spreading. And Zaiya had a very bad feeling about it.

She'd felt this before, back on Tython, when that Sith Master's proximity had nearly knocked her out cold. She'd been nauseous, reeling from the darkness that swirled around him. Since then, the last few years of training had bolstered her resilience, fortifying her against the initial gut-wrenching sensation that still crawled under her skin. Her kyber crystal hair comb helped to keep her mind focused, its soft hum a soothing balm against the storm of conflicting energies. But it was no failsafe; it wouldn't protect her completely from the sinister pull that now radiated through the Force.

Zaiya knew she had to train harder, push herself further -- anything to keep from being overwhelmed by the emotional tsunami that surged between Light and Dark. But today was about to go from complicated to chaos faster than she could have imagined.

In the blink of an eye, a freak storm erupted, sending rain hammering down on the airlocks. The slicers had been making good progress when the power cut out, plunging the area into sudden darkness. In response, the demolition experts moved in. If they couldn't slice their way in, they'd blast it open instead.

The airlock doors exploded inward with a deafening crash, and Zaiya's senses flared -- seconds to react, silvery bioluminescence streaking across her face and arms. A warning screamed through the Force, a ripple of impending danger that sent her heart racing. She snapped her hands up, throwing out a Force shield just in time to catch the blast of a powerful Force push aimed at the GADF troops charging through the breached airlock.

She couldn't shield them all; soldiers were thrown back, colliding with each other and the twisted metal shards. Cries of pain echoed as some went crashing back on jagged remains of the airlock gate, blood staining the floor in sickening pools. The sounds almost overwhelmed Zaiya's senses.

As the chaos began to settle, Zaiya's opal blue eyes narrowed. She couldn't see him -- not even with her ultraviolet spectrum sight -- but she could feel the darkness lurking, waiting, the signature of the Sith that had sent the Force push.

"Blast it!" Zaiya muttered, glancing between the injured and the direction of the Dark surge. A war waged inside her -- half of her instincts screamed to help the fallen soldiers, but the other half knew that if she didn't confront the Sith now, more lives would be lost. In her mind's eye, the Force wove a tapestry, each thread grazing each life, auras highlighted and flaring more brightly with those who could use the Force. One dark writhing one caught her attention.

Dropping her shield, Zaiya summoned the Force, channeling it through her hands and releasing a brilliant flash of blinding light in the Sith's direction. The light erupted like a small sun from her palms, intended to blind, disorient, and maybe -- just maybe -- force the Sith to reveal himself. If she could catch him off guard, it might just be the edge she needed to keep the GADF forces safe and draw his attention to her.

While she'd be prone to try and talk things through first; the sudden attack had placed her on the defensive, especially since other's were hurt. If she could disable the Sith quickly, then perhaps less bloodshed could be spilled.

"Hey, we don't really have to do this you know!" She began to call out, hoping that the Force blinding had worked. If not, well, she could talk him to death while trying to figure out what to do next.

"I don't want to hurt you." which was hilarious considering it was likely that her opponent did.

 

[Seela Leini]

Location: Troposphere Over Echnos City - Echnos
Objective: Air Superiority
Call Sign: Fragile Dancer
Dialogue Legend: <<Ghoul-Speak>> │ “Galactic Basic”
Tag: Avery Vaaki

The sleek, aerodynamic frame of the Lobeha Mwadu III speared through the cloud layer in a shallow dive before emerging out into the violent, hazy skies over Echnos City. Sitting within the cockpit, Seela Leini pored over the sensor data streaming into her awareness with a narrowed gaze as she wove her machine through the storm. All the while, the lingering electromagnetism from the lightning passing just inches from her craft caused her eyelashes to stand on end. From her aerial vantage point, the Twi’lek quickly realized that it was a storm with a will of its own. She glanced out the side of her canopy as one of the Eternalist starfighters was struck from the sky, the craft becoming a flaming tomb for its unfortunate pilot as it plunged down towards the earth.

A prayer on her lips, Seela rolled her wings and broke hard to port, seeking to separate from the preternatural influence that appeared to be striking down Sith fighters and from what she could tell, the Sith forces positioned outside the dome as well.

Still, Seela could not run too far.

Lightning, turbulence, hellfire, flak, or fear, her tasking came before all of them. Secure the skies. That was why she was here, to bring ruin to those Lightblind minions who sought to impose their will from above.

<<This is Fragile Dancer, I have sensor contact.>> She intoned. All the while, Seela processed the data in her sensor readout parsing it together to swiftly identify her targets—Y-Wings. Slow, yet deadly craft with enough ordnance to level city blocks. Against an agile predator like the Pyrolisk, the Twi’lek hoped that they might not survive for long.

Thus, Seela locked onto three of the closest bomber signatures, intending to make use of her missiles’ BVR capability and the inclement conditions to engage in such a way that eyes could not hope to track her.

If all went according to plan, the bombers would find fire raining down on them from the clouds.

<<Fox three, fox three. Missiles away!>> A slender, gloved finger pressed the trigger three times in quick succession on the top-back of the control yoke, each triggering the launch of a single missile. In only a couple seconds, three concussion missiles were fired from her port-side launcher, each aimed for a single bomber out of the three she had locked onto moments prior.

Spoiler: Loadout

Craft: Lobeha Mwadu III

• Status
  
  • Shields: 100%
  • Armor: 100%
  • Structure: 100%
• Systems
  
  • Sensor Jammer: Inactive
  • FAE/S-02 Semi-Active Stealth System: Active
  • Ósýnilegt-class Personal Cloaking Device: Inactive
  • FAE/S-03 “Phase Masque” Distortion Matrix: Inactive
• Armament
  
  • AI-LC4 "Valefor" Laser Cannon (4)
  • AI-IC4 "Shiva" Ion Cannon (4)
  • Variable Flex Tube Launcher (2)
    
    • FAE/WH-04-S4 Universal Missile - Proton Warhead (6)
    • FAE/WH-04-S4 Universal Missile - Concussion Warhead (6)
• Pilot Equipment
  
  • FAE/A-09 Anti-G Suit
  • KIIR-24 'Stormclaw' Gauss Pistol
    
    • Attachments
      
      • 1-5x FAE/S-08 Electro-Sight
    • Ammunition
      
      • 64 Round Quad-Chamber Magazine (4)
        
        • GC-01 Slugs (64)

Spoiler: Summary of Actions

• Seela fires three concussion missiles (standard small craft size missiles) at three bombers in Nova Squadron respectively. The missiles are fired from beyond visual range, as Seela is making use of the limited visibility from the storm and the missiles’ extended range to engage without being spotted.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Kainate forces stationed at airlock five fought ferociously for as long as they were commanded to do so, littering the field with the dead of both sides. Vicious and macabre weapons were unleashed against the invaders; powerful energy weapons that seemed to dance from one victim to the next, swarms of smart-missiles that burrowed through flesh and armor alike, and many other things that seemed solely designed to maximize cruelty. And even as Kainate soldiers fell to the assault, they seemed to arise moments later and pick back up their fallen weapons. Only after the fourth or fifth death did their body finally lay still, little more than a desiccated husk left behind.

