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At this point the Jidai was little more than a nuisance, he realized. She was... Just an obstacle slowing him down, and so he elected that now was the time to bypass her entirely.
The Sith Lord released his lightsabre, allowing it to fall from his palm, before a minor application of the Force swung the lightsabre around, cutting the vines out from around his left hand. Deactivating it, his fingers pressed against the wrist pad embedded into his cybernetic arm, and the light-shield embedded came to life, burning through the force controlled vines. He had no illusions that she could once again wrap the vines around him, but her ploy had already been played.
It'd be foolish to do it more than once.
Catching the hilt in his palm, the lightsabre came around his back, slashing the rest of the vines off of him, and when he looked back in her direction, he was looking up to a muddy wall.
Perhaps there was an audible sigh from the Sith Lord. The woman's imagination was certainly active, but if she was stalling, he'd have to put an end to this. Now.
The Force was dragged from the planet itself.
The swamps of Dagobah were known for their connection to the Dark Side. The death of a Dark Sider so many years ago had twisted and corrupted the swamps beyond repair. The Light Side existed in the Galaxy, but not on Dagobah. Not in amounts that could warm the heart. No, this planet belonged to the Dark Siders, and the nearby Cave that tugged on the cords of A'sharad's being, empowered him. Not just the cave, but the swamp as well, so when the mud wall closed in on him, the volatile power of the Dark Side burst forth from him, right through the mud wall, and towards the green skinned Jedi Master.
It sought to destroy, to vaporize her very being.
Fueled by the Dark Side of the Force, Force Blast was indiscriminate.
"The enemy is moving towards the shipyards! And dropping a minefield, too" the communications officer warned the people in the CIC, while the replacement sensor technician was brought in. "Also, another enemy formation is routing! Shall we open fire at the enemy stragglers?"
"The minefield is near standard turbolaser range from us and the minelayers are in front of it, so the enemy stragglers are closer to us than Robogeber's escorts are" Carmen commented
"Open fire on the Tirade and the Beat Siren! Make sure you properly lead those targets as we shall make them pay for the mistake of launching exfil! Oh and open a channel to Lokthra"
"Channel open"
"Lokthra, your current target is routing, while the shipyards are under attack; use the Kartharage to open fire on Carlyle from underneath him. We shall spring the trap on him, and maybe save the shipyards" she ordered [member="Lokthra Dawning"] as well. "Now, open a channel at the reinforcing fleet in orbit"
"Channel switch complete"
"Greetings. We may as well spring a trap on Robogeber as he is attacking the shipyards. Currently the enemy thinks our response is scattered, but they stretched themselves thin, so open fire on Robogeber, make him pay for his attempt at assaulting the shipyards!" she told [member="Amaya Cardei"] before she closed the communications channels.
Damn right, the Alliance was not making it easy for the enemy to fight in this mucky world that was Dagobah. But neither had the First Order, despite its piloting problems. And the ship shaking from the enemy volley hitting the Lothal was making the treatment of the patient all the more risky to perform, while the medical droid arrived in time to fetch the ailing sensor technician, bringing him to the sickbay while the replacement sensor technician took position in the CIC. She feels, well, relieved that the patient was now off her hands and into a proper medical facility. In the meantime, the C-9980s made sure they were making the proper leads on the target before firing at those ships, in hopes of making the First Order pay for its decision to engage in exfiltration of GE assets down on the planet, with as much accuracy to their fire as was afforded, given the firepower being brought to bear against those ships. Undoubtedly the enemy exfil force was trading away a hazard for another one. However, she realized that the enemy had different objectives here vs. the Imperials in the previous engagements. Only now had the enemy begun to attempt attacking the shipyards and she expected Lokthra to do everything in her power to defend them. After all, she was entrusted with their defense after the Kaeshana campaign.
"Open a channel to the Wild Knights"
"Channel open"
"Keep firing at the Allegiance; we need to keep up the pressure!" Cathul blared, both to [member="Roth Tillian"] and to the chief gunnery officer of the Lothal.
"Roger, roger" the chief gunnery officer acknowledge, while sounding like a B1 gunner like those used by [member="Qymaen sil Jurai"].
"Their baradium missile launchers are exposed by now: take those out and it will cripple the enemy escorts!" the sensor technician suggested, after interpreting the console readouts.
"Fighter squadrons, fire cluster missiles at the minefield; bomber squadrons, drop plasma bombs on the enemy baradium missile launchers! However, go in only after an opening has been made through the minefield"
Because the Allegiance was sitting at the edge of standard turbolaser range from the Lothal, its aft was just as exposed as it previously was. Justice would be served at range, while the two squadrons launched cluster missiles at the minefield, in hopes of causing the mines to detonate, and hence to neutralize the minefield. Yes, Cathul was trying hard not to laugh when the volley was being fired at the Allegiance, with the solar ionization cannons being trained at its engines. Just that what was to come next could be dangerous to their targets: the baradium missile launchers would be patched onto the bombers' targeting computers, as they were painted thanks to the Lothal's EWAR suite, marking them as priority targets to be hit, knowing that a big ka-boom would happen if they successfully hit it. Then again, even the best target paints in the galaxy may not be enough... We will get the last laugh if we actually do hit the escorts' baradium missile launchers - the resulting debris will buffet the enemy flagship, she thought, while the proverbial flies on the First Order's wall were dropping their ordnance packages close enough to their baradium missile launchers.
