World of War (Craft) [SJO Dominion of Cyborrea]

[Silver Starlight]

Objective 1: Gladitators ​

The thunderous footsteps of Cyborrean warriors set out into the arena. They were large, muscular, and bloodthirsty. Each one was clad in scant armor, but they didn't seem to mind. In fact, they had scars to prove their prowess in battle. These powerful fighters were no stranger to the arena, they'd fought and survived many times.

And, some of them were now crowd favorites.

They wielded swords, maces, and spears – there wasn't a weapon they didn't like. But, even in the absence of weapons, they had their massive fists and enough strength to break skulls. The group stood menacingly as the gate closed with a heavy clank behind them. A few cracked smiles, revealing sets of jagged teeth.

The Cyborreans would not hesitate to harm these outsiders. After all, they fought long and hard against their own people on a regular basis. The clan wars were unending.

A booming voice announced the battle's start.

The Cyborrean announcer's voice was still ringing in the air when the warriors charged. Their own voices raised in battle cries, their heavy feet hit the ground hard. Their weapons were at the ready, blades and spears sharpened to deadly points... unlike the one that had been left out for their puny opponents.

In the background, high upon a platform was a Shaman – his words kept the force at bay. Those in (or near) the stadium would be unable to call upon anything other than their own wits.

A group of three immediately went for [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] and [member="Kat Decoria"]. Meanwhile, one of the largest of the Cyborreans set [member="Kahne Porte"] in his sights. The remaining three moved for [member="Sabine Galen"] and... that pesky [member="Cassius Droma"]. They planned to take him out for good this time around.

And, that wasn't all...

Two warriors mounted on war-beasts entered the ring – one charged for [member="Audren Sykes"] and the other for [member="Sigyn Vanir"].

Spoiler

Feel free to damage your opponents as you wish!

Stay tuned for objective 2 DM Post!

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Objective: 2
Allies: [member="Amon Vizsla"], [member="Tulan Kor"], [member="Thirdas Heavenshield"], [member="Ura Iolar"], [member="Allura Kahli"], [member="Mikilanna Mihaly"]
Goal: Rescue the captured SJO members

How such a big group of their better Jedi had been captured, Josh didn't know. But he supposed it didn't matter until they got them back. What did matter was getting them back and Josh had taken it upon himself to join the rescue team. He was still a little ginger, his wounds hadn't entirely healed. But Josh was off his walking stick now and was hell bent on going out no matter what. Especially as one of such was one of his own students. He felt it was his duty as a Master to get them out of a bind like this if he could. Granted, those concerns about his safety weren't without merit. Because if he hadn't been hurt, he would have been on the frontal team to begin with that had gotten captured.

What he knew of the location of their fellow Jedi was that they couldn't sense any of them, and that there was a bead on the general area. Several dropships had circled over it. It hadn't taken long for them to figure out that wherever they were being kept, something was nullifying the Force there. Which made it all the easier to find them, if he was being honest. Where was it easier to find Jedi? Where they could sense them and a hundred other things? Or the one place that the Force was being blocked off entirely? But while one might think Josh was at a disadvantage here, being less able to defend himself than before in his condition, especially without the Force... Josh had prepared for this. He might not have the Force...

But he did have a dragon.

While Josh knew he wouldn't be able to sense how Jongori was feeling from a distance once they were in, Jongori was not a Force-using creature. His kind communicated through impulses that could be sensed by those who touched them. So long as Josh kept contact with Jongori, he would be able to utilize him without any adverse effects. If they got separated, it would be trouble. But he knew that Jongori could handle himself. Josh listened to the comms, noting that most of the troops being sent to save the main team were Rangers. Non-Force Users, mostly. With the exception of three, including himself and one of his other students.

Finally, he held up his comm.

"It won't be a problem. I'm dropping shortly."

Josh waited no longer, as the Jedi Master gingerly mounted the large lizard and called for him to leap off the dropship, taking flight. It probably wouldn't be hard to know where to start... The raucous roar of the crowd made it quite obvious.

 

[Audren Sykes]

Objective 1: Fight. Survive.
Allies: [member="Sabine Galen"] | [member="Kat Decoria"] | [member="Cassius Droma"] | [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] | [member="Kahne Porte"] | [member="Sigyn Vanir"]

The horns blew and the audience roared in response. There was a crash from across the arena, but in what seemed like a pause for dramatic effect nothing else for about ten seconds. Only then did the gates open again, revealing a number of fighters. It was clear that they were crowd favorites: the roar redoubled the moment the natives stepped into view. Like the other non-natives here, these were minimally-clad, and even at this distance the scars were visible. Fighters then, and ones that could take hits and survive. Only seven, matching numbers. At least they were a good sport. A booming voice - accompanied by yet another roar of the crowd - announced the start of the fight. Could be worse, they could be facing a droid army.

Much to the Sephi's surprise though, the seven grouped up rather unsportingly. Three ganged up and went for the Twi'lek and pale human woman. One - the lone good sport - headed for the classic sword-and-shield wielder. The other three went after the gladiator-looking fellow and woman nearest him. That was odd, it left both Audren and a red-haired woman bereft of opponent. Perhaps intentionally, as they both wielded polearms? Confused but not willing to allow the others to fight, bleed, and maybe die without helping out, the Master took a step towards the closest group of three only to hear another gate being opened.

Oh.