It was spoken of those who served the Sith Empire that not even death could staunch their fidelity, and perhaps the stories were then true. Death appeared slow to take hold in so many, the less mangled corpses at least. Those who had been more brutally maimed or blown apart seemed to linger for a few breaths before their meat grew still; whatever dark power animating them beyond expiration abandoning them for more intact vessels. The soldiers reanimated in this manner possessed only the rudimentary motor skills to keep fighting for as long as their bodies would hold, whatever intelligence they once possessed in life no longer mattered.

Only officers deemed useful enough to continue their service were given lives beyond death of any actual meaning, although they too were stretched beyond their limit. Each resurrection sapped more and more from them, diminishing their mental; faculties, degrading their motor skills, and ultimately rendering them completely useless. The Sith discarded those who had been brought back too many times in favor of fresher minds and bodies, only to squeeze as much as they could from them in turn.

Such was the fate of those bound to the will of the Sith.

Many such officers commanded the Kainate troops, directing them as ably as they could. Right now, all that could be done was a holding withdrawal. They would fight for hold of an area for as long as was tactically viable before saturating it with concentrated bombardment as they pulled back. Everything left in their wake was flattened, all points of vantage mangled, and any usable cover blown apart by short-ranged mortar fire. These places became killing fields for entrenched Kainate pre-fabricated pillboxes, heavy repeater fire raining down in overlapping volleys. But, eventually those were abandoned as well, blown up as the Kainate heavy weapons units pulled back just before the skirmish infantry did.

They killed eagerly, they died eagerly. Prayers to their Eternal Father were given freely from bloodied lips, cursing the souls of the enemy and praising their dark, indifferent god. He would be here soon, they declared, as had been foretold in their dreams. Fevered eyes stared manically at the advancing enemy, not looking at them -- but through them. This was no mania or delirium, that had yet to come, but pure religious fervor; a reverence that could only be found in such monstrous adoration as those between the faithful devotees of hate, war, and death and the living embodiment of misery and sadism.

It was during the latest engagement between the Kainate defenders and their enemy that the mood on the battlefield shifted. All Kainate fire suddenly stopped, nearly in unison. As the first GADF units approached the enemy position, they did not find them deserted. They found the Kainate soldiers in prayers, their faces pressed to the floor as they recited barely audible hymns in a language the Alliance soldiers could not understand. Even when fired upon, the Kainate soldiers did not react, they did not move, did not do anything other than continue to pray.

The reason came a heartbeat later.

A shadow fell across the battlefield.

The first Alliance soldier to gaze upon Him met an ignoble end, their flesh catching fire as their insides superheated into crystal. Scintillating arcs of electricity burst forth from their body, almost tearing them in half as it bounced from one Alliance soldier to the next in a deadly domino effect. Their bodies were vitrified, breaking apart as they fell backwards from the impact. Those that lived lingered on as parts of their body had been transmogrified into black and red crystal, the heat from the attack so monstrously high that it converted the very molecules of their skin and flesh into glass.

Darth Carnifex swept onto the battlefield from on high, swooping down like a diving falcon to land before the advancing Alliance force. Alliance blasterfire rained down on Him within moments, but the Dark Lord raised a hand and swept their fire away like falling leaves caught on a stiff breeze. It was clear that the standard forces of the Alliance could not contend with a being of such nightmarish power, it would fall to those among them who recognized such power and had fought against it before.

The Dark Lord's vision caught theirs within moments, His dark eyes radiating malice even from such a great distance. "Come, Jedi," rang out His voice, "Come and show me what animals you have brought to slaughter. From this distance I see the blue warpaint of Clan Kryze." He flourished His cloak, which upon closer observation was made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of overlapping metal scales like that of dragon-hide. He idly fingered through each scale, one after the other, until He found what He was looking for.

The blue had faded, but it was still visible. As was the symbol of Clan Kryze.

"Ah, here they are. The rest of your misbegotten kin, I will enjoy adding yours to the collection."

Kaila Irons | Teresa Zambrano | Darth Pellax
Jonyna Si | Jenn Kryze | Varys Amun ​

 

[Judah Lesan]

Wearing: xxx
Allies: Connel Vanagor | Lt. Bren Alazar | Gress D'ran | Jonyna Si | Varys Amun | Tarw Rhyfelwr | Vulpesen | Zaiya Ceti | Avery Vaaki
Enemies:: Srina Talon

Fear. Dread. Terror.

These words described the present emotion the Jedi was feeling. His eyes looked to the device, and instinctively he knew it was the cause of it. Judah was a shadow which had dealt with, and handled, dark side artifacts before. Some were inconsequential, but others, like this, were morbidly powerful. The dark side radiated from the center of the machine as though its heart was made of the black ilk which tainted everything it touched.

His mind was still in a haze, likely concussed from the crash he suffered. It had been foolish to break through the bulwark the Echani had built to safeguard her sanctuary, but Judah also knew she could not be allowed to complete whatever it was the Sith had planned.

Rumors of her cold precision were found true upon this first meeting. In many ways the woman was not at all unlike other Echani which had been influential in Judah’s life. While he was not an expert in their arts, he had learned from a young friend during his years as a street urchin. His ability to speak through movement would be rusty, but he was prepared to read her if needed.

In a blink the lights went dark.

Judah had heard the explosion before feeling it rock the mansion. An odd expression washed over his face knowing it had come from within the city. It made little sense to him. The Sith would not need to take out the power grid with explosives when they controlled the city. The Galactic Alliance would not be foolish enough to cause an uproar of panic and chaos in an entire city.

But Judah knew the truth.

They had.

“Foolish.”

Judah muttered the commentary under his breath. Soldiers often thought only of winning, no matter the cost. There were many ways to achieve a result, but it seemed there was a unit within the city which had chosen a more primitive method. It was pointless to save a city if they destroyed it in the process. This was why Judah continually questioned his involvement with the Galactic Alliance and the New Jedi Order. No matter how much he wanted to believe the Alliance wished to promote peace within the galaxy, their tactics when at war proved to be no more right than those they called evil.

He blinked again, and the red lights which confirmed the city was on emergency power provided another layer of ghoulish ambiance to the already sinister environment he found himself in. Where the Empress could have been mistaken for an angel, she now appeared as a demon. Darkness moved about her like whisps of smoke which seemed to have a life of their own. Terrible spirits of an ethereal nature danced about the Dread Queen as another pulse drew something from her.

The device was gaining more power.

Judah heard the sharp wince of pain which had caused her to suck her breath quickly. It was evident the process was not peaceful. Nothing the Sith did could be described as such. They thrived on chaos, and the Alliance was playing right into their hands. He did not have a way of messaging them, not at this point. The shadow operated independent of most of the military and other Jedi. His task was one of strategic infiltration. They would not hear him on the comms, not now. There was too much interference.

Srina addressed him, pausing from the cold ritual.