Fired at [member="Robogeber"]'s flagship from behind
Fired at the routing stragglers [member="The Major"]
Had two squadrons of fighters launch cluster missiles at the minefield at range
Had two squadrons of bombers drop plasma bombs on the Bravery and the Allegiance
Capital ships:
ANS Lothal (Lothal-II-class artillery carrier) | Shields: 20% | Hull: 100% | Firing at: FIV Allegiance
ANS Locus of Control (C-9980-class frigate) | Shields: 100% | Hull: 100% | Firing at: FIV Tirade
ANS Big Seven (C-9980-class frigate) | Shields: 100% | Hull: 100% | Firing at: FIV Beat Siren
Attack craft:
24 Chiloon-I fighters launching cluster missiles at the minefield 12 Chiloon-II fast bombers dropping plasma bombs at the Bravery's baradium missile launchers
12 Chiloon-II fast bombers dropping plasma bombs at the Stamina's baradium missile launchers
The Furious Class Corvette came surging down through the tree's of Dagobah in a mess of fire, smoke and burning metal; branches and thick tree trunks being broken back as the momentum of the wreckage made its way down, finally impacting with the worlds surface and throwing up a wave of dirt and debris ahead of it. What loose parts and shards of the hull were violently flung from the metal cage, the former perfect chassis being twisted and deformed, the shape of the once magnificent expression of grace and strength sundered and crumpled up against the earth of Dagboh, wounded and broken. The interior of the vessel was none the better, sparks erupting from the ceiling where cables and electrical wiring had been broken through in the attack and inevitable crash; A glimmer of light shining through varies rips and tears in the side of the hull, some of the branches they had been forced down through still sticking out from the metal carcass.
Forcing the collapsed communications terminal off of the top of him, the Knight of Ren scowled through his Helm's vents, the typical facade of mechanized vocals distorted and giving way to his natural self being aired. In the moment he didn't give much thought to the fault in his hidden identity possibly being breached, his body feeling as though he had been collided into by a land speeder for the amount of times the vessels spinning down through the skies of Dagobah had thrown him about and thrashed him back against the walls and floor. From what he could tell, staring up above, the floor had become the ceiling and around him the electrical currents running about what had once been the roof, now remained shattered and decrepit. His suits Faraday Cage offered his complete disregard for the electrical sparks occurring around him, Caehl Ren struggling yet finding his way to his feet, using the wall as leverage and needing to lean against it with his right hand, keeping himself upright with the ships angled position.
"Report..." Caehl ordered, calling to Delengtha and turning towards the cockpit only to find his former pilot having been run through by the tree branches that had stood within their path, the transparisteel having been breached and shattered against the front of the now deceased Knight of the First Order, his helm crippled with large shards of the transparent allow left sticking out of him, his torso bloodied and the larger branches having pierced him to the pilots seat. For a moment, Caehl Ren simply eyed the fallen warrior, the only one to have joined him willingly and without the need to break his mind first. Despite the mans lack of force sensitivity, he had been an efficient killer and was favored among the Omega Squadron by their leader. He was not one to show emotion, yet the passing silence was a respect that few were given of Caehl's time before he soon turned and began his climb and leave of the half buried vessels protruding out of the land mass around them.
The other two had been down within the Gunners Nests, manning the blaster cannons that held even less protection from physical impacts should anything breach the shields; their position wasn't difficult to imagine during the time they'd gone down. Turning to look over the wreckage, soon finding himself above ground and looking down over it all, half of the corvette had been removed and left a trail of fire and debris across the land that would eventually lead to his position. The sounds of his allies fight seemed far off to the distance, an annoyance that he would have to suffer, his main priority needing to focus upon the mission, needing not the confirmation of his subordinates deaths, the pods for which they'd sat in having been torn entirely from the craft left only one likely possibility, they were somewhere out their laying dead within the wreck.
Anger flowed through him, readily wishing something to unleash his frustration upon. The ship that had brought them down had been fleeing the scene, he had not the time to see what had become of it though the explosion had been catastrophic and he hoped they had suffered for their defiance. To be brought down by not a war vessel of the Alliance but some rogue smuggler or criminal of some kind, whatever they were...-They were not planned to be the ones to leave such a mark against his name like this.
This planet was a mess, filthy and overgrown. Caehl moved across the swampland, weight carrying his armor and his weapons, forcing him to keep a slow pace knowing that the terrain would likely cost him in great stamina once the real fighting was to take hold of him. His only guide for the moment were the explosions and distant cries of those who were being felled by the enemy. 'Follow the screams...' he thought to himself inwardly, allowing the sounds of death to guide him back on course. He had been reduced once more to a One-Man-Army. Someone was going to pay dearly for that.
As they were combing the swamp for the First Order. Two blaster shots ranged through the swamp causing Marl to signal his men to stop and crouch. Sudnly seconds after the shots Marl received a transmission. Padawan Swail was ambushed by First Order troops. Using his HUD in his armor’s helmet he was able to locate the signal of the padawan. She was straight ahead of their position
“Swail, the Rangers will be there, ETA 2 minutes.”
The Force was with him, just as it was with everyone around him. Dagobah was a world that surrounded others with the Force. The dark, and the light, the conflict in everything. And in everyone. It was all reflected here. Life, death, struggle, peace. The planet teemed with life, but also harbored a cave of dark. And the balance here was no more clear than with the oldest fight in the galaxy.
Between the Jedi.
And the Sith.
He had a barrier up, the purest form of the protection from the Force. The Sith was reaching out, working to crush him. He could feel the tension, subverting past his armor, and his shield. Falling into the Force, into the power that could allow him to push past the pain, Coren reached out to the world, to the living Force surrounding him. He pushed the energy back into his shield, pushing back against the crushing telekinetic ability. Coughing, he noted, detached from his being, that there was blood. He was too far focused on the LAAT to be ready for this completely.
Turning, he could feel the barrier wrestling with the crushing energy. Had he been ready, he would have absorbed this energy, but he didn't suspect it. Turning, guided by the Force, Starchaser hurled a telekinetic shove of his own. No words, just response.
Elsewhere, the Sentinel group had arrived at the Cave. Boxes littered the area and the Sullustan had moved forward, the Jedi Sentinels guarding the cave nodding. Moving forward, they allowed the Pathfinders access to the cave. The tools of destruction being collected. This cave was important to that Force-styled fight, and the members of Starchaser's team knew exactly what was needed to do.