It appeared he and the red-head were indeed special, as two more fighters joined the arena. Both of these were mounted and immediately spurred their mounts at their targets: one each. Were the Jedi Master in a classic multi-tiered battle line, the best option would have been to plant the butt of the glaive in the ground, angle it at the creature, and allow its own momentum to impale it onto a thicket of pointy metal. He could try that now as well but the plant would need to be almost immediately before impact so as to not broadcast the tactic. The split-second timing ran the risk of not having a solid foundation, which would be worse than useless. The heavy fur mane would also suggest the tactic to be less useful. Throwing the weapon as a spear would rob him of his only weapon, which was unacceptable.

That was all the thinking time the Sephi had before the rider was on him. He threw his body into a shoulder roll forward and to his left, the rider's unarmed side. The roll was rough and almost, almost resulted in the glaive staying in the sand. Apparently the riders had been given their targets: there was not one course deviation to strike at another fighter. As the rider slowed and began turning his mount additional tactics were considered. He could run up the creature's snout and attack the rider directly, but the split-second timing and precision would greatly benefit from the Force. For a half-second he entertained the fantasy of planting the glaive's blade in the creatures head and knocking the rider off with a simultaneous flying leap, but that was again unlikely. He could fight, but the Force was what made such fancy attacks seem so effortless.

A couple twirls of the glaive like a quarterstaff decided his tactic. The rider charged again, weapon held in his left hand this time. So this time Audren stepped to his right, but spun just before the pair was to parallel him. As he spun, his grip on the glaive slid down to the very butt of the weapon while the blade extended up and out, and impacted. The top third of the native's skull - including one eye and the contents within the skull - was separated from the rest of the head and fell to the ground as the attack completed. Much to the Master's surprise however, the rider didn't fall. The mount slowed and turned like before, allowing the results to be seen. Blood poured down the remnants of the face and brain matter was clearly exposed. But sparks also showered intermittently from the site of the cut and the being wasn't dying.

This was not good at all.

[member="Silver Starlight"]​

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

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Location: Cyborrea​

Objective: Don't Die​

Tagging: [member="Sabine Galen"] | [member="Kat Decoria"] | [member="Cassius Droma"] | [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] | [member="Kahne Porte"] | [member="Sigyn Vanir"] | [member="Audren Sykes"]​

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A soft groan escaped the young Jedi's lips as she sucked in a deep breath, crystal blue eyes flicking open, seeing the scene infront of her without really focusing on it as a delicate hand reached up to press at her forehead, a headache pounding at her focus as the girl pushed herself up into a sitting positiion, her free hand pressing agaisnt the sandy floor as she blinked once, twise, three times the vision finally focusing on the room she found herself in...or the cell. This wasn't a bedroom, the sand covered floor and barren walls were a pretty good sign of that. Asaraa screwed up her eyes for a moment, blinking and forcing them open...no change, a finger punched at her leg a sharp spike of pain cutting through her body...still nothing. Ok she wasn't dreaming so that just left her with the question of how and why...the questions building in her mind were swept away as Asaraa's roving eyes caught sight of the open door. Her eyes screwed up against hte bright sunlight outside as she staggered towards the door.

Emerging through the portal was like stepping out into a new world, the warmth of the sun, the roar of the crowd sweeping over her like a wave, crashing into her like a physical blow. Asaraa took a halfstep backwards, eyes flicking left to right, the shock of the situation sweeping away the last vesitages of the confusion that had been her companion in the moments since she'd woken up. She could see figures moving, dancing across the sand around a variety of creatures that had been unleashed against them. Her hands reached out, grabbing at the closest weapons, two swords catching the light in her hands as her feet pounded into the sand as she drove across the arena towards the position where her friends were engaged. There was no doubt who the fighters were, that fighting style was unmistakable. The energy of desperation lent wings to Asaraa's feet as she sped across the arena, the sound of the crowd receding into the background. She didn't know what was going on, why there were here, but a fight like this? This was something she could handle.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Objective 1
Allies- [member="Kat Decoria"] and jedi friends
Enemies- big dudes about to get clobbered

Sadly didnt have long to meet her friend before sliding to a stop and looking forward. Just as she feared seems they were in a arena to fight, looking to their opponents stardust couldnt help but have a massive grin form as she looked to her left arm...thatll be a dirty trick...looking to the shaman he was out of reach without the force, but not her trick! She needed to get closer however

kat seems like we got uglies heading our way, taking one and a half I'll take the other one and half

She joked seeing as their was only two of them versus three of those big dudes...fair fight with stardust there even without the force. Standing tall she beat her chest and roared out in challenge before looking around and found a cheap spear making it into her hands and looked to the three heading towards them. Just had to devise a plan for now it was simply put a show on

Picking one of them who skin was grey she started slowly walking towards them, no fear from her at all. Wasnt her first radio without the force wouldnt be the last either. Aide stepping ahe sliced at his side not enough to kill oh no she wanted him to get mad, make a mistake quickly might work for her forming plan

oi! Jedi I think I've got a plan that might work! Just need to time it right

 

[Sigyn Vanir]

Objective: 1
Ally nearby: [member="Audren Sykes"] Other allies: [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] | [member="Sabine Galen"] | [member="Kat Decoria"] | [member="Cassius Droma"] | [member="Kahne Porte"]

Before Sigyn reached what looked like her master, the horns sounded again, louder this time, and followed by the roar of the crowd. She stopped, and looked around at what was going on. Then it was quiet. Except for loud thudding, like someone stomping their feet hard on the ground, coming from somewhere. Her master was completly out of her head now, completly replaced by uncomfortable anticipation. She held the spear harder, and tried to see where the stomping came from.