Good. If Judah could keep her talking, perhaps he could keep the device from gaining more power. He tried to reassure himself, but the measure of his fear was greater than anything he had experienced in a long time. No matter how much he had trained to resist the darkness, to master his feelings, his weakened condition made it difficult.

His mind played through what he feared the most.

Death.

The Jedi did not fear his own death. Judah had long made peace with the fact he would not die peacefully of old age. His demise would be met by the end of lightsaber, fighting for a cause he believed in. Judah was a true Jedi, a champion of peace, and a banner of the light.

No, Judah feared the deaths of those he held dear. Romi Jade had already been killed. He could not stand the thought of his best friend and Jedi Partner Cambria Zadira perishing. Valery Noble had shared she had seen a vision of her dying. Judah Lesan Jr. would die in some war with the Sith if they were not stopped. His grandson had recently joined the order as well. What would become of them if these wars did not come to an end?

Yet, despite his fear, and the conviction he held onto, Judah found it impossible to argue with what the Empress said. She spoke facts.

It was the truth.

“My people are not the ones performing some dark ritual, and to what purpose? Is it for the betterment of the good citizens of this city? Would you relinquish the city peacefully if it meant sparing the lives of the innocent?”

Judah did not disagree with her assessment. He simply turned her words back onto her. Was he deflecting, no. The Jedi also spoke the truth. While he knew there were Sith which seemed to display an unorthodox moral compass when compared to the stereotype, as a whole, the actions of the Sith Order were well known.

Tion was ravaged after the Empire of the Lost was defeated. The people of that planet were butchered. To what end? All to make an example?

“Your words and feelings may be altruistic. You may begrudge the actions the Galactic Alliance has taken, and you would not be wrong to claim she has blood on her hands. Yet, you do so with a bloodied blade hidden behind your back, as the blood of all those your precious order has murdered calls up from the ground.”

Judah took a step forward as he found his resolve once more. In a breath he banished the fear from his mind, though it fought to keep its hold on him.

“Do not set off the device.”

 

[Kaila Irons]

<<My lord wills it, and men turn to glass>> Kaila's voice went unheard, isolated to her own mind to commune with whatever lived there.

<<You master is far more powerful than we realized>> A thousand voices whispered back in disbelief, seeing through Kaila's eyes as she marched behind Darth Carnifex , blackened glass crunching beneath, masked eyes glancing to statue-like men devoid of all like, falling over and shattering as she passed. It was plain to see why the Kainate was allowed to exist, separated from the imperial hierarchy as it was, why her master was able to inspire such religious fervor in his armies, why men called him "Sith'ari".

<<You underestimated his apprentice and now you are bound. Do not make that mistake with him>>

When Carnifex leapt into battle, Kaila was the very embodiment of the ancient saying;
Always two there are, a Master and an Apprentice.

She came crashing down, cloak billowing behind her as a pair of lightsabers burst into being. Red and Violet that pierced the eerie darkness and lit her way even as the city power failed, forcing her to rely on the sporadic flash of blaster fire and her own senses, which where being bolstered to great heights by the hopeless miasma of the Dark Side all around her.

Like her master, she caught a small burst of blaster fire with the force, holding them in place just long enough to walk past and cut down those who had fired them, only to release them suddenly behind her to collide with walls or even imperials in a shower of sparks.

"Come and show me what animals you have brought to slaughter. From this distance I see the blue warpaint of Clan Kryze."

Kaila could see them only by their muzzle flash, brief illumination that revealed sky blue armor. A shame, she wanted a closer look at the people who held her master's unwavering obsession.

There was only one solution.

Eager to see her redemption realized or to meet an honorable death if the former was not her destiny, She took off in a sudden sprint passed her master, running up and leaping off a pile of rubble just as a Mandalorian leapt forward with his jetpack.

She reached out with the force, ripping the warrior out of the air and into a dive that followed her own descent closely enough that she landed with one foot atop him. Then in an instant, her lightsaber reactivated through the man's throat, and a final lifting motion decapitated the man as she stood.

"You want vengeance?!" She snarled at any who would show themselves, Anger unmistakable in her voice even through the heavy modulation behind the mask.

"Come and get her!"

Victory or Death, she reminded herself, already whipped up into a frenzy by all the hate and fear seeping into her pores through the dark side of the force.

And despite believing the odds of survival to be near impossible, She would fight like a wounded animal to achieve the impossible.


ENGAGING: Jenn Kryze
Enemies: Varys Amun Jonyna Si
Allies: Darth Carnifex Teresa Zambrano | Darth Pellax

 

[Avery Vaaki]

Allies: Galactic Alliance Ground Forces
Enemies: Sith Order, Seela Leini

Flying: GASB-258 Thunderstorm II Y-Wing
Outfit: Galactic Alliance Flight Suit
Location: Skies above Objective 2
Currently: Being fired upon by a Sith Pilot
Key: Avery, Ori, NPC


"Missiles! Evasive maneuvers! Evade!" Nova-12 shouted through the comms. Avery looked behind for a moment to see Nova-12, Nova-11, and Nova-10 break off from the formation to evade the missiles. Thus the rest of the formation also broke ranks just in case more were to be fired. Avery glanced at her fellow pilots as they peeled off. Nova-12 seemingly activated the Y-Wing's Missile deactivation transmitter to disarm the concussion missile that was aiming for them. Nova-11 followed suit, however one missile still chased down Nova-10. Avery wondered why the missile deactivation transmitter wasn't working. Perhaps more importantly, why wasn't Nova-10 activating it?

"Nova-10, use the missile deactivation transmitter." Nova Actual would shout through their comms.

"I am trying! It's not working! R2-88, try to see what's happening. I am gonn-"

Then static and simultaneously an explosion. The missile had impacted Nova-10. Avery had a horrified look on her face as pieces of the Thunderstorm Y-Wing fell down back to the earth. Ori looked out of their cockpit as well, a saddened but equally horrified expression on the pink Twi'lek's face. Avery snapped out of her shock to pilot her star fighter back into formation with the others. But she did turn back to speak to Ori.

"Ori have R5-1G, check our systems please. I know we did a check before we got here but..." Avery trailed off.

"Okay. I will do that. Just focus on figuring out where the kriff did those missiles come from. "Ori replied

Avery nodded as she checked her scanners for any incoming fighters. But nothing. Not so much as a single blip on her scopes at all. 'Could it have been the AA defenses?' Avery looked to the domed city once more. The lights were still out, save for the few red glimpses of what appears to be emergency lights. She would focus back in, hearing the flood of chatter coming through her comm piece.

"Sir, those missiles seemingly came out of nowhere. There was no fighter signatures on our scanners before they were fired." Nova-12 would explain. Avery could hear Nova-12 breathing heavily, having escaped a fiery death. "Plus what Sith spit would try to fly in this thunderstorm? It seems to only be affecting their forces and those lightning strikes seem pinpoint accurate."

"Then it must have been some for AA. But shouldn't it be powered down? The city is dark after all." Nova-11 would ask "We leveled all the walkers and vehicles during our bombing run in this area as well. At least the ones the 34th were fighting."