Objective: Locate Kyrel Ren and fight off enemies ([member="Mishel Noren"], MagnaGuards) Location: Near the Cave of Evil [Dropship crash wreckage] Allies: First Order, Galactic Empire [member="Therran Graush"] [member="Kyrel Ren"] [member="Emilia Ravel"] (RIP) [member="The Major"] [member="Rolf Amsel"] [member="Kayrce"] Enemies: Galactic Alliance [member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Ever Dawnracer"] [member="Yuroic Xeraic"] [member="Tiland Kortun"], [member="Qymaen sil Jurai"] [member="Jak Sandrow"] [member="Tanaski Yumi"] [member="Stephanie Swail"], @whoeverismissing
Where am I? How did I get here?
Disorientation hit her, the Darkside Nexus finally breaking down her defenses, eliminating any trace of light and causing Varas a stomach-churning confusion for a moment. Once she mentally clawed back to reality, frantically grabbing her bearings, she realized what was happening.
Kyrel’s growling baritone yanked her to the front-line of her consciousness: 'Foolish Child!! Focus... Such a simple distraction can be fatal and if you allow the agent to be captured by the enemy then you will face more than my wrath and in the end, will leave you begging for death... Do not fail.'
The focus came back and all around her was pandemonium.
She immediately honed in on her father’s location using sense and his Force signature and squinted through the mist to see him with her own eyes. But before the Knight could reach him, a green lightning snaked over her and caused her to fall into the muck. Pulling herself up with a pained grunt, one foot slipped behind her, and she was down again.
No environmental simulation had prepared her to fight in these conditions. Still on her knees, she glanced upward to the trees.
She slipped yet again. At this rate she’d suffocate in the mud, Varas thought, letting a chuckle escape her lips. Amusement gave way to anxiety as the brunette clone realized there could actually be something in the water that might drag her down, either the quicksand like silt or a creature of some sort. Using the power of the Force, the muscles in her legs propelled her upward until she reached a snaking, slimy tree branch and pulled herself up. This high she could almost see the entire swamp - when it wasn’t obscured by fog.
And here she watched for a moment, hoping her inaction would not cause their opponents to prosper.
The LAAT rose up from the muck and flew through the air towards the Alliance, courtesy of Therran Graush. Two Magnaguards stomped to the very position Varas had just vacated, reminding her that if she were to land back on the ground, she would surely have to fight them both. At the same time the LAAT had been diverted to the brush due to the increasing number of Jedi heading into the area, she noticed that the FOSB agent had died.
With no light left inside of her, she barely registered the whispering of life snuffed out below her. She was no longer in a conflicted space as she was onboard the Alliance Command Vessel. Varas was consumed now by the Darkside of the Force. She scrambled across the branches and vines until she found her father, dropping down by his side like a Dagobah python about to strangle its victim. The clone’s armor was caked in mud and grime.
“I will not fail you,” she said.
Mishel’s predatory aura grew closer as did the Magnaguards.
She had no way of knowing if her attack on the enemies over the barrier had done anything. To be honest she didn't care. It had just been something to express her frustration at having a whole bunch of logs thrown down in front of her to block her access to the enemy location. She didn't care for that at all. Cowards, hiding behind logs instead of facing a foe that was out in the open. She wanted to kill them. Every last bleeding Imperial in the galaxy needed to die. They needed to be gutted like the swine they were, and left as food for the carrion eaters of whatever world they died on. Or for the world itself to absorb them and create new life from the nutrients of their bodies. She didn't care. She hated them all.
Rising, she stood and looked at the logs, trying to figure out a way to get around them without getting blasted from the dark clad troopers on the other side. She could think of nothing. Instead, she turned and scanned the perimeter, noticing that several of the markers for her Rangers were missing, which meant that she'd lost a handful of people in the muck of the ongoing battle. Expected, but it didn't make her feel any better about not being able to kill anyone.
Her eyes turned to focus on Coren, and she noted his attention had been swayed elsewhere. In fact, he was quite focused beyond her. Spinning about, shield at the ready, she could see why. Advancing across the field towards them was a saber wielder. Sith. Ren. Dark Jedi. She didn't know. She didn't care. They were advancing, and they were an enemy. She needed to know nothing else. And while she was certain that Starchaser could undoubtedly handle the situation, she also didn't care if he could. She wanted to kill the enemy. All of them deserved to die like dogs for the evils they had portrayed on the galaxy over countless years. If they weren't killed, they would keep doing it over and over again. She might not be able to stop the idea of the Empire, but she could kill their soldiers.
"High Ex," she said as she lifted her gun.
The rounds shifted over automatically as she leveled it at Therran. Maybe it would do nothing, maybe it would kill him. She just squeezed the trigger and let the explosive round, armed as soon as it left the barrel, fly through the air straight at the approaching man. If nothing else, it might give Starchaser an advantage. After firing, she swapped out the mag of FMJ's for a new mag, so she'd be ready to use it again. This battle wasn't over, and if she couldn't get close enough to anyone to use her staff, then her slugthrower would work wonders.
Kyrel could feel it in the force Emilia would not last long not without immediate medical attention. Even if that would even it seemed that there was no way out of Emilia's death. Kyrel did not care all the same the woman was just an instrument of Sieger's will. She was useful but now it is at an end, either way, the mission was successful. Still, with the Major's arrival along with the likes of her hunters perhaps, there was some small hope if only being very slim. He could not mistake her by her chrome stormtrooper armor with the word 'Trash' in red ink. She immediately scrambled to Emilia which had left him slightly curious. He could then feel it the grief through the Force and had thought to himself only momentarily. 'Ah, so the Major was attached to the woman... How unfortunate for her.' He had kept to himself.