But it was soon revealed, as New doors opened around the arena. And the audience began roaring again, as big figures emerged from the doors. Clad in some form of armor, though it was scarce, and having scars all over their bodies. These were Warriors. Strong, enduring and brutal Warriors. But the fact that they had scars all over their bodies proved that they were stupid, and would rather take a hit than to use strategy. Kind of like some Warriors from Sigyn's home. But most of her People thought when they entered Battle.

At first, it didn't seem like she, or a blond man not far from her, would get attacked. The brutes went for the others in the arena, and Sigyn's Instinct was to help them. But a loud growling sound pushed that idea away. She and the blond man hadn't been forgotten after all. Two Warriors on war-beasts were charging at them. One for each.

The war bests were fast, so it would not be time to think out a strategy. Instead, Sigyn began running towards the attackers herself. This would seem like suicide to most People. But these beasts looked a bit like a bear-like species she had faught in the Mountains back home. She knew how to take care of them, and this beast would probably og Down similar.

When she was 10 meters from the attacker, she threw herself to the left, and thrust the spear against the charging animal. The beast howled. A hit. The contact between the spear and the charging animal dragged her in the opposite direction she had jumped, and she rolled a few meters when she hit the ground. Getting to her feet, she spun around to face the attacker again. Her attack hadn't killed the animal, and she was very much aware of this. Such beasts never went Down With one hit. But as she spun around, she noticed the blond having managed to strike his foe through the head. His foe was still standing. Or riding. What were these enemies?

The beasts growl brought her attention back to her own fight. It was beginning to charge once more. Maybe it would be smarter to og for the rider first. If their species was this hard to take Down, she couldn't Waste her energy on their animals.

 

[H3xle]

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Objective: 2
Allies: [member="Allura Kahli"] | [member="Amon Vizsla"] | [member="josh dragonsflame"] | [member="Mikilanna Mihaly"] | [member="Thirdas Heavenshield"] | [member="Tulan Kor"] | [member="Ura Iolar"]

Aurel hadn't trained in heavy gee for long enough, that she felt more comfortable using technology to overcome muscles bred for what was considered normal gravity in the Coruscant-centric galaxy. She glanced at the wrist readout of the bare bones exo suit she wore beneath the baggy clothes common to the waifs and vagabonds that were ubiquitous across so many star systems. All systems showed green, though she was only really worried because the suit was new to her. Her body, trained to the point of muscle memory, stuck with the crowd moving towards the arena. Varying levels of middle and lower class peoples surrounded her, all going for the entertainment guaranteed in the Arena.

She was able to pass through the audience gates of the arena without trouble, though only into the farthest bleachers. Once inside the arena, Aurel felt her connection to the Force dwindle as the power of the shaman dampened the area. She made no overt reaction, just continued to walk. She turned right at an intersection, and made her way with a smaller subset of the crowd to bleachers that had a view of the people in the dirt below, but far enough away that it was difficult to tell beings apart if they remotely resembled each other. She stood there as the crowd around her began to cheer as figures were released into the dirt, and the fighting started. She let her eyes roam the crowd, trying to find guards around her section, and trying to find the shaman.

Up on a platform, about one hundred degrees around the arena perimeter from her position, was a figure that seemed to be dressed in what she assumed a shaman would dress in. She wasn't anywhere near enough to determine what he was doing to dampen the Force in the area, but she turned her head from his direction and moved through the crowd towards the nearest way into the bowels of the arena. The crowd was out here, but these places usually had places for the crowds to buy food and drink and expel waste. She was hoping to be able to traverse the corridors surreptitiously to move towards the shaman.

Hopefully, the way would not be guarded.

 

[Silver Arrow]

​

Objective 2: Stop Rescue Team!

The Shaman was busy in his ritual to dampen the Force. Several Cyborreans were posted as guards outside his room and more were patrolling the corridors. Cyborreans knew how important it was to keep their shaman safe from attacks, especially since the news of people using dropships to enter the atmosphere. Several guards posted outside of the arena signalled the alarm, a large dragon was heading towards the arena, shots were fired towards the dragon and several dropships that were coming down. Guards moved into high alert as they realised that Jedi were likely on their to rescue the Cyborrean prisoners.

War horns were blown as guards got into defensive positions with heavy blasters ready and large melee weapons at the ready. Cyborrean guards bumped into each other and getting themselves hyped for the oncoming battle. Several shots were fired towards the oncoming enemies as they kept their tough defensive position outside the arena. Inside the arena, the shaman's security was increased and the guards would leer at anyone coming too close the shaman.

[member="Aurel Kvold"] [member="Josh Dragonsflame"] [member="Amon Vizsla"] [member="Mikilanna Mihaly"] [member="Tyrell Caphey"] [member="Benjamin Cassidy"] [member="Ura Iolar"] [member="Allura Kahli"] [member="Tulan Kor"] [member="Thirdas Heavenshield"]

 

[Zef Halo]

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Dorn Company,
TASK FORCE RAIDER
OPERATION: SPARTACUS


Amon stared at nothing in particular as he awaited the countdown when a military salute came from one the Rangers. With his free hand, the Mandalorian gave him one back. A rookie seeking confidence, perhaps? He hoped he would find it, otherwise the heat of combat had its ways of culling the weak. At least, according to his father.