"We can speculate about this later." Nova-Leader said "We lost a comrade today. Let's be sure that his death wasn't for nothing. The rest of the Galactic Alliance is still relying on us to provide close air support. We will be there for them. Keep your eyes peeled out. We will be circling the city awaiting further orders."

Avery seemingly went silent for a moment before hopping back on the comms "Nova-12. What direction were the missiles fired from? Do you happen to see at all?"

"Umm, I think above us.." Nova-12 said in a horrified realization. "Yeah the missiles came from above us."

Avery clenched her jaw as she seemingly tightened her formation with the other bombers. Already she was seemingly looking above her and double checking the scanners. "Ori. I need you to be extra vigilant. There might be a fighter out there in this storm. Nova-12 says the missiles were coming from above our formation."

"Above us? How did it get above us without detection or better yet, not hit by a lightning strike?" Ori asked

"I don't have an answer for that right now. But remember your training. Watch our backs and keep your fingers on the trigger. Something might be out there and we need to do our part ensure no one else dies today." Avery said

"Yes of course. You can count on me Avery. Just be sure to keep your focus on flying" Ori said back. She began to move one of the back turrets, trying as if she was scanning the dark clouds above them.

Avery continued to fly in formation, as Nova Squadron circled the outskirts of the city, awaiting for further targets or requests. Her heart pounded against her chest. That feeling of being proud of her first bombing run, of feeling invincible as she rained fire on the Sith. It was all replaced with the very real feeling of fear. Fear of what is out there. Will she survive a missile strike herself? Avery tensed her shoulders as she tried to calm herself. Now was not the time to have doubts, to let her nervousness best her. People are counting on her to be focused. She will not let them down.

---

TLDR: Seela Leini was able to destroy one out of the twelve Y-wings with a concussion missile. Nova Squadron is back enroute to the city and is awaiting further requests from ground forces for CAS. Nova Squadron is more alert for incoming threats now that one of their member is down.

 

[Teresa Zambrano | Darth Pellax]

Objective: 2, Airlock 5
Allies: Darth Carnifex , Kaila Irons , Gerwald Lechner , Srina Talon
Neutral: Zaiya Ceti
Forces: Black Bane Spider Company, Starweird Shock Jumper Company, 23rd Blackened Infantry Company
Enemies: Jonyna Si , Jenn Kryze , Varys Amun

An explosion shook the building as the shockwaves of it rippled throughout the city. In the same instant everything went dark.

The streets outside the mansion had been full of life. Citizens going about their business suddenly found themselves in the dark without warning. Panic ensued. Cries and shouts could be heard through duracrete walls of the mansion as a wave of terror and dread washed over the city. The city was AFRAID, and FEAR had not only taken root, but it CAPTURED their minds.

In the next moment red flood lights kicked on. Sirens blared to get everyone’s attention.

She was already drawing on the wonderful feeling from soldiers and those close enough to see the airlocks, even the enemy fed her. However as those lights flickered off causing the whole dome to rise it panic, it was like an overload of delicious power. The Valkyries eyes changed to deal with the lower light. No matter what something so trivial would alter her fun learning how to use this bow.

Her wings beat against windless air keeping her altitude to look over mounds of fresh corpses and creators made from artillery or mortars. The whole time she puled back that energy cord loosing bolt after bolt. Not all hit and not all killed. It was fun to use Teresa quickly realised it lacked the power she desired of such a weapon. It left her to think of ways to alter how to adapt the force into it. Any way to make it more fun.

In that moment she had an idea letting loose one more bolt her hand reached out...

Varys slowly let out her held breath. Where had the Valkyrie gone? Her eyes scanned the air above but she could no longer see the Sith. A moment later, Varys saw what she thought was a mass of black feathers passing above her head, a dark shape that could only be her enemy.

"Oya!"

This time she threw the javelin on instinct alone, hardly pausing to aim, praying that would be enough to fell the creature.

Perhaps it was the copious amounts of killing intent already directed at Teresa but she didn't notice the Javelin till to late. Before even pulling off her idea a delightful sharp pain throbbed in her thigh. The Blackened Valkyrie's body moved into a hover as she let out an exhilarated shudder. "Oh feth that hurt's so goood," she mumbled lustfully to herself with a perverted grinning expression glued to her face.

Turning around completely and moving her hand over the protruding Javelin, it slowly pulled out allowing her darkened blood to drip. Golden-orange eyes wrapped in black voids searched for her enemy. It was not from the main airlock so where? It took a moment of scanning till one of the service entrances framed her opponent like in a painting.

As the tip left her closing up flesh the Valkyrie realised it had not gone so deep into her thigh. The polearm rotated in the air as it was now probably obvious to the girl that the Blackened Valkyries eyes laid solely upon her. With a flick of the wrist Teresa sent that woman's weapon back at a brake neck speed impaling the ground between her feet.

It was a clear taunt thrown at the mandalorian who she was more aware of right now.

They killed eagerly, they died eagerly. Prayers to their Eternal Father were given freely from bloodied lips, cursing the souls of the enemy and praising their dark, indifferent god. He would be here soon, they declared, as had been foretold in their dreams. Fevered eyes stared manically at the advancing enemy, not looking at them -- but through them. This was no mania or delirium, that had yet to come, but pure religious fervor; a reverence that could only be found in such monstrous adoration as those between the faithful devotees of hate, war, and death and the living embodiment of misery and sadism.

It was during the latest engagement between the Kainate defenders and their enemy that the mood on the battlefield shifted. All Kainate fire suddenly stopped, nearly in unison. As the first GADF units approached the enemy position, they did not find them deserted. They found the Kainate soldiers in prayers, their faces pressed to the floor as they recited barely audible hymns in a language the Alliance soldiers could not understand. Even when fired upon, the Kainate soldiers did not react, they did not move, did not do anything other than continue to pray.

The reason came a heartbeat later.

A shadow fell across the battlefield.

The first Alliance soldier to gaze upon Him met an ignoble end, their flesh catching fire as their insides superheated into crystal. Scintillating arcs of electricity burst forth from their body, almost tearing them in half as it bounced from one Alliance soldier to the next in a deadly domino effect. Their bodies were vitrified, breaking apart as they fell backwards from the impact. Those that lived lingered on as parts of their body had been transmogrified into black and red crystal, the heat from the attack so monstrously high that it converted the very molecules of their skin and flesh into glass.

Darth Carnifex swept onto the battlefield from on high, swooping down like a diving falcon to land before the advancing Alliance force. Alliance blasterfire rained down on Him within moments, but the Dark Lord raised a hand and swept their fire away like falling leaves caught on a stiff breeze. It was clear that the standard forces of the Alliance could not contend with a being of such nightmarish power, it would fall to those among them who recognized such power and had fought against it before.