He was irritated next by the fact that even though the combined power of both Therran and himself had managed to hurl the dropship at the enemy killing some of the foes they had to face, but not all as along with more reinforcements coming in, a few stormtroopers and even what looked to be special forces from the Empire, even with the Ren that he could sense out there was coming his way, but even so the enemy had reinforcements of their own in the form of Jedi. Kyrel's anger had boiled now surrounded by enemies it was either fight or die. Surrender was out of the cards as he scanned his enemies. Tanaski which he had remembered on a mission to put down a group of Rebels, the rest such as the Togruta and the ragged looking Jedi, who he had sensed was powerful but stronger then he would be an interesting theory to test. He had heard the man speak to ask them all to stop, that he didn't want to kill any of them to which he could only laugh and say in his mechanical baritone. "Step aside then because if you don't want to kill us Jedi we have no qualms about killing you. If not then prepare yourselves."
He said raising his lowered blade, it's intense power growing threatening to consume Kyrel in a rage that had threatened to destroy everything. Vader's Bane was indeed not a saber that was taken lightly, even it's only Master could barely contain it but he had answered darkness with darkness creating a symbiotic relationship between weapon and master. He then felt his daughter's presence where he had sensed conflict he had now sensed resolve and purpose. She had come from the treetops landing gracefully next to him, hearing his mental call she had replied with purpose and determination in her tone. "I will not fail you." Kyrel had taken pride in his daughter's words raising his saber once more letting the power of the dark side take hold of him, using its power drawing upon it in the fight against his foe he had raised a Force Barrier to protect against Force resistant attacks.
He had then spoken once more to his daughter, keeping his eyes on his enemies he had said once more with pride and within the iciness of his voice held a love that only a Father could have for his offspring. "I know Varas... You are your Father's Daughter a fighter till the bitter end. Remember your training young one, Alone we maybe strong, but together as one we are stronger. I won't let anything happen to you, if we are outnumbered and victory is not in sight I want you to run.. I can't afford to lose you and should I need to sacrifice myself I would like to die knowing that you have lived." For now my precious daughter no more words, let battle speak for the both of us as one."
He had said with passion and love as he gave her a slight glance smiling slightly underneath his mask. He had looked all around the stench of death permeating the air, bodies everywhere blood mixing in with the swamp. The destruction was another way to fuel his power as he was now ready for anything, waiting for the enemy to strike at him knowing together he and his daughter were stronger than anything before. Then through the Force, he had sensed a presence that had made him tremble in excitement. The abomination, the traitor Mishel was coming for him, but her intent was not for him as he could sense... It was for his daughter... He gritted his teeth and clenched his hands tightly around his saber... Speaking in a murmur to himself. "I won't let you lay a finger on her not while I still live."
Rexus listened to the banter between the hardies. He was expressionless, apart from his narrowing eyes, and the deep exhales of smoke he produced. He leaned back, and as Luther approached, lazily watched him, as he took another drag. "Understood guv." Rexus replied, slowly reaching a hand up to his head, and lethargically saluting him. He moved from his position, and then turning back to the soldier, "Oi, doc!" He called back to him, before approaching again.
"I just wanna say Doc," He began, turning his head briefly to look at Scars, and then turning his head back to Luther, "'at was one helluva job you pulled back there." Rexus complimented him, "Tankie over there would've been fodder if you weren't as fast as you are." he patted him on the back. "I just want you to know, it's a good feeling, knowing you've got our arses." Wenck said. He briefly paused, and looked into the visor, right where he assumed the medics eyes were. He saluted, while his eyes were locked there, and clicked his muddy boots together, before turning and moving away.
Rexus passed by the stormtroopers aboard, who were either drinking from their canteens, or cleaning their weapons. Wiping away the repugnant green and brown muck which collected on the pure white of the Stormtrooper Corps' weapons. Rexus approached Twigg, who sat, opposite Scars, and was tracing patterns through the mud on his breastplate. "Oi Twigg," Rexus began, standing next to him, taking a final drag of his cigarette. He let the roll drop from his mouth, before Wenck extinguished it with his boot. "How's it going?"
Twigg looked up, and shrugged, "It's a'ight I guess." Twigg mused. His voice expressed a weariness to himself. The mountain of a man had been exhausted by the earlier events. "Don't remember the corpse being this bad." He quietly replied, mispronouncing the word. His gaze was still fixed upon his chest, as he continued to trace a series of circles along his stomach. His gloved fingers, collecting a thick layer of mud and muck as he did so.
"Whatcha mean by that?" Rexus inquired, settling himself next to Twigg. The taller trooper then turned to Rexus. From behind the helm, deep chocolate eyes watched his former platoon lieutenant. His gaze was sullen.
"It used to be fun." Twigg said, his voice was hollow. Sullen even. "I remember when it was us, Gerda and Kicks." He continued, "Where we'd fight, and we'd then spend our leave drinking. Gambling...." He let his voice trail off, "Shagging." He added. Rexus suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, and sighed. Twigg slumped down a little more, "I just, I just miss the way things used to be." He whispered, "The way we used to be able to knock about with the lads. It was all a laugh." Twigg sighed, and rested his hands by his side, "But after Skor, after what we did... It's not the same Rexus."
Wenck couldn't help but agree with his comrade in arms. A certain innocence, if you could call say that given the routine brutality and cruelty imparted upon their enemies, had been lost. It was all fun and games forcing others against a wall for shooting, but it wasn't the same after you experienced the same thing. Rexus wrapped an arm round Twigg, "It'll be alright mate." He comforted, the larger man, almost nuzzled him, "We'll always have those good times Twigg, nothing's ever gonna take 'em away from us." Rexus felt his full weight begin to press on him, usually he'd have told him to piss off. To go kark himself. But not now. Not this time. Rexus closed his eyes, and held his friend close.
"Trooper Twigg," A voice barked, it sounded strained. Rexus opened his eyes, and looked around for its source. Twigg slowly sat up straight. A snarl settling behind his helm. "Grab me some Zero-Two thigh plates from the tanks storage locker." Twigg and Rexus located the source at the same time. Scars. The trooper who'd taken the starfighter strafing and somehow won. Although, given they were still stuck on this godforsaken hellhole, was this really still winning?