"Rangers, this is Ura. I may not be able to help you directly, but I can still do something. During your jump, I'm going to make a circle around the arena with the Razor-Tail Tiger. Engines cut off. If this is like most anti-Force objects, it'll be spherical, and I can send you a rough epicenter."

A ground communique opened up from one of the Jedi attached to the Rescue Team. Ura Iolar, if he read his HUD right.

"Jedi Ura, this is Lieutenant Vizsla. Send in your telemetry and we will triangulate it with ours to further progress pinpointing the location of this...anti-force field." the Mandalorian replied over the comms just as he received a notification from Ghost Company.

...the Shadow of Yurb is with you.

He just gazed at the notification without uttering a word back. Time was up for Dorn, Ghost and Helios Company to drop.

Not without complications though. Heavy blaster fire from below rattled the dropship as Amon slid open the door of the gunship. The screeching noise of wind deafened the Rangers and Amon began gesturing for the Rangers to start their repulsor-guided descent on the arena.

The idea was to land on the outer platforms of the domed building and besiege it, pushing the lines of the defenders from outside in.

JUMP, JUMP!

When the last Ranger was out of the gunship and descending down to take their position amidst the fire, Amon would make his own jump.

Already the casualty report was coming in.

[member="Allura Kahli"] | [member="Aurel Kvold"] | [member="Josh Dragonsflame"] | [member="Mikilanna Mihaly"] | [member="Thirdas Heavenshield"] | [member="Tulan Kor"] | @Ura Iolar​

 

[Ladybug]

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Helios Company
TASK FORCE RAIDER
OPERATION: SPARTACUS




Elevating her voice over the screeching wind that bellowed through the opened door, the lead operative began barking orders for the team to begin their jump per the predetermined order. The first three members of Helios Company lept out unscathed, but as number four began, the first shots from the enemy below rocked the dropship. Up front, the pilots struggled to maintain control of the ship, as increasing volleys of ground fire burst all around them, with one shot clipping one of the dropship's wings; spurring both pilots and lead operative to scream in unison, "Everyone out now!"

Four, five, and six went. Up next, Mikilanna. Charging toward the opening, she quickly and efficiently checked the jump gear amassed upon her meager frame. She reached the exit, just as the ship was hit a second time; tossing everyone behind her and the lead operative to the ground. For her, she managed to grab hold of the two sides of the door, digging the smaller versions of her claws into the metal; granting a bit of balance and support. When the ship itself found it's balance, she took a long deep inhale....and jumped!

No sooner was the Jedi airborne and plummeting down when the dropship above her plumed into a bright orange fiery ball; raining shrapnel, debris, and other materials around her.


[member="Allura Kahli"] … [member="Aurel Kvold"] … [member="Josh Dragonsflame"] … [member="Thirdas Heavenshield"] … [member="Tulan Kor"] … [member="Ura Iolar"] ...[member="Amon Vizsla"]

 

[Allura Kahli]

GHOST COMPANY
TASK FORCE RAIDER
OPERATION: SPARTACUS

"Wide net," Kahli called over the comm to the squad. No bunching up. Clusters of people meant a larger target, which meant more dead people.

"Shields up." Wouldn't last long against a good turret, but should do wonders when they got closer to ground. As much as she drilled on self-reliance to those under her command, there was no substitute for a strong defense jumping into an enemy fortification without some sort of cover to hide the approach.

"Going topside. Remember the objective." That was the shorthand way of reminding everyone not to get bogged down trying to be a hero. Kill the ones you had to so you weren't flanked, but they weren't here to dispense justice or free all the slaves. Dorn company could do the charitable work. The enemy's prized possession was what they were after. These people thought it was hilarious to abduct Jedi and hold them captive? Make them fight in arena for entertainment? Kahli would like to extend them the same courtesy -- to both their Shaman and their leader, if they were two different ugly-shaped peas in a dusty pod.

Repulsors fired and the Captain pulled out the wings of the over-suit. Her descent leveled and sent the Umbaran rocketing forward instead of down. It'd still be a hell of a landing on the narrow top of the arena. Nothing like a rough tumble to get the mission off on the right foot. Some early bumps and bruises so you didn't come out thinking it was too easy.

She quickly rolled up onto her hand and both knees, the other hand ready to respond to any nearby threats. A quick survey of those that'd joined her in their little death-defying leap to account for those with Kahli followed. They'd need to identify where the Force-nullifier was and proceed to target. Even if the Jedi below were exceptional hand-to-hand combatants, it was unlikely their captors intended them to survive -- no matter how long it took.

"T.C., how's Dorn company look?" the Captain couldn't spare the time to check on the other companies that'd been jumping. Nor could she spare the concern how many had perished so far, but a part of her still had to know. Call it strategic thinking or some bitter mote of a heart, if they were getting their asses handed to them from dropping in the middle of the enemy's defensive line, Kahli needed to know. Once they got on the move to find this nullifier there probably weren't going to be many opportunities to help out their fellow Rangers -- or so she liked to think. Unfortunately, sometimes she found it necessary to risk the mission to save some Ranger's ass. It was a damn annoying habit of hers.