Waiting for the reaction she could feel Him arriving here shortly. Her hand pressed against her ear as she pushed up for more altitude making a throw like the last impossible without the use of tools or tech. However the reason would soon be apparent. Each blade dropped from the womans belt suspended in the air. one by one each blade activated. Red, purple, green, yellow, white, two red with black cores and finally the last to activate was the Red pink. They where done in order of possession but to the 23rd that was a signal to move. Just as quick to activate they returned back.

As the prayers of the Kainite Soldiers could be heard from above and over the sounds of war. Their war chants where perfectly in union and was like music with the explosions as percussion and blaster fire as a rift. Her soldiers have moved back into their next positions creating new kill boxes and widening the defence as now more where slipping it.

While the GADF wasted their time on a pointless carnage of those who stood still. Teresa could not resist but to watch the soldiers drop one by one. That was till lightning arced past her in crackling energy. The devastation it was causing as it bounced from one to the next was nothing less that pure beauty defined into a moment.

Next was followed by her Husband Himself dropping down onto the battlefield. How amusing it was to watch so much blaster fire turn to Kaine how insignificant it was. Their enemy's pathetic attempt made her laugh. Even Kaila flew past towards the ground following Kaine so astutely. Unlike them her work was over the contained airspace as now there where Mandalorians getting the chance to rise up. For to many moments now had she remained hovering and began to redraw on the energy bow. As the bolt loosed towards a Mandalorian just about to take off she put in a lot of focus causing the energy partial to explode before contact. "DIE DIE DIE HAHAHA!" She screamed while diving back down to gain inertia.

Spoiler: Lightsabers and equipment

Dark Valkyrie Armor
Iroai Amulet

Old Owners Lightsaber

Ancient Lightsaber

Trandoshan Jedi's Lightsaber

Fathers Lightsaber

Svikin hjörtu

Sekitangara

Energy Bow

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Tags: Zaiya Ceti

A mix of conflicting emotions tore at the depths of his mind as he shifted on the balls of his feet; the idea of turning his back to such an enemy would be a mistake, one he planned on avoiding. The Galactic Alliance's motives were becoming all too clear, as they did not seem to have any intention of taking prisoners; rather, their path was one of destruction and conquest. His gaze remained fixated on Airlock Six, witnessing the power of the oncoming wave of energy, its effect surpassing his expectations. He savored the despair and agony that infused the air in that moment. Kasir's own veins began pulsing with thrill, a hunger that now begged for more.

As the enemy continued their attack, it was only natural for the citizens to seek refuge deeper within the city; perhaps, they truly believed it brought them closer to salvation amidst the fear and confusion. But with the masses, it also became challenging even for Kasir to maneuver, constantly being bumped into by those around him. One particular individual nearly ran straight into him, and without hesitation, his arm lashed out, pushing them to the ground.

Much like a predator sensing its prey, his heightened senses alerted him of the figure that was quickly approaching, one arriving from the very airlock he just targeted. With a click of the electrobinoculars, his Leidimas helm allowed him to peer further into the distance. It appeared to be a younger girl, one that was Force Sensitive at that. It didn’t necessarily surprise him, as the Jedi order had a reputation for snatching children from their homes before they ever had a chance to bond with their real family, and molding them into tools for their own cause. It was often the same younglings who eventually found themselves on the front lines of war, blindly serving their masters.

His orbs followed the subtle movements of her hands, ones that were capable of wielding a power similar to his own, often unpredictable and deadly. Every flick and twitch held a potential for destruction. And so, he was unable to detect her true intentions. As the blinding light hurtled towards him, the automatic brightness control built within his helm was activated, deflecting some of its intensity but not all. His head turned, his eyes squinting in protest, but he stood firm. No longer was he retreating backwards.

He strode to the center of the street, his hand unclipping the saberstaff from his belt and raising it before him. With a swift motion, he ignited the weapon, unleashing the red blades to both sides of his body. The remaining crowds would part before him, forced to navigate their way around as though he were a statue. Accepting her last movement as a challenge, there was no need to hide any longer.

While the light may have been a nuisance to some, it stirred the fury that roared within his chest, threatening to unleash its vengeance. At best, it did prove effective in slowing him down, enough to bring his opponent closer so that her words reached him.

As the crowds finally dispersed, it was much easier to focus solely on the girl before him. Any lingering annoyance was now mixed with a tinge of confusion. What was the purpose behind even saying that? And why would she put herself in such a vulnerable position during an invasion? Given the recklessness he already observed, she was more likely to die by getting caught in the crossfire from blaster rifles from either side.

The Darkseeker's head shook with disdain as his stare bore into her. "It would leave a better impression upon your companions to find your dead body with a weapon in hand," he suggested. His tone was direct and harsh.

The Sith's blades lowered slightly while the other hand rose in a slow manner, his fingers curling into a fist that was beginning to generate raw power. With telekinetic will, Kasir lifted a nearby metal crate from the streets of Echnos City. With a simple flick, he hurled the container in a direct path towards her head, a move fueled by the darkness that consumed him.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Echnos City
Assisting GADF in Airlock Six
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Allies: GADF Forces
Enemies: Kasir Dorran

-

The chaos was getting thick. Bodies swarmed around the airlock -- GADF forces, panicked citizens, all scrambling to get somewhere, anywhere but here. Zaiya could feel it, the way fear rippled through the Force like a stone tossed into a still pond. And somewhere beyond the sea of bodies, she could sense the Darkside festering, a sickening, slithering presence -- gestating, full, and pregnant with what was to come. It made her rosy gold skin pale to a cold, silvery pewter. Her kyber crystal hair comb began to hum, emitting a soft, soothing glow that tried to calm her, but even that couldn't stop the icy shiver running down her spine.

Zaiya muttered under her breath as she dodged a frantic GADF trooper, trying to keep her focus despite the noise, the fear, the pressing darkness. It was like juggling blasters while blindfolded -- a messy, frantic dance that made her head spin. As a Force empath, she had trained to manage the emotional noise, but this? This was a whole new level of overwhelming.

"Oh, blast!" she yelped, just as the Sith hurled a heavy metal crate in her direction. She caught the warning through the Force, but it came a heartbeat too late. Her skin flashed alarmed shades of grey and yellow, a kaleidoscope of fear and urgency under her hood. The blow caught her off guard, and in hindsight, Zaiya could only curse the lack of training in facing powerful telekinetic attacks. She'd spent so much time sparring with blade experts and close combat fighters like Aris Noble , Ayhan , and healers like Mahsa and Loomi , but the few telekinetics she knew were nowhere near her training level. Braze had left the Order, and Vera Noble , though strong in the Force, didn't seem specialize in the kind of long-range, heavy-hitting tactics the Sith seemed to favor.

She tried to dodge -- truly she did -- but the Sith's overwhelming command of the Darkside was like a tidal wave crashing against her. Instinct kicked in, and Zaiya drew on the hardening technique Shan Pavond had drilled into her long ago. Her body tensed, skin hardening just in time to absorb the brunt of the impact -- but that couldn't stop the inertia. The crate clipped her shoulder, sending her sprawling, but the maneuver at least kept her from crumpling completely.