Twigg sat a little stunned, and Rexus nudged him. "Get a wriggle on Twigg." Rexus commanded. "Go get 'er some Zero-Two's." The Avalonian behemoth nodded, and muttered some quick apologies under his breath, before shambling from his mud caked position, and stumbling through the repulsorlift craft. Rexus turned to Scars, and looked over her. He shook his head as his eyes looked over her wounds. They were spectacular to say the least. Rexus' gaze moved up from the wounds, to her head, and cybernetic eye, "You are, no lie, one of the toughest Hardie's I've ever had the pleasure of fighting with." Rexus informed her.
"I've seen a lotta different wounds over the years, and a lot of people survive a lot of different things," He raised a hand, his prosthetic one, and gestured all over her, "But to even be awake, and knocking around when you've been karked by a fighter...." He shook his head, "Bloody 'ell, you've gotta be part rancor or somethin'." He mused, allowing a smirk to purse his lips, "If I had a bottle of ale right now," He licked his dry lips, and imagined the burning sensation of liquor running down his throat, and warming his greedy black guts, "I'd be toasting it to you."
Twigg stumbled back, carrying the plates. The stormtrooper had muddied them with his grimy gloves. "I uh, I gotcha pads fer ya." Twigg said, laying them right next to her. He then stood tall, and saluted her, as if he were on parade, before awkwardly shuffling over to his little nook and settling down again. He began to once again trace circles around his armours chest.
Rexus stood tall, and stretched, "I best be going," He mused, standing tall, and walking to the rear of the craft where his helm still sat. He sat there, and listened to the thunder roll in, and the rain began to patter down upon the battered roof of the repuslorlift craft. Rexus lay back, and rested, until he heard the melodic hum of the engines stop, and the servos for the door begin to open. Putting his helm back on, and standing up, Wenck looked over at his colleagues, "Alright, let's roll out folks!" He barked, "Move, move, move!"
Mishel managed to finally happen in on the Brawl. "What up, fam!" She gave [member="Varas Kyrel"] a wink and then gasped loudly, perhaps over-exaggerated it. She took a few steps back, a hand clasped over her mouth as she looked around. Her hazel-green eyes landed on [member="Kyrel Ren"], "holy karker, I don't smell leathery burnt bacon... does... does this mean, you're a real boy now?" She teased, "oh my Force. I am just." Mishel faked sniffed, "so proud, my, my, my why I remember just yesterday when you were still walking around in a tin can suit."
Oh. Vader's Bane.
She felt it, and well. "Oh, I'm sorry were you..." Mishel gestured between him and the Jedi. "Oh, my bad, my bad - wait."
"Wait," she shook a finger at Varas, "you seem different, did you get your haircut?"
Mishel put a finger to her temple, "yeah, new haircut, let's go with that."
The teenager was brimming with light and a hint of darkness. "Wait, is there a Jedi behind me? Seriously, I tripped over this girl on the way over here and she just..." Mishel made the hand motions of vomit, "and then there was more and more, and then there was mud, like, the worst University partier ever, amirite?" [member="Margaret the Grey"]
She would force speed to the side of the Jedi, "hey Varas, listen, did I ever tell you about the time your dad went on a pub crawl? No? Oh man, should have seen him. Tall dark and clanky over there in this high-end bar, cape dragging on the ground." Mishel imitated Kyrel's old breathing apparatus, "hiiiiii I am Kyrel Ren." The teenager snapped her fingers. "How did you even get a drink through - wait, the emergency induction port, yeah? We kept telling you it was a straw, you're like no, it's an emergency induction port." A finger on her chin as she tapped, "no wait that might've been me with the emergency induction port and the straw. I was pretty wasted, but still, imagine that guy in a bar like one of the fancy ones on Avalonia."
"Oh, and before you go on with your spiel about how I'm an abomination, let me just tell you one thing."
Mishel flipped him the bird.
She force sped to the other side of the Jedi and whispered, "I can't stop, help me."
Allies: First Order
Enemies: Galactic Alliance
Age-Inappropriate Crush: [member="Jaius Sovv"]
Objective: Fiddle as Rome Burns
Excerpt From the Beautifully Handwritten Diary of Natasi Fortan:
Only a species that lives underground would use our very close encounter with certain death to cheat in an attempt to win at chess. The old Sullustan nearly got away with it, too. I couldn't make myself believe it. I didn't want to see it, and even when I knew it must be true I struggled to find a reason to justify it without admitting the truth. Is age weakening my instincts? Is it motherhood? Or -- unthinkably -- friendship? I confess I have struggled with this since the renewal of hostilities. Sovv was never meant to stay with the First Order for long; we took him into custody with the intention of trying him for war crimes. We'd find him guilty of some lesser charge, of course, but in an act of magnanimity and grace, in recognition of his advanced age, return him to the Alliance. This was my plan, my decided course of action. A win for me -- not a loss, necessarily, for Sovv, because what could make him more famous and loved in his land of lawless, immoral rebels than being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of civilians?
It was perfect.
But once again -- you know who has made a fool and a liar of me.
With the First Order on offense again, it is quite impossible to send Sovv back. Perhaps that is a blessing; he has proved to be a comfortable companion to me these last months, with Tal off fighting. George was at first cautious about our guest, but has come to appreciate the old man's pleasant nature and amusing facial features. I envy him his innocence, his lack of conditioning to hate President Sovv. Even as I read reports of underhanded actions by his compatriots, brutality by their soldiers, foul play by their allies, I cannot bring myself to believe the worst about Jaius. He is, perhaps, as much a prisoner of circumstance -- endless war -- as of the First Order itself.
I hope he can see me in the same way -- perhaps we are both prisoners, both of circumstance and of -- ah, he is here. More later.