Tag: [member="Amon Vizsla"] | [member="Thirdas Heavenshield"] | [member="Tulan Kor"] | [member="Ura Iolar"] | [member="Benjamin Cassidy"] | [member="Tyrell Caphey"] | [member="Mikilanna Mihaly"] | [member="Josh Dragonsflame"] | @Aurel Kvokl​

 

[Cassius Droma]

Objective: 1
Allies: [member="Sabine Galen"] | [member="Kat Decoria"] | [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] | [member="Kahne Porte"] | [member="Audren Sykes"] | [member="Sigyn Vanir"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]
​

The crowd was alive – the energy in the stadium was electric. Cassius could have sworn they were more amped up than usual… perhaps this multi-gladiator event would be more of a spectacle. He looked into the cheering, jeering, slobbering mass of people. He squinted in the harsh sun, and noticed there seemed to be more of them than usual. It made sense, in a way – more gladiators, more blood. The young Jedi turned warrior-for-sport briefly pondered if the gladiators would then be forced to turn on each other at the end of the match, or if they would be spared to provide entertainment for another day.

Nearly lost in his thoughts in preparation for the coming battle, his mind was roughly jostled by someone calling his name… his real name. His brow furrowed in confusion as he looked to the source of the voice that called out to him. “Sabine?” he asked, beginning to walk over towards her. A rush of relief ran through him to see a friendly face, but it was stymied by a tinge of fear. What if something happened to her in this arena?

He managed to draw close to Sabine as the Cyborrean warriors began to enter the stadium. “Stay close, but not too close,” Cassius cautioned, briefly lifting his spiked mace on the end of a chain, the links all rattling together. “Don’t try to block their attacks, as they’re even stronger than they look. One hit against a shield is enough to knock you on your back and take the wind out of you.”

The tribal leader’s voice echoed throughout the stadium, signifying the beginning of the match, and the crowd hooped and hollered once again as their favorite warriors charged forward to take on the outsiders. Cassius began to swing the mace in full circles, building up momentum as two of the warriors made a beeline straight for him. One had a giant battle axe – the other a pair of spiked metal armbraces.

The one with the axe was to Cassius’s left, and that would be the first one he went for. The axe-warrior held his weapon tall, hoping to perhaps cleave the troublesome little man in two, but leaving his midsection wide open. Right as the gladiator was about to swing down, Cassius side-stepped to the left, swinging his mace at full force to the gladiator’s abdomen, towards the back. The mace contacted, and the warrior howled in pain as he brought his axe down at the ground. Cassius yanked the mace, noticing his handiwork – he’d left a few open puncture wounds on his back, but not enough to take him out of the fight.

He didn’t have much time to think too much on it, as the gladiator with the armbraces was soon on him, throwing a deadly punch his way. Cassius moved his torso out of the way to dodge the move just barely enough that the fist and naked underside of his arm stuck into the armored spikes on Cassius’s shoulders. The young Jedi managed to whip his mace around and hit the Cyborrean in the back, digging into his muscles. The warrior’s armored knee soon came up and slammed Cass in the stomach, briefly sending him off of his feet and into the dirt.

Cassius had no time to recover, as the axe-warrior was coming in for another swing.

 

[Thirdas Heavenshield]

Dorn Company,
TASK FORCE RAIDER
OPERATION: SPARTACUS

The green light came on, and the LT slid open the door. Immediately the dropship was filled with the deafening roar of harsh winds, making it impossible to hear one another. The Ranger in front of him lost his balance from the rattling and Thirdas pulled him to his feet with a pat on the back for good measure, then followed him to the door. A second later, he was gone. Thirdas took a deep breath and looked to his CO, then pulled himself out the door to the chaos below.

Navigating himself through the strong wind and anti-air gunfire lighting up the skies was beyond difficult, and most of it he realised came down to simple luck. Or perhaps it was fate, decided beforehand by some celestial power who lived and who died. If so, he could only trust the gods of Midvinter had a say in these matter, and that they favoured him. On his way down flashes of his childhood appeared before his eyes, knowing he would not be the same after this first battle of his. His father, his mother, his brothers and sisters had all been through it, and being the youngest of the bunch naturally he would be the last to experience it.

Below his fellow Ranger's chute had opened, and so he did the same upon reaching the same altitude. Suddenly all became so still in comparison, gently sailing down amidst the flashing of gunfire seemingly doing a bad job at hitting him specifically. While still in the air he pulled out his sniper rifle and steadied the long barrel on his own forearm, and through his scope the enemy became visible as it drew their outlines. "Why, hello there. Aren't you an ugly bunch of guys..." Concentrating on the nearest anti-air gun he fired a silenced shot, piercing the Cyborrean gunner through the skull and he slumped to the side. Another shot took out his buddy before he could even register his fallen comrade, and the gun fell silent. "That should keep some of our guys alive on the descent," he assured himself, even though there were plenty more of them scattered across the many platforms surrounding the dome structure.

He noticed his fellow Ranger had not so much landed on the platform below as he had crashed into it, and peeking down he found said Ranger had gotten most of his legs and torso completely shredded. He wasn't moving. But now was not the time to mourn, even a first-timer like himself knew as much, and his adrenaline surged as he too made his landing, albeit far more graceful than his poor comrade. Out came his blaster rifle, and after finding a couple nearby crates for cover he began firing at the approaching Cyborreans wielding heavy cleavers and firearms of crude yet, evidently, effective design. They did not bother with things like seeking cover, but rather charged headlong towards their foe who quickly found himself outnumbered.