The landing was rough, knocking the wind from her lungs, and Zaiya lay there for a breath, fighting to pull air back into her body. Pain lanced through her side, sharp and bright. She grit her teeth, rolling to her knees, and pushing herself upright. Her hood had fallen back, and in the flashing lights of the firefight, the combination of her vibrant, colorful hair and her bioluminescent skin and bright, shifting colors made her stand out like a beacon. Her iridescent opal blue eyes narrowed as she caught sight of the Sith -- cloaked, masked, menacing.

She barely had time to jerk aside as a stray blaster shot seared past her, leaving her teetering off balance for a second before she righted herself.

"Okay, masked guy," she muttered, squinting at the Sith's helmet. If it was powered, then maybe -- just maybe -- it was susceptible to an EMP burst.

Zaiya shuffled, feigning clumsiness, her cloak swaying as she fumbled for an EMP and stun pearl tucked inside. Distraction and misdirection; she'd learned early on that sometimes, it was the small things that could turn the tide.

"Sorry, rather not be dead today!" she called out, her voice bright and careless. Her bracelets jingled as she moved, glowing bioluminescence trickling down her bare arms like fireflies in the night.

"Lots of things to look forward to. I bet you look forward to things too!" she babbled, stepping closer, her words a jumbled rush designed to confuse.

"I like food. Do you like food? What's the best burger you ever had?" She shot off a flurry of senseless questions, aiming to throw the Sith off balance.

And just as she hoped the Sith was distracted, Zaiya moved. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a telekinetic blast forward, launching the EMP and stun pearl straight at the Sith's figure, praying it would give her the edge she needed to turn this fight around.

"I like a good spicy Nuna burger with cheese and a runny egg!"

 

[QK-2510]

Location: Airlock Eight, Echnos City - Echnos
Dialogue Legend: <<Ghoul-Speak>> │ “Galactic Basic”
Objective: Control Enemy Movement
Engagement: Tarw Rhyfelwr

QK-2510 stopped for neither fear nor darkness. Even as the entire city was suddenly shrouded in a midnight curtain, she and the other jet troopers continued to fly overhead, unfazed by the sudden change in lighting that triggered a chorus of frightened screams below as panicked civilians raced towards whatever pressurized shelter they could find. For QK-2510, adjusting was only a matter of switching her optics to thermal mode, allowing her otherwise night blind eyes to penetrate the dark.

Still, for a flash of a second, the thought passed her mind as to what might happen if she were to somehow lose her helmet. With her Hapan eyes, she would be just as blind and confused as the pitiful civilians below.

QK-2510 narrowed her gaze then, forcing the thought out of her head with a muttered prayer before flying straight through the entrance to Airlock Eight. Inside, the airlock was a massive, cavernous structure, capable of accommodating corvette-sized starships. Thus, there was plenty of room for her to fly, which the jet trooper took full advantage of as she whipped her body around and brought her rifle to bear on the charging Alliance soldiers at the opposite end of the structure ( Tarw Rhyfelwr ).

The jet trooper honed in on her targets, locking onto their signatures as her jetpack rocketed her in a sidelong trajectory. Then, squeezing down on the trigger, a salvo of five wrist rocket-sized missiles exploded out from the projectile launcher affixed to her rifle, sending explosive Iadrium warheads racing towards five Alliance soldiers with blistering speed and precision. However, with his heavy rotary cannon, the hulking Alliance soldier at the head of the enemy squad established himself as the most dangerous out of all of them. The seemingly endless, yet frighteningly surgical torrent of fire unleashed by his cannon immediately cut four jet troopers from the air, sending their bodies flailing to the ground as scorched blaster holes riddled their armored forms.

QK-2510 narrowly danced away from the stream of incoming fire, gritting her teeth as she leveraged her jetpack’s vectored thrusters to quickly shift her aerial trajectory, from right to left. At the same time, the Hapan jet trooper locked onto the rotary cannon-wielding soldier’s signature and returned fire from a little more than 60 meters away, unleashing a single wrist-rocket sized Iadrium smart missile towards her target’s upper body.

However, before she could do more, new orders arrived from the command channel.

[ “All units fall back into the city. Airlock control is compromised. I repeat, airlock control is compromised. They are opening.”]

<<Fighting retreat!>> The squad leader called out over the comm. <<Twenty-five ten, draw that heavy gunner’s fire and keep him occupied!>> He finished.

<<Yes, sir!>> QK-2510 answered without a hint of hesitation in her tone. <<For the Father!>> The jet trooper snarled. Any ill thoughts at the prospect of meeting her end against such a deadly foe were secondary to her devotion to the Eternal Father. If anything, her potential death here would be the highest form of worship she could offer Him.

Thus, after the jet trooper’s missile came a burst of searing Ethaerium plasma fire. Within the span of a heartbeat, three crimson particle bolts raced towards the heavy gunner’s upper chest. Should they connect, the searing heat would threaten to boil the armor plating while the concussive shock unleashed powerful waves of overpressure capable of blowing open organs and shattering armor!

Spoiler: Loadout

• "Taral" Sith Trooper Armor - Designation: QK-2510
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • FAE/M-02 Energized Gauntlet Vibroblade (2) - L/R
  • Utility
    
    • FAE/P-03 “Adramelech” Winged Jetpack
      
      • Armament Hardpoint (2)
        
        • FAE/WH-04-S3 Universal Missile - Iadrium Warhead
        • FAE/WH-04-S3 Universal Missile - Iadrium Warhead
  • Modifications
    
    • FAE/S-14 Headgear System Suite - Updated Version
    • FAE/S-12 “Dream Sight” Combat Sensor System Mk. II - Updated Version
    • Redundant Systems Removed
  • Undersuit
    
    • Thinsuit
• Kainate Combat Rifle Model Sixty-Two
  
  • Attachments and Modifications
    
    • 1-5x FAE/S-08 Electro-Sight
    • FAE/S-06 Reactive Targeting Matrix - Updated Version
  • Ammunition
    
    • FAE/AM-01-S3 Energy Weapon Cartridge (10)
    • Portable Projectile Launcher (2)
      
      • FAE/WH-04-S2 Universal Missile - Iadrium Warhead (11)
      • FAE/WH-04-S2 Universal Missile - Iadrium Warhead (16)
    • Portable Projectile Launcher (2)
      
      • FAE/WH-04-S2 Universal Missile - Concussion Warhead (16)
      • FAE/WH-04-S2 Universal Missile - Concussion Warhead (16)
• PV-16 “Sunfury” Pulse Pistol
  
  • Attachments
    
    • 1-5x FAE/S-08 Electro-Sight
  • Ammunition
    
    • Fusion Cell (4)
• Class-A Thermal Detonator (4)

 

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

Location: Echnos City - Airlock 8
Armour: Personal Armour
Weapon: Rotary Cannon, blaster pistol, thermal detonators, beskad.
Tag: QK-2510

The shock troopers came out strong and were fighting against Tarw and his newly formed group instantly with everything they had. While normal blaster shots were deflected off Tarw's armour and he was a tank in both size as well as his combat style, there were explosions and missiles being launched his way that forced him to stop fighting and roll safely out of the way. His teammates were not as fortunate to get out of the way from the explosive attacks. There was body parts blasted, screams filling Tarw's ears as well as blood floating in the low gravity air. He knew several of soldiers were dead instantly, he could feel it and the fury that burned inside him made him all the more determined to secure the victory for the Alliance. To ensure that these deaths were not in vain and that they were liberating the people from this imperialist regime.