"Come," Natasi called authoritatively as she capped her pen and bio-locked her diary, then tucked it into her bio-locked desk drawer. The stormtroopers opened the door to Natasi's quarters and admitted the ancient Sullustan. Natasi had slept, showered, and changed since they had last met. "Good morning, President Sovv. I hope you found your quarters comfortable," said the Grand Moff, who had insisted that Sovv be given one of the dignitary suites -- with the communication suites disabled, naturally. Now, by ship time, it was morning, and Natasi had already taken the liberty of having breakfast set up in the dining room of her suite -- it was spread out on formal chafing dishes, waiting to be self-served and eaten.
"Leave us," Natasi told the stormtroopers. "I'm not to be disturbed except in the event of an emergency."
"Of course, Your Excellency," the stormtrooper captain responded. Natasi smiled her thanks and sealed the door before turning to Sovv.
"Breakfast," Natasi said -- an invitation, but not a question. She turned and went into the dining room and took a teacup from the sideboard, into which she poured some fragrant black tea. She set it at one of the place-settings, then picked up a plate. "I hope you don't take my going first as rudeness," said Natasi to Sovv as she spooned a serving of eggs onto her plate. "The reasons are multiple, not least of which that I am famished and it does away with the inevitable concern that it might be poisoned." Indeed, Natasi served herself from each dish, including -- in addition to the eggs -- sausage and bacon, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, fried bread, and bubble and squeak made from the leftover vegetables of the previous night's dinner. "Have you ever had a Full Galidraani breakfast? It's not something one should have every day, but sometimes it is absolutely essential."
She sat, smoothing the grey skirt into which a dark green blouse was tucked, and crossed her ankles as she waited for Sovv to make his move.
"You must be wondering why you're here." Natasi lifted her tea and looked over at Sovv before taking a quick sip. "The truth is, I believe they view you as an insurance policy, and that's why I'm here. I don't feel right about leaving you alone. I hold myself responsible for what happens to you." She took another sip of tea and looked down. "I'll miss you." She paused, then added a clarifying point: "When you're gone." It wasn't until after she spoke that she realized that this could be taken in multiple ways -- an offer of assistance to escape and a threat of death not least among them. Natasi took a bite of her sausage and serenely chewed.
The Force blazed within him. Its Dark Side smothering his mind, shoving temptations, desire and ambition up front. To it there was no ally and no enemy. Just yourself and your greatest wish. Soaring in power, he came blind to the powerful jostle impelling him backwards like a sack. The kinetic power almost collapsing his lungs from within before he crashed into a few thinner trees. An instinctive barrier of the Force only prevented him from sustaining a broken back or other near-fatal injuries. Whatever fire came at his position did not find its targets due to 'Asharad' flinging Therran way with the power of Force push.
Nonetheless, the damage was done.
Some more persistent twigs had pierced right through his cloak and skin. Pain pulsated on the top of his spine while he felt buried by flora. Therran rose quickly back to his feet, a stagger in finding balance before he felt himself engulfed with hate. Wicked energies twirled around him before concentrating them in his hands and a moment later letting them lose with brutal velocity at 'Asharad' and whatever trooper stood beside him obliterating everything in its path.
"The Alliance has lost nearly every engagement it has been part of since the fall of the One Sith." Sienar retorted with a soft ease that didn't quite seem to fit with where they were right now. They had lost more than half of their support during the descend, the men and women were tense, this place smelled and every step the Tionese noble took threatened to leave him without a boot.
But Alec was enjoying.
Every single moment.
The deaths were a shame, yes, but the adrenaline rushing through his veins couldn't be ignored. He stretched just a touch, then pushed his rifle up and shrugged to fill the silence. "Thyferra burns, if we take Dagobah we cut off their southern territories." Hands curled tighter around the rifle as they pushed further into the swamps towards the outpost.
Allies: GA Enemies: [member="Asharad Graush"] Objective: Protect, defend
With the sound of snapping vines, her head whipped up, as she faced off with the sith again. Yes, the planet was drenched in the darkside - a swirling nexus not too far away. But where there was dark, there was light. Death and life. This planet was still very much balanced. There was no lightside nexus but there were pinpricks of light everywhere, running deep veins through the planet's sea of blackness. Light still found a way.
And as she felt the shifting tide of his incoming tsunami, both hands gripped her staff and she set the base in the mud in front of her.
No.
With a wince along her tattooed face as the wounds shifted along her form, a shimmering, green protection bubble came to life. The healer stood in the middle of the force blast, an eye in the hurricane. She felt the death all around her as those not so lucky were wiped out. Feet slid back slightly even as the blast subsided. It would've torn the armorweave straight from her form.
Pools of verdant green snapped open as the bubble disappeared. Forever aware of the consequences of her actions, she projected her thoughts and emotions forward. Memories. It wasn't an attack. If successful, the sith would suddenly see some of her memories and those emotions tied with them. She was trying to find common ground even if it left her wide open to a mental attack back.
The risk in her mind was worth it.
Balance. There was always balance. She needed to show him.
If his mind was open. If she was able to connect with her enemy, he'd see that day on Barkesh. He'd see and feel her conflicted emotions. He'd see faces of those she'd been sworn to protect. If I had demanded your surrender on a First Order world, would you have been so quick to accept? To abandon those you've been charged with protecting? Charged with governing?
The scene would switch and he'd see her kneeling down in a blood-spattered field with dying, brown tall grasses, hands healing a soldier in a First Order uniform. And then, if it got that far, he'd see one more scene change. Something, maybe, she didn't want him to see but the memory came anyway. There were tubes everywhere. Medical equipment beeped and echoed in the sterile room. Muffled voices sounded beyond a latched, white door.
Two of them faded away into the jungle, but one stayed behind, evidently confronting him. Veino studied the smaller Ren through the visor of his helmet. The Dark side coiled around her more strongly than it did one of the others. The third, however, was also quite strong in the Dark Side. The less powerful of the three had wrapped herself in some sort of invisibility, but he could still sense her emotions.
It seemed they intended to move on without him. That was dangerous and could allow them to get close to the nexus. Yet, the one facing him here seemed to be the leader. Perhaps it was something that could be turned to their advantage. The other two he let drift from his attention after sending a coded message to those at the nexus itself. That way, they'd know to be on the lookout for two more Ren, one of whom was invisible.