But one by one more Rangers landed beside him on the same platform, and they too took up positions and joined in the firefight. "Tossing frag," he yelled and threw one into the cluster of large, angry troll-like creatures, but again it was not enough to deter their advance and several went down as it exploded, and yet they kept coming, chanting some one-syllable word in what Thirdas assumed to be their native tongue. "Lieutenant, Private Heavenshield! Contact has been made with the enemy, you might want to fix bayonettes on your way down!"

The next moment he is under assault in close quarters, and going for his knife he dodged the huge cleaver in the last second, watching it get stuck in the crate he'd used for cover instead. He wasted no time in shoving his blade through the Cyborrean's throat, watching as green blood sprayed everywhere and listening to its death gurgles. His first time witnessing another sentient being getting their life snuffed out up close and personal. And more was no doubt to come.

Dorn Company: [member="Amon Vizsla"] | [member="Tulan Kor"] | [member="Benjamin Cassidy"]​

Ghost Company: [member="Allura Kahli"] | [member="Tyrell Caphey"]​

Helios Company: [member="Mikilanna Mihaly"]​

Others: [member="Josh Dragonsflame"] | [member="Ura Iolar"] | [member="Aurel Kvold"]​

 

[H3xle]

Dorn Company: [member="Amon Vizsla"] | [member="Benjamin Cassidy"] | [member="thirdas heavenshield"] | [member="Tulan Kor"]

Ghost Company: [member="Allura Kahli"] | [member="Tyrell Caphey"]
Helios Company: [member="Mikilanna Mihaly"]
Others: [member="Josh Dragonsflame"] | [member="Ura Iolar"]


Opposition: [member="silver arrow"]


Aurel turned a corner in the corridors within the arena, and saw a small squad of Cyborrean guards moving slowly, leering at everyone they passed. She'd neared the portion of the stadium beneath the shaman's section, but hadn't gotten close enough to be right beneath or access the way up to it.

She made sure she kept her head down, eyes averted, mimicking a timid personality as the guards neared. She turned into a corridor that would bring her back up into the stands, moving slowly until the guards behind her had passed. She paused to think for only a moment, then turned back and began to make her way slowly back around the way she had come. She knew she wouldn't be able to infiltrate quietly with so many guards wandering around, so she'd need a diversion for the interior guards.

As she moved, she pulled a loose scarf from around her waist and wrapped it around her head and hair. She pulled her shoulders back a bit, but kept her head tilted down a little. She mentally put herself into a more middle class mindspace, and sped up her stride slightly. The guard patrol she had passed had turned around, cycling back towards the shamans area. They leered at her again, but let her pass. She looked different, but still didn't register as a threat, and she was going away from their charge.

Once she was out of their sight, she began to look around, seeing what her surroundings would give her to make a distraction.

She saw a few slaves cleaning down a side corridor, a Cyborrean guard watching over them, but not paying attention to much else. There was detritus around the halls, lights on the walls, and a broken comm terminal back towards the entrance to the arena.

She didn't hesitate, she turned to the lone Cyborrean guard, slipped up behind him and delivered a series of swift strikes. She couldn't bring the force to bear, but Shadows couldn't always depend on the force on deep cover missions. Her left foot struck the back of his left knee, dropping him to her level as her left hand whipped around to strike his throat just as he was starting to shout. This had him at her level, silent for the moment, and in pain. Her right elbow struck the back of his head just before she leaped up and kneed him in the back of the head and rode him down to the ground. She did her best to smash his face into the ground as he landed, then walked up to the slave nearest her.

"I'm going to need your collar." She told him, motioning to the downed guard. "Does he have the controls?"

A simple, slow nod answered her, the group of slaves shocked by the sudden violence done to the guard rather than from the guard. Then, the slave moved to the guard and grabbed a device on a chain around his neck and applied it to the collar on his own. He handed the collar to Aurel, then moved around and released the other slaves.

"Get out of here, quickly and quietly." She told them, and they left the corridor ahead of her, their collars still on the ground. She studied the collars a moment, thinking about how to turn them and the lights on the walls in this section into something explosive.

 

[Sabine Galen]

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Objective: 1
Allies: [member="Kat Decoria"] | [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] | [member="Kahne Porte"] | [member="Audren Sykes"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]​

​

It was something of a relief to see Cassius, but troubling, too. By the looks of him, he'd been here longer than she. Sabine sorely lacked the armor that he had, dressed only in a light pair of trousers and a light linen tank top. Her dark eyes shifted from the group of intimidating warriors to [member="Cassius Droma"], listening as he spoke.

“Right.” She said with a shaky nod.

Sabine swallowed, she remained near but left enough room between them to be safe from Cassius' swimming mace. She gave her rusty blade a quick flourish, sizing up their opponents. It was then, that she caught sight of a flash of scarlet in the distance. Was that... Sigyn? A deep pang of fear found the pit of her stomach. No, no, no... this was not the place for her padawan learner.

Then again, she knew that [member="Sigyn Vanir"] would probably fair quite well, given her background.

She really didn't have time to let her thoughts linger, unfortunately. Sabine crouched slightly, keeping her legs tense but active – in case she needed to move quickly. As two of the three moved for Cassius, she tried to watch out of the corner of her eyes... up until the third came at her. He swung a massive club her way.