He noted that one of the troopers were focusing their attacks on him, clearly seeing him as the biggest threat. In a way, Tarw felt complimented, he was still a young rookie in the army but to be considered a notable threat in comparison to his peers was something he could only feel honoured about. However, there was the issue that they were launching attacks he was unaware of the serious dangers of since they were arsenals of attacks he had not faced. When the trooper launched the particle bolts, Tarw wasn't aware the seriousness of the attack.

Until the last surviving member of his ragtag squad leaped in front of him.

Tarw watched as the bolts ate away at the armour and killed the soldier in a searing, painful death. He touched their soldier and felt the grief, his reckless inexperience cost someone their life and Tarw could not forgive himself about this. "I will work to never let this happen again. I am so sorry you had to die for me." Tarw whispered.

Letting out a war cry, Tarw launched forward and began a heavy barrage of attacks again as he pushed forward. Aiming to take the airlock and force the Sith shock troopers back.

 

[Kasir Dorran]

​

Tags: Zaiya Ceti

His urge to silence the girl, possibly even end her existence, had been the reason behind hurling a metal crate at her head; it was a simple but efficient attempt to keep her useless words from piercing his thoughts again. And in that brief moment, as her body was flung back, he thought that perhaps he had succeeded. Though she was not sent into the Netherworld, as he truly desired, she was at least driven away from his presence. It was no different than trying to swat away a bothersome insect buzzing around in the jungles of Felucia.

As she stumbled back, he believed her to be injured. The incessant blabbering of her voice quickly returned, much to his annoyance. The Darkseeker shifted his weight, his muscles tensing as though preparing for an attack. Time and time again he witnessed Force users drawing their lightsabers in a flash. Under the glow of the emergency lights that spread throughout the dome city, she stood out like a beacon of confusion with skin that was constantly shifting colors. The Sith had traveled in countless sectors, witnessed all sorts of things in different corners of the galaxy, but the figure before him was a mystery.

He disregarded the first question, but it was then followed by another. It didn't take long for them to start piling up. Oddly enough, they managed to disrupt his concentration. In the midst of his frustration, there was an idea that stirred within the dark recesses of his mind, calling for him to just lash out and put an end to her once and for all, so he could move on to more important matters.

Constantly studying and anticipating her moves, he swiftly raised his arm once catching onto her intent, aiming to intercept the incoming projectiles that appeared in the blink of an eye. Being caught between the telekinetic power on both sides, the marble sized objects in front of his body exploded. A flash of bright light erupted once more. Instinctively he had already begun to pivot on his foot in an attempt to evade what was to come, but it would be in vain. As the surge of energy was released it violently threw him backwards several meters. With a growl he summoned every ounce of strength, fighting to hold his ground; his dark powers strained to maintain his balance.

While his armor was designed to withstand powerful blows, it managed to absorb some of the blast, but he could not escape it entirely. An electric surge coursed through his entire being as the searing pain was felt from his core and all the way to his fingers. Fortunately, Kasir had a significantly high pain tolerance that would allow him to deal with it, but he was certain the discomfort would linger for a period of time. The primary functions of his helmet instantly began to shut down, fading into darkness.

He was dazed. But he wasn’t defeated. Not that easily. A gloved hand lifted and he slowly removed the headpiece; a hiss of air echoed around him. It wasn’t the first time one had been rendered useless, as he experienced it recently on New Cov as well, when facing Corazona von Ascania , whose schemes were just as pesky as the one currently testing Kasir’s patience.

The helmet was carelessly tossed aside to the ground with a thud. His eyes narrowed. “I’m looking forward to killing you,” he said at last, providing an answer to one of the many pointless questions posed moments ago.

As he strode forward, he twirled the saberstaff with ease; the blades hummed with every rotation, eager to cut through flesh and bone. Closing the short distance between them, a cruel smirk curled on his lips before coming to a halt. A single blade now pointed directly at her as he leaned forward. "In fact,” he hissed through his teeth. “I'm going to crush your spirit beneath my boot first." His words dripped with venom and malice.

 

[Connel Vanagor]

LOCATION : Echnos City | OBJECTIVE : Secure Airlocks
TAG (FRIENDLY) : Allyson Locke | TAG (FOE) : @​

"In my experience,
when you think you
understand the Force,
you realize just
how little you know"​

[COMM TRAFFIC]

The streets of Echnos City were filled with chaos and destruction even more now that the Galactic Alliance was committing their invasion forces. More and more weapons fire in the streets could be heard and People were panicking and running in all directions. The police had their hands full trying to control the situation. Everyone felt a sense of fear in the air. This was not the way this should have, or could have gone. It was clear that something had to be done to prevent this from escalating any further. Those capable had to act fast and take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of the public.

With a shake of his head, Connel was one of those capable.

Where his M.O. up to this point was “stealth” and “blending in” now, he was on assault. Sith troopers were scurrying throughout the city on some ridiculous “search and destroy” mission. He decided to follow them for a few moments until they were about to get the drop on some Alliance Marines. Quickly and silently he took them down, there was a serious aggressive nuance to his attack, but it also sent a message to anyone coming to back them up. This area was no longer theirs. He moved on to the next group of Sith troopers, this time making sure to leave no survivors(it was them or him). Connel was determined to make an example of them and show them that they had no right to be in the city. Their time here was full of waste and tyranny, it was time to put that to a definitive end.

The Capital City was falling apart, and the blackouts were a method he recognized. That was a Special Forces tactic and that of one team that he knew. Father had told him stories of a team that helped him and his Padawan at the time, the both of them were heavily injured, and the team lost more than half of their members but they were honorable. This new edition of them… much less.

When he saw the huge fireball in the direction of the central power grid, that confirmed it. Making his way through the back alleys and corridors, he was actually looking for them, Omega Squad.

Only they got the drop on him.

Instinctively his combat shield went up to block their weapons fire and through the Force he pulled the rifles out of the hands of those closest to him.

Really? Seriously? We are supposed to be on the same side here. Connel said angrily as he pulled off his mask, letting it hang down his back. Picking up those weapons and handing them back, he was prepped for a retaliation on their part. He didn’t get one.

So that’s it then? You’re just going to leave?

One did stop, it was “Raguel”...