"There's nothing worth dying for on this planet," Veino said, voice again flattened by the annunciator. "It has been the breaking point empires across centuries of time and it will be no different for the First Order. This world is ancient, full of life and the Force. War is beneath its notice."
With one hand he gestured around them.
"This is where the First Order bleeds itself out. Your ships are being destroyed. Your soldiers are cut off from each other." He shook his head. "Victory is no longer within your grasp. Survival must be your goal now. Fall back and retreat back to your own worlds of civilization and society. The wild has no place for it here and it will not suffer any to tame it."
He took a step forward through the muck, keeping close to the tree and its mossy drapery as a storm rumbled overhead. It would make ships very vulnerable in the near future. Lightning loved metal and starships were quite attractive to lightning.
"The wild is its own master here and its mastery over Light and Dark is greater than any might wish to hope for."
The man tilted his hooded head towards the Ren.
"Go. Gather those you can and leave the planet before the storm makes it impossible."
Rolf hadn't waited long, he couldn't even have been sure that he hit what he was aiming at - but how could he have not? For a brief moment he saw his target hit the ground but then he was off again, tearing through the brush. By the time he'd reached the small embankment the humidity and the rain had him ragged. Already wet from their travel, with the addition of the rain continuing to pick up he was drenched. It was times like these he was thankful for the lightweight armor he wore. At least he wouldn't be quite as bogged down. For only a moment he caught his breath, raising a fist silently and indicating a large overturned tree farther to the left. He was going to move, his request to the other two to provide covering fire evident. With three fingers upheld, he slowly lowered each one. *Three. Two. One.*
Pushing off with his left foot, he darted from the temporary cover. Again he fired, this time on the run - his aim to force the enemy behind cover as he sought out a better angle on the figures ahead. Having moved out towards his left, he'd hoped to gain a better angle but as he peeked out from behind a tree he could see the one he'd been aiming at dash forwards. Another haphazard flurry of fire found itself fired off towards her. The trio needed to get a solid crossfire going if they had any hope of downing her or her companions. He saw the blue aura as the woman's saber sprang to life - it sent a chill down his spine. The damage a lightsaber could incur was no laughing matter - if he hoped to survive this in one piece they were going to be hard pressed if they didn't work together.
Almost instinctively he reached down towards where his thermal detonators were strapped to his combat webbing. As his fingers grasped... air, he cursed aloud. "Fething.." The webbing had been stripped free of his body in the crash, he hadn't even checked. Mentally chiding himself, he adjusted his grip on the blaster weapon. In that moment he heard a rush of air, the distance between the two had been closed significantly. Without his helmet or the assistance of a HUD, the tactical data he had was limited - but he remembered how bad the readings had been even with his helmet's systems. The planet of Dagobah was teeming with life, sure to send any lifeform sensors into a havoc, not to mention the rapidly developing electrical storm. As if to bear credence to the severe warnings in the brief intel he'd seen, another crash of lightning erupted overhead, the flashes creating a mess of shadow and light. Even with NVG capability, the darkness of the jungle contrasted with the flickering of lightning was sure to throw HUD systems for a loop. *Maybe it's a good thing I'm not depending on a HUD right about now.* thought Rolf. It was the last thought he'd had before something new got his attention.
Having closed the gap significantly, as Rolf peeked his head out from behind a protruding stump, Stephanie had come down in a furious strike. Not at the Colonel, but at the very ground. Violently he threw himself to the ground behind the fallen log as a cascade of dirt, mud, water, and wooden splinters flew as the force of the woman's endeavor hit the ground. While it may not have been blaster fire or a slugthrower, the sharpened splinters of wood were dangerous enough to the unadorned head of the Commando. Fire cut across Rolf's forehead above his right eye. *Not quite fast enough.* he mused as he forcefully exhaled. Raising the weapon above his head he blind fired a few times, hoping his Imperial friends were close behind. He couldn't be sure if the enemy had located him amidst the ever increasing wind and rain, but if they had he was going to need some covering fire before he could move again.
The Force was a veritable maelstrom around them right now. As Ever kept them safe from other forces, Jak could feel more than see the Dark Side swell against the Force bubble. There wasn't much he could do against Sith or dark Jedi without a lightsaber... but he could still support others. "The Dark Side may be strong on this planet, but the Light always rises to meet it. And on top of that... when it comes to Nature, the Force is mine to command."
Burying his arms deep in the mossy growth, Jak closed his eyes and began to nudge the flora around him. The Force began to flow into him, the local plant life becoming harmonious with the green Jedi, like filings to a magnet. But Jak didn't want that power for himself. Instead, he began to pour it into Coran, letting his energy add to the Master's already considerable resources.
Plants all around the three of them began to compact, growing tougher and denser, till what looked like sandbags surrounded them. Blasterfire that would have sliced through bushes simply burned to nothingness as it slowly ate away at their cover.
This was the power of Nature. This was what Jak had been studying. And it was paying off.
Blaster fire range out from the side the red bolts streaking towards there position from a darkly dressed trooper, coming from two different direction, both shots aimed for [member="Stephanie Swail"] the bolts binging against her armor, hopefully not causing to much harm. They had to move, in this position with Ren and enemy troopers from multiple sides the Jedi were sitting ducks, reinforcements still being a few minutes away from their position, putting the Alliance and Silvers at a slight disadvantage for the moment. Now with [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] at his side and helping keep Yuroic safe Tanasuki could engage without having to worry about the Master being attacked while distracted, "You defend the Gemander, I will take care of the enemy troopers trying to flank us".
Quickly as he came Tana once against sprinted into action, moving to aid Swail as she too made headway against the troopers firing from the side, himself leaping towards the secondary shooter, from the looks said trooper looked to be of Galactic Empire Origins. Most likely a strangler that joined up with the first order to continue the swampy slug fest, he had to give then credit for their persistence in such a seeming hopeless situation, but then again those apart of the Sith lead empires where very fanatic in the loyalty so it was to be expected. Running forward Tan kept his blades in a defensive manner, prepared for any oncoming blaster fire that may be directed his way, the muddy ground making a splashing sound with each step.