Whooosh.

The heavy weapon went soaring by the side of her head as she ducked away. Cassius was right. There was absolutely no way she'd be able to block her opponent, he was too powerful. The warrior's shadow nearly swallowed her whole. But, large and strong usually meant that they were... slow. Well, at least slower than she was. As the Cyborrean began to draw the club back over his shoulder, Sabine gritted her teeth and struck out for his side. Her blade clipped his hip but didn't make so much as a dent – her woefully dull sword would probably falter against a stick of butter.

Her club-wielding opponent laughed... or maybe it was a growl. Either way, he was clearly unimpressed. Out of the corner of her gaze, she spied Cassius on the ground.

“Cass!” She called out, scrambling to think.

Bending to avoid another swing of the club, she took up a handful of sand and then threw it into the warrior's eyes. He growled at the minor annoyance but closed his eyes long enough for Sabine to get out of his line of sight.

In a blur – not as fast as she normally would have been with the force, of course – she jabbed the point of her sword into the pit of the ax-wielder's arm as he brought the weapon up. Sabine pushed hard, driving the point of her blade in enough to make the Cyborrean drop his weapon. But, she wasn't fast enough to avoid the back of his huge hand as he swatted her out of the way.

 

[Silver Starlight]

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Objective: 1
[member="Cassius Droma"]| [member="Sabine Galen"] | [member="Kat Decoria"] | [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] | [member="Kahne Porte"] | [member="Audren Sykes"] | [member="Sigyn Vanir"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]​

Indeed, Audren had discovered one of the secrets of these Cyborrean warriors. They were fueled by a natural need to spill blood, to be sure, but that wasn't all. Much like their Battle Dogs, these warriors had been altered by cybernetics. Implants were a good way to boost their abilities – and remove all fear. It was a way to push themselves to the brink... when all others would normally fall.

These warriors would fight to the end – victory or death, as the saying goes.

Though Audren's opponent was near his own end, he would attempt a final attack. And, Sigyn's rider would come 'round for another go, too.

Meanwhile, the group stomping towards Stardust and Kat would charge, weapons in motion. They were determined to take the Twi'lek woman down for her boasting.

Recovering from a face full of sand (courtesy of Sabine), the club-wielding Cyborrean would turn to catch sight of a pink-haired woman. A snarl curled his lips as he pursued, unwilling to let Asaraa run about the arena freely.

And...

There were ferocious howls and chains being rattled. The ground began to tremble slightly, something stirred...

 

[Tulan Kor]

​

​

Dorn Company,
TASK FORCE RAIDER
OPERATION: SPARTACUS



Contact front.

The descent came, it the descent went. He'd done it enough times that the actual act of free-falling was only slightly unnerving when someone was trying to kill you. It was pretty impersonal this high up, what with all the shooting and whatnot. Frankly, Tulan took everything impersonally. It wasn't any matter of principles, or ideas, or economic yadda yadda, this was simply a business transaction. They took their people, so the Rangers would take their lives.

Tulan was told by the Silver Jedi to respect all life forms and cultures. They said that, never having been next to a Sith Lord as he spreads his culture through the end of a sword. Never watched a Trandoshan spread his culture and principles- all over some poor remote village and into a slaving cart. Oh yeah, Tulan respected a lot of cultures. Respected their distance, that was.

For most others that he encountered, it was usually at the end of a gun.

Such as now.

He landed on the platform, disengaging all the crap that got him down here, and turned the safety off on his rifle. He shoved the dead Cyborrean off the kid, [member="Thirdas Heavenshield"]. He turned his head halfway to him, and nudged his head forward. The kid, according to most, wasn't experienced with combat or death. Fighting, sure. But combat was different. Fights ended. Combat was constant. The way Tulan moved through the Cyborrean's compound was methodical, robotic. But oh-so-effective. Every corner, swept, every overhead, checked- he was methodical and lethal.

Cyborreans came, and they died. Each THWACK from his suppressed, high-caliber rifle, was strong enough to put down a battle droid, let alone some angry green nerf herder. But he didn't stop to help any slaves or captured people he passed. There were a few reasons- the primary being that Tulan didn't care and that wasn't his mission. But mostly because he didn't want to let them out in a middle of a firefight.

Tulan pressed forward-

Slaughtering Cyborreans with ruthless efficiency as he moved forward.

And for a split second, over the comms- he let out a laugh as he pushed to the outer edges of the defensive posture of the Cyborreans.

Oh lawd, he comin'.

[member="Aurel Kvold"] l [member="Thirdas Heavenshield"] l [member="Allura Kahli"] l [member="Mikilanna Mihaly"] l [member="Silver Arrow"] l [member="Benjamin Cassidy"]

 

[Ura Iolar]

Ura heard [member="Amon Vizsla"] 's command, and quickly called back.

"Roger that Lieutenant Visla. And may the.... Good luck, Ranger." She face palmed a bit, remembering the field around the arena. She then called out to her master, [member="Josh Dragonsflame"] . "And Master, try not to get yourself killed." After watching the Rangers jump, Ura cut her engines and began to transmit her telemetry. She leaned her craft and dipped the wing tip into the field, taking it out of her sight. She held the turn until she had finished her circle, then broke off letting the data do it's work she reengaged her engines and pulled away. The Lervon eyed the void in her vision, not sure what to do now. She then called out again.