”You came with us on what? One? Two missions? Now you think you’re some kind of expert? Are you KIDDING me? You have a shield... you have that blaster... which is weird... you even have a lightsaber oh yeah... oh yeah... and you have the Force! We have only our weapons and our wits!" Connel went to interject but got a rifle barrel in his face for his efforts. He knew Raguel would not shoot, the guy wanted to state his peace. ”Master Jedi, I will show you the respect you are not showing us when I tell you this. We do what we do so that the citizens can live their life without issues. We do our work and live with the consequences so that you can look like the hero. If you think that any of us want to do things this way, then you don’t deserve the respect of being called ‘Master’ Jedi”

Then he walked away. Connel put his mask back on and pulled the foot out of his mouth. He cannot expect others to trust him if he doesn’t show it.

Spoiler: Implants

Repli Implants that would be for the limbs
Bonemer enhancements to strengthen structure of the body
Muscle enhancements.
Hemo enhancements for blood flow
Hawkeye implants for eyes
Advanced Medical Implant
Scentzy

 

[Lt. Bren Alazar]

​

Galactic Alliance 305th Special Forces Unit - Codename "Omega Squad"​

​

You know those types you don't want to meet in a dark alley? ​

Yeah, we scare them.​

Michael Gabriel Sariel
Raphael Uriel “Raguel” Remiel
Seraphim
Weapons, and gear = Click picture in signature
[Any text in brackets signifies comm-link usage and not face to face conversation]

They skirted the perimeter, avoiding the patrols that patrolled the walls. Finally, they found a small, unguarded window. With a quick burst of blaster, Alazar shattered the glass. One by one, the squad went to slip inside but were caught by Uriel.

[Contact Left!] The 40mm grenade that went sailing from her underbarrel grenade launcher and into the broadside of an empty public transport.

[Nice job. You saved us from that evil bus.]

There was chuckling.

[That’s enough guys. We still have work to do.]
Michael and Raphael were still setting charges along various points around the outside of the Capital Building. Their cover was blown and they no longer have the element of surprise (not that they did in an invasion).

That didn’t stop them though.

With no time to waste, Alazar made a split-second decision, his eyes narrowing in determination. We're not done yet, he said, his voice steely. Let’s move. They nodded in silent agreement, their resolve unshaken.

They were going in and nothing short of a Sith Lord and his own strike team would stop them.

Targets: [SO] Gerwald Lechner Velda Nar-Donna
Allies: [GA] Gress D'ran​

Location: [Echnos City] - Capital Building

​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
SHIP: Úlfs Reiði
ALLIES: Srina Talon | Darth Carnifex | Jarek Voss | Kaila Irons | Darth Ultramar | Darth Nefaron | Kasir Dorran | QK-2510 | Velda Nar-Donna | Teresa Zambrano | Darth Pellax
ENEMIES: Connel Vanagor | Lt. Bren Alazar | Gress D'ran | Jonyna Si | Varys Amun | Tarw Rhyfelwr | Vulpesen | Zaiya Ceti | Avery Vaaki

The wolf arrived at the mobile command center and immediately began to look for a status report. Those which had gotten the order to retreat into the city began to pull back. If the Sith could no longer rely on the airlock controls to keep the gates from opening, the narrow passage of the airlock became a more strategic defense. There was more at play, but they still needed more time. The countdown had not finished, and the device was not ready.

Losing power had helped increase the fear in the city to a point where the machine would have more than what it needed to fuel itself. With every pulse came the call from Srina Talon to lend power. All of them were the fuel, Srina was the conduit. The cries which escaped her lips as the device took more from her echoed in Gerwald’s mind, and the affliction it caused radiated in both his body and soul.

A hand pressed into the console in front of him as Gerwald bent over. This one was sharp as Kasir Dorran joined the rest. It must have been close to being ready. Dark tendrils of energy moved about the city and deposited themselves at the mansion as though it was a vacuum, a black hole devouring everything in it.

Gerwald pushed himself upright as the reports came in. The main generator in the city had been destroyed. The explosion had caused a chain reaction which managed to overload the entire power grid to the point it failed. Repairs would take longer than what could be allowed at the moment, but the populace did not know. The fear of a failing dome was too real.

Chaos continued in the streets as those near the capital began to realize the building still had power. A rush of people nearly overtook the building as the crowds pressed in. Security droids established a perimeter to keep the crowd from getting into the columned structure. Gerwald wanted the citizens kept alive. They would turn on each other once their plan unfolded. It was a good idea, and the wolf trusted the Empress would have the device ready as promised.

They just needed to buy more time.

Gerwald could feel the delay. The incursion taking place inside the city had not been part of their plan, but it would not impede them either. Nothing would be able to stop what they intended to unleash once it began. It did not matter if the Galactic Alliance was there, nor what their Jedi did. If they attempted to interfere, they would die, and before death took them, they would add their fear to power the machine.

Peace was a lie.

Death was real.

[ “Lord Lechner, we are picking up activity near the building which is unusual. Someone blew up a transport.” ]

The communication came from a nearby patrol unit.

“Get me eyes on it,” the wolf barked at one of the soldiers.

Blue eyes looked at a map of the city, and soon a beacon began to flash.

“That is the location of the unit reporting in.”

Gerwald closed his eyes as he reached out through the dark side to Velda Nar-Donna . He had reached the command center before she had, and the Sith lady was still among the people in the streets.

It was perfect.

<< “I am sending you a location.” >>

A mental image of the map he had just looked at would drop into the woman’s mind. Whether it was where insurgents were located or not would be determined. The wolf was sending her to investigate, and he would join her soon.

<< “I am on my way.” >>

Spoiler: SUMMARY

1. Gerwald is getting ready to engage Lt. Bren Alazar

 

[Nir Si]

​

Tag: Kaila Irons
​

Everything was exploding, and yet Nir seemed stalwart to move forward through it. Airlock 3 had gone mostly undefended, as the boy trained by an investigator noticed upon his approach. It seemed the sith had retreated...

Which meant they wanted to drag the battle into the city. Not good.

The boy took a breath as he got closer, slipping into the city as best he could. He needed to find a way in that wouldn't make him a massive target immediately...

What had Kat taught you Nir?! Think!

...Air vents! The city needed some way to vent waste, yeah? Wait, no...

This city had a dome. Everything would be...recycled...

But not everything.

They'd have to get water from somewhere.

He'd have to crawl through the sewer...

Come on Nir! Think about Kat! Think about Sarah! About H.A.W.K.! You're a rock star!

There! A Pipe. It was spewing....gross stuff...

Rock Stars don't have dignity. Neither did he...

It was a short trip. It was a stinky trip. He felt gross. He felt stupid. But...

He made it. He made it out and...

A sith. He was staring at a sith, a woman who stood next to...

A really big guy...

But they didn't see him yet. He had the jump on them. He could...kill them. No hesitation! They were the enemy! He hid behind a ledge, trying to think. Everything was already exploding. He needed to hide his summoning. It would cause a flash of light, and give away his position. But...

He could mimic something. A sound. Soldiers were nearby...

A Grenade!

Suddenly, the wind shifted and in the same moment he summoned his blaster cannon, he forced the wind to mimic the sound of a grenade going off.

Then he got to the ledge...and opened fire on Kaila Irons .