The young Jedi making his running pattern erratic as possible, zigzagging and jumping all over the place, as he quickly closed the distance between the two combatants. Though prepared to strike the trooper down if need be he would attempt to knock out for subdue them first in a non lethal manner, for many reason, but also to not provoke the Ren and give them something to feed on, from what his sister had told about the battle of Miral dark side users fed of pain and fear, as such killing the enemy would only prove to boost their strength.
Vehicle: LAVr FI-H8b 'Hussar' Command Speeder. Stripped sensor/targeting and command suites, retrofitting said areas for medical support. Crew: Four members of the 11th Armoured Division. Action: Enroute to Luther's positon. Hull:67%. Mobility: 20% - Moving Slowly. Crew Health:Injured.
“We’re approaching the FOB, sir!” Brianna shouted from the cockpit. Luther nodded to Skye, who manned the top-side turret. He moved out towards the back of the speeder. “Form up!” he shouted. Stormtroopers snapped to attention and formed a breaching position around the door. He felt the speeder slow and eventually come to a stop. His heart beating fast, he waited until Skye gave the all clear before hitting to button to open the door. Near clogged with mud and debris, to groaned and opened slowly. Despite the fatigue they must feel (as Luther did) the Stormtroopers moved quickly and efficiently. Once confirmed that the area was indeed clear, group formed up and started slogging their way to the FOB.
- - - - -
They didn’t get very far before they were hailed by a Scouting party. The two groups approached each other cautiously. The Scouts, who initially feared the newcomers were Alliance forces, mistook the group for Empire reinforcements. It was not until Luther cleared up this discrepancy that they realized their mistake. Tension once again raised, the Scouts nevertheless agreed to take them into the FOB proper.
- - - - -
The strength of the Empire’s forces was not as bad as Luther feared, but were dire nonetheless. A fair amount was wounded but, to their credit, they still manned the defenses. Great hulking vehicles cast large shadows from the swamp. One large walker had even collapsed near the perimeter, giving more cover to the soldiers posted along that front. To Luther’s dismay, he could not see even one serviceable vehicle within the base. ‘Looks can be deceiving’ he thought, without much hope. ‘Maybe we can jury-rig one of the lasers to fire again’.
He approached what he assumed was the CO. The man saluted him, while Luther returned the gesture. Both removed their helmets.“Sergeant Ando I presume? Your crew told us to expect you.” The man betrayed no emotion, but his eyes were wary. “Have you come to bolster our reinforcements?”. Luther cleared his throat. “More than that, we’ve come to extract you off this miserable planet” he glanced around at his disheveled group, sure that the Empire must be laughing internally. “This position seems…untenable” Luther said, not so subtly. “Why haven’t you called for support?”
The commander stared him flat in the eye. “Our communications are down so we couldn’t contact anyone, even if we could penetrate the planet’s interference”. Something flashed in his eyes. Frustration? Despair?“The break in communications has been the only thing that has kept us safe in fact. We’ve been able to eliminate any Alliance patrols and with no dropships to alert them, the Alliance won’t find us”. The implication was clear. The First Order risked the group by helping them.
“Foolish” Luther replied coldly. “The Alliance isn’t stupid, they’d realize they kept losing patrols around this location. It would be crystal clear, even in this muddy swamp”. He paused before adding: “They could even be on their way, so no time to waste. Let’s get the troops moving and get a beacon set up”.
There were a few uneasy glances between the Empire’s forces, but the CO kept his eyes locked on Luther. “Very well, distribute your forces among my men and we’ll”- Luther cut him off. “That is not how we are doing things; the First Order will assume command”. A hard line crossed the CO’s face and a mutter started among both groups. The tension was palpable, a few hands crept to the hilts of blasters. Luther opened his mouth to speak but closed it when a thought crossed his mind. “What is your rank?” he asked. The CO looked panicked for a moment, before stuttering “I…I…. I’m Private First Class Briggs” he finished lamely. Luther nodded, a look of understanding passing across his face. “You’ve done well kid” Luther said, finally seeing the youth upon the man’s face. “But it’s a risk keeping you in charge. We’ll take control of your forces”. The LCP slumped in defeat and nodded.
Their authority now confirmed; he, Rexus and Scars started dividing the Empire’s force among one another. Each squad received a complement of 8 or 9 Empire troopers, plus however many First Order troopers they still had. The rest were sent to secure the perimeter.
Luther took his group and entered the speeder. “Brianna, set this speeder down in the centre of the base. We’re going to try and get in contact with the fleet…”
The environment of Dagobah could be described as a third assailant in this fight. Between the fog, the hungry creatures and the difficult terrain, Varas watched the elements eat away at both trooper and battledroid. Casualties would be high on both sides.
She fed off the darkside energy - from both her father and the nearby cave, the Force pulsating like a blackened heart. Kyrel began to speak and Varas turned her head just a fraction to hear him.
“I will not run,” she said plaintively. “Nor will I ever turn on you again.” The words expressed what she felt in the moment, not necessarily the creeping feelings of resentfulness that may return in times of peace. But inside she was touched and elated that here it was - the love and adoration from her father that she constantly craved.
“What up fam!”
WHAT?
Varas’s dark brows knit in confusion. Mishel had always been an unpredictable Disciple, but her current state could only be described as unhinged. Speaking words that, yes were Basic, but ones that she did not understand, the brunette clone canted her head to the side as the former Ren babbled nonsense.
Unlike when the pair last fought side by side, this time his daughter would not move, nor advance, nor attack. There would be no spinning her TIE Fighter off to seek glory on her own. She would not strike him in a moment of weakness.
Varas now stood resolute, saber high, the killing machine that her father bred and trained for months. She would fight upon his cue.