"Ok. That's all I can do for now. Once you find the source though you'll have more air cover."

[member="Tulan Kor"] [member="Aurel Kvold"] [member="Thirdas Heavenshield"] [member="Allura Kahli"] [member="Mikilanna Mihaly"]

 

[Zef Halo]

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​

​

​

Dorn Company,
TASK FORCE RAIDER
OPERATION: SPARTACUS

Once more unto the breach.

Antarian Rangers rained down upon the Arena where fire met fire and steel clashed with steel. The Mandalorian lieutenant found himself landing into the midst of two Cyborreans wielding larger than usual vibroaxes which still looked like toys in their massive hands. They cleaved at him but with its signature and eerie snap-hiss the Darksaber slashed straight through the hilts before Amon sliced the adversaries' heads off with one clean cut of the famed weapon.

"Roger that, Ura." In his typical laconic manner, Vizsla replied to the padawan as he received the telemetry. Not a moment later the microcomputers of his HUD triangulated the Rangers' data with that from the Jedi Padawan.

An explosion of a grenade rattled the ground beneath his feet followed by Heavenshield's call for him. The Mandalorian hurried further downwards where most of Dorn Company were interlocked in a close-quarter fight with the enemy. He arrived just as Tulan shoved off a dead Cyborrean from Thirdas. A bloodthirsty veteran paired with a rookie from one of the most notable Jedi dynasties in the galaxy. Amon would've noted the irony had he any capacity for seeing anything beyond combat and war. Taught to be like his father, Amon's cold and aloof demeanor was often considered off-putting and hostile. Not really a man with friends among the Silvers but also not really a man who was taught to rely on friends, either.

"SHIELD WALL!" Amon barked through the comms. "MELEE."

The Heavenshield's point made sense as soon as the lieutenant noted the tight confines and lack of space. Portable shields lit up from the wrists of Dorn Company and the Rangers turned to their melee weapons to proceed with the fight. Some fixed bayonets, some unsheathed vibroblades. Whatever they specialized in they were geared with.

Every ranger is an operative.

A sitrep inquiry popped in his HUD courtesy of Ghost Company.

"We've narrowed down further the source of the anti-Force field." Amon reported back through the comms. "Dorn Company is going to take point. We will need Ghost overwatching us, while Helios spreads across our flanks."

Just as the operation's plan was set up before hand, the Rangers aimed to encircle the defensive forces around the source of the No Force Field and obliterate them with a precise pincer maneuver.

The Mandalorian hurried next to Thirdas and Tulan giving them instructions on their next course of action:

"I am taking point with one of you two. We go melee." Amon twirled the Darksaber in his hand to highlight his point before adding. "The better marksman of you two will keep on following us from behind and execute from afar any enemy who dares pull a firearm at us."

"We keep moving as one, we kill as one." for a man in the midst of war, Amon spoke as composed as a man in his comfort zone. No surprises. It was this for what he was born ad bred.

OYA!

[member="Allura Kahli"] | [member="Aurel Kvold"] | [member="Josh Dragonsflame"] | [member="Mikilanna Mihaly"] | [member="Thirdas Heavenshield"] | [member="Tulan Kor"] | [member="Ura Iolar"]​

 

[Thirdas Heavenshield]

Dorn Company,
TASK FORCE RAIDER
OPERATION: SPARTACUS

The young rookie was relieved to see more and more Rangers arrive on the scene, including the Sergeant and Lieutenant providing a sense of safety in their being there. It was just nice having figures of authority around, especially when they share in the same hardships as mere grunts such as himself. SGT Kor was first to arrive, assisting in removing the dead Cyborrean from the buried Thirdas whose face was littered with greenish blood. "Thanks, Sarge," he offered, though it was unlikely the words carried over the chaos of battle. He then witnessed the same Sergeant charge into the fray and take out several "angry green assholes". A fitting name for their kind. There was a brutal efficiency to his methods of vanquishing his foes, one he had not seen in any other Ranger. Thirdas provided covering fire from behind his cover, cleaver still stuck in one of the crates.

By now the LT had arrived and taken account of the situation, hunkering down alongside him and summoning the attention of Sergeant Kor. One of them was to join him in counter-charging the brutes while the other followed behind, keeping their backsides clear. To Thirdas, it was clear which was the right choice. "With your permission, sir - eager to take the fight to the enemy!" Reaching behind his back he produced an ornate battle axe he'd brought from back home.

His eyes glanced to the massive cleaver stuck in their cover, and mirrored upon its surface a large green object appeared. "Kark off," he stood up from behind their cover and fired off a grenade round from the underbarrel of his rifle, planting itself in the hulking creature's chest before detonating into several large chunks of charred flesh and bone. Popping back down into cover with the others, he reached into his pack for another grenade round only to realise how much his hands were trembling. And yet, there was no fear. Only exhiliration.

"Before we go, I regret to report a casualty, sir," he pointed towards the shredded leftovers of the Ranger who had first made it out the door during the jump. "Never even fired a shot..."

Dorn Company: [member="Amon Vizsla"] | [member="Tulan Kor"] | [member="Benjamin Cassidy"]​

Ghost Company: [member="Allura Kahli"] | [member="Tyrell Caphey"]​

Helios Company: [member="Mikilanna Mihaly"]​

Others: [member="Josh Dragonsflame"] | [member="Ura Iolar"] | [member="Aurel Kvold"]